Hello, book friends! Today, I’m diving into Julia Bartz’s upcoming thriller, The Last Session, which publishes on April 1, 2025. If you’re a fan of suspenseful thrillers and the idea of wellness gone bad (cults in particular) this one might be for you. Let’s break it down—spoiler-free, of course!

*I got to read an advanced reader copy courtesy of NetGalley and this is an honest review.*

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The Plot

The Last Session follows Thea, a therapist working at a mental health center in New York. Her life takes a dramatic turn when a new patient found wandering catatonic on the highway is brought to the center. The patient, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Thea, disappears shortly after, igniting an unhealthy obsession with finding out what happened to her.

Her search leads her to an isolated wellness center in the New Mexico desert—a place that promises to heal relationships and sexual issues but gives off major cult vibes (a big theme of the book). As Thea delves deeper into the retreat to find Catherine (the patient), she confronts her own traumatic past, and she discovers dark secrets about the true nature of the dubious wellness center.

Deja Vu

Since I read Bartz’s previous book, The Writing Retreat, I had a nagging feeling of deja vu. Both stories revolve around isolated settings, cult-like dynamics, and every character harbouring secrets. While I enjoyed The Writing Retreat and rated it 3 stars, I couldn’t help but feel like The Last Session was almost a carbon copy—down to the bloody, woo-woo climax and wrap-up.

That said, Bartz knows how to craft a suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat thriller. The suspense had me stressing out beyond what I could have expected, particularly with the locked-room aspect: being stuck in a cave. Claustrophobics beware!

Characters

Thea is a complex protagonist with a tragic backstory. As a survivor of sexual assault and religious trauma, she struggles with relationships and self-worth. While I found her relatable and rooted for her, I couldn’t fully understand her obsession with Catherine. Her savior complex felt a bit over-the-top at times, but without it, we wouldn’t have had a story to follow.

The supporting characters at the wellness center are equally intriguing, each hiding their own secrets. The cult-like atmosphere and the dynamics between the characters kept me hooked. I loved reading about Sol and Moon, the relationship podcasting duo leading the retreat, who were just absurd!

Themes and Triggers

This book doesn’t shy away from heavy themes, including sexual trauma, religious trauma, and mental health struggles. The sexual content is a major focus, so if that’s not your cup of tea, you might want to skip this one. Again, this retreat is meant for fixing intimacy issues! One scene in particular made me want to burn my eyes out, lol.

Additionally, the claustrophobic setting and eerie cave scenes might be unsettling for some readers—they still give me nightmares!

There is one instance of animal harm revolving around a dog, ugh.

Comparisons

Fans of Liane Moriarty’s Nine Perfect Strangers will find similarities in the wellness retreat setting and the unraveling of characters… However, if I had to choose between the two, I’d lean toward Nine Perfect Strangers for its character depth, like all of Liane Moriatry’s books!

Final Thoughts

The Last Session is a wild, unhinged ride that will keep thriller lovers on the edge of their seats. While it didn’t feel as fresh or original as I’d hoped, it’s still a gripping read with plenty of twists and suspense. If you’re into cult thrillers with a side of spice, this one’s worth adding to your TBR.

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