nfortunately, this one didn’t hold my attention and I ended up putting it down around the 40%. The premise had potential, but the execution just wasn’t for me. Still grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity.

I loved the premise of this one, but I think it will work more for a true YA audience, even though I am an adult who typically loves YA. I love a gossip girl moment but becoming a mafia boss at age 18 requires me to suspend a little too much disbelief.

This was a mess. I really wanted to like Leo and Tasha, but the drama was a little too much. I had really high hopes for this one based on "Gossip Girl meets Sopranos" but I was let down for sure.

I loved the premise of this book and I was so excited to read this one! While I still very much enjoyed this, I feel like the plot progressed slowly and it felt a bit wordy at times. That being said I still enjoyed this book and I’m excited to see what Elora Cook puts out next!

In The Company of Killers is the type of book that breeds voracious young readers, with scandal and betrayal and romance, in the same way that Gossip Girl and Private did for young millennials in the early aughts.

We dive head first into the decadent world of Tasha Nicastro, and her yearly end of summer party. But this year is different for two reasons. For one, it's the beginning of her senior year. For another, Leo Danesi, who she hasn't seen in years, gate crashed her perfectly planned soiree. From that moment on, chaos ensues. And every champagne-clouded conversation and adrenaline filled scene is more interesting and heart-pounding than the last.

Tasha and Leo not only navigate harsh realities, grief, and betrayal, but healing old wounds and learning whether they can trust each other. Or not. The closer we get to the end of the book they harder it becomes to see clearly where either will be standing when the bullets stop flying, for now.

If you love a good Romeo and Juliet comparison, mafia plots, rich people going through it, and early 2000s nostalgia, then you should pick up a copy of In The Company of Killers.

I love mafia romance and this one was super entertaining!!!!! It is basically a modern retake on Romeo-Juliet. Full of angst, emotions , glamorous life and heart breaking. A teenage heiress trying to avenge her family and to find out family secrets...god..i know right!
I was highly invested in this one and devoured it within three days. The vibes are captured beautifully. I love it!

I was so invested in this book and loving it until one crucial moment. Tasha is smart as hell, strong, and cunning. It was absolutely unfathomable to me that she is 17 years old, "runs her high school", is followed by security guards and had NO idea her family are mobsters. It was so unbelievable and made me so angry, I couldn't go on. The fact that Leo, her ex and rival mobster family knows all about his family and hers but he had never mentioned it? No students at school had ever mentioned it to her?! Anyway - I LOVE Gossip Girl and The Sopranos but this really upset me. I enjoyed the vibes and the writing. I would read another book by Elora Clark in the future.

Amazing book and what an ending!!! I can’t wait to see what happens next. Elora has quickly become a must buy author for me!

This book had strong promise and the premise reminded me of All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin—an updated, edgy take on a dystopian romance. While I struggled to connect with the two main characters and romance isn’t usually my go-to genre, I can still appreciate the sharp twists and pacing that keep the story moving. Though it wasn’t quite for me, I’m confident my students will absolutely love it. The suspense and drama are sure to hook teen readers. 3.5 stars rounded up on potential.

A more condensed version of this review appeared in an issue of School Library Journal:

Seventeen-year-old Natasha "Tasha" Nicastro is always at the top of the social ladder. Right where she belongs, in her opinion, as part of one of the most respected families in Scarsdale. But even with her shrewd social acumen, Tasha is shocked to learn that her family's status comes from more than their generational wealth and strong investments.

In reality, the Nicastros are the most powerful mob family in New York.

Unbeknownst to Tasha, her father has been preparing Tasha to take on a bigger role in the family business from the years of sharpshooting lessons to the more recent offer to join the business herself. But that was before her father and beloved older sister are shot down in front of her. Now Tasha is left with a misogynist Mafia that's unwilling to follow her, scattered clues, and a thirst for revenge. Hoping to bring the killer to justice and prove she can take over her birthright, Tasha seeks help from Leo Danesi--her former best friend and the son of the Nicastro's closest mob rival.

Leo grew up knowing his family's dark secrets and reluctantly agrees to help Tasha navigate the criminal underworld he'd prefer to leave behind in In the Company of Killers (2025) by Elora Cook.

In the Company of Killers is Cook's debut novel. The story alternates between Tasha and Leo's first person narration with Tasha getting more page time. Tasha and Leo are cued as Italian. There is some diversity in the supporting cast including Tasha's ex-boyfriend but most characters are assumed white.

