by Laura Hankin
Publisher: Berkley
Pages: 368
Format: eARC
Buy the Book: Amazon
Goodreads: It's a club like no other. Only the most important women receive an invitation. But one daring young reporter is about to infiltrate this female-run secret society, whose beguiling members are caught up in a dark and treacherous business.
For years, rumors have swirled about an exclusive, women-only social club where the elite tastemakers of NYC meet. People in the know whisper all sorts of claims: Membership dues cost $1,000 a month. Last time Rihanna was in town, she stopped by and got her aura read. The women even handpicked the city's first female mayor. But no one knows for sure.
That is, until journalist Jillian Beckley decides she's going to break into the club. With her career in freefall, Jillian needs a juicy scoop, and she has a personal interest in bringing these women down. But the deeper she gets into this new world--where billionaire "girlbosses" mingle with the astrology-obsessed--the more Jillian learns that bad things happen to those who dare to question the club's motives or giggle at its outlandish rituals.
The select group of women who populate the club may be far more powerful than she ever imagined.
And far more dangerous too.
Kritters Thoughts: An underground club that is solely for women and is even more elite in that it is invite only with a few tests that must be passed before membership is granted. Jillian Beckley is a journalist and until recently was employed full time, so she needs to find her next big article that could get a spot on the map. An interesting encounter with some women from this underground club and some rumors that have been swirling set Jillian's life in motion.
This was mean girls but on a whole other level where careers are ended and lives are in danger. These women are vindictive and horrible and with each page I was honestly repulsed by them and it reminded me of all the reasons I don't love YA with the unnecessary character drama. I want to live in a world where its sunshine and rainbows and women uplift others and see the good in all women succeeding, so this book just tore me apart and because of my own thinking I had a hard time enjoying it.
But, I loved Jillian Beckley and her constant struggle to be an honest true person and the pull of the group. I was giving her a pass as she was in a hard place mentally with the recent passing of her mother and the way these women used that against her. She was the reason I was able to continue reading and could waffle between enjoying it and getting frustrated by it.
I sat on the fence on this book and even delayed writing my review for a few days to see if my thoughts would settle on whether I could recommend it to other readers. And to be honest, I am still on the fence because I know my thoughts about this book (more so than most) are very personal in that my own worldview and thinking really played into my reading of this book. Yes, I know we bring our own world view to every book, but for me it felt more so in this one. I am intrigued to see where Laura Hankin goes from here.
Rating: enjoyable, but didn't leave me wanting more
Ebook 2021 Challenge: 61 out of 100
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one copy of this book free of charge from Berkley. I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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