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The Last Session
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Expected 1 Apr 25From the instant New York Times bestselling author of The Writing Retreat, a white-knuckled locked-room thriller about a social worker who, after coming face-to-face with her dark past, must infiltrate a mysterious wellness center in the deserts of New Mexico.
When a catatonic woman shows up at the psychiatric unit, social worker Thea swears she knows her from somewhere. She’s shocked to discover the patient holds a link to a traumatic time in her past. Upon regaining lucidity, the patient claims she can’t remember the horrific recent events that caused her brain to shut down. Thea’s at a loss—especially when the patient is ripped away from her as suddenly as she appeared.
Determined to find her, Thea follows a trail of clues to a remote center in Southwestern New Mexico, where a charismatic couple holds a controversial monthly retreat to uncover attendees’ romantic and sexual issues. Forced to participate in increasingly intimate exercises, Thea finds herself inching closer not only to her missing patient, but also to tantalizing answers about her harrowing past. However, time is running out, and if she stays for the last session, she too might lose her mind…or worse.
When a catatonic woman shows up at the psychiatric unit, social worker Thea swears she knows her from somewhere. She’s shocked to discover the patient holds a link to a traumatic time in her past. Upon regaining lucidity, the patient claims she can’t remember the horrific recent events that caused her brain to shut down. Thea’s at a loss—especially when the patient is ripped away from her as suddenly as she appeared.
Determined to find her, Thea follows a trail of clues to a remote center in Southwestern New Mexico, where a charismatic couple holds a controversial monthly retreat to uncover attendees’ romantic and sexual issues. Forced to participate in increasingly intimate exercises, Thea finds herself inching closer not only to her missing patient, but also to tantalizing answers about her harrowing past. However, time is running out, and if she stays for the last session, she too might lose her mind…or worse.
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication April 1, 2025
72 people are currently reading
17.8k people want to read
About the author
Julia Bartz
2 books1,137 followersJulia Bartz is a Brooklyn-based writer and practicing therapist. Her fiction writing has appeared in The South Dakota Review, InDigest Magazine, and more. The Writing Retreat is her first novel. Follow her on Twitter @JuliaBartz and Instagram at @JuliaBartz.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 384 reviews
January 4, 2025
My thanks to Atria Books, Julia Bartz and Netgalley.
So, I just reviewed this 2 minutes ago, and it got deleted. By Netgalley. Fine. This had better not be some new shit. Does Amazon now own Netgalley?
Not going through the review again.
I enjoyed this book. Damned ole' messed up cults! Honestly, my main thought was about the sad sacks that fall for this type of shit.
Hell, I rejected my Christian upbringing when I was in the sixth grade! There's conspiracy theories and then there's me.
I'll admit that I expected to love this, mostly because I loved Julia's last book. This was good, but not what I was looking for.
Doesn't matter. Bartz already won me over with her first book. She's got a fan in me!
3 1/2 stars rounded down.
So, I just reviewed this 2 minutes ago, and it got deleted. By Netgalley. Fine. This had better not be some new shit. Does Amazon now own Netgalley?
Not going through the review again.
I enjoyed this book. Damned ole' messed up cults! Honestly, my main thought was about the sad sacks that fall for this type of shit.
Hell, I rejected my Christian upbringing when I was in the sixth grade! There's conspiracy theories and then there's me.
I'll admit that I expected to love this, mostly because I loved Julia's last book. This was good, but not what I was looking for.
Doesn't matter. Bartz already won me over with her first book. She's got a fan in me!
3 1/2 stars rounded down.
March 8, 2025
Julia Bartz delivers a compelling and atmospheric tale in The Last Session, a locked-room thriller that masterfully intertwines psychological suspense with deeper themes of trauma, healing, and human connection. Thea, a social worker haunted by her past, is thrust into a disturbing web of secrets when a catatonic patient unexpectedly connects her to long-buried memories. What begins as a professional pursuit quickly transforms into a personal journey as Thea infiltrates a mysterious retreat in the deserts of New Mexico, uncovering truths that challenge both her beliefs and her sanity.
The novel is a vivid exploration of the interplay between trauma and self-discovery, with Bartz crafting an unsettling yet immersive atmosphere that keeps readers on edge. The remote retreat setting is both alluring and menacing, with its charismatic leaders and unconventional methods pushing Thea—and the reader—toward uncomfortable revelations. As the exercises grow more intense, the tension rises, and Bartz deftly balances the suspense with introspective moments that delve into Thea’s psyche.
While the pacing is brisk and the twists are plentiful, the story occasionally veers into implausible territory, requiring a suspension of disbelief, particularly regarding Thea's decisions as a professional. However, this is offset by the novel’s ability to hold the reader’s attention with its unpredictable turns and rich, layered characters. Thea’s vulnerability and determination make her a relatable protagonist, even when her actions border on questionable.
Themes of cult-like dynamics, the ethics of mental health care, and the lingering effects of childhood trauma add depth to the narrative. Bartz’s nuanced portrayal of these issues elevates the book beyond a simple thriller, offering thought-provoking commentary on the lengths people will go to confront their past and protect those they care about.
