Although this was a very entertaining book with very unexpected plot twists, I just don’t think it was for me. I found the characters hard to like. There were also some elements that felt a little uncomfortable

this book was bat shit crazy! I went into it expecting a mystery and then it got culty and mystical and confusing. There's a lot of different subplots to keep track of and the constant mentions of the fictional movie Stargirl were annoying because I felt like I was missing something.

the main character wasn't believable as a social worker unless she was super bad at her job.

the end was convoluted and felt like an easy way out. I have no idea what happened but I didn't enjoy this because I was confused and stressed the whole time.

Julia Bartz’s The Last Session is one of those books that keeps you flipping pages, not because you’re enjoying every moment, but because you’re desperate to figure out what’s actually happening. Even after finishing, I’m still not entirely sure I know.

The story is packed with intriguing elements—past lives, cult-like dynamics, and the ever-present question of how mental illness factors into the narrative. The unreliable narrators only add to the swirling confusion, making it hard to know what’s real and what’s not.

While the uncertainty is compelling in its own way, it also left me feeling unsatisfied. The book raises so many fascinating questions but doesn’t necessarily deliver clear answers, leaving me wondering if that was the intention or a missed opportunity.

That said, the writing is sharp, and the tension is undeniable. If you’re a fan of psychological twists and unreliable perspectives, The Last Session might be right up your alley. Just don’t expect all the pieces to fit neatly together.

3.5 - I liked this one. I really enjoy cult-centered books. However, this one was a bit too messy for me. The constant Stargirl conversations were confusing, since it felt like everyone was referencing something I had no context for. I also felt like there were way too many threads going on at once, and too many of them were unbelievable. I was honestly confused why Thea even went in the first place. Once she was there, I did enjoy the story and the unhinged characters. I would have enjoyed this even more with a more streamlined focus.

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book really started off in a way that captivated me. It touches on a lot of subject matter that is sensitive and deserves to be talked about more. However, after about 30% of the way in it just fell flat. Something shifted and the rest of the book felt poorly put together and rushed.

The first half of the book was very compelling, exploring mental health and religious and sexual trauma. The focus on cult dynamics was especially intriguing, and I was eager to see how these threads would develop. However, I struggled a little bit with the length and some confusing parts of the plot. The story took me a long time to finish, and the latter half felt disjointed and confusing.

That said, the last few chapters provided some redemption, tying up loose ends and offering closure. By the end, I was left with mixed feelings—appreciative of the themes and strong start, but disappointed by the uneven pacing and lack of clarity.

the beginning of this book pulled me in, and i wanted to know more about thea and catherine. everything went downhill in mexico, though. i enjoy a book with some good twists, but “the last session” was too chaotic. there was a lot that did not add up even when i tried to make sense of it. however, thank you to netgalley/the author for this ARC!

This book was good but not as good as the writing retreat, which had me on the edge of my chair. The main character is a therapist who is trying to help a catatonic patient. When the woman wakes up, the therapist believes she is the star of her favorite movie when she was a teenager. The beginning of this novel was good, but then the author starts dipping into cultish territory, and unbelievable events. Some of it seems too fantastic to be believable. I was a little bit disappointed after reading the writing retreat, but it was still an OK read. Thank you, NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.

Talk about a rollercoaster—this had me on edge from start to finish, and I loved every second of it. The tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife, and just when I thought I had things figured out, it threw me for another loop. I usually pride myself on spotting twists early, but this one kept me guessing the entire time. Once I got into it, I couldn’t put it down—seriously, clear your schedule. If you’re looking for a thriller that messes with your head in the best way possible, this is it.

This was a suspenseful thriller. I didn’t fly through the pages like I normally do with a thriller but it was mostly because the suspense got scary in places and I had to put it down. I loved the almost supernatural elements that crept in.

Social worker Thea is shocked to find a catatonic Jane Doe show up at her psychiatric unit that happens to look very much like herself. When she finds out that she is her favorite teen star, she would do anything to make her better. Upon her release, Thea's concern for her grows and she follows her trail to a wellness retreat in New Mexico. As Thea gets closer to finding her patient, she also learns strange things about her own traumatic past through the intense, unethical exercises she has to do. Will she be able to survive the last session?

I loved this story. The wellness center was very mysterious and creepy. I enjoyed learning the history and connections between everyone that was at the center. There were a few sexual encounters that may be uncomfortable for some readers. There is also some religious trauma as well.

While I liked the direction this book took, I wish that there the ending was made more black and white.

Thanks to Netgalley & Atria Books for the E-ARC! Really enjoyed! Very fast-paced & very interesting setting. Had me keep turning the page. Will definitely read more from this author.

The introduction to this story is so intense and gripping but it unfortunately fell flat for me in the end. When the talk of cults was introduced it seemed interesting at first but I quickly got bored and confused. This was a tough one for me to get through but I did appreciate the short chapters.

This took me a while to get into because it started a bit slow for me. Some of the topics that were explored throughout the book were a bit much and I wasn’t expecting it at all. Maybe I missed the trigger warnings. But once it picked up I was about to enjoy it. I wanted more from the ending as well.

