PLEASE JOIN US by Catherine McKenzie was a crazy fun read!

Nicole seems to be stagnating at her law firm, and she knows that if she isn't moving forward then she may as well be at the bottom. Then a note arrives and invites her to join a semi-secret society/networking group for women. Despite husband Dan's prophetic joking about the cult like aspects of this group, Nicole joins and it all seems to turn around for her. A call for help begins to crack the veneer of this club and Nicole has to decide just where her loyalties lie.

This is a very compulsive read! I stayed up too late several nights reading this. I kept this as a night read, as I often do on my kindle, but this is easily a day or two read for quick readers. The plot was fast paced and just when the suspense was turned up, a twist throws you off balance and begins again. I thoroughly enjoyed looking for the twisty turns and thinking I had it, only to find I was wrong. I loved Dan. I also like how even though it seemed easy to see the red flags, Nicole was cynical yet wanted to belong and feel like she could play the game too. I see the draw. It made me wonder how much I am willing to overlook in order to get what I want. Or what I think I want. It also addresses the idea of whether the means justifies the ends.

A well-paced suspense story, this comes out August 23rd and should be on your list!

Thank you @NetGalley and @atriabooks for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

✨ARC Review✨

“During the retreat, the Pride is put through a series of smaller challenges to solidify us as a group. But that’s not the Test. That’s a bigger challenge. Something that’s life changing.”

There is a cost to every choice, and if something sounds too good to be true it likely is. But more importantly, when red flags start flying, and you don’t trust your gut, what do you expect will happen?

Nicole’s life is coming apart, her law career is crumbling, her marriage is somewhat rocky, and the apartment they inhabit, they are about to lose. When she receives an invite to a prestigious women’s networking group, and to attend a retreat, she thinks it might revive her failing career. The retreat is certainly life changing, but not in the ways she imagined. These women are referred to as the Pride, where they will go through challenges and ultimately a Test.

Once the retreat is done and regular life resumes, it seems all of these ladies who bonded from the retreat are now showing up in normal life affairs, and in the most unexpected of ways. It all seems sketchy, as there are only so many believable “coincidences”. Suddenly so many connections to people and places are coming to surface, and puzzle pieces are falling in place. Blackmail is on the table, and Nicole now wants out of the group.

Please Join Us has a shifting timeline, paranoia, submission, and covering up a crime. Everyone is involved to some degree, and it begs the question of how far you will go for someone else. Now this book isn’t going to swing some huge twist out of left field, BUT it delivers in the way that you are constantly guessing and questioning, and smaller twists tie everything in full circle to give that A-HA feeling!

What’s On The Pages:
-a twisty thriller
-shifting timeline
-cult vibes
-MULTIPLE red flags
-coincidences / connections
-blackmail

✨Swipe to see book description from Goodreads✨

✨Rating✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

A special thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this eARC and physical ARC! Please Join Us is out August 23rd!

My thanks to Atria books, Catherine McKenzie and Netgalley.
This was some twisty and fiendishly clever story!
I've never read this author before, but I'll be keeping my eye out for more!
Sorry for the short review, but I've been sick this summer. Which means I'm reading like mad, but just unwilling to spend much time reviewing.
This is a book that I'd unreservedly recommend.

This was a compulsive read involving a cult of sorts, a secret women’s club where women are offered empowerment in a “boys club” world. Fans of The Collective will enjoy this one, it also had The Firm vibes. All in all it was a good read, with suspense and constant wondering how it was all going to pan out. Thank you Netgalley, Atria Books and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book is available for purchase on August 23, 2022.

Girl power with a twist (or a few) and everything else I've grown to expect and love from Catherine McKenzie's books. I am glad I waited to start reading this when I had some designated uninterrupted reading time at my disposal because this was "just one more chapter" kind of read for me. If you are lucky enough to get some beach/pool-side quality time, you should definitely add this to your beach bag!

Nicole is driven, overachiever and a bad-ass but she's thrown for a loop when a negative performance review threatens to sidetrack her law career. Soon after she receives a mysterious invitation from a women's networking group Panthera Leo (which her husband thinks sounds cult-ish). Hesitant but seemingly out of other options, Nicole signs up for the group's special retreat in Colorado. The group is led by and full of powerful and successful women. Before she knows it, with her group's help things start to turn around. In exchange she is supposed to be unquestioningly loyal to the group and occasionally do some small favors for various members. As requests start to grow so do Nicole's questions about the group and what exactly she has gotten herself into. And what would be the price for trying to leave?

I loved the whole concept of women lifting up women in a men's world but of course with some dark and unexpected secrets lurking behind every corner. I really enjoy Catherine McKenzie's writing style - the fact that character development and pacing don't get neglected for the sake of surprising twists (although there are always a few of those in store). If you are looking for an engaging read, if you're a fan of psychological thrillers and especially if you've enjoyed Catherine McKenzie's other books, you should not let this one pass you by.

