I absolutely loved this book! Nicole Trope rarely misses, and this one was up there with her best. I adored the Australian setting. I thought the pov from both characters, Ava and Grace, was interesting and necessary. Babygirl was a twist I did not see coming!!

As soon as I started this book I was hooked and I didn't want to put it down. It was full of tension, suspense and gripping twists and turns.

I walk into my interview with Ava Green and carefully hand her my application. It's all made up, of course, but Ava doesn't know that. There is so much worry in her blue eyes. Her phone pings with constant messages and a small stain marks her crisp shirt. Breakfast with her two little girls before heading out to this high-flying job every morning can't be easy. Ava needs me, I think. More than anything. The interview went perfectly, because I've made myself into the perfect assistant. Now, I just hope Ava never finds out why I'm really here. Not before she lets me into her home, and I meet her charming husband and get to babysit her two children. Because I have plans for Ava. She just has to trust me.

Ava Green desperately needs an assistant, and Grace wants the position. Grace seems to be everything that Ava is looking for. But then things start to go wrong. I was intrigued, what was Grace up to.

The story flows seamlessly from the pages. It's told from Grace and Ava's perspectives. It's completely different to what I was expecting. Once I picked this book up, I couldn't put it down again. I was guessing all the way as I tried to work out what Grace was up to. The twists along the way did not surprise me, but the one at the end, I did not see coming, and boy what a twist that was. In the author's notes, Nicole tells us that grace will be back. I can't wait to read what Grace gets up to next.

Published 12th August 2024

I would like to thank #NetGAlley #Bookouture and the author #NIcoleTrope for my ARC of #TheAssistant in exchange for an honest review.

A new person arrives to be the main characters assistant, nanny or neighbor. This is the start of too many domestic thrillers, but this story turns the trope on it's head and gives us a different take. This is about two main characters, Ava, a mother of two who is working in a demanding manager job and Grace, who has applied to be Ava's assistant. Grace has her own secrets and it takes some time before we figure out what Grace is all about and why she wants the job. In addition to the two main characters we get an unnamed narrator talking about a sad childhood where they were never wanted and badly treated by their strict parents.

This book is fast-paced and addresses how hard women can have it with being expected to work, take care of their family and do it all while men often get praised for doing the minimum. There is also a storylines about infidelity and office politics and it all comes together in a plausible and exciting way. There are a couple of twists and I did guess one of them but was curious as to how this story would turn out. I enjoyed the characters and liked the idea of women helping women that was a theme of this book. It is more of a domestic drama than a true thriller but I don't think thriller lovers will be disappointed. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC for review.

Yet another binge worthy, fast paced read from Nicole Trope. Not quite as much of a heart stopper as The Family Across The Street, still a lovely and twisty read.
Ideal for fans of Freida McFadden.

If you like a book to keep you entertained for several hours, look no further and grab yourself a comfy blanket and read THE ASSISTANT. I really enjoyed the one. It has some surprises that I definitely didn't see coming. The ending blew me away and for that reason alone it gets 4 stars from me!

Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) closer to pub date.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I get so excited when Nicole Trope has a new book out. She is one of my favourite authors, as always this book didn't disappoint. A recommended read.

Ava Green has a lot on her plate, trying to balance her husband and two little girls with a successful career where she’s in the running for promotion to CEO. She really needs an assistant to help her manage her office tasks, and that’s where Grace comes into the picture. Grace is capable and efficient with a great resume, making her the perfect candidate – she’s made sure of it. Soon, Grace has wormed her way into Ava’s life well beyond the scope of her office duties. But can Ava really trust her new assistant?

Nicole Trope has such a knack for writing fantastic domestic suspense with real, relatable female main characters, and Ava is no exception. Working moms everywhere will identify with Ava’s work-life juggling act and mom guilt. In addition to Ava’s perspective, we also get POVs from Grace and a mysterious letter writer. Grace is such a compelling character because you don’t know if she’s good, bad, or something in between, but you know she’s got an ulterior motive. The drama is addictive and kept me turning the pages all the way through an absolute shocker of an ending!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me an advance copy of this book.

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC copy 😊

I am an absolute sucker for a fast paced thriller book and this was exactly what I needed in a book. It kept me guessing through each chapter with each twist and turn that this book provided. I just couldn’t seem to put it down and I read it within 24 hours! A great physiological thriller and perfect if you’re a fan of multiple POV’s in a book with the writing both in past tense and present tense.

Star Rating: 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a fast paced and unputdownable book with so many twists and turns. It kept me guessing till the end and I wanted to know what Grace’s secret was. I was intrigued by her character and wanted to know why she chose to help Ava.

The book kept my attention till the end and I did not see that ending coming. Overall, it was a gripping book with a great plot.

Thank you so much Nicole Trope, Bookouture and Netgalley for this arc copy🫶

I loved this book. I never saw the ending coming. It was mind blowing. Ava Green is a busy mom with two small children and a husband who doesn't help in any way. Ava decided to hire a new assistant after her last one left for a job with another company. She interviewed and hired Grace Enright who showed up out of the blue. Ava is in the running to be the next CEO of the company. Grace turns out to be a blessing as she helps Ava manage her work and then ends up helping her manage her life at home. The story really develops as you find out about Grace's shady past.. Will Ava get the promotion and does Grace turn out to be a good assistant or bad assistant? How does the story end? Like I said, it has so many twists and turns. It was a hard book to put down. I will recommend this book to friends and family.

