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The Raise
Codependence kills.
This heart-pounding psychological thriller follows a founder who must rescue her company from the brink of bankruptcy – and solve the mystery behind the untimely death of her best friend.
Your mentor and CEO just fell 25 feet to her death at Burning Man. Now it’s your job to raise 75 million dollars—or bury the company you built together.
Alexis Ecker never wanted the spotlight. But after the sudden, suspicious death of her best friend and business partner Darcy Lyons, the 29-year-old finds herself alone at the helm of their billion-dollar fashion-tech startup—and under ruthless pressure to deliver a massive new round of venture capital funding.
Grieving and unprepared, Alexis is forced to perform her most convincing pitch yet: that everything is fine! That the company is thriving! That she didn’t lose the only person who ever truly believed in her! But when whispers of betrayal begin to swirl—and Alexis starts unraveling the secrets Darcy took to her grave—she finds herself caught between a powerful investor with his own agenda and the mounting realization that Darcy’s death wasn’t an “accident” after all.
Taut, darkly funny, and emotionally charged, "The Raise" is a compulsively readable exploration of female ambition, codependent friendships, and the price of loyalty in a world where image is everything and women are always being watched.
This heart-pounding psychological thriller follows a founder who must rescue her company from the brink of bankruptcy – and solve the mystery behind the untimely death of her best friend.
Your mentor and CEO just fell 25 feet to her death at Burning Man. Now it’s your job to raise 75 million dollars—or bury the company you built together.
Alexis Ecker never wanted the spotlight. But after the sudden, suspicious death of her best friend and business partner Darcy Lyons, the 29-year-old finds herself alone at the helm of their billion-dollar fashion-tech startup—and under ruthless pressure to deliver a massive new round of venture capital funding.
Grieving and unprepared, Alexis is forced to perform her most convincing pitch yet: that everything is fine! That the company is thriving! That she didn’t lose the only person who ever truly believed in her! But when whispers of betrayal begin to swirl—and Alexis starts unraveling the secrets Darcy took to her grave—she finds herself caught between a powerful investor with his own agenda and the mounting realization that Darcy’s death wasn’t an “accident” after all.
Taut, darkly funny, and emotionally charged, "The Raise" is a compulsively readable exploration of female ambition, codependent friendships, and the price of loyalty in a world where image is everything and women are always being watched.
306 pages, Paperback
Published September 17, 2025
56 people are currently reading
7122 people want to read
About the author
Ali Kriegsman
2 books40 followersAli Kriegsman is a founder, marketing consultant and author based in NYC who is unhealthily obsessed with ambition and the way women contort themselves to get ahead. Her company sold for eight figures in 2022 and she has been consulting for other businesses ever since. Her non-fiction book, "How to Build a Goddamn Empire," was published by Abrams in 2021 to acclaim from The Information, The Today Show, Forbes and Entrepreneur Magazine. A recipient of "Forbes 30 Under 30" and named one of Fast Company’s "Most Creative People in Business," you can read Ali's weekly hot takes via her Substack, "New Motives," and follow her on Instagram @alikriegs or on Tik Tok @ohmygoodnezz_.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
August 30, 2025
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.
Thank you NetGalley and Cashmere Street Press for an early copy for my honest review.
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.
Thank you NetGalley and Cashmere Street Press for an early copy for my honest review.
August 6, 2025
This piece of fiction in no joke. I could NOT put this book down, it had me salivating for more. I don't get to read as much fiction as I would like to anymore so I try to be purposeful with what I pick. I am envious of the people that get to read this for the first time because I wish I could be doing the same. The Raise has it all and touches on so many pertinent themes happening in current events. The ending had me stunned and Kriegsman kept us on our toes the entire time. I LOVED How to Build a Goddamn Empire and didn't know what to expect from Kriegsman's first fiction publication She didn't disappoint. Long flight, vacation, lazy weekend, beach getaway, escape from your job in healthcare?? THIS is your book.
August 7, 2025
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.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 7, 2025
Equal parts witty and intense, The Raise kept me hooked from beginning to end. It’s the perfect mix of suspense, unexpected twists, and an incisive (as well as hilarious) commentary on startup culture and female dynamics. I’ve been a huge fan of the author’s non-fiction work, and it was such a delight to see her enter the world of fiction. I can’t wait to see what she has up her sleeve next—because I need more!
