The Hellp Desk I Never Knew I Needed

CHAMP.

That’s It.

But really, what I feel about this book can’t be summed up in one word. It took me completely by surprise—in the best way.

“Our first thoughts about a situation are seldom what we actually believe. They are what we have been conditioned to think, or sometimes they truly are random spits of consciousness. But our second thoughts, ah, that is where we are. It has helped me, working in this position, to forgive myself for my terrible first thoughts, and to pay more attention to my second thoughts.”

From Whom the Belle Tolls (Hell’s Belles Book 1) by Jaysea Lynn

Like so many readers these days, I first stumbled across Jaysea Lynn’s skits of Hell’s Belles on TikTok. I related to her instantly when I saw her candid discussions about deconstructing Christianity, her inclusive perspective on other religions, the queer community, disabilities, and more. When I learned she had a book about Lily’s beginning, it was an immediate download. I devoured all 600+ pages in a single day, and then promptly bought the physical book and the audiobook. (If you know me, you know I rarely touch audiobooks—so that alone should tell you how much this story means to me.)

“Grief isn’t linear. There’s no formula to it, and sometimes you feel guilty for feeling or not feeling a certain way. That’s okay.”

What’s the story about?

“Seeing herself as unimportant was safe. Unimportance was safe, being a disappointment was safe. There were no expectations, no standards, no more pedestals to fall from.”

At its heart, this book explores the Afterlife through Lily’s eyes. She’s a bisexual woman who was told her entire life that she’d be going to Hell for her tattoos, her identity, and countless other reasons. But instead of accepting that narrative, Lily takes control and chooses to explore Hell on her own terms. What she discovers isn’t endless punishment, but layers of growth, healing, and judgment based not on morals alone but on one’s actions and choices.

Armed with years of customer service experience, Lily creates the “Hellp Desk,” using her wit and sarcasm to wrangle souls and demons alike.

Along the way, she forms an unlikely bond with Bel, a demon general with a cinnamon-roll heart and a voice that makes her swoon. Their friendship—and eventual romance—shows that demons, at least in this world, value consent above all else. Together, they navigate love, grief, trauma, and a looming threat that could destroy the very foundations of the Afterlife.

“Everyone in the mortal world had made such a fuss about finding someone you were willing to die for, and there was a dramatic power to that, she supposed. But finding someone you were willing to live for? To fall in love with over and over through lifetimes, or to love for the whole of an eternity? She’d take that kind of love any day.”

Why this Book is CHAMP

Jaysea Lynn writes with care and respect about of grief, missed opportunities, religious trauma, healing, and found family. Side characters like Sharkie, Lucifer, Gregorith, Siedah and Asmodeus are just as compelling as Lily and Bel, and the worldbuilding flips every stereotype about Heaven and Hell on its head. Instead of endless torment, Hell becomes a place where growth and second chances matter just as much as judgment… and some endless torment (hello Greg!)

“Grief isn’t linear. There’s no formula to it, and sometimes you feel guilty for feeling or not feeling a certain way. That’s okay.”

For me, this book went beyond entertainment—it made me reflect on my own life, my family, and the contradictions of modern Christianity.

Final Thoughts

From Whom the Belle Tolls is one of those rare books that burrows into your brain and refuses to let go. It’s THICK, yes, but every page is worth it. It’s beautiful, heart-wrenching, healing, and full of humor, sass, and love. I’ll be re-reading it often, and honestly, I wish I reread it again for the first time. Without hesitation, this is one of my best books of the year—a 5-star read.

“If you’re scared and choose to be fierce anyway, that’s called being brave.”

And when you finish? Do yourself a favor and check out Jaysea Lynn’s videos of the Hellp Desk. They’re the perfect companion to a story that proves Hell can be more than fire and brimstone—it can be a place of laughter, healing, and love.

“Nothing about us feels temporary, and things that aren’t temporary require effort…”