Megan Miranda is one of my favorite suspense thriller authors. I loved All The Missing Girls it is my favorite by far. I think she set the bar so high with that book I expect everything to be equally as good or better. I wasn’t blown away by this novel but the ending is still a surprise and Megan Miranda is excellent at weaving the perfect intricate plot! Sadie kills herself but Avery doesn’t believe that is what really happened so Avery needs to dig deep in this small town to find the truth. You will be surprised by the ending. That’s all I’m saying.

This was my first Megan Miranda. I really loved the coastal setting with the beach houses and small town vibes. However, I found myself getting less interested in the story as I got further into the book. I did not guess the ending or big reveal...and overall I think it was well done. But overall, this story was just okay.

Thank you NetGalley, Megan Miranda and Corvus for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Megan Miranda is back with her newest adult mystery/thriller and as much as I've enjoyed her previous works, this is easily my favorite from her yet.

One year ago, Avery Greer's best friend, the affluent Sadie Loman, is found dead on the night of the infamous end of summer party. The police determine it was suicide and close the case. Avery, after having a rough start at life - losing her parents to a car accident and her grandmother to illness - stays in Littleport to oversee the Loman rental properties.

Around the one year anniversary of Sadie's death, strange things begin to happen around Littleport and the Loman rentals. Homes are rummaged through, candles lit but not by the renters, etc. Avery is sure these are connected to Sadie's death and begins to raise questions with those who were at the party the night of her death.


The books jumps back and forth between present day and the night of the party, but all through Avery's point of view. We learn a lot about Avery and what brought her and Sadie together, as on paper, they had very little in common and not a lot of reasons to become as close as they did, even closer than Sadie was with her older brother, the handsome and charming Grant Loman. This even leads fellow a Littleport resident to say this to Avery: "She created you. A mini-Sadie. A monster in her likeness. And now she's gone, but here you are."

As with all Megan Miranda novels, all the layers of the story are peeled back until there's a clear picture of exactly what happened. The ending was a doozy and I loved it. I definitely did not see everything that coming but was elated when it was put in front of me. I was very satisfied with the whole story and was sad when I got to the last page.

As I said up top, this was my favorite Miranda novel to-date. I loved Avery, the main character, and really liked a lot of the supporting cast. It was well-paced and kept me enthralled the entire time. This story would make a perfect summertime adaptation for HBO, a la "Big Little Lies." The setting - an almost private and exclusive sea-side town in the summer, with a colorful cast of characters and slow-burning mystery and a touch of romance - would really lend itself well to the small screen.

When this comes out in May, be sure to pick it up and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

One of two "summer people" type of books I read in the last month. This one had my heart thudding. I didn't see the end coming at all. Free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Book publishes June 18 and will be perfect for a suspenseful summer beach read.

The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda was an intriguing thriller. This is the second book by this author (the first was All the Missing Girls where she tells a story backwards), and I really enjoy how she crafts her thrillers. In this one, Sadie is found dead. The death is ruled a suicide, but her friend Avery doesn't believe this to be true. The story then weaves through what could have happened as Avery commits to finding out the truth. Part of this includes navigating the dynamics of the town. Littleport has its locals, but it also has a wealthy vacationing community. Avery is from the local community, while Sadie is from the vacationing crowd. Their friendship is an unlikely one which is something Avery has always appreciated. However, the unlikely nature of the friendship also raises some questions. What did Avery know? What role did she play in the tragedy? As she asks more questions, she raises suspicion about herself. The story is told mainly a year after Sadie's death, while also revising the night of her death. Avery tries to piece together the stories of everyone who was at the party where Sadie never arrived at the night of her death. Y'all the twists of this one were great. I always love a thriller where I don't see the drama coming, and it's so good that my jaw drops as it is revealed. I got an early preview of this one thanks to NetGalley, and I can tell y'all that it's one to check out for yourself once it's released in June!

**5 Stars**

"And still there were people like Evelyn, my grandmother's neighbor, hiring me for odd jobs, trying to make sure I got by. All it did was bring me closer to more of the things I didn't have. 

That was the problem with a place like this: everything was right out in the open, including the life you could never have."

Avery Greer's young life has been marked by tragedy; her parents died in a horrific car accident, leaving her to live with her grandmother, who was also injured in the crash. Not too long afterward, Avery's grandmother passes, leaving Avery to build a life for herself with no help or relatives to support her.

Avery makes a life for herself in a Littleport, Maine, a beach town known for its contrasts. Windy, rainy winters give way to sunfilled, blue-skied summer. The wealthy 1% of the town's residents own towering mansions that defy gravity by dangling off of the cliffsides, nearly tumbling into the seaside below; the rest of the residents, the 99%, labor and toil to maintain and keep up Littleport's picturesque facade, properties, and beachscapes, hoping to sustain the summer tourism industry to make ends (barely) meet.