August 27, 2025
I love Ali’s story re: this book getting made and as a former founder who shut down my 2020-era marketplace, she sure hit the nail on the head sending me the brilliantly done advance PR box of the book! This book gets startup lore and founder vibes right, better than any other fiction I’ve read. I really didn’t know what exactly was going to happen until the very end— and the end really resonated. Huge congrats, Ali!!
September 29, 2025
Other people might like this book; this was not a book I enjoyed.
The Raise is a first person female centric thriller set in a technology company in Manhattan. One of the problems I had with Kriegsman’s book is that I did not understand what service the company actually provided for its customers. At times, I was reminded of John Carreyrou’s Bad Blood and the case of Elizabeth Holmes. Holmes was the founder of a blood testing company that would use tiny amounts of blood to test for many diseases. Holmes was good at dressing for success and convincing investors. However, the fact that she is currently incarcerated at a federal prison in Texas tells you everything you need to know.
Back to The Raise.
To give an example of the language in the book, there are many descriptions of clothes makeup, and appearances.
Victoria is wearing what I can only describe as a funeral muumuu. Even though it looks better suited for a sixty-year-old and does her delicate frame no favors, it likely cost upwards of four hundred dollars at some “shabby chic” boutique in Southampton, where her family vacations in the summer, and where Victoria has retreated for a string of mental health days since the accident. Lucky bitch (location 260).
After slathering my under eyes in color corrector and concealer and dabbing on some ruby ChapStick, I slip on my trusted wide-legged trousers, oversized black blazer, and gilded loafers. The outfit says dutiful and methodical, while the gold-studded loafers promise spunk. The goal, Darcy would say, is to look polished but approachable, like you can pound a beer with the sales team, then playfully demand that they get back to work. “No one wants to work for a stiff cunt in a sheath dress” (location 686).
Overall, Kriegsman leans toward short sentences and a fair amount of the book is copies of text messages and emails. The point being that I would not call this book literary fiction despite it being labeled as such.
Thanks to the publisher for providing a free copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
epub. 302 pgs. 29 September 2025
The Raise is a first person female centric thriller set in a technology company in Manhattan. One of the problems I had with Kriegsman’s book is that I did not understand what service the company actually provided for its customers. At times, I was reminded of John Carreyrou’s Bad Blood and the case of Elizabeth Holmes. Holmes was the founder of a blood testing company that would use tiny amounts of blood to test for many diseases. Holmes was good at dressing for success and convincing investors. However, the fact that she is currently incarcerated at a federal prison in Texas tells you everything you need to know.
Back to The Raise.
To give an example of the language in the book, there are many descriptions of clothes makeup, and appearances.
Victoria is wearing what I can only describe as a funeral muumuu. Even though it looks better suited for a sixty-year-old and does her delicate frame no favors, it likely cost upwards of four hundred dollars at some “shabby chic” boutique in Southampton, where her family vacations in the summer, and where Victoria has retreated for a string of mental health days since the accident. Lucky bitch (location 260).
After slathering my under eyes in color corrector and concealer and dabbing on some ruby ChapStick, I slip on my trusted wide-legged trousers, oversized black blazer, and gilded loafers. The outfit says dutiful and methodical, while the gold-studded loafers promise spunk. The goal, Darcy would say, is to look polished but approachable, like you can pound a beer with the sales team, then playfully demand that they get back to work. “No one wants to work for a stiff cunt in a sheath dress” (location 686).
Overall, Kriegsman leans toward short sentences and a fair amount of the book is copies of text messages and emails. The point being that I would not call this book literary fiction despite it being labeled as such.
Thanks to the publisher for providing a free copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
epub. 302 pgs. 29 September 2025
September 7, 2025
The Most Dangerous Game meets the all-consuming cyclone of a tech startup in this emotional, witty depiction of being a powerful modern woman.
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.
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.
August 11, 2025
I absolutely sped through The Raise and loved how hooked I got from the first chapter. I appreciated being dropped right into the action. As someone who moved to NYC in a similar era, I found the surround sound of the plot to be super relatable and easy to "drop into" the world it's set in without needing to really understand the tech world. I found myself feeling every emotion towards the protagonist, Alexis, I still do not know if I like her...which should be a complement to the author writing a main character in a way that really exposed the not always nice inner dialogue we all have to ourselves and to the world.
The twists and turns caught me off guard and wondering how everything would shake out until the end. Without any spoilers, I appreciated how the author left some things to not be "all fixed" or "brought to justice" - it's infuriating in a great way...
