Thanks NetGalley for the free ARC! I thought the storyline was very entertaining and I appreciated that the protagonist was insightful because her thinking was relatable. I did feel the climax was very far fetched and unbelievable. I would recommend because it was a good read.

Lucinda Berry nails it every time, writing on such bleak topics but making such a captivating story. I didn’t see the twists coming. That being said, I was a little off put by the ending, it seemed abrupt and I just wanted one more chapter!

Thank you to Lucinda Berry, NetGalley, and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC!

A quick read that was twisty and gripping, however disliked how the premise switches halfway through. Became very graphic and triggering, which for me personally, I did not enjoy. Almost DNF'd but did want to get to the end (which was a bit anti-climactic).

Thank you netgalley and the publishers or this ARC of this book. This was a thriller that had me hooked with plot twists that I didn’t see coming. The character development was what hooked me, and the story’s plot kept me engaged. The pacing and themes throughout the story were well developed and I definitely will be recommending this to my book club in 2025.

•TW for self harm and suicide•

•Lucinda Berry is an automatic read author for me, which is why I didn’t even read the synopsis of this book before requesting on NetGalley. She typically writes about topics others sometimes shy away from and I admire that about her. This book was similar in that sense, but different in many others.

•One in Four begins with a death at a reality tv rehab facility. This rehab is specifically designed for former child stars who are trying to better themselves while still being in front of the camera. None of the patients seem reliable, and honestly, neither do the counselors.

•I thought this book started off strong, but midway through took an odd turn. The focus then shifted from the death at the rehab to something else entirely. It also became very gory and detailed self harm in great detail. I have mixed feelings about this book as a whole.

•Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Lucinda Berry for this ARC. It will be available on May 13, 2025.

Whew. That one was dark. I know to expect that from Lucinda, but the graphic descriptions were unexpected. I definitely don’t hold it against the book, I just think it’s worth mentioning.

This was a wild ride, as usual. I was immediately hooked upon the premise of a reality “Big Brother” show surrounding addicts. As morally corrupt as that would be in real life, it surely makes for good fiction. There were so many twists and turns, I never could have expected where this story was going. I liked having alternating POVs where we got into the mind of “Her” while unraveling the current events.

The characters are complex, the storyline is winding, and the climax is INSANE. (But at the same time, what did she expect???)

Ok. I am trying to get my thoughts together. I just finished this a few minutes ago and the prevalent thought is how messed up this book is (with much stronger language). Berry has perfected the art of leaving her readers trembling and trying to work through the trauma of her words. She’s a master at the psychological part of psychological thrillers. Suffocating and unrelenting are two words I would use to describe this book. I really, really enjoyed reading this but definitely need a rom com next!

ONE IN FOUR was a quick and entertaining thriller with a fast setup and plenty of twists and turns. The plot, while a bit far fetched, was still easy to follow, with a couple of jaw dropping moments. The latter third of the story did drag on, with lots of tedious and at times unnecessary dialogue. Overall still a fun read and continue to enjoy books by Lucinda Berry.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read and review ONE IN FOUR.

read if you like:
📺 reality shows
👮‍♂️ whodunnits
📚 addictions

summary:
This book follows Dr. Laurel Hargrove, a therapist who has agreed to be on a reality show of former child stars struggling with addiction, when one night, one of them ends up dead. Everyone in the house is hiding secrets, and as the investigation gets underway around Maddi’s death, the cameras running 24/7 risk exposing everyone for who they are, and more importantly, Maddi’s killer.

The concept of this book is so unique. I’ve read a couple of thrillers centered around reality shows, but none that integrate addiction into them. That being said, the setting is kind of weird. It feels a little bit exploitive to be filming these former child stars struggling with addiction, and I actually did not find Laurel that likable because of her obsession with the patients themselves. I understand that addiction counselors get close to their patients, but Laurel’s relationship kind of felt like it crossed the line. Those things aside, the storyline is really interesting and moves quickly. It’s told with alternating POV’s between the present time, and the past, from someone we only know as “her”. The juxtaposition makes the story more compelling, and the ending is completely unpredictable and incredibly tragic. I still don’t know if I’m satisfied with it, but it certainly was unlike anything I could have expected! Fair warning though, it is graphic!

