There’s a saying about how no one is the villain in their own story—that kept running through my mind as I read this unexpectedly exciting romp through the London art world of the early 1970s. Part career novel, part accidental detective story, part post-WWII fallout, this book was a thrilling delight. I was already familiar with both narrators, they each carried their portion of the story beautifully. I was not familiar with the author but I will be checking out more works from her right away.

First of all, the two narrators did a great job. I enjoyed both of their performances.

For the story itself, though you are thrown into the drama right away, the author then backs up and gives background information on Lily and her family dynamics and Diana and her husband. While this is necessary for the character development, it makes the plot slow down. It didn't take off for me until the 30% mark.

This book has such a sense of time and place. I loved being in the 1970s art world, and the descriptions helped me visualize it very well. I'm not super informed about art pieces and artists, so I enjoyed hearing/learning through this story.

I don't think this can be described as a mystery, unless you're Lily, the MC. From the reader's perspective, you're watching Lily discover the truth about the painting, but you watch other characters' actions enough to know what is happening.

I actually enjoyed the family drama, though I was annoyed with it in the beginning. I just wanted the action to happen! Overall, I think this story is a blend of character development and plot, and it does work.

I did not agree with Lily's decision at the end and thus felt it ended a little weakly. Enjoyable listen though, and I appreciate that I can recommend this to many readers because of the clean language, chaste romance, and low violence.

At a prestigious Picasso exhibit, museum assistant Lily claims a painting is a forgery, jeopardizing her career—and her freedom.

This is an entertaining story with strong characters and a fast-paced plot. I enjoyed the 1970s art world setting. The audiobook narration was well done.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

The English Masterpiece is an artful experience, to be savored and appreciated. Lily is a young assistant, far ahead of the professional norm of being a woman, to a woman boss, in a male dominated profession. Lily is creative and talented in her own right and immediately I got the sense she has layers of depth to her character, but has determined to study the masters and learn from her mentor, Diana. She has allowed others to shape her into who she thinks she is supposed to be. I love that this is a story of self-discovery and restoration to what was lost. Lily deeply loves her family and yet, being burdened by many things, feels like she cannot quite connect with them on an intimate level. I love how Katherine Reay uses art and the masters to draw out the characters and their strengths and imperfections. I also learned quite a bit about art along the way. There is a touch of romance, but it is not the center of the story and is just enough to bring an additional layer. There are historical elements woven throughout and the setting of the seventies came through accurately. This is a standalone, but I must confess, my thoughts have lingered on the characters once I finished and I would love another story with them.
The narrators did an excellent job of bringing the various characters to life, capturing the tones, nuances, and personalities of each person.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley, and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

Let me start by saying- THE DRAMA. I love a book about 'art world' drama. Forgeries??-check. Backstabbing and plotting?-check. Glamour and intrigue of the art world in 1970's London?-check.

Set in 1970's London, surrounding the death of Pablo Picasso and at the Tate Gallery- newly appointed assistant Lily is basking in the reverie of pulling off a commemorative exhibit to celebrate the life and work of Pablo Picasso. Everything is perfect....until Lily realizes that one of the Picasso's is a forgery. And says so out loud. This can ruin everything.


This book will leave you on the edge of your seat. I truly enjoyed this one.


Thanks NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for advance access to this title in exchange for my honest feedback.

Katherine Reay’s newest novel is set in London during the 1970s and filled with fashion and art - such a fun setting to be immersed in! I loved the audio narration and was immediately drawn into the art world and the dilemma in which main character Lily found herself. I don’t know much about art history and felt like I learned quite a bit. A true art aficionado would be in their element with all of the discussion of famous artists and their works!

Along with Lily’s dilemma centered around an art forgery is a storyline regarding her family relationships, which are strained due to a past accident. While at first this seemed unrelated to the main idea of the book, it gave depth to Lily’s character. I enjoyed seeing her growth and realizations as the mystery progressed.

While there were some slower moments, the last third of the book really picked up and the ending was both exciting and satisfying! This book is great for anyone that loves art, mysteries, historical fiction, and stories about crime!

Adult fiction, but perfectly appropriate for teens as well. No language. Clean romance. Mild violence.

I listened to the ALC for The English Masterpiece by Katherine Reay and I really enjoyed this book. The audiobook is narrated by Fiona Hardingham; Saskia Maarleveld and they are fantastic. It is the early 1970's in London and our FMC Lily works for Diana at the Tate. Picasso has just died, and Diana and Lily pull together a wonderful Picasso exhibit to honor Picasso's work. At the opening night, which should be a huge triumph for the two women, Lily is walking around the exhibit and blurts out that one of the paintings 'is a forgery'. Well, chaos ensues. Diana and the museum are livid - Lily is not an expert but now she has cast doubt on the museum and Diana's management and expertise. There are insurance and police investigating. I thought this book was really well done. It starts slowly and the momentum builds until I feel we are practically running to the conclusion. There is a sweet romantic subplot, there is family drama, sister drama, and solving the puzzle of what exactly is going on with the Picasso in question. Lily really grows and I loved watching her become the person she is supposed to be. This book comes out Tuesday, June 10th. I need to thank Net Galley and Harper Muse audio for my advance listener copy.

