“The Namaste Club” is by Asha Elias. I guess this book is a mystery, though I’d say that satire with their lovely stereotypes was the main focus. This book follows six people - only five give their stories - as they spend a week at a yoga retreat. Two of the women are best friends Jessica and Indira. One woman is someone they know - Barbara - who for this retreat has decided on a week of silence. The newest woman, Carol Anne, joins the group to escape from her town. The leader, Shakti, is a yoga teacher who runs the retreat. I really have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, the stereotypes were a bit over the top, but that’s the point of satire. However, some parts of the book just weren’t for me. I understand the wildness of the book - but at times it felt like so many things were happening in strange ways that instead of being funny it felt like I was reading a B-movie screwball comedy from the 1930s. I think if one is okay with a bit of political stereotyping and over-the-top things about Florida, this might be a book you’d like to read. For me, it was okay - but not really my jam.

Another highly entertaining book from Asha Elias!! I laughed out loud many times. Being a Florida native, I understood many of the references and thoroughly enjoyed the sarcasm/satire way Asha portrays the characters and certain stereotypes. I enjoyed the mutiple POVs of several characters. Pure entertainment and a great summer (or anytime) read!

“We all contain multitudes.” – The Namaste Club

3.5 ⭐ This is the perfect quote to encompass this book because it was certainly full of multitudes! This was a wild ride.

With a cast of characters with strong – and heavily stereotyped – personalities, fair warning that this book may not be for everyone. The author packs every single “trendy” stereotype, cliche, and reference into the storyline, which I think is meant to be over-the-top in a humorous, satirical way, but I found distracting at times. I also fear that it makes the book a bit “one note”, as in, it’s incredibly relevant at this singular point in time when it's being published, but will likely not stand the test of time.

As someone who practices yoga, I could fully appreciate the exaggerated “wellness” vibes of The Namaste Club. I could also understand a lot of what was being referenced. However, for any potential readers who have never practiced yoga, I could see how the heavy emphasis on that aspect may lose them.

That being said, I think there is a niche of readers out there who will devour this! I loved the unique structure of the book, where the story was mostly told in “real-time” through the experience of each of the participants, interspersed with the “after” chapters of the yoga teacher's police interview. It really lent itself to the concept that the same situation can be viewed completely differently based on your individual perspective and background, through the lens of what's going on in your life and what you're bringing from the outside world to the situation at hand. It also served to emphasize the tension in a fun “behind-the-scenes” way that kept you guessing.

All-in-all, a fun whodunit with a lot of secrets, overblown drama, some personal growth, and a mystery dead guy!

The Namaste Club is out July 1st! Thank you to Netgalley, Asha Elias, and William Morrow for this gifted ARC!

Four women attend a weeklong yoga retreat at The Namaste Club on the Florida coast. Among the women are best friends sex-positive Indira and her divorcee bestie Jessica, opinionated trad-wife Carol-Anne, and heiress Barbara who has committed to a vow of silence during her retreat. Shakti, their instructor and Daniel her apprentice have a full week of intense cleansing and healing in store…

In actuality, this group is full of big personalities, secrets, drama, and betrayal. The dynamic between these characters had me chuckling! Some of the situations they get themselves in… The ending was powerful and gratifying, even if I didn’t like some of the characters… I recommend this book to popcorn thriller lovers.

Thank you to NetGalley, Asha Elias, and William Morrow for my gifted ARC of The Namaste Club. I had such fun reading this sly, sharply observed, and delightfully satirical novel. If you’ve ever been tempted by a wellness retreat—or rolled your eyes at the Instagram version of one—you’ll find plenty to enjoy in this wild and witty story.

The setup is irresistible: a group of wealthy, often self-absorbed, and highly dysfunctional Floridians descend on the Namaste Club, a yoga center promising personal transformation (or at least a week away from reality). It’s Transcendence Week, led by serene influencer Shakti and her less-than-zen apprentice Daniel. Among the attendees are Indira, newly divorced and unapologetically embracing her freedom; her best friend Jessica, tentative about stepping back into the dating world; Barbara, the silent, possibly unhinged heiress; and Carol Anne, a gun-loving traditionalist who is not exactly Namaste material.

We know from the beginning that someone won’t survive the week, but the joy is in the journey. Elias masterfully weaves multiple points of view and timelines, giving us glimpses of each character’s motivations and secrets while keeping the tension simmering beneath the surface. I loved how every character—whether likable or not—felt fully fleshed out and had their own contradictions. No one here is a perfect hero or a complete villain, though some come closer than others.