Avery falls into the latter group; nearly destitute, she sells her grandmother's house - all that was left of her inheritance - to the Loman family, the wealthiest people in Littleport who control nearly every beautiful property in town. Soon, she finds herself working for the Loman family, cleaning their properties and managing them as they rent them out to summer vacationers. She proves her worth to the Lomans, eventually becoming a full-time property manager.

In the process, Sadie Loman, the Lomans' daughter, befriends Avery unexpectedly. Sadie takes her in as though Avery is a wounded bird in need of care; Sadie gifts Avery expensive clothing beyond Avery's paygrade and offers to share an apartment with Avery. Avery and Sadie develop a tight-knit, seemingly unbreakable friendship; they are inseparable 24/7. Avery feels as though she is becoming a Loman, or maybe even becoming a clone of Sadie. She doesn't protest, as it is a way of escaping her past. As Miranda writes,

"I believe that a person can become possessed by someone else - at least in part. That one life can slip inside another, giving it shape. In this way, I could judge Sadie's reaction before it occurred, picture an expression in the second before she shared it."

This illusion of safety and shelter that Sadie's friendship provides is shattered when Sadie is murdered, her body found lapping against the rocks of Littleton's shoreline.

Avery immediately becomes a suspect because of her proximity to Sadie.

Did Avery become jealous with Sadie started developing a new friendship with her brother, Parker's girlfriend, Luce? Did Avery discover that Sadie was having a relationship with Avery's former lover, Connor?

Amid the town's speculation and gossiping about Avery, she discovers that she was never really a Loman (as much as she tried to become one, much to the discontent of the town's residents):

"How you could get pulled into the orbit of one world, thinking you had a place in it, even if you weren't fully part of it."

Avery races against time to solve the murder of Sadie in order to absolve herself of Sadie's murder and find out the truth about what happened to her. Digging into Sadie and the Lomans' past may uncover some unsavory and even shocking truths about the town of Littleton and the lengths to which its residents will go to hide its scandals, crimes, and misdeeds.

This was my second book by Miranda, and I think it's safe to say that after this book I've become a really big fan. I did not see the ending coming at all - I really loved how it came together nicely and made complete sense. Miranda dropped a lot of hints along the way - I just missed them! I also liked the themes that this book explored - youthful friendships and the tensions that arise within them; class inequality; the longing to be someone else, or have someone else's life (that seems perfect from the outside...but you know what they say about the grass); and loss and grief. Miranda tackled these topics with sensitivity, thoughtfulness, and care reflective of a gifted writer.

Thank you so very much to the author, Megan Miranda, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of The Last House Guest! I can't wait to read Miranda's next hit :)

I enjoyed this twisty story. Miranda weaves a tale that takes a lot of turns. Strong story line and a binge read at its best! Look for this to have a prominent spot in your beach bag this summer!!!

The newest suspense novel from Megan Miranda, THE LAST HOUSE GUEST will keep the reader guessing right to the end, with twists and turns you'll never see coming. A true page-turning, nail-biter of intrigue and a deep dive into the lives, motives, and people of a small tourist town on the Maine coast. Definitely worth the read!!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ecopy for my Kindle.
This book is a murder mystery that is geared to young adults.
Avery works as a property manager for a family who has several rental properties near the water in Connecticut. The family spends their summers in a home that they had built on the cliffs facing the water. Avery becomes good friends with the family's daughter and when Avery isn't working, they're inseparable. Even though the family is wealthy, sadly they are not a close family and each member has secrets which will be brought out in the book.
Overall, a good mystery but would have been better without the profanity.

This was my first foray into Megan Miranda and honestly, I really enjoyed it. I didn't think it was the best thing I have ever read and I thought there was a couple of confusing bits and pieces but it was VERY enjoyable.

In the small coastal town of Littleport Maine; there has always been a clear separation between the locals and the wealthy home owners who visit each summer. Avery Greer, a troubled teen, finds herself in a new social circle when she is suddenly befriended by Sadie Loman, the daughter of local entrepreneur. Years later the girls are inseparable and Avery is managing real estate for Sadie's father and living in their guest house. After the social event of the summer, Sadie is found dead, an apparent suicide. Avery is certain Sadie wouldn't kill herself and that someone at the party knows something. A year later the town is preparing Sadie's memorial but mysterious power outages and break ins have Avery questioning Sadie's death once again. As Avery tries to piece together the events of that night she discovers the town has several secrets...and someone who is willing to kill to keep them hidden.

