Did not finish book. Stopped at 48%.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really tried to like this book. Especially coming off of a drawing class where I studied and attempted to make a copy of a Monet, I found the characters' discussion of learning by forging masters' works very interesting. Similarly, I enjoy art and history, and it's clear the author really loves and knows quite a lot about the subject. That said, the occasional insertion of mini-lessons on history, both of art and war, while relevant, kept me from ever getting fully immersed in the story. Perhaps it's also because I am not the biggest fan of historical fiction (largely do to a history of reading the genre for school and being inundated with lessons that similarly take me out of the story itself), but at times there were several historical figures whose names I didn't specifically know. I could infer what their roles in WWII were based on context, but it also made me feel as though I may not be intelligent enough to "get" the story if I couldn't follow every single mention. I can't think of a particular time I've ever felt rather condescended to by a book, aside from the occasional dry textbook I may have had in school.

The two main characters also frustrated me. While they did gain more dimensionality as the story progressed, I simply became more and more confused by their backstories as things unraveled. Once it was revealed (I believe) who the forgery was completed by a bit before halfway through the book, I felt some vindication for being correct in my assumption, slightly annoyed that the revelation had come so early, and unsure of what to think about how it changed what I'd previously read. Perhaps it is meant to be some big plot twist, but it sadly fell flat for me.

Truly, however, my decision to stop reading came very shortly after a surprise appearance of Pierce Brosnan. That name drop itself startled me enough, and forced me to examine if I truly cared to discover how the rest of the story unfolded when I was so dissatisfied with the progression of the main characters.

I will attempt to pick this up at a later date, and I believe anyone who is either in the art world or loves art history will find this book very interesting. While it did not capture my imagination in the way I'd hoped it would, I know The English Masterpiece will be a source of joy for many readers who'd like a little mystery in their art.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for giving me a digital copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Rating (currently): 2 stars

Review posted to StoryGraph: June 17, 2025 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/9af79818-03a7-4972-a003-ecabb4b11202)

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.

I received it early on and I Adore the author. I truly loved her last novel London House. Unfortunately, this book did not hold my interest and it took months for me to engage with it.

First and foremost, my BIGGEST GRIPE with this book is for historical fiction, its main theme is written in 2025 slang. Several times Lily had to “Suss out” things and not only could two things be simultaneously true… the author held onto that 2025 ideal ALL the way to the very end.

If you’re going to write a full novel set in 1973, then don’t make it sound like it belongs on TikTok in 2025. 🤷🏻‍♀️

The plot is thin, however its biggest weakness is exposed within the body of this work. The plot holes redeem itself that way. It was all too convenient, however at this point the pace ramps up and I finally got through the end of the book much quicker than I started.

I did like Lily and her family. Though, I have my doubts they would have waited this long to tell her how they really felt. That being said, I adored her sister and her mom.

Lily has a tremendous ARC and I loved it. I adored Paddy and Conor as well. There’s some Easter eggs hidden inside the story which I enjoyed.

If you love art and the movie the Thomas Crown Affair (Brosnan version) you’ll really enjoy this story!!

It’s written well and it did inspire me to do more research on Picasso and other artists.

Well this was fun!!!! My first introduction to Katherine Reay was The Berlin Letters and after that I knew I was going to be hooked on anything she wrote. This was something new and different to most hist fic novels I read (which seems to be a theme in her books that just make me appreciate them even more!!!)

Lily is the assistant to the Tate Museum's Modern Collections keeper, Diana Gilden. Lily thinks the world of Diana and is incredibly influenced by her--she sees so much possibility for herself through Diana's own story and Lily is inspired. However, after Picasso's death, Diana thinks they should host an exhibit to honor his life and legacy. That night, as Lily is perusing the art, she notices something is off about Picasso's Woman Laughing. The piece is a forgery and that discovery sets off a chain of events that could destroy Lily's chances at advancing in her own right and ruin Diana's reputation, costing them both their jobs.

I loved every second of my time reading this and I'm so excited to see what Reay thinks up next! Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the eARC!! 😊

I absolutely adore books about art and books set in the 70's! This book did not disappoint and I will be buying a copy when I get a chance to have on my bookshelf! Please grab a copy of THE ENGLISH MASTERPIECE for some amazing summer reading

I received an advance review copy of this book from Harper Muse and NetGalley.

