I wasn't sure how to feel about this book in the beginning but I ended up really liking it. The details from 9/11 were hard to read but also necessary part of the story. I was glad to get answers by the end.

Chloe works as an assistant to the curator of an art gallery. There is a party for one of the artists and Chloe doesn't seem to remember how she got home from this party, let alone what happened. The police arrive at the galley the next morning and tell the staff, the artist has been murdered. The owners of the gallery are acting strange; Chloe gets a promotion then seems to cause some animosity within the staff. And Chloe is trying to remember what happened that night.

This is set in New York, a few months after 9/11. Chloe is dealing with PTSD (undiagnosed) and some of the people she trusts seems to turn against her. This is a very good story about the art world, and the lines some people can cross to make a dollar.

Thank you, NetGalley for my digital copy of this book. The opinions are my own and freely given.

I received this book via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, publisher, and author alike!

Now… I really was here for the concept of this story. I love a suspense. I love a thriller. I loved the idea of this immediate post 9/11 setting playing a role in the individual character development, trauma, and choices. However, there was something about this story that was so hard to get through. I think it was something about the dialogue between characters that felt unrealistic, and therefore uninteresting.

It had potential, but ultimately wasn’t what I was looking for or expecting. Regardless, glad I had the chance to read!

Thanks to Atria for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Anyway: like everyone else in her life, I did desperately want Chloe to go to therapy for pretty much the entire book. It was deeply and compulsively readable in a way I had a ton of fun with, and the core mystery + thriller was really nicely composed (though I think there could have been a hair more bread crumbing for certain reveals that felt like they almost came out of thin air near the end). Generally, just a delightful little summer read that's not revelatory, but also is just a good time.

This book held my interest enough to finish it. Didn't really care for the characters. Not my favorite book, but not the worst I've ever read.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, and Kate Bell for this ARC. This was a great book for those that love mystery, suspense, past tense setting (post 9/11), filled with art originals, artists, and in a big city setting NYC. I attempted to unwind what happened to Chloe and her perspective of the fogginess of what happened to her the night before. Triggering her PTSD, what she may have caused or been a part of, and how it all comes together in resolve.

The synopsis and marketing says THRILLER but the actual plot was not giving that. It was very slow burn, and being set soon after 9/11, a lot of the story centered around what appeared to be trauma from that event (understandable!) but it didn't really seem like it was necessary in the story? There were almost two stories happening simultaneously, but neither of them had time to hit because of the other story that was also ongoing. I finished because it was an advance copy, but I won't be recommending this one.

The Gallery Assistant really kept me on the edge of my seat as I read it. It was well-paced and emotional - didn't know going in that it was set 2 months after 9/11. The PTSD and emotional trauma from 9/11 is carried throughout, despite the murder. I enjoyed the glimpse into the art world, but I found that there were way too many characters for me too keep track of. I found Chloe (FMC) to be quite unlikeable and the HUGE focus on her drinking problem became a bit repetitive and a bit much for me.

As a whole, I enjoyed the book. Definitely worth checking out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A Modern Historical Thriller That Is Almost Unbearably Tense

I loved this book! Kate Belli does a superb job of building tension with almost every chapter and event that passes. And she has created a world (fine art galleries and priceless paintings) that feels very real without this reader having any background to build upon. She also gives us an unreliable narrator who is likeable and easy to root for.

The primary action of the novel takes place in the aftermath of the attacks on the World Trade Center in September of 2001. I feel that Kate did a great job of capturing the mood of America during that time. As part of the back story of the novel revolves around events of that day, without spoilers, I will just say that she created a very claustrophobic moment in my reading journey in that scene.

This is an excellent read, perfect for fans of mysteries and thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the arc! An interesting thriller, won’t be in my top favorites but would be interested in trying another book from Kate Belli

I am appreciative to have read this. When I read an author for the first time, I extend some grace because I'm not familiar with their work and writing style. I felt this way with the "Gallery Assistant." I have to give this a solid three stars. I wanted to love this one but unfortunately it was just 'OK'

The book starts off in a great way. Chloe wakes up in her apartment after attending a party the night before for one of the artists from the Gallery she works at. When she gets to work the next day-Inga, the artist, is dead. Soon after, Chloe's boss disappears leaving everyone with questions. Secrets are uncovered and Chloe begins to see things weren't as they seemed. There were lots of twists in this one but i felt like there was a lot to unpack. the long list of characters could've been shortened. Overall, i think this was a fast paced thriller that was worth the read.

