Wow. Loved the true girl power in this book. Nicole’s career is not going her way when she receives a email inviting her to what she thinks is a retreat, but her husband thinks is a cult. She bonds with these woman but to what price? Page turning, string females with a twist you won’t see coming!

Excellent!

Nicole Mueller is 39 and has been busting her butt for years at her law firm with incredible results. Then out of the blue her most recent evaluation is terrible for no reason. That is when she gets the email: To join a Women's networking group. Reluctantly she agrees and of course a dead body appears and this group tasks her with covering it up. And thus begins this thriller.

And it's great! It's a combo legal / murder thriller so that was very refreshing. Plus I really loved Nicole's mindset. She is a strong character and was constantly keeping a clear head in the midst of adversity and always trying to get ahead of it.

The only thing that could be improved with the book is that it's really a slow burn. This is not a book with two page chapters that fly by. Catherine McKenzie is very descriptive and there is a ton of narrative. I appreciated it but there were times when I wished it would just move on.

But definitely recommended and I can't wait to read more books by Catherine McKenzie.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I'm a Catherine McKenzie fan, and this book did not disappoint. One interesting thing about the author is that she doesn't take the easy way out with the same formula each time. This book was no exception. Nicole is a high-powered lawyer, whose entire life seems to start unraveling in a short period. When she's invited to join a women's networking club, she's hesitant, but it might be just what could change the tide. The "pride" of women networks in the most extreme way, and she finds herself being rewarded, but at the same time, much is asked in return. There are twists throughout, and the ending was a surprise. I definitely recommend this newest release from the author. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Atria Books for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

All at once, Nicole Mueller’s once successful life begins crumbling around her. Her law firm’s senior partners threaten her that if she doesn’t up her billable hours, she could be starting her career over at the age of 39. The New York apartment she shares with her husband could be taken away if the will from the aunt who has let them live there doesn’t clearly state they should have the opportunity to buy it at a rate they can afford—they may be talented lawyers, but Ivy-league educations don’t pay for themselves. So when an opportunity to join an all-women’s networking group arrives in her inbox, she decides to take a chance on something she would normally be wary about.

At first, what she has to do to be part of the group seems innocuous enough considering the benefits she gets, but Nicole is ultimately asked to go too far. Now she has to figure out how she get out of this group that she has become so entwined with.

This is a twisty mystery that highlights the challenges of being female in the workplace—any workplace. Some things stretch the imagination, but all in all it’s a fun, plot-driven read, and I identify with Nicole’s character.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this novel, which RELEASES MAY 24, 2022.

I love everything that Catherine McKenzie reads. This made me think of the women's organizations I've been hearing about in New York or Los Angeles and it was a fantastic way of theorizing what would happen when a group of women banded together like that in both blind trust and a willing to support each other. No matter the costs. Another fantastic read! Five stars all the way.

A great read that kept me hooked throughout the novel, fantastic character development and plot twists.

4.5 stars!
What. A. Story. It hooked me from the beginning. The story follows Nicole. She's a lawyer at a powerful firm. She's devoted to her job. She puts in the work and time. She busts her ass. Her review comes up and it's not stellar, not even good for that matter. And then a mysterious email comes in telling her that she's been recommended to join an all-women's club consisting of high profile, powerful women. They tell her of all the good that can happen to her by being part of the 'pride'. Sounds too good to be true, but what does she have to lose?! Then things start to happen. Webs of lies start to be uncovered. How deep does this 'club' go? How far in is she? Can she get out?
The book had all the twists and turns. And just wait until the ending. I did not see it coming. WOW!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a fun, suspenseful story about a lawyer Nicole whose career was stalling when she receives a mysterious message from a women’s networking group. What is supposed to be about women supporting women turns into a deadly trap that Nicole can’t get out of

I love a smart, strong and successful female lead and this “cultish” book did not disappoint.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced digital copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own

What a great read! I thoroughly enjoyed this story about Nicole, a lawyer, who is looking for a leg up in her career. She is invited to join an exclusive women’s networking group. Sounds like the perfect solution to her problems. But we all know when something seems perfect there’s usually a catch. A very unique premise and great ending!

Stunning, propulsive, and sharp as a knife, Please Join Us is about a secret women’s group and the members determined to get ahead at all costs—just like men do. With a creeping sense of paranoia and full of surprising twists, this smart, feminist thriller explores women’s empowerment vs justice and the grey spaces we inhibit when success is on the line.

We follow Nicole Mueller, a hard working lawyer who’s falling behind at her law firm. Determined to find a way to succeed, she submits an application to join a women’s networking group. The corporate team-building retreat is filled with all sorts of strange things—hunting, bizarre rituals, testing endurance. But soon these aren’t the only bizarre things happening. When Nicole is called in to cover up a murder, she realizes that more than just her job is on the line.

This one's a knockout!

3.5 stars. I did not like Six Weeks to Live so I didn't have high hopes for this...I love when authors prove me wrong. This was incredibly timely (ugh man I feel that pandemic weight!) And very well paced. Once you think you have it figured out, something else happens. Nicole was (mostly) likeable and the book moves at a nice clip. I really enjoyed the way everything came together at the end.

This was my first book by Catheon3 McKenzie but it will not be my last. It held my interest enough that I wanted to know how it ended.

