This book started out a little slowly for me, but around the 40% mark, it became hard to put down! The alternating timelines were a bit confusing as well, especially later in the book where they didn’t always alternate, but kept the reader in the same timeline for several chapters. Still, the way that Barber showed how Elixir was so insidious was fantastic. The unexpected twists kept me thinking, “Just one more chapter” as it got later and later, and I ended up reading till 2 A!M, just to see how it all ended. To be honest, the end of Elizabeth’s story seemed a bit abrupt and out of character, but it was still satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

From the first page, this book pulled me into a tense, eerie spiral. This was a wild ride through the world of wellness cults, motherhood, and what happens when your past refuses to stay buried. Beth, the main character, thought she’d escaped the strange group she once called home. But ten years later, as she struggles with being a mom, a mysterious letter shows up—and suddenly the nightmare she fled comes crashing back.

What hit me the hardest was how powerfully the book shows loneliness. You see how wanting to belong can twist into something dangerous if it’s left ignored. And Beth is such a perfect unreliable narrator—she’s flawed, a little messy, but still real and raw. I loved that she wasn’t so unreliable that it got annoying, just enough to keep me guessing.

This story kept me on my toes. There were moments I thought I had it figured out, only for the next chapter to flip everything upside down. The big twist left my jaw on the floor, and the second, more minor twist? I did guess it, but it didn’t ruin the fun. And that last sentence—OMG. It’s one of those endings that leaves you staring at the ceiling wondering what it all means. I'll be busy ruminating about it for the next 3-5 business years, thanks.

If you’re into thrillers that explore identity, obsession, and the dark side of wellness culture, this book is a must-read. Just don’t plan on sleeping easy afterward.

Be Mine focuses on Beth, a new mother, an ex-cult member, who grows increasingly concerned after strange things keep happening.

This was my first thriller that focused on that cult aspect and I devoured it. As the inner workings of Elixir unfold, the creepier it gets. It was definitely interesting and eerie to see just how far Beth was pulled into the world of Elixr.

I’m a sucker for a dual timeline and the way this book handled it definitely added and extra “oomph” to the ending.

Speaking of endings…. WOW. There was a moment that I actually dropped my in surprise. It did seem the tiniest bit rushed, but the way everything pulled together was so good.

Thanks to NetGalley & publisher for this eBook.

Be Mine is a captivating novel that draws you into its emotional and mysterious world. The story beautifully explores themes of love, loss, and the passage of time, with characters that feel genuine and relatable. The pacing is steady, and the atmospheric writing kept me hooked from start to finish. A few plot twists were a bit predictable, but overall, it’s a heartfelt story with enough depth to leave a lasting impression.

This was quite a ride! It definitely kept my attention but strained credulity a bit. Overall an entertaining read, especially if you like reading about cults.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Be Mine is a compelling psychological thriller that blends cult horror, emotional realism, and postpartum vulnerability into a compelling dual-timeline narrative. Despite a somewhat rushed ending, the psychological depth, haunting memories, and twisty storytelling make it a gripping and emotionally resonant read.

Ten years ago, at a difficult time in her life, Beth got caught up with a wellness group called Elixir, led by the mysterious and charismatic Tate. But as she eventually discovered, Elixir had disturbingly cult-like elements.

When she decided to make a break from them, she knew that they would not let her go so easily. And now, as an exhausted new mother, when she receives something through the door featuring the familiar Infinity symbol, Beth realises that they have not closed that chapter, however badly she might want to...

A gripping read, this one will be enjoyed by thriller readers who enjoy the added bonus of charismatic leaders and cult-type themes thrown in. It easily gets 3.5 stars.

A deliciously twisty read that I just couldn't put down

Wow! What a read. This is my first book by Lizzy Barber, but it won't be my last. Gorgeously written, utterly sublime to read and the type of book that you really must read "just one more chapter" of. What more could you want from a book?

