Be mine by Lizzie Barber

This book was an absolute head trip. Following a very toxic but believable wellness style cult like creeper group.

This book follows a young woman named Beth who is trying to get away from her previous life in the UK, she is invited to this exclusive club like atmosphere that has her striving for the higher levels of success by the instructors and classmates. She is entranced by the instructor named Tate that has her smitten from the get go.

This story takes place in a past and present like storytelling atmosphere that has you guessing and wondering where the story may lead. As Beth in current times has gotten away from the outlandish expectations of Elixir and is now a mother, a sleep deprived mother who is questioning herself as she receives a mysterious letter from her old life.

I enjoy the book however it took sometime to get use to the bouncing of the storyline. Thank you NetGalley and Datura for this advanced copy!

Be Mine is the kind of book that grabs you and doesn’t let go. It’s a wild, twisty ride into the dark world of toxic wellness cults, and I couldn’t put it down. The story follows Beth, who moves to San Francisco for a fresh start but gets sucked into an exclusive wellness group called Elixir. At first, it seems perfect—the classes, the vibe, the sense of belonging—but soon, it takes over her life. She’s waking up crazy early, skipping work, and doing whatever it takes to impress the cult’s mysterious leader, Tate. And let me tell you, Tate is the worst—a total narcissist who plays mind games with his followers, breaking them down just to build them back up under his control.

The book jumps between Beth’s past in the cult and her present life in London, where she’s trying to move on but can’t shake the fear that Elixir is still watching her. When an envelope with their logo shows up in her apartment, the paranoia kicks in hard. These dual timelines keep the suspense high—you’re constantly trying to piece together what happened back then and how it connects to the creepy stuff happening now. At first, the time jumps took a second to get used to, but once I got into the flow, I was hooked.

What makes this book so addictive is how real the cult feels. The manipulation, the mental abuse, the way Beth (and the others) get brainwashed into thinking they need Tate’s approval—it’s all so well-written and unsettling. You can see how someone smart could still fall into something like this, and that’s what makes it scary. The tension builds slowly, with little clues dropped along the way, until everything explodes in a way I never saw coming.

Lizzy Barber’s writing is sharp and immersive—she makes you feel like you’re right there with Beth, experiencing every high and low. The twists hit hard, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, another curveball comes flying at you.

If you love psychological thrillers with cult themes, unreliable narrators, and a plot that keeps you guessing, this is your next read. It’s dark, gripping, and impossible to predict.

5/5 stars—highly recommend!

✨4 stars✨

Wow what a rollercoaster this book was!

Set against the backdrop of toxic wellness cults, this book follows Beth dual timelines, one in San Francisco in 2013 and one in London a decade later. I really enjoyed the pace in which the author allowed the reveals to take place as from the beginning I was hooked.

Throughout, I became suspicious of every character, including our narrator so whilst I may have figured a few twists out, there were far more that had me stumped and my jaw on the floor.

There were many uncomfortable part of the book, especially when seeing how easy it can be to become involved in these wellness cults, and how history may repeat itself!

I would definitely recommend this book!

I received an ARC from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

OMG.
What a freaky read. The ending my Jaw is still on the floor.
This book is about a wellness cult (it reminds me of the MLM cults that exist right now, there was also the whole works and other wellness cults that existed in previous years.) If you are or were a part of them, I'm sorry, but this is what the book reminded me of. You meet Beth and Marissa who become fast friends in San Fran! Where Marissa invites her to join Elixer.

Oh, she joins alright and becomes entranced by Tate the company's leader. Oh, then things change. I can't go into what happens next but at the end your jaw will be dropping. Completely on the floor. Lean over pick it up and word of advice stay away from the wellness cult. If you want to join its okay too but if your life turns out like this then don't come for me.

Also, the last chapter..OMG! OMG! OMG! Where is part two?

Beth, newly moved to San Francisco in 2013, in the wake of a difficult breakup, is vulnerable to the approaches of a friendly stranger who introduces her to the mysterious Elixir organisation, which promises to change her life - mind, body and spirit. Soon, she's in deep.

In the present day, back in the UK, Beth is a new mother to baby Etta, but her life is shadowed by the fear that Elixir has a long reach. Are they really still watching her, sending her messages?

The story develops over these two timelines as we learn more about Elixir, its well-named leader Tate (I kept thinking "Andrew") and its impact on Beth and others.

Elixir is clearly a cult, with all the attributes including a supposedly charismatic leader (although from the outset Tate is obviously weird and creepy). Fine by me, I love a scary (fictional) cult. Psychological and physical abuse is rife in Elixir world, and despite the healthy living claims, they have no objection to alcohol, drugs and extreme eating restriction. It's hard to believe an intelligent woman like Beth falls for it all, though I guess it does happen.

The "Extraction" sessions, among a few other things, were reminiscent of Scientology's "auditing".

