Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow, I had no idea what to expect with this book, and it completely surprised me! Julie is that mysterious person in the office no one really talks to, and getting to know her through her own perspective was such a wild ride — I found myself scratching my head more than once! The author did an amazing job fleshing out her history and showing exactly how Julie became the person she is today. Her quirks and strange worldview made her such a fascinating character. The pacing was spot-on, and honestly, I had such a great time reading it!
Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
I really tried to get into this book, but honestly, it just didn’t work for me. The story felt cringe and, more than anything, boring. Julie is clearly meant to be unhinged, but she comes across as flat and monotone, which made it hard to care about anything she did.
None of the characters had any real depth—they all just kind of existed on the page without pulling me in. The plot dragged on, and I kept waiting for something—*anything*—exciting to happen. But when I finally got to the end, it felt like nothing ever really did.
This one just wasn’t for me.
I would like to express my deep gratitude to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for their generosity in allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
None of the characters had any real depth—they all just kind of existed on the page without pulling me in. The plot dragged on, and I kept waiting for something—*anything*—exciting to happen. But when I finally got to the end, it felt like nothing ever really did.
This one just wasn’t for me.
I would like to express my deep gratitude to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for their generosity in allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Julie Tudor is an unreliable narrator, completely unhinged, a serial killer, and absolutely 100% a psychopath LOL!! This was a lot of fun, particularly as an audiobook. I loved listening to Julie’s dark, f-ed up and hilarious inner dialogue. A very fun and twisted read! Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton Audio for the ARC 🎧
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review.
Julie Tudor Is Not a Psychopath follows Julie—a mentally ill woman who, across multiple timelines in her life, develops delusional obsessions with men. As her fixation deepens, so does her willingness to eliminate the women she sees as competition.
The blurb immediately intrigued me. I’m drawn to dark humor and find fictional portrayals of psychopathy and sociopathy fascinating—especially when done with wit and intelligence. Unfortunately, this novel didn’t live up to the sharp, hilarious promise of its premise.
Julie lacks the qualities often associated with fictional psychopaths—there’s no charm, charisma, cunning, or even compelling manipulation. Instead, the narrative leans heavily on her delusions, which read more as pitiable than darkly humorous. The tone often feels like the joke is on her rather than coming from her, which made staying in her first-person perspective feel uncomfortable—not because she’s a psychopath, but because she’s consistently mocked by the narrative.
The book’s structure spans different timelines in Julie’s life, yet the storylines feel repetitive and blur together without adding depth or development. Julie is a middle-aged woman and a clear psychopath, so her delusions make sense within the context of her character. However, the way those delusions are handled feels lazy and often mean-spirited. The fact that she’s a middle-aged woman is part of the issue. Unfortunately, media and pop culture have long relied on harmful stereotypes that depict older women as senile, obsessive, or unstable.
In fact, studies show that middle-aged women in film are more likely to be portrayed as feeble or homebound compared to their male counterparts. These representations influence how society perceives women of that age. As noted in the article Rewriting the Narrative: How Ageism Persists in Today’s Media by Carter Jones: “A study by the Centre for Ageing Better found that ageist stereotypes in media often depict older adults as frail, technologically inept, or resistant to change. Such portrayals not only misrepresent the reality of ageing but also shape societal attitudes, embedding age bias in both cultural consciousness and individual behaviours.”
None of the characters were particularly likable or engaging—Julie included. There was no one to root for, and the plot was predictable, leaving little to hold my interest or surprise me.
I wanted to like this, but ultimately, it didn’t deliver.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism
Minor: Animal death
Julie Tudor Is Not a Psychopath is one of those books that grabs you by the throat with a perfectly manicured hand and refuses to let go until it’s had its say—sharp, sinister, and hilarious from start to finish.
Julie Tudor is 49. She’s organized, professional, and a firm believer that color-coded spreadsheets are the foundation of a well-run office (and possibly society at large). She owns a beautiful home that may or may not have a shady backstory. And she’s deeply, deeply in love with Sean, her 25-year-old coworker. But Julie is not a stalker. She’s just… invested. In their future. Even if Sean doesn’t know they have one.
What makes this book so compelling is that Julie tells her story with such conviction that you start to question your own judgment. She insists, again and again, that she is not a psychopath—while casually discussing surveillance, manipulation, and, oh yes, maybe a little light murder if the situation calls for it. It’s not personal. It’s just logistics.
