Be Mine
Published on 13. May 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
400 pages
978-1-915523-51-8 (ISBN)
Description
Beth is a new mother struggling to find her place in the world. She is exhausted, mentally and physically, but her anxieties are not simply the fears of a first-time mum. A terror burns in her, fuelled by a secret past she is lucky to have escaped. When a letter arrives, bearing only the infinity symbol, Beth knows immediately it is from them. And that her past is finally catching up with her...
Ten years earlier, on the heels of a messy breakup, Beth meets the effervescent Marissa who introduces her to "Elixir" - a health and wellness organisation that she promises will change Beth's life forever. She quickly becomes intoxicated and convinced it is the solution to all her problems. No task is too great, even as the gruelling exercise classes become more frequent, even as the therapy sessions become more costly, even as their 'requests' become 'demands,' Beth convinces herself this is what she wants.
Then, when she falls for the brand's enigmatic leader, Tate, she can't imagine life without Elixir. But as Beth's star begins to rise, Marissa's starts to fall. And though Marissa tries to warn her of the darkness lurking beneath the brand's gleaming exterior, Beth finds she cannot let go.
Be Mine is a story about identity: finding our place in the world today, and where we turn to belong in a godless modern society.
Ten years earlier, on the heels of a messy breakup, Beth meets the effervescent Marissa who introduces her to "Elixir" - a health and wellness organisation that she promises will change Beth's life forever. She quickly becomes intoxicated and convinced it is the solution to all her problems. No task is too great, even as the gruelling exercise classes become more frequent, even as the therapy sessions become more costly, even as their 'requests' become 'demands,' Beth convinces herself this is what she wants.
Then, when she falls for the brand's enigmatic leader, Tate, she can't imagine life without Elixir. But as Beth's star begins to rise, Marissa's starts to fall. And though Marissa tries to warn her of the darkness lurking beneath the brand's gleaming exterior, Beth finds she cannot let go.
Be Mine is a story about identity: finding our place in the world today, and where we turn to belong in a godless modern society.
Reviews / Votes
"There's no better escape than one of Lizzy Barber's smart, seductive thrillers. She'll hook you with an intriguing mystery, but she'll keep you up with her fabulous characters, with all of their weaknesses, spite and charisma."- Abigail Dean, bestselling author of Girl A
"Full of atmosphere and suspense - and with secrets spilling out of every page - this smart, psychological thriller is a breath of fresh air."
- HEAT
"A cultish, moreish page-turner. Lizzy's very engaging writing style combined with the sinister plot is the perfect combination."
- Emma Curtis, bestselling author of The Commuter
"I couldn't stop turning the pages. Such a smart and unsettling read. Lizzy explores what makes a cult so attractive and as the story progresses, the reader is filled with an ever-increasing dread as to how the story will end."
- Nikki Smith, author of The Beach Party
"I adore Lizzy Barber's novels and this is her best yet. Be Mine is not just a gripping thriller, but a chilling portrait of the vulnerability of new parenthood and of the dark allure of the cult of so-called 'wellness'. Every new mother will identify with Beth as she struggles to reinvent herself, haunted by the ghosts of her past... I loved it!"
- Katherine Faulkner, author of Greenwich Park
"Lizzy Barber's novels are so well written, gripping and emotionally intuitive, I read each one in awe and then eagerly await the next. Be Mine is a tense, richly textured and unsettling novel that will linger in my mind for a long time. Appointment reading for fans of complex characters and compelling human dramas."
- B.P. Walter, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Dinners Guest
"Lizzy Barber returns with a thriller that's as chilling as it is addictive. Set against the stylish backdrop of San Francisco, this novel hooks you from the start, pulling you deeper with every twist and turn. The last quarter will have you gripping your seat as secrets unravel at breakneck speed. Prepare for an expertly crafted mystery that's as sophisticated as it is suspenseful - a treat you won't be able to put down."
- Emily Freud, author of Her Last Summer
"A brilliant and elegant read - what happens when wellness steps over into something sinister. Atmospheric and gripping, Be Mine is perfect for 2025 summer reading!"
- L.V. Matthews, author of The Twins
"As immersive as it is chilling, Be Mine explores the thin line between wellness and the toxic pursuit of perfection. Set against the gut-wrenching haze of postpartum, this slow burn suspense destroyed me by its final pages thanks to Barber's signature, sensational plot twists. Forget Kool-Aid. Grab your copy of Be Mine and drink the deliciously dangerous Elixir."
- Elle Marr, Amazon Charts best-selling author of The Alone Time
"Set between London and San Francisco, the secrets of Beth's past - and an alluring but insidious cult - threaten to destroy her present as she grapples with new motherhood. This is a gripping thriller with a shocking twist you will not see coming!"
- Alice McIlroy, CWA Award-nominated author of The Glass Woman
"With our obsessive devotion to beauty brands and wellness, Be Mine is a twisty, timely cult thriller that won't let you go! A perfect elixir!"
- JD Pennington, author of The Othello Club
PRAISE FOR LIZZY BARBER
"Provides a clever, unexpected solution, by way of some fine writing."
- The Times, on My Name is Anna
"My Name Is Anna has plenty of reveals but it's the big emotions this book evokes that make you keep reading this debut by Lizzy Barber."
- Good Housekeeping
"Enthralling, and often deeply moving, it is a brilliant debut."
- Daily Mail on My Name is Anna
"You won't put it down until you finish it!"
- Prima, on My Name is Anna
"As convincing as it was gripping, a fabulous debut thriller."
- Sunday Mirror, on My Name is Anna
"Page-turning psychological thriller with a beautifully sun-drenched glamorous Tuscan setting."
- Cosmopolitan, on Out of Her Depth
"I can't rave about this book enough. Atmospheric, gripping, pacey and superbly written, Out of Her Depth has everything you want in a novel and more. I absolutely loved it."
- Charlotte Duckworth, bestselling author of The Perfect Father
More details
Edition
New edition
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Watkins Media Limited
Edition type
New edition
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 196 mm
Width: 130 mm
Thickness: 33 mm
Weight
340 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-915523-51-8 (9781915523518)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Lizzy Barber's first novel My Name is Anna was a Daily Mail First novel winner, whilst her follow up Out of her Depth was a Richard & Judy pick and has been optioned by Eleventh Hour Films. She read English at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. She has worked in acting and film development, and has spent the last thirteen years working in the restaurant business with her brother Jamie, heading up their brand and marketing department. They have a small group of restaurants in London: Hache, Hush and Cabana.