Katherine Reay delivers again!

The English Masterpiece is an exciting historical fiction that explores themes of art, forgery, betrayal, family dynamics, forgiveness, love found, love lost, and women claiming their place within the world of art.

Diana is the first female Keeper of Modern Collections at the Tate Gallery in London. Lily is her assistant who, through hard work and proven knowledge of art, has become the first female assistant in this major institution.

The story line, while focused on a Picasso exhibit and the work culture at the Tate, also has subplots of Lily, the dysfunction within her family, her art talent and a new-found love; Diana, her background, marriage and very curated home and life; and the young American art detective called in to investigate the forged Picasso piece Lily uncovers. Intrigue ensues as Lily is blamed, and it becomes a race against the clock to discover the real forger!

This is a page-turner I could not put down! I encourage all fans of Reay to grab your copy now!

Thank you to @NetGalley and @HarperMuse!

#historicalfiction #womeninart #intrigue #postWWII #Picasso #artforgery #NetGalley #HarperMuse #KatherineReay

The English Masterpiece is the first of Katherine Reay’s novels that I’ve read. But, I metaphorically cracked its spine with great anticipation given the comparison’s made to Kate Quinn’s writing and this title’s alluring art-world mystery premise.

I was immediately drawn in by Lily’s first-person narrative, and then delighted to find Reay had employed one of my favourite literary frameworks, alternating character perspectives. Through these intimate internal windows Reay slowly but surely shines light on the effort both female leads invest in curating the impression they leave on the world, much like the art installations they work on.

I am not suggesting Reay’s The English Masterpiece female leads are superficial — quite the opposite actually. The historical baggage each carries has chiselled into them many interesting layers.

Katherine Reay describes in vivid and absorbing yet highly accessible prose all that her characters’ see in individual canvases — both the artist’s technical skill and the emotions influencing their creation. Understated but effective also is her depiction of the mood of 1970s London, the tension between the lingering loss, scars and suspicion of WWII and the heady winds of change and new opportunity.

On reaching the conclusion I found myself reflecting on, with some admiration, just how many different themes Reay explores with secondary storylines she has spun from The English Masterpiece‘s central art crime mystery premise. Yet, the story never felt overburdened by them.

This new historical mystery novel from Katherine Reay contained red herrings I was caught by, romantic tension that was believable, a fun cameo, and redemptive and renewal story arcs that imbued hope for the future… all in just 304 pages. The perfect entertaining weekend read.

Story 4 / 5 ; The Writing 4.5 / 5 — Overall 4.25

Find out the cost of speaking out—and the courage it takes to do so….

If you’re looking for a story to get lost in this summer, look no further. Set in London’s vibrant art scene during the 1970s, this book immerses you in a world of galleries, forgeries, and secrets. Even as someone who isn’t particularly “artsy,” I found the exploration of Picasso, Nazi art theft, and the high-stakes art world absolutely fascinating. If you’re like me, you’ll be googling a lot of the art mentioned to see what it looks like. 😉

I also appreciated the alternate themes woven into the suspense with Lily’s family as well: she had a lot self-discovery, growth, and forgiveness to do in her relationship with her mom and sister. I was definitely rooting for her to have a happy ending!

Content: car accident (off page/in the past resulting in death/injury), no language, sweet kisses only.

Available now wherever books are sold! ♥️

Thank you to @uplitreads and @netgalley for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review!

🤍 Thank you so much @katherinereay, @harpermusebooks, and @uplitreads for The English Masterpiece!

Lily has helped plan a beautiful exhibit to honor the work of Picssso, and everything is going smoothly until she walks past a painting and says, “it’s a forgery”.

I was HOOKED! Lily must follow the clues to discover the truth about the painting. The walls are closing in!

This book has it all. High stakes, addictive mystery, complicated family dynamics, character growth, and a dash of romance.

Katherine Reay continues to be one of my favorite historical writers and this is a new favorite!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5
Steam: kissing

The English Masterpiece is a page-turning tour de force that brims with tension, mystery, secrets and lies, treachery and betrayal, romance, and the quest for connection in a complicated world. Impressively researched and beautifully executed, Katherine Reay’s prose is like an art piece in itself. I loved it!