Despite some uneven pacing and a slightly rushed conclusion, The Last Session is a dark and compelling read that will appeal to fans of psychological suspense and locked-room mysteries. With its eerie setting, complex themes, and gripping plot, it’s a book that lingers long after the final page.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books for sharing this wild ride's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
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The novel is a vivid exploration of the interplay between trauma and self-discovery, with Bartz crafting an unsettling yet immersive atmosphere that keeps readers on edge. The remote retreat setting is both alluring and menacing, with its charismatic leaders and unconventional methods pushing Thea—and the reader—toward uncomfortable revelations. As the exercises grow more intense, the tension rises, and Bartz deftly balances the suspense with introspective moments that delve into Thea’s psyche.
While the pacing is brisk and the twists are plentiful, the story occasionally veers into implausible territory, requiring a suspension of disbelief, particularly regarding Thea's decisions as a professional. However, this is offset by the novel’s ability to hold the reader’s attention with its unpredictable turns and rich, layered characters. Thea’s vulnerability and determination make her a relatable protagonist, even when her actions border on questionable.
Themes of cult-like dynamics, the ethics of mental health care, and the lingering effects of childhood trauma add depth to the narrative. Bartz’s nuanced portrayal of these issues elevates the book beyond a simple thriller, offering thought-provoking commentary on the lengths people will go to confront their past and protect those they care about.
Despite some uneven pacing and a slightly rushed conclusion, The Last Session is a dark and compelling read that will appeal to fans of psychological suspense and locked-room mysteries. With its eerie setting, complex themes, and gripping plot, it’s a book that lingers long after the final page.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books for sharing this wild ride's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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December 16, 2024
After reading and loving the authors debut novel, The Writing Retreat, I was really looking forward to her second novel.
I really liked the beginning of the story and the writing quickly pulled me in. I also really liked the fact that the main character was a therapist like I am. I also loved the cult aspect of the story.
However I did find a few issues with the book.
I don't mind an over the top/suspend your beliefs type of story but there were so many of these situations in this one that it became a bit much. I also felt as if there was too much of a focus on the Stargirl film (a movie that the main character was obsessed with as a teen).
Even though I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did The Writing Retreat, I still liked this one and would recommend it to thriller readers. I will also look forward to reading whatever Julia Bartz writes in the future.
The Last Session by Julia Bartz will be available on April 1. Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the gifted copy!
I really liked the beginning of the story and the writing quickly pulled me in. I also really liked the fact that the main character was a therapist like I am. I also loved the cult aspect of the story.
However I did find a few issues with the book.
I don't mind an over the top/suspend your beliefs type of story but there were so many of these situations in this one that it became a bit much. I also felt as if there was too much of a focus on the Stargirl film (a movie that the main character was obsessed with as a teen).
Even though I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did The Writing Retreat, I still liked this one and would recommend it to thriller readers. I will also look forward to reading whatever Julia Bartz writes in the future.
The Last Session by Julia Bartz will be available on April 1. Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the gifted copy!
March 19, 2025
The Last Session is the latest suspense novel from Julia Bartz. Creepy and filled with strange character, it's part mystery and part horror, but not in the typical sense. There's a little foray into the paranormal, perhaps, tho not really at the same time. History reliving itself? A chain of souls tied together? Sisters reborn? Many ways to look at it. While I enjoy the author's writing, the plots are somewhat out there for me, whereas I'm more of a traditional reader. I need a realistic sense rather than an ethereal quality of how everything relates together. But still enjoyable and a good alternative path to take from time to time. Will look for the next author's book and add to my queue.
December 28, 2024
ARC for review. To be published April 1, 2025.
2.5 stars, so 3. I lowered rating half a star as I was writing review.
Thea is a young social worker at a psychiatric hospital who comes across a patient she feels an odd connection with… and the woman resembles her. The woman is mute and majorly traumatized upon entering the hospital, then claims she doesn’t remember anything that led her there. Then the woman disappears.
In a move I don’t understand at all, except to assume Thea wasn’t really a social worker at the hospital but instead a patient? Maybe everyone in this book is a patient? Maybe all this is taking place in a snow globe? I don’t know, but anyway, Thea decides that she must find the missing patient, and, you know, just peaces out on her job and her life in order to do so. As you would.
In searching for the patient Thea comes across a couple holding monthly retreats to help people with romantic and sexual issues. So, NATURALLY, Thea, thinking the woman might be found at the retreat just goes ahead and signs herself up…for something she believes might have driven the woman she is seeking into a mute trauma response. Again, as you would do.
In a surprise to exactly no one but Thea the Incredulous the retreat turns out to be….oh, I don’t know, a bit icky. Is the woman there? What is going on?
Oh, there’s also some stuff about Thea’s childhood and some movie she was obsessed with as a kid. This is all important.
So, other than having to suspend a fair amount of disbelief when wondering how Thea makes it through the day without getting hit by a bus, and whether the girl has one ounce of survival instinct (spoiler alert: she does not), the tone of this book felt….heavy to me. It took me awhile to get through it. Maybe that just means Bartz does atmosphere well. I think I’m likely to be an outlier in not loving it, and there were parts of it I liked fine, hence the three stars versus two. I fear I’m not explaining this well….did a book ever just give you a feeling you didn’t like? This was that, for me. 2.5 stars, really rounded to three.
2.5 stars, so 3. I lowered rating half a star as I was writing review.
Thea is a young social worker at a psychiatric hospital who comes across a patient she feels an odd connection with… and the woman resembles her. The woman is mute and majorly traumatized upon entering the hospital, then claims she doesn’t remember anything that led her there. Then the woman disappears.
