This book cemented that this author just isn't for me. I wasn't a fan of Writing Retreat but I always try to see if it was a one off, it wasn't. I didn't like this one either even though the premise sounded promising.

This is Julia Bartz' second book, and if you read The Writing Retreat, you know that you should expect a thriller that is just outside of the norm. I'm becoming a fan of hers because her plots are so different from average thrillers.

The Last Session is a bit slow getting to the point. The setup took too long before Thea got to the centre, and things started happening with a cast of characters I loved or loved to hate. This book has similar vibes to Nine Perfect Strangers, only weirder, so if you liked that, you might like this.

There's a lot of talk of religion, cults, drugs and sexual trauma, so be warned when you go in that it's not always an easy read.

I feel like I need a few days to really process this book. It wrapped up well, but there were so many points along the way that made me roll my eyes. It's so crazy, I can't believe it, but I am also along for the ride.

This book is not for the faint of heart. This unhinged novel takes you on a wild ride with a premise so out there, you'll wonder if you accidentally stumbled into another dimension or perhaps a past or future life. The story is written from Thea's perspective who is a social worker in New York. One of Thea's patients, Catherine, is an actress from her favorite teenage movie. The book follows Thea as she tries to understand Catherine and her relationship with what appears to be a cult in New Mexico.

While it's definitely bizarre, Julia Bartz's writing is captivating. The character descriptions and development make them feel real and relatable.

This book won't be for everyone, but if you're looking for something truly unique and enjoy a wild, twisty turny ride, then I highly recommend giving The Last Session a try. Just be prepared to have your mind blown.

Julia Bartz’s *The Last Session* had me hooked from the very first page. The story kicks off when a catatonic woman arrives at a psychiatric unit, and social worker Thea realizes there’s something hauntingly familiar about her. From that moment, the book is a whirlwind of mystery, emotion, and psychological tension that kept me glued to every twist and turn.

As Thea pieces together the connection between the patient and her own troubled past, Bartz takes us on a journey to a remote retreat in Southwestern New Mexico. The descriptions of the retreat—and the strange, charismatic couple running it—are so vivid and unsettling, you’ll feel like you’re right there with Thea, caught in the middle of something both fascinating and deeply wrong.

What really struck me about this book is how layered it is. It’s not just a suspenseful thriller; it’s also a moving story about trauma, resilience, and the lengths we’ll go to for closure. The exercises Thea has to participate in at the retreat are as unsettling as they are revealing, forcing her—and us—to confront uncomfortable truths. And just when I thought I had everything figured out, Bartz threw in twists that left me reeling.

Thea’s determination, vulnerability, and bravery make her such a relatable protagonist. By the time the story reached its heart-pounding finale, I was completely invested in her journey. If you’re looking for a book that’s equal parts suspenseful, thought-provoking, and impossible to put down, *The Last Session* is it. Julia Bartz has crafted something truly unforgettable, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this and flew through it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Thank you NetGalley for sending me "The Last Session" by Julia Bartz. Unfortunately, this book was not for me but I really appreciate being sent a copy to read!

THE LAST SESSION started out with a lot of promise and quickly drew me in through its twisty storyline and interesting characters. But about two-thirds of the way in, it honestly felt like we pivoted into a new book. I completely lost track of the plot, which felt like some kind of crazy fever dream, and wondered what I was even reading. Not sure this one was for me…

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the opportunity to read and review THE LAST SESSION.

Another great thriller from Julia Bartz. This novel reminds readers how quickly people can be convinced that what you see is not always what it seems. It was interesting to pick the brains of each character and their motives as they are at a retreat that eventually screams CULT to the reader. There were some twists that I did not see coming! If you want a thriller that you won't be able to put down, this should be your next read.

I wanted to love this as much as The Writing Retreat, but it just didn’t do much for me! Enjoyable if very predictable plot and I often couldn’t keep track of all the supporting characters and the reincarnation storylines.