There are some odd word choices which jarred at times ("he wielded his body" - yikes! - "she worried her head", the use of "distinctively" instead of "distinctly") and some that are just wrong (a man in a queue "inferred" that she should move forward).

It all got a bit crazy towards the end, and I didn't like or see the point of the very end. I wasn't sure what I was meant to conclude from it. The main twist was good, and I didn't see it coming at all - though I'm not entirely sure it would work in real life.

There's generally quite a lot of suspension of disbelief required here, which is not to say weird and scary cults don't exist, because they clearly do! It was an engaging read, though.

This is a very engaging book that had me thinking about similar toxicity and cult behavior that I see around me every day. The ending was a bit of a cheesefest but overall this is a pretty good read with plenty of twists and tension.

Thoroughly addictive and entertaining read.

We enter the world of wellness cults. London born Beth heads to San Francisco for work, and befriends Marissa. Marissa lures Beth into the world of "Elixir", and Beth is soon a happy convert.

Two time frames, 10 years before in San Francisco when Beth enters the cult, and now in London when Beth is free of the cult but fears that she hasn't escaped Elixir's reach.

Plenty of nice twists and surprises in the back quarter of this one.

Beth joined a health and wellness group called Elixir in the San Francisco Bay area, but fled it 10 years ago to return to her native UK. She is happily married, though struggling with the demands of a new baby and her isolation at home. When it seems that Elixir is out to ensnare her again, she is terrified because her husband knows nothing about that part of her past. Beth wants nothing to do with Elixir, but she has to know why they are seeking her out after 10 years and she is desperately afraid of what her husband might learn.

This book has its fair share of paranoid characters, and rightly so, when they realize that they've 'been had' by a cult. No one is who they seem to be, having been thoroughly controlled by Elixir's charismatic leader, Tate. There is a lot of suspenseful anxiety -- a page turner for sure, with a surprise ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Many thanks to netgalley, the author and #daturabooks for approving my request to read this book.

I very quickly found myself absorbed within the pages of this book which explores the toxicity that can sadly be found all to easily in today's society.

I couldn't turn the pages fast enough in this clever, thought provoking, dark thriller and enjoyed the many twists that were thrown in.

Highly recommended from me!

I loved the premise of this book and finished it in basically one sitting. The very end was a little cheesy but it didn’t take anything away from the story.

I read this fairly quickly due to the twists and turns for this book! I was shocked a couple of times throughout the book. I loved the identity switch and the women standing up for each other in the end, Overall, a great thrilling read!

I would recommend if you like intense thriller reads with a strong female MC.

Thank you NetGalley & Datura for the digital eARC.

In 2013 and Beth is freshly off a painful breakup and multiple personal struggles when she guardedly accepts an invitation from the glowing Marissa to a workout called Elixir. Beth decides to give it a try hoping it will make her feel more at home in her new city, San Francisco. Elixir turns out to be more than just exercise, including one-on-one therapy-like sessions and the mysterious guru Tate. Elixir soon has a hold on every waking moment of her life.

Ten years later, back in her home in the UK, Beth is in the throes of new motherhood, shrouded in anxieties and nearly agoraphobic. When she receives an invitation to a ten year anniversary party for Elixir, she begins to panic, realizing they found her and knowing what danger lies ahead.

Told in alternative timelines between 2023 and the events of 2013, we learn that Beth was sucked completely into the cult of Elixir its 'exercise' program imbued with psychobabble and a strict adherence to its rules expected from its devotees.

Be Mine is absolutely filled with twists and turns that I never guessed but definitely enjoyed. 4.25 stars for this creepy cult filled thriller.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

Set in the world of toxic wellness cults, 'Be Mine' follows Beth who moved to San Francisco for a fresh start, ready to work hard and forget what happened to her in the UK. She is invited by new acquaintance Marissa to attend an exclusive wellness class called Elixir - and once she's there, she's absolutely hooked. The classes, the instructors, the approach to life , the exclusivity - all appeal to Beth in a way that nothing else has. She soon finds herself there more and more, getting up desperately early to attend classes or sneaking out of work to rush across town. Beth's efforts are noticed by Marissa, who encourages her to sign up for more classes and commit to a higher level of Elixir classes. Beth has heard Marissa talk about Elixir's founder, Tate, who is this almost mythical figure, issuing wellness advice and instructions to his followers who hang on his every word.

Beth becomes obsessed by Tate and getting his approval for all of her efforts, doubling down on all of the effort she's putting in. She's rewarded by being admitted to an inner circle, but life becomes even more demanding, especially when she meets Tate himself. God, Tate is an utterly vile self-serving character, as soon as you hear about him, you know what to expect and boy, he delivers in spades. He is so self-obsessed and narcissistic, an absolute master at manipulating others whilst simultaneously knocking their self-confidence and leaving them wanting more, desperate to please .