In a move I don’t understand at all, except to assume Thea wasn’t really a social worker at the hospital but instead a patient? Maybe everyone in this book is a patient? Maybe all this is taking place in a snow globe? I don’t know, but anyway, Thea decides that she must find the missing patient, and, you know, just peaces out on her job and her life in order to do so. As you would.
In searching for the patient Thea comes across a couple holding monthly retreats to help people with romantic and sexual issues. So, NATURALLY, Thea, thinking the woman might be found at the retreat just goes ahead and signs herself up…for something she believes might have driven the woman she is seeking into a mute trauma response. Again, as you would do.
In a surprise to exactly no one but Thea the Incredulous the retreat turns out to be….oh, I don’t know, a bit icky. Is the woman there? What is going on?
Oh, there’s also some stuff about Thea’s childhood and some movie she was obsessed with as a kid. This is all important.
So, other than having to suspend a fair amount of disbelief when wondering how Thea makes it through the day without getting hit by a bus, and whether the girl has one ounce of survival instinct (spoiler alert: she does not), the tone of this book felt….heavy to me. It took me awhile to get through it. Maybe that just means Bartz does atmosphere well. I think I’m likely to be an outlier in not loving it, and there were parts of it I liked fine, hence the three stars versus two. I fear I’m not explaining this well….did a book ever just give you a feeling you didn’t like? This was that, for me. 2.5 stars, really rounded to three.
March 2, 2025
Rating: ⭐⭐ ½
Genre: Mystery Thriller
This is the first time I read something by Julia Bartz. Many of my friends loved her debut book, so when I had the opportunity to read her latest work, I decided to give it a try. The story follows a social worker in a psychiatric unit called Thea. At her work, Thea comes across a woman with a traumatic past, so she decides to uncover her story.
Thea’s investigation leads her to New Mexico, where she goes to a remote wellness center. What she finds there is shocking. It affects her in a way where the lines between reality, therapy, and manipulation get extremely blurred.
I don’t know what to say about this book! The plot itself seems very intriguing, but I feel the story failed to be engaging. Some parts felt really interesting, and the story was moving in the right direction, but there were parts of the story that were totally over the top and didn’t make sense to me. When a story is over the top, even if in parts, usually it moves fast. Strangely, this one was slow as well.
Overall, I found this book to be a bit of a letdown. If you are going to read it, keep in mind the points I mentioned. Maybe if you get into it with lower expectations, you might end up liking it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
Genre: Mystery Thriller
This is the first time I read something by Julia Bartz. Many of my friends loved her debut book, so when I had the opportunity to read her latest work, I decided to give it a try. The story follows a social worker in a psychiatric unit called Thea. At her work, Thea comes across a woman with a traumatic past, so she decides to uncover her story.
Thea’s investigation leads her to New Mexico, where she goes to a remote wellness center. What she finds there is shocking. It affects her in a way where the lines between reality, therapy, and manipulation get extremely blurred.
I don’t know what to say about this book! The plot itself seems very intriguing, but I feel the story failed to be engaging. Some parts felt really interesting, and the story was moving in the right direction, but there were parts of the story that were totally over the top and didn’t make sense to me. When a story is over the top, even if in parts, usually it moves fast. Strangely, this one was slow as well.
Overall, I found this book to be a bit of a letdown. If you are going to read it, keep in mind the points I mentioned. Maybe if you get into it with lower expectations, you might end up liking it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
December 2, 2024
I could have done without the orgy.
Isn’t that a hell of a way to begin a review? But seriously. Did not need that.
This is a book that starts out as an interesting mystery and then veers off the rails into woo woo land. The reason behind everything is bizarre.
The author asks for a lot of buy in from the reader – I mean you have to accept some really implausible things. The problem is that my own buy in started plummeting the more I read. Plot holes abound, logic leaves the building, and, yes, sudden orgy.
The book definitely kept me reading and moves quickly.
3 stars because I didn’t put it down…even though sometimes I think I should have.
• ARC via Publisher
Isn’t that a hell of a way to begin a review? But seriously. Did not need that.
This is a book that starts out as an interesting mystery and then veers off the rails into woo woo land. The reason behind everything is bizarre.
The author asks for a lot of buy in from the reader – I mean you have to accept some really implausible things. The problem is that my own buy in started plummeting the more I read. Plot holes abound, logic leaves the building, and, yes, sudden orgy.
The book definitely kept me reading and moves quickly.
3 stars because I didn’t put it down…even though sometimes I think I should have.
• ARC via Publisher
February 27, 2025
2.5
Thea works as a social worker in a New York City psychiatric ward. The newest patient admitted to her ward is a catatonic female named Jane Doe. Thea tries her best to communicate to the new patient to no avail, however, she finds Jane to be somewhat familiar. After racking her brain, she thinks Jane may be the actress on one of her favorite movies Stargirl. Armed with this information, Thea goes into work the following day to discover Catherine(Jane Doe) has left. Thea makes it her mission to track down Catherine, which leads her to a retreat in New Mexico.
The idea behind this was there. Thea was in a cult like community growing up and has been traumatized as a result. Fast forward to her investigation, as an adult, she finds herself in a similar situation at the New Mexico retreat. For the first 50% I wanted to know how it all tied together and it seems to be moving at a pace that was enjoyable. Then it just completely went off the rails. I don’t even know how to explain how far off the track it went. It went from somewhat realistic to completely non-realistic in a blink of a page. I was willing to overlook the unprofessionalism of Thea as she didn’t quite resonate as a social worker. But then once I realized the avenue the author was going that was the least of my quibbles. I also feel like it was way too long and a portion of the retreat could’ve been edited out and still have gotten the same results without the length.
