1/5 stars: This is Bartz's stand-alone which is a Mystery Thriller that follows a social worker who, after coming face-to-face with her dark traumatic past, must infiltrate a mysterious wellness center in the deserts of New Mexico. Bartz's writing and character work are excellent. With tact and sensitivity, Bartz touches on some very, very tough and sensitive topics; so take care and CWs. Unfortunately, I'm just not in a place to read about the particular subjects Bart's tackles in this book; leading me to DNF it at 9%.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Thea works as a social worker in a New York City psychiatric ward. The newest patient admitted to her ward is a catatonic female named Jane Doe. Thea tries her best to communicate to the new patient to no avail, however, she finds Jane to be somewhat familiar. After racking her brain, she thinks Jane may be the actress on one of her favorite movies Stargirl. Armed with this information, Thea goes into work the following day to discover Catherine(Jane Doe) has left. Thea makes it her mission to track down Catherine, which leads her to a retreat in New Mexico.

The idea behind this was there. Thea was in a cult like community growing up and has been traumatized as a result. Fast forward to her investigation, as an adult, she finds herself in a similar situation at the New Mexico retreat. For the first 50% I wanted to know how it all tied together and it seems to be moving at a pace that was enjoyable. Then it just completely went off the rails. I don’t even know how to explain how far off the track it went. It went from somewhat realistic to completely non-realistic in a blink of a page. I was willing to overlook the unprofessionalism of Thea as she didn’t quite resonate as a social worker. But then once I realized the avenue the author was going that was the least of my quibbles. I also feel like it was way too long and a portion of the retreat could’ve been edited out and still have gotten the same results without the length.

Overall, if you can suspend disbelief completely, then you’ll enjoy this as it was, for the most part, fast paced and certainly did have a unique story arc.

2.5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Similar to her previous thriller THE WRITER'S RETREAT, this had the signature Julia Bartz style of ridiculousness. The story explores the possibility of the spiritual/supernatural, cults, past lives, and more, while also balanced with some serious, real life, human topics like dark sexual trauma and religious trauma.

What I enjoy about this style Bartz employs is you truly have no idea where the story is going to go. The possibilities feel endless, which is exactly what I want in a thriller. I want my mind to race. I want to be taken on a ride where I'm not anticipating the next plot beat. THE LAST SESSION was definitely successful in accomplishing that and the story felt unique (and a bit like you were personally tripping in the desert which is a fun literary experience).

The downfalls? I think it was a bit too slow burn/dragged out/repetitive. I think some people won't be into the whole cult/spiritual aspect of it. My advice for enjoyment? Lean into the possibility of the ridiculousness. Finally, the ending just lacked some oomph for me that's difficult to put into words. I still really enjoyed my experience with this story and will be looking out for more from this author in the future!

Thank you to the publisher for granting me access to an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions remain my own.

Thea, a social worker at an inpatient care facility, is shocked when the star of her favorite childhood movie is admitted to the ward. What follows is a chain of events that span cults, sexuality, and an unbelievable attempt to survive.

I loved the quick pacing at the start of the book! I frequently found myself asking aloud “what is happening” which was thrilling in the beginning but somewhat exhausting towards the end.

I recommend this book for anyone intrigued by cults and reincarnation. Trigger warning of SA.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for a fair review.

When a catatonic woman shows up at the psychiatric unit, social worker Thea swears she knows her from somewhere. She’s shocked to discover the patient holds a link to a traumatic time in her past. Upon regaining lucidity, the patient claims she can’t remember the horrific recent events that caused her brain to shut down. Thea’s at a loss—especially when the patient is ripped away from her as suddenly as she appeared.

Determined to find her, Thea follows a trail of clues to a remote center in Southwestern New Mexico, where a charismatic couple holds a controversial monthly retreat to uncover attendees’ romantic and sexual issues. Forced to participate in increasingly intimate exercises, Thea finds herself inching closer not only to her missing patient, but also to tantalizing answers about her harrowing past. However, time is running out, and if she stays for the last session, she too might lose her mind…or worse.

So I have mixed feelings on this one. As a thriller, I really enjoyed it. As a conversation starter about mental health, I'm a little iffy. Some of the places this went were a little unrealistic in that regard - which worked for the thriller aspect, but I feel like it took away from some of the author's obvious commentary on mental health. It's definitely thought-provoking, though! 4⭐ because I won't forget this one very quickly!

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

I think my sights were set too high for this, I was so hyped that this sounded right up my alley and come Part 3 it just went a little too far off the rails for me and slowed down. If this could have been 50 pages less and more of the cult element to it I wouldn't hesitate that this would be 5 stars because I was all in at the beginning. I still can not wait to see what Julia has in store next!

Thank you to Atria books for sending me an arc copy in exchange for an honest review!

This started off SO strong and was reminding me of some of my favorite thrillers. Unfortunately, it went in a direction that was incredibly weird and definitely not for me. A lot of the commentary on religion, SA, and mental health made me a bit uncomfy how it was handled.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In The Last Session, author Julia Bartz crafts a psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of trauma, memory, and self-discovery. The narrative centers on Thea, a dedicated social worker whose encounter with a mysterious, catatonic patient propels her into a journey confronting her own troubled past. This patient, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Thea's younger self, becomes the catalyst for a series of events that blur the lines between reality and delusion.

Bartz's portrayal of Thea is both nuanced and compelling, presenting a protagonist grappling with unresolved childhood traumas while striving to maintain her professional composure. Thea's internal struggles are depicted with authenticity, offering readers a profound exploration of how past experiences can shape one's present identity.

