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okevamae's review
4.0
Workaholic Nicole’s career at a top law firm is stalling due to reasons that have nothing to do with her job performance. When she gets invited to join a secretive women’s networking group with a stellar track record of helping women succeed, she figures she’s got nothing to lose by going to a retreat, even though her husband thinks that it sounds a bit cult-y. The experience is far from the days of seminars and spa treatments she expected, but she still comes away from it feeling empowered, with a new group of friends to depend on. And her membership pays off – until she finds herself in over her head, trying to cover up a crime, and wondering if maybe her husband’s instincts were right after all.
I’m kind of fascinated by cults. I’ve been learning a lot about them lately, mostly through listening to podcasts, so when I saw the synopsis of this book I snapped up the ARC. And I’m glad I did! It’s a heck of a thriller. It’s got twists that pretty well blindsided me, and once the plot really got going I just wanted to keep reading to find out what happened next.
I feel like I would have liked it more if Nicole had bought into Panthera Leo a little deeper and then woken up, rather than her having doubts from the start. I guess I would have found that transition a little more profound and satisfying, though I’m not sure why. But maybe it’s meant to portray how people can go into these kinds of organizations with doubts and still get sucked in despite that.
Representation: major characters of color, autistic character
CW: cult tactics and abuse, gaslighting, blackmail, mention of sexual harassment and assault, hunting and butchering of an animal
I received an ARC of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’m kind of fascinated by cults. I’ve been learning a lot about them lately, mostly through listening to podcasts, so when I saw the synopsis of this book I snapped up the ARC. And I’m glad I did! It’s a heck of a thriller. It’s got twists that pretty well blindsided me, and once the plot really got going I just wanted to keep reading to find out what happened next.
I feel like I would have liked it more if Nicole had bought into Panthera Leo a little deeper and then woken up, rather than her having doubts from the start. I guess I would have found that transition a little more profound and satisfying, though I’m not sure why. But maybe it’s meant to portray how people can go into these kinds of organizations with doubts and still get sucked in despite that.
Representation: major characters of color, autistic character
CW: cult tactics and abuse, gaslighting, blackmail, mention of sexual harassment and assault, hunting and butchering of an animal
I received an ARC of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
thegracefulpal's review
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
anjacanread's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
cs4_0reads's review
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ahomelibrary's review
3.0
“Please Join Us: A Novel” by Catherine McKenzie is my last book for September! This month flew by so quickly, but for me it was filled with good reads. Most of which were nonfiction, but I did fit this thriller in at the last minute!
Details — Published by @atriabooks in August 2022, 3.77 average on GR with about 1,200 reviews
Categories — Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Crime, Cult???, Career, Lawyer, Female MC
Quick Summary & Thoughts (Spoiler Free) ⤵️
The main character is a 39 year old lawyer, Nicole. Nicole is having problems in her career which translate into financial, personal, and relationship issues. After a warning from her bosses, she receives a seemingly random invitation to link up with an exclusive women’s career networking group called Panthera Leo. Members seem to be high profile and successful, which would be great to restart her career, so she signs up for the retreat in Colorado. The group’s purpose, they assert, is to be that “girls’ club in a boys’ club world.”
After joining, Nicole sees results. New clients, new apartment, an optimism for her reinvigorated career. However, there nothing in life is for free. One night, she’s called to a Congresswoman’s apartment and then pressured into help covering up a crime. Nicole and her husband become entangled in a possible cult or worse…
My Thoughts ⤵️
This book’s plot is a mix of secret society, cultish group, “sell your soul but didn’t know it” / “nothing is for free.” I think the writing style was great; I had no problem finishing this in a quick burst. It was highly consumable and interesting. I liked the elements of the networking group being similar to books I’ve read recently about cults.
With cults, sometimes images are conjured up like rituals and costumes. In this book, there are hooks that sink into the MC via the “favors” provided by the network. It’s like… we did this for you, now you do this for us. Which is 100% realistic IRL, but when the MC finds herself involved in a high profile woman’s crime, it becomes way more than just the simple kick-back quid pro quo.
Highly recommended. The author was also a lawyer for 20 years so the accuracy for MC’s job can be trusted.
Details — Published by @atriabooks in August 2022, 3.77 average on GR with about 1,200 reviews
Categories — Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Crime, Cult???, Career, Lawyer, Female MC
Quick Summary & Thoughts (Spoiler Free) ⤵️
The main character is a 39 year old lawyer, Nicole. Nicole is having problems in her career which translate into financial, personal, and relationship issues. After a warning from her bosses, she receives a seemingly random invitation to link up with an exclusive women’s career networking group called Panthera Leo. Members seem to be high profile and successful, which would be great to restart her career, so she signs up for the retreat in Colorado. The group’s purpose, they assert, is to be that “girls’ club in a boys’ club world.”
After joining, Nicole sees results. New clients, new apartment, an optimism for her reinvigorated career. However, there nothing in life is for free. One night, she’s called to a Congresswoman’s apartment and then pressured into help covering up a crime. Nicole and her husband become entangled in a possible cult or worse…
My Thoughts ⤵️
This book’s plot is a mix of secret society, cultish group, “sell your soul but didn’t know it” / “nothing is for free.” I think the writing style was great; I had no problem finishing this in a quick burst. It was highly consumable and interesting. I liked the elements of the networking group being similar to books I’ve read recently about cults.
With cults, sometimes images are conjured up like rituals and costumes. In this book, there are hooks that sink into the MC via the “favors” provided by the network. It’s like… we did this for you, now you do this for us. Which is 100% realistic IRL, but when the MC finds herself involved in a high profile woman’s crime, it becomes way more than just the simple kick-back quid pro quo.
Highly recommended. The author was also a lawyer for 20 years so the accuracy for MC’s job can be trusted.
rayraymaximum's review
5.0
This was an entertaining thriller about a woman who joins a women's networking group after suffering a career setback. Fast-paced with a couple twists/surprises. Solid narrator on the audio as well. 4.5 stars
nahyee's review
4.0
See my full review of this title on my blog: Books Under the Blanket (with a flashlight): https://booksundertheblanket.com/your-pride-is-the-only-one-that-matters/
Live Aug 21, 2022
Live Aug 21, 2022
kellyanglin's review
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
angiesmitheduc8's review
challenging
dark
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5