3.5 ⭐️

I was excited to read this because I liked Pink Glass Houses. I liked this one even more, though! It gave me White Lotus vibes (specifically season 3, with the bickering middle aged best friends on a vacation together, the dead body and gun in the first act, and the out-of-place rich people on a wellness retreat), so much so that I bet people reading after the publish date will think this book was influenced by the show. But it’s just a coincidence!

The characters were all fun, over-the-top archetypes. I especially liked the juxtaposition between Trumper Carol Anne and hippie dippie Barbara. I also liked the nod made to the crunchy-to-anti-vax pipeline when it comes to Shakti. Everyone felt delightfully unhinged.

I also appreciated how much snappier this felt than Pink Glass Houses. The action started right away and it didn’t feel like I was wading through a million characters and their inner lives before getting to the plot. The story flowed well and I was invested in finding out what each of these creeps were up to next.

Thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Asha Elias for the advanced copy!

4 stars babes! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I'm still reeling from the utterly chaotic and hilarious antics of the four ladies at the Namaste Club! This book is a laugh-out-loud, fun read that's perfect for a beachy summer vibe. The cast of characters is wonderfully eccentric, from scrunchy moms to QAnon Barbie and the infamous "I sun my butt" guy.

The twists and turns surrounding the mysterious death at the club had me hooked.

If you're looking for a lighthearted, entertaining read to soak up the sun, look no further!

I really enjoyed this book. This is the second book I’ve read by the author, and I really like her writing style. I feel like I’m reading a Real Housewives script. I like how the chapters are told from the perspectives of the different characters and you learn about each characters background and personalities to build up the to the bigger picture of the story. It was a fun book to read .

Asha Elias is quickly becoming the queen of sassy satire. This was a fun and light thriller with all the yoga and wellness vibes. All the pettiness. All the drama. SO much fun and entertaining.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was a funny and entertaining satirical story! The poking fun at the state of Florida and the varied residents that call it home was done perfectly. The author did athorough job depicting the various personalities of each character.

This book was entertaining throughout. The author did a great job getting into the minds of the different characters. The conclusion of the book was fun in the way the characters were brought together and unified. I think there could be a little less of the politics in the book though, so as not to alienate half the readers, as only one “side” seemed to be villainized. Overall, it was a fun book that kept me interested and reading.

“The Namaste Club” by Asha Elias is debut mystery that takes place at a yoga retreat in a remote part of Florida. The story is about rich people behaving badly on their restful week away when a dead body is discovered missing an arm. The attendees become crime solvers and the ending becomes somewhat predictable and quirky. For me there were too many out there antics and descriptive sex scenes that added nothing to the story. I’m sure that there are many readers who will find this a fun read, but I had a hard time finishing the book. I hate giving negative reviews but hopefully I won’t feel the same way about the authors next book.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I read Pink Glass Houses and enjoyed it so I was hoping for another solid domestic thriller in this one. Sadly, though, this one just didn't work for me.

I couldn’t wait to read this book but unfortunately it in no way lived up to its potential. Poorly written, with one dimensional characters- it’s greatest redeeming quality is the setting, which is perfect.

I read Pink Glass Houses Elias’ debut novel and loved it so I had high hopes for The Namaste Club. Once again the characters are rich people behaving badly but the similarities end there. The women and one man are attending a week long yoga retreat in a remote area of Florida. Two of them are friends and they know the teacher, the appentice, and one of the other students. The last member of the group is a stranger to them all. Though there are a few worthwhile plot threads, none of the characters, except perhaps the teacher, are likable. There is too much yoga jargon and too many descriptive sex scenes which add nothing to the book. If this had been a library book, I would not have finished it. I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC but I cannot recommend it. 2.5 stars rounded to 3 for me.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book before actual printing.
The Namaste Club reads very quickly. It’s set in Florida. It’s about 4 women and 1 man, going to this retreat for their individual reasons.
It has many twists and turns and keeps the reader interested and one their toes.
It was a lot like the hbo show white lotus.
I really enjoyed reading this book and hope this author writes more.