With a protagonist reminiscent of Regina George from Mean Girls crossed with Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl, Cook shines a light on the seedy underbelly of the 1% in this story where the acts of violence are as over the top as the obscene wealth of the main characters.

That Tasha and the other Mafia families are Italian feels largely superficial with income status serving as the dominant culture marker. Both Tasha and Leo's inner monologues highlight their deep reluctance to engage with their family's respective criminal activities as they see the violence and, for Tasha, the rampant sexism firsthand. That is until it is more expedient for the plot for both characters to be all in. Then all bets are off--a shift that causes both Tasha and Leo to read as reactive and lacking in agency.

In the Company of Killers delivers exactly what readers would expect from a mafia romance for the teen set complete with a jaw-dropping finale that fans will hope signals a sequel in the future.

Possible Pairings: They Wish They Were Us by Jessica Goodman, Thieves' Gambit by Kayvion Lewis, The Cousins by Karen M. McManus, How We Fall Apart by Katie Zhao, Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar, Mean Girls

Elora Cook’s In the Company of Killers is a slick, fast-paced YA mafia drama that blends deadly family secrets, a revenge-fueled plot, and forbidden romance into a story that’s equal parts glamor and grit. Set in the shadowy underworld of a mob-controlled Scarsdale, the novel centers on Tasha Nicastro, a seemingly shallow rich girl whose world shatters when her father and sister are brutally murdered—and she learns her family is at the core of New York’s criminal elite.

Tasha’s transformation from mean girl to vengeance-driven heir is compelling, and her morally gray journey is one of the book’s strongest elements. Her chemistry with Leo Danesi, the rival heir with a shared past, adds tension and heart, even if their enemies-to-lovers arc sometimes leans into melodrama.

The novel’s pacing is breathless—sometimes to a fault. Major events unfold quickly, and the emotional weight of key moments occasionally gets lost in the rush. The world of organized crime is stylishly drawn but lacks the depth and nuance that could have elevated the stakes further. Still, fans of mafia tropes, dark romance, and high-stakes drama will find plenty to enjoy.

In the Company of Killers is gripping and cinematic, but it doesn’t dig quite deep enough to stand out in the crowded world of YA thrillers. A solid read with sharp edges and killer potential.

Loved it! Exciting, full of feminine power and frustration and vengeance. And swoony, can't forget that!

It was extremely exiting and interesting read. Love the plot and the characters I like this book. Very much recommend you check this one out.. hope you enjoy reading it !

In a Company of Killers is a YA mafia book, and I have a feeling there’s more to come. The ending definitely made me think there’s still a lot left to tell. It’s set up really well for a teen reader. While the surprises and twists didn’t completely shock me (a little formulaic at times), I think a teen who hasn’t read many books like this would enjoy the reveals and likely not see them all coming. It was fast-paced, and I’d say Gossip Girl meets The Sopranos is a pretty accurate way to describe it!

Not only is Tasha one of the most irritating MC I've ever come across, this entire book relies on her being stupid. Which is a problem, because she's supposed to be really smart and innovative in order to survive the events of the book. You're telling me a grown 18 year old girl had NO IDEA her family was involved in crime??? Is she blind? Did they keep her in the basement and only let her out to do rich people things? I can't deal with Tasha being as insufferable as she was and also being so oblivious it's insane.
I did really like Leo though, maybe because he wasn't as genuinely mean and cruel as Tasha. I just don't vibe with the mean girl stereotype outside of Blair Waldorf. And their romance was very fun. They had good banter and I will always immediately love a enemies/rivals to lovers.
I think this book could've really benefited from having Tasha already know about the Mafia stuff at the beginning, which for some reason is what I thought going into the book. Maybe that's why it bothered me so much that she didn't know.