Julia Bartz writes another page-turning thriller with The Last Session, about what happens when healing is left in the wrong hands. Five glorious stars for this thriller which I absolutely inhaled! Recommend for fans of Julia Bartz' first thriller—The Writing Retreat—or fans of fast-paced, action-packed psychological thrillers like Ruth Ware or Alice Feeney. Can't wait to read whatever she writes next!

I loved The Writing Retreat. So, I jumped at the chance to read The Last Session. I did like this book, but I didn't love it. I can't quite put a finger on why. The writing is solid. It just felt like something wasn't fully formed here, to me, at least.

Cults happen. People join them. I find real life and fictional cults interesting, but I think this one needed a little more grounding. A lot of what happened was never fully flushed out or explained. So, this requires a ton of belief suspension.

Still, I think thriller readers will enjoy the book and I will read whatever Julia Bartz comes up with next.

The Last Session - A Thriller That Gets Under Your Skin

Julia Bartz's new thriller starts with a bang. A social worker named Thea spots a mysterious patient who seems familiar. This leads her to a wellness center in New Mexico, where something's very wrong.

Bartz, a former therapist, knows her stuff. She writes about mental health and healing with the confidence of someone who's been there, but she never lets the details slow down the story. The book races forward, dropping clues like breadcrumbs, each one darker than the last.

The wellness center feels perfect for a thriller - all peaceful on the surface, but underneath? That's where the story gets interesting. Thea's a great main character, smart enough to spot trouble but damaged enough to walk right into it.

Sure, it takes a few chapters to get going, but once it does, you won't put it down. If you like thrillers that make you think while they keep you up at night, this one's for you.

4.5/5 stars

This book wasn't quite what I expected, and I'm not sure if that is a good thing or not. There were darker issues than I expected to find, and I think this could have benefited from some trigger warnings in the description. Sadly, the pace was also an issue. It dragged, Which made it hard for me to stay engaged or care about the outcome. Then there were some parts that just had me rolling my eyes. I'm okay with suspending disbelief, but it was a bit too much for this one. The ending was disappointing, as there were too many things left undone.

Possible Trigger Warnings: sexual assault, cults, religious abuse, bullying, and alcohol abuse

This one is so hard to review because I wanted to love it so much. I really love Julia Bartz writing. I was a huge fan of her previous book The Writing Retreat that’s why I was so excited for The Last Session. Unfortunately this one just didn’t work for me.

The book is split up into four parts and honestly so much of it felt so disconnected to me. I really enjoyed the second part but then we got into the third part and that’s where the book lost me completely. It felt so unbelievably it was hard to stay in the story. I understand this books deals with cults and I get what the author was trying to do it just didn’t work for me.

I did enjoy the main character Thea. I also really liked how well the author wrote the retreat and the atmosphere it was able to put off to the reader. I could feel the dryness of the desert when reading some of the descriptions. I really enjoyed that in a book.

Overall I feel a bit let down but maybe that’s just because of my own taste. I do feel like people who are obsessed with cult books would really enjoy this one. I would definitely still recommend it because I do really enjoy this authors writing. The Last Session just didn’t work for me.
2/5 Stars

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me an arc in exchange for my honest review.

This locked-room thriller by the bestselling author of The Writing Retreat is a taut and unrelenting psychological puzzle that will keep readers hooked from its eerie beginning to its jaw-dropping conclusion. Set against the haunting backdrop of a remote New Mexico desert, the novel deftly explores themes of trauma, trust, and the darker side of human connection.

The story follows Thea, a determined social worker who finds herself drawn into a sinister web after a catatonic patient with ties to her past vanishes. Thea’s journey to uncover the truth leads her to a mysterious wellness retreat, where the unconventional and increasingly disturbing exercises blur the line between healing and manipulation. As Thea navigates the retreat’s intimate and unsettling demands, the narrative becomes a compelling mix of psychological tension and suspenseful unraveling.

The author’s greatest strength lies in their ability to build atmosphere. The isolation of the desert and the oppressive, cult-like environment of the retreat mirror Thea’s internal struggle, heightening the suspense. The exercises she endures are unsettling yet fascinating, forcing both Thea and the reader to confront uncomfortable truths about vulnerability and power.

Thea is a compelling protagonist—flawed but fiercely determined. Her journey is as much about confronting her own traumatic past as it is about finding the missing patient. The secondary characters, particularly the enigmatic leaders of the retreat, are intriguingly layered, adding to the novel’s pervasive sense of unease.

While the twists are satisfying and the pacing relentless, a few plot threads feel underdeveloped, leaving questions lingering after the final page. However, the gripping narrative and the exploration of trauma and resilience more than make up for these minor shortcomings.

This novel is perfect for fans of psychological thrillers like Verity or The Last House on Needless Street. With its chilling setting, complex characters, and razor-sharp tension, it’s a dark and captivating read that will linger in your mind long after you’ve closed the book.