The setting—a secluded wellness center in the deserts of New Mexico—serves as a character in its own right, its isolation and enigmatic atmosphere amplifying the novel's tension. As Thea delves deeper into the center's enigmatic practices, she uncovers unsettling truths that challenge her perceptions and force her to question the very fabric of her reality.

Bartz's background as a practicing therapist is evident in her insightful exploration of psychological themes, particularly the impact of religious abuse, sexual harassment, and bullying on personal development and sexuality. The narrative weaves these themes seamlessly into the plot, offering a thought-provoking commentary on the long-lasting effects of such experiences.

While the novel's pacing is deliberate, building a slow-burning sense of dread, some readers may find certain plot developments predictable. However, the strength of Bartz's character development and the atmospheric setting compensate for these moments, resulting in a story that is both engaging and unsettling.

The Last Session is a testament to Julia Bartz's ability to intertwine psychological depth with elements of suspense and mysticism. It challenges readers to confront the shadows of the past and consider how they inform the present. Fans of introspective thrillers that probe the human psyche will find this novel a compelling addition to their reading list.

I enjoyed the first part of this story... Thea is a social worker at a psychiatric hospital. She has unhealed trauma herself, so when a catatonic woman shows up who reminds her of her past, old issues start to surface through her dreams. Then the woman disappears. Thea follows the clues left behind to follow the woman to a New Mexico retreat. Things start to become clear to Thea, and the retreat is not what it appears.

I felt like the middle of the book dragged on and slowed down the pacing of the story for me. I could easily see where it was headed, so I wasn't surprised by the ending. It definitely veered into implausible territory, and you have to suspend reality to enjoy it. I enjoyed Julia Bartz's first book The Writing Retreat better, but I'm still excited to see what she writes next.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis of this book sounded interesting to me so I requested a copy to read.
Unfortunately, I have tried reading this book on 2 separate occasions and during this 2nd attempt, I have decided to stop reading this book
and state that this book just wasn't for me.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

I really enjoyed the start of this book. It pulled me in, it was suspenseful, and it kept me wanting to read. toward the middle and end it took me a lot to keep going. The story got strange, and I really lost interest. Although the book wasn't my cup of tea, i thought it was good, and I would recommend it to others.

60/100 or 3.0 stars

I enjoyed The Writing Retreat by Bartz, so I was excited to check this one out. Ultimately, it relied on too many conveniences and dumb characters to get to where the plot was going, and I don't like it when authors do that. The first third or so was engaging and did get my interest, but as the story went on, my hopes for the book being solid overall dwindled. I would try another book by Bartz again, as I did like their debut novel and their writing style, but I was disappointed by this one.

🔒 T R A P P E D T U E S D A Y review 🔒 featuring “The Last Session” by Julia Bartz!

MY RATING: 🖤🖤🖤/5

Thea is a social worker who works within a psychiatric care unit. A nameless catatonic woman is brought into the hospital and for some reason Thea feels drawn to this patient. She looks very familiar, but can’t place her right away.

Later they identify the woman as a famous actress named Catherine who actually holds a link to the trauma of Thea’s past. Suddenly the patient gets taken away from the hospital and Thea is certain that Catherine left her clues as a plea for help! Thea follows the clues to a remote “wellness retreat” in New Mexico that focuses on sexual and romantic issues. While searching for Catherine she must first face all her demons and doesn’t fully understand what her presence means within the community there. Will Thea find Catherine or has she put herself in more danger than she could ever imagine??

🤯 WOW, this book is DARK, haunting, traumatizing and twisted! The locked door wellness retreat setting was claustrophobic and foreboding and gave me creepy voyeur vibes! Although I did not enjoy this as much as Julia’s previous novel The Writing Retreat, I still recommend this to thriller fans that enjoy a dark cult read!

Thank you kindly to @juliabartz @atriabooks @simonschusterca @netgalley for my #gifted digital advanced copy in exchange for my honest review! This book releases on April 1, 2025!

This book has such a great concept. Who doesn’t love a psych ward to a cult setting??? But, the book took a weird turn at the end with the cult. It was a bit too much and made things confusing!

Interesting and engaging, I enjoyed the twists and character development. The plot was interesting, and somewhat original, though followed a lot of the basic premises - I liked it!

I really did want to love this more than I did.
The concept as a whole sounded so good, but I felt the storyline jumped around too much and had some plot points that just did not make any sense to this story. A fun read, but not the best thriller I have ever read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

I could not put this book down! I have never read a book by Julia Bartz, but I was seriously engrossed in this book. I couldn't wait to get to the ending to figure out what the resolution was. I was glad for the trigger warnings, as some of the content of the book is pretty dark, but I think it was done in such a way that it wasn't overly descriptive or uncomfortable.
My only gripe was that I kept mixing up two of the characters - Moon and Sol. I had to keep a sticky note of which one was the male and which one was the female. But that definitely might've been just a 'me' problem. Overall though, I'd recommend this to my audience and have already told some friends about it!

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinions.

Unfortunately, i think I'm learning that Julia Bartz is not the author for me. It's always just straight goofy.

I really didn't enjoy this one. I was excited after The Writing Retreat but I didn't connect with the characters on this one and I didn't enjoy the plot line.

Thea was at work when Catherine was brought into the mental health facility, only she didn't know it was Catherine at the time. This woman was catatonic upon arrival and was unable to give anyone her name. Thea recognized her as the actress in a film she had been obsessed with as a teenager. Once Catherine leaves the facility, Thea feels connected to her in a way she can't explain. She decides to follow her to a retreat across the country. Something feels off about this retreat, Thea is worried that something will happen to her if she stays for the last sessions, but she can't leave without the answers she's looking for.

Great story concept, but it was just a jumble of plot points running into each other trying to do too much. I really liked Bartz's previous book, but this went off the rails almost completely for me.