Thanks you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the early preview.

This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I loved this one. I enjoyed the story and the characters. Most thrillers I read I do not like the characters but I liked Ava the main character. Many moms could relate to her story and struggles of working and raising kids. There were a lot of twists and turns and many things I did not figure out. I loved how this one wrapped up. I would recommend this one if you like before and now chapters, multiple POVs, drama and a fast paced story.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of The Assistant.

I got through this in a day! It is relatively short, but I also read quickly as I was enjoying the story line. Ava’s husband, Finn, got on my nerves, I felt he needed a good shake up! It kept me guessing as to whether Grace would turn out to be a ‘goodie’ or a ‘baddie’, and it isn’t revealed until right at the end of the book!

A solid 4 stars and a good book to pick up for a quick, immersive read.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for an early copy of The Assistant. Whenever a Nicole Trope book comes out, I am sooo excited to read it. I am literally crying as I write this review. I Loved Grace, what an AWESOME character!!! I was so proud of her with her choice of what she KNEW she had to do and actually doing it instead of wreaking havoc on all she accomplished. I did figure out the epilogue way before but that didn't change my mind about this story. It was an EXCELLENT book!!!!! Thank you again.

I never miss a Nicole Trope book, they're so twisty and fun and this one is no exception. I read this in under 12 hours. There were times in the story where I felt it was dragging, but it quickly picked up again and OMG that ending!! Loved it and somehow did not predict it!
I loved Grace's character and her motivations were murky initially but the final chapter solidified it for me!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Nicola Trope writes great psychological thrillers, always going above and beyond to add just that extra bit of ‘unexpected’ and even better then adds more

Should Ava trust her new assistant Grace who comes fresh, unburdened and keen, an organiser with bells on, into her life…she seems perfect, cool,hassle free and decisive….all is well, until Ava’s life takes a swift downfall….is it with Grace’s help these things are happening to her?….and as for Finn her hubby and other characters we meet they are all contributing to Ava feeling her life is going out of control….but then so is Grace’s

It is a very well written, top notch read that will fool, fool again and then well you will see

Written in the now and the past with the odd letter to kinda explain more, not a fan of letters in books usually but these were really good and informative to the story

Great read 🤗😎

This is the first book I have read from Nicole Trope. I enjoyed the way it was written alternating between Ava and Grace. The book kept my attention, but to be honest the "twist". was not too unexpected or twisty. I felt like the ending let me down bit as I would have like to know what else happened to the characters. The epilogue wrapped up the part about Grace but again I was a little let down with it and what Grace did. I can't say more about why I feel this way without spoilers. I would definitely try another book or two from this author as it was as easy read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an early advanced readers copy of The Assistant by Nicole Trope.

Oh man I had a fun time with this book. Some of the characters were unlikeable, but unlikeable characters are a must for my reading experience.

Ava’s life was so relatable to me in so many levels and I enjoyed her character. Ava is a hard working mother who is a go getter that’s puts up with her husbands constant nonsense. Keeping her family together while continuing to be a successful woman is her goal, but she’s always stressed with too much on her plate.

Grace (ex unhinged woman) her new assistant knows everything about Ava’s life before she takes the new position. Ava feels everything is slowly getting better at the office with her new assistant, but in reality what are Grace’s true intentions? Read this book to find out!

That twist at the end caught me by surprise for sure. This is my second novel by Nicole Trope and I truly enjoy her books.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc. This was another exciting, must read thriller from Nicole Trope. Grace is determined to be the perfect assistant to Ava. And Ava is desperate to have an organized assistant. A roller coaster of things happen and I was SHOCKED at the ending!

Thank you to NetGalley, Nicole Trope, and Bookotoure for the early release copy of The Assistant. I went in thinking this book would be about one thing and it turned out being a completely different story line. I honestly did not guess the main plot twist. I usually can figure things out pretty quickly but I have to say that this really stumped me. The last few sentences of the book bumped up my overall star rating to a 4.

This follows a mother Ava, her husband and two daughters while Ava tries to navigate being a career woman as well as being a great mom and wife. Coming apart at the seams with the balancing act of her life Ava realizes she needs to hire an assistant. Soon enough a woman named Grace is hired to fill the position and Ava believes all of her worries will now wash away that she has someone competent to help her with her career life as well as her home life. Ava and Grace begin to form a friendship that they both didn't even know they needed. Everything seems great until one of the women conveys that they have a bit of a dark upbringing and circumstances throughout their adulthood and will stop at nothing to conceal their past sins.

This book was twisty, interesting, and well paced. This is my first Nicole Trope novel and it won't be my last. Going into it I thought this would be your run of the mill popcorn thriller that you can see happening from miles away but I was pleasantly surprised that that ended up not being the case at all!

This book publishes August 12th be sure to add it to your TBR for a thrilling suspense novel.