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Dinner for Vampires

Written by: Bethany Joy Lenz
Narrated by: Bethany Joy Lenz
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Publisher's Summary

A deliciously witty and inspiring memoir by One Tree Hill star Bethany Joy Lenz about her decade in a cult and her quest to break free.

In the early 2000s, after years of hard work and determination to breakthrough as an actor, Bethany Joy Lenz was finally cast as one of the leads on the hit drama One Tree Hill. Her career was about to take off, but her personal life was slowly beginning to unravel. What none of the show’s millions of fans knew, hidden even from her costars, was her secret double life in a cult.

An only child who often had to fend for herself and always wanted a place to belong, Lenz found the safe haven she’d been searching for in a Bible study group with other Hollywood creatives. However, the group soon morphed into something more sinister—a slowly woven web of manipulation, abuse, and fear under the guise of a church covenant called The Big House Family. Piece by piece, Lenz began to give away her autonomy, ultimately relocating to the Family’s Pacific Northwest compound, overseen by a domineering minister who would convince Lenz to marry one of his sons and steadily drained millions of 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 leave and spare her child from a similar fate. After nearly a decade (and with the unlikely help of a One Tree Hill superfan), she finally managed to escape the family’s grip and begin to heal from the deep trauma that forever altered her relationship with God and her understanding of faith.

Written with powerful honesty and dark humor, Dinner for Vampires is an inspiring story about the importance of identity and understanding what you believe.

©2024 Bethany Joy Lenz (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio
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Raw Honesty

Book Review: Dinner with Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz

“Dinner with Vampires” is a captivating and unfiltered look into Bethany Joy Lenz’s life, where she shares her journey with striking honesty. She offers a deeply personal glimpse into the high-control environment of her “family” at “the big house,” balancing the desire for love, belonging, and a relationship with god with celebrity, fame, and life in the public eye. Lenz’s candid portrayal of navigating fame while living under the constraints of a religious cult brings a unique perspective to her story, filled with emotional intensity and reflection. Her writing invites readers into the complexities of faith, fame, and family, making this a powerful and unforgettable read.

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Loved it

Listening to the author tell her story was incredible ! Moving story. I learned a lot.

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Such an interesting story!

I absolutely loved listening to Joy read her story here. It was throughly entertaining. As a one tree hill fan it was crazy to hear all she's been through while still totally rocking haley James Scott. Highly recommend!!!!

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Thoughtful and raw

Such a powerful story of finding freedom read beautifully by the author. This one will live with me for a long time.

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Epic retelling of a wild experience

This book was phenomenal. I laughed, I cried, I screamed. I also realized that I was totally in a cult too. Yikes. Bethany Joy Lenz told the story beautifully and so emotionally. I’m so glad I listened to it instead of just read it. I highly recommend it!

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Brilliant

This audio book, brilliantly written and narrated by Bethany Joy Lenz, is an emotional journey that had me both laughing and crying. It resonates deeply with anyone who has faced abuse and control, making it a powerful and relatable experience. Highly recommended!

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beautifully honest and inspiring

such a beautifully inspiring, story. I couldn't stop listening and will listen again! Joys honest telling of her journey to freedom was emotional and entertaining ♡.

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Who Knew

Bethany Joy Lenz has so much grace. brilliant narration and I'm so glad that she and her daughter are free.

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Finished in 24 hours

As an atheist I always am wary of anything with religion.. but this is so honest and raw and I appreciate the story behind it. I feel like it’s told in such a way that you can understand so much of what happened.

The different performances and accents and voices help so much in the story telling and I honestly love so much of this wonderful woman’s talent.

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Such a brave and eye-opening listen.

The story telling, character voices and singing were amazing. I wanted to scream and cry. Having no personal ties to the subject matter, it was so relatable and heartbreaking. I found myself saying, “oh no” out loud as I anticipated the next sentence. My heart goes out to the author and all those affected.

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