*received for free from netgalley for honest review* Loved this book, i would love to see this as a tv series! this was so hard to put down and kept me on the edge of my seat, would recommend and even reread!

The Intern is solid, engaging read that kept me hooked from the start to finish. The story is fast-paced and full of intrigue, with a plot that balances suspense and character development well. Michael Campbell creates a world where the stakes are high, and the main characters feel authentic and relatable.

What stood out to me was the way the author captured the dynamics of workplace relationships, power struggles, and the pressure that comes with being an intern in a competitive environment, The tension between ambition, ethic, and personal growth is explored effectively, and I found myself rooting for the protagonist as they navigated the challenges ahead.

Though the pacing was quick and the writing easy to follow, there were moments where I felt the plot could have delved deeper into some of the supporting characters and their motivations. Despite that, the main storyline was strong, and I really appreciated the unexpected twists that kept me turning the pages.

Overall, The Intern is a well=crafted, enjoyable book that combines elements of thriller and drama. It's a great choice for fans of suspenseful stories with a strong central character and plenty of twists.

This book started off slow but soon I was invested in the characters.

Madison is pursing her law degree at Harvard when the prestigious Judge Conroy takes her under her wing. Judge Conroy asks Madison to house&pet sit while she’s away. Not having known this woman for very long, Madison reluctantly agree. She’s hiding something about her bothers dark past and decides she needs to come clean but before she does, there’s a knock at the door.

The Intern by Michele Campbell is a fast-paced legal thriller packed with secrets, betrayal, and jaw-dropping twists. Set in the high-stakes world of law and ambition, the story follows an intern who quickly finds herself entangled in a dangerous web of lies and deception.

Campbell excels at building tension, crafting morally complex characters, and delivering twists that keep you guessing until the very end. The legal drama adds an extra layer of intrigue, though some plot points stretch believability.

4 stars — a sharp, suspenseful thriller with strong characters and addictive twists. Perfect for fans of legal dramas mixed with psychological suspense.

Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for a free audio copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

In Michelle Campbell's The Intern, Madison, eager to learn from the esteemed Judge Conroy, jumps at the chance to intern in her court. But when her brother Danny disappears within the prison system after a drug arrest, Madison uses her internship to investigate. Her search leads her directly to Judge Conroy, and Madison soon finds herself tumbling down a rabbit hole of secrets.

Told through the dual perspectives of Madison and Judge Conroy, with interwoven flashbacks, this legal thriller delves into the darker side of the legal world. Neither protagonist is entirely relatable, yet both are compelling. Madison is a hard working, outspoken, and fiercely loyal law student. Judge Conroy, a successful judge with a tough exterior, has been controlled by someone for years. Campbell's writing is complex, multifaceted, suspenseful, and unpredictable, with surprising twists and turns that remain believable. Judge Conroy's dangerous, secretive world draws Madison in, and the characters are deeply drawn, mysterious, and intriguing. The story unfolds at a slow burn, gradually building the characters and plot in layers of twists and turns, with excellent pacing. The flashbacks into Judge Conroy's past reveal how she became entangled in this dark world.

I was completely engrossed in this compelling thriller, unable to put it down. Sarah Mollo-Christensen's narration is superb, with excellent voice variation that brings the characters to life. My only minor issue was the sheer number of characters and their intricate connections to the main characters, creating a complex web to untangle. However, this didn't detract significantly from my enjoyment. I highly recommend this book, especially the audiobook version. Mollo-Christensen's performance, particularly during the heightened drama, was captivating. The author's background in the legal field adds authenticity, and the focus on the judge-intern relationship is particularly well-done.

4 Stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #macmillanaudio #theintern #michellecampbell #botm #bookofthemonth

The Intern was a book that, unfortunately, didn’t work for me. While the premise—a young intern uncovering dark secrets at a prestigious company—had plenty of potential, the execution fell flat. The characters felt one-dimensional and made choices that were either frustratingly naive or completely implausible, which made it hard to connect with them. The plot, though initially intriguing, quickly became predictable and riddled with clichés, failing to deliver the tension or twists I had hoped for. The pacing dragged in places, with too much focus on irrelevant details and not enough on building suspense. By the end, it felt like a missed opportunity, leaving me more frustrated than entertained.

Michelle Campbell’s The Intern is a solid, suspenseful thriller with an engaging premise and plenty of twists. Madison Rivera’s dream internship with Judge Kathryn Conroy quickly spirals into a tangled web of secrets, corruption, and danger. The story keeps you guessing about the characters’ true motives and builds a compelling atmosphere of distrust and tension.

However, while the plot is intriguing, it occasionally stretches believability, particularly with some of the characters’ decisions and the story’s resolution. Madison’s relationship with her brother Danny provides emotional stakes, but his characterization feels underdeveloped. Similarly, Judge Conroy is fascinating but inconsistent, making it hard to fully connect with her as either an ally or an antagonist.

