Cover Image: The Assistant

The Assistant

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Member Reviews

Thanks to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I feel like this book had a lot of potential but  it ended up a DNF for me. And there are specific reasons.

It was interesting but I am just not here for women hating on each other and the cattiness.

You have the assistant that people claim dresses to slutty and is probably sleeping with the boss, which she isn't. And then you have an ambitious woman who is vindictive and will do anything to keep climbing the ladder. There were just too many negative stereotypes for me.

In thrillers I can sometimes overlook some because the people are supposed to be bad. But this just seemed to be the premise of the whole book.
But if you can set aside those things and enjoy a book, I think you might enjoy this book.

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Dnf. The story wasn’t captivating and instantly didn’t like the first character that popped up. I thought it would be different but the start was odd.

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3-4 stars. Not a love, but not a hate! Was about to be a DNF, but did get my attention enough to finish. I think it definitely had the much needed aspects or thrillers; shocks, thrills, chills, and twisty turns! I think it was a bit too slow and even confusing at times to get completely mind blown. But I would definitely recommend to those looking for a quick thrilling read!

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This one just wasn’t for me. I was super excited to read it but it seemed to drag on. None of the characters were like able, someone you could root for. And I found some of the scenes a bit far fetched. Thanks to NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this book.

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This book started out slow for me took me a little bit to get through it but it was good once it pulled me in ..

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This was an absolutely brilliant read. Sparsely written, the two lead characters drive the plot forward with the power of juggernauts. There are not enough depictions of sociopathic and narcissistic women in every day life and this novel nails the sheer competition of a woman in business but also the barriers women face due to the their gender. A brilliant read that actually left me gasping at the end.

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For me, The Assistant by Cathryn Grant has a promising synopsis.

It is clear that the author can really tell a story as I found the novel intriguing and compelling, and I was invested in the outcome of the characters. Told from the perspectives of two women, Laura and Vanessa, these were flawed women with some strong personality traits though they were not easy to like. This did not, however, ruin the great dynamic and interaction between them for me. Set in a high-tech corporate business environment, The Assistant was a swift-paced thriller and the tension between the main characters in the office was palpable. All in all a great, taut and compulsive story with an explosive ending.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Inkubator Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

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Well I must admit this book wasnt what I expected.

The characters are unlikeable. Anyone who works in an office is bound to have met a Vanessa or a Louise. I know I have thats for sure.

I found the book stretched credibility for me at times with regards to the 'outside office' storylines like the parking lot at the end.

All in all an average book which I feel didnt really go anywhere. Other than the 2 incidents involving Louise it was mainly the two protagonists competing against each other for the boss' attention.

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I enjoyed this book in that it was a quick, non-challenging read which simply offered an entertaining story. The plot was not challenging and the characters not complicated. These are not bad things but you need to be in the mood for this kind of book. I’d recommend It for when you are on holiday or on the plane and want a distraction.

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A good and interesting read!

I would recommend this to everyone who loves a good story with captivating characters! Definitely a good read!

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Great read about an ambitious career woman and a PA. Psychological thriller that kept you guessing throughout. Well worth adding to the reading pile. Thanks for letting me review this book.

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This book was probably about something, but 28% into it, I still have no idea what it is. Will there be a battle between the assistant and the executive? Will the mysterious man at the school track prove to be a threat? Who knows, but more importantly, who cares? I could not have felt less invested in either of these characters. The only point of interest: the unfed tiger fish.
If something is going to happen in this book, it's too late for this reader. I've moving on to the next read.

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Why is it when a woman is doing her job, people get jealous and start spreading rumors? Why do women feel the need to hold each other back?

This is a great story as to why it’s important to keep a clear head and communicate to your boss and/or his assistant. The assistant only does as the boss instructs.

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When I first picked up this book and started to read, I thought it was going to be a cliché executive and his assistant have an affair. It was far from that!

This quick read was a great phycological thriller filled with twists that I did not see coming. The character development of Laura and Vanessa kept me intrigued throughout and I wanted to learn more about their lives. If you are looking for an easy thriller book mixed with some corporate drama, this is for you. With themes of love, lust, and office rivalry, you will be turning the pages from start to finish.

I did mark the score down on this because I felt as though the ending was rushed. It all wrapped up so quickly and I still had some questions that were left unanswered. I also felt there were certain aspects that could have been omitted because they really didn't make much sense in the context of the story and others that could have been developed more (like Laura and Vanessa's personal relationships that would have given us more insight to their actions).

Overall, this was a great read and thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

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I am a big big fan of mystery and thriller novels and this book is so promising to the genres. This book is just so incredible. An absolute page-turner and such a fast pace read. The thrill I got while reading this book is very hard for me to explain. There was rage, fun, excitement, and every possible emotion, except for any bad one. This book made me fall in love with reading again. I am so so happy that I got a chance to read this amazingly written thriller.
The story was told from the perspective of two women, Laura and Vanessa. Each chapter is dedicated to one woman. The language used is very engaging. Also, the characters are eye-catching and you feel like a part of the book, a part of their life while reading it. The novel is a perfect mix of amazing and awesome, lol! I loved the story, the characters, the setting, and everything about the book.
The book is promising, of course, and one can easily fall in love with the author’s work. I am so excited to read more from Cathryn. Just loved this work! Highly recommended read!

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Corporate Based Suspense.....
Corporate based suspense. Well drawn drama where every character appears as unlikeable as the next and whose careers are their driving force, nothing else. Enjoyable but a slow burn with no real central character to root for. Worth noting that this was previously published as ‘Getting Ahead’ with this new edition having undergone content and editorial amendments.

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I felt in suspense the whole time. At first it was hard to tell who the villain was, who should you be rooting for? A twisty turn of an office rivalry gone wrong. I couldn't put this one down!

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A read like no other. Full of twists and turns. I found it enjoyable but frustrating at times with how the story flitted from one character to another. I'd definitely recommend though as the way it ended was a shock that I didn't see coming.

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Cathryn Grant’s The Assistant is a well written psychological thriller that did not disappoint! The book alternates narration between the two main characters, which I love. I like knowing the multiple viewpoints of one storyline, especially since the plot is intriguing and accessible. Every character is unlikeable and that makes this book even better. I highly recommend this book.

***** I received an ARC from NetGalley, the publisher, and the authors for my honest review. *****

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The high-tech corporate world turns deadly in Cathryn Grant's The Assistant. Told from both Laura and Vanessa's point of view, readers may not know who the real villain is in this fast-paced thriller.

Vanessa is beautiful. As the PA to a top executive, Hank, she schedules his appointments, grabs lunch with him and engages in light flirting with the boss. She is tasked with keeping him on track and not letting employees interrupt him. Employees like Laura who like to spread office gossip that Vanessa and Hank are having an affair.

Laura believes she is ready to move up into a director position. She is the most qualified person on Hank's staff. She has put in her time and her work is superb. The only obstacle in her way is Vanessa who refuses to tell who who is interviewing for the internally and externally. She can't get Vanessa to budge, she is incensed that Vanessa won't let her sneak in to see Hank and she constantly worries that Vanessa is talking her down to Hank.

The tension between these two women in the office is palpable. What will happen when it comes to a head? Is Laura willing to kill for what she believes she deserves? Who is in danger and who is the threat?

The Assistant is a faced-paced thriller that readers will devour. Very well written and interesting. I will look for more books by this author.

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