The humor is biting and smart. Elias isn’t afraid to skewer the absurdities of modern wellness culture, influencer hypocrisy, and the dark underbelly of privilege. I laughed out loud at the meditation sessions interrupted by Carol Anne’s “prepper” paranoia and the yoga moments that dissolved into passive-aggressive competition. There’s also an alligator named Bubba, who quite literally steals the show in the best Florida-man tradition.

At the same time, the novel explores deeper themes—identity, grief, aging, friendship, and the uncomfortable intersections of belief and politics. I appreciated that Elias didn’t shy away from showing the cracks beneath her characters’ glossy exteriors. While the satire is sharp, it’s not entirely cynical; moments of genuine vulnerability break through the surface.

The pacing worked well for me. The short chapters and shifting perspectives kept the story moving, and though I figured out part of the twist early on, I still enjoyed watching it all unfold. The final reveal felt both surprising and oddly satisfying, with just the right amount of chaos.

If I had one minor quibble, it would be that at times the yoga jargon and wellness lingo could feel a bit repetitive. But honestly, that’s part of the satire, and it didn’t detract from my enjoyment.

The Namaste Club reminded me of White Lotus meets Nine Perfect Strangers, but with a distinctly Floridian flair and a more overt sense of humor. It’s a perfect beach or poolside read—fun, fast, and packed with memorable moments. I also loved the little nods to real-world wellness trends and the sly commentary on our obsession with curated lives and public performances of self-care.

Asha Elias has a gift for balancing entertainment with social critique, and I’ll happily pick up anything she writes in the future. If you’re looking for a clever, irreverent escape with a murder mystery twist, pour yourself a margarita and dive into The Namaste Club. Just remember—not everyone who checks in will be checking out.

4.25 stars for me. Grab your popcorn.
This was such a fun ride. Set in Florida, the Namaste Club is one part murder mystery, one part Gossip Girl.

Most of the characters are middle aged and having a cast of women with opposing world views made for some mesmerizing drama. The characters are all vibrant and slightly crazy. I love how Elias allows to watch all their worlds unravel and I couldn’t stop reading like watching a train wreck in slow motion.

If you are looking to satisfy an itch after you’ve binged White Lotus, this book is for you.

This would be great for a women’s book club.

There is some brief on page intimacy & a handful of f bombs for those who avoid that.

Forst, I grew uo in the arwa that the Namaste Club takes plaxe--the Treasure Coast of Florida. So I was heavily invested in the setting descriptions. A fun read about a yoga retreat center. Cleverly plotted and character driven. A fun read.

Perfect book for the summer pool/beach season! Very clever and funny and pokes fun at a variety of stereotypes..definitely caused both eye rolling and laughing out loud. Very Florida. Did the MAGA yogi get eaten by an alligator? No, but we can’t have everything I suppose. Would I change anything? Yes- WHY DID BUBBA HAVE TO DIE 😭

Thanks again to Asha Elias and William Morrow publishing for the free advance readers copy!

When I read the description of this book, it sounded like a fun read. It was supposed to be funny, and I love gossipy reads. And don't stay away from this book just because it wasn't my glass of wine. There are plenty of other readers/reviewers who think this is a great book.

What I got, however, was a political diatribe (depending on your stance) with a side order of 'let's make fun of those we don't agree with'. Stay away if you are a Republican. It was interesting to see that this author writes a story (Yes, it is fictional, I understand that) that makes Republicans look like gun-crazed, anti-everything, uneducated, bigoted, idiots. I also understand that authors are encouraged to write about what they know.

I am not a very political person, as such, but this book annoyed even me. Additionally, the very first chapter provided a vivid description of what a needy woman does with her battery-operated 'appliance'. No, just ick!

The yoga part was a bit heavy, and for the life of me, filled with sexual innuendo. I could not see where this story was going. Was this supposed to be a mystery? ( never did find out) A long-winded, inner dialogue-filled, never-ending 'poor me' story?

I don't know, and I don't care to find out. I think 50% is enough to say this book was not for me.


*ARC was supplied by the publisher William Morrow, the author, and NetGalley.

I really give this a 3.5, but I’ll round up. I adored Pink Glass Houses so I was pumped to see this on my NetGalley dashboard… and it just didn’t do it for me. It droned on for too long and the big twist at the end wasn’t played out enough for me…

What did work was the quirky sides of these characters and the serenity of the yoga club. Elias’ writing style is top notch and an auto-read for me, I just didn’t love this story. It took too long to get to the exciting things and changing the characters so often had me confused! So many characters, not a lot happening, just didn’t land with me! But I will still continue to support this author and her books!

I truly enjoyed the catty wit and characters in The Namaste Club by Asha Elias. Overall, the book is an easy read that draws you in and keeps you engaged, offering a modern day whodunnit, with unique characters who will make you chuckle!

