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Dinner for Vampires

Life on a Cult TV Show (While also in an Actual Cult!)

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Dinner for Vampires

By: Bethany Joy Lenz
Narrated by: Bethany Joy Lenz
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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 counselling 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 super-fan), she finally managed to escape the family's grip and begin to heal from the deep trauma that forever altered the course of her life.

Written with powerful honesty and dark humour, Dinner for Vampires is an inspiring story about the importance of identity, faith and independence. Women Inspiring Witty Heartfelt Feel-Good
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Absolutely engaging! Amazing audiobook to listen to joy read it in numerous accents felt like I was watching it. I’m a huge OTH fan and I can’t wait for the new show.

What a read!

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The thing I liked most about this was how much self reflection was in this. You heard her say what I was thinking and I just found it so interesting seeing her reflection but also how she came to her realisations.

Interesting and reflective

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This kind of autobiography was an amazing ride: Joy is an incredible writer ánd reader! Her story is unlike anything I’ve heard of before, yet she makes it so personal that you almost feel a part of it. I recommend this book to EVERYONE

Incredible storytelling

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Such a powerful story, thank you Joy for having the courage to tell it and share it with us!

So powerful!

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A beautiful story of how anybody, no matter their background, can be vulnerable to and be abused. although Bethany Joy's story is so heartbreaking, listening to how she slowly regains her power and hope to save her and her daughter is inspiring. As she says herself, her story is not of a typical cult which shows how easy it can be for them to prey on people who are vulnerable or need connection. Bethany Joy's performance on the audiobook showcases her talent for acting, with her different voices for the different people so convincing it's like listening to multiple people. It's such a brilliant book, I'm about to listen again!

A beautifully written example of how people find themselves in the depths of abuse but that there is hope of survival.

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