Wow! I'm jumping straight to the end first, and let me tell you, that twist was mind-blowing! It's a small detail, but it truly made the book for me.

The story kicks off with Ava, who needs an assistant at work. Enter Grace, and from the moment she steps into Ava's life, everything just clicks. But when things start going wrong, you can't help but wonder... is it the assistant causing the trouble, or is there something else at play?

The book flows effortlessly, making it an easy and engaging read. The character building is spot on, drawing you into their world completely.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for letting me read and review this ARC!

I love a great twist at the end, and The Assistant delivers. This book by Nicole Trope was hard to put down.

Ava the overworked business woman hires the assistant, Grace, but what is Grace hiding?

This book kept me in perfect suspense the whole time and hit me over the head with that ending! Will absolutely read Nicole Trope again!

Ava is overworked and under-appreciated, swamped by her hectic work and home life. Enter Grace, the seemingly perfect assistant. Calm, professional, and super organized, Grace steps in to help Ava with her professional duties, and before long, she’s also managing Ava’s family responsibilities too. It seems like Ava has hit the jackpot with Grace. But Grace is hiding dark secrets from her past. Can you ever really trust a stranger?

"The Assistant" is a thriller that completely gripped me until the last page. Grace's seamless integration into Ava's life raises tension with every page, and you can't help but wonder what secrets she might be hiding.

The narrative flits between the two perspectives of Ava and Grace, showing their interpretations and reactions to the same scenarios, which I always particularly enjoy. The characters are well-developed and I was especially intrigued by Grace as a character and her motives.

This book may not have explosive, shocking twists, but it definitely boasts a clever collection of turns that keep you gripped and guessing until the very end.

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture and Nicole Trope for the opportunity to read and review this book as an ARC.

Publication Date: August 12, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Five Stars from me!
I appreciate both NetGalley & Bookouture for this advanced copy. I absolutely enjoyed this one and will recommend to friends. My review is my own opinion, but I do hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

This book is written from two points of view: Ava and Grace

Viewpoint: Ava
"The Assistant" is a gripping and emotionally resonant novel that perfectly captures the chaotic life of a modern working mother. As Ava, a busy mother juggling her career, two small children, and a less-than-supportive husband, I found the story intensely relatable. The arrival of Grace, her new assistant, initially seemed like a godsend. Grace appeared to be everything Ava needed—efficient, reliable, and understanding of her daily struggles.

However, as the story unfolds, the complexities of Grace's past begin to surface, creating a suspenseful and unpredictable narrative. The twists and turns kept me on edge, and I was constantly questioning who to trust. The surprise ending left me stunned and satisfied, perfectly wrapping up a storyline that was as emotionally engaging as it was thrilling. This book is a must-read for anyone who appreciates a well-crafted domestic thriller with deep emotional undertones.

Viewpoint: Grace
From the perspective of Grace, "The Assistant" is a compelling tale of redemption, mystery, and unexpected connections. As Grace, stepping into Ava's life was both a blessing and a challenge. Graces complicated past that she desperately tried to keep hidden, with genuine intentions, she wanted to help Ava manage her overwhelming life. Unfortunately, Graces secrets inevitably began to catch up with her, creating tension and intrigue.

The author masterfully wove my backstory into the present-day narrative, revealing pieces of my past at just the right moments to maintain suspense. The dynamic between Ava and Grace was both heartwarming and fraught with uncertainty, making for a deeply engaging read. The twists and turns kept even me guessing about what would come next, and the surprise ending was a perfect culmination of the novel's intricate plot. "The Assistant" is an excellent read for those who enjoy a story rich with character development and unexpected revelations.

Overall, "The Assistant" is a well-crafted novel that expertly balances emotional depth with suspenseful storytelling. Whether you're reading from Ava's perspective or Grace's, the journey is one of discovery, tension, and ultimately, unexpected resolution. Highly recommended for fans of domestic thrillers with a twist.

This was the first book I have read by Nicole Trope and it did not disappoint. I am annoyed at myself for not reading anything from this author before now. This book caught my attention IMMEDIATELY and had me hooked until the very last page. I thought I knew where this book was going as it seemed pretty straight foreword but man oh man was, I surprised! I adored both Ava and Grace throughout the entirety of the book. Each chapter in The Assistant, goes back and forth between Ava, Grace and letters being written to Baby Girl. Who is Baby Girl? I bet you guess wrong while reading this! I did.
I loved how Nicole Trope really focused on how Ava was a working mom trying to climb the ladder at work while her husband was the stay-at-home dad. You can really feel the struggles that presents in their marriage as the "typical" roles are reversed. Also... the mom guilt! I love it. All moms have it and it is nice to see it written because it is a real struggle for us moms. I also appreciated the inside look into what each of the main characters were thinking and feeling during different moments. You really get to know how they are feeling and their thought process before making a decision. The entire time I was reading I loved Grace but was still skeptical of her intentions and interested in why she chooses Ava so specifically. In the back of my mind, I wondered what her true purpose was for engrossing herself in Ava’s life. The reason why will not disappoint! I was so shocked I had to reread the page over.
The Assistant is an absolutely gripping psychological thriller that you will not be able to put down. If you are looking for a good thriller that will have you glued to the pages look no further. You will inhale this book and forget all your responsibilities. I couldn’t finish this book fast enough. If this is how all of Nicole Tropes books are I will definitely be reading more from her.

