May Cobb is the queen of guilty pleasure; however, this one missed the mark.

Cassidy, a 20-something young lady, goes to LA to recover after a bad breakup. She works as a personal assistant to a Hollywood couple when one of them ends up dead.

While Cassidy is supposed to be a young lady, she acts more in line with a mature 30ish year old, going to The Container Store for an exciting night out on the town (sadly not an exaggeration). And I just wanted her to be a bit more irrational and diabolical! Give me a wild Cassidy!

The book also seemed a bit slow, which is strange for a guilty pleasure book.

There are two timelines: a later and a now timeline. And the later timeline is really inconsistent.

This book was ruined a bit by reading Daemon Voices by Philip Pullman, a collection of essays on storytelling. Of course, the exact quote eludes me, but it is something to the effect of “Don’t start a story with the cheap trick of ‘She entered the slowly darkening room’ because readers will instantly be annoyed wanting to know who she is.” Ugh. This book essentially implements this trick and stuck to it like a dog with a bone for 75% of the book.

Now, don’t kill me here because I am going to share something that you may not have noticed before, but you will now be on the alert. For some unknown reason, the word “click” was used 29 times! 29!

Well, I didn’t click with this one………

May Cobb --- I still love your work; we’ll get the next one!

*Thanks, NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion.

This should be the guilty pleasure read of the summer, it was so juicy and scandalous and had everything I want in a summer thriller. Rich people acting like psychos will always intrigue me and The Sterlings were so batshit, I loved it. The first half starts a tiny bit slow but it’s all to set the stage for the unhinged and gripping second half, I was totally hooked. The characters were so messy and entertaining I couldn’t look away just to see what they would do next and then the author cranked up the heat, this was unexpectedly spicy and I was sooo here for it! There were so many great twists, a couple made me cackle they were so fitting and just perfectly executed. If you like over the top and dramatic thrillers with characters that are so fun to hate, plenty of glitz and glam and lots of secrets this was so much fun!

This book was ADDICTING! It centers around Cassidy, an insecure woman who had recently lost her job and trying to find something better suited for her. Her best friend finds her a job being a Hollywood assistant for a famous director and his wife, Nate and Marisol Sterling. Cassidy hits it off with Nate and Marisol quickly and the job is pretty easy. What could go wrong?!

You know those books that you couldn’t put down and then you realize you’re already half way through it? Welcome to this book! I read the first half of this in one sitting at the lake. I was completely in a binge for this amazing, fast paced read. Cobb made these characters absolutely come to life. They were so likable, each even with their flaws. The story is told mostly in current time but there were short chapters with a later POV with a detective- these really helped the binge and wondering what the heck was going to happen! As the story progresses, the story becomes juicier. I had a good feeling early on, what might be happening and with who, BUT with what happened, I couldn’t have anticipated the last chapter of the book and what is revealed. This whole book is a juicy, engaging domestic thriller that is sure to be a hit this summer! 5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley, May Cobb and Berkley for my eARC! This one is out 7/9 and is a must read!!

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and Berkley Publushing. .

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

It was supposed to be a dream job being an assistant for aa few hours for a high profile Hollywood couple after her life seem to be going nowhere. But things soon become complicated as her relationship becomes complicated along the way as a fine line between boundaries soon become gray.

Throw in a murder in this look at Hollywood lifestyle where things are not always perfect as it seems. BE careful what you wish for as things are not as rosy as you may think.

4.5 stars

Holy twists and turns, Batman! May Cobb’s upcoming thriller definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. While not everything was a surprise, there was a lot that kept me guessing.

Since the end of her last relationship, Cassidy has been struggling emotionally and professionally. An aspiring novelist, she can’t seem to find the right story to hook a publisher. So her best friend Lexie convinces her to move to Los Angeles, and she lines up a job for Cassidy, as the personal assistant to a famous couple, Nate and Marisol Sterling.