I liked the first part of the book the most, i got involved right away, but it got a little bit too bizarre for me. It was an ambitious attempt to explore cults, spiritual leaders, sexual abuse, relationship issues mixed in with spiritual questions and philosophical ones about reincarnation, our spiritual purposes, interconnections between people. It just went a bit too far for me and at times it felt too long. So a mixed bag for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for this E ARC! Wow just wow. I don't know what it is about Julia Bartz writing but it's just sooooo wildly good to me. This book had me hooked from the beginning and just kept getting crazier and more shocking as it went on. This story follows Thea who works at a rehabilitation center and there she meets Catherine a movie star she was obsessed with as a young girl. From the beginning Thea can tell something is very wrong with Catherine and wants to help her but when Catherine leaves the center and leaves clues as to where she will but Thea feels a connection and responsibility to find her. Thus Thea finds herself in the middle of a cult. Sure this sorry is a little out there and very different but I genuinely think that's what made it so shocking and page turning. Julia has quickly become one of my favorites!

I really liked this author's first book. But this book did not seem like it was written by the same person. The plot focused too much on trauma and not enough on the overall point of the story. I just did not think this book was good. I would suggest her first book though.

I thoroughly enjoyed this author's previous work, "The Writing Retreat," which captured that same feeling of being surrounded by shady asf individuals. I'm a huge fan of locked room thrillers, and I find cults fascinating. The story follows Thea, who is on a quest to find a missing patient from the psychiatric ward where she works, a missing patient that bears a striking resemblance to her with a mysterious connection. Thea's sometimes reckless behavior and her personal struggles add to the story as she seeks answers, making for an exciting nonstop read although at times I was frustrated with her unprofessionalism lol. The cast of characters is diverse, sometimes you love these characters, scared of them, or just plain hate them which fills the plot with unexpected twists. The psychological elements are also quite engaging. And while the ending was crazy and I am still trying to process it is a solid locked room thriller that I would recommend to anyone that enjoys thrillers/mysteries! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy. This review is my own.

Wow, this was a wild book! First of all, I obviously don't know Julia Bartz's history with psychology, and I'm not sure if a lot of the methods used/discussed by Moon and Sol (and other characters, as well, including our protagonist Thea) were actually real, but they certainly SOUNDED quite convincing. Either the author is incredibly well versed in lesser known psychology, such as "ghost lovers", or she's THAT good of an author, that she can write something and completely sell the reader on it. Either way, it's impressive. This book threw me off several times; more than once I found myself wondering exactly what was going on. I knew it wasn't meant to be a supernatural book, but there were aspects of it that were certainly outside the realm of "normal". Bartz did an incredible job of weaving Thea's past in with what was occurring in the present, as well as tying Catherine, Catherine's past, and a movie from their much younger years all into the delusions of the "cult" Sol and Moon were leading. Overall, this was just a very well done book. I had an extremely hard time putting it down. I liked The Writing Retreat, but this surpassed that by a mile. I cannot wait to see what Julia Bartz writes next. If she continues writing along these lines, she has a fan for life!

I think I don’t get along well wit this author. While I enjoyed the writing retreat, the weird lesbian sex was unnecessary and the same thing happened in this book as well. Felt - odd.

A good popcorn thriller! I was enjoying it until the unnecessary orgy was thrown in there.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for sending me this book!

What a wild ride! This book follows a social worker as she searches for a patient who has gone missing. This book throws you into a chaotic journey that has many crazy twists and turns. There were a ton of storylines which made it a bit confusing and all over the place at times.

My brain felt jumbled trying to keep everything straight. However, I think this was by design to make the reader question what is real and what isn’t. Keeping everyone confused goes along with what the character's we’re experiencing as they were being brainwashed.

Thank you #netgalley and #JuliaBartz for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

The Last Session had an intriguing hook - the famous actress in peril and a well intentioned heroine looking to save her. The middle relied on Thea making some really poor choices, which lost me for a bit, but the finale was satisfying enough. There was not an explanation beyond coincidence for the dreams Thea had or the connection she felt with Catherine, which made it feel unresolved.

Having to dnf an arc is not my favorite way to start off my already rocky December reading goal, but here we are!

I made it 28% through and was made ridiculously uncomfortable by the amount of sexual trauma not only mentioned but carelessly thrown around. Not to mention the story starts out strong but at the 25% mark just spirals into something so different from what was described.

Super disappointing, but glad I chose to dnf when I did.

Julia Bartz really creates some very unique and interesting novels. When I began the novel, I felt a little uncomfortable by the subject matter. It was a little out there. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but the writing was clever and addictive and pulled me right in. The book continued to become more enthralling and I quickly became fascinated and entertained by the storyline. I do feel that the last quarter of the book could have been condensed and perhaps sharpened a bit. I felt it became a little repetitive towards the end. Overall, a solid read.