Not my favorite Katherine Reay, but still a great listen. I loved the setting, liked the characters, and enjoyed how the puzzle came together at the end. The narration was excellent.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for providing me with an ARC. Here’s my honest opinion.

For anyone who likes a lighter historical fiction with art and a mystery this is a good fit. I liked how Lily navigated her way to uncover what was going on, and how the story came together. The audiobook is enjoyable to listen to, and the insights into the art world were interesting.

Art theft and art forgery books are always a hit with me; and this does not disappoint. The only drawback for me is that I felt like the 1970s setting could have been stronger. I kept reminding myself of the date.

This historical fiction focuses on Lily, a passionate art lover working as the assistant to Diana, the recently promoted Modern Collections keeper at London's Tate museum in the early 1970's. On opening night of a Picasso exhibit, she determines that one of the paintings on display, Woman Laughing, is a forgery and blurts out her discovery in front of a reporter and many important patrons of high society and the art world. Scandal ensues and before long, Lily finds herself in the center of the investigation. Can she discover the truth behind Woman Laughing before she finds herself behind bars?

The English Masterpiece is my first Katherine Reay book and now I can't wait to dive into her backlist. It was well written, with lots of details about the era and the art world that made it feel authentic and immersive. I enjoy art museums but don't know anything of substance about art, artists, or the various movements or styles. Despite my own ignorance on the specific subject matter, this was a tremendously enjoyable read. I enjoyed these characters, most of whom were lovable despite their flaws, and I was invested in Lily's pursuit of the truth behind the painting.

I listened to this on audio thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks, and it was spectacular on audio. Fiona Hardingham's performance brought the London art scene to life and conveyed Lily's emotions authentically through her voice and mannerisms. Saskia Maarleveld is one of my favorite audiobook narrators, so I was delighted to hear her performance for Diana's POV chapters. She could read me the phone book and I would listen clear through to the end.

"The English Masterpiece is a fast-paced read to the end, full of glamour and secrets, tensions, and lies, as one young woman races against the clock to uncover the truth about a Picasso masterpiece. Perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and Ariel Lawhon.

As the recently promoted assistant to the Tate's Modern Collections keeper Diana Gilden, Lily helps plan a world-class Picasso exhibit to honor the passing of the great artist--and she's waited her whole life for this moment. The opening is beyond anyone's expectations--the lighting, the champagne, the glittering crowd, and the international acclaim--until Lily does the unthinkable. She stops in front of a masterpiece and hears her own voice say, "It's a forgery." The gallery falls silent."

This historical mystery had me completely captivated from the very first page! The tension that is created when Lily claims it's a forgery puts herself, her boss, and The Tate in jeopardy. I could not put this down. There is also a family saga combined with 1970's art and fashion in London, and a little romance mixed in. All the elements are seamlessly woven together to create a memorable story with characters that I will remember. Be sure to read the author's note for more background on art, art forgeries, and stolen art as well as the history behind including a famous celebrity in the novel. Grab your bell bottoms, some Abba music, and possibly a disco ball in a room with some paintings, and you've created the perfect setting to immerse yourself into The English Masterpiece! 🎨

The audiobook performance by Saskia Maarleveld and Fiona Hardingham is excellent and added to the depth of enjoyment of the novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Muse Books, UpLit Reads, and Katherine Reay for an advance reader's copy and an advance listening copy in exchange for my honest review.

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The Tate Gallery plans to hold a world-class exhibit to honor Picasso after his passing. For Diana Gilden, this will be the pinnacle of her career. Her assistant, Lily, is eager to do whatever she can to make the exhibit a success for the supervisor that she so admires. Then everything goes horribly wrong. The night of the opening, as Lily is walking among the guests, looking at all of the paintings, she stops in front of a masterpiece and hears her own voice say, "It's a forgery." The gallery falls silent. The fallout is immediate. Guests rush to leave, when Lily makes her outrageous declaration. Suspicion and scandal threaten everything Diana has achieved, as museums and collectors across Europe, already doubting most post-war acquisitions, fall into chaos and rumors of a world-wide forgery run wild. All Lily has ever wanted is to follow in Diana's footsteps and take the art world by storm in her own right. Yet one comment puts not only her own career at risk but also her mentor's. Eager to put everything right, and no longer sure what she saw, Lily must uncover the truth behind the Picasso before she loses not only the career she's always wanted, but her freedom.

This book was so good. It kept me engaged from start to finish. I adored Lily, and the book felt so real I felt like I was trying to solve the mystery of the painting right alongside her. This is a very fast-paced story that, although not based on real events, felt as if it could have really occurred. The narrator did an excellent job bringing this novel to life. I highly recommend this one!

