This book was a bit slow to start I found it to be an ok read but I don’t think it was one for me I would read another book from this author

This is the first book I’ve read from this author, and it did not disappoint! There’s nothing I love more than being interested in a book that I can’t relate to at all. In this case, the art world is so far beyond the scope of what interests me that I probably never would have imagined I’d like this novel. However, it speaks volumes when an author is able to catapult the reader into a completely different world and connect to them. I also especially liked the setting of this book. As a millennial, 9/11 is one of the few core memories I have of living through a world-changing and catastrophic event. I love to read books that are set during this time period, because it brings back all those emotions all over again. Overall, this is a solid read and I will keep my eye out for more from this author in the future.

I really enjoyed this thrilled that is set in Brooklyn and Manhattan in the immediate aftermath of September 11th, with a protagonist who narrowly escaped the falling towers and carries with her the trauma of that day into an art world that is increasingly dangerous for her following the murder of one of its rising star artists. I was captivated until the last page, and appreciated the pacing at which this story tautly unfolded.

5 stars without question! Loved this book - I raced through it.
An insiders look at the rarified world of art galleries and the NYC rich. Our MC was onsite and barely made it down duringin the fall of the Twin Towers on 9/11 and her resulting trauma is a character all of its own.
Reminded me a little of The Art Forger which is one of my favorite books. Don’t miss this one! Thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. My review and thoughts are my own.

This book took me a little bit to get into. It started on the slow side, but at about the half way point things really started to move. There were a few things that were mysterious about the characters, and I wasn't sure if it was purposeful or if that was just the writing. They may have been meant to build the suspense. For instance, the Protagonist woke up with no memory of what happened the night before, or how she got home (from a party.) While she was confused about it, it didn't seem like she was as frightened as a person should be in that circumstance. Yet she was afraid of either losing her job, or what her friends would think to say anything or to ask anyone about it. And when a murder happened and the police were questioning her, she didn't admit it then either, even though it appeared she was a suspect. We do learn more about it later in the book, but at the time it was just unusual behavior. There are many suspenseful moments when you are anticipating something happening, but nothing did. There are also many twists to the crime and what she discovers. Many possible motives and many people who were acting 'shady' or off. So for as far as the mystery, it was good and kept you on your toes. It does go into a detailed account of the 9-11 attacks (as the Protagonist was in one of the towers at the time it happened) and the aftermath of that, along with the new hatred/suspicion of people of Middle Eastern origins. There is no sexual content on the pages, but there is much drinking (and hangovers) and smoking involved, and there is talk about people having sexual relations. There are a variety of characters... the 'F' buddy, the secret admirer, the kind boss, the snooty bosses, the 'drinking buddies,' the gay roommate and more. Overall, it was an interesting story once you it gets going.

*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.

I thought that this was a tragic book. The protagonist, Chloe, was a tragic figure, quite possible due to her near-death experience in the Twin Towers when they were hit -- undisciplined, drinking and smoking to excess, indiscriminate with her sexual partners, and has a real problem making and following her own decisions. Her major concern is to wash the smoke and beer out of her hair from the night before. She IS interested in art, however, and researching details such its provenance, and she is surprised at just how good she is at that. With her house-mate's help, she acquired work in an art galley where she was exposed to famous artists at social gatherings. At one such party, her life got more complicated as the hostess was found murdered in the morning. Chloe feels compelled to try to resolve the crime and believes that the dead woman has left her clues. Chloe feels she cannot trust any of her so-called friends as she enters into uncharted and dangerous terrain. I liked the book...the plot, the writing, the way it unravelled, but the protagonist herself was in no way appealing. On that basis alone, I might have put the book down after the first 50 pages. Perhaps the author should have given Chloe some redeeming feature to help us identify or even emphasize with her? Otherwise, it was quite appealing.

2.5 stars. THE GALLERY ASSISTANT is a murder mystery set in the art world, and while I thought it was a quick and easy read with a fabulous NYC setting...it ended up being a bit underwhelming. Belli's protagonist is an unreliable narrator trying to fill in the gaps, and while I was intrigued to put those pieces together, I found my own theories to be more interesting than the resolutions we got. Belli sets the story shortly after 9/11, but because of this - it became less of a thriller, and more of an account of someone with severe PTSD from such a tragedy. I think that's interesting unto itself, but I found there to be such a schism between that and the mystery that it felt like two books in one, and the mystery portion was underbaked and boring to me. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t usually gravitate toward thrillers, but The Gallery Assistant totally pulled me in. I was invited to check this one out, and I’m so glad I gave it a shot. It was a fast paced, twisty mystery that kept me hooked the whole way through.

