If wellness is the new religion, what happens when it’s taken too far…?
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. 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 joins “Elixir” – a health and wellness organisation that promises to change Beth's life forever. She quickly becomes intoxicated, 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.
PRAISE
"Full of atmosphere and suspense - and with secrets spilling out of every page - this smart psychological thriller is a breath of fresh air’"
- HEAT magazine
"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
"As chilling as it is addictive."
- Emily Freud, author of Her Last Summer
“A tense, richly textured and unsettled novel that will linger in my mind for a long time”
- B.P. Walter, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Dinner Guest
"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
“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 To Love a Liar
"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
"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, bestselling author of The Alone Time
"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
"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, award-nominated author of The Glass Woman