A fast-paced historical mystery, set in the art scene of London in the 1970’s.

I love the narration by Fiona Hardingham and Saskia Maarleveld, who richly depicted the perspectives of Lily and Diana.

This vivid and captivating story is clearly well-researched. It will be a delight for art aficionados and historical fiction readers alike.

With thanks to Harper Muse Audiobooks and NetGalley for and the advanced listening copy, in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first story I have read from Katherine Reay and has me wanting to reading her backlist.

Set in 1970s London, rising Tate Museum assistant Lily jeopardizes her career when she publicly questions the authenticity of a major Picasso piece, sparking a high-stakes mystery in the art world.

I knew within just a few chapters that I was going to love this one. First off, the audiobook narration was impeccably delivered by Fiona Hardingham and Saskia Maarleveld. The decision to use two narrators for the different female characters was such a smart move. Each voice felt distinct and true to the characters Reay so carefully crafted. And craft, she absolutely did. These characters felt real, nuanced, and fully alive.

I fell completely for Lily, flaws and all. Her journey was heartfelt and deeply human. And while I didn’t hate Diana, I was definitely disappointed in her. Watching how she allowed Lily to take the blame, when she idolized her , added such emotional depth and tension. That kind of character development doesn’t come easy, and it shone throughout the entire novel.

This story gave me the same thrill I felt reading The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. Like that favorite of mine, The English Masterpiece offers a rich historical backdrop, a compelling mystery, a touch of romance, and just enough family drama to keep you turning the pages without wanting to stop. It’s a polished, genre-bending novel that hits all the right notes for fans of layered historical fiction.

I devoured this book and loved every minute of it. I’m only sad it’s over. I’ll be recommending it to all my historical fiction loving friends the moment it hits shelves.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Harper Muse Audiobooks for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I loved the narrator, she did a great job reading and I felt immersed. I enjoyed the povs, the anxiety and on the edge of your seat type of thriller the story provided.

This book was so much more than just about art forgery, and I enjoyed it. There's family drama, manipulative relationships, as well as a budding romance.

I love that the author also weaves history into the storyline and uses it as a plot for the forgery. I was unaware how World War II affected the art world back in the day.

The story is told from Lily's and Diana's point of view, and really the story turns into less of a whodunit kind of mystery as the story goes on.I enjoyed diving into the drama between Lily and her sister Daisy. Lily has spent most of her life believing she was the reason for her mother's accident and has kind of just shut everyone out and forced herself to be responsible, and in the end she kind of ends up controlling her parents' lives, and her sister is frustrated beyond hell with her for refusing to let anyone in.

Then you get into the rocky relationship Diana has with her husband as we find out they are involved in some seedy art business, and towards the end you come to realize how much of a manipulative relationship it really is.

There's so much that happens, and it's hard for me to really put it into thought, but I really enjoyed this book, and I definitely plan to check out other works by Reay and look forward to her future writings.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳, 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺.

Lily pulled me right into this story set in London in the 1970’s she tries to prove her worth to her boss, Diana, in the art world. Diana and Lily are from different worlds and when Lily is promoted to Diana’s assistant. They are showing the Picasso exhibit when Lily looks at one of the paintings and says out loud that it is fake…This sends everyone into a tailspin and all of the patrons who have loaned them paintings want them to be tested. Lily is now under the microscope and her own paintings are making it look like she could be behind creating forged copies. Will she be able to not only prove her innocence but who the real forger is?

I love stories about the art world and this one was so engaging. We see Lily grow as a character in her home life and in her work life. I wanted to like Diana because you could tell she was uncomfortable with the arrangement with her husband, but then at the end, her true colors were revealed when she was only cared about his painting. I thought she was going to win me over but the ending sealed her fate with me. The backstory into the way they can test a painting to see if it is a forgery was extremely interesting!

Thanks to Harper Muse Audiobooks for an advanced copy of The English Masterpiece by Katherine Reay.

I enjoyed this 1970s art-focused historical fiction. Set in London at the Tate Modern, Lily is the assistant keeper of collections and with Picasso's death, she's helping to plan an exhibit honoring him with her boss, Diana. At the opening, as Lily is looking at one of the paintings, she says it's a forgery and it's a domino effect from there...

This was a fun look at 1970s London and seeing Lily find herself. The beginning was a little slow, but once we got more into the mystery of the forgery, it started to pick up. This book looks at forgveness, trusting yourself and family all in a fun art mystery.

The audiobook was fun and the dual narrators helped you get more into Lily and Diana's world and I really enjoyed this audiobook. The audiobook is 10 hours.

If you like art and London you'll enjoy this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the audio version. This was such a fun mystery surrounding Lilys proclamation that the Picasso she was looking at was a fake!! What follows is thee we uncovering of a brilliant scheme years in the making. Loved it.