When Chloe wakes up after a work party with no recollection of the night before, the hangover is the least of her worries. The artist who hosted is dead. Worse, Chloe was the last one at the party. Told in the months following 9/11, Chloe must deal with lingering PTSD while trying to uncover the secrets the gallery is hiding.

A powerful story that covers ground zero on 9/11 alongside the mystery. I found myself sucked in and engrossed by every twist and turn. I will caution that the 9/11 retelling was absolutely gut wrenching - not for the faint of heart. I recommend for anyone looking for a deep, twisty thriller.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for a fair review.

This is an intriguing mystery for lovers of art and NYC. I really enjoyed the fact that it was set in the past, post 9/11 and the lack of technology was worked into the story. Also, I love an unreliable narrator in a suspense/mystery because I feel like that really adds to the puzzle. While the art part of it wasn’t for me and kind of made it seem slow at parts, overall I really enjoyed it. And I know there are a plethora of people out there who will love the details about the art side of it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the advanced copy

Thank you to the publisher for inviting me to view this title. I thought it was interesting to have a story about the art world. I will say, however, I was not a fan of this book. I feel like the pacing was off and that the book did not pick up until the last 15% of the book. I did not feel connected to any of the characters and feel like the main character did not seek help for her internal post 911 issues. This book was not for me.

I wanted to love this, but it was just okay. I liked the unreliable narrator that we got with our protagonist, but I feel like there was potential for so much more. I kept anticipating what I thought was going to happen, and what actually happened would fall flat in comparison. There was so much opportunity for this to be a great book, so I'm hoping the author learns and improves on the next one. The pieces were there, they just didn't quite fit.

Hard book to finish. Slow to start and didn’t pick up as quickly as I would have expected. There was too much down time between events which made it drag. Hard to hold attention through the book.

Goodness me, this was such a good book. Highly entertaining. Would definitely recommend to others, that's for sure!

I really wanted to like this book based on the description but this one was not for me. I found it lengthy, the main character of Chloe to be annoying and the story convoluted with two storylines mixed into one book-Chloe’s blackout of the party with Inga and her 9/11 PTSD. I did read to the end to see how this would come together and enjoyed Chloe and Gio and how their story ended. I will definitely give Kate Belli a try again. Rating: 3 stars Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own. Expected Publication Date: October 14, 2025

this felt pretty predictable to me. i really wanted to like it more, but i’ve got to be honest with myself on this one.

"The Gallery Assistant" is a gripping, atmospheric thriller that plunges readers into a story where memory, grief, and mystery collide. When Chloe wakes from a hazy night to find a rising artist dead, her search for the truth becomes a heart-pounding descent into the secrets of the art world—and her own mind.

Tautly written and emotionally charged, this novel masterfully blends psychological suspense with a haunting sense of place. Fans of The Girl on the Train will devour this.

An unforgettable, twist-filled page-turner.

I was initially hesitant to read this due to it being set in the months after 9/11. I lived through those months and years, I don't need a reminder. And unfortunately, there is a LOT of coverage of this time. Which is quite understandable. due to how this period really was part of our everyday lives. But I think there need to be a balance between giving this context while focusing on our characters and plot. This all ultimately led to issues in plot pacing, resulting in some scenes that felt pointless and even parts where I just lost interest. It also resulted in some lopsided tonal issues.

After Chloe Harlow witnessed the devastating terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York City, her life has never been the same. After a night of partying, she awakened with no memory of the night before or how she got home from the party.
The following morning, after she arrived at the Upper East Side art gallery where she worked, she found two NYPD detectives waiting to question her about the death of the party host that night, who was an up-and-coming painter and the gallery’s newest artist.
Chloe now finds herself trying to deal with her demanding position at the gallery and her loss of memory. She soon discovers the secrets the dead artist left behind, secrets that threaten to put her life in jeopardy.

The Gallery Assistant by Kate Belli is a charming and captivating mystery that blends art, intrigue, and a touch of romance in a delightful package. Belli’s sharp writing and vivid descriptions bring the art world to life, immersing readers in a world of high-stakes auctions, hidden secrets, and fascinating characters. The protagonist’s wit and determination make her a compelling guide through a twisting, fast-paced plot full of surprises. Perfect for fans of art, mystery, and clever storytelling—this is a book you won’t want to put down

3.5 stars rounded up. I really loved the setting in this book, but I didn't love the characters. The mystery was ok, but I felt mostly predictable.