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the ARC. Make sure you check this book out when it releases on May 13!

I love Lucinda Berry and really enjoyed her newest novel , One in Four. It was super disturbing and fast paced, had everything I love about her writing! I did find the ending fell a little flat for me, hence the four stars

This book left me grumpy.

• I hated everyone. Literally everyone.
• It’s not about the reality TV show.
• It’s not about our narcissistic celebrity addicts.
• The book changes into an entirely different book partially through – a book I would not have chosen!
• The reason behind everything is complicated, bizarre, and unbelievable.
• I did not like the ending.

I did finish the book, but it was very definitely not for me.

*ARC via publisher

Dr. Laurel Hargrow has reluctantly taken on the role of chemical dependency counselor for a high-stakes reality TV show, hoping to ease the financial strain she and her wife are facing. The show, filled with drama and over-the-top personalities, is a ticking time bomb—and one fateful night, it explodes when a cast member turns up dead.

What happened? Why is Dr. Hargrow suddenly a person of interest? And how does this seemingly outrageous tragedy connect to Laurel’s own life and choices? One in Four by Lucinda Berry is more than a thriller about the chaos behind reality TV; it’s an intricate exploration of Laurel’s psyche and the relationships that shape her. As the story unfolds, the focus shifts from the glittering, bombastic world of reality television to Laurel’s tangled personal and professional life, revealing layers of tension and secrets.

Lucinda Berry masterfully weaves a gripping cat-and-mouse game that keeps you guessing until the final page. True to form, Berry doesn’t just deliver twists—she also dives deep into the human mind, offering sharp insights into psychology and addiction.

Suspenseful, thought-provoking, and emotionally charged, One in Four is both a pulse-pounding thriller and an intimate character study that will linger in your mind long after you’ve turned the last page.

#ThomasAndMercer #LucindaBerry #OneInFour #PsychologicalThriller

Lucinda Berry nails it again with One in Four. This book had me hooked from the start—it’s fast-paced, full of twists, and the ending was absolutely brilliant. Like most of Berry’s work, it’s an easy read that keeps you engaged the whole way through. I also thought the premise was super interesting. Reality shows aren’t new, but the way this one was tied into a psychological thriller felt fresh and unique. I especially loved how the book handled addiction, with thoughtful commentary that really broke away from the usual twelve-step narrative. Dr. Harlow’s character was a standout, and her backstory added a lot of depth and helped explain her perspective.

That said, there were a couple of things that didn’t land as well for me. The murder storyline felt a bit underwhelming at first, though it all wrapped up nicely in the end. I just wish it had been given more attention earlier on. And while the reality show contestants were interesting in concept, most of them didn’t feel fully fleshed out. A little more depth for those characters would’ve added some extra tension and made the story even more impactful.

Overall, One in Four is a gripping, quick read with a unique angle that thriller fans will love. If you’re into books like Karin Slaugher’s Pretty Girls or Gillian Flynn’s Sharp Objects, this one’s definitely worth picking up.

I could not say enough how amazing this story was!!! I was so drawn in from the very beginning. It was fantastic. I loved the storyline! Itd be a fun book club pick.

One of the former child stars in a reality TV show is seen dying on camera and Dr. Laurel Hargrow feels responsible. The show centers on the clients getting sober and is live-streamed 24/7 as they battle their addictions. Laurel really cares about the clients she was treating and can’t understand how this happened. Almost from the start, she’s under suspicion from the police when she just wants to help the patients at this crucial time. The more she tries to uncover what Maddie could have been hiding, the more questions she has. Nothing seems to add up between what Maddie left behind and what Laurel knew from their sessions together. The farther she digs, the less she trusts anyone. Will she find out the truth about Maddie’s death before it’s too late?

There’s not too much to be said without divulging the secrets of this book, but I was gripped from the get-go. I did hope there’d be more about the child stars’ histories, like scenes from their shows or whatnot, but that’s not the focus of the story. It’s really more about Laurel than the patient who died and the reality show they were involved with. There’s a twist that Laurel should have seen coming a mile away but what it leads to is surprising, yet also a bit unrealistic. When you hear terrible things about a person you love, who wouldn’t even talk to them about it and instead just believe it all, no questions asked? And then go on to commit a worse act than they supposedly did? There’s just so much that makes no sense about that.

