I Need You to Read This

Jessa Maxwell

2024 • 304 pages

Ratings5

Average rating3

The author of the “clever, atmospheric, and creepy” (Andrea Bartz, New York Times bestselling author) The Golden Spoon returns with a sly and addictive new mystery about an advice columnist searching for answers about her predecessor’s murder. Her most important letter might be her last… Years ago Alex Marks escaped to New York City for a fresh start. Now, aside from trips to her regular diner for coffee, she keeps to herself, gets her perfectly normal copywriting job done, and doesn’t date. Her carefully cultivated world is upended when her childhood hero, Francis Keen, is brutally murdered. Francis was the woman behind the famous advice column, Dear Constance, and her words helped Alex through some of her darkest times. When Alex sees an advertisement searching for her replacement, she impulsively applies, never expecting to actually get the job. Against all odds, Alex is given the position and quickly proves herself skilled at solving other people’s problems. But soon, she begins to receive strange, potentially threatening letters at the office. Francis’s murderer was never identified, turning everyone around her into a threat. Including her boss, editor-in-chief Howard Dimitri, who has a habit of staying late at the office and drinking too much. As Alex is drawn into the details surrounding her predecessor’s murder, her own dark secrets begin to rise to the surface and Alex suddenly finds herself trapped in a dangerous and potentially deadly game of cat and mouse that takes her all the way from the power centers of Manhattan to Francis Keen’s summer house, where her body was found and where the killer may just be waiting for her.

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Edwin

This book didn’t do anything for me. The twist this book had was pretty predictable and lack luster. It’s not that long of a book but I felt like it was going in circles for a bit talking about the same things. The story was hard pressed to move forward. I didn’t get attached to any of the characters. The plot had potential to be a lot more twisty but it was a let down. Not the worst book in the world, but I would not recommend.

October 9, 2024

Blagica Jankuloska

A Thrilling Read with a Few Flaws

I Need You to Read This by Jessa Maxwell is a fast-paced and engaging novel that follows an advice columnist on a quest to uncover the truth behind her predecessor's murder. The book has its strengths and weaknesses, but overall, it's an enjoyable read that will keep you guessing until the very end.

On the plus side, the book's plot is well-developed and suspenseful. The author does a good job of keeping the reader engaged, and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. I have never gotten a chance to read a book by Jessa Maxwell and I am happy that I had time today to try and get it done. I will say that I feel like this book has two interesting parallels: one being the columnist trying to solve the murder and the other being her story and why she moved. Both being wrapped up beautifully.

The characters are also well-drawn and relatable, and I found myself invested in their fates. However, the one thing I didn't like is the supporting cast. The only one I liked was her editor.

The book's pacing is a bit uneven in places. There are a few sections that drag on a bit, and the ending felt a bit rushed. Additionally, some readers may find the plot twist to be predictable.

Overall, I Need You to Read This is a solid 4-star read. It's a good choice for fans of suspenseful novels with well-developed characters. Just be aware that the pacing can be a bit uneven in places.