PureWow Launches Seasonal Book Club with Jessica Knoll’s ‘Helpless’ as Inaugural Pick

PureWow, the digital lifestyle publication owned by Yahoo Inc., announced Thursday the launch of a seasonal book club beginning this October, selecting Jessica Knoll’s psychological thriller “Helpless” as its first featured title. The initiative marks the outlet’s expansion into community-driven literary programming, complete with author events, discussion guides, and curated hosting resources for readers nationwide.

Knoll, a New York Times bestselling author known for “Luckiest Girl Alive” and “The Favorite Sister,” will appear in conversation with PureWow Editor-in-Chief Jillian Quint at a New York City event scheduled for October 14. The discussion will also be accessible to readers unable to attend in person, part of the publication’s strategy to build a distributed literary community.

“Helpless” centers on Faye Heron, a Hollywood screenwriter whose career breakthrough came from writing a television episode mirroring her own traumatic past. When her former college professor — the mentor who launched her career — dies unexpectedly, Faye returns to campus and confronts Henry, an ex-boyfriend with whom she shares what the publisher describes as a “dark, electric and primally unique connection.” The narrative unfolds over several days at a remote cabin where Faye wakes up drugged and abducted, forced to untangle memory from manipulation while navigating themes of power, agency, and the contradictions of modern feminism.

The novel, published by Marysue Rucci Books/Simon & Schuster, has drawn attention for its exploration of whether a woman can embrace sexual submission while maintaining feminist principles — a question Knoll has addressed in previous works examining female desire within patriarchal structures. Critics have compared the book’s tension to Gillian Flynn’s “Gone Girl” and Tana French’s psychological portraits, though Knoll’s Hollywood insider perspective adds an industry-specific layer to the power dynamics at play.

PureWow’s book club model follows a growing trend among digital media brands seeking deeper audience engagement through recurring cultural touchpoints. The New York Times’ book club, Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine picks, and Jenna Bush Hager’s “Read with Jenna” have demonstrated commercial viability for curated literary communities. PureWow differentiates by providing turnkey hosting kits: each seasonal selection will include discussion questions, themed menus, cocktail recipes, playlists, and decor suggestions — for “Helpless,” flank steak with rosemary, a signature “Mai-Thai-Me-Up” cocktail featuring Thai basil-infused rum, and a playlist spanning Ellie Goulding to Toulouse.

The publication’s affiliate commerce model means PureWow and Yahoo may earn commissions on book purchases and related products linked in coverage. All prices and availability are accurate as of publication date.

Readers can access the full discussion guide and hosting materials on PureWow’s website. The next seasonal selection will be announced in January 2025.