Dinner for vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz

 

Published by Simon & Schuster on October 22^nd , 2024

320 pages

I read the paperback version

Back Cover

In the early 2000s, after years of hard work and determination to break through as an actor, Bethany Joy Lenz was finally cast as one of the leads on the hit drama One Tree Hill. Her acting career was set to soar, but her personal life was beginning to unravel in ways her fans could never imagine. Unknown to the millions of viewers and even her costars, Lenz led a secret double life within a cult.

As an only child seeking belonging, Lenz thought she found a safe haven in a Bible study group with fellow Hollywood creatives. However, the group morphed into something more sinister—a web of manipulation and fear under the guise of a church covenant called The Big House Family. Piece by piece, Lenz surrendered her autonomy, eventually moving to the Family’s Pacific Northwest compound overseen by a domineering minister who convinced her to marry his son and secretly drained millions from her TV income without her knowledge. Family “minders” assigned to her on set, “Maoist struggle session”—inspired meetings in the basement of a filthy house, and regular counseling with “Leadership” were just part of the tactics used to keep her loyal.

Only when she became a mother did Lenz find the courage to escape and spare her child from a similar fate. After nearly a decade (and with the unlikely help from a devoted One Tree Hill fan), she broke free from the family’s grip, beginning her healing journey from deep trauma that reshaped her faith and identity.

My review

I head a few stories about One Tree Hill that is one of my favorite shows, but I had no idea about this one. I admit that I don’t read much magazine since I am an adult. I was curious to know more about the author ‘story and if she escapes from the cult. She was my favorite character which make me even more curious.

If you get this book to know more about the behind of the scene of One tree hill, you might be disappointed.  Bethany Joy Lenz is more talking about her life outside from the show. She mentioned a few actors and some discussion she had with them, but you will not find a secret about the series.

I recommend it for a public over sixteen, some parts are hard to read. You will find a lot of psychological manipulation. Her new friends did everything they could to make her cut contact with her bio family, her crush and the friends she had before she met them.

Even when she was on OTH, I had the feeling they weren’t supportive was they told her and something was wrong with that group. I read it in only two days and I noticed that some part were repetitive like how they try to convince her to let God guiding her and she could only trust them.

Excerpts

"It’s hard to be rejected and always be competing. But there’s nothing more glorious than being able to tell stories. I can’t imagine having done anything else. It brought me so much happiness." (p.15)

But when It came to falling in love, I could never allow myself because of the unshakable belief I held that Blue Eyes was "the one." Not hearing from him was a glaring reminder of the truth: we had both been building new lives, and I wasn’t his first call anymore. (p.61)

"Tu parles français!" I exclaimed, happy to know someone else who have a Francophile like me,

"Oui! Je me remets à niveau. Es-tu fluent?" Yes, I’m brushing up..Are you fluent?

"Je comprends..more than I speak." I laughed. "I visited Paris a couple years ago after graduation, but I haven’t practiced since then. " (p.71)

The Notebook ruined me-both the book and the movie version. After seeing the movie, I sat in the theater for twenty minutes after the credits and just wept. (p.220)