Dinner for Vampires

"Wild!!! I loved her on One Tree Hill and this is her memoir of how the whole time she was on the show, she was in a cult and in an abusive marriage, both of which managed to steal $2 million from her. Honest and acerbic in parts, it was a great read. I love that even though she went through all of that, she didn’t lose her faith in God."

"I’m not huge on memoirs but I really enjoyed listening to this!"

"I LOVE THIS. Bethany Joy Lenz is such a talented writer. She submerged me so deep into the book that I couldn't put it down!!"

"This was so good!! It’s wild how easy it is to get sucked into a cult without realizing it and Joy’s journey through it is a prime example. From the outside looking in, the red flags are so obvious but I can’t imagine actually being in that position and trusting people that are knowingly hurting you. Just such a good look into her life and I’m so glad she’s able to heal and talk about her experiences now!"

"I couldn’t put this book down! "

"Almost a 5 star. It was so good and felt so close to home when it comes to some of the language and commentary on faith "

"A city is flooded, and most people evacuate. One woman, however, refuses, believing God will save her. She climbs onto her roof and waits. A helicopter flies by, offering to rescue her, but she declines, saying she's waiting for God. A boat arrives later, and she refuses again. As the flood rises, another boat offers one last chance, but she again refuses. The floodwaters rise, and she drowns. In heaven, she complains to Peter: "I waited for God, but He didn't save me." Peter replies, "He sent you two boats and a helicopter—what more do you want?"<br/><br/>When the truth comes to a head for Joy, she screams at the top of her lungs "F*** you!" to God above. For years, Joy has prayed for guidance, following in His will, and now she feels betrayed. Building a life in Idaho with her new family, she distances herself from her blood relatives, only to receive what I believe are multiple warnings about the dangerous nature of her Bible study group. To start, her friend Camille, trusting her mother's instincts, warns her after a troubling conversation with one of the group's leaders, Pam. There's the circulation of news articles around speculations of her being in a 'cult.' Her financial advisors urging against investing in the motel. Joy’s relatives reaching out to Les to understand his background while getting no response, making Joy feel more manipulated by her family than supported by her new community. There's the time she overhears Les proclaiming another close friend of hers in the group is 'bipoloar' when she is merely experiencing postpartum. There's the time she witnesses a massive hole in the wall made by her future husband. But the final, and I believe most powerful sign from God, is her daughter, Rosie.<br/><br/>Motherhood brings an indescribable love, one that helps Joy understand her own mother’s concerns. She begins to see her family's fears reflected in her own reservations about the group, especially as she feels a growing instinct to protect her daughter from harm.<br/><br/>Reliving this trauma, especially so publicly, is so difficult, but it offered me insight into an experience I’ll never fully understand. It’s heartbreaking to see how easily young people can be manipulated and controlled. I’m glad Joy found her way out, holding onto her faith—that's no small feat."

"There is so much I want to say but wow. Joy is such a strong woman for going through all of that and especially with a daughter, loved hearing about her journey"