Gossip Girl meets Mafia story as a teen heiress inherits her father's mafia legacy and the first thing on her to do list is to find his murderer... but that means getting help from her former crush who also happens to be from a rival mafia family.... who her father put a hit on when they were younger, talk about complicated. Tasha Nicastro always thought her family's wealth came from her father being an upstanding citizen.... until he is gunned down at her party along with her sister and she is suddenly told that he has been grooming her to become the heir to his mafia kingdom all along. Tasha doesn't know the first thing about running a mob but what she does know is that she wants revenge and she'll do anything to find her family's killer.... even team up with the one person she knows she should hate, her former crush and childhood friend, Leo Danesi. It doesn't help that Leo is also the heir to a rival mob family... a family that her father had placed a hit on... and had orchestrated the murder of Leo's father. Leo and Tasha have a complicated history, but Leo has a secret, he's still in love with Tasha and can't say no to her, and if helping her find the hitman who is coming for her family means he can potentially stop a killer from going after his family as well, why not. Plus it can give him time with Tasha and keep her ex boyfriend Ravi out of the picture. Tasha and Leo delve deeper and deeper into the mob world... but the closer they get to the truth the more danger they will be in and betrayal is always closer to home than either of them know.... can they make it out alive? Okay this was so much fun because it definitely leaned heavily into the Gossip Girl with a touch of mafia mystery. Leo, my sweet sweet Leo, he was so in love with Tasha it was adorable. The romance was really fun and I am a sucker for childhood friends to enemies to lovers. THAT ENDING.?!?!?! Please tell me there is a book two and we get it soon because I NEED A BOOK 2 TO FIX THAT ENDING. This was as if Blair and Nate from Gossip Girl but put in mob romance, like it sounds weird but it absolutely works. Tasha isn't afraid to scheme and do whatever is needed to get what she wants while Leo is caring, supportive, and an investigator that has her back. This was such a fun read and I can't wait for the next book (please I'm begging).

*Spoiler: Tasha's sister faked her death and murdered her father. She is the current mob boss that Tasha has been trying to find. Leo's brother Carter was working with Tasha's sister. Leo and Tasha hook up and tell each other their feelings. Tasha confronts her sister and apprehends her with the help of the other mob family... only by agreeing to marry Ravi (who she no longer loves). The book ends with Leo finding out that Tasha is engaged to Ravi as he walks away. *

Release Date: March 18, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This fast-paced, revenge-fueled thriller follows a teenage mafia heiress who’ll stop at nothing to avenge her family—even if it means teaming up with the enemy. Betrayal, power plays, and a second-chance romance? 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘒𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴 had me hooked from page one.

This story was such a great time and everything you would imagine from a book of this title. I loved the dynamic between Leo & Tasha; it was exhilarating! I felt so deeply for them both as they worked through trauma, grief, and chaos around them. This is truly a must-read.

"What would you do if I said no?"

This book is the moment. It’s Gossip Girl meets The Sopranos with a sparkle of Dynasty, and I could not get enough.

📖 Read this if you love:
🔪 High-stakes family drama & billionaire secrets
🔥 Love triangles 
🦁 Friends to enemies to lovers
💀 Characters who flirt with danger
💔 Morally grey characters who steal your heart

I still remember scrolling through Threads/Instagram late one night when I randomly stumbled upon a post from Elora Cook, looking for street team members for In the Company of Killers. Let's shoot my shot; this sounds like such a promising novel, right up my alley I thought. I signed up, fully prepared to be overlooked, because let’s be honest, there are always way too many applicants for these things.

And then... I got the email.

Seeing the words “Welcome to The Killer Squad” in my inbox felt surreal. I still can’t believe it. From that moment on, being a part of this journey has been nothing short of amazing: watching this debut unfold, hyping up ITCOK with fellow readers, getting early sneak peeks, and witnessing all the excitement leading up to release day. 

Elora Cook is an author to watch. This is only the beginning for her, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Now, what am I actually talking about?
 🦁  Seventeen-year-old Natasha "Tasha" Nicastro has spent her life wrapped in luxury, unaware that her family's wealth and power are built on blood. As the daughter of Gabriel Nicastro, the most feared mafia boss in New York, she has carefully carved out a life separate from the violence that surrounds her. But when her father and older sister are murdered during a party at their mansion, everything changes.

"My family had a Mafia. One powerful enough that someone gunning them down was seen as some grand accomplishment instead of what it was—heinous murder."​

 

In the wake of their deaths, Tasha learns that her future was never hers to decide. She is the Nicastro Mafia’s new heir, whether she wants the throne or not. Determined to take control of her fate and uncover the truth behind the killings, she forges an uneasy alliance with Leo Danesi, her former best friend and the heir to a rival crime family.

 

 ⚜️  Leo isn’t just a complication—he’s the complication. Dangerous, magnetic, and impossible to ignore, he forces Tasha to confront feelings she’s long buried. But there’s another problem: Ravi, the ex who’s never really been an ex. With betrayal lurking at every turn and emotional war brewing between characters, Tasha must decide who she can trust and how far she's willing to go to claim her power. Because in a world built on blood and secrets, survival isn’t just a choice; it’s the only option 🔫.

