I am a bit burnt out on social media influencer storylines (and influencers, in general), so I wasn’t exactly eager to pick up Kimberly Belle’s new novel The Personal Assistant, despite loving her previous novel, My Darling Wife; however, I am so very pleased to share that I loved this book enough to rate it 5 stars! Wow, this is an absolute whirlwind of a story and I did not know what to expect through each twist and turn!

Kimberly Belle has made a name for herself in the domestic thriller genre, and she wastes no time diving into it with her latest novel, The Personal Assistant. In this story, a prominent mommy influencer, Alex, has a few too many drinks with her personal assistant, Anna Claire aka A.C., one night and wakes up the next morning to discover her assistant has hit the road and a very, VERY scandalous post has been made to her own Instagram account. All of a sudden Alex finds herself being “cancelled,” and her A.C. is nowhere in sight. When some of the attacks begin to feel a little too personal, Alex wonders what is really at play here. Interwoven into the main storyline are the POVs of Alex’s husband Patrick, who may just have something to do with A.C.’s mysterious disappearance, and we also hear from A.C., herself.

This three POV novel is expertly woven and nail biting to the end. I love a book that doesn’t play around with everything that you DON’T need to know - all that Belle lays on the table throughout the pages of this book comes into play … it is just up to you to put the pieces together. The Personal Assistant manages to be both sinister and light at the same time, combining the frivolousness of hustling on social media, sharing every moment of your life to fund an enviable lifestyle, while also highlighting how dangerous an d downright frightening it can be when influencers are ruthlessly cancelled and doxed (in case you aren’t familiar with the term, doxing is publicly identifying or publishing private information about someone, in this case, an influencer, as a form of punishment or revenge.)

This is a finely crafted tale of social media gone wrong. Secrets, deceit, and oversharing all play a deadly role in this compelling novel for the modern age.

The Personal Assistant is a phenomenal thriller from start to finish. Filled to the brim with twists and a captivating plot, this one is sure to keep readers hooked. The characters are well-developed. The story is incredibly fast-paced. This is one not to be missed! Highly recommended! Be sure to check out The Personal Assistant asap.

I enjoyed this thriller from Kimberly Belle. The story kept my interest and was a quick read. The story centers on a social media influencer and her personal assistant. The book starts with an unfortunate social media post and the scandal that ensues. The reader is left wondering who this "personal assistant" is, where she came from and what exactly she wants. The ending was somewhat predictable. This is a great quick read.

I thought this book was flaky and over the top. The storyline was slow and the characters were quite unlikeable. A solid no.

This thriller was a suspenseful romp that I plowed through in one day.

It's the story of Alex, an influencer whose brand is going off the rails after a night of partying with her husband and her assistant. In a (not so shocking) twist, her assistant is missing in action, which kicks off the story.

This story had lots of twists and turns, some of which I saw coming, and some of which were truly a surprise (seriously, password protect all your devices, no one around you can be trusted).

This woman is one of the only writers that stumps me until the end. Kimberly Belle truly astonishes me with her writing and honestly, keeps me guessing until the end, I crave her books for the inability to know what's coming next. The Personal Assistant is jarring, suspenseful, and twisty until the very end.

This book was probably one of my favourites by this author. I loved the plot and it had me hooked from the start. This one is a must read.

I do enjoy Kimberly Belle's suspenseful thrillers, and The Personal Assistant was a good one that I enjoyed. Alex Hutchinson is the mother of twin 12-year old daughters Gigi and Penny. She is married to Patrick, a successful businessman, who is a wonderful stepfather to her girls. She began posting pictures of her family along with inspirational messages as "Unapologetically Alex" and became an overnight success as an influencer. As she got busier and got more and more followers, Patrick convinced her to hire an assistant. She hired a young woman, Anna Claire or AC, who seems to be perfect. That is until a nasty post goes viral, a post Alex doesn't remember posting, and AC is nowhere to be found. Things escalate as her girls are harassed, her husband loses his job and the family is in danger when their address and phone numbers are posted online. Who is behind the campaign to destroy Alex and her family?

The story is told from the points of view of Alex, Patrick and Anna Claire which reveals secrets and clues to why this is happening to the Hutchinson family. This is a very timely plot involving influencers, and what can happen with trolls and people that hide behind screen names and anonymity. As the story unfolded, I wanted to know what was going to happen next and how things would be resolved. When a dead body is found on the Hutchison property, the police get involved, and the story gets more complicated. Can someone put their lives out there like the instagrammers do and come out at the end intact? What is going to happen to Alex and her family? I suggest you read this one to find out. This was a very enjoyable story, and although the ending was not as wow as some of her other books, it kept me gripped to the end.