Overall, if you can suspend disbelief completely, then you’ll enjoy this as it was, for the most part, fast paced and certainly did have a unique story arc.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Thea works as a social worker in a New York City psychiatric ward. The newest patient admitted to her ward is a catatonic female named Jane Doe. Thea tries her best to communicate to the new patient to no avail, however, she finds Jane to be somewhat familiar. After racking her brain, she thinks Jane may be the actress on one of her favorite movies Stargirl. Armed with this information, Thea goes into work the following day to discover Catherine(Jane Doe) has left. Thea makes it her mission to track down Catherine, which leads her to a retreat in New Mexico.
The idea behind this was there. Thea was in a cult like community growing up and has been traumatized as a result. Fast forward to her investigation, as an adult, she finds herself in a similar situation at the New Mexico retreat. For the first 50% I wanted to know how it all tied together and it seems to be moving at a pace that was enjoyable. Then it just completely went off the rails. I don’t even know how to explain how far off the track it went. It went from somewhat realistic to completely non-realistic in a blink of a page. I was willing to overlook the unprofessionalism of Thea as she didn’t quite resonate as a social worker. But then once I realized the avenue the author was going that was the least of my quibbles. I also feel like it was way too long and a portion of the retreat could’ve been edited out and still have gotten the same results without the length.
Overall, if you can suspend disbelief completely, then you’ll enjoy this as it was, for the most part, fast paced and certainly did have a unique story arc.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
January 19, 2025
At first, THE LAST SESSION felt like a familiar premise—a retreat that turns out to be a cult—but then it took a sharp turn into outright absurdity.
Marketed as a "locked room" thriller, the story only begins to touch on that aspect about a quarter of the way through the book, and even then, it's a stretch. Thea, our unreliable narrator, finds herself trapped at a New Mexico retreat for a few days, but the real sense of entrapment comes from being stuck with her disjointed narrative and a cast of bizarre, unlikable characters.
The plot follows Thea, a therapist, who becomes overly involved with her patient Catherine. This connection leads her to the retreat, which may or may not be a front for a cult. Supposedly mysterious events unfold, but they're hard to take seriously. The story is riddled with references to past lives and leans heavily on Stargirl—a strange, fictional movie Catherine starred in as a teen—which becomes a central, if perplexing, thread in the plot.
The characters’ decisions are baffling and often defy logic, even when the book provides shaky backstories to justify them. The narrative is a series of odd twists, many revolving around Stargirl, but none of them felt grounded or satisfying. As a reader, I found myself cringing at the implausibility of the characters’ actions and the awkward execution of the story.
Ultimately, I kept reading in the hope that things would improve, but they didn’t. THE LAST SESSION left me more frustrated than thrilled, with its over-the-top plot and lack of coherence.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books in return for an unbiased review. It releases in April 2025!
Marketed as a "locked room" thriller, the story only begins to touch on that aspect about a quarter of the way through the book, and even then, it's a stretch. Thea, our unreliable narrator, finds herself trapped at a New Mexico retreat for a few days, but the real sense of entrapment comes from being stuck with her disjointed narrative and a cast of bizarre, unlikable characters.
The plot follows Thea, a therapist, who becomes overly involved with her patient Catherine. This connection leads her to the retreat, which may or may not be a front for a cult. Supposedly mysterious events unfold, but they're hard to take seriously. The story is riddled with references to past lives and leans heavily on Stargirl—a strange, fictional movie Catherine starred in as a teen—which becomes a central, if perplexing, thread in the plot.
The characters’ decisions are baffling and often defy logic, even when the book provides shaky backstories to justify them. The narrative is a series of odd twists, many revolving around Stargirl, but none of them felt grounded or satisfying. As a reader, I found myself cringing at the implausibility of the characters’ actions and the awkward execution of the story.
Ultimately, I kept reading in the hope that things would improve, but they didn’t. THE LAST SESSION left me more frustrated than thrilled, with its over-the-top plot and lack of coherence.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books in return for an unbiased review. It releases in April 2025!
February 13, 2025
Thank you Atria books for the early copy in exchange for my honest feedback
This one started off really intriguing and then got weird in a way I didn’t appreciate or enjoy.
Video review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2SEB9Nr/
This one started off really intriguing and then got weird in a way I didn’t appreciate or enjoy.
Video review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2SEB9Nr/
December 21, 2024
This is kind of a hard one to review because I have such mixed feelings on this. I really enjoyed the first half of the book, Bartz puts in some really great and well-written commentary on religious/sexual trauma which does make this a bit of a heavy read for a thriller, it reminded me a lot of The Last Housewife .
Thea works at a psych hospital and when a patient comes in that she recognizes as an actress from her favorite movie as a teen she immediately tries to befriend her and figure out why she ended up here. she’s led to a sex/relationship therapy type of retreat with renown podcast hosts, and of course things escalate from there just like Bartz’s previous novel. However once we arrive at the retreat it turns into a bit of a fever dream, we get a strange reincarnation plotline, and there comes a point where it becomes a bit confusing to keep up with what’s going on and the book began to drag for me. it’s definitely slower paced and less exciting than The Writing Retreat and while I really did enjoy and appreciate the commentary (especially the first 30% or so of the book) it felt like the thriller aspects weren’t quite as tight. it also felt overly long and could’ve benefited from some editing.