I found this book to be very depressing as Chloe suffers from PTSD after 9/11. She goes to a party and can’t remember the evening or how she got home. She is just a mess and needs serious help. She was the last to see painter alive and is trying to put all the pieces together. It is a slow burn and didn’t like any of the characters. It was more mystery about who did it. Just didn’t have any shock or twists to keep me engaged.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Jaw-dropping, atmospheric, and utterly unputdownable!

I had the pleasure of reading an advance copy of The Gallery Assistant by Kate Belli, and wow — what an absolute ride. From the first page, this book grabs you and refuses to let go. Belli weaves together intrigue, art world secrets, and razor-sharp twists in a way that feels both elegant and electrifying.

The pacing is pitch-perfect: every chapter peels back another layer, just when you think you’ve guessed what’s coming — surprise! — the story pivots in a way that left my jaw on the floor more than once. The setting is vividly rendered, immersing you in the hidden corners and glittering facades of the art world, and the characters are complex, flawed, and so real they practically step off the page.

What I loved most is how Belli balances a thrilling plot with genuine emotional depth. It’s suspenseful, yes, but also beautifully human. By the end, I was breathless, replaying the twists in my head and wishing I could experience them all over again.

The Gallery Assistant is a triumph — dark, dazzling, and unforgettable. If you’re looking for a smart, stylish thriller that keeps you guessing (and gasping!) until the final reveal, this is it. Do not miss this book!

November 2001: Chloe Harlow wakes up late, with hazy memories of the party the night before but no recollection of how she got back to her Brooklyn apartment. Ever since the terrifying and catastrophic terrorist attack, it seems she has been on a collision course with destruction.

When she finally arrives at the exclusive Upper East Side art gallery where she works, she is immediately called into her boss’s office. A pair of NYPD detectives greet her, also very curious to know how her evening ended…because the host of the party, a rising painter and the gallery’s newest artist, is dead.

Navigating both the sophisticated high-stakes art world and her personal life in burgeoning Williamsburg, Chloe struggles to piece together a complete picture of that lost night. As she digs deeper, inconsistencies emerge between what she remembers and what people tell her actually happened, and more questions are raised. Everything begins to feel like a conspiracy and maybe it is. Because Chloe is the only one who glimpses the secrets the murdered artist left behind, and the closer she gets to the truth…the more deadly it becomes.
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This is an emotional story with a few interesting events that,
while heartbreaking, were well crafted for the purposes of
the story, and well done. I very much enjoyed the evolution
and conclusion of the story.
My thanks to Atria Publishing for the download copy of
this book for review purposes.

The Gallery Assistant is a fast, twisty read set in the high-stakes NYC art world. It’s got secrets, drama, and just the right amount of tension. I loved the atmosphere and the slow unraveling of who can really be trusted. Super readable, fast paced and fun — perfect if you like artsy thrillers with a bit of bite. Thank you to publishers for allowing me to read this Arc in exchange for an honest review

Thank you for the advanced copy! I really enjoyed this twisty thriller. It was a fun read and kept you interested until the end.

Set in post-9/11 New York, a young gallery assistant stumbles upon a big case. I felt like it was a little too coincidental at times, but it was good writing and a solid plot.

I simply couldn't get into this book, I think because I didn't like the main character very much (or any of the other characters, frankly), and the plot and setting felt disjointed. The post-9/11 setting seemed to be there more for the author to share her personal experiences through Chloe than for any real purpose related to the plot. Chloe's trauma could have come from anywhere, and didn't necessarily need to be so tied to a real-world event.

I did learn a thing or two about the art world, so that was nice, but otherwise I spent a lot of the book frustrated with the self-destructive main character's bumbling behavior.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this ARC and provide an honest review!