I was really excited for this one, but parts of it really fell flat for me. I wasn't a big fan of the twist, and I can tell this one isn't really going to stick with me as one of my favorite thrillers. Fun to read though.

From my blog: Always With a Book

Kimberly Belle has become a favorite for addicting, thrilling reads. She has managed to deliver a pulse-pounding, edge-of-your seat read that is completely binge-worthy and full of suspense.

There is no one who tells a story like Kimberly Belle. She has this way of pulling you into her stories right from the start and keeping you completely engaged throughout. Her pacing is whip-smart and quick so that there are literally no lulls the entire time and as a result, this is easily a one-sitting read because you just cannot put it down. And this time, having the story revolve around a social media influencer definitely piqued my interest…after all, I’m one myself! What happens when a post goes viral on your account that you didn’t send?

I loved how the story was told, alternating amongst a few different points of view – Alex, her husband and her former assistant. Because of this, the layers of the story are slowly revealed at just the right time, further hooking you into what ultimately becomes quite a complex plot. Many times I thought I knew where things were heading, only to have to rethink things with each new reveal. I was all over the place with how I felt about each character, which is truly the sign of fantastic writing I always think. Who is lying and who is telling the truth? This book sure takes us on quite the ride and I was totally there for it! The twists were expertly placed and I didn’t see any coming.

This book was so bingeable and I cannot recommend it enough, especially to anyone on social media. It really makes you think twice about how vulnerable we are on there. I love Kimberly Belle’s books and I cannot wait to see what she writes next!

I'm a big fan of Kimberly Belle's books. They always leave me on the edge and wanting more. This is her latest and I think each gets better.

An Instagram Influencer can be a dangerous thing. At least to this family. Alex and her husband Patrick a financial genius, along with her twelve year old twinsPenelope and Gigi from a previous relationship. There is also Alex's personal assistant AC.. The night Alex's audience reaches a million followers her world is turned upside down. Not in a good way. It's the beginning of the biggest nightmare of her life.

Alex met Patrick outside of a restaurant waiting in line for the valet. It was raining and cold. He let her ahead of him and they just seemed to hit it off. They started dating and eventually married. He is her twins stepdad and loves them as if they are his own. They love him also. Ales and Patrick seem to be the perfect couple. But both do have secrets. Secrets that could cause big trouble. At least from one's previous life.

You meet AC along the way also. She is hired to be Alex's personal assistant and has big secrets of her own. Reasons for being where she is. AC is hiding something and so is Patrick. On the night that Alex reaches one million followers they have a big celebration. Drinking. Alex awakens the next morning with a huge problem and no AC to be found anywhere.

You get to know these three people as each tells their backstory. Or the way it was before they met and in some cases after meeting but after the big blow up. And it's big. Someone posted a horrible thing on Alex's Instagram and it's blowing up with responses, comments, threats and more. Alex does not believe she posted it and since AC is missing thinks maybe she did it. Patrick has a big secret and Alex wants to know what it is. You got from the now to the before. Before Patrick meets Alex. To before AC meets Alex. AC's story is mainly about her life before. When she's working as a maid in a low class sleepy hotel. Her life after falling in love with a rich man.

These three do have many secrets. Many things going on in their lives that cause each other great heartache and pain. Almost costs them their lives many times. Possibly will cost a life or two along the way.

This book is truly edge of your seat thrills. Ups and downs and through Georgia and Florida. From the lives that they choose and the lives left behind. You'll read a bit about a gruesome murder and think you have that figured out. You won't. This story is about normal people and what could be mob people. Angry influence followers. Some pretty gritty things posted on the internet that cause Alex's daughters lots of stress.

They little girls are innocent. They don't deserve any of what happened. But do any of them really? I had mixed feelings about Patrick and AC. I also did a bit for Alex. Patrick maybe should have done a few things different but then he would not have been the caring man that they loved. AC on the other hand... I really felt so bad for her. For the real AC and what she went through. It was not good. I do not think she or anyone deserves that. But without it this book would not be the great read it is.

