#dinner for vampires

[magickgirl786]

Before Joy’s book came out, I remember reading somewhere that Sophia and Hilarie were annoyed at Joy for writing about the show in the book since allegedly the three of them were going to write a tell-all together about the show

And this might have been one of the reasons that they had a fallout and honestly after reading Joy’s book, she didn’t even really mention a lot about the show and only mentioned it to talk about how she felt so disconnected or to talk about how the cast/crew all knew she was a part of a cult

so even after the book, they honestly could have easily still written a tell-all about the show without all this drama like Sophia and Hilarie clearly overreacted (and especially Hilarie because girl needs to get her eyes checked when those book covers are in no way similar lol)

[thicarusposts]

🍒January Reads🍒

I’m still thinking about Night Watching! Reading it while snowed in was such a vibe

Can you recommend me any books based on my top 3 of the month?

[earnmysong]

*opens bethany joy lenz's memoir*

*sees no weapons/no friends/no hope buffy quote*

*weeps*

ohhhh, we're in for it here, friends!

[shadowsof-thenight]

Book Recommendations: Week 47

Book 47 (originally planned for November 24th)

Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz

As an only child Bethany Joy Lenz often had to fend for herself and longed for a place to belong. When she was a young adult, she found that safe haven in a Bible study group with other Hollywood creatives. However, the group eventually evolved into something more sinister. A web of manipulation, abuse and fear under the guise of God. The Big House Family. Slowly, Lenz lost her autonomy and sense of self. In the early 2000’s she got a part on One Tree Hill. Her career was about to take off thanks to that show, but her private life was unraveling. Hidden from the world, even unbeknownst to her co-start, she was stuck in a cult. Only when she became a mother, did she find the courage to leave. She wanted nothing more than to protect her child from the same fate. So after nearly a decade and help from unexpected places, she finally managed to escape their grip and begin to heal. Miss Lenz is honest, open en not afraid to show her own flaws in this captivating book. I got the audiobook, read by the actress herself, which made it even more personal. It’s so unnerving to hear her talk about all she’s been through. How she can now see the manipulation, but how it reeled her in back then. How her choices, looking back, were never entirely her own. And how the experience left her broken and broke. All the while she played a beloved character in a cult-hit show. I never could’ve imagine, as a viewer, what went on behind the scenes for her. This Memoir showcases her strength and her resilience in the face of everything, and her journey to find herself again and her relationship with God.

[fromevertonow]

books of 2025 - review #2

Dinner for Vampires by Bethany Joy Lenz

Finished: 14/01/25

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️

I knew Joy from One Tree Hill, one of my favorite tv shows, such a nostalgic series. I didn’t know much about her though. She was just another actress to me.

That was until I read her memoir because what the fuck is this? I was terrified on her behalf even though everything that’s mentioned has already happened. She was drawn into a cult that used her as a human ATM and left emotionally abused.

Aside from the horrific contents that Joy describes, her narrative style is what drew me in the most. She made a brilliant choice in using popculture vampire names for all these people (for legal reasons but still). It all made perfect sense in the end where she tied up the title and the names to her being the “vampire dinner.” Sucked from life to give it to others.

The writing is so strong and that’s something you don’t usually see in memoirs. The main focus is, as it should be, on the contents, but the authors often don’t play with the genre. Joy realizes its potential and uses it to her advantage.

[djmysteryreader]

Dinner for Vampires

As a teen in the early 2000’s, I watched One Tree Hill every week and was just enamored with the characters. Specifically Haley, because at that point I was just beginning to understand my queerness and I found a lot of my own awkward personality reflected in Haley. It was also a show I watched with my mom, who passed in 2021, and believe me when I say my mom loved the drama of it all. We constantly watched all kinds of dramatic teen shows which were essentially just soap operas for all of us who grew up in the early 2000's.

When I saw that Bethany Joy Lenz had written a memoir, I was intrigued. I was especially intrigued by her title: Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show (While also in an Actual Cult). A cult? I had no idea that she had been involved with anything adjacent to a cult and it turns out that this particular group of people preyed on Lenz's youth and success to get what they wanted from her while also making her believe she was not doing enough. And perhaps it isn't the definitive idea one has of what a cult is like but it is certainly a group that follows a set of ideas led by one person who convinces their followers that only they know what is good or bad for them to retain control.

Bethany Joy Lenz writes this memoir, somehow, with humor and the ability to reflect on her past, which is riddled with difficult conversations and behaviors held by those in a position of charismatic power that are slimy and icky, while also giving the reader insight into her career. A tricky balance that, in my opinion, she found easily. I will admit there were moments where I found it to be a bit slow or tedious but more than that I found myself wanting Lenz to find her lifeboat in that sea of misery and loneliness as the book progressed.

I love memoirs because they offer insight and a point of view into someone else's existence and whether you enjoy that view or not, there is always something to learn. This was no exception. If you too enjoy an entertaining memoir, I do recommend this one whether you watched One Tree Hill or not.

[littlecajunlady]

I just read Dinner for Vampires in one sitting. Oof. I have thoughts but it's 1 am and I'm going to bed, but maybe I'll write something later.

[lolapath]

Ahhh my favourite drink 🍷 the og post (Ig?)

[petrowriting]

the revelation that claudia’s rebirth was such a twisted and horrible moment, with louis dragging her like she was a thing, a stranger who neither of them knew but he kept saying over and over “our daughter, our beautiful little daughter” to lestat, really solidified the way she was never the main character of her own story. she was always an accessory to some or the other of louis’ whims: his guilt, his loneliness, his conflict of being a killer, his rocky relationship with lestat. there was love there, love from both her fathers, but it was never enough. lestat saw her too much as a wretched mirror held up to his own self, and louis was always too steeped in his own feelings to care enough about hers. claudia’s story truly was the greatest tragedy in this tale, treated horribly by every man around her, even her fathers, relentlessly exploited and brutally ignored, always second and never first. the only one who loved her the way she deserved to be loved was madeleine, and the moment she truly had her, her happiness was torn from her. and just before she died, she got to see someone actually choose her in her entirety, not for what she can be but for who she is, and it still wasn’t enough. she still burned alive in the sunlight. the love was there, but it wasn’t enough to save her.

[sayxit]

Spaghetti

[drolta]

i’m still laughing

[qifreyplushie]

i beg you, eat me up. want me down to my marrow. 💘

[numbuh424]

TW // Blood

Lawlight Week Day 5 - "Sharing Food / Cannibalism"

[choccy-milky]

HAPPY LATE BDAY TO @the-ozzie's MILLIE 🎉 crackhead collage of her and clora bc theyre besties💖👯

[sttinkky]

Everybody, Everybody, Everybody dįes!

[sleepy-mocha]

Girl dinner✨