Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show (While also in an Actual Cult!)

Holly says: Actress and musician Bethany Joy Lenz shares how she found herself wrapped up with a small high control group while in search of love, community, and confidence in this recent memoir. Over time, she gave away her autonomy, was convinced to marry someone she didn’t love, and lost most of her hard-earned money due to the manipulations of the group’s leadership. Many of the cult accounts I’ve read follow those born into a community; Lenz’s account of how she was slowly brought in as a young adult and subsequently convinced that her situation was normal offered unique insight into how people can be influenced by strong personalities and group pressure. I listened to it on audio, as narrated by the author, which enhanced my experience. Content warnings apply.