 

💭My Thoughts

This book consumed me. From the first page, Elora Cook wrote a world so immersive that you can feel the tension crackling in the air. Tasha is the kind of protagonist I live for—sharp, ruthless, and unapologetically powerful, but underneath it all, she’s just a girl (🎀) trying to make sense of the world that was violently forced upon her. 

 

“We’ve been raised in the company of killers all our lives, Tasha.”

Every interaction, whether between Tasha and Leo, Tasha and Ravi or even side characters felt very real. And the love triangle? Somehow I liked this Leo vs Ravi thing going on 🫢. Their dynamic wasn't forced nor overdone, just raw chemistry and painful choices.

“Does he always speak for you, Nicastro?”​
“Only when she needs me to,” Ravi replied.
GAHHHHH.

Leo. My poor boy was going through it. You could feel his yearning, the way his emotions simmered under the surface in every scene. He wasn’t just drawn to Tasha, but rather desperate for her, caught between wanting to claim her and knowing he could never truly have her ❤️‍🩹. Getting too close to Tasha means stepping further into a world he might not survive. Above that, his support for her future as Nicastro Mafia heir is unwavering. He believes in her when she loses herself. The tension between them was unbearable in the best way, every stolen glance a silent confession.

“If I couldn’t be there for her, there was no excuse or reassurance in the world that would stop the guilt from suffocating me.”

Beyond the romance, In the Company of Killers is a story about family, loyalty, and identity. The atmosphere was rich-core perfection: mansions, high society parties, whispers of murder behind designer sunglasses. I was honestly imagining many of Dynasty (2017) characters as cast for this book. Tasha’s internal struggles were some of the best parts of the book. She wants freedom, yet she’s tied to a name that defines her whole future, whether she likes it or not. Tasha is an icon, one of my favorite heroines.

"Please. I wore my bitch badge with pride."

One thing I usually mind in books is long chapters. I love short ones that keep the pacing tight. But here? I didn’t even notice. The story moves so fast, the tension is so thick, that you don’t get bored for a single second. Even the longer chapters fly by because every moment matters.

I might have to cry for the fact this book is now over. I can’t believe it. I need more. Like, immediately  🤲🏼 . A sequel, a spinoff, movie or TV show. SOMETHING. These characters have lodged themselves into my heart, and I need more of the Nicastro-Danesi universe. Until then, I’ll be here, screaming into the void. I refuse to leave these characters behind‼️💔. 

If you love high tension, morally grey decisions, and a romance that will make you scream into your pillow, you need this book.

Elora Cook, if you see this—thank you. For the story, for the experience, for letting me be part of this wild journey. And if I ever get the chance to meet you in person, just know I will be begging for more of this world.

✨ Huge thanks to Elora and the publisher for the e-ARC. It's been an honor to have this be my first experience of being streetteam member! 

Whatever comes next, I’ll be there 💫

Rating: 4/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for allowing me read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first ever eARC, and I'm so glad I started off with such an intriguing book! Right from the start, this book had me hooked. Enemies to lovers paired with a mafia heiress? Yes, please! I'm amazed that this is Elora Cook's debut—It was written so well, and the plot had me wanting more. I mean, this book literary had everything I love: mystery, romance, adventure, action, and so much more. Additionally, IT HAD A MMC THAT I WAS ACTIVELY FALLING FOR!

Tasha and Leo were such a delight to read. Tasha was strong-headed and I absolutely loved her confidence—what a girl boss. Leo, even though he was always going through something, was willing to do anything for Tasha despite their families being mortal enemies. The tension and banter between them had me *obsessed*.

There were many twists and turns in this book, most of them, unfortunately, being predictable. I had seen the plot twist at the end from a mile away :( Nonetheless, I still had an amazing time reading this book and I can't wait for the sequel (which I'm pretty sure is arriving in slow motion 😭).

This really held my attention, as this is a debut novel obviously I'm not familiar with Elora's writing and I was pleasantly surprised.


We're immediately thrust into Tasha's opulent world of her senior year filled with polo matches, private schools, fancy soirées, hidden passages and murder? Elora's life isn't quite what she thought, her father has been keeping secrets, terrible ones that have caused deep pain and years of turmoil and hate.

Leo. The way he wanted nothing to do with the family business was admirable but unfortunately it was the life he was born into, he and Tasha banning together even though their families are sworn enemies lended to the tension and intensity of the plot. Especially while Tasha's protective ex is keeping an eye on her along with her estranged mother.

In the Company of Killers is part high society, part goodfellas that kept me on the edge of my seat racing right alone with Tasha & Leo to figure out who was behind the hits. Enthralling and entertaining!