I'd be super curious to see how the author can flex their writing skills to a subject matter when it's not as much of a lived experience for them. I do share another reviewers view that it doesn't have as much of a "thriller" aspect as I was anticipating so that might cause people who pickup the novel to be disappointed if they're looking for something more typical of a thriller.
4 stars, for me, is a really great book, great experience reading, and something I would recommend to a friend without hesitation (and already have)!
I received an advanced, free copy of this book in exchange for my review.
The twists and turns caught me off guard and wondering how everything would shake out until the end. Without any spoilers, I appreciated how the author left some things to not be "all fixed" or "brought to justice" - it's infuriating in a great way...
I'd be super curious to see how the author can flex their writing skills to a subject matter when it's not as much of a lived experience for them. I do share another reviewers view that it doesn't have as much of a "thriller" aspect as I was anticipating so that might cause people who pickup the novel to be disappointed if they're looking for something more typical of a thriller.
4 stars, for me, is a really great book, great experience reading, and something I would recommend to a friend without hesitation (and already have)!
I received an advanced, free copy of this book in exchange for my review.
August 11, 2025
Read this is 2 days and it only took me that long because I had other plans! I devoured it. It is succession vibes but with 2 best friends who run a company and one suddenly dies leaving Alexis to carry on in her absence. It was so beautiful getting to follow Alexis’s journey through codependency and finding herself. I wasn’t expecting where it ended up but it was truly a perfect ending. Highly recommend!
August 25, 2025
I received this book early from the author in exchange for an honest review. I loved many things about this book!
I loved the world of female founder start up culture and feel like I learned so much about it. The world was super specific but totally digestible at the same time.
Alexis was such a complicated but intriguing character and a wonderfully unreliable narrator. I found her at times extremely unlikeable and selfish and as a POC, ***bit of a spoiler for those who haven’t read*** I had a lot of feelings about how she thought about and handled the racially charged lawsuit and payoff. But that all felt so appropriate to the time period when (particularly white) women were desperately trying to break through glass ceilings no matter the cost.
Alexis was thrown into unbelievable, high stress, high stakes situations and the author expertly threw us right in with her, creating a twisty turny thriller that was impossible to predict.
I loved the twist and the slow burn/tense unfolding of plot. I really couldn’t put it down and basically devoured it all on two plane rides.
It is giving Succession meets #Girlboss with a little bit of Single White Female in the best way!!
Can’t wait to see what this author does next!
I loved the world of female founder start up culture and feel like I learned so much about it. The world was super specific but totally digestible at the same time.
Alexis was such a complicated but intriguing character and a wonderfully unreliable narrator. I found her at times extremely unlikeable and selfish and as a POC, ***bit of a spoiler for those who haven’t read*** I had a lot of feelings about how she thought about and handled the racially charged lawsuit and payoff. But that all felt so appropriate to the time period when (particularly white) women were desperately trying to break through glass ceilings no matter the cost.
Alexis was thrown into unbelievable, high stress, high stakes situations and the author expertly threw us right in with her, creating a twisty turny thriller that was impossible to predict.
I loved the twist and the slow burn/tense unfolding of plot. I really couldn’t put it down and basically devoured it all on two plane rides.
It is giving Succession meets #Girlboss with a little bit of Single White Female in the best way!!
Can’t wait to see what this author does next!
August 28, 2025
Finished this bad boy in under a week. The writing and pacing feel cinematic yet comforting, filled with iconic moments, places, and archetypes from NYC in the 2010s. If you’ve spent time in the city, you’ll instantly recognize someone you know in at least one of the characters and even if you haven’t, it’s still wildly relatable. It’s funny, it’s raw, and full of twists.
What really stood out to me was the character development, especially of the female characters, who are so often written one-dimensionally in other books I’ve read. Here, they feel layered, real, and compelling.
Overall, such a fun, immersive experience, the kind of story that sweeps you up and takes you on a journey every reader can enjoy.
What really stood out to me was the character development, especially of the female characters, who are so often written one-dimensionally in other books I’ve read. Here, they feel layered, real, and compelling.
Overall, such a fun, immersive experience, the kind of story that sweeps you up and takes you on a journey every reader can enjoy.
