In The Last Session, social worker Thea becomes involved with a cult after meeting a catatonic patient, Jane Doe, who turns out to be Catherine O’Brien, a former child star from Thea’s favorite movie, Stargirl. As Thea grows closer to Catherine, she believes the girl is in danger when people claiming to be her “parents” check her out. This leads Thea to a wellness retreat in New Mexico, where she meets the enigmatic leaders, Sol and Moon, along with others who have their own motives. As the retreat unfolds, Thea struggles to figure out who she can trust.

The first half of the book kept me intrigued with its tense atmosphere and growing mystery, but the final third felt chaotic and disconnected. The pacing was too slow for my liking, and the ending was unsatisfying.

Just as wild a ride as Bartz’s amazing debut! This one has a weird cult, a 90s movie, a therapist, and some really fun surprises. Honestly just read it, don’t worry about descriptions. It’s more fun to dive in and let a twisty tale like this lead you where it will.

<i>Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.</i>

4 stars

This was a ride! Kept me wondering the whole way through, fast paced but at times a little out there for me. A bit heavier than the typical thriller out there these days so proceed with caution but I enjoyed.

The Last Session has mixed reviews. I didn't love it. It was hard to relate to the characters or have empathy for their stories.

I could have done without the orgy.

Isn’t that a hell of a way to begin a review? But seriously. Did not need that.

This is a book that starts out as an interesting mystery and then veers off the rails into woo woo land. The reason behind everything is bizarre.

The author asks for a lot of buy in from the reader – I mean you have to accepts some really implausible things. The problem is that my own buy in starting plummeting the more I read. Plot holes abound, logic leaves the building, and, yes, sudden orgy.

The book definitely kept me reading and moves quickly.

3 stars because I didn’t put it down…even though sometimes I think I should have.

• ARC via Publisher

The Last Session was a great thriller that I would recommend. I found it to be a little slow in the middle but I enjoyed the ending!

In The Last Session, social worker Thea can't shake the feeling she knows the catatonic patient who shows up at her psychiatric unit - a connection that leads her straight into the tangles of her own messy past. When the patient briefly surfaces only to vanish, Thea follows her trail to a wellness retreat in New Mexico where couples supposedly work through relationship and sexual trauma. The retreat's increasingly invasive exercises force Thea to confront not just her missing patient's story, but her own complicated history with a predatory pastor and teenage experiences that left deep scars. The story veers into some wild territory involving reincarnation and cult dynamics, which might lose some readers along the way who are looking for more basic mystery/thriller business. Despite Thea making some questionable choices that stretch belief (especially for someone working in mental health), there's something compelling about watching her barrel through every red flag in pursuit of answers.

P.S. For fellow perfume enthusiasts like me who always noticed perfume in their stories, there's a Clinique Happy mention in these pages.

📚 PRE-PUBLICATION BUDDY READ BOOK REVIEW 📚

The Last Session By Julia Bartz
Publication Date: April 1, 2025
Publisher: Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📚MY REVIEW:

I absolutely loved Julia Bartz's debut thriller, The Writing Retreat, so I was THRILLED to be offered this read from Atria/Emily Bestler Books. And I was even more excited to be able to Buddy Read this one with my book bestie, Another Read By Angie! Angie and I ALWAYS somehow seem to find the twistiest books for Buddy Reads... And this one was no exception!

The Last Session is an atmospheric locked room thriller that quickly established its "just what the hell is going on here?!" vibe... Then took the vibe and ran with it. If you read The Writing Retreat, you know Bartz's books can head into unexpectedly bizarre storylines, so I had absolutely no idea where this book might go. However, I NEVER could have predicted the unexpected twists and turns that were about to come at me!

Meet Thea, a social worker at an inpatient psych hospital in New York, who is shocked when one of her favorite actresses from her teen years (Catherine) shows up in a catatonic state at the hospital... And then is unexpectedly signed out of the hospital by people pretending to be her parents. Thea's life is pretty much a mess, and she plunges headfirst into the mystery surrounding Catherine's arrival and departure from the psych hospital. This rabbit hole leads Thea to a new age retreat center in New Mexico -- and from there, the reader is taken on a ride of atmospheric mystery. A ride that involves cults, reincarnation, secrets, unusual therapy sessions, teenage trauma, nightmares about caves, and so many shady characters that your head will spin as you try to figure out who can be trusted and who can't.

I kept waiting for the WTF vibe of this book to stabilize...and it never did. This was definitely the most "new agey" thriller I've read, with its "out there" plotline. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed that it wasn't like every other locked room thriller. But its uniqueness left me feeling a little catatonic myself, as I had a lot to process after I finished reading and needed a few days to compose this review.

If you're looking for a unique and new storyline in your thrillers, you are going to absolutely LOVE this book! If you like locked room thrillers, this one is for you. And if you're into finding the weirdest storylines you can, you better get Julia Bartz on your bookshelf ASAP. Thank you so much to Atria/Emily Bestler Books, NetGalley, and the author for the invitation to read an advanced copy of this e-book in exchange for my honest review.

#TheLastSession #JuliaBartz #AtriaBooks #AtriaEmilyBestlerBooks #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARC #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #lockedroomthrillers #mysteries #atmosphericreads #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for allowing me access to this ebook! This one was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025.
The Last Session is Julia Bartz's second book, it'll be released on April 1st 2025.
A catatonic woman arrives at Thea’s psychiatric unit, triggering memories of a traumatic past. When the patient suddenly vanishes, Thea’s search leads her to a mysterious retreat in New Mexico. There, she’s drawn into unsettling exercises that uncover secrets about her patient and herself. But as the final session looms, Thea must escape before she loses her grip on reality—or her life.
This was one of my most anticipated reads, but unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations. I struggled to connect with the main character, the opening chapters failed to hold my attention, and the twist felt underwhelming.

