Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show While also in an Actual Cult by Bethany Joy Lenz
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ARC REVIEW: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz deconstructs the strategic manipulation, grooming practices, and events that lead to her being indoctrinated by a cult. What started out as an innocent in-home Bible study, was meticulously and methodically overtaken by a man masquerading as a an ordained pastor and certified therapist. Seeking to remain in good standing with “The Family”, Lenz adhered to the advice of her “wise council” and began isolating from friends and family, surrendering her autonomy, and relinquishing her finances. That is until, she became emboldened to peel back the curtain and see the group for what it truly was, a cult. If you were a teen in the early aughts, you more than likely were familiar with the WB show, One Tree Hill. Bethany Joy Lenz captured audiences hearts week after week as the resident good girl, Haley James Scott. After seeing her on our screens for nearly a decade it is difficult to differentiate her tv persona from her real life. Thus, it was shocking to learn the moral compass of the show was in a cult the entire time! I applaud Lenz for bravely baring her soul in this tell-all memoir. Comprised of never before heard stories, she displays immense vulnerability when discussing every facets of her life. This is an inspiring story that challenges readers to understand their belief system and warns against the dangers of wolves in sheep’s clothing.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
How a TV Star Became Dinner for Vampires
I never really watched One Tree Hill on a regular basis. I may have been too busy with kids at the time, but it was on my radar. When I saw this book, the first thing that grabbed me was the title, Dinner for Vampires. The second thing that grabbed me was that author and actor Bethany Joy Lenz was in a cult. Both those elements drew me to her story of getting involved in and extracting herself out of a cult. As she mentions in the book, it wasn't some large sexual cult like NXIVIM or anything run by a figure like Charles Manson, but it was more sinister in a way due to its small size and the way it developed from a harmless bible study. You're along for the ride. I don't know what it is, but I've always been fascinated by cults. I feel like it could be so easy to become part of one. The elements for Joy, as the author likes to be called, came together slowly and innocently. Her parents were young, moved around a lot, and, sometimes, seemed more interested in their lives than Joy's. Once Joy became an adult, she was on her own. In New York, she had friends and a good job on Guiding Light, but she wanted more so she went to Los Angeles. There, she was alone, away from her acting associates, and in the hard, cold industry, which eats many meeker people alive. She was also a devout Christian, so she wanted to find like-minded individuals who would share in her faith. So, she joins a bible study. Throughout the book, you will be charmed by Joy who narrates the story in a friendly, non-judgmental way. She's funny at times, and insightful and thoughtful in others. You just want to be her friend and help her feel less alone. I was impressed by her writing, which I hope she continues. But the cult, which originally was an innocent bible study, becomes her family when Joy is at her loneliest and drags her down in a gradual way that she didn't see coming. She lost so much with her involvement although she gains her daughter Rosie whom she treasures. I loved hearing about her relationships with her friends, family, and One Tree Hill cast members. Her involvement in this group interferes with her ability to truly connect with the cast specifically, a group that could have been just as supportive as the cult but in a healthy way. Paul Johansson becomes a confidante and close friend, and she fondly remembers palling around with Hilarie Burton who was fond of antique-hunting like Joy. But, again, the cult and her subsequent marriage to one of the cult members infiltrates everything she does. It's so frustrating to see how she could be enjoying her time as a young actress on a successful teen drama, the fruits of her hard work since she actually was a teenager when she began her career, and the potential to pursue even more challenging and rewarding roles. The only issues I had with the book was that the end and her departure from the cult felt a little rushed. I felt there could have been more to that. Obviously, it was difficult and fraught with anger from her former "family" members, but it ended a little too quickly. Also, I would love to know what her life is like now, how she's handling the challenges to her Christian faith, and her dealings with the family, since her daughter is connected to key members of the cult. Even if you didn't watch One Tree Hill, this is a cautionary tale for anyone who feels lonely and may be searching for something more. The book is a good read and tells a satisfying story for the most part. While the cult isn't as crazy or detrimental as some, it still damaged many aspects of her life, including her own faith. I'm glad to hear that she was able to get out of it fairly unscathed.
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Interesting Memoir!