Be Mine is the story of Beth. After a turbulent time in her personal life, she decides to leave the UK to start afresh in San Francisco. Thankfully, she's been able to transfer through work, but because she's still doing the same job, being halfway around the world doesn't quite give Beth the break she wants.

Then she meets Marissa, who introduces her to the world of Elixir. Billed as a wellness group for both body and mind, it seems like just what Beth needs. But is Elixir everything it seems?

Be Mine is told in two timelines, separated by roughly 10 years. There's 2013, where Beth is in California, and the present day, with Beth back in England, raising her newborn daughter. We know something happened with Elixir that made her come back - but we don't know what. But trust me, you'll be desperate to find out.

Both timelines of Be Mine are filled with hooks to keep us hanging on, dripfeeding tension and introducing questions that keep us guessing right to the very end. There's an incredible twist I just didn't see coming, adding a whole new layer to the story. Even when it occasionally feels too far-fetched, it's hard to care: I was that invested in Beth, in how deliciously villainous Elixir and its founder are, in the world surrounding them, that I gladly ate everything up.

This is a wonderful read from start to finish. If you like quick-fire thrillers that always keep you on the edge of your seat, if you want a taste of San Francisco, if you like the idea of a cult-like wellness group that's hiding dark secrets, pick Be Mine up. You won't regret it.

Be Mine reminded me of a documentary I watched a few years ago about NXIVM cult. Everything about this book is five stars. Characters that feel fully formed, perfect pacing, and a clever plot with a twist I did not see coming!

I love a great cult psychological thriller and this one did not disapoint. Great characters, dark and creepy twists, I loved it, highly recommended xx

This book sounded so interesting to me so I requested as I was looking for thirllers from different authors. I haven't read a concept quite like this before and was invested the entire book

Thanks os much for the giftedc opy!

3.5 💫

Maybe it's just because I've read a few cult-themed novels in the past year, but I wasn't as thrilled by this as I was hoping to be. I don't want to say it was predictable - because the twists at the end (most of them, at least) did get me, but up until those reveals, it just didn't feel like anything new or too exciting.

I did genuinely enjoy the writing style itself, and was hooked enough to keep reading, but there was just something that felt lacking for me. But Lizzy Barber is certainly an author I can see myself returning to and giving another chance.

This book had me hooked with its twists, while offering a sharp take on control and identity in today's world.

BE MINE BY LIZZY BARBER.
5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s
Release date set for the 27th of May 2025.
This book starts off with a bang and pulls you in from the very beginning.
Really enjoyed this story.
I love anything cult related and this one did not dissapoint.
I highly recommend this book

Very good psychological thriller which opens in Marin County, San Francisco in 2014 where an unnamed woman is waiting, with a gun, for a man called Tate. The story then moves to Muswell Hill, London in July 2023 where Beth lives with her partner Adam and their daughter Etta. The dual timeline works very well and I found this a compelling read.

Briefly, in May 2013 Beth has been in the San Francisco Bay area for three weeks, having left England after a traumatic breakup. After meeting Marissa in a coffee shop she is persuaded to join a wellness group called Elixir. Soon it takes over her life and eventually the obsession with the Elixir lifestyle causes her to lose her job. In 2023 Beth is struggling with motherhood and a baby that cries, a lot. She has no friends so when she meets someone who wants to be friends she grabs at it with both hands. However her life is gradually turned upside down when she starts receiving letters from Elixir.

Beth is an interesting character, flawed from the events before she moved to San Francisco, she was ripe for the picking, and an ideal candidate for indoctrination. A dark and gripping story with an inevitability in the way Beth’s life progressed. I was completely blindsided by the massive twist in the story, shocked! It was so tense it made me feel very uncomfortable at times. A good read. 4.5⭐️

This was my first thriller by Lizzy Barber and I love stories with cult vibes. It certainly met my expectations!
I enjoyed the tension-filled plot and the fast pace of the narrative.
Beth was a strong character and her motivations and choices kept the plot engaging and provided insight into the story.
Thank you to the publisher/author for the opportunity to read this complimentary advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Cult thrillers are some of my absolute favorites, and Be Mine did not disappoint. With perfectly timed twists and reveals, Lizzy Barber delivers a gripping, psychologically layered story that had me hooked from the first page.