Thea works at a psych hospital and when a patient comes in that she recognizes as an actress from her favorite movie as a teen she immediately tries to befriend her and figure out why she ended up here. she’s led to a sex/relationship therapy type of retreat with renown podcast hosts, and of course things escalate from there just like Bartz’s previous novel. However once we arrive at the retreat it turns into a bit of a fever dream, we get a strange reincarnation plotline, and there comes a point where it becomes a bit confusing to keep up with what’s going on and the book began to drag for me. it’s definitely slower paced and less exciting than The Writing Retreat and while I really did enjoy and appreciate the commentary (especially the first 30% or so of the book) it felt like the thriller aspects weren’t quite as tight. it also felt overly long and could’ve benefited from some editing.
January 5, 2025
I really enjoyed Bartz's first novel, the Writing Retreat, so when I saw this on NetGalley, I had to request it! Unfortunately, this one was just not for me. I was super engrossed in the first half of the book, but by the second half, I just couldn't get on board with the turn the story had taken as it relied heavily on the suspension of disbelief. I can handle a little bit of this in a book if it really pays off in the end, but by the end, this just felt a little absurd and anticlimactic. While the plot was unique (which can be difficult to find in thrillers), things just felt all over the place and disjointed. I understand what the author was going for, but it just didn't work for me at all.
I'm sad to say that, if I hadn't read her first book, I honestly don't think I would have finished this one. I was just really hoping that things would come together in a more cohesive way. I do plan to check out Bartz's next book, as I'm hopeful that the strengths in her debut novel might resurface.
Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I'm sad to say that, if I hadn't read her first book, I honestly don't think I would have finished this one. I was just really hoping that things would come together in a more cohesive way. I do plan to check out Bartz's next book, as I'm hopeful that the strengths in her debut novel might resurface.
Thank you so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2025
I wish I could say that I loved this but the truth is, I really struggled with this story. At times it's stilted, the storyline goes in every direction imaginable and honestly felt chaotic. It truly was bizarre and not in a cool way were it helps the story but instead leaves you scratching your head wondering which crazy direction this is going to go next. With very little in character growth or likeability. Needless to say, this story just sadly wasn't for me.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
March 14, 2025
Thank you to Julia Bartz and Atria for my copy of this book! It was about a catatonic woman who shows up in a psych ward, and social worker Thea recognizes her. She realizes the woman is from a traumatic time in her past, and though the woman can’t remember how she got there, she disappears before she gets any answers. Thea is determined to find her, and follows a trail of clues to a romantic retreat in New Mexico. There she starts to work on relationship issues and participate in intimate exercises, all while trying to discover what happened to her patient. She also starts to discover more about her past, abd realizes there is more to the retreat than may meet the eye.
Thoughts: I picked this book to read on a trip to New Mexico which was a lot of fun. There were definitely plenty of cult vibes, and I have to say this story was just plain weird. There was a lot of Egyptian symbolism mixed with current Christianitiy as well as obsession with a movie. It felt really over the top and repetitive, obsessive in an odd way. It was claustrophobic and eerie, but you had to suspend belief a lot and and there were far too many things that just happened to work out in the perfect way. I loved her first book, but this one felt like an acid trip. 3-stars.
Thoughts: I picked this book to read on a trip to New Mexico which was a lot of fun. There were definitely plenty of cult vibes, and I have to say this story was just plain weird. There was a lot of Egyptian symbolism mixed with current Christianitiy as well as obsession with a movie. It felt really over the top and repetitive, obsessive in an odd way. It was claustrophobic and eerie, but you had to suspend belief a lot and and there were far too many things that just happened to work out in the perfect way. I loved her first book, but this one felt like an acid trip. 3-stars.
January 1, 2025
What did I just read? This book was absolutely terrible and I feel a little bit bad saying that, but it’s the honest truth. It was all over the place, and not in a good way.
1.5 stars
1.5 stars
March 2, 2025
Thank you to Atria Books, Julia Bartz, and Goodreads for the ARC of The Last Session.
I was so excited to receive an ARC of 'The Last Session' as I thoroughly enjoyed Julia's debut novel, 'The Writing Retreat' (if you haven't read it yet you should go check it out).
While I enjoyed this book there were points when the story seemed to dip into the implausible and were a bit over the top. However, despite that I still found that my interest was piqued and the story kept my attention. I loved the character development throughout the story and there were still plenty of twist to keep things interesting.
While I thought 'The Writing Retreat' was more to my taste I still enjoyed 'The Last Session' and am looking forward to reading more from Julia Bartz.
I was so excited to receive an ARC of 'The Last Session' as I thoroughly enjoyed Julia's debut novel, 'The Writing Retreat' (if you haven't read it yet you should go check it out).
While I enjoyed this book there were points when the story seemed to dip into the implausible and were a bit over the top. However, despite that I still found that my interest was piqued and the story kept my attention. I loved the character development throughout the story and there were still plenty of twist to keep things interesting.
While I thought 'The Writing Retreat' was more to my taste I still enjoyed 'The Last Session' and am looking forward to reading more from Julia Bartz.
