Everyone else seems to love this one - I don't know if it is because I am one of the last people to refuse to jump on the yoga bandwagon, but I found it not to my taste at all. There is a lot of actual yoga in here, particularly in the beginning, and as a person who knows nothing about it and really doesn't care to, I kept getting distracted by the detail. I also found the women and their lives uninteresting, and even the opening murder description - alligator and all - wasn't enough to draw me in.

I am absolutely the wrong reader for this one. I was invited to try it, and gave it a go despite my innate sense that it was not going to be for me, but I was not able to connect with the story at all. I went with three stars because I don't feel that I'm able to judge the quality of this one at all, and NetGalley forces you to rate...

Even though the intent of this type of retreat is to bring calmness in the midst of quiet meditation, the complete opposite occurs due to the mishmash of personalities and the reason that each individual came. Jessica came with the thoughts of bolstering her own self respect and confidence due to her constantly questioning herself and believing she was not enough. She lived on the coattails of Indira, her business partner and self proclaimed sister. Indira came with the intention of removing herself from the situation with her daughter and how she, like Jessica, were completely ostracized by their families due to marriage choices. Carol Ann was encouraged by her husband to join due to her extreme behavior that led her to be on national television. To Beau, she was posed as a reputation risk. She judged people throughout the entire of the book due to her political and religious beliefs. What was interesting is that it was she that was delusional in terms of her own life. Shakti knew what it was like to be judged based upon her past, a past that Daniel was determined to expose. Each person came with a past and it was interesting to see how the practices did each character reveal what they liked about themselves, what was hard to change, and who they wanted to become. The ending was fantastic as each like Barbara, took a vow of silence.

I was invested from the first page and so glad I was able to read this book. The characters had that charm that I was expecting and enjoyed the overall feel to them. It all worked in this universe and was glad everything had what I wanted. Asha Elias wrote this well and was glad I got to read this.

If you’ve ever side-eyed the wellness industry or wondered what’s really going on behind the scenes of those luxe “healing” retreats, The Namaste Club is the ultimate satire for you! This cheeky, hilarious novel by [Author] skewers the health-and-wellness obsession with pitch-perfect wit and unapologetic charm.

About the Plot
Set at a lavish yoga center just off Florida’s sun-drenched Treasure Coast, The Namaste Club follows a wild cast of Miami’s elite, each with their own baggage and brand of self-deception. Shakti, the influencer leading the retreat, promises enlightenment, but as Transcendence Week unfolds, it’s clear that the guests have a long way to go before any real "inner peace" emerges.

Among the guests are Indira, a recent divorcee with a fortune, her best friend Jessica who’s looking for a fresh start, Barbara the silent heiress, and Carol Anne, a self-proclaimed trad wife in need of a low-profile escape. Add a hot, slightly clueless yoga apprentice named Daniel to the mix, and you’ve got a perfect cocktail of chaos. And let’s not forget Bubba, the resident alligator who’s just waiting for his shot at the limelight (and maybe a little more!).

What Makes It Work
The Namaste Club brilliantly unpacks the absurdities of modern wellness culture, poking fun at everything from influencer vibes to high-end self-care routines. The characters are over-the-top in the best way—each a playful caricature of today’s retreat-goers, desperate for redemption but unwilling to give up their egos or comforts. Their interactions spark laughter, empathy, and just a touch of schadenfreude.

But it’s not just laughs; there’s a deeper critique at play. The novel captures how the wellness industry sometimes preys on vulnerability and vanity, delivering a “spiritual experience” that's more about image than insight. The retreat-goers’ quest for peace feels hilariously superficial, and the story is a witty reflection on how self-discovery sometimes means embracing our flaws rather than curing them.

Verdict
With its quirky cast, sizzling satire, and laugh-out-loud moments, The Namaste Club is a breezy but sharp read that’s impossible to put down. If you’re looking for a fun escape into Florida’s elite—and don’t mind a little gator drama—this book is your perfect beach or fireside companion.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing this book, with my honest review below.