August 7, 2025
The Raise is a sharp and witty murder mystery - I’d describe it as an elevated beach read. Something a bit more complex, but equally as enjoyable. The characters are well-developed, the twists are unexpected, and the pacing keeps you engaged. If you came of working age during the 2010s when startup culture was huge you’ll die for this book! 10/10
August 7, 2025
I received an early copy of "THE RAISE" from the first-time fiction author, Ali Kriegsman. I was so excited about the book, and it did not disappoint! It checked all my boxes: mystery, drama, character development, plot twists, and superb, colorful writing. I was hooked after just a few paragraphs and couldn't wait to find out who murdered Darcy and how Alexa would come of age in solving the crime. Like many older women who love to read, I am a big fan of New York Times best-selling fiction. I will highly recommend this book to all my book clubs! It is richly textured, beautifully written, and I can't wait for more from this new author!!!!!!
December 12, 2025
The Raise absolutely blew me away.
Despite being relatively unfamiliar with the world of startups, so much of the dialogue and urgency of this novel felt eerily familiar to my own background in fast-paced PR agencies. Ali Kriegsman so perfectly captures the volatility of everything in that kind of environment in NYC - multifaceted female friendship, tumultuous romantic relationship, and immense career pressure on top of it all. The book was extremely action packed and fast paced, but with lots of introspection about identity and looking for meaning and value in the wrong places. I didn’t want it to end!
Despite being relatively unfamiliar with the world of startups, so much of the dialogue and urgency of this novel felt eerily familiar to my own background in fast-paced PR agencies. Ali Kriegsman so perfectly captures the volatility of everything in that kind of environment in NYC - multifaceted female friendship, tumultuous romantic relationship, and immense career pressure on top of it all. The book was extremely action packed and fast paced, but with lots of introspection about identity and looking for meaning and value in the wrong places. I didn’t want it to end!
November 21, 2025
Honestly my fault for reading a book about a hectic work environment when my job is currently a little busy 🤣 this was not the escape I needed. I had high hopes for this book and it was tracking towards a 4, but the ending lost me. I couldn’t believe some of the things the main character did. Also the communication via message and email really bothered me - that is not how people talk at work? I have never worked at a start up, but using “u” for “you” and “r” for “are” and other abbreviations like that felt unnecessary.
November 9, 2025
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an E-ARC!
3.25!
I really enjoyed how this kicked off and it doesn't let up, it's pace is good and kept my attention but would definitely say it's less than a psychological thriller than I was expecting, which is probably why I rated it so for now as I was expecting just a tad more psychological thriller within it. But really liked how it was written and the twists!
3.25!
I really enjoyed how this kicked off and it doesn't let up, it's pace is good and kept my attention but would definitely say it's less than a psychological thriller than I was expecting, which is probably why I rated it so for now as I was expecting just a tad more psychological thriller within it. But really liked how it was written and the twists!
November 18, 2025
I went into The Raise expecting a psychological thriller. While it’s certainly rich in psychological depth, I wouldn’t classify it as a thriller. Instead, it’s a sharp exploration of two people whose growing codependency slowly disconnects them from reality—setting the stage for some truly unsettling consequences.
The novel also offers a thoughtful look at the immense pressure women place on themselves to succeed in a world that still measures them against men. It’s an insightful, layered story, and an impressive debut.
The novel also offers a thoughtful look at the immense pressure women place on themselves to succeed in a world that still measures them against men. It’s an insightful, layered story, and an impressive debut.
August 7, 2025
LOVED!!! Ali Kriegsman's novel is a dark and twisted look at female relationships and the tech industry in the late 2010s. Her characters are so well developed, I felt like I was with them in the room and in their head throughout their scenes. I don't read a lot of fiction, but I got an early copy pre-release and I ate it up. There are so many themes that are relevant in today's culture, I loved it.
August 8, 2025
Received an early copy in exchange for an honest review. Verdict: Incredible page-turner! A perfect book for anyone wanting a fresh, genre-bending read from a brilliant writer. Part thriller, part coming of age. And the twist at the end is crazy - truly did not see it coming. can’t wait for her next project!
October 12, 2025
This was such a page-turner! I really enjoyed the narrator and her voice. Author did a great job of painting a vivid setting for the book. Filled with mystery and character development. Couldn’t put this one down!! Highly recommend.
November 24, 2025
Haven't read a book this fast all year. Couldn't put it down. Fashion tech startup thriller... all my fav things
December 18, 2025
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.
