
Member Reviews

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc of The Intern by Michele Campbell. First, I finished this book in one day. The pacing of the book was pretty decent and I did enjoy the twists and turns of the story. Overall, a very decent thriller. Now here is where I have an issue. I had a problem with the author writing in BIPOC characters in their books. It gets cringy. For example, the Jamaican help and the Puerto Rican background of the character and the one student with black parents....yeah why would any of that matter? Also, the audio book narrator did a terrible job with the accents. I felt like the story was very predictable and the main character, Madison is less than smart and very naive. Why would you think it was cool to just stay at the lady's house, wear her clothes, spend the night just off the cuff. I felt like at times, I was saying for someone who goes to Harvard Law School you are doing some stupid stuff. The mob/mafia angle was interesting but there wasn't enough of it, just a bunch of Jimmy the Killer & Tommy the Enforcer references.
I have never read from this author before and I'd be interested in reading something else from them.
3 stars.

A thrilling suspense novel exploring corruption in the judicial system and how far two very different people will go for the ones they love. The story goes between two POVs: Harvard Law student Madison Rivera and federal judge Kathryn Conroy. When Madison lands the ultimate internship with the judge, she also learns her troubled younger Danny is arrested and pinned by dirty counsel and cops…a case signed off by the same judge. But as she hides her relationship to Danny, hers isn’t the only secret at play and things quickly turn dangerous.
I loved how the story had suspense throughout yet still managed to build it up even more all the way until the end. The only thing I found extremely grating was Madison’s mom. I may be a lone opinion but I hated every scene she was in because she’s a prime example of gaslighting, toxic parenting and it kept frustrating me every time their dialogue would begin.
As for the narrator Sarah Mollo-Christensen, she portrayed both main characters well, making it easy to follow along with the story.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio in exchange for my honest review. This comes out 10/3!

Thank you Netgalley for the arc of this. This audiobook, I liked the narrator. This book had two main characters. Both their lives told by both point of views and how they intertwine throughout the book. Personally I thought this book was good but at the same time fell flat as storyline was just meh over all. The mother in this novel irritated me. It was hard to stay fully engaged in parts. If looking for a short read with under world crime and officials mixed up in it, I recommend. If looking for a book you'll read again or a standout book this isn't it

◆ Read if you like:
- the show Suits & Harvey Spector vibes
- Bingeable suspense
- Cat-and-mouse trope
- Kitty best friends
- Harry Potter references
"...Sometimes mutual suspicion can make for a solid partnership."
◆ Synopsis
Harvard law student Madison Rivera lands the internship of a lifetime working for her idol, Judge Kathryn Conroy. But both women are harboring dangerous secrets. Who is on the take? Who is telling the truth? This twisty, cat-and-mouse story is full of corruption, deception, conspiracy, & blackmail. But who is the victim and who is the criminal?
◆ My Thoughts
This was the thriller I didn’t know I needed.
It had everything I love about police procedurals with unexpected suspense, mob/mafia vibes, law school/dark academia with the Harvard setting, & even a bit of courtroom drama.
This twisty legal thriller had me captivated, & once I started listening I simply couldn’t stop! I binged this book in 2 days. The plotline is never dull. It was fast paced, with well-developed characters, perfect execution of the dual POVs/timelines, & dramatic twists that were surprising yet believable, never too far-fetched.
The audiobook narration by Sarah Mollo-Christensen was stellar. She did an amazing job & although there are a ton details I never once felt confused or lost. I could imagine this playing out like it was on a movie screen.
The Intern is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. You’re gonna want to get your hands on this one when it releases October 3rd!
Thank you to Michele Campbell, Netgalley, & Macmillan audio for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I really enjoyed this audiobook! The narrator was great and I didn’t want to stop listening.
What would you do if the person you idolized since you were an adolescent turned out to be nothing you expected ?
Madison has wanted to be Kathy since she taught a class when she was a teenager. She worked hard to get into law school in hopes to follow into Kathy’s steps; since Kathy is a well known federal judge.
Only when Madison is offered the internship of her dreams; it turns out, it’s nothing but a nightmare and she slowly learns the dark history that’s tainted Kathy’s life and lead Kathy down a path she never actually wanted in life.
We also learn what lead Kathy down the road she’s lead and all the dark twisted people pulling strings in the background: the corruption, secrets and lies are all brought to fruition.
Can Kathy finally escape the life she’s been trying to get out of? Will Madison still look up to her? Can she help Madison and her family or will they turn on each other?
This was a fast paced, page turner and I enjoyed how their lives crossed and how each woman did everything they could, even if it toed the line for their families.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fantastic Legal Thriller that I Highly Recommend!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I was over the moon when I received ARCs of Michele Campbell’s newest novel…audiobook and ebook! It’s wonderful to be able to alternate between the book and audio. The narrator did an excellent job of portraying all of the characters and I highly recommend it. The author is one of my favorites and I will happily read any of her books!
The two main characters are Judge Kathryn Conroy and Madison Rivera. Both women are badass and fierce, with dark secrets. We get to hear from each and get a look into the past, which brings the story together perfectly!
This is an excellent legal thriller with the omission of the customary courtroom setting. The characters are skillfully interlaced through organized crime and family. Once I started it, I couldn’t stop. The little mysteries within the main story are mesmerizing! And the ending is one of the best I’ve read.
Sincere thanks to St. Martins Press and Macmillan Audio for this complimentary ARC provided by NetGalley and Edelweiss. As always, all opinions are my own and are left voluntarily.
#TheIntern #MicheleCampbell #stmartinspress #macmillanaudio #netgalley #edelweiss #justfinished #newrelease #giftedARC #audiobookreview #igbookreels #thriller #honestreview #thrillerfriendsunite #mysteryandthrills #thrillerbooklovers #thrillerobsessedbookishclub #suspense #lovetoread #bookworms #lovebooks #lovetoreadbooks #fortheloveofbooks #booknerd #bookreviewer #booksbooksandmorebooks #instabook #readaholic

