Julie Tudor Is Not a Psychopath

📚ARC Review📚 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5/5)
🩸💔"Julie Tudor Is Not a Psychopath" by Jennifer Holdich💔🩸

Julie Tudor is a force to be reckoned with, armed with a spreadsheet and a letter opener—and she's not afraid to use them. She insists she’s not unhinged—just in love. If you enjoy rooting for someone you shouldn’t, this wickedly original debut is for you.

From the moment I laid eyes on that eye-catching cover and gobbled up the blurb, I was in. Thanks to Sourcebook Landmark for indulging my obsession by providing a gifted ARC after a bit of groveling. Julie is the perfect unreliable narrator—socially awkward, slightly delusional, and unpredictably relatable. One moment, she's jotting down her crush's show more favorite snacks, and the next, she's finding creative ways to overcome obstacles. She's the kind of character who makes you gasp and giggle at the same time.

The alternating timelines made this a compelling read for me. Holdich skillfully intertwines Julie’s childhood trauma with her present-day infatuation.

The book is a little slow at the start, but I was eager for Julie to let her freak flag fly. Once she did, I couldn’t look away.

Perfect for fans of "Dexter," "You," or any story that dances the fine line between horror and hilarity. Can’t wait to see what tricks this author has up their sleeve next! show less

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 show more 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. show less

Though the subject matter is not, this debut psychological thriller was a hoot because of the way the author uses dark humor to make the main character "almost" endearing.

Julie Tudor has had quite the life, constantly having to fight for her love interest du jour. Eliminating romantic rivals is a lot of work. She works in the financial world and is a whiz with spreadsheets, but her job isn't her main focus. Her colleague, 25-year-old, Sean, is the man of her dreams. Even though he's half her age, Julie is convinced her feelings are reciprocated despite the fact that Sean keeps hooking up with other women. What to do? She's tired of waiting for him.

Told from Julie's delusional perspective, the book is definitely black comedy as she show more continues to spiral. She must be on the spectrum because she totally lacks any sort of ability to read a room or honestly analyze her situations. She gets a little fast and loose with those eliminations and her coworkers become increasingly aware that a real psycho is amongst them.

I loved the tone and the writing in this novel. I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Clare Corbett, strikes just the right notes of self righteousness and defensiveness as she voices Julie. She does a good job with the rest of the characters as well. The production definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book. show less

Is she or isn't she? In my opinion, she definitely is!
The cover of this book led me to believe that this was going to be humorous, and I suppose it could be classified as a dark comedy, but I didn't laugh at all.
Julie works in an office and believes that she and her co-worker Sean are soulmates. Although Sean is kind to her, he isn't interested. When he advise Julie that he is serious about someone, she sets her sights on eliminating her competition.
This isn't her first rodeo, she has a history of making sure that she is the only person who can capture the heart of the man she wants.
It all comes to a head, and Julie is now wondering if she has finally met the man of her dreams.
Note - just because someone is kind to you, that doesn't show more mean they want to spend the rest of their life with you!! show less

This novel should called "Delusional" as that is what the main character is in spades. At several points in her life she believes that young men are in love with her with little to no evidence to back this up. Some of these guys actually have girlfriends. So it behooves Julie to do away with her romantic rivals. The book is entertaining at the beginning but unravels culminating with her kidnapping her last fantasy lover.

6.5/10 terrifying! cringey!