At one point, the protagonist mentioned ripping her Juul in the bathroom in 2014. I have to be honest, as a former Juul enthusiast, it completely took me out of the story. Juuls were not for sale until 2015. The story itself was good, but I never fully bought in again after that.
At one point, the protagonist mentioned ripping her Juul in the bathroom in 2014. I have to be honest, as a former Juul enthusiast, it completely took me out of the story. Juuls were not for sale until 2015. The story itself was good, but I never fully bought in again after that.
September 13, 2025
Wow…. I was blown away by The Raise… we’re talking read in one sitting level of infatuation.
It honestly felt as if I was reading a plot intended just for me. A spiraling millennial? Say less.
Alexis has recently taken over as CEO after her best friend and business partner passes in a freak accident at Burning Man.
Alexis is VERY much struggling with the death of Darcy and the pressures of stepping up to run the company during a big push for funding. If she is not able to raise the funds the company is going down in flames.
This story is equally plot and character driven—the makings of a perfect mystery. Each character was incredibly well developed and felt REAL.
Kriegsman wrote the struggle of women being taken seriously in the startup space so well.
It reads very lit-fic, which tend to be my favorite kind of thrillers.
It honestly felt as if I was reading a plot intended just for me. A spiraling millennial? Say less.
Alexis has recently taken over as CEO after her best friend and business partner passes in a freak accident at Burning Man.
Alexis is VERY much struggling with the death of Darcy and the pressures of stepping up to run the company during a big push for funding. If she is not able to raise the funds the company is going down in flames.
This story is equally plot and character driven—the makings of a perfect mystery. Each character was incredibly well developed and felt REAL.
Kriegsman wrote the struggle of women being taken seriously in the startup space so well.
It reads very lit-fic, which tend to be my favorite kind of thrillers.
September 11, 2025
i know literally nothing about tech or running a company but this book captivated me from the first page and had me in a chokehold.
the story is so interesting and the pacing is perfect, giving you time to think about different elements and characters, but still capturing the frenzy of (what i assume) becoming CEO of a tech start up is like. this book also has some great stuff about grief and relationships, and how co-dependence impacts your identity.
i really enjoyed my time with this book! the characters were fun, and the ending was soooo fitting.
thank you to Ali for sending me an early copy! this is a fabulous debut novel and i’m so sat for everything she’s going to write in the future.
the story is so interesting and the pacing is perfect, giving you time to think about different elements and characters, but still capturing the frenzy of (what i assume) becoming CEO of a tech start up is like. this book also has some great stuff about grief and relationships, and how co-dependence impacts your identity.
i really enjoyed my time with this book! the characters were fun, and the ending was soooo fitting.
thank you to Ali for sending me an early copy! this is a fabulous debut novel and i’m so sat for everything she’s going to write in the future.
September 30, 2025
TLDR: Not a psychological thriller, sometimes too much telling and not enough showing, but overall an interesting story about interpersonal relationships + social and business dynamics within the tech start-up world.
I would probably give this closer to 2.5 stars if I could. I want to preface that maybe I am not the target audience for this book, as I wasn't girl-bossing back in 2019 and knew nothing about start-ups, but since it is marketed as a psychological thriller I didn't think that would matter. However, any suspense seems heavily rooted in and built up by the funding and survival of the company, and that personally didn't have a hold on me.
I would describe this as a book about interpersonal relationships and exploration of grief in a friend's death, a hot look into tech start-ups in the late 2000s, with a couple twists. When I think of psychological thriller, I think of TOTAL MIND F**K, dark and twisted, mentally debilitating. I wouldn't use any of those words to describe The Raise. Alexis' mental state felt on par with someone struggling under her circumstances and the reality was never very questionable. The things that are supposed to be questionable don't feel like psychological thriller level questionable.
The writing sometimes felt too on the nose for me personally. Alexis often tells us something is wrong via her inner monologue- For me it read like Alexis' thoughts are telling me the obvious thoughts I'm supposed to be having (as a reader), and I don't want to be told. I want to already find myself thinking or feeling things from how the character is moving the story forward through her actions, observations, etc.
I did enjoy reading about the whole start-up dynamic/industry and experiencing this chaotic girl boss lifestyle through the book. It was interesting to learn about that world, especially the BS and social dynamics there. If this book had been marketed to me about just this very aspect alone, and then the other themes and twists came in unexpectedly, I think my expectations + overall outlook on the book would've been much different.