The story follows Chloe, a gallery assistant in New York City, who wakes up with a foggy memory after a party. She brushes it off, until the NYPD shows up at work asking questions, and she finds out the gallery’s rising star artist was murdered. From there, we’re taken on a tense ride as Chloe tries to piece together what happened, all while navigating the high pressure art world and dealing with her own personal struggles.

What really stood out to me was the setting. Having the mystery unfold in the NYC art scene made everything feel extra stylish and eerie. I loved how the artwork itself became part of the mystery, with hidden messages and clues woven into the pieces. More of that in thrillers, please!

Another big highlight: the way Kate Belli explored Chloe’s PTSD from 9/11. This book is set just a couple months after the attacks, and that trauma is a big part of Chloe’s character. It’s not something I see talked about often in fiction, especially in thrillers, and I appreciated how it added depth and realism. The timing of the story, which is pre smartphone but post 9/11, was a smart choice too. It made Chloe feel more isolated and made the mystery feel that much more urgent.

Overall, I loved the pacing (no slow spots!), the unreliable memory angle, and the ever present sense of tension. The art world backdrop was the perfect setting for a murder mystery, and I was kept guessing the whole time. This was my first book by Kate Belli, but definitely not my last.

If you’re into art, NYC settings, a bit of psychological suspense, and stories where you’re constantly questioning who to trust, then this one is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Belli, and Atria for the eARC of this book.

The Gallery Assistant by Kate Belli pulled me in with its glamorous setting and the promise of secrets hiding beneath the surface—and it definitely delivered. Set in the art world, the story has that perfect mix of elegance and danger, where beautiful things mask ugly truths and everyone seems to be holding something back.

What I loved most was how immersive it felt. Belli does a fantastic job creating a world that feels exclusive and alluring, but also cutthroat and unsettling. You can practically smell the varnish and wine at the gallery openings, but you’re also acutely aware that things aren’t as polished as they seem. There’s a quiet menace that builds as the protagonist gets drawn deeper into the web of lies, betrayals, and, yes, murder.

The main character’s voice is smart and grounded—someone who’s just trying to survive in a world that wasn’t built for them. That sense of being an outsider, of trying to navigate power dynamics while keeping your footing, adds so much tension. You're rooting for her, even when she’s unsure of who to trust (and honestly, I wasn’t sure either).

The mystery itself is tightly plotted, with just the right amount of twists to keep me turning pages. It’s less about flashy revelations and more about the slow unraveling of truth—and the personal cost of uncovering it. It felt like a classic noir dressed up in modern clothes, with all the ambition, jealousy, and danger that genre promises.

I had a really hard time getting into this book. It was very confusing and I could not picture any of the characters at all. I had to really push myself to finish.

This book is not my usual go to, but the concept sounded intriguing. It’s not often that you read about characters being involved in 9/11, so that alone was different and felt very real and raw.

This book felt a bit long to me, but it kept my attention and I was not expecting the ending.

This story is quite a flashback to a turbulent time, set in New York City, right after 9/11. Chloe is a curator’s assistant who can’t remember getting home late from an artist’s party the night before. This really doesn’t bode well upon finding out later at the gallery she works at that the artist who hosted the party was found dead. She keeps trying to remember what happened that night, asking friends and coworkers for any information they have. She can’t help feeling that those closest to her aren’t being completely honest, but she can’t find any hard proof. The more she digs into everyone involved with that night, the more danger she believes she’s in until she feels everyone is against her. Is it her post 9/11 trauma making her mind imagine conspiracies that don’t exist? Or is she the next one to be silenced?

What bothered me about this book was the unreliable narrator trope with Chloe drinking to the point of blacking out so often that what happened the night of the party would be considered typical. Well, and that she kept the archival box, as if she ‘earned it’ because of the trauma. That just didn’t sit right with me, even with everything that occurred with the company she worked for. Otherwise, I like that there were many characters that could be either suspects or innocent acquaintances; you just couldn’t tell.