November 22, 2024
Have you ever read a book that feels right place/right time? The Last Session is that book for me.
Bartz explores themes of religious abuse as well as sexual harassment and bullying and how those things shape sexuality.
She digs deep into how trauma can, and often is, a defining factor in sexual identity.
I personally felt validation while reading this, and it made me take a closer look at how religious abuse has defined me into adulthood.
All that being said, this is also a fantastic mystery. Lots of intrigue that will leave you wondering if there is a deeper connection between Thea and Catherine or if Thea's obsession is clouding her judgment.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Bartz explores themes of religious abuse as well as sexual harassment and bullying and how those things shape sexuality.
She digs deep into how trauma can, and often is, a defining factor in sexual identity.
I personally felt validation while reading this, and it made me take a closer look at how religious abuse has defined me into adulthood.
All that being said, this is also a fantastic mystery. Lots of intrigue that will leave you wondering if there is a deeper connection between Thea and Catherine or if Thea's obsession is clouding her judgment.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 6, 2025
The Last Session is best read with no expectations or additional information. So if the synopsis intrigues you, I urge you to stop reading this review or any other review and just read the novel. It’s a wild ride best experienced with no preconceived notions.
The Last Session was not at all what I was expecting. Having read and loved Bartz debut novel, The Writing Retreat, I requested The Last Session from Netgalley immediately. The Last Session is atmospheric and full of twists and turns I didn’t see coming and had no idea how they would resolve, but resolve they did. The Last Session explores cults (more specifically the Larry Ray cult through Slonim Woods 9 by Daniel Barban Levin), white supremacy in past and modern-day spiritual communities, cultural appropriation, and reincarnation.
The Last Session follows Thea, a social worker working in a psychiatric unit when a mysterious woman shows up catatonic. Thea feels an unexplainable link to her and will stop at nothing to explore that link.
The Last Session is not a novel for everyone, as evidenced by the poor early reviews. Instead, it’s a novel about what the human mind is capable of when placed under extreme manipulation in a cult setting. There were times I wanted to scream at Thea while simultaneously understanding her choices and motivations.
Near the end of the novel there’s a shift in tone and direction. This shift, while predictable was also jarring. I enjoyed this new direction, but I can see why some people didn’t like it and won’t like it once the novel releases.
Overall, The Last Session is a novel that will stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading. It’s a story about cults, white supremacy in spiritual communities, and reincarnation. Bartz will have readers reading long into the night and questioning everything.
*** I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Last Session was not at all what I was expecting. Having read and loved Bartz debut novel, The Writing Retreat, I requested The Last Session from Netgalley immediately. The Last Session is atmospheric and full of twists and turns I didn’t see coming and had no idea how they would resolve, but resolve they did. The Last Session explores cults (more specifically the Larry Ray cult through Slonim Woods 9 by Daniel Barban Levin), white supremacy in past and modern-day spiritual communities, cultural appropriation, and reincarnation.
The Last Session follows Thea, a social worker working in a psychiatric unit when a mysterious woman shows up catatonic. Thea feels an unexplainable link to her and will stop at nothing to explore that link.
The Last Session is not a novel for everyone, as evidenced by the poor early reviews. Instead, it’s a novel about what the human mind is capable of when placed under extreme manipulation in a cult setting. There were times I wanted to scream at Thea while simultaneously understanding her choices and motivations.
Near the end of the novel there’s a shift in tone and direction. This shift, while predictable was also jarring. I enjoyed this new direction, but I can see why some people didn’t like it and won’t like it once the novel releases.
Overall, The Last Session is a novel that will stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading. It’s a story about cults, white supremacy in spiritual communities, and reincarnation. Bartz will have readers reading long into the night and questioning everything.
*** I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 1, 2024
After loving “the writing retreat” I was sooo excited for Julia Bartz new book and as expected I absolutely loved it!!
I loved The mystery behind two look alike women who share the same traits, birthday and whose childhoods are alike in an interesting way.
The plot mostly follows Thea, a social worker who hasn’t yet found her place in life and is currently working in a psychiatric ward. Her life is upturned when a catatonic celebrity shows up on her ward.
Skip forward to part 2 we have adventure, travel, more mystery, intrigue, a search for a missing person tied to a potential cult and Thea who is playing amateur detective to try and seek out answers to an unusual connection she has felt since age 13.
I loved Thea as a character, she is a bit of a mess and definitely has some unresolved issues yet I couldn’t help but love her, she is someone I would definitely want to befriend and take under my wing to offer my protection.
The pacing of the book was excellent and kept me engaged throughout. This was one of those books I just have a thoroughly good time reading and got lots of enjoyment out of. The plot definitely gets a little crazy at times as there are so many different components to the story however I loved that aspect as it kept me on my toes racing to see how it would all end.
There are characters you’ll love, characters you’ll love to hate, characters who may trick you. If you like lots of twists and a thriller a little on the crazy side - you’ll have fun immersing yourself in this locked door, nature and dessert experience.
Thank you to atria books and Julia Bartz for the EARC!
Publish date: April 1st 2025
I loved The mystery behind two look alike women who share the same traits, birthday and whose childhoods are alike in an interesting way.
The plot mostly follows Thea, a social worker who hasn’t yet found her place in life and is currently working in a psychiatric ward. Her life is upturned when a catatonic celebrity shows up on her ward.