I would probably give this closer to 2.5 stars if I could. I want to preface that maybe I am not the target audience for this book, as I wasn't girl-bossing back in 2019 and knew nothing about start-ups, but since it is marketed as a psychological thriller I didn't think that would matter. However, any suspense seems heavily rooted in and built up by the funding and survival of the company, and that personally didn't have a hold on me.
I would describe this as a book about interpersonal relationships and exploration of grief in a friend's death, a hot look into tech start-ups in the late 2000s, with a couple twists. When I think of psychological thriller, I think of TOTAL MIND F**K, dark and twisted, mentally debilitating. I wouldn't use any of those words to describe The Raise. Alexis' mental state felt on par with someone struggling under her circumstances and the reality was never very questionable. The things that are supposed to be questionable don't feel like psychological thriller level questionable.
The writing sometimes felt too on the nose for me personally. Alexis often tells us something is wrong via her inner monologue- For me it read like Alexis' thoughts are telling me the obvious thoughts I'm supposed to be having (as a reader), and I don't want to be told. I want to already find myself thinking or feeling things from how the character is moving the story forward through her actions, observations, etc.
I did enjoy reading about the whole start-up dynamic/industry and experiencing this chaotic girl boss lifestyle through the book. It was interesting to learn about that world, especially the BS and social dynamics there. If this book had been marketed to me about just this very aspect alone, and then the other themes and twists came in unexpectedly, I think my expectations + overall outlook on the book would've been much different.
September 25, 2025
This book was nothing short of superb! From spot-on pacing and authentic dialogue to a unique and fascinating storyline with characters that felt real and genuine, this novel is perfection.
From the moment I opened the giveaway box and saw the personal note from the author (yes, seriously - handwritten and addressed to me!) and the mysterious book of matches ("See you after the Burn"), I knew I was in for a treat. And the book did not disappoint.
I loved the author's writing style so much, I even found myself penciling exclamation points in the margins and highlighting sentences and even full paragraphs. In a fiction novel, no less! Ali Kriegsman can turn a phrase and has a mere magical ability to choose the perfect words to:
- describe people ("Whether it's divorced dads, shitty boyfriends or detached investors, men always think a nice meal can override bad behavior.")
- set a scene ("Everyone buzzing about looks exactly the same. I wouldn't be surprised if they broke out in a silent flash mob, organizing themselves by vest shade or Allbirds SKU.")
- communicate a thought ("Some days, I want to unzip her head, redo her factory settings, and press a little button so she can speak in declarative sentences.")
- convey an emotion ("I was hoping to pole vault out of my misery")
- explain a feeling ("It all felt like a glitch in the matrix, some colossal misunderstanding, like a lie that would surely get retracted if I challenged it with all my breadth.")
Everything about this novel is fresh, authentic and timely. The story is both suspenseful and humorous and even if, like me, you are no longer an ambitious 30-something, it still resonates and earns every one of it's five stars from me and then some!
"The Raise" in five words:
Raw. Satisfying. Electrical.
Clever. Unforgettable.
A HUGE thank you to Ali Kriegsman and Cashmere Street Press for the ARC of this novel. It was a true 5-star read and as a brand marketer, I appreciated the extra effort that the author personally put in to the launch. I am saving the matches forever. :)
From the moment I opened the giveaway box and saw the personal note from the author (yes, seriously - handwritten and addressed to me!) and the mysterious book of matches ("See you after the Burn"), I knew I was in for a treat. And the book did not disappoint.
I loved the author's writing style so much, I even found myself penciling exclamation points in the margins and highlighting sentences and even full paragraphs. In a fiction novel, no less! Ali Kriegsman can turn a phrase and has a mere magical ability to choose the perfect words to:
- describe people ("Whether it's divorced dads, shitty boyfriends or detached investors, men always think a nice meal can override bad behavior.")
- set a scene ("Everyone buzzing about looks exactly the same. I wouldn't be surprised if they broke out in a silent flash mob, organizing themselves by vest shade or Allbirds SKU.")
- communicate a thought ("Some days, I want to unzip her head, redo her factory settings, and press a little button so she can speak in declarative sentences.")
- convey an emotion ("I was hoping to pole vault out of my misery")
- explain a feeling ("It all felt like a glitch in the matrix, some colossal misunderstanding, like a lie that would surely get retracted if I challenged it with all my breadth.")