This was my first book by Barber, and I’m already eager to dive into more of her work. The dual timeline, contrasting Beth’s desperate present with her intoxicating and dangerous past, was masterfully done. The way Elixir slowly tightens its grip on her felt disturbingly realistic, and the creeping dread as the past collides with the present kept me flipping pages until the satisfying ending!

Thank you NetGalley and Datura Books for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Oh wow this book has so many twists and turns. Lizzy Barber hits you with one after another.
After a bad split with her ex Beth heads to San Fransico for a new start, a chance encounter with Marissa at a coffee stall, leads to Beth being swept into a wellness brand called Elixir. Slowly but surely Beth is swept in to the Elixir lifestyle, she meets the enigmatic leader Tate and gets deeper into the lifestyle. It takes over so much of her life that she eventually is fired from her job, making her desperate to stay in San Fransico. Be mine is told in a two different timelines, before the cult and after. We know Beth escaped the cult and you will eventually find out how and why. Lizzy Barber tells an engaging story. I did find the character of Beth annoying at times. Even so I could not put this book down. I also felt the ending wasn't really necessary, she could have left that out. Highly recommended for fans of psychological thrillers.

A gripping psychological thriller with sharp twists, layered characters, and a haunting sense of inevitability, this is a story about identity, obsession, and the cost of reinvention. I bloody loved it!

Flitting between Muswell Hill in 2023 and Marin County 2014, we meet Beth. Beth. The new mum of Etta. The wife of Adam. Knee deep in that challenging stage of innumerable wakes. Feeling like the waking dead. Getting just enough rest to paper over the cracks until it all starts again on repeat. But Beth can't possibly ignore the privilege of motherhood, or choose not to cherish every moment, especially when she considers all she's been through to get there.

Although she misses the days of sharp edges. Of laptops, and coffee cups and meetings and lunchbreaks, she adores her baby girl. Even if the magnitude of responsibility for preserving another human being is a lot alongside the constant anxiety over whether she's doing the right thing.

And then the envelope arrives to throw Beth even further into freefall. The envelope embossed in gold. Elixir. And she is right back in 2013, like the last decade hasn't happened. Back in the city of disruption that was San Francisco. Thrown back to that first meeting with Marissa in the coffee queue. The coffee that changed the course of her life. Remembering what that 1 inch patch of flesh etched on her arm really stands for. Recalling how she was convinced that it was the answer to everything. Incandescently happy.

How Elixir ruled her life. How the belief system drove every decision. Every move. How it became her remedy. Her cure all. Her belief system. Her perfection. How she committed to the Elixir Guarantee, every word of Tate Larson's Manifesto. Hook. Line. And. Sinker.

As her past catches up with her we understand her need for invisibility, and realise that the shell she wears is forged in iron. And the rollercoaster she is on is not showing any signs of slowing down. If you love a twisty turny psychological thriller then strap yourself in, you're in for a wild ride!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Datura Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Lizzy Barber. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Beth was running from her past when she got involved with a wellness group, Elixir. That too became a nightmare. Then years later, her life looks very different - she's married with a young child. But she's still struggling to fit into her new role. When she receives a mysterious letter bearing the infinity symbol, she knows instantly that Elixir is back in her life.

You won't be able to read this without thinking of another cult, NXIVM, that was in all the headlines. This story was told out in dual timelines - Beth before when she was getting involved with Elixir, and in present day where she's fearful of them coming back in her life. There were lots of twists and turns in this one that I could never have guessed. I am fascinated with cults and how leaders are able to brainwash people so thoroughly, so this was both a look into that as well as just a great read!