Thank you Netgalley, #partner, for the advanced copy of The Personal Assistant in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Park Row
Published: November 29, 2022
Summary:
USA TODAY bestselling author Kimberly Belle returns with a deeply addictive thriller exploring the dark side of the digital world when a mommy-blogger’s assistant goes missing.
When Alex first began posting unscripted family moments and motivational messages online, she had no intention of becoming an influencer. Overnight it seemed she’d amassed a huge following, and her hobby became a full-time job—one that was impossible to manage without her sharp-as-a-tack personal assistant, AC.
But all the good-will of her followers turns toxic when one controversial post goes viral in the worst possible way. Alex reaches out to AC for damage control, but her assistant has gone silent. This young woman Alex trusted with all her secrets, who had access to her personal information and front row seats to the pressure points in her marriage and family life, is now missing and the police are looking to Alex and her husband for answers. As Alex digs into AC’s identity – and a woman is found murdered – she’ll find the greatest threat isn’t online, but in her own living room.
Written in alternating perspectives between Alex, her husband, and the mysterious AC, this juicy cat and mouse story will keep you guessing till the very end.
My thoughts:
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!