Everything about this novel is fresh, authentic and timely. The story is both suspenseful and humorous and even if, like me, you are no longer an ambitious 30-something, it still resonates and earns every one of it's five stars from me and then some!
"The Raise" in five words:
Raw. Satisfying. Electrical.
Clever. Unforgettable.
A HUGE thank you to Ali Kriegsman and Cashmere Street Press for the ARC of this novel. It was a true 5-star read and as a brand marketer, I appreciated the extra effort that the author personally put in to the launch. I am saving the matches forever. :)
November 4, 2025
I loved this book. Ali Kriegsman does an incredible job building her characters — you don’t just understand who they are, you feel what drives them. Every scene is vivid and grounded, written with her signature wit and honesty.
There were moments I laughed out loud and others where my heart was racing from pure anxiety (in the best way). And her descriptions? So refreshingly real. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone describe excitement as making her pussy flutter outside of the smut I read for fun (which this is decidedly not!). Ali’s voice is sharp, funny, and completely her own.
The story captures what it means to be a woman founder in Silicon Valley — the pressure, the politics, and the quiet ways people compromise themselves. It shows how some buckle under stress while others hold onto their values, and it makes you reflect on your own choices and resilience along the way.
And the ending. I closed the book with a huge smile on my face — hopeful, satisfied, and oddly empowered. Even without the “just desserts” you might expect, the main character’s journey and growth make it all worth it.
It’s rare for a thriller to blend tension, humor, and introspection so seamlessly. Somehow Ali manages to sneak a bit of self-help and emotional insight into a story that keeps you fully on edge. If you’ve ever read her Substack, you’ll recognize her unmistakable voice right away.
Just read it. You won’t be sorry.
See you after the burn, bitch. 🔥
There were moments I laughed out loud and others where my heart was racing from pure anxiety (in the best way). And her descriptions? So refreshingly real. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone describe excitement as making her pussy flutter outside of the smut I read for fun (which this is decidedly not!). Ali’s voice is sharp, funny, and completely her own.
The story captures what it means to be a woman founder in Silicon Valley — the pressure, the politics, and the quiet ways people compromise themselves. It shows how some buckle under stress while others hold onto their values, and it makes you reflect on your own choices and resilience along the way.
And the ending. I closed the book with a huge smile on my face — hopeful, satisfied, and oddly empowered. Even without the “just desserts” you might expect, the main character’s journey and growth make it all worth it.
It’s rare for a thriller to blend tension, humor, and introspection so seamlessly. Somehow Ali manages to sneak a bit of self-help and emotional insight into a story that keeps you fully on edge. If you’ve ever read her Substack, you’ll recognize her unmistakable voice right away.
Just read it. You won’t be sorry.
See you after the burn, bitch. 🔥
November 23, 2025
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Romance level: 0
A solid and extremely readable mystery with some thrilling moments! Definitely tailored to feminine audiences.
Overall, I had a pretty enjoyable time with this book and the twist at the end was satisfying and actually surprised me!
As someone who works at a software start-up, a lot of the drama and interaction was actually believable (although kind of depressing that’s the case, as it gets insufferable at times). The funding process was pretty accurate and even the details like the “G Calibrator” event (I’m assuming a reference to Y Combinator in real life) mirrored the real world, which I appreciated. I also really like how the author included the impacts of family dynamics and trauma on who people turn out to be and why they display certain behaviors in relationships.
The characters and their relationships felt pretty shallow overall, so my investment in the drama also felt quite shallow. I also read a LOT of psychological fiction and thought there was such a missed opportunity here to get deeper and weirder into the FMC’s deteriorating psyche and make it more intimate/immersive. The FMC bothered me as well - I felt like there was a much lower maturity and expertise level in her than I would expect.
Overall, I found this an engaging and enjoyable mystery, but just a little rough around the edges with the simplified characters and relationships, and less thrilling than I had hoped.
Romance level: 0
A solid and extremely readable mystery with some thrilling moments! Definitely tailored to feminine audiences.
Overall, I had a pretty enjoyable time with this book and the twist at the end was satisfying and actually surprised me!
As someone who works at a software start-up, a lot of the drama and interaction was actually believable (although kind of depressing that’s the case, as it gets insufferable at times). The funding process was pretty accurate and even the details like the “G Calibrator” event (I’m assuming a reference to Y Combinator in real life) mirrored the real world, which I appreciated. I also really like how the author included the impacts of family dynamics and trauma on who people turn out to be and why they display certain behaviors in relationships.
