This was a smart thriller! I say that because there is a lot of legal jargon and some twists that were very hard to see coming! I really was invested about half way through, and I needed to know how it would end. If you are in the mood for a fast paced thriller following extremely smart women, this is the one for you. I've never read this author before, but I will read more now!

I would rate this 3.5 out of 5 stars for this one. I had anticipated that it would be more cult-like and it disappointed me slightly. It was an interesting read but slow at times. Overall an OK book!

3.75 stars

This was a wild ride that I didn't want to end. I really enjoyed this from start to finish. It was extra, maybe a little too extra (is that possible?), but when I finished this story, I was very satisfied. It ended a little too abruptly, and the last couple of chapters were a hot mess. But hot mess is my favorite type of ending, so I mean that comment in a positive way!

I really enjoyed Catherine McKenzie's writing style. This will not be the last book I read by this author, that is for sure!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this e-galley in exchange for my honest review.

This was a wild ride! I loved the concept of a women’s networking group helping other women succeed in life.

The book is told in dual timelines, the past where Nicole joins Panthera Leo and the present where something sinister is taking place. At first I was confused by the present timeline, but I loved how it all came together in the end. I felt the past took a little while to get into as it moved a bit slowly for me as we learn about the organization and what it takes to join it, but once we got past the initial retreat, I felt the pace picked up.

A big concept of this book is the sisterhood and bond of these members and what they’ll do for each other. It was interesting to me to see that everyone in the group seemed to have their own agenda, and not all of them had good intentions. I loved trying to figure out each of the ladies’ motivations and what was driving them to do what they were doing.

Although a bit predictable at times, overall I enjoyed this story and loved seeing where it was going. I loved the ending and how it all came together.

3.5 stars

It can be hard getting ahead as a woman in a male-dominated industry. It’s something that Nicole Mueller has fought her entire career as a lawyer trying to make partner. And she’s fighting hard, but she’s starting to lose as male lawyers in firm just seem to cut in line ahead of her on the corporate ladder at every turn. So when she’s invited to join Panthera Leo, a networking group for powerful women, she’s intrigued, but also skeptical.

Nicole is quickly taken up in the Panthera Leo culture and while she’s a bit intimidated by the leaders, she does quickly make some fast friends that make it worth it. Best of all? They promise to help her level-up her career and it’s clear they have connections to pull those strings to advance her career to where it would have been already if she were a man. Everything’s going well until her debts come due and she realizes there is a lot more going on being the scenes at Panthera Leo than she could have ever known.

Please Join Us is a fantastic page-turner that will keep you up all night. Special thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review. This one is out now!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for a review. This novel released on Aug. 23, 2022.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Nicole Mueller thought she had it all. Partner at her law firm and a great home in NYC in a rent controlled apartment owned by her husband's aunt that they will purchase from the estate upon her death. Then, she has a meeting with the her mentor stating that her billable hours are down and they are watching her. Nicole needs to do something to get her career back on track. She receives an anonymous email from an exclusive women's networking group, Panthera Leo, to join them. Nicole thinks what is the harm, she can use this group to help further her career as all members are successful, professional women. However, her husband tells her it sounds like a cult, but she joins anyways and goes to their retreat in Colorado for a few days.

At the retreat, she meets several very successful women and thinks she is very lucky to be there. At the retreat, there is a lot of bonding type activities to remind the women that they have just as much power as the boys and that they need to exercise it. Stop caving to the boy's club and fight for what you want.

After the retreat, Nicole notices a lot of changes. She picks up a large client that will make up for the shortage in her hours. She is offered a gorgeous apartment at at discounted rate by another member of the group so that she is not homeless. The favors others ask in return are not too difficult to handle, donation to a charity, help with a project, etc. Then, one night she is called to a member's home. The member is a congresswoman and she has committed a crime. They need Nicole to help cover up the crime and and keep it to herself. As Nicole goes those this, she starts realizing that there is a bigger play at stake. Can she get out in time?

I found this book to be so disappointing given how excited I was for it! The author’s book “You Can’t Catch Me” is one of my favorites, so i was bummed that it lacked the suspense I craved.