Narrated by Sarah Mollo-Christensen, the audiobook brings an added layer of tension and drama to the story. Her crisp, deliberate pacing suits the legal thriller setting, and she differentiates characters well, particularly Madison and Judge Conroy. However, some listeners might find her delivery a bit too measured during high-stakes scenes, slightly undercutting the tension.

Overall, The Intern is an entertaining read, perfect for fans of legal thrillers and cat-and-mouse dynamics. While it doesn’t quite reach the level of unforgettable, it delivers enough twists and drama to keep you invested until the very end.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advanced listeners copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars

Thank you so much to @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the complimentary audio of The Intern by Michele Campbell

QOTD: Have you ever landed your dream job but it came with a lot of corruption and consequences?

When Madison gets an internship with her idol federal Judge Kathryn Conroy she is in for the ride of her life.

This was a good legal thriller full of family secrets, lies, blackmail, corruption, and betrayal. There were so many twists and turns throughout the story that it kept me on my tippy toes. 

I really like that the story was told from both Madison’s and Judge Conroy’s perspectives. Which kept the suspense going the entire time.

I love the audiobook,the narrator Sarah Mollo-Christense did a wonderful job narrating back and forth between Madison and Judge Conroy. The narration was Chef kisses 

This was my first Michele Campbell read and now I need to check her backlist.
I highly recommend reading/listening to anyone who enjoys organized crime, legal/academic-themed thrillers, student + judge relationships, and corruption.

Review to come, I accidentally got this one and didn’t download before archive. Will read and update

Ambition. Corruption. Intrigue. Engaging to say the least, this plot line and the character arcs kept my interest from the first to the last page. I am happy to have experienced the story via audio as there were plenty of legal terminology that usually trips me up while reading. It got a bit longer winded and convoluted in the middle, but there was a satisfying ending for a psychological/legal thriller. The narrator did a fine job, the voice pleasing and had enough vocal expressions and emotion.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

3.5 stars Readers looking for an adrenaline cat and mouse thriller will definitely want to give this book a try. Deception and blackmail are the backbone of this plot. It was a tense and gripping read. I had no idea how the author would be able to end the book satisfactorily, but she succeeded!

I'm not a huge fan of these types of plots but this one managed to pull me in and keep me intrigued. The audio performance was average. Good enough to keep the listener engaged.

Thank you #NetGalley for an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read and review The Intern on NetGalley.

Published: 10/03/23

Stars: 2.5

Okay. My biggest problem with the story was the naivety of Madison and her mother. Their interactions were painful to physically and audibly read. During the first prison scene I had to remind myself this was not a library book, it was a NetGalley; otherwise I would have DNFd it. Now, finished with the book, the decision would have been the right one for me. There were several more cringe worthy moments throughout the rest of the book.

Madison's persona did not fit her character and this spoiled the book. However, I did like Kathryn's storyline but not the execution.

The narrator did a fine job; nothing special.

"The Intern" audiobook by Michele Campbell offers a decent listen with engaging narration. However, the plot lacks depth, and character development feels lacking. While it provides entertainment, it falls short of leaving a lasting impact.

This was a pretty fast paced thriller which I really enjoyed! I really enjoyed the narrator and I did not want to stop listening! Definitely excited to read more from Michele Campbell!

I went in blind with the intern, as I’ve found I really enjoy with a mystery/thriller, and what started as a slow burn read for me, it definitely picked up the pace!

WHAT TO EXPECT
-cat-and-mouse thriller
-entertaining
-secrets revealed
-cliffhangers at the end of each chapter
-engaging narration

🎧I paired the book with the audiobook and loved this immersive style of reading. I definitely recommend the narrator.

*many thanks to St Martin’s Press, Macmillan audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review.

A really good thriller start to finish. I found some behaviors a bit improbable throughout, but overall I loved the twists and found myself struggling to put it down. The narrator was also excellent.

Are you looking for a fast-paced cat-and-mouse style thriller to keep you entertained? Enter The Intern!

From the minute this book starts, the reader knows that there are going to be lots of secrets revealed, but just how many do Madison and Judge Conroy have hidden? I loved getting to know both main characters, watching them interact, and trying to predict the moves they would each make next.

Campbell has really cooked up an elaborate and fun plot with this one filled with plenty of tense moments and chapter cliffhangers that will keep you coming back for more.

Fun fact: When I was getting ready to post this review on Goodreads, I saw in Campbell’s bio that she used to be a federal prosecutor and I think that 100% explains how good some of these details are in this book!

I tend to struggle when a story starts out as slowly as The Intern. It’s probably a “me” problem, but I just look over at my TBR pile and think of all the other stories I want to dive into rather than the slow one I’m in. That being said, if you can stick through the super slow start (the narrator helped immensely with this - she is engaging and what kept me listening!), this story does pick up and gain action. As is true with most legal thrillers, actions are questionable and often unrealistic with not a ton of originality but somehow they keep you reading (or listening!). This isn’t anything groundbreaking but it is enjoyable with a talented narrator.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance listen. All opinions are my own.

This legal thriller kept me engage throughout from beginning to end. You will have a love/hate relationship with the characters which will keep you engaged.