This storyline had a lot of potential but it fell flat for me and I ended up DNFing. Lots of drama, not enough thrills or descriptive prose for my taste. I'm sure some readers will enjoy it even if it's not for me.
The audio narrator did great with the various voices. I was impressed.

Excellent. Fast-paced style that will draw in readers of Riley Sager and Lisa Gardner. Not as many twists as a Freida McFadden novel necessarily, but I would recommend to patrons looking for something similar to Stacy Abrams work. The Intern is told from two perspectives: Judge Kathy Conroy and Madison, a Harvard law student. At first, I loved Madison's perspective. I became a bit wary when she fixated on her brother, Danny, but given her family dynamics and history, it did make sense. I found the judge's storyline more compelling and sympathetic. The audiobook narrator was great, and had an even cadence while still using different tones for each character. The ending may not be shocking to many readers, but the journey to get there was fun!

3.5 stars rounded up.
I’d like to preface this review by saying I absolutely adored Michele Campbell’s writing style. The way this story unfolded was very well done. My attention was captivated from the start. I had the privilege of receiving the audiobook version of this books and the narrators were fantastic. They were clear, concise and did an excellent job evoking emotion throughout the book.
Where this story fell a little flat for me was through some of the characters. I found Madison’s mother to be infuriating. She was incredibly manipulative and was so focused on using Madison to free Danny in any way she could. I found Madison to be a bit irritating… she was a second year law student with no real world law experience and she acted like she knew all there ever was to know about the law. YET… in her first interview with a company for an internship she LIES…. AT A LAW FIRM 😂 it just felt a bit ridiculous to me. Don’t even get me started in Nancy. 🙈
A part from my distaste for those specific characters… the rest of this story was incredibly intriguing and I listened to it start to finish without pause. It kept my attention the entire time.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Michele Campbell and the publishers at Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to review and advanced copy of this audiobook.

“The Intern” is a nice mix of a family, legal, and mob thriller with characters you will love (my inner cat lady loves Lucy the cat) and characters you despise (yet like their dirtiness and what it brings to the story). Overall, a solid book.
@netgalley
#netgalley
@macmillan.audio
#macmillanaudio
@bookofthemonth
#bookofthemonth
#readmorebooks
#readmorebooksbywomen
#mybookishlife
#readersofinstagram
#bookstagram
#bookstagrammer

I am really glad I stuck with this one! I found the first few chapters very frustrating, especially because I was struggling to believe a Harvard law student would make such silly decisions constantly! I was ready to call it quits, but when the POV switched I was fully invested! I loved the additional storyline and thought this was a great legal thriller, especially as an audiobook! The narrator was great and the story held my attention.

Good mystery, kept me interested to the end in how the characters would get out of their situations. The character relationships didn’t feel as solid as I think they were meant to be. It felt like they over analyzed the situations in their head but the actual relationships weren’t felt. I didn’t see how the ending would work out and I enjoyed that part. The last 1/3 of the book was pretty exciting.
This has been posted to Goodreads already.