I loved every minute of this twisty tale. The characters are well developed with red herrings thrown in to keep the reader on their toes. I was engaged from start to finsih and did not see the final twist coming!

I also loved the premise and the cult like expectations, it made for an interesting twist on a more traditional who done it. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this advanced copy.
Please Join Us follows Nicole, a lawyer who is on track for what she wants, but then problems start to pop up and slowly her life is falling apart. At the perfect moment, she gets invited to an exclusive womens organization that’s designed to help women with networking and in their careers. But it’s so much more than that.
This book was a fun read. It was a bit predictable because it was absolutely a cult. But the twists and turns were good and there were definitely still surprises.
I think anyone that liked mystery/thrillers will enjoy this one and I’d definitely recommend it.

This started out so promisingly — great plot, realistic-enough characters (although it is unclear how an in-house attorney and a very senior associate/non-equity partner were so strapped for cash), a sense of intrigue. About two-thirds of the way in, things started to unravel for me as the book became predictable yet also ridiculous. Would definitely read another book by the author, however!

I really wanted to love this one. Cult books are one of my favorites and strong, brilliant women are another. But I just cant wrap my head around how they say the MC is brilliant but how does she fall fort his nonsense. I couldn't believe this one as they spent the first half of the book telling me how smart and savvy this MC is. Then all of a sudden she isn't all that smart.

This one wasn't a win for me, but I've loved all the other books this author has written so I will pick up her next one without hesitation.

I really enjoyed most of this book, but bit fell apart for me somewhere. I’m not sure - I don’t think it’s one I will remember for long, either.

This is a story about women pushing women... sometimes towards success, and sometimes straight off a cliff.

I liked the concept, but it felt like it wrapped up much too quickly.. and also, the protagonist drove me a little batty. It felt like she signed up for something, and then immediately determined she didn't want to do anything to be involved in it (despite it being literally exactly what it promised to be) and also had no barometer for those around her. I would love to read a novel like this, but featuring a protagonist who leans into the curve- then eventually gets out for larger reasons, orrrr figures out how to shift it towards legitimacy to the degree possible- i feel like that would be so interesting! As it was, I did like this- it just felt like a cool concept that was ultimately underutilized.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ .💫 rounded to 4/5.

Thank you so much Netgalley & Atria Books for the eArc!

Interesting premise. A group of women working together for a common cause. Then again, you never know. I would recommend this book,

I really enjoyed the book "Please Join Us" by Catherine McKenzie! It was a slow build up then took several twists and turns that I didn't see coming! Nicole, a lawyer is hitting a rough patch in her life and that's right when the high-powered women's group Panthera Leo enters. the characters are believable enough, if a little one dimensional. Nicole's husband Dan is such a snooze, but I think that fits well with how he fits into Nicole's life. I did NOT see the twist at the end coming! Would recommend this book for anyone who wants a quick mystery (it's a little too slow for a thriller) read, at the beach, on vacation, or anywhere!

You know when being distrustful and disliking people in general is really helpful? When people are trying to get you to join a cult.

"That's the thing about obedience; it feels safe. But it's only safe if the person has your best interests at heart."

I usually really love books about cults, but I just couldn't hang with this one. I got to 60% and couldn't go on. The red flags were everywhere and I just couldn't believe that this intelligent female lawyer could actually get sucked into Panthera Leo. From the very beginning of the retreat it seemed super corny and lame. I'm hoping that if I found myself in that situation I would have peaced out immediately.

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This premise is unlike anything I’ve ever read! I was super intrigued by the women's networking aspect and how our main character has a successful career. Her success and career are at the forefront for most of the book which I found to be really refreshing and made for a great and interesting read.

Why are women so gullible - aren't we told don't click the links because things are NOT what they seem or its a virus. Nicole is a smart women so why did she feel this was her only option to get her career back on track? Her husband could sense it why couldn't she? She had a loving marriage, and still felt it necessary to align herself with women wanting to destroy men in the corporate world.

UGH so many things frustrating bout this book. I did not enjoy this read. Thank you Atria Books for the complimentary e-book.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this novel in exchange of an honest review. I loved this book. Catherine McKenzie really is a phenomenal author and everything she writes is exactly what I want to read