The tone is pitch-black comedy, and it works because Jennifer Holdich commits hard to Julie’s voice. Julie is delusional, obsessive, and completely lacking in self-awareness—but she’s also charismatic, funny, and, at times, alarmingly relatable. You laugh because you’re horrified, and then you keep laughing because it’s too uncomfortable not to.
This isn’t a traditional thriller. There are no big twists, no dramatic reveals, and definitely no moral redemption. Instead, it’s a character study of a woman whose brain just doesn’t operate on the same frequency as the rest of society. The suspense doesn’t come from wondering what she’ll do—it’s from the creeping realization that she thinks everything she’s doing is perfectly reasonable.
The story moves between timelines, giving us a glimpse of Julie’s past relationships (read: obsessions) and the long trail of “unfortunate accidents” that seem to follow her. These moments build a pattern that’s darkly funny and more than a little disturbing. The way Holdich balances humor with horror is masterful. You’re laughing one minute and genuinely unsettled the next.
The supporting characters are also well-drawn. They’re not just there to orbit around Julie—they help illuminate her delusions and offer a contrast to her increasingly warped perception of reality. The audiobook narration deserves a shoutout, too. Julie’s voice is brought to life in a way that makes her obsessions feel even more intense, her monologues even more convincing.
This book is perfect for fans of Sweet Pea by C.J. Skuse, Killing Eve, You, or anyone who loves a morally grey, totally unhinged narrator who somehow manages to charm you while plotting someone’s demise. It’s not for the faint of heart—but if you enjoy your humor dark, your protagonists delusional, and your stories just a little off the rails, Julie Tudor Is Not a Psychopath will be an instant favorite.
It’s uncomfortable in the best way. Funny in the darkest way. And utterly unforgettable.
Trigger warnings: pet death, obsessive behavior, murder, stalking.
Julie Tudor is 49. She’s organized, professional, and a firm believer that color-coded spreadsheets are the foundation of a well-run office (and possibly society at large). She owns a beautiful home that may or may not have a shady backstory. And she’s deeply, deeply in love with Sean, her 25-year-old coworker. But Julie is not a stalker. She’s just… invested. In their future. Even if Sean doesn’t know they have one.
What makes this book so compelling is that Julie tells her story with such conviction that you start to question your own judgment. She insists, again and again, that she is not a psychopath—while casually discussing surveillance, manipulation, and, oh yes, maybe a little light murder if the situation calls for it. It’s not personal. It’s just logistics.
The tone is pitch-black comedy, and it works because Jennifer Holdich commits hard to Julie’s voice. Julie is delusional, obsessive, and completely lacking in self-awareness—but she’s also charismatic, funny, and, at times, alarmingly relatable. You laugh because you’re horrified, and then you keep laughing because it’s too uncomfortable not to.
This isn’t a traditional thriller. There are no big twists, no dramatic reveals, and definitely no moral redemption. Instead, it’s a character study of a woman whose brain just doesn’t operate on the same frequency as the rest of society. The suspense doesn’t come from wondering what she’ll do—it’s from the creeping realization that she thinks everything she’s doing is perfectly reasonable.
The story moves between timelines, giving us a glimpse of Julie’s past relationships (read: obsessions) and the long trail of “unfortunate accidents” that seem to follow her. These moments build a pattern that’s darkly funny and more than a little disturbing. The way Holdich balances humor with horror is masterful. You’re laughing one minute and genuinely unsettled the next.
The supporting characters are also well-drawn. They’re not just there to orbit around Julie—they help illuminate her delusions and offer a contrast to her increasingly warped perception of reality. The audiobook narration deserves a shoutout, too. Julie’s voice is brought to life in a way that makes her obsessions feel even more intense, her monologues even more convincing.
This book is perfect for fans of Sweet Pea by C.J. Skuse, Killing Eve, You, or anyone who loves a morally grey, totally unhinged narrator who somehow manages to charm you while plotting someone’s demise. It’s not for the faint of heart—but if you enjoy your humor dark, your protagonists delusional, and your stories just a little off the rails, Julie Tudor Is Not a Psychopath will be an instant favorite.
It’s uncomfortable in the best way. Funny in the darkest way. And utterly unforgettable.
Trigger warnings: pet death, obsessive behavior, murder, stalking.
funny