Skip forward to part 2 we have adventure, travel, more mystery, intrigue, a search for a missing person tied to a potential cult and Thea who is playing amateur detective to try and seek out answers to an unusual connection she has felt since age 13.
I loved Thea as a character, she is a bit of a mess and definitely has some unresolved issues yet I couldn’t help but love her, she is someone I would definitely want to befriend and take under my wing to offer my protection.
The pacing of the book was excellent and kept me engaged throughout. This was one of those books I just have a thoroughly good time reading and got lots of enjoyment out of. The plot definitely gets a little crazy at times as there are so many different components to the story however I loved that aspect as it kept me on my toes racing to see how it would all end.
There are characters you’ll love, characters you’ll love to hate, characters who may trick you. If you like lots of twists and a thriller a little on the crazy side - you’ll have fun immersing yourself in this locked door, nature and dessert experience.
Thank you to atria books and Julia Bartz for the EARC!
Publish date: April 1st 2025
January 25, 2025
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.
Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the ARC.
March 14, 2025
What did I just read? No, seriously. I turned the last page, stared into space for a minute, and then whispered to myself….What. Just. Happened?
You start out with an eerie psychiatric ward and our main character being a social worker. And then it was a rabbit hole of a culty therapy wellness retreat and a protagonist who was teetering on the end of sanity. It went a little off the edge…. But it was a page turner, because I needed to know where it was going….
🧠 Expect:
✔️Cult- like therapy gone terribly wrong
✔️Moments where you go “wait, what?!”
✔️Remote Retreat
✔️Trauma, Secrets and Mind Games
You start out with an eerie psychiatric ward and our main character being a social worker. And then it was a rabbit hole of a culty therapy wellness retreat and a protagonist who was teetering on the end of sanity. It went a little off the edge…. But it was a page turner, because I needed to know where it was going….
🧠 Expect:
✔️Cult- like therapy gone terribly wrong
✔️Moments where you go “wait, what?!”
✔️Remote Retreat
✔️Trauma, Secrets and Mind Games
January 11, 2025
Never at any point did I have an idea what was coming next and honestly, that made this book amazing. Books can get stuck in repetitive themes and tropes, but this story was 100 percent batshit crazy and 100 percent fresh. I had so much fun reading this story and escaping into Theas personal hell.
I read this book early as an ARC on NetGalley, but it comes out April 1st!
I read this book early as an ARC on NetGalley, but it comes out April 1st!
December 7, 2024
A compelling twisty psychological thriller with themes of sexual/religious trauma, identity, healing, mental health, cultural appropriation and cults, phew that's a lot right? Bartz deftly intertwines these elements with remarkable sensitivity and insight, all while maintaining an unsettling atmosphere that heightens the suspense and unease, an incredibly suspenseful and atmospheric mystery with a protagonist whose journey elicits genuine empathy, much like a Catriona Ward novel the reader is left wondering that the hell is going on, it's intense and will have you second guessing everything, overall a fantastic thriller!
February 5, 2025
The Last Session by Julia Bartz is a masterclass in psychological suspense, a sinister labyrinth that pulls you deeper with each page, only to twist and turn in ways that will leave you questioning everything. At first glance, the premise seems straightforward, social worker Thea hunting for a missing patient whose catatonic state holds the key to a dark past. But that’s just the beginning of a much darker, more twisted game.
As Thea delves into the mystery, the tension builds steadily, drawing her into a remote retreat where unsettling exercises force her to confront her deepest fears and desires. But this isn’t just a place for self-discovery, it’s a psychological trap. What begins as a search for answers slowly morphs into a descent into madness, where every step forward reveals a new, more disturbing layer to the truth.
Bartz weaves a narrative that feels suffocating, like a tightening noose around your chest. You think you’ve figured it out, convinced that you understand the motives, the players, and the outcome, but just as you feel secure in your assumptions, Bartz rips the ground from beneath you. The retreat, once seeming like a place of revelation, becomes a sinister mechanism of control, designed to push Thea, and the reader, past the point of no return. What’s real? What’s manipulation? What happens when the line between the two becomes impossible to distinguish?
By the time the final session arrives, you’ll feel like you’ve been led in circles, a pawn in a game you never understood. The ending is both unsettling and brilliant, leaving you with a gnawing sense of unease that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page. This isn’t just a thriller, it’s a dark, calculated puzzle that keeps you trapped inside its pages, unable to escape until the final, gut-wrenching revelation.
As Thea delves into the mystery, the tension builds steadily, drawing her into a remote retreat where unsettling exercises force her to confront her deepest fears and desires. But this isn’t just a place for self-discovery, it’s a psychological trap. What begins as a search for answers slowly morphs into a descent into madness, where every step forward reveals a new, more disturbing layer to the truth.
Bartz weaves a narrative that feels suffocating, like a tightening noose around your chest. You think you’ve figured it out, convinced that you understand the motives, the players, and the outcome, but just as you feel secure in your assumptions, Bartz rips the ground from beneath you. The retreat, once seeming like a place of revelation, becomes a sinister mechanism of control, designed to push Thea, and the reader, past the point of no return. What’s real? What’s manipulation? What happens when the line between the two becomes impossible to distinguish?
By the time the final session arrives, you’ll feel like you’ve been led in circles, a pawn in a game you never understood. The ending is both unsettling and brilliant, leaving you with a gnawing sense of unease that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page. This isn’t just a thriller, it’s a dark, calculated puzzle that keeps you trapped inside its pages, unable to escape until the final, gut-wrenching revelation.
