Six books that turn wellness into a cult
Enlightenment, murder, and human testing
With its alluring promises of physical rejuvenation and spiritual enlightenment, the wellness industry has experienced staggering growth, drawing in people from all walks of life.
Yoga retreats, detox diets, and mindfulness seminars have transcended niche markets to become part of our mainstream culture. The publishing industry, too, has witnessed a surge in self-help books and celebrity-backed personal care brands, each raking in millions annually. It seems that we're all searching for guidance and reassurance on how to live our best lives (ick!).
But sometimes, this quest for wellness can lead us into the clutches of manipulative groups disguised as healing communities. No one signs up for a wellness retreat expecting to join a cult. Yet, the similarities can be striking: early mornings, meditation, exercise, organic foods, promises of mental clarity, stronger bodies, clearer skin, and shiner hair. And, of course, the leader is suitably charismatic.
It has all the ingredients for a deliciously compelling story.
If, like me, you're cult-curious and intrigued by the darker side of wellness, here are six seemingly alluring and horrifying fictional tales that dive into the sinister web woven by those who promise to help us.
While fictional, these books may share a likeness to real-life events and serve as cautionary tales for us all.
Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
Nine individuals seek transformation at a secluded wellness resort called Tranquillum House. Under the guidance of the enigmatic and charismatic director, Masha, they embark on a ten-day retreat promising total rejuvenation.
"People changed. That's the beauty of human nature. It's never too late."
As the guests undergo unconventional treatments and therapies, they question the true motives behind Masha's methods. But soon, their own secrets and demons start to surface. As a result, they are forced to confront their own vulnerabilities and examine Masha's increasingly unorthodox and unsettling practices closer, which leads to catastrophic consequences.
Publisher: Penguin Books | Page count: 464
Bookshop.org | Waterstones | Amazon
Kismet by Amina Akhtar
Seduced by the promise of finding her best self, Ronnie Khan relocates from New York City to the mystical desert town of Sedona, Arizona, for a fresh start and spiritual enlightenment.
"How tragic to be out hiking, trying to be well, and then die because of nature."
Sedona is renowned for its new-age community and wellness retreats, and Ronnie soon becomes involved with a group led by the charismatic influencer and socialite wellness guru Marley Dewhurst. As she delves deeper into this seemingly idyllic world, other ‘gurus’ around the town are gruesomely murdered. Ronnie soon uncovers the darker side of Sedona, which is filled with manipulation, deceit, and danger as Marley's blind ambition veers into madness.
Publisher: Amazon Publishing | Page count: 336
Bookshop.org | Waterstones | Amazon
Her Last Holiday by C. L. Taylor
Two years ago, Jenna vanished during a self-help retreat run by the enigmatic Tom Wade and her sister, Fran, is determined to uncover the truth.
"They swept emotions so far under the carpet they became embedded in the foundations of the house."
After being released from prison for his role in the deaths of two other participants, Tom is inexplicably rerunning his retreats. Fran decides to infiltrate one of these retreats to discover what happened to Jenna. As she digs deeper into Tom's world, she uncovers dark secrets and hidden dangers that put her life at risk. Will she escape the retreat alive? Or does someone out there want Jenna's secrets to stay hidden?
Publisher: Avon Books UK (HarperCollins Publishers) | Page count: 400
Bookshop.org | Waterstones | Amazon
Rouge by Mona Awad
When Belle, a lonely, obsessive skincare junkie, learns of her estranged mother's sudden death, she returns to California to settle her affairs. There, she discovers the elusive and glamorous spa, La Maison de Méduse, which promises eternal youth and beauty - the same spa to which her mother was devoted.
"The only journey that matters in the end, Daughter of Noelle." "Retinal?" I whisper. "The soul. A journey of the soul, of course."
Drawn in by the allure and mystery of the spa and its charismatic leader - who offers a tantalising clue about her mother's demise - Belle becomes entangled in a surreal and nightmarish world. As she falls deeper, Belle must confront her fears and desires, ultimately uncovering the dark truths behind her mother's obsession with beauty and her own.
Publisher: Scribner UK (Simon & Schuster) | Page count: 384
Bookshop.org | Waterstones | Amazon
Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang
Our narrator (who remains nameless) abandons her promising future as a pianist following an accident that debilitates her parents for a job at a high-end beauty and wellness store in New York City.
"Beauty has always been one of the only ways women have been able to access power, and I can't fault any of them for wanting more of it."
Holistik is known for its remarkable products and procedures - from fish that suck out cheap Botox to eyelash extensions made of spider silk - and this new job gives her entry into not only a world of privilege but also a long-awaited sense of belonging. She becomes transfixed by Helen, the niece of Holistik's charismatic owner, and the two build a friendship that soon develops into more. But beneath the creams and beauty treatments lies something far more sinister.
Publisher: Penguin Putnam | Page count: 272
Bookshop.org | Waterstones | Amazon
The Followers by Rebecca Wait
Less wellness-led but equally gripping, Judith has been visiting her mother, Stephanie, in prison once a month for the last eight years. But neither of them can talk about what brought them here - or about Nathaniel.
“You're going to miss trips to Tesco?"
When Stephanie first meets him, she is a struggling single mother, and Nathaniel is a charismatic outsider, unlike anyone she's ever known. When she decides to join his small religious cult on the windswept moors of northern England, Stephanie thinks she is doing what’s best for her daughter: a new home, life, and purpose. As Stephanie slowly surrenders herself to Nathaniel's will, tensions deepen, faith and doubt collide, and a horrifying act of violence changes everything.
Publisher: Picador Books (Pan Macmillan) | Page count: 256
What do you think? Are you intrigued by any of these books? Do you have other recommendations exploring the sinister side of self-help and wellness?
Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
As always, happy reading!
Until next time,Â
Sian | Criminally Creepy Books
Any links mentioned above are non-affiliated, and I do not make any money from these companies. These are the places I shop at regularly. No affiliations, just recommendations!
The first that came to my mind was Nine Perfect Strangers of course, I didn't read it but i watched the show!