Cassidy quickly realizes the job is a dream come true. She does a lot of shopping, runs errands, and organizes Marisol’s stuff, but there are a lot of perks, including being gifted a large amount of clothes that Marisol doesn’t need. And when Nate offers her the opportunity read a script and share her opinions, she gets to do that fairly often.

With Lexie shooting a film in Prague, Cassidy is pretty lonely, so she enjoys the easy camaraderie she feels with the Sterlings. They are a tempestuous couple, often fighting and then making up, which is awkward to watch, especially the more Cassidy feels a connection to Nate.

And then things start to go off the rails for the Sterlings, and Cassidy finds herself entangled in the mess. Amidst the chaos, she learns that things aren’t what they seemed. But is Cassidy, for that matter?

This definitely reads like a movie, and it is twisty and melodramatic. It’s fun when you don’t know whom to trust or how things are going to unfold. Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the advance copy. The book will publish 7/9.

Unfortunately not my favorite May Cobb book. I really wanted to love this one, but it took me a while to get into and just didn’t seem particularly remarkable. I liked the different setting compared to her usual books, but I wasn’t impressed in the ways I’d hoped to be

While I didn't find anything super original about this, it was an entertaining ride! This definitely fell more into the category of a domestic thriller for me as the MC, Cassidy, becomes the PA to a Hollywood couple who seems to have it all on the outside, but she comes to quickly realize there may be more going on behind the scenes. There was lots of drama and it was pretty obvious that certain characters were lying and up to no good, but their actual involvement and how was part of the mystery and allure. Parts were definitely predictable and I never really found myself too surprised about any revelations. The story also includes themes of obsession to the point of voyeurism which felt a little icky, but I think that was the point. Overall, nothing that really stood out, but I think it'd be a fine and quick summer thriller!

THE HOLLYWOOD ASSISTANT IS MAY COBB'S BEST BOOK YET. I said what I said. If you've been a fan of May Cobb since The Hunting Wives, you are in for a real treat.

Cassidy Foster is left heartbroken after breaking up with her boyfriend Carter, but when her bff Lexie offers her a job placement in Los Angeles working as an assistant to actress Marisol Sterling and her director husband Nate, she jumps at the opportunity for a new beginning. The pay is great, Cassidy loves working for them, and she can finally clear her mind and start fresh. Marisol and Nate are the perfect couple and Cassidy is so intrigued by them. However, when Nate begins to show interest in Cassidy romantically, she realizes that their marriage may have some hiccups that she didn't expect. Nate is attractive and Cassidy clearly feels the same, but she knows that this relationship is inappropriate. When Cassidy finds out the true reason for her hiring, she must make the decision to continue with the Sterlings, especially when one of them is found dead.

This book is spicy, over-the-top dramatic, and all kinds of fun. This is the summer beach read of your dreams! THE HOLLYWOOD ASSISTANT is my favorite by May Cobb yet! I truly feel like Cobb is at her best with this book and you must prioritize it in your summer reading. THE HOLLYWOOD ASSISTANT will be in my top reads of the year for sure.

This book was unputdownable, propulsive, and just plain sexy. I loved it! Cassidy is offered her dream job in Hollywood thanks to her best friend. She moves from Texas after a horrible heartbreak, and is now working as an assistant for actress Marisol Torres and her husband Nate Sterling. She starts out doing simple errands for them like grocery shopping and re-organizing Marisol's closet, but as she gets closer to the couple, things heat up, and she gets entangled in their web. I couldn't put this book down. Highly recommend!

Dishy and fun telling of an assistant flung into the chaotic world of working with two Hollywood celebs. Privy to their secrets and their drama - she is drawn in further every day until she has a hard time separating fiction from reality. And her past indiscretions come back to bite her when things get complicated.

I will read anything May Cobb writes.

The Hollywood Assistant was full of Cobb’s masterful twists, turns, and misdirections. I had no idea what was going on, as per usual. The ending was SO out of left field yet SO perfectly executed that it made perfect sense. This is how you write a thriller, baby! Five stars! Ten, even!

