**Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the eARC of this title!**

This one is a DNF for now. I’m not sure if I’m not in the right headspace for this one but it’s reading less like a thriller and more like a religious trauma therapy session.

I respect the author for tackling these big topics and I’m certain this book will resound with the right audiences.

Unfortunately, the pacing of this one is not working for me. I feel like I’ve been reading this book for 2 weeks and I’m only 22% into a 240 page….. I will give this one another try but not right now.

I devoured Julia Bartz's debut novel, “The Writing Retreat”, so I couldn't wait to dive into her second book, “The Last Session”. It definitely lived up to my expectations! The storyline is rich with layers—featuring a social worker, a psychiatric unit, an oddly familiar catatonic patient, and a wellness cult…oh my! From the very first page, the pacing is fast and relentless, with a darkly chilling vibe that lingers from start to finish. Julia Bartz masterfully blends intricate plotlines that feel both fresh and original, showcasing her talent for storytelling. I was completely captivated by the depth of her characters and the psychological complexity they embody—I love that! If you're in search of a suspenseful thriller that grips you and refuses to let go, then I wholeheartedly recommend *The Last Session*. It's a riveting read that you won't be able to put down!

2.75 stars
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In The Last Session, we follow our main character Thea, a social worker with a troubled past, who gets intertwined with a cult when her latest patient arrives in a catatonic state. What starts as an ordinary intake, Thea can't help but feel like she knows her new patient from somewhere but can't put her finger on it. It's revealed that Jane Doe is Catherine O’Brien, who at age thirteen starred in Thea's favourite movie - Stargirl.

Thea can't help but get too close to Catherine, and believes that she's sent her a plea for help when people claiming to be her "parents" check her out care. This lead brings her to New Mexico for a "wellness/relationship" retreat. Here we meet the infamous Sol and Moon who are the leaders who will guide us on this journey. We're introduced to a few other characters who are on this same retreat and you start to begin who you can trust. During the retreat, we're reconnected with Jonah-P.I. who was hired by Catherine's parents to find her, and Mikki-a freelance journalist who wants a big story. Immediately you begin to wonder who Thea can trust.

I was really into the first 75% of the book, I loved the culty vibes and wondered what the outcome would be of the book. The last 25% was a fever dream, it was beautifully written but just lost me. Like every story, this cult's motives aren't what they seem, the ending was looking a little bleak for Thea and I feared the worst for her. I'm mad that those who I trusted were linked to the cult and wanted to sacrifice Thea to the portal.

At 240 pages (NetGalley version) this dragged out far too long. Its slow pacing doesn't help add many thrills to this locked-in setting.
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I would like to thank Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books, Julia Bartz and NetGalley for a copy of The Last Session in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, this book is set to be published on April 1st, 2025, pre-order your copy today!

2.25

Setting: New Mexico
Rep: n/a

I loved this author's previous book, but this one was a flop for me - a nonsensical, one-note cult book. It isn't a locked room thriller at all, I have no idea why that's in the synopsis. At no point was it surprising or twisty. It's exactly what you'd expect a cult book to be.

This was a strong thriller novel, it uses the social worker element perfectly and told the story that it needed to. I was engaged with what was happening and was invested in what was happening. The characters were everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the feel of this. Julia Bartz has a strong writing style and thought it worked with the New Mexico element.

I absolutely loved this book. Julia did a great job creating the characters, as I was reading it played out like a movie in my head! When books have such a great flow it makes it impossible to put down.

dramatic themes of religious abuse and some very strange scenarios. 5 stars. tysm for the arc. would really recommend, a uniuqe but awesome thriller.

This was my first book by this author. It’ sucked me in from the beginning. It’s not my typical type of read but it keep me wanting more. Julia is a fantastic write and definitely keeps you engaged.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of The Last Session.

This was a wild one! At 75% I was planning to give a lower rating because the plot got SO out there, but I ended up actually not hating the way it was tied together in the end. Overall a fast-paced read that kept me on my toes not knowing where the story would go next. Knocked off a full star because I really hate female main characters behaving idiotically, and Thea behaved idiotically nearly the entire book.

4 stars

A bizarre book, but in the very best way.

There were so many delicious components in this thriller including mental health, religion and spirituality, and cult mindsets. As a therapist myself I loved the author's subtle commentary on ethics in the mental health field. Particularly, I loved how she addressed common themes I have seen for myself and my colleagues including caring for your own mental health needs in tandem with your patients. Bartz takes the thread of reality and weaves it in a fantastic way.