The characters and their relationships felt pretty shallow overall, so my investment in the drama also felt quite shallow. I also read a LOT of psychological fiction and thought there was such a missed opportunity here to get deeper and weirder into the FMC’s deteriorating psyche and make it more intimate/immersive. The FMC bothered me as well - I felt like there was a much lower maturity and expertise level in her than I would expect.
Overall, I found this an engaging and enjoyable mystery, but just a little rough around the edges with the simplified characters and relationships, and less thrilling than I had hoped.
September 19, 2025
I received a galley of “The Raise” this past spring. To say that an advance reading of Ali Kriegsman’s first novel was an early treat is an understatement, now that readers are tearing through it in just a few sittings.
A psychological thriller set in New York's startup scene and crucially centered on female co-founders, “The Raise” promises exactly what the genre demands: layered plotting that keeps you on the edge of your seat, masterful pacing and scene tension, and raw characters who are appropriately flawed and darkly funny.
We love a good crashout, and Kriegsman delivers. This novel about the ungodly pressures of raising capital will have you gaping at the page and laughing out loud at the lengths the characters go while chasing the highs of entrepreneurship and female friendship, and spiraling into the lows of startup life at its most unhinged.
This is Kriegsman’s second book, and she serves up the same unabashedness and dark humor as her business non-fiction book, “How To Build a Goddamn Empire,” but this time as fiction that Kriegsman has lived the hustle to tell. The world she’s built in “The Raise” reads like a deliciously scandalous behind-the-scenes of the guts, delusion and obsession it takes to build a business and keep it alive … Has anyone heard from Darcy??
A psychological thriller set in New York's startup scene and crucially centered on female co-founders, “The Raise” promises exactly what the genre demands: layered plotting that keeps you on the edge of your seat, masterful pacing and scene tension, and raw characters who are appropriately flawed and darkly funny.
We love a good crashout, and Kriegsman delivers. This novel about the ungodly pressures of raising capital will have you gaping at the page and laughing out loud at the lengths the characters go while chasing the highs of entrepreneurship and female friendship, and spiraling into the lows of startup life at its most unhinged.
This is Kriegsman’s second book, and she serves up the same unabashedness and dark humor as her business non-fiction book, “How To Build a Goddamn Empire,” but this time as fiction that Kriegsman has lived the hustle to tell. The world she’s built in “The Raise” reads like a deliciously scandalous behind-the-scenes of the guts, delusion and obsession it takes to build a business and keep it alive … Has anyone heard from Darcy??
September 1, 2025
This book really, really passes the Bechtel test (I mean this as the highest compliment). Truly cannot remember the last time I read a book about girls in their 20s where virtually no brain space was given over to romance.
This book will hit you hard if...
-you've worked at a tech startup, especially if you were the founder or there quite early
-your primary relationship is to your job (mine certainly was for vast majority of my 20s)
-your heart fills the shape of whatever vessel it's poured into
-you've ever had a girlcrush so intense it took over your brain
There were parts of this book that were more masterful and parts that seemed a bit rougher. But it's propulsive, emotionally honest, exciting, juicy, and it's got that It thing that will keep you reading.
Above all, the mystery Works. Truly pulls you in. And every time you even think of getting bored, the protagonist does something so insane that you sit right back up and clutch the book like a flailing CEO clutches their ad spend budget. Also, if you have worked in/around mid stage tech startups this book WILL TRIGGER YOUR PTSD (complimentary).
Picks up hard around ch 7, give it till then if you aren’t sure.
This book will hit you hard if...
-you've worked at a tech startup, especially if you were the founder or there quite early
-your primary relationship is to your job (mine certainly was for vast majority of my 20s)
-your heart fills the shape of whatever vessel it's poured into
-you've ever had a girlcrush so intense it took over your brain
There were parts of this book that were more masterful and parts that seemed a bit rougher. But it's propulsive, emotionally honest, exciting, juicy, and it's got that It thing that will keep you reading.
Above all, the mystery Works. Truly pulls you in. And every time you even think of getting bored, the protagonist does something so insane that you sit right back up and clutch the book like a flailing CEO clutches their ad spend budget. Also, if you have worked in/around mid stage tech startups this book WILL TRIGGER YOUR PTSD (complimentary).
Picks up hard around ch 7, give it till then if you aren’t sure.
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