Grateful to NetGalley and Atria Books for gifting me an ARC of Please Jon Us in exchange for an honest review!

Main Characters:
-- Nicole Mueller – 39-year-old junior partner in a law firm at risk of being pushed out due to her billable hours being down
-- Dan Mueller – Nicole’s husband who works as in-house counsel at a bank, a move he made five years prior after not making partner as a litigator
-- Athena Williams – 35-year-old recently elected first-time congresswoman who came from a modeling career in her early 20s
-- Connie Chu – early 50s, founder of a security company, also owns several rental properties
-- Samantha Cole – a television actress
-- Heather Davis – works in corporate finance and specializes in hostile takeovers
-- Michelle Song – former lead singer of the Songbirds in the 80s, currently in her 60s, co-founder of Panthera Leo
-- Karma – creator of a wellness brand called Good Karma, co-founder of Panthera Leo with Michelle

How would I describe Catherine McKenzie’s Please Join Us? Twisty…check! Mean girls…check! Girl power…check! Manipulation…check! Revenge….check! If you’re looking for any of these in a good book, you’ll want to pick this up.

Nicole, who we first meet as she’s sneaking into Athena’s apartment in the present time (October) and finds a dead body, narrates throughout the book. When the prologue ends, chapter 1 takes us back to June when Nicole hears from her mentor at her law firm that her points are being cut. Her billable hours are down, and she’s seriously at risk of being forced out unless something drastic changes.

An hour later, among the emails from recruiters and colleagues, she receives an email from Karma and Michelle inviting her to join them at an “experience” with Panthera Leo, a secret organization of women helping women to succeed in a man’s world. Convenient timing, right?😏 Nicole sees it as a networking opportunity. Dan thinks it’s a cult. I think they’re both right.

As Nicole takes us through her first experience with Panthera Leo and the activities all of the members of her “Pride” are supposed to participate in, she becomes increasingly more suspicious about the goal of the organization. But she has a huge new client, thanks to Panthera Leo. She has a great new apartment, right when she desperately needed one, thanks to Panthera Leo. Because true to the word of the founders, all you have to do is ask your Pride for help. It’s all about supporting one another. You know the old adage. If it seems too good to be true…. Yeah, well, this book has that in droves.

And when it’s Nicole’s turn to help and support her Pride, when there’s a dead body in Athena’s apartment and she knows she’s getting herself into illegal territory…well let’s just say you’ll want to keep reading.

I really enjoyed the twists and turns in this. I completely believe how Nicole could let herself be taken in by Panthera Leo when she hit a stumbling block in her career. It’s kind of ingrained in us that women are supposed to look out for each other, and Nicole is feeling a little desperate.

There were two things that knocked this down to 4 stars for me. The first was Nicole’s use of “lists” throughout the book. There’s no description of a quirk or personality trait, and the only explanation is a passing comment that Nicole’s mind is “logging” as she goes.

“— The ball field that looked like it was built for toys.
— The pools in the backyards of the suburban houses.
— The puffy clouds we were reaching for.”

As I think about it now, I guess it could be to demonstrate that Nicole is methodical in her thinking. In the moment, though, I didn’t get that sense. They were way more of a distraction than anything else and didn’t seem to add anything to the story.

The other thing that knocked it down was the very end. I don’t know whether the end is a good thing or a bad thing. An epilogue would have been ideal here. You’ll know what I mean when you get there. It is totally worth getting there. Pick this one up.

I absolutely loved this book! Once I started it I could not put it down! I found the main character Nicole very relatable and likable. The story slowly pulls you in to the spiders web. Every detail that seems minute is just part of a master plan. Five women, brought together by an empowerment group (?) , a pride of lioness. Bound to help each other, no questions asked. But plot twist after plot leaves you wondering if all is really as it seems. I thought I knew what was happening at the end, but yet another twist sent me reeling! 4.5 out of 5

Please Join Us by author Catherine McKenzie is a legal mystery type thriller that is set to release on August 23, 2022 by Simon & Schuster. It’s the story of Nicole Mueller, a 39 year old attorney who in the very beginning is told by her senior partner that her billable hours are down and it’s not looking too good for her. On top of that, her and her husband Dan, who is also an attorney, are possibly going to be losing their city apartment which they totally love when Dans aunt who owns it, passes away. Just after hearing all this dismal news, Nicole receives an email inviting her to join an all women’s club called Panthera Leo. It’s where all prominent women join together to help each other out to obtain their goals and reach success. Or so she’s led to believe! In actuality, it’s more like a cult with hidden agendas behind every move. This is a legal thriller that captured my full attention. I ended up reading late into the night simply because I had to know how the story was going to play out. And Catherine McKenzie did not disappoint! It had so many twists and set ups that I didn’t foresee coming and the ending really was a complete surprise. I’d like to thank Simon & Schuster at Atria Marketing for both the e-arc that I received from NetGalley and the physical copy to read and enjoy. This was another great story by an author that I highly enjoy and recommend and I’m giving it a 4 star rating.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I like most of this author's books. We have been veering into the empowered women trope and is it a cult trope with books lately. I wanted to really like this book but I felt it dragged at times. I would reccomend it to anyone who has spare time on their hands and isn't trying to conquer the world.