I found that the book started too slow for my liking, making it difficult for me to connect with any of the characters. The initial pacing seemed sluggish, and I struggled to immerse myself in the story. It took an unnecessarily long time to reveal who was dead, which tested my patience and dampened my interest.

The twist at the end didn't resonate with me. It felt underwhelming and didn't provide the satisfying conclusion I had hoped for. I wanted so much more from this book—more excitement, more engagement, and a stronger connection to the characters and their journeys.

On a positive note, I did appreciate the author's descriptive writing style. The vivid descriptions painted a clear picture of the setting and atmosphere, allowing me to visualize the scenes easily. Despite my overall dissatisfaction, this aspect of the writing was a redeeming quality that added some depth to my reading experience.

First of all, I would like to thank Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the opportunity to read The Hollywood Assistant early through an electronic copy of the book.
This is my first novel by May Cobb and let’s just say it will not be my last book by her. I honestly just ordered two more books written by this author because I liked her style of writing so much.
This book tells the story of a young woman who is an inspiring author that moves to LA at the recommendation of her best friend to become a personal assistant to a Hollywood star and his aspiring actress wife. Cassidy feels this could be a big break for her because she will have extra time to write, and the Hollywood actor allows her to help out reading scripts that he has been given for future projects. The events in this story all happen in the matter of a few months and had me going until the very end. I was very surprised as to who the murderer turned out to be. I would definitely recommend this book to readers.

Cassidy has finally been convinced to move to LA by her best friend. She has been given the job opportunity of a lifetime: a personal assistant to a famous Hollywood couple, the Sterlings.

The pay is incredible, the work is simple, her employers are super friendly (and not too shabby on the eyes either). Everything is finally going right for Cassidy.

… until one of the “happy” couple’s suspicions get the best of them and Cassidy is asked to investigate. This leads to the opening of quite a Pandora’s box, and as quickly as things were going right, they just as quickly went wrong. Very, very wrong. And Cassidy finds herself in the middle of the chaos, wondering how she’s going to get herself out of the mess.

…………………………….

Cobb does it again! The story was so gripping and had me reading for hours straight. As per usual, I REALLY thought I was going to guess the plot twist(s) this time, but she continued to keep me surprised.
This story is a MUST read for anyone who enjoys this genre. Tell all your family and friends to add this to their TBR as soon as it’s released.

It’s perfect that this book is set in Hollywood, because my mind feels like it’s been in Lalaland while reading this!

Cassidy is a wannabe romance novelist from Texas fresh off a break-up, when her bestie Lexie uses her film industry connections to get Cassidy a personal assistant position for glamorous Hollywood power couple, Nate Sterling and Marisol Torres.

So begins a bizarre personal/working relationship between Cassidy, Nate and Marisol where we go from “You’re a complete stranger who I just met” to “I trust you implicitly with every aspect of my life” in about 5 minutes. But do you really know who you’re working for, and do they really know you? This trio all have their secrets and motivations.

Those who enjoy an OTT, soapy, sexed-up mystery spotlighting the extravagant lifestyle of the Hollywood rich and famous - this may be just the book for you. I could see why many readers will have fun with this. In fairness, I’m just the wrong audience for it.

Let me break down where I struggled:

Length/Pacing: This didn’t need to be 416 pages. The first half particularly felt slow and could either be tightened up or spiced up to keep the reader engaged.

Plot: A murder is alluded to. You don’t find out who the victim is until the 80% mark. The story leading up to it is pretty slow and uneventful. Cassidy is doing her job and fantasizing about all the hots she has for Nate. And spying. The story after the murder felt predictable. I saw where this train was headed and hoped Cobb would turn it in an unexpected direction. She didn’t.

Characters: Not one likable character. ANY would’ve been appreciated. If unhinged women are your thing … here you go. Some readers love that!