I loved the Namaste Club, a very unconventional thriller in that it built out the exploration of characters as artfully as it did the mystery, which is rare to find. The story follows several (very different) female characters at a yoga treat, a handful who know each other and one attendee and the hosts who do not. There’s also a male character but given he is the victim (not as spoiler as we open to this news) we get his perspective through our imagination and what the ladies differ.

The yoga group is made of the charismatic instructor, an older daughter of a billionaire who has taken a vow of silence, best friends who work together, one very MAGA type local mom, and the hosts (specifically caretakers, one of which shares her perspective vs. her partner). The ladies share some background but we spend the retreat getting to see how their relationships ebb and flow and jibe in a very realistic way. With the reader knowing this is leading up to a murder, it was fascinating to try to figure out as we went who may have done it and why. I absolutely loved exploring the relationships and learning everyone’s secrets, but my favorite part has to be some things - like really bad people - can bring wildly different people together to do the right thing.

While this was read prior to the election (and not to get political), it read to me like how I hoped it would have gone, coming together in the face of someone undeniably with the worst intentions.

Rich people behaving badly is one of my favorite tropes of books so this did not disappoint. This time we have a yoga retreat with tons of drama and in South Florida. There is some thrills and secrets hidden around. This was funny and entertaining just like Glass Houses.

Hooray! Asha Elias, author of the sexy, scintillating Little Pink Houses, is back with another less-than-flattering look at South Florida society. The Namaste Club, carved out of the Florida tropical jungle, is a haven for yoga practitioners, real or self-styled. Transcendence Week, planned by teacher Shakti, is attended by Jessica, a lonely divorcee, hoping to satisfy that loneliness with Daniel, the man bun wearing, half dressed only male at the retreat. Jessica’s best friend Indira, a wealthy entrepreneur, will attend as will Barbara, best described as strange. Finally, Carol Ann, armed and probably dangerous, has torn herself away from her family because of a self-caused problem at her children’s Christian school. Martina and Margaret are the groundskeepers and, because every Florida story must have one, there’s a resident gator. During the six entertaining days of the retreat, there will be drama, secrets revealed, hunting, shooting, accusations and more drama. Lives will be changed and friendships will be made.

No one can skewer South Florida like Asha Elias.The Namaste Club is laugh-out-loud funny, filled with characters who are sometimes likable, sometimes not. It has South Florida craziness - boa constrictors, feral pigs and more - mixed with a plot with a surprise ending. Put this on the top of your must read list! Enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow and Asha Elias for this ARC.

This was a smart, funny, and sexy thriller. In the vein of the white lotus but a much more fresher take on a murder mystery with an insane ending.

Ah! What a story. Elias had my attention from the first few pages. The writing is descriptive, and I felt like I was in Florida at the club with the instructor and all the guests. There's action, laugh out loud moments, thrills, and more. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Join this mismatched group on a week-long yoga retreat that promises more than just downward dogs and meditation! Shakti, a young Instagram influencer-turned-yogi, has built a devoted following with her magnetic personality, and she’s invited an eclectic mix of students for this special getaway. But don't expect a completely zen experience—there will be drinking, parties, and plenty of opportunities to unwind between the yoga sessions.

The retreat takes place on a charming, secluded island just off the coast of Florida, complete with a lush palm forest and its own resident crocodile. While the guest villas are simple, the food is delicious. Beneath the surface of this tropical escape, however, each participant harbors a hidden reason for attending.

The group, composed of a cast of modern yoga enthusiasts (and one token man), reflects the familiar personalities you’ve likely encountered in your own yoga classes. But the big question remains: could one of them be a murderer? Witty and compelling, this story is perfect for yoga lovers—especially those who find themselves rolling their eyes at their fellow classmates.

#ashaelias #williammorrow #thenamasteclub