Unfortunately this wasn’t the right book for me. I really struggled to finish it. The beginning was super slow and I contemplated DNFing quite a few times. I just felt like nothing was happening. The second half did pick up but I never felt invested in the story. I was craving more twists and turns.

This was my first time reading a book by Catherine McKenzie. I wanted to read it because I've heard great things about her writing in the past. I was initially very excited by the premise of the book - Panthera Leo, an invitation only, cult-like, women's networking group that helps its members succeed in business, life, etc.

While the premise was interesting and original. I felt that they execution of the storyline fell a bit flat for me. I wanted more cult and more badass women getting their due in the world. In the end, I was a bit let down by how the book wrapped up.

Netgalley:
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for a sneak preview of McKenzie’s newest book and it’s a good one.

Nicole, a lawyer, is seeing her position at her law firm decline. She and her husband, Dan, are about to lose the apartment they love. Her life seems to be on the wrong projectile so when she gets an email inviting her to a retreat in Colorado for a group called Panthera Leo, which is made up of very successful businesswomen, she sees it as her salvation.

After the retreat, she begins seeing rewards right away – a big legal case lands in her lap and a luxury apartment becomes available at a cost she and Dan can afford. She does wonder why the rent is so cheap.

Then the plot twists begin to unravel. They are like Russian nesting dolls. Just when you think you’ve reached the last one, another can be opened. This goes on until the very last pages of this thriller.

I love McKenzie’s writing and I think this is one of her best works. I highly recommend it to any thriller aficionado.

I just … was really hoping this one was going to get better … and it didn’t.

the premise of this one was absolutely fantastic!!! very much THE LAST HOUSEWIFE vibes of taking down the patriarchy and white old men who want to control everything and everyone! like I would join this cult 🙃

except, for all of the wonderful feminist power, it wasn’t enough for me! these ladies seem to do everything backhanded and only halfway, and the cult vibes were not strong enough for me to get into it.

I was really invested in the beginning, especially by all of the unique women in women empowerment group panthera - but the characterization on all but the MC, nicole, was severely lacking. it wasn’t until the end that we got to see how each of these women came to be and their motives behind the group.

overall, it was a very quick and entertaining read! I just wished the author went a little bit more in depth with everything instead of keeping it surface level.

thank you to atria books and thrillers and netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! this one’s out tuesday!

rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: new zealand sauvignon blanc

Nicole's career is on the rocks. Nicole gets an invite from a woman's networking group so Nicole decides to go to the retreat. Her husband Dan tries to warn her but Nicole doesn't listen. Everything is good for a while but then Nicole is asked to help cover up a crime! This book has lots of twists and turns that keep you reading past your bedtime! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

Part mystery, part thriller. It was a quick read for me, though the first part of the book dragged some.

But the twists at the end, saved this book!

Thank you Atria, Netgalley and Catherine McKenzie for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This got better and better as it went along. It was an interesting take on a cult. The only thing that took this down a star was I found the ending to be confusing. I was getting whiplash with all the back and forth and some of the financial and legal information was over my head so I had to reread parts. Otherwise it was very good and I couldn’t put it down!

Thank you to Atria Books for providing a NetGalley ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Pub date: 8/23/22
Genre: suspense/thriller
In one sentence: Lawyer Nicole needs to turn things around at work, and a secretive women's group called Panthera Leo promises to work miracles - but some things are too good to be true.

I love books about high-powered career women, and this was a wild ride! Nicole finds herself at battle with her law firm, trying to keep from being fired, and her desperation came through loud and clear. I was hooked as she descended deeper into the world of Panthera Leo - this group is definitely more complex than it seems. McKenzie's great at adding twists to her narrative, and I loved trying to guess what would happen here (of course, I was not able to). The #MeToo/workplace discrimination aspects of the story were well integrated into the plot.

If you like a workplace thriller a la The Whisper Network or The Boys Club, definitely check this one out!

I am so, so fascinated by cults and I've said this more times than I care to admit, but if a group had approached me in my 20s, offering female empowerment, mentorship and guidance, I would have been enamoured. I am glad this never happened, because reading through this book, I honestly can't say what my limit would have been. 