December 11, 2024
Thank you NetGalley, for this uncorrected ebook ARC of 'The Last Session' by Julia Bartz - expected release date 04/01/2025
I can't believe I made it through this book. So many overly far-fetched, ridiculous things happened that it was hard to take it seriously. The main character, Thea, was SUCH a mess and, I'm sorry, but between some of her outrageous actions and multiple odd obsessions/compulsions, it was really hard to relate to her character. I appreciate that the author brought light to some deep topics (cults, SA, childhood trauma and more) but it seemed that they were all overdone, way too over the top and exaggerated.
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I can't believe I made it through this book. So many overly far-fetched, ridiculous things happened that it was hard to take it seriously. The main character, Thea, was SUCH a mess and, I'm sorry, but between some of her outrageous actions and multiple odd obsessions/compulsions, it was really hard to relate to her character. I appreciate that the author brought light to some deep topics (cults, SA, childhood trauma and more) but it seemed that they were all overdone, way too over the top and exaggerated.
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 31, 2024
WTF did I just read?? This book was batshit crazy and I kinda loved it! I want to know what Julia Bartz has against retreats. This story had so many different elements and was really all over the place, but like the Writing Retreat, I really enjoyed it. Some parts lost me completely (spaceships) but the first half of the book was amazing and then what a turn it took! I didn’t think I was going to like the new directions, but somehow it all worked.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
December 24, 2024
This book was ok but ended up taking unexpected twists and turns. It centers on Thea, who is a therapist struggling with trauma from her childhood. When she sees a new patient named Catherine with a tie to her past, she puts everything on the line to follow her to a retreat in New Mexico, where she encounters a cult like sect of oddballs.
Firstly I had to suspend my disbelief a bit that Thea would even figure out the clues to go to New Mexico and then rush her license and her limited financial means to do so. While it’s interesting to see the effect effects of what a believable leader could convince people to do, there were no likable characters in the book and it took some twists that I struggled to determine were real or dreams. When I thought the book was coming to a close, it just kept going and became more and more confusing. I felt like the ending did tie some things together but it was a lot to get to that point.
Overall, don’t really think this one was for me but interesting concept overall. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Firstly I had to suspend my disbelief a bit that Thea would even figure out the clues to go to New Mexico and then rush her license and her limited financial means to do so. While it’s interesting to see the effect effects of what a believable leader could convince people to do, there were no likable characters in the book and it took some twists that I struggled to determine were real or dreams. When I thought the book was coming to a close, it just kept going and became more and more confusing. I felt like the ending did tie some things together but it was a lot to get to that point.
Overall, don’t really think this one was for me but interesting concept overall. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2024
Thea is a social worker whose new patient is a celebrity from Thea’s childhood, one Thea has loved since she was 13. The only thing is Catherine, the celebrity, cannot remember what happened to her and how she ended up in a hospital to this in-patient facility. After she leaves in the arms of unknown individuals, Thea embarks on a journey to the New Mexican desert to a health and relationship retreat to find what Catherine was running away from.
This is an ARC so I want to give it the benefit of the doubt that it’s still being worked through, but the ending and the escaping through tunnels is extremely unclear. Thea is in and out of consciousness and we’re supposed to somehow follow how she was dragged out of a cave she was pushed in and that only had one entrance and exit: the one she was pushed from. The book also took a significantly long time to get good and that was the last 75% of the book. Additionally, I found the writing juvenile and cringeworthy. I read her other book and I’ve come to terms that I believe this authors writing style isn’t for me.
In accordance with FTC guidelines, please note that this ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is an ARC so I want to give it the benefit of the doubt that it’s still being worked through, but the ending and the escaping through tunnels is extremely unclear. Thea is in and out of consciousness and we’re supposed to somehow follow how she was dragged out of a cave she was pushed in and that only had one entrance and exit: the one she was pushed from. The book also took a significantly long time to get good and that was the last 75% of the book. Additionally, I found the writing juvenile and cringeworthy. I read her other book and I’ve come to terms that I believe this authors writing style isn’t for me.
In accordance with FTC guidelines, please note that this ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 15, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first book by Julia Bartz and unfortunately, I am not impressed. The book started out really good. Being a former psych RN it kind of brought me back to working the units (it's really not that bad), and the descriptions of everything going on and behaviors were good.
However, once we got towards the cult aspect of it, which I normally like cult stories, things started taking a major turn. Things became a little over the top with a lot of trauma dumping, strange erotica scenes, and a lot of focus on the famous character with some strange connection between her and the main character which plays into the far-fetched part of this.
I think some will really like this, and I would be willing to give her first book a try, but this one was just middle of the road for me.
This is my first book by Julia Bartz and unfortunately, I am not impressed. The book started out really good. Being a former psych RN it kind of brought me back to working the units (it's really not that bad), and the descriptions of everything going on and behaviors were good.
However, once we got towards the cult aspect of it, which I normally like cult stories, things started taking a major turn. Things became a little over the top with a lot of trauma dumping, strange erotica scenes, and a lot of focus on the famous character with some strange connection between her and the main character which plays into the far-fetched part of this.
I think some will really like this, and I would be willing to give her first book a try, but this one was just middle of the road for me.
December 9, 2024
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!
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