angieoverbooked's reviews
488 reviews

I may come back and add more words when I can find them… 

This book broke my heart and then put it back together.

I loved it so much. 

For better or worse, I am a big One Tree Hill fan. So, the first thing to note is that if you're looking for a detailed account of Joy's experience on the show- nostalgic or entertaining behind-the-scenes stories, her take on the accusations against the show's creator or intimate tales about or with her co-stars- you're not going to get it. Considering the current re-watch podcast, "Drama Queens" which I faithfully listen to, I at least expected more commentary on the evolution of her relationships with Sophia and Hilarie, but nope. (I can count on one hand the number of times their names were mentioned.)

This book title and subtitle should simply be reversed: Dinner for Vampires- Life in a Cult: While Also Being on a Cult TV Show!

She gets the role on One Tree Hill about 35% into the book and the show ends around 80%. And within those chapters, the show is mostly a parallel timeline to her real life and the escalation of her bible study group to a high demand "family" aka cult. Very little of this book highlights the cult following the show had and still has to this day. 

That said, it so happens that I am also extremely interested in cults, so I was still very engaged with this book. She tells the story slowly and sincerely, the way I imagine it happened and felt for her. She found a group where she felt accepted, loved and safe, a family that felt stronger and more peaceful than the one she was born into. I understood why she fell in love with these people. I'd want this feeling too, especially as a young actor essentially alone in LA. The alarms don't really start to go off until you find yourself isolated from your family and friends, losing your autonomy and millions of dollars. Oh, and you're married to the leader's son. Yikes.

I'll be interested to see how this is received when it's officially out in the world. I think people who've been or are in a similar situation will make a lot of connections to Joy's story. I think those fascinated by cult stories will want to understand how this one played out. I think general One Tree Hills fans will think it misses the mark in terms of it not being a balanced story of the show and the cult. But Bethany Joy Lenz fans will appreciate her insight and vulnerability in sharing her story.

The rating is not for her experience but the writing and organization of the book. 

I have friends who enjoyed this but I just couldn’t get with the initial message that a woman:

-can’t dare be single after 30 
-needs a man to take care of her 
-can’t find love because of her size 
-needs a man so she can have babies on her parents timeline of becoming grandparents 

Etc etc 

No thanks.