A narrative excerpt detailing Bethany Joy Lenz’s double life, her involvement in a religious group, and her reconnection with Hilton (Lafferty), including past feelings and public discussions.
Table of Contents
What secrets did Bethany Joy Lenz hide during her One Tree Hill days?
She was 44 and living a double life back then, starring in that iconic teen drama from 2003 to 2012 while getting tangled in a high-control religious group that turned out to be a cult.
Her book, released in October 2024, spills it all raw and real. But what happens when old flames flicker back to life?
How did James Lafferty and Bethany reconnect through her book?
At 41, James opened up to PEOPLE in an exclusive chat, revealing they rekindled their bond while she wrote it.
He even lent his voice to the audiobook, diving into their shared past.
Those unspoken feelings from their early twenties? They finally surfaced, turning what was once a vibe into something deeper and more honest.
What went wrong back in the day, and why did it fizzle?
Their connection started strong, with music and late-night talks, but her family’s involvement and that cult threw up walls neither knew how to climb.
He remembers shrugging it off at the time, walking away without closure.
Now, years later, they’re unpacking it all—realizing how much it meant and why it never went further.
Did they really have deeper feelings they ignored?
Absolutely, and it’s mind-blowing to hear about it now. James admits their romantic sparks mixed with solid friendship, yet they both stayed silent, unsure what to do.
Fast-forward to today, and those conversations fill in the blanks, making their bond even stronger as friends.
How has this affected their lives today?
James, now married with kids, looks back with respect and surprise at how things unfolded.
He shared stories on stage in Portland, like getting “cult vibes” but brushing them off because he was smitten.
When the group shut him down, it was a first—a cult breaking up a budding romance. Yet, it’s all led to a fresh chapter of mutual admiration.
His book, Vampires for Dinner, is out now, and it’s a game-changer for anyone curious about Hollywood’s hidden sides.