At the library, Kimberly Belle's books are always one of my most recommended titles. Her latest domestic thriller "The personal Assistant" is no exception, told through alternating perspectives the dark side of social media and the fragility of privacy is revealed to have deadly consequences. Influencer Alex lives a privileged life with her twin daughters and financial superstar husband until one morning a viral post she doesn't remember posting destroys her online persona. Turning to her trusted assistant AC to repair her shattered reputation and declining follower account, leads to more questions when it is discovered AC has disappeared.. A barrage of disturbing comments and threats leave Alex's family in danger and her wondering who AC really was? Discovering who is AC is the only way to protect Alex and her family while also clearing her name. A daring thriller that will sweep readers into the not-so-glamorous side of insta-fame and how a click can be as damaging as a weapon. Kimberly Belle's domestic thrillers are a great fast-paced read, and I love how she incorporates the entire family into the mystery. Her characters are always well developed, and as the book progresses you discover the character is not quite how they seemed at the start of the novel. Belle has a talent for writing protagonists who are strong. The Personal Assistant has excellent observations about how we share information both virtually and in-person. How privacy and protection are so easily shattered and even how online content can be manipulated for good and evil. Than you to Netgalley and Park Row Publishing for the Digital Arc, all opinions are my own.

This just wasn't as gripping as I had hoped. Alex, an Instagram star, has amassed 1 million followers in recent days. Her candid look at parenthood and contemporary womanhood resonated with readers, as she opens up about her husband and two children. Alex just recently hired AC to work as a personal assistant. Alex seems to be doing fine until she discovers that a controversial post made under her name has gone viral while she was asleep. AC has vanished, and her devoted followers have abandoned her. Is AC really who she says she is? Is there a dangerous third party involved? Rapid-fire suspense is Kimberly Belle's specialty. I enjoyed myself and kept turning the pages, but there were no genuine shocks and the ending fell flat. Belle deserves praise for her suspenseful writing. For a lazy day of reading on the couch, this is ideal.

Thank you to Park Row for the ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Alex is a social media influencer who has just hit 1 million followers on Instagram. She shares about her husband and twin children, and the audience loves her immediately for her being unapologetically Alex. Alex is doing so well that she recently hired a personal assistant named AC. Until all hell breaks lose after a post goes viral for bad reasons.

This was fairly enjoyable until the end, and I think it just seemed very mediocre there. It was kind of obvious as to what might have happened.

There were a few times in this story I thought I knew what was going on, but was wrong. Told through multiple POV's and dual timeliness, you really get to see the story come together through everyone's eyes. There was some pretty interesting backstory that culminated in a shocking twist.

You just can not go wrong with a Kimberly Belle book!! This was a true thriller that kept me reading well into the night. Finished in two sittings. Highly recommend

Well written and suspenseful novel by Kimberly Belle. Alex, a social media influencer gets quickly cancelled after posting something online that gets her followers in an uproar. The book is full of unexpected twists and turns,
'While I enjoyed the story - I didn't find it to be an edge of my seat thriller but it was a slow burn mystery unfolding. Belle is an auto read author for me so I look forward to whatever she comes up with next.

I really enjoyed this incredibly twisty read that starts off with a bang and doesn’t really ever stop until the end. Alex is a social media influencer, wife and mother of two and has just reached 1 million followers. Then she obvi needs a personal assistant and hires AC, and Alex is pretty trusting with AC’s access, especially since her references weren’t really ever checked. Alex celebrates her massive following and wakes up to a flurry of comments and texts and calls that are not all that positive and then learns she posted something she probably shouldn’t have while drinking. But when she goes to ask AC’s help, oh hey guess what? She’s now missing and Alex is a prime suspect. It doesn’t stop from there and I was completely addicted at this point and could not stop until I put this absolutely addicting thriller down. I loved how the topic of social media was woven in here, and the audiobook for this was very well done.

I loved this book and will be reading this author’s backlist for sure. If you haven’t read this then please add it to your list! Thank you to NetGalley and Park Row Books for the digital galley to review.

The Personal Assistant by Kimerly Belle is a fantastic suspenseful novel!

I loved the fact that the influencer and cancel culture that were incorporated in the story line.

This was one twisty book and I was completely there for it!

So many twists and turns that kept me guessing and flipping the pages.

Oh, the twists and turns of this book. Such a great book and such a fantastic author. I’ve read her books in the past and she is a go to author that I will always recommend and read her books. The characters in this book were just ones that will stick with me for a long time. If you like a good thriller, this one’s for you.