What happens when family drags you into their bad decisions? When you don't know who to trust? When someone you look up to has a complicated past? In her new book, The Intern, Michele Campbell gives us ambition with a dose of corruption.
"Madison has always admired her law school professor, Judge Kathryn Conroy. She jumps at the chance to apply for an internship in the judge's chambers. But something is off about the office dynamic. She's also worried about her brother's current drug arrest.
Judge Conroy has a lot of secrets and a big problem. And she's pretty sure she can use an intern to solve it.
Because someone is asking questions..."
Campbell keeps the tension high and events moving quickly. I never knew what was coming. Once again, characters are making decisions that are terrible. Even when you ask yourself - "Would I do the same?" Madison has a brother that can't stay out of trouble. Kathryn has a family background that's full of people looking out for themselves. Now she's in too deep.
There are plenty of characters to dislike here. Nancy - big twist when you find out who she is. Charlie is awful and Ray may be worst of all.
There is a Brad character. He seems like a good guy but still gets blown up.
Sarah Mollo-Christensen gives a phenomenal performance with the audiobook. There are several characters - male and female - and she nails them all. One of the top audiobook performances of the year. Both main characters have a lot of despair over what is happening - Mollo-Christensen gives it to the listener every time.
This is a book where Campbell makes you invested in the characters. I cared about what was happening. (I realize they're fictional) This would be a great beach read, but don't wait until summer. Read it now.

👩🏻⚖️ The Intern - Michele Campbell
4 ⭐️ - What a solid legal crime thriller! I debated back and forth about adding this to my BOTM box and I’m so glad I did. I was also fortunate enough to revive an early listener copy on netgalley! If you like crime docs and crime books, this one’s for you! I flew through this typical cat and mouse legal drama!
Madison Rivera is a law student at Harvard. She lands a dream internship working for her professor, and judge, Kathryn Conroy. But Madison soon finds out that her younger brother Danny, who’s been arrested, is one of Judge Conroy’s cases. When Danny goes missing from jail, Madison’s quest for answers brings her deep into the judge’s glamours, luxurious, dark, and secretive life.
Both of our main women are badass, hardworking, smart women who have to make hard, sacrificing decisions to help their families. This was a fun, exciting, suspicious book. It has short chapters and different parts where each of our MCs tell their side of the story until it eventually links up and comes full circle. This is a great fall book to add to your mystery/thriller list. Definitely recommend to all your crime, legal junkies out there!
This book hits shelves on 10/3! Thanks BOTM, NetGalley, and MacMillan Audio for early access!

This was a surprising read! When i started it, i thought i knew exactly how it was going to go and i put it down for a bit thinking it was predictable. I picked it back up and it turns out i was wrong!
This wasn’t what i expected in a good way! It had some twists and turns and i really enjoyed the relationship that grew between the intern and the judge.
The audio was well done and kept me intrigued and I’m really glad i picked it back up!

This was a fun book that kept me interested throughout. It became a little redundant, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I also enjoyed how it had mob ties in it.

The Intern was an addicting, hard to put down read!! Two strong, intelligent women are put into impossible situations by the awful people in their lives...and they make plenty of mistakes and missteps as well. At one point, I nearly ripped the earbuds out of my ear because I was so annoyed with a main character's bad decision making, but I couldn't because I needed to know what happened next. It wrapped up a little too neatly, given all the variables and evil people in play, but that didn't ruin the book for me.

This was a fast paced book with great narration that made for a quick listen. I enjoyed the plot and the pacing, but I felt there was way too much tell and not enough show to make it truly suspenseful. It went a little more into the past than I prefer in thrillers. Suspend your disbelief and enjoy the ride on this one. Thank you very much to the Publishers and NetGalley for the audio ARC.

I loved everything about The Intern. I will definitely read another book by this author. Narrator was great

The Intern from Michele Campbell was one of those if I can really suspend belief I can enjoy this kind of books. I could only suspend so much though. My biggest struggles with this one are that these are highly intelligent women making mistakes that tailspin to a level that doesn't quite match how I feel things happen and often due to the power of men over them (and ugh that bothered me). What also stood out, more perhaps because of audio format and I can listen to an audiobook like this in a short amount of time: repetitive writing and phrasing. It stands out in books that are fast paced like this and really noticeable on audiobook and that is a pet peeve. I don't think the plot was complicated enough to require a constant rehashing of the MCs thoughts and worries, etc.
Did I enjoy some of this though? absolutely, it's a fast paced suspense read and if you like this author and quick, don't think too hard about it thrillers (and there is nothing wrong with liking these books) then really this is for you.
My review is my own, with lots of appreciation as always to MacMillan audio for filling my commute with audiobooks to review. Thank you!