Wow! This book was real juicy with a fast paced plot and a lot of “do the right thing” contemplations. Alexis was a great main character and I was impressed by how she handled grief, leading a company, and making really difficult big decisions. There were definitely funny parts to this book as well as suspense and shocking plot twists. It’s also a relatable story for the times we live in now with a chaotic corporate environment.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Review will be posted on Instagram and Amazon on pub day and links added to NetGalley.

I wasn't make sure what to make of "The Raise" when I started reading it - by starting the book with Darcy'a death, I was unsure if the author was trying to make this a thriller or a book about corporate malaise. But now that I've finished it, I can say for sure that Ali Kreigsman wrote a beautiful book about grief and finding your place in the world.

While I've never grieved the way Alexis has, I can relate to her was a woman in her late twenties trying to find her place in the world, and how trepidacious that can feel while balancing the variety of work and professional relationships in one's life. I particularly related to how unfinished Alexis felt, not in the sense that she was poorly written, but in that she was trying to find her voice and learn to be okay.

Kreigsman's side characters were also beautifully complex, from Darcy as a role model and someome capable of bottling her feelings, to Ethan, who whole trying to do the right thing, was too afraid to let his ambitions take flight. These characters demonstrated the complex world Alexis was mired in, and demonstrated that no one's problems exist in a vacuum.

While I thought that the Victoria plot twist was well done (I didn't expect that she would be trying to destroy Savvy from the inside out or would go as far as to catfish Dr. Wes), the insertion of the plot point about her potentially murdering Darcy felt like a strange inclusion, especially because it wasnt borne out later in the text.

This is not only a book I would easily buy for friends, but I would actively seek out any of Ali Kreigsman's future books.

★★★★★ Addictive, sharp, and surprisingly emotional

I tore through this book in two sittings. The Raise is part thriller, part workplace drama, and part grief spiral—and somehow it all works. Alexis is such a compelling character: smart, ambitious, and totally thrown off balance after her best friend and co-founder dies suddenly. Watching her try to hold it together while everything around her unravels was both stressful and weirdly empowering.

The startup world felt way too real (in a good way), and the writing is fast-paced and sharp. There’s a lot going on—corporate politics, secrets, grief, friendship—and it never feels overwhelming. I especially loved how the book explored the pressure women face to be “strong” and “likable” while quietly falling apart.

It’s messy, smart, and full of tension. Highly recommend if you like thrillers with emotional depth and characters who feel like real people trying to survive impossible situations.

Wow. I read this book in less than 12 hours and I'm feeling... everything.

This book was incredibly well written, with in depth, raw characters. The writing itself felt fresh and modern. The stakes were always high, the energy urgent, and I empathized so greatly with not only one, but multiple fictional characters. To the bitter end, I stood with Alexis, the woman who has just been thrown into her company's CEO position after her best friend and business partner, dies tragically. The pure anxiety, rich emotion and jarring plot twists had me invested from page 1.

Kriegsman kills it with this one - a job well done.

The Most Dangerous Game meets the all-consuming cyclone of a tech startup in this emotional, witty depiction of being a powerful modern woman (with a conscience).

To me, this book leans more towards literary fiction with sapphic undertones than pure thriller. I really enjoyed the range in Alexis’ admiration of Darcy - effortlessly going from friendly compliments to serial-killer creepy.

The ending unravels really quickly; I wish more time was spent in the third act. That being said I was definitely surprised with a few big reveals… I was kicking myself because the breadcrumbs are definitely there so keep your eyes peeled.

I received a free advanced readers copy (ARC) in exchange for this review.

I found this book fascinating on so many levels The context of getting additional funding for a female led start up was highly original.Covering off the various elements and people involved was insightful. The tragedy of the death of the founder lent a mystery element to the story, and access to her computer with its revelations was intriguing I thoroughly enjoyed this book