This was such a unique book! This took me a little longer to get into, but I could not put it down once I did. I have never read a book about art forgery before and I was fascinated. Katherine Reay is becoming a go to author for me.

I thought this book was fantastic—I simply couldn’t put it down. The blend of mystery, art history, and family dynamics kept me engaged. I especially enjoyed the dual POV. The Pierce Brosnan sighting and the nod to The Thomas Crown Affair were fun Easter eggs.. While some plot points were a bit predictable, the storytelling was strong enough that it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. An entertaining read!

1973 London - Lily, the recently promoted assistant to Diana, the Tate Gallery's Keeper of Modern Collections, has been integral in the planning of a Picasso exhibit at London's Tate Gallery to honour the passing of the great artist. On opening night, Lily is basking in her sense of accomplishment when she pauses to admire one of the masterpieces on display and blurts out "it's a forgery". The gallery falls silent and Diana and the Tate's Director attempt damage control but there's no taking back such an outrageous declaration. While the owner's insurance company and Scotland Yard investigate, suspicion and scandal spread across European art circles and both Lily's and Diana's jobs are at risk. As it becomes apparent that she is considered the prime suspect in the forgery investigation, Lily finds herself in a race against the clock to uncover the truth with both her career and her freedom on the line.

Inspired by a real case of art forgery, Reay's latest historical fiction novel is set against the intriguing backdrop of London's glamorous art world of the 1970s. Alternating point of view between Lily and Diana, this is a well-written, entertaining pageturner that I devoured. I previously enjoyed the author's books A Shadow in Moscow and The Berlin Letters and loved this one too - she's a must-read author for me!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for providing a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This was my first book by Katherine Reay and I enjoyed it, a story I haven't heard told before.

I didn't know forgeries were such a problem after the second World War but it makes sense, the originals are hidden, a new is created and sold and the forgers can sell the the actual original whenever they please. This is the first book I've read about such an issue and I learned a lot!

I didn't bump it up to four stars because she deep dives into the art world, surrealism, post modern and other artistic terminology that after a while bogged the story down for me because I was constantly looking things up. If you know the artistic movements and other terms this wouldn't bother you.

I loathed Diana's POV honestly, she was not written in a way where I could understand why she did what she did. Her jealousy of Lily started the series of events and that's not something I could personally forgive.

Lily and her family was a breath of fresh air! I loved that scene where Connor gets dragged into a family dinner. It was really well written because I felt I was in that cramped cozy kitchen with everyone laughing. I thought the guilt she felt about her family and how she channeled that into painting was realistic. Her confidence at the end was heartwarming.

“There is right and wrong. There is black and white. And those colors do not create a game or a conundrum or a puzzle;they bring clarity and surety and strength.”
What a fascinating look behind the scenes at an art gallery and an exhibit at the Tate Gallery in London 1973 soon after the death of Pablo Picasso. It was so interesting to delve into the world of paintings, artists and forging.
Lily is an assistant to an art expert and says the right thing at the wrong time, putting not only her job in jeopardy but that of her mentor and calling into question the reliability of the whole gallery.
Full of intrigue, danger and complicated family issues, this was a realistic look at modern art, painting techniques and complex connections dating back to WWII.
With a fun cameo by Pierce Brosnan and an unexpected romantic twist, this was truly a masterpiece!
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Harper Muse through NetGalley. All opinions are mine alone.*

The English Masterpiece is a beautiful recollection of London in the 70s and the arts scenery. Diana and Lily share their knowledge and taste for art but are from two different stratum of life, Diana is the master and Lily is the follower. Both work at Tate's Modern Collection and weeks after Picasso's death they put together a commemorative showing bringing pieces from museums all over the world and private collections. Everything is going well until Lily, whilst in front of one of the paintings, declares it a forgery. The mystery and mayhem that follows that declaration will soon bring Diana and Lily out of their jobs and soon one of them will be targeted by the Police. But who is the real culprit and why? It's interesting to read how both characters grow, especially Lily's who will grow as a professional and a human being. The story also gives good insights into social class prejudices and society in general.
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Once again, Katherine Reay has written a compulsively readable story, enveloped in rich historical detail with a young heroine you'll be cheering for all the way.