When the pose becomes too intense as with life we can always come back to our breath".
As a 40 yr old who practices yoga from time to time I found this to be a good read but was disappointed with how slow it developed.
I have previously read Pink Houses and loved the drama it held but this book was less exciting for me.
I feel like I get the overall theme here but I don't think I'd pick this up to read again and again. I hate giving a less than average review but I just had high hopes going into this book and feel kinda indifferent by it.
I was given a copy of this book to read in exchange for a honest review. Thank you Netgalley.

A ragtag group made up of yoga teacher/lifecoach Shakti, aspiring yoga teacher Daniel, jewelry designer entrepreneur Indira, marketing director and Indira's bff Jessica, conservative tradwife Carol Ann and support staff Martina and her wife, Margaret are all on hand during the week long retreat at The Namaste Club in Florida. Transcendence Week turns out to be anything but relaxing and harmonious, instead packed will fighting, sex, hunting and many, many secrets. And a huge alligator named Bubba.

Narrated by all those at the retreat save for Daniel, The Namaste Club is an intriguing portrait into the wellness economy and many of its quirks. The characters drive the story and all are vibrantly brought to life here, with both their flaws and positive characteristics on display. I found the entire book to be an intensely readable look into the world of wellness and I very much enjoyed the journey. 4.25 stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to review Asha Elias's newest book, the Namaste Club.
When Indira and Jessica attend a yoga retreat, they get more than what they bargained for. Hoping for some restoration and maybe a little action with the hot yoga apprentice Daniel, they instead encounter a cast of characters that borders along Nine Perfect Strangers, but in a satirical manner with a Florida spin. This book was hilarious poking fun at over the top wellness trends, but at the same time was rooted in self discovery. You learn that not everyone, even gurus, have it all figured out.

This book has no shortage of quirky characters, some likeable, some not so much. I loved that fact that we got to see characters from different cultural and social backgrounds and I like how the author tied them all together with the yoga retreat at the center. I think this book dragged a tiny bit for me at around the 60%ish mark but I pushed through and ended up finding this one to be a pretty good read. I read this author's first book, Pink Glass Houses and I think I may have liked that one a bit better, but this one was a fun read as well.

I will say that if you ever wondered Asha's political views, you will definitely get them in this book. This didn't really bother me, but if you have differing views, this book may not be the one for you.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fascinating mystery novel that is perfect for fans of White Lotus and Agatha Christie! I loved the writing style and the different character perspectives that had me guessing and second guessing everything,

Elias has done it again! Another crazy, surreal satire featuring so many unique characters that you love to hate.

We've got the best friend duo—both divorced Miami moms who formed a trauma bond first from being rejected by their families and then their husbands. There's the follower of Jesus (who probably makes most followers look bad) who is the self-proclaimed perfect wife and mother, and ironically looking to be less judgmental. Then the privileged yogini looking for enlightenment. The token male yogi who is a bit too touchy, giving off bad vibes. And finally the yoga teacher and leader of the week-long yoga retreat the whole group finds themselves a part of.

As a yoga teacher myself, I found little tidbits here and there that were interesting to read from the students' POV. I definetly felt Elias knew her stuff and when it came to poses, chants, and the limbs of yoga (for the most part).

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book!

What an entertaining and fun read! You never know what antics are going to ensue when you get a group of very different women together for a yoga retreat! It kept me laughing and questioning the meaning of life through the eyes of these characters. A perfect summer read.

Look for my full review in Library Journal.
---
This is a fun, beach read for 2025. Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Thank to William Morrow and Net Galley for a ARC of this novel in return for a honest review. I enjoyed the author’s first novel Pink Glass Houses and looked forward to reading this one. It did not disappoint! A fast paced story with a memorable cast of characters, that had me guessing until the end. 5 yoga students and their instructor descend upon a Florida resort for a week of meditation and renewal. What they discover about themselves and each other is a lot more than anyone expected. This is the perfect beach read.