While I didn’t love the direction the story went towards the end, it was still an enjoyable read and I respect that the author isn’t afraid to be dark because that’s how real life is. Now, if you want a breezy fun read for an escape, this might not be the book for you! Otherwise, give it a go and prepare for one emotional journey.

One in Four is a standalone title written by Lucinda Berry.

Release date: May 13, 2025

*Reality television show
*Celebrity rehab
*On page assault

Lucinda Berry delivers another gripping and graphic depiction of real life experiences. This story deals with individuals who are going through rehab while dealing with their celebrity lifestyles.

When one of the participants ends up dead, the on-site chemical dependency counselor soon finds herself as the prime suspect in the murder.

What follows is many pages of detailed assaults of a college girl and the main character. This book does not have a happily ever after in any sense of the word.

Fans of Lucinda Berry will know what to expect in this book, if this is a new author for you, tread carefully and know your triggers.

TW: sexual assault, drug use, suicide, cheating, bullying, kidnapping

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this title!

Format: NetGalley ebook
Genre: Thriller / Suspense
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️
Characters: Laurel (FMC)

Ugh I’m so mad at this book, the ending just felt unnecessarily mean 😫

What I liked about it:
The first 50% started off really strong. I loved the plot which followed a live stream tv series gone wrong. The show follows child stars who have turned to drugs in their adolescent and adult lives. They are a group of 7 who move into a home together (think big brother except the purpose is for rehabilitation and there is lots of detoxing and therapy / recovery groups which viewers can watch live streamed 24/7).

The show definitely gives off ethically questionable vibes concerning extorting people in their most vulnerable / and can people really give fully informed consent when they are in the throes of drug addiction.. However the therapist Laurel made some really good points and I was intrigued with her methods and could tell from their meetings that she genuinely cared about each patient and wanted the best for them.

The group is almost on their last day when something goes wrong and one of them unexpectedly dies. Laurel becomes a suspect and starts to believe somebody is setting her up.

Now this is where the plot kind of loses me, things take a big 180 turn and although the action and drama is definitely kicked up ten notches, things seem to just spiral from this point on and I struggled to get on board with it.

After forming attachments to the main character I just really hate how the book ended. We were thrown in the mix with some dark subject matter and the author seemed to take it one step further and decide to destroy any potential semblance of hope the reader may hold onto. Yes the shock factor was intense, yes there was an extra couple of twists thrown into the end, but instead of giving me the “wow” factor, it just depressed the hell out of me.

✅ Good writing, fast pace, flawed likeable FMC with complex redeemable qualities
❌ unsatisfying ending

Thank you to Thomas and Mercer and Lucinda berry for the EARC!

Publish date: May 13th 2025.

I devoured this in the briefest of sittings. This was my first Lucinda Berry book and certainly will not be my last. Perfect balance of character work, plot, and twists.

Fantastic!
Lucinda Berry fans are going to loooove it! 🤩
I always go into my favorite author's books blind and I'm so glad I did with this one.. Not what I was expecting.

Check for your triggers, per usual.
Laurel is a psychologist, specializing in addiction recovery, taking care of rich childhood stars. Life is looking up for the former addiction, until tragedy strikes with someone close to her. She takes matters into her own hands when it looks like hope is lost, but who can she turn to and who can she trust? Something is not adding up but how will she prove it?
The story within the story is heartbreaking and hard to read at times but I was deeply immersed in Laurel's unfortunate situation.
I couldn't get through this book fast enough! The characters make you want to scream and as always, LB leaves you wanting more, but I think this one will stick with me for a while.

I have been a Lucinda Berry fan since my first Kindle. She's a wonderful writer of suspense and One In Four has plenty of it. It was difficult to put down by the time you get about 20% into it. I was not a fan of the ending and some parts of the book were a little difficult to read. It does involve some sexual assault / rape / abuse and is where the title of the book came from, I believe. A statistic is mentioned in the book that "one in four women will be sexually assaulted by the time they're 20 or 30" (paraphrasing, but that's the gist of it). While IDK if it's accurate or fictional, it wouldn't surprise me to find out its true, unfortunately. This book felt a bit different from her previous reads but still had me flipping pages like they were on fire. Great read.