Cult Vibes, Questionable Ethics, and a Sci-Fi Movie? What is “The Last Session”

I was beyond excited to receive an ARC of The Last Session. (Many thanks to Atria Books for an electronic ARC in exchange for my authentic review). Julia Bartz’s debut, The Writing Retreat, was a favorite of mine—dark, suspenseful, and just the right amount of unsettling. So, I went into this one with high expectations. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. This was weird, but not the good kind of weird. More like what did I just read? weird. 2 stars.

A Social Worker with No Boundaries

Our protagonist, Thea, is a social worker. In theory, this should make her a thoughtful, professional, and ethical character. In practice, she has zero boundaries and seems to have skipped the day in training where they covered HIPAA. She crosses so many professional lines that it’s hard to root for her, and that’s before the story really starts unraveling. For someone trained to help others process trauma, Thea has done shockingly little self-reflection on her own past, making her a deeply frustrating protagonist. Her inability to separate her personal struggles from her work leads to boundary violations so blatant that it’s a wonder she hasn’t been stripped of her license.

The Center for Relational Healing

The book takes place at an isolated retreat, a setup I normally love. There’s a group dynamic at play, tension simmering just under the surface, and the kind of social experiment atmosphere that promises psychological horror. And this was one place that I truly think The Last Session shines. The weird mosaic art piece/wellness center (aptly titled The Center for Relational Healing) in the New Mexico desert creates an eerie, otherworldly backdrop that feels both mystical and oppressive. The isolation, the strange therapeutic exercises, and the unsettling cult-like undertones all work together to build a sense of creeping dread, making the environment one of the strongest elements of the book.”

Cult Vibes, Orgies, and a Bizarre Sci-Fi Movie

While the premise and setting had so much potential, the story takes some deeply bizarre turns. Without spoiling too much (but also, check out spoiler tags if you’re considering reading this one), we get:

• A completely unexpected and strangely written group sex scene that comes out of nowhere.
• Profound sexual trauma that is introduced but not handled with much depth or care.
• A strange connection to a fictional sci-fi movie, which felt like it belonged in a different book entirely.

The combination of these elements made for a reading experience that was more frustrating than thrilling. The horror elements were present, but they didn’t build up effectively, and the character decisions often felt forced or implausible.

Final Thoughts on “The Last Session”

I wanted to love this. I should have loved this, given how much I enjoy books that lean into psychological horror, cults, and eerie group dynamics. But The Last Session never came together for me. Instead of feeling deeply unsettled in the best way, I was mostly confused and occasionally uncomfortable. However, despite all its flaws, The Last Session was the kind of trainwreck I couldn’t look away from—fast, compulsively readable, and so completely unhinged that I kept turning pages just to see what absurd twist would come next. And honestly? I kind of enjoyed the chaos.

The Last Session will be published on April 1, 2025. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this one—especially if you think I missed something! But for me, this was a disappointing follow-up to The Writing Retreat.