Thank you NetGalley , Bookouture and Nicole Trope for granted me this Amazing ARC.

I really loved the fact that throughout the majority of this book I wasn't sure if Grace, the protagonist, was good or bad. All the way through I was guessing what her motivations and who her diary entries were directed at, but everything was answered in the end.

Nicole is one of those authors that I will autobuy or auto request arcs from. Her thrillers and way of portraying domestic suspense is one of the better examples within today's writers. Her characters are incredibly relatable, and story pacing throughout is always good. The ending did feel slightly rushed in this one though, I would have gladly read another 5 or so chapters to flesh it out. She also always gets me with the twists and surprises.

This is a great domestic suspense to add to your TBR!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of The Assistant by Nicole Trope
This book was great, I couldn't put it down. I loved reading about Grace and her past life and this new life she is living, and the job she gets as an assistant to Ava.
I loved the characters and the plot. I loved how the story unfolded. Character description was good. And the twist! I did not see that coming, loved it!
I've read books by this author before and really enjoy them, will continue to watch for new books

This book fell short for me. I think the author should have given more context to the sudden realization that happened at the end of the book sooner. This book was described as a page turner thriller and I found myself wanting it to be over sooner rather than later.

This was a good book. I wasn't quite as gripped as I had hoped to be, but it did keep my attention. I thought the ending was pretty good too! Overall I did enjoy the story, and would recommend!

So so good! This kept me hooked from the start. I loved that I couldn't quite tell if I should be rooting for the MC or not. So much suspense and tension was built throughout with continuous little twists and then an amazing ending. The characters were really well developed and humanised and it was just such a good read

“The Assistant” was my third book by Nicole Trope. I like her writing style. She has a talent of keeping stories fast paced by adding lots of twists and turns.

This was my first book by Nicole Trope and I'll certainly be reading more!

I really loved this psychological thriller where I wasn't sure from the outset if the protagonist was good or bad. The characters were well rounded and believable and I was rooting for all of them. Ava is the General Manager, vying for a promotion but trying to get her life under her control. She has two daughters and a husband who paints and does the majority of childcare but trying to find the balance is increasingly difficult. We meet Grace, an older lady who becomes her assistant and becomes Ava's rock. All the way through I was trying to work out what her motivations were but everything was answered.

I also didn't see the twist at the end coming at all, I hadn't made the connection so it was great to be surprised.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me this opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review.

Ava is looking to fill the position of a new assistant. She feels so overwhelmed trying to balance work life, her marriage, two young daughters, and home life. Grace comes in for an interview and really impresses Ava. Ava usually does background checks etc., but she trusts her instincts to just hire on the spot. Can Grace be trusted?

I really loved this book! Nicole is one of those authors that I will always go to if I want a good thriller/domestic suspense. Her writing makes you feel so many emotions. Her characters are incredibly relatable, and story pacing throughout is always great. She always gets me with the twists and surprises. She is one of my favorite authors. Thank you for another great read Nicole!! I look forward to reading future books!

#read #readmore #netgalley #theassistant #nicoletrope #bookouture #thriller #booksbooksbooks #bookstafriends #bookstagram #bookworms #booklover #bookfan #tbr #sus #bookish #bookaddiction #bookishlove #netgalleyreviewer #goodreads

What in the world did I just read? i personally love suspense books but at least give some kind of clue throughout the book to tie things together. I read this entire book with a raised eyebrow until the end when I was caught completely off guard.

This book is definitely for those who love psychological thrillers. Although the ending brought everything together it actually didn’t make sense to me.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this ARC.

4.5⭐️
This is my first book from this author and now she is on my favourite list of authors.
I did not think much when i started reading this book but the ending was really good and it gave me answers to all the questions.
The Assistant is based on 2 women Ava and Grace, who is general manager and the assistant. Grace’s story is really sad and when you come to know the reason as to why she works as Assistant to Ava will really make you fall in love with her character.
I would also like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me this opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review.

This was my first time reading a book by Nicole Trope and let me say it was soo good! It held my attention from the start. I enjoyed all the small twists through the story but the big twist at the end was the best!! I definitely didn’t see that coming at all. I definitely enjoyed this book and will be reading more from this author! If you’re looking for a fast paced thriller that you won’t be able to put down, then this one is definitely the one for you! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this Arc!! #TheAssistant #NetGalley #Arc

3.5 stars! I loved Grace’s character throughout the entire book. I loved all the small twists and turns and the big twist at the end threw me for a loop. But I do think the ending fell flat for me compared to what I was expecting for an ending.

The Assistant was a fast paced & exciting read from start to finish. It follows two POVs - the first being Ava who is a career driven woman in her thirties that is doing her best to push though handing both work and her family life, and the second being Grace who starts working as Ava's new assistant with questionable motives.

One thing I loved about this story was how intriguing Grace was - the entire story I could not stop thinking about why she is so drawn to Ava and what her intentions and motives are. I love it when a thriller has me truly guessing the entire time. While none of the smaller twists that came up during the middle of the story were extremely surprising, the final twist had my jaw dropped. It was something that I had not considered, and really wrapped up the entire story so nicely.

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

Wow! What a story! Absolutely loved everything about this book from the characters, secrets and thrills. I thought I had figured out what was happening, but boy, was I wrong. Highly recommend!