Lily loves art but her career path and her family history are shaky at best. When she's promoted to assistant to the Tate Museum's Diana Gilden, keeper of the gallery's 'Modern Collections,' it seems like a dream come true. Diana is smooth, polished and glamourous, and Lily admires Diana as professional mentor with an artist's eye for perfection and beauty. Then, in 1973, Pablo Picasso's death inspires Diana to stage a tribute to the great artist, with Lily's invaluable assistance. But on opening day of the exhibit, staring at the painting titled "Woman Laughing," Lily utters the words that no one wants to hear in a museum - it's a forgery.

What follows is a high stakes cat and mouse game as the museum, Scotland Yard, and American insurance investigator, converge on the scene to determine how this painting ended up in the exhibit. The chapters alternate between Lily's perspective and Diana's perspective, as we learn about both women's past and present lives.

There is family drama combined with 1970s art and fashion in London, a little romance, and a surprise cameo appearance by a young Pierce Brosnan that will make you want to run out and watch his remake of the Thomas Crown Affair. Lily's life has been traumatic, her relationships with her older sister and her parents in tatters, but I loved watching how they pull together with love and forgiveness.

As always, the author's notes at the end are not to be missed. Reay shares her research on art, art forgeries, and stolen art as well as the history behind including Brosnan in the novel. It may not have had the same intensity or looming danger as some of her recent novels, but I thoroughly enjoyed The English Masterpiece and can highly recommend it.

The English Masterpiece by Katherine Reay is a delightful historical fiction romance that delves into the intrigue and mystery of the art world right after Picasso’s death. Dealing with an influx of forgeries and stolen art this book will sweep you right along through the sophisticated world of art in the 1970’s. I highly recommend this book and greatly enjoyed it. I give this book 5 stars. I received a complimentary review copy of this book and am writing this review voluntarily.

Katherine Reay is an author I can count on to deliver an outstanding plot each and every time. Her latest, The English Masterpiece, was absolutely wonderful. Here, we step into the world of art, complete with forgeries, a framed crime, and a hint of romance. I delighted in every turn of the page as Reay expertly held my imagination spellbound. Both entertaining and educational, The English Masterpiece is just that - a masterpiece.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

The English Masterpiece is indeed a masterpiece of a book. So beautifully written, amazing characters, strong independent women, and a forgery like no other.

Pablo Picasso is dead, and museums are going crazy trying to honor the legend with special exhibits. Diana Gilden, the Tate Museum's current keeper, is pulling all the stops and stacking up the favors in order to make this exhibit "The" exhibit that will get her to her next postion. Her assistant, Lily, loves her job and worships Diana. Lily has her whole career riding on this exhibit as well. The big day arrives, and all the excitement and anticipation will finally come to life in this exhibit. However, Lily realizes that one of the major paintings is a forgery, and she says it outloud.
Everyone is pissed, the attendants are confused, and here begins the real story.

You will love this book, the glamour, the women, their intricate lives, the fabulous world of art, and the war that started the world of forgeries.

Thank you, Netgalley and Harper Muse, for this ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

Lily has been asked to help create a Picasso exhibit in 14 days. She and her boss, Diana, work together to get this astonishing exhibit up and running. The night of the opening, Lily is walking by and studying the paintings and she suddenly burst out “This is a forgery!” This simple statement puts her job and her life in jeopardy!

Lily is a fabulous character. She is a little bit of everything, naïve, strong, smart! She also has a few hang ups where her family is concerned. This really endears the reader to her character. And her smarts come out when she is accused of the forgery. She pulls out all the stops to save herself. And believe me, this sends a reader on a quest you won’t soon forget.

I loved The Berlin Letters. And this book is very good. It just didn’t seem to have the emotional drama that took place in The Berlin Letters. I highly recommend you read both.

The narrators, Fiona Hardingham; Saskia Maarleveld are spot on. Perfect for the energy that runs through this book!

Need a super good tale which has you chasing time…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel for a honest review.