This book is an intense and gripping read that pulls you in from the very first chapter. The story centers around Thea, a social worker at a psychiatric hospital, who becomes deeply intrigued by a mysterious patient recovering from a catatonic state. This connection spirals into a deeper investigation into a cult-like wellness retreat in the New Mexico desert, and let me tell you-things get wild.

The plot is fast-paced with no unnecessary filler, and the tension keeps building as the story unfolds. The eerie desert setting and cultish undertones give it a truly unsettling vibe, and the twists are both unexpected and thought-provoking.
It's one of those books where you feel on edge, but you can't stop turning the pages.

What really stood out to me was how the author tackles heavy themes like trauma and mental health. The portrayal is sensitive and insightful, adding emotional depth without feeling overly preachy. At times, it's definitely an emotional rollercoaster, but it's handled in a way that feels meaningful rather than overwhelming.

This book isn't afraid to explore darker subject matter, but it does so thoughtfully, giving us a better understanding of the characters and their struggles. If you're a fan of thrillers with a psychological edge and a hint of the bizarre, this is a story that will stay with you.

“The Last Session,” Julia Bartz’s latest novel, centers around Thea, a social worker who becomes captivated by one of her patients. However, when her patient abruptly leaves the treatment center, Thea is compelled to find her. This pursuit leads Thea to a wellness-style retreat nestled in the desert of New Mexico. The retreat delves into relationships and sexual intimacy, which triggers painful memories from Thea’s past. Will she be able to confront her trauma and locate her patient?

This book is well-crafted and has the potential to become a favorite among readers. I particularly enjoyed the psychological elements woven throughout the narrative. If you’re seeking an inclusive thriller that also explores sexuality, “The Last Session” is likely to captivate your interest.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Started off with decent plot and pacing but lost me in the middle, just got bogged down with too much useless dialogue. Tone seemed to change from a suspense to a self help book that I just found boring.
Not terrible but not exciting.

2.5 stars.

Honestly, I should have maybe realized this was about a cult and I am not a fan of thrillers that use cults as a plot point / storyline. It just never works for me.

I was intrigued in the beginning and first half of this book, but around the 75% mark, it just started to lose me it became kind of nonsensical and boring and I started to lose interest in the overall plot and conflict.

I’m sure people who don’t mind/enjoy books that include cults, will enjoy this much more than me. This book just was not for me at all.

Super bummed because I enjoyed The Writing Retreat much more.

Thank you Atria books for an ARC of this book! I was really excited to read this after reading Julia’s first book! Unfortunately this one was harder for me to get into and a little too slow in the beginning. However, I loved the twists and the rest of this book!

The authors previous book, The Writing Retreat, was one of my favorite books last year so I was excited to get into this next one. However this wasn't a new fave. This wasn't bad, just unfortunately it went on too long and it couldn't stay on one track. It started off strong but then we end up in this culty fever dream with no end in sight. Some of the characters felt a bit two dimensional and the longer the story went on, I couldn't wrap my head around the protagonists decisions. Like girl...why? It started to get predictable and not in a good way.

I do applaud the author for being able to touch on sensitive subjects like trauma and religious abuse with grace. I did enjoy the ending and the overall takeaway I got from the book so for that I give this 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

What a ride! Heavy cult vibes coming from this "wellness center." It reminded me a little bit of Always Watching by Chevy Stevens, but a little darker.

Alright, let's get into it! 💁‍♀️

So like, this book? Kinda wild, but in the best way. The plot is totally gripping and honestly, I couldn’t put it down even though I was sooooo uncomfortable at times (in a good way, though). It's about a social worker who's super drawn to this mysterious catatonic patient that somehow ties into her past. Total thriller vibes with a bunch of creepy cult-y stuff in the middle. Like, New Mexico desert creepy vibes! 🌵🦇

Thea, our main girl, is diving deep into this whole mystery, getting tangled up in a wellness retreat that’s like... soooo much more than it seems. (No spoilers, but seriously, expect things to get weird. Real weird.) What I really loved was how the tension builds throughout. Every page felt like something was about to pop off, and I was living for it.

Also, it’s like an emotional rollercoaster with some pretty heavy themes (think trauma and healing), but somehow it didn’t feel too heavy-handed? I mean, I did feel pretty shaken by all the twists and turns by the end, though. 👀

So yeah, 4 stars for sure. It’s intense, keeps you on edge, and will leave you second-guessing everything you just read.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

What a dark, weird and fascinating read. I don't know what I was expecting, but I kept turning the pages well into the night.

Julia is a talented writer, and I enjoyed her first novel very much. Her latest was also high on my list of thrillers I could not put down. She just captivates me with her writing and robust characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.