The Elixir timeline is interspersed with episodes from Beth's current life. She's managed to escape Elixir and get back to London to start a family, but she can't relax, paranoid that Elixir will find her even a decade later. As the book opens, it seems as though they have found her, as an envelope with their distinctive logo mysteriously appears in her flat.

This is Lizzy Barber's best book yet, an utterly addictive psychological read that I couldn't tear myself away from!

Gripping twisty drama about a cult taking place in duel time.
I found this to be a great book, kept me up all night reading it. The ending was so unexpected. I've never read anything from this author before, but I'll definitely be checking out any other books she's got coming up as I enjoyed this tremendously ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Past and present collide in this geipping amd disturbing read.

It's been a long long time since beth left Elixir but it still feels lie yesterday and she's still running, still hiding.

Now with a baby to protect she feels like time is running our for her and she's scared.

This is a brilliant read. I have always been fascinated by cults and how on the outside they seem enlightening and helpful but then deep down they are dangerous and brainwashing.

I really enjoyed this book it is well written, I loved the drama and enjoyed getting to know beth and her story

"Be Mine" is a whirlwind of a story that has your intriguied from the get go! It took me a while to get into the swing of multiple time POV (past and present day), but once I got into the flow of it, the book had me in its clutches, and I couldn't put it down. I loved being slowly trickle fed information as I tried to piece together what made the main character Beth who she was, and why she was getting so angsty over the mysterious occurances happening present day, whilst simultaneously slowly finding out exactly what those events were in the past! I can only imagine how hard it must be to write so many mysteries in both present day and past day without confusing the reader and it just goes to show how masterful Lizzy Barber is at her craft!

As a mother with a young baby myself, I found myself relating to a lot of what Beth (present day POV) as a mother was going through - I think the sheer exhaustion and how that can affect your mental state, was beautifully written! I was jealous that Beth managed to get Etta to take to a bottle straight away, but to evoke such emotions in me, just goes to show how ingrossed I was in the read!

I thought the cult aspect of the story was well done, with lots of angsty tension, and a good portrayal of the mental abuse that followers can suffer at the leader's hands.

Overall, I thought it was a fun read, with plently of mystery to keep you engrossed. I always end up saying this about Lizzy Barber's work, but it's a perfect holiday read!

This story takes place in alternating time frames of the past and the present as Beth struggles to come to terms with the consequences of leaving the cult-like group Elixir almost a decade ago. As with most people sucked into these groups, she was lonely, living in a strange country, and looking for friends and a sense of belonging. She found it with Elixir, an exercise and wellness organization where she flew through the ranks the more brainwashed she became. We know she escaped, but the narrative builds up to the how and why she did it.

In the present timeframe, she’s an overwhelmed new mother, almost in the same position – lonely and exhausted from staying in with her baby all day every day and missing having adult friends. She receives a letter with the Elixir symbol and fears that they have found her at last.

I thought at first that I wouldn’t enjoy the book too much because there have been so many about cult-like groups and they all go the same way, manipulative leaders taking advantage of people to get them in and ensuring it’s almost impossible to leave. The brainwashed followers who refuse to see the truth, and their friends and family who work hard to bring them back. But this book has a little bit of an edge with some surprises thrown in. And even if I knew where the story was headed, I still found myself not wanting to stop reading.

“The Only Thing Holding You Back Is You.”

“Be Mine” is a gripping cult thriller that immerses readers in a world of psychological manipulation and suspense. The narrative is filled with unexpected twists and turns, keeping you on the edge of your seat. Just when you think you’ve figured out the ending, another surprise awaits, challenging your assumptions.

The incredible twist and turns, told by a multi-narrative perspective keeps you guessing until the very end. This has easily been one of my top 5 years of the year.

Thank you to Angry Robot, Datura Books & NetGalley for this incredible ARC.

#angryrobot #daturabooks #netgalley #arc

3.5/5

Morale of the story: the wellness industry is very corrupt and everyone is shady (this book highlights that, but as a chronic illness girlie, I can also confirm that things be weird).

This follows a culty, MLM-feeling sort of wellness group and how one member is dealing with it. She was a part of that group in the past and now has to navigate the impacts of it later in life. We get multiple timelines in this book, following the different stages of her being a part of this group.

We get to see a lot of the psychological impact this group had on her as well as it combines with the normal (but stressful) things she has going on in her life (like being postpartum). That was a very cool element of this book. At times, I did find the characterization to be a bit flat. But that does make sense given this book is more about the effect on a person and not so much the person. I just really like having super solid characters that feel real.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Love Lizzy Barber , she not only writes good, twisty, atmospheric thrillers, but she takes you on a journey. Her writing style is beautiful, she really makes you feel like you're living alongside the characters.