Dialogue: Cassidy and Lexie speak to one another in ‘cool girl' slang like “prolly”, “ridic”, “superhot”, “obvy” and Lexie’s go-to word for Cassidy “chica”. Please make it stop. Cassidy also frequently talks in exclamation marks as if she’s in a perpetual state of excitement!!!!! Like that. Unfortunately there was plenty of cringey dialogue to go around. Maybe this was intentional to highlight the shallow reputation of Hollywood? I could see that.

Ending/Epilogue: A couple decent twists that may work for less seasoned thriller readers. It did the dreaded villain monologue (aka Scooby Doo ending) where the baddie confesses at length when they could’ve just kept their mouth shut like smart people. Also, I wish the whole epilogue didn’t exist. Ugh. It didn’t need to go there. Let the reader use their own imagination. Ambiguity can be so delicious!

Here’s the GREAT news. There are many strong ratings and reviews so far that prove there’s an audience who will LOVE this book, so PLEASE read those reviews before deciding on this.

Such a fun read! I absolutely gobbled up this book. A sexy, fast domestic thriller with a great sense of setting--I felt like I was in the Hollywood Hills and Santa Monica. Kept me guessing for most of the book but mostly, I enjoyed being along for the ride.

Cassidy Foster needs a fresh start away from the shambles in Texas. When her best friend, Lexie offers her the opportunity she's been searching for, she can't say no. Cassidy moves to Hollywood to work as an assistant for a screen writer and his actress/model wife. Nate and Marisol are lovely people who seem to just need an extra hand to get tasks done. Slowly, Cassidy takes on more work for Nate reading scripts and an infatuation brews. The trail of obsessions leaves Cassidy in a sticky situation when one them is found dead. The power couple is no more and Cassidy is looking like the perfect suspect for Murder.

May Cobb created a cast of characters who are messy and semi crazy. The writing was explosive, moments of pure spice. I could not put this book down. I was a huge fan of her first book, The Hunting Wives, but this blew it out of the water. Huge fan, well done, such a perfect summer read. Once you start you will not want to stop. Thank you Netgalley and Berkley for the advanced copy.

This was so damn good! This is the first book I've read of May's and it won't be my last. I was hooked from the start and I loved all the twists and turns! It was crazy to see how far some people would go to get what they want. The ending totally shook me! Highly recommend you pick up this brilliant thriller!

Thanks so much, Berkley Pub, for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

May Cobb does it again! Interestingly, this is her first book that is not set in Texas. Don't fret—the main character is from Texas, transported to sunny LA for a job opportunity. When she begins working for a famous director and his wife, she quickly realizes one thing: her bosses are a little nuts. Okay, A LOT nuts, but they take care of Cassidy so nicely, throwing her money and designer clothing... is it too good to be true? I thought Cassidy was a relatable character. Her social awkwardness and internal need to please others was very real. And Marisol's closet? UGH. It's me. 😭 I had an inkling towards the book's twists but their reveals still made me say, OOOOOOOHHHHHHH. A theme across Cobb's books: nothing good happens when you consume alcohol. 😂 One of my absolute favorite authors and I'm ready for her next.

Many thanks to @Berkleypub and @netgalley for my #gifted (free) copy. Pub date 7/9/24.

This is one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it definitely lived up to my expectations! I absolutely love a slow-burn thriller that you just cannot put down! I thought I figured out the ending, but nope, it went in a totally different direction, and I was totally shocked! Get them pre-orders in or purchase on 7/9 because this is one you don't want to miss!

Cassidy takes a job as a personal assistant to a famous Hollywood couple, Nate and Marisol Sterling. Cassidy is loving the job, and she loves the Sterlings. Nate asks her to read a movie script he has written, and as Nate and Cassidy's professional relationship grows, so does their personal relationship. When somebody is found dead and Cassidy is a suspect, she has to prove her innocence. Trust nobody!