I loved One Tree Hill in my teen years so I was so excited when this book was announced. I had no idea what Bethany Joy Lenz experienced during filming and throughout her life. It was a really interesting memoir and I was glad I picked
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Bethany Joy’s Story Needed to Be Told
I received this book as one of my Christmas gifts from my boyfriend and I couldn't have loved it more. This book was a profound and gripping read that offered an honest and deeply personal account of Bethany Joy's experiences. Her courage and vulnerability in sharing such a difficult chapter of her life are truly commendable. As a huge fan of One Tree Hill, I would have never imagined that something like this was happening behind the scenes while she was filming the series. It’s both shocking and heartbreaking to learn about the challenges she faced during what appeared to be such a successful and glamorous time in her career. One aspect that stood out to me was her appreciation for the people who supported her through her court case and the process of writing this book. While she acknowledges their openness and willingness to come forward, I hope Bethany Joy also recognizes the immense strength it must have taken for her to write this book in the first place. Sharing such painful and personal experiences to possibly help others is a monumental act of bravery. As someone who has never been in a situation like this, reading about her journey opened my eyes to how easily someone can find themselves entangled in such circumstances without realizing it. Her story serves as both a cautionary tale and a source of hope, offering insight for those who might be in similar situations and empowering them to find a way out. Overall, this was an excellent book. Bethany Joy Lenz’s storytelling is engaging and heartfelt, making it a must-read for anyone who enjoys memoirs or seeks a deeper understanding of the complexities of human experience. I’m deeply grateful for her honesty and hope that her story reaches as many people as possible.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Everything I Expected And SO Much More
Dinner for Vampires is everything I expected and wanted from this memoir but don’t be fooled into thinking this is a good time or a new Lestat story. Growing up with One Tree Hill, I was absolutely enamored with our big three (Brooke, Peyton, and Haley) and it shaped my ideal for female friendships before Sex and the City ever could. It was so disheartening to see how those relationships weren’t able to transcend into the real life (on set) of Bethany Joy Lenz and to experience her first hand account of living in a cult. I identified with this story more than I ever hoped also living in a very distinct branch of Christianity and the wild similarities between this religion and cult like mentality. We get to see how anybody can be targeted, coerced, and then ruined by these vampires especially when that someone is a growing star on one of the most exciting shows on television. This story focuses a lot more on Joy and her time in the cult, her experiences that were shaped by them, and her struggle to get free. Don’t go into this thinking it will be like The Drama Queens Podcast at all or even Hillarie Burton Morgan’s memoir because the topic and her life is vastly different than what we have gotten to hear from these beautiful and strong women. But don’t let the heavy topic dissuade you from reading either. Through an incredibly strong voice, Joy is able to convey her story without begging you to understand but is still able to elicit so much empathy and kindness for survivors of all types. And the insights to her and Paul Johansson’s (evil Dan Scott’s) dear friendship was one of my favourite things to come from this recounting. Thank you so much for this ARC as this was one of my most anticipated books this year and I was THRILLED to get this months before I had to start my countdown. I can’t wait for everyone to hear her story and all collectively give her a giant hug.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Incredible, Emotional Read
I became a fan of OTH after the series had completed, but I had NO idea about any of this until promo for this book started coming out! It’s truly awful the amount of manipulation she went through with these people, but I am so glad Bethany Joy Lenz got herself and her daughter out of there when she did ❤️
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Captivating read
I love a good cult story! I was not familiar with OTH and I enjoyed Bethany Joy Lenz’s story. I am happy she found the strength to break away and start a new chapter in her live for her and her child.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Not Just for Fans of “One Tree Hill”!
I didn’t have high expectations when I sat down to read “One Tree Hill” star Bethany Joy Lenz’s memoir about her time in a religious cult, but oh boy did it exceed all my expectations and more. I don’t want to say any more than I already have and minimize the emotional wallop you’ll feel as you read Bethany’s story in her own words, so just trust me when I say that the book is incredibly captivating. I read it in one sitting in just a few hours. You’ll be rooting for her the whole time to succeed and to escape. A little Googling is all it’ll take for you to learn that the character Bethany calls “Harkin” in the story, a fellow cult member, is actually former actor and millennial heartthrob Jonathan Jackson (not to be confused with fellow millennial heartthrob and “Dawson’s Creek” star Joshua Jackson). That made the whole tale feel even more surreal and wild to me. I highly recommend this book to fans of “One Tree Hill” as well as fans of Minka Kelly’s “Tell Me Everything” and Jennette McCurdy’s “I’m Glad My Mom Died”. I’ll be thinking about this book for a longtime and wishing Bethany success and happiness as she continues to rebuild her life for her and her child.
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