This book ended up being really different from what I expected. It read kinda YA but I don't know that that's actually what the author was intending. There was also some unexpected content that made it a little tough for me to read. This book might be a hit with other readers (especially ones who are into pretty dark thrillers), but it just wasn't the right fit for me at all.

A super book. I love Andrea Bartz! She's a great writer and her TikToks are super. A true inspiration!!

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

The Herd is an elite, women-only coworking space in New York City created by beauty-mogul and businesswoman Eleanor Walsh. Her fellow Harvard classmates Hana and Mikki have helped Eleanor build The Herd as the place for New York women to apply for a membership that boasts empowerment and mentorship without the male gaze. Among the hopeful members is Hana’s younger sister Katie Bradley - who is returning to the city after caring for her ailing mother and having book research end in disaster in Michigan.

After a vandal mysteriously tagged all three Herd locations, Hana is uneasy as she prepares for an undisclosed announcement about The Herd’s future from Eleanor. On the night of the PR event, Eleanor is a no show, and her friends begin to panic when they realize no has seen her since the day before. As theories about her disappearance begin to fly, Eleanor’s life comes under scrutiny and her closest friends become suspects..

Sooo good! One of my faves to read! Definitely would recommend picking this one up if you see it in the store!

Eleanor Walsh founded The Herd, an exclusive all-female coworking space with locations in New York and San Francisco and a new location opening in Fort Greene. When she disappears before a big publicity event, her friends try to take the investigation into their own hands.

Told from alternating perspectives of sisters Hana and Katie Bradley, both close to Eleanor in their own way, The Herd tells the story of Eleanor’s disappearance and the secrets that come out as a result. I enjoyed the telling of the story from these two characters. The story moved quickly with a big twist at the end I didn’t see coming.

Super fun thriller about a mystery, mayhem and murder at a women's workspace.. A stinging portrait of female friendship and a fun whodunit.

I was so excited and interested in the premise of an all female cast of characters with intrigue in a co-working women-powered space. The result though was not what I was looking for. I almost immediately was pulled out of the story due to how contrived and unlikeable every character was, there was just not true-to-life character or scenario that the reader could latch onto. However, others might be more into completely-out there characters there are a lot of twist and turns and backstabbing which could keep the right person engaged throughout.

I really loved the idea of this book, but the execution wasn't the best, in my opinion. I would have loved a bit more explanation in the story.

The Herd is a suspenseful and twisty novel about an elite women only workplace. I could not put this down. I loved the characters and the plot kept moving. I highly recommend this book.

Elitist groups, especially elitist groups of women, are almost always a recipe for disaster. The characters in this book were no exception. The disappearance of Eleanor was just the crack in the foundation that sent Eleanor’s best friend Hana into a spiral. Where will her localities lie, best friend or sister and what exactly is the truth. .

Ooooodalolly. The first half of this book soared for me, absolutely soared. Set in an elite NYC women's coworking space (definitely not The Wing, definitely not!) - The Herd follows Katie, our main character, after she returns to the city from a disastrous stint in the Midwest. Luckily, Katie's sister Hana gets her in at The Herd, emphasis on the HER. Having been an original Herder, Hana's not only the head of the PR department, but best friends with Eleanor, the founder of the space. And then, Eleanor disappears. Everybody has a theory - but whose is right?

Complex characters, great social commentary on the pitfalls of white feminism and shiny capitalism marketed in a pink bow - this book haaaaaad me, and then the end sort of crumbled for me. But the first half of the book? FIRE!

Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for advanced access to this title!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. Unfortunately I was not able to get into the book - it took too long to set up the stage.

Eleanor Walsh is the founder of The Herd, an elite, women-only coworking space in New York City. Her closest friends are also members, as well as co-workers, and they share everything. However, Eleanor is immersed in planning a news conference that will include a mysterious announcement that even her inner circle has not been privy to. Then, Eleanor disappears the day of the scheduled event and her friends struggle to find out what has happened to her, while forced to confront the secrets they have all been hiding.

The Herd is an interesting book but I found it difficult to become engaged at the very beginning. It took several chapters before I started to enjoy it. Even then, I was conflicted, since a majority of the characters weren’t very appealing, although the premise of the book was.

Andrea Bartz is a talented writer and she intertwines the various characters and their stories in a very smooth manner and there were times it was a suspenseful and twisty story. Overall, I would give this book 3.5 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exhange for an honest review.
The synopsis of "The Herd" by Andrea Bartz sounded intriguing to me so I requested a copy to read.
Honestly, the book started out a little slow and boring to me but I saw some potential in it and I stuck with it.
I am so glad that I did stick with it because about 40% into the book it started to get really interesting and I couldn't wait to see how it would end.
I am very excited to read Andrea's
next book, "We Were Never Here".

Andrea Bartz writes a great and fearless mystery. In this book, readers are challenged to look at women and how they truly interact when they compete for success. THE HERD takes place in New York and, after reading, I was both sad and relieved to not live there!

The Herd is a woman only coworking space. The founder Eleanor disappears. Her best friends risk everything to uncover the truth. This is a clever whodunit.

Another hit from a modern master of thrillers! Andrea Bartz works her magic once more. I can’t wait for the Bartz books to keep coming.

This was a hard book to read or get in to...I put t down several times then finally gave up half way through. I rate what i read a 1.3. It didn't grab me or interest me as much as its description promised.

I really liked the premise of this one. A feminist thriller? Sign me up! Unfortunately, I really struggled to get into it. The beginning just felt so dense and didn’t seem to be moving very quickly. However, around 30% it started to pick up.

The story is told in alternating perspectives. Katie is a reporter/writer running away from a mysterious traumatic event and Hana is head of PR for the Herd, working on a mysterious announcement party. In the midst of all of this, Eleanor, the founder of the Herd, goes missing. Hana and Katie have to figure out if Eleanor left willingly, or if something more sinister occurred.

Throughout the story we learn more about each woman’s past and what led them to where they are now. I just wish we knew a little more earlier on to get me more invested in the story. They kept making vague references to the past without actually revealing anything and it got a bit repetitive and obnoxious. The ending was surprising, but not entirely. Don’t get me wrong, it worked. It made sense. But it lacked the wow factor for me. I was expecting something a little more than what we got.