3.4 Stars In my opinion 3 Stars = Good ~4 Stars = Great~ 5 Stars =Outstanding

This is Catherine McKenzie novel #6 for me ~ yep I am a fan!
As an e-reader we don’t get to read the book jacket; totally loved that this started out with what is on the jacket.
Out protagonist is thirty-nine year old Nicole Mueller, who was once had a very successful law career but now she and her husband Dan are about to lose their much loved apartment. As Nicole relates they could afford an apartment in Jersey on Dan’s salary

One day Nicole gets an email with the
Sublet line: Please Join Us”
It is an invitation to participate in corporate team-building retreat in Colorado.
The event is sponsored by an exclusive women’s networking group “Panthera Leo” and is made up of very successful professional women. This promises to help women become successful. It sounds to Nicole just what she needs.
Dan is skeptical and thinks it is a cult.
(I laughed at that as I remember when I registered at our local university for a series of women’s
empowering lectures. My husband enjoyed teasing me about taking “Pushy Women Classes”.)

Nicole, of course, attends. She soon fears this group just might be up to no good when Athena sends out an SOS message. When Nicole gets there she finds
a dead body and this secret society demands blind obedience.

This was an interesting read. I did like it but didn’t love it.
Doesn’t mean I won’t read another[author, Catherine McKenzie ~ as I know I WILL!

Want to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 24, 2022.

An amazing read by one of my favorite authors. The protagonist believes she is joining a club for professional women. But with friends like these, who needs enemies? A great, compelling, suspenseful read!

Thank you Atria books, and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review Please Join Us from Catherine McKenzie. This is a perfect read for fans of Laura Hankins' A Special Place for Women. Erica Katz'z The Boys Club, and Chandler Baker's Whisper Network and The Husbands. Themes on women addressing the complexity of trying to achieve more in a career but being held back by hidden rules, the boys club, and other experiences of inequity are at the theme of this new novel about a networking society for women. But that seems like a group intended to build up strong women maybe also be a group that breaks them down. What is the agenda of the founders? What if Nicole, the lead character, is asked to give up more than she wants to give up to get what she thinks she wants? Themes on "at what cost" and "the ends justify the means" are woven effectively into this thriller.

Three big comments:
1. I am endlessly fascinated by contemporary fiction stories such as this one as they ask us to consider not just the boys club but also how we collectively perceive what success and power is, what it means to want success and power, and what we will do, or think we have to do, to achieve our goals. I wonder if the pursuits and endeavors of the women in this novel, particularly Nicole and Athena and others in their "Pride", were what they truly wanted and or what they were told they wanted. Books such as this one remind me too of themes on power and gender that were manifest in Femlandia and The Power. I enjoyed the big questions that I thought about as I read this and how it fit into other recent reads. This would be great for a contemporary fiction group as well as thriller lovers . I also think it would be great for women's groups of course.

2. Examination of what female friendship is and darker themes about how women can raise each other up but also can be a barrier to success. Is it men who hold women back at work or is it more about who has power and control? The ideas of manipulation and use of fear and power were interesting to me (I am a a psych lecturer).

3. Pacing, I thought this plot had a steady pace and made use of present/past stories to make the story more about how did the character get to this point, the journey and not just the outcome, and more about the ethical challenges Nicole faces as well as questions about how far would the women go for power and success, to maintain their group and their "(P)ride". I think a good plot is not just about the end but also about how the author takes the reader from the beginning to the end.

Thank you again for the chance to read and support this book. I think it will be a great beach read and a good one to talk about with book friends over some drinks this summer. I look forward to the next book from this author.

Meh.. I was excited for this one but if you aren’t a business person or lawyer this book is going to be confusing. Nothing reallly wowed me, and it just dragged for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for review.

2.5/5

Another amazing, fast paced thriller from Catherine McKenzie. Just like the others I have read by her, once I started it, I couldn’t put it down.

Nicole is a lawyer on the fast track to partner when that track is derailed and she needs to figure out a new plan fast. Seeming like perfect timing, she receives an email inviting her to a exclusive woman’s networking group, Panthera Leo. Deciding that she has nothing to lose, she pays the $5,000 fee and embarks on a weekend getaway in Colorado. Little does she know, this weekend is going to change not only her career, but the rest of her life.

I love the successful women plotting trope and this had everything I could want and more. You love and hate all of the characters at the same time and leaves you questioning who to trust until the very last page.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I will be recommending this to everyone once it’s released.

Love this author. The plot was unique and the story. Was fast paced. This book was like a cult gone wrong and it was entertaining til the end.!

When Nicole is invited to a prestigious and exclusive women’s networking group it may be just the thing she needs. Her career is plummeting, her marriage is stale, and they may be losing their apartment. All of that is promised to be solved with the club, but they soon begin asking favors of her too.

If it’s one thing I enjoy, it’s corporate thrillers that involve feminism and “me-too”. This one was like that, but amplified by a hundred. I loved the first 75% of the book and was really into it. The end fell apart for me. The conclusion didn’t really happen naturally but instead was dialogues by the characters. It felt like I was just being told what had happened, and it wasn’t as entertaining for me as the rest of the book. While the format of the end wasn’t my favorite, I did like how the story ended; it was unexpected.

“Was it any wonder women were mad? Was if any wonder women were tired? This was woman. Tired and mad.”

Please Join Us comes out 5/24.

I've read several books by Catherine McKenzie in the past, and in my opinion, this is her at the top of her game. I loved the devious nature of most of the women in this novel- it made for a fast-paced, interesting read. I hard a hard time putting it down. The good-trumps-evil plotline wrapped everything up perfectly, and I liked how everyone got either their comeuppance or their happy endings. Absolutely will look for future novels by this author!