The Last Session follows a social worker, Thea, at her new job. Her new patient looks just like her and seems so familiar. She realizes that this catatonic patient was a star in her favorite childhood movie. When Catherine disappears, Thea feels compelled to follow her and she winds up joining a retreat that starts to feel like a cult.
This book started out strong and I enjoyed the aspect of the cult and the cult mentality. But the whole past life regression relating to a childhood movie, Starfall, was just too far fetched to me. I felt that Thea, as a social worker, should have caught onto more of the characters issues and the ending was a bit hard to follow when the point of views started flipping between characters. This made sense for the past lives theme but the execution was just a bit confusing. I would have like to hear more resolution with positive counseling for these.

I absolutely loved The Writing Retreat and have been waiting excitedly for Julia Bartz’s follow-up novel. The Last Session did not disappoint. I couldn’t put this down!

I had high hopes for this one and it fell flat. The beginning starts off well as I find books with a psychotherapist usually intriguing. The storyline then shifted to a whole unrealistic cult type narrative. The psychotherapy part just dropped (although the author threw in a few therapy terms here and there) and it went on a destructive path of BS. Sadly, it could have been such a great book if the author had continued the therapist/client relationship instead of this afterlife crap. There were no thrilling aspects. I found it difficult to get through and boring in numerous parts.

1⭐️

What a ride!!! Much like her first novel, this book drags you to the most psychotic places, and you just have to hold on! Could not put down!

I really enjoyed The Writing Retreat so was overjoyed to get this latest from Bartz. Initially, it was fascinating and easy to get into as Thea is a social worker and meets her childhood idol, Catherine when she is admitted to the clinic in a catatonic state. And then the real craziness begins! Thea is encouraged to attend The Center for Relational Healing in New Mexico where she meets Moon and Sol, the charismatic leaders who are so welcoming and kind, But later she suspects it's more than just "healing" as it feels cult-like and she's never really sure what's real and what's fantasy. Childhood trauma, allegations of abuse, and current heartbreak all come together in this novel that often reminded me of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disneyland!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

I loved the author’s first book, “The Writing Retreat”. This one was not for me. I didn’t enjoy the story and had a hard time with the plot. It also felt overly long. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved how unique the premise of this book was. It was so refreshing to read a new plotline for a change. I enjoyed the cult aspect and found the characters intriguing, albeit a bit weird. I also found the setting in the desert in New Mexico to be perfectly fitting. My only real complaint is that parts of the storyline got a bit crazy and I had a hard time wrapping my head around the feasibility of things at times. It wasn't enough to make me dislike the book, just enough to knock off one star. This was a 4 star read for me! I look forward to reading more from Julia in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an e-ARC of this novel.

I am really torn on this review. The first part of the book was incredible. I loved the premise and couldn’t wait to figure out this connection between Thea and her look-a-like star patient. However, once we got to the center and the fever dream portion I felt like the book just dragged on and it was too far fetched for me to get fully invested in.

This was different but still an immersive read. And WHOA at the twisty turns….will give you whiplash for sure. The arc of the book was wonderful, the protagonist, too. I’m not big on the supernatural in my reads but it felt natural in the cult-like (minus the like😂) setting. Gives you an idea of how easy it can be to be pulled into something that one would immediately say “that’d never happen to me!”. Never say never! 4 strong stars.

Julia Bartz delivers a compelling and atmospheric tale in The Last Session, a locked-room thriller that masterfully intertwines psychological suspense with deeper themes of trauma, healing, and human connection. Thea, a social worker haunted by her past, is thrust into a disturbing web of secrets when a catatonic patient unexpectedly connects her to long-buried memories. What begins as a professional pursuit quickly transforms into a personal journey as Thea infiltrates a mysterious retreat in the deserts of New Mexico, uncovering truths that challenge both her beliefs and her sanity.

The novel is a vivid exploration of the interplay between trauma and self-discovery, with Bartz crafting an unsettling yet immersive atmosphere that keeps readers on edge. The remote retreat setting is both alluring and menacing, with its charismatic leaders and unconventional methods pushing Thea—and the reader—toward uncomfortable revelations. As the exercises grow more intense, the tension rises, and Bartz deftly balances the suspense with introspective moments that delve into Thea’s psyche.

While the pacing is brisk and the twists are plentiful, the story occasionally veers into implausible territory, requiring a suspension of disbelief, particularly regarding Thea's decisions as a professional. However, this is offset by the novel’s ability to hold the reader’s attention with its unpredictable turns and rich, layered characters. Thea’s vulnerability and determination make her a relatable protagonist, even when her actions border on questionable.

Themes of cult-like dynamics, the ethics of mental health care, and the lingering effects of childhood trauma add depth to the narrative. Bartz’s nuanced portrayal of these issues elevates the book beyond a simple thriller, offering thought-provoking commentary on the lengths people will go to confront their past and protect those they care about.

Despite some uneven pacing and a slightly rushed conclusion, The Last Session is a dark and compelling read that will appeal to fans of psychological suspense and locked-room mysteries. With its eerie setting, complex themes, and gripping plot, it’s a book that lingers long after the final page.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books for sharing this wild ride's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

A twisty thriller with cult, religious, and reincarnation themes. There is also a trigger of sexual abuse/ grooming in this
I liked this book, I did see a lot of the twists coming, but the journey was fun if a bit long. If you like suspenseful books, this is a good one.