I was really excited to read this book because I loved Pink Houses, but unfortunately this one didn't come together for me.

The story is set at a yoga retreat and from the start you know someone has died and who it it. The story is told from multiple viewpoints which works well. I've read some novels where the characters for the multiple POVs were too similar and keeping them straight was a chore, but hear they're each very distinct. And not that likable. I know many readers may not care about that but generally I want to be rooting for at least someone and while the characters range from quirky to flawed to all out 'Florida woman' -- I was not deeply invested in any of them.

I'm sure many readers will enjoy this book but for me the more I read the more disappointed I became. It just didn't measure up to the author's last book.

!! I didn’t know what I was getting in to! Some obscene language and some graphic sexual situations. Apparently, you don’t have to be crazy to live in Florida, but almost everyone else is.
Some funny and effective skewering of ‘new age-y‘ practices and beliefs, some equally realistic glimpses of a life that does not go quite as you planned, and some terrifying profiles of truly despicable characters - buffed, tanned, and coifed into superficially attractive people, and all the more dangerous for it. The narrative carried me along, and I didn’t figure out ‘whodunnit’ until close to the satisfying, if a little very convenient, end.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The story was wonderfully told, keep me hooked until the very end. The characters were so well-written with rich backstories and superb character descriptions. I certainly would recommend this book to my friends.

While interested in the premise of this book, I found that it was not really a book that I loved. Asha is a very good writer and has a diverse cast of characters, but I found the plot lacking and the twist to be an okay sort of read. Nothing really dazzled me and I found that the story dragged a bit. I did enjoy the introductions to the characters in the beginning, but they got boring with their inner monologues and I got annoyed with each one at some point.

I may not be the intended audience for this book, but enjoyed the intrigue once we kinda got it.

Thank you William Morrow and HC for this arc!!

Bizarre at times, this story didn't add anything to my life.

Some women who do yoga together in FL decide to go to a yoga retreat for a week. Of course they are nothing alike so you can cover every idiosyncrasy possible. We all know stories of Florida Man, but this is Florida Women in all their glory. Wait, Florida Women and 1 man who is in training to be a yoga master, but masters something else entirely during most of his stay at the retreat.

Of course the real yoga master isn't what she seems and the event, while fun at times, just felt pretty dumb to me. I don't want to say more in case I give away anything. Suffice it to say, 2 stars is generous.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance reader copy. Honest opinions expressed here are my own and are freely given.

The Namaste Club is a bit of a humorous mystery set on a yoga retreat which blends drama, quirky characters, and suspense into a lively, entertaining read.
This week, Shakti, the retreat leader, is hosting a yoga retreat for a group of Miami women. The group is diverse, with plenty of drama and lively dynamics that keep the story engaging. Shakti works hard to keep everyone on track, but tensions simmer as personalities clash.
Early on, we learn that someone dies before the retreat ends. As the story unfolds, details about the events leading up to the tragedy are gradually revealed, keeping the mystery alive. The novel is thoroughly entertaining, with its cast of unique, sometimes passive-aggressive personalities.

The book is highly readable, offering insight into the backstories of each attendee and how they arrived at the retreat, their search for self-discovery, and perhaps even redemption. The balance of the story made The Namaste Club an enjoyable and engaging experience.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

I just finished “The Namaste Club” by Asha Elias, and I’m disappointed to say I did not enjoy this book at all. I so wanted to enjoy this one as I really enjoyed her cheeky first novel, “Pink Glass Houses” so much, but I just did not like this book.

I think the author was going for satire but was too over the top with the characters of which absolutely NONE of the characters were likeable, just NONE. I also did not care for the author’s ridicule of religion and I absolutely hate to read political commentary in a fictional novel.

I read to escape and for enjoyment, so no politics please. Unfortunately I have to rate this book 2 stars. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. This book publishes on July 1st.

#TheNamasteClub
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A satire of rich women behaving as rich women do at yoga retreats? Sign me up.

Bitingly funny and smart, *The Namaste Club* held my interest and made me laugh out loud throughout. A purely fun read and one I recommend.

This was my first time reading the author and I will definitely read more.



Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the DRC

Absolutely loved this book1 Quick summer fluffy beach read with a hint of smut and murder. What's not to love?

As a side note, you may want to change the greek organization at the end of the book's name. Sigma Kappa is a national women's fraternity/sorority based in the US and is often confused with a national men's fraternity, Kappa Sigma. Either way, it could possibly open up some dialogue that may force a change....


Thank you again for the opportunity to read this book! Absolutely loved it and am looking to reading more from Ms. Elias!