The Gallery Assistant had an interesting premise and a unique setting in the art world shortly after 9/11, but overall, it didn’t quite land for me. The mystery element felt underbaked, there was buildup, but it lacked the tension or payoff I was hoping for. The post-9/11 timing had potential to add emotional depth or historical weight, but it didn’t really contribute meaningfully to the story. The pacing also dragged, making it hard to stay invested in the characters or their journey. It felt like we were constantly being introduced to new characters that didn't add anything to the story. While I appreciated the concept, the execution left me wanting more.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'm always very happy about an ARC and being able to give it a review! <3

I really loved diving into the art world for a change – Kate Belli did such a great job bringing that scene to life. And the New York setting? So on point! It totally made me nostalgic and brought back some great memories of the city.

It was a quick and easy read, and I liked how the story just threw you right into the action – it kept things exciting from the get-go. That said, there were a lot of characters and names, which made it a bit hard to keep track of everything. I also have to admit I took forever to finish it… the story kind of lost me after a while. Something was just missing to keep me hooked.

All in all, a solid thriller – definitely one to read while chilling in Central Park with a coffee in hand :p

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

The premise of this book (Chloe, a heavy drinking art assistant with 911 PTSD, becomes unwittingly embroiled in a criminal enterprise, which she then somehow manages to begin to unravel) is intriguing and the writing of this novel is solid.

However, the author spoon feeds the reader details which are obvious to anyone (especially mystery fans). For example, the protagonist is oblivious as to why someone in a company would bid in their own auction to increase ending bid amounts (as is her boyfriend) until her boyfriend's little brother clues them in. This type of unnecessary information is included when a writer underestimates their audience.

Additionally, the main character becomes annoying, unlikeable and flaky when she repeatedly recognizes abnormally threatening behavior from those closely in her orbit and chooses to ignore or underplay this behavior repeatedly throughout this story.

The protagonist, Chloe, is an alcoholic with PTSD however, these problems evaporate as soon as she finds "love".

This story would have been vastly improved if the main character was a strong independent (and intelligent) woman who refused to be gaslighted or easily led astray. Oh, and Chloe, PLEASE take a basic self-defense class 😉.

Many others have greatly enjoyed this book; however, I feel it would be best received by fans of romance novels rather than dyed in the wool mystery novel devotees.

I wanted to like this so badly because it seemed right up my alley but it unfortunately wasn’t for me. I really enjoyed the unreliable narrator in the main character however the overall story fell flat for me. I enjoyed how the author discussed PTSD and it felt very researched and they definitely knew what they were talking about. What I didn’t like unfortunately, was the entire mystery aspect, which really sucked since it was a mystery book. It felt too predictable to me and by the end I was kind of bored. However, just because this book was not for me, does not mean it won’t be for others!

Thank you to Atria Books for the invite to read this title in exchange for an honest review!

So, this was not my jam..
Issues for me:
-there was SUCH saturation of 9/11 within this book that it was tough for me to get into.. the toeing of the fiction / nonfiction line always leaves me feeling weird (this has happened a lot with COVID insertion too in other reads..)... it really didn't play much into the plot itself, so the sheer quantity of the book it took up didn't make sense to me
-I didn't get an edge-of-my-seat thrill / mystery ride.. more so an 'eh let's see who's behind all this'..
-No pull / attachment to the main character

Just because this wasn't it for me, doesn't mean it won't be for you! But yeahhh it's a no from me dawg on this one, unfortunately 😕

The Gallery Assistant by Kate Belli is a fast paced, twisty mystery set in the New York art world just after the collapse of the twin towers in 2001. The protagonist, Chloe Harlow, works for an Upper East Side art gallery in Manhattan and lives in Williamsburg, Brooklyn – a part of town just coming into its own at the turn of the last century. She suffers from PTSD following 9/11 and self-medicates with alcohol – lots of alcohol.

The story opens in November 2001, as Chloe wakes up late after attending a party at an artist’s loft the night before. She has no memory of coming home to her Brooklyn apartment. When she gets to work, she is called into her boss’s office where she is questioned by two NYPD detectives. The hostess of the previous night’s party has been murdered.

As Chloe struggles to piece together what happened she becomes aware of other sinister goings on within the gallery and greater art world, as well as within her social circle. Her PTSD causes her to question her perceptions, surrounded by others who exploit her self-doubt. Ultimately all the puzzle pieces fit together in a convincing and satisfying conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC in exchange for this review.

The premise is great. I love a quick thriller read, but this book just didn't quite deliver the way it had the potential to deliver.
Very short read - so that is great, good palette cleanser.
The pace of the plot was great! I did love the pace.
It is written from the FMC POV and is divided into 3 parts.
There is a murder of a painter that sends the FMC, Chloe, into a spiral and her PTSD exacerbates (PTSD from 9/11).
It is a very down vibe as the takes place right after 9/11.
Some of the events are over the top and a bit unrealistic.
The decisions that Chloe makes do not make sense given the chaotic events (ie, walking alone, etc).
I took issue with the pace of the book - a SLOW burn. Plot just felt a bit unorganized?
The ending was great, though!
Give it a shot if you want a quick thriller!
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC!