Dinner for Vampires
Written by Bethany Joy Lenz
Narrated by Bethany Joy Lenz
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
An “incredible” (Alex Cooper, Call Her Daddy), “riveting” (People) New York Times bestselling 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 break through as an actor, Bethany Joy Lenz was finally cast as one of the leads on the hit drama One Tree Hill. Her acting career was set to soar, but her personal life was beginning to unravel in ways her fans could never imagine. Unknown to the millions of viewers and even her costars, Lenz led a secret double life within a cult.
As an only child seeking belonging, Lenz thought she found a safe haven in a Bible study group with fellow Hollywood creatives. However, the group morphed into something more sinister—a web of manipulation and fear under the guise of a church covenant called The Big House Family. Piece by piece, Lenz surrendered her autonomy, eventually moving to the Family’s Pacific Northwest compound overseen by a domineering minister who convinced her to marry his son and secretly drained millions from 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 escape and spare her child from a similar fate. After nearly a decade (and with the unlikely help from a devoted One Tree Hill fan), she broke free from the family’s grip, beginning her healing journey from deep trauma that reshaped her faith and identity.
Written with powerful honesty and dark humor, Dinner for Vampires is a “tart, refreshing” (The New York Times Book Review) story about the importance of identity and understanding what you believe.
Bethany Joy Lenz
Bethany Joy Lenz starred in the hit TV series One Tree Hill. Her other acting credits include Guiding Light, Grey’s Anatomy, Charmed, Felicity, Suits, Dexter, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. She is also a recording artist who has released several albums. Lenz currently cohosts the podcast Drama Queens and is the founder/editor-in-chief of the broadsheet newspaper Modern Vintage News.
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Reviews for Dinner for Vampires
568 ratings17 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Feb 23, 2025
Incredible autobiography that hits deep. This book made me cry, laugh, and fume. Bethany Joy caused me to realize that anyone can be duped into a cult.
This is a must read. It is absolutely crucial that we continue to ask questions of those we consider in spiritual authority in our lives! - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Jan 24, 2025
Well written and beautifully narrated. Heartbreaking account of cult survivorship that is well worth the listen! - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Jan 16, 2025
Excellent audiobook!! I couldn’t stop listening. The author as the narrator is what makes the audiobook so great. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Dec 1, 2024
I love Joys voice…calming, silly and beautiful. I feel a great deal of compassion for the hard things she walked through and thankful to know she is still walking with God. I loved her as Haley James, but I enjoyed getting to know her through this beautifully hard book.
Praying for the impact this will have on readers. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Nov 29, 2024
I love the way Lenz narrates this book and gives life to the different people, without it being distracting or feeling like it’s too much. The way you can feel the emotion in her voice as she reads the words is powerful as a listener - I was really drawn in. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Nov 25, 2024
As someone who grew up going to church and embracing my “church family” in my early 20’s it was really easy to understand Joy’s story. It’s incredibly gross how these people prey on their victims, and Joy was the perfect target. Great read, and I agree with Joy these stories need to continue to be told so survivors are believed. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Nov 24, 2024
I liked listening to her story and everything she personally went through shedding light to how church’s can really twist the whole point - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Nov 13, 2024
I was 29 when I stumbled upon One Tree Hill and instantly fell in love with Hailey and then Joy. The whole time I was watching it I never heard any of the rumors... I'm so glad you told your truth and wrote this book... it's eye-opening and amazingly written and narrated. 10 out of 10 for me! - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Nov 7, 2024
this book was absolutely amazing and I’m glad she decided to read it herself it made it so much more personal of course I’m here because I’m a tree hill fan but this was a fantastic book. I hope it’s not her last. Thank you for sharing , really showed some perspective. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Nov 6, 2024
5/5 ⭐️ audiobook. Joy speaks so well and I love that she included audio from a few of her OTH co-stars! - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Oct 28, 2024
This was a wild ride. My heart goes out to Joy and her family. Haley was always my favorite character on One tree hill. The way she carried herself you just knew that's who Joy actually was. Strong but soft, smart, kind, and resilient. And through this book you can tell it was inside her all along. You would have never known this was happening behind the scenes. I didn't have social media, so I didn't get the "buzz" of this happening. So this is all just so mind blowing. A whole new respect for who she is! I am so grateful she and her daughter is safe! - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Jan 22, 2025
Joy is an incredible narrator. I absolutely loved hearing her story. She expertly explains the subtle, progressive ways that people can manipulate a person into believing a certain way. One of my favorite reads in a long time!1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Jan 16, 2025
Loved the book! So honest, can really respect her situation.1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Dec 16, 2024
This isn’t a light hearted read. But she did an incredible job writing and narrating this book. So insightful and so raw. Thank you so much for opening up and sharing your story ❤️1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Nov 23, 2024
This was such an amazing book. I don’t usually listen to audiobooks books but I think Joy reading it made me feel like I was on the ride with her and I was hooked from the first chapter. I was angry and sad for her through some parts but also proud of what she was able to overcome. I’m a OG OTH and why I really wanted to read this book and I’m soooo glad i did. This was excellent!1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5
Jul 6, 2025
What an awfully boring, uninteresting book.
Why in the world is something like this published? Oh, wait, because the author is a celebrity. - Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5
Jan 19, 2025
It's a very boring read. Who knew revealing life in a cult could be such a snoozefest.1 person found this helpful