The information about art itself and the works described was pretty cool. And there are enough light-hearted moments to balance out the heaviness of the 9/11 depictions. So while it might be tough to get through, I think readers can appreciate the moments of stark reality woven in to this captivating story.

a great thriller with twists and turns that keep you guessing! I thought this was perfectly written and had just the right amount of suspence

I was invited by the publisher to read The Gallery Assistant by Kate Belli.

This is my first read from Kate Belli and it won't be the last! This book had me locked in. A great pace with twists that keep you guessing.

I was invited by the publisher to read The Gallery Assistant by Kate Belli. What a fantastic read! Chloe Harlow, a gallery assistant in post-9/11 New York City, wakes up with hazy memories of a party the night before only to learn the host, Inga, a rising artist, has been murdered and she may have been the last person to see her alive. With inconsistencies in her memory and mounting questions, Chloe realizes she may be the only one who knows the truth—and the closer she gets, the deadlier things become. This was an excellent depiction of what the world looked like in 2011 after the towers fell. The grief, the chaos, the fear were all beautifully rendered in The Gallery Assistant. With elements of PTSD and incredible character development this fast-paced, murder mystery and thriller was a very interesting read. I think this is a great one to pick up, it’s not often you see so enmeshed in a story that highlights the aftermath of 9/11 from such a unique perspective.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, Emily Bestler Books and Kate Belli for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! I've been aching for a good murder mystery and when I read this it satisfied my craving. This book follows Chloe Harlow who wakes up wondering how she got home and in her bed and finds out the artist whose party she was at last night was murdered. An interesting thing about this book is it deals with a time after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and we learn that Chloe was there when it happens and she has PTSD from it and we learn about it. It's an interesting approach one that we don't see often.
I thought this book was perfectly paced, and honestly trying to solve the mystery in my head and the inclusion of the paintings helping, was interesting. I kept going back and forth between two people on who could've possibly of been the murderer because I wasn't sure!
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria books for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

DNF for me sadly. It was just so boring but it was interesting that it was post 9/11 and give NYC vibes but I just couldn't finish it. For me the novel failed to reach the believability level I set when reading a thriller.

What a fantastic book! I really loved everything about it, especially making me think back to one of the scariest times in my life. (I was not near the Towers when they fell, but I was close enough to feel the dread and heartache that came with it) I loved the setting, in the art world, Upper East Side. ( I lived close by) The setting of where Chloe lived in Brooklyn was not as familiar, but I still enjoyed the “neighborhood feeling” Brooklyn always gives me. I thought the way Chloe was handling her PTSD, because let’s face it, that’s wht it was, was amazing and very realistic. Chloe was flawed and an unreliable narrator, but I liked that. It helped the story unfold in a way that was exciting and suspenseful. At the time this book was taking place I was living and working in the city, young and excited for my future. Also working in the arts. ( I was at The New York Philharmonic) Thankfully I was not involved with a murder, but I did find myself thinking a lot about that time and how I felt. Thank you for writing such an amazing novel . I can’t wait to read more!

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Chloe is a gallery assistant, and wakes up one day with foggy memories of the party and the night before. Once she arrives at the gallery where she works, she is met by the New York Police Department who also want answers about her previous night - as the gallery's newest up and coming artist is now dead. Chloe then has to piece together what happened, by navigating her professional and personal lives, and trying to understand what happened between what she remembers and what various witnesses tell her what happened.

I really enjoyed this well-paced thriller and murder mystery, and I personally loved the setting of it taking place within the art world. I thought the author did a great job of sowing doubt about Chloe's perception of herself and memories, by having her have PTSD from the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This is not really something you read a lot of in books, and I appreciated the author took this route and also opened up the discussion about this real-life event and its various impacts. I also liked the art being used as clues as well, that made this book super fun!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books/Emily Bestler Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My first book by Kate Belli and definitely won’t be my last!! This was a fast paced thriller that kept me captivated throughout the whole book. Chloe wakes up after the night of a party with no recollection of what happened. And the cops come knocking because the host of the party is dead.

I loved the atmosphere of this book as we are taken into the art world. This takes place just a couple of months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the trauma of that really adds so much to the story. We see Chloe spiral while at the same time trying to find out who is responsible for Inga (the artists) death.

We go back and forth wondering who is involved and who we can trust in this story!