This was a fascinating, fast moving, very clever book and I am really glad I picked it up! It was not quite what I was expecting, but I really liked the corporate take and the twists and turns. I didn't necessarily feel a deep kinship to the characters, but even though I shouldn't have, I did really enjoy seeing these women doing manipulative, powerful things that men have long been doing in the corporate world.

There was strong messaging and important questions about how our system works, and I did really love the concept of women coming together for a common cause, no matter what the underlying reason for that was.

I've enjoyed a number of Catherine McKenzie's books and this was no different! Definitely recommend.

I received an advance copy from Atria Books and thank them for the opportunity to read it.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Catherine McKenzie, and Atria Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

When granted the chance to read Catherine McKenzie’s latest novel, I eagerly reached for the ARC. McKenzie weaves a great story that impacts the reader from the opening pages and grips them throughout the reading experience. Able to create a stellar read in a standalone thriller, Catherine McKenzie is one author worth noting for those who have yet to discover her magic. Happy to see she successfully penned Book #13!

Nicole Mueller has come to a crossroads in her life, with a career that seems not to be moving forward and a marriage that is not as exciting as it had once been. As she debates her options, the thirty-nine year old begins to realise that she desperately needs a change, which may be coming sooner, as her law firm is tightening its belt.

Nicole receives a cryptic email about Panthera Leo and how they would like to recruit her to join. They promise a great deal of success and connections, as long as she agrees to attend a retreat in rural Colorado. While Nicole’s husband, Dan, thinks that it is all a cult, Nicole is intrigued and agrees to attend. Nicole can only hope of opening new doors for her professional and personal lives with this weekend away.

After returning from Colorado, Nicole feels a sense of closeness with her ’pride’ the others in the group who attended the weekend. She hopes that her return to New York will be fruitful and that she can reap the benefits. As things begin to fall into place, Nicole has high hopes for Panthera Leo, though her questions are constantly shot down. All she must remember is never to decline an offer made or a request to assist others in the pride.

When one of the other pride members calls for assistance, Nicole is quick to head over. However, the legality of what is going on leaves her wondering if she might have made a poor decision. Nicole wants out and will take her old life once more, provided she can find a means of escape. As in the wild, leaving the pride is not that simple and could be a matter of life or death. McKenzie pens another great thriller sure to impress the attentive reader.

I have long come to enjoy the work of Catherine McKenzie, who is able to cobble together some great storytelling in a standalone thriller. She’s on point and keeps the reader engaged, while tackling some issues of the day in a flawless manner. Her narrative flows well and keeps the story moving along, with great plot twists throughout. I’m eager to keep reading anything she has to offer.

Catherine McKenzie has a way with her storytelling that helps keep the reader involved in the story. This could have something to do with her strong narrative, which takes the reader on quite the journey, or even with well-developed characters that popular many of the pages of the book. McKenzie’s able to use strong plot twists throughout to keep the reader from being able to predict the outcome, while offering teasers throughout. Perhaps one thing that did not mesh well with me in the narrative was how Nicole would commonly list things she had done, “called Dan, checked the dry-cleaning, ordered dinner” rather than letting the narrative explore them. With hyphens to denote the actual list nature of this in the story, it appeared McKenzie wanted to clip the word count or keep from having to develop these acts, some of which were non-essential to the larger plot. Other than that, I was fully engaged with the story and could not have asked for more.

Kudos, Madam McKenzie, for another great novel. I am eager to see what else you have coming, as your books always put me in a wonderful mindset.

I’ve been a huge fan of Catherine McKenzie, so I was fully expecting to enjoy this. And I did appreciate the premise of a need for a “women’s club” to counteract the old boys’ club that helps men get ahead in their careers. But from the get go, this one felt off.
Nicole is a hard working lawyer who isn’t being rewarded as she believes she should be. So, when she gets an invitation to join Panthera Leo, she jumps at the invitation. The premise is that this pride of Lionesses will do anything for each other, no questions asked. The story is told from a then and now timeframe. We see Nicole go through the retreat, with its initial tests and challenges. Present day, she’s called to the apartment of one of the Pride members, where there’s a dead body.
I didn’t care for Nicole. Initially she seemed too wishy washy and insecure, although she finally grew a backbone. But she never comes across as having any depth. And the other characters are totally two dimensional. I also didn’t find the plot at all believable. Small things at first, like how the women have so much time to get together and then the plot goes totally OTT. This was so unbelievable as to become groan worthy.
The book covers the idea that everything comes with a price. It also covers sexual harassment and #metoo, but not from a good side/bad side perspective.
The writing style here is also a little weird. Mackenzie repeatedly uses lists to rehash what has gone before and to rush the plot along.
My thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for an advance copy of this book.