In I Need You to Read This by Jessa Maxwell, Alex Marks is just getting by in New York City in a job she doesn’t like. Then, she hears that Francis Keen, famous advice columnist of “Dear Constance,” has been murdered. Francis’ writing got Alex through some difficult times, so her death hits Alex hard. Then, she sees an ad to apply for the column, and impulsively applies. To her shock, she gets the job, finding herself adept at solving other people’s problems. But working at the Herald isn’t what she thought it would be. Her boss is suspicious in a way she can’t put her finger on, his assistant is antagonistic toward Alex, and then there’s the matter of the threatening letters sent to her. Soon enough, Alex’s own past seems to be coming back to haunt her, though she has no idea what the connection between her and Francis really is.

I read Maxwell’s novel The Golden Spoon a while back and quite liked it, so I was looking forward to this one. And it definitely holds your attention; I was very intrigued to discover the truth of this mystery.

The characters are pretty compelling too. Alex makes for a good—albeit somewhat unreliable—narrator. Her dead end job and uncertainty in interpersonal relationships makes her rather sympathetic, though it’s clear that she’s hiding something. Meanwhile, her acquaintances at the cafe, Raymond and Janice, make for an entertaining pair who push Alex to look into Francis’ murder, as well as coax her to try friendship again. And Tom serves as a sometimes–love interest, sometimes–suspect who keeps you guessing.

As for the murder mystery aspect of it, I was interested to delve into the strange circumstances surrounding Francis’ murder. However, the darkest part of the story, the true heart of the story, are the letters to Dear Constance from “Lost Girl.” These letters serve as interludes between chapters, slowly painting a disturbing picture of a young woman in an awful situation, reaching out to the only possible help she can find. The more you read, the clearer it is how people can find themselves trapped in toxic or abusive relationships over time. It’s an empathetic portrayal of Lost Girl’s plight, while also being very sinister.

Obviously, this type of content will not be easy for everyone to read. Maxwell doesn’t shy away from the gradual degradation of a seemingly charming man’s behavior into control and violence, and the emotional turmoil and pain that Lost Girl experiences as a result. If you’re someone who has experienced domestic abuse, please approach this book with caution if you choose to read it at all, because there are instances of both verbal and physical abuse presented here that are rather intense.

Luckily, none of this behavior is romanticized, nor is it glazed over as not a big deal. It is treated like the big deal that it should be, and characters are held accountable by the narrative. I’m trying to be vague to avoid spoilers, but I felt like that was important to mention.

And all this comes to a head in the final act: the mysterious murder of Francis, the things that Alex has experienced lately, and how the Lost Girl letters factor into it. Some aspects were things that I easily predicted or picked up on, but others did surprise me somewhat. And the final climactic scene is pretty intense and scary, though it does wrap up the mystery pretty well.

In the end, I Need You to Read This is a dark story, though not without intrigue. The characters are decent with good development, the plot threads intertwine in satisfying ways, and the audiobook, narrated by Carlotta Brentan, is quite a good production. I just found some of the content to be too intense. I don’t typically seek out stories that feature abuse, and while this was portrayed with what I view to be nuance and sympathy, it still isn’t my preferred thing to read. Still, it’s not a bad book, and there’s certainly merit to seeing how people—especially women—can support each other through terrible situations. This book still won’t be for everyone, though.

I Need You to Read This is available now!