The Last House Guest is an exciting new mystery thriller from Megan Miranda. The main protagonist, a troubled teen, finds her life drastically altered when she unexpectedly becomes friends with Sadie, daughter of one of the town’s wealthiest summer residents. The novel transitions between the present day, where Avery is managing the rental homes for Sadie's father and the summer before when Sadie is found dead. Mysterious events, a list of possible suspects, and several dirty secrets make this novel a suspense driven mystery you won’t want to put down. This is one of those stories that have to be told slowly so that each detail can be revealed in the end. If you’re looking for an action packed mystery than this might not be for you. This is the second novel I have read by this author and I enjoy how she twists the story and reveals new insights as the plot progresses; a very enjoyable novel to curl up with.

All in all, I enjoyed this mystery / thriller, and thought it moved at a quick pace.

The story takes place in Littleport, Maine, a vacation town that caters to the wealthy. When local girl Avery, and wealthy visitor Sadie become friends, they create an inseparable bond. Then Sadie tragically dies in what's deemed a suicide. Avery doesn't believe it though, and works to uncover the dark secrets that have been hidden for far too long, putting herself in danger in the meantime.

The highlight of this story for me was the setting. I really enjoyed seeing this vacation town and how it transformed for its local residents during the off season. Dark winding roads, dangerous bluffs, and a violent sea all added to the tense feeling.

I also liked observing the dynamics between the wealthy people and the local residents, how they treated one another, and took over the town.

The ending came as a surprise, and I appreciated the twists and the fact that the outcome wasn't easy to guess (at least, it wasn't for me). It was a well crafted story with interesting relationships.

I would recommend this book to fans of thrillers. It wasn't a favorite for me, or one that will stand out as a favorite in the genre, but I did enjoy it.

Thanks to Netgalley for letting me read this book in return for an honest review

I did enjoy this book. The mystery part grabbed me from the beginning. Lots of twists and turns. It did drag in a couple of places

Finished Megan Miranda’s new book “The Last House Guest” and it’s a ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 book for me. The ending really lifted it up. It was definitely a pleasant read, but I felt like a lot of the book was just running around this small town and looking into houses that were broken into. When it hit the last 25% of the book, I was like OKAY here’s where it gets good. The story takes a few wild twists.
Also, I will read ANY book that takes place in Maine 😂😂 Do any of you read books specifically because they’re set in a certain place? What place?

Littleport, Maine, has always felt like two separate towns: an ideal vacation enclave for the wealthy, whose summer homes line the coastline; and a simple harbor community for the year-round residents whose livelihoods rely on service to the visitors.

Typically, fierce friendships never develop between a local and a summer girl—but that’s just what happens with visitor Sadie Loman and Littleport resident Avery Greer. Each summer for almost a decade, the girls are inseparable—until Sadie is found dead. While the police rule the death a suicide, Avery can’t help but feel there are those in the community, including a local detective and Sadie’s brother, Parker, who blame her. Someone knows more than they’re saying, and Avery is intent on clearing her name, before the facts get twisted against her.

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book it was a great experience

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'm a huge fan of Megan Miranda. I read All the Missing Girls with my book club and we all really enjoyed it. So when I was browsing NetGalley saw Megan's latest "The Last House Guest" I jumped on it and I'm so glad I did.

Avery and Sadie have been friends for over a decade. Sadie comes from a Rich and powerful family but that didn't mean a thing in their friendship. One night, Sadie is found dead. Her death is ruled a suicide which leaves Avery wondering how big of a secret was Sadie keeping from her, that let her to kill herself?

As always, Miranda's writing sucks you right in. It was easy to suspect so many people in Sadie's death, but you are kept guessing until the very end.

This is due out in May and is the perfect Beach Read!

Avery and Sadie have become friends, even though Sadie Loman's family practically own Littleport, and Avery is not in the same league. Friends they become though and Avery gets a job through Sadie' s dad. One summer Sadie commits suicide, that's the official ruling, but Avery feels there's more to it. I enjoyed this one a lot! I read it fast because I couldn't put it down. There's secrets, which always happens in a small town community. It was fast-paced, the characters were interesting, the plot was executed well, and the writing was superb. Another great one by Megan Miranda!

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely loved this new one from Megan Miranda. She brought the setting to life and masterfully alternated between timelines to keep me on the edge of my seat.

I love Megan Miranda's books so much! I was so excited to get to read this arc before it is published. It will definitely be a big summer hit!
Littleport, Maine is an idyllic summer coastal town. It is divided by the summer guests, and the "townies". Avery is on of the only residents to cross the divide and begins to work for the Lomans. an extremely wealthy family. The Lomans have been buying property around Littleport to rent for the summer, and Avery begins to manage them while the Lomans are away. Sadie Loman and Avery had become best friends, and Avery was able to live in the guest house of the Loman's main property.
The novel begins at the "Plus One" party. A tradition started by the kids of the wealthy summer vacationers whose parents have left to return to their regular jobs and lives, but the older kids stay one more week and throw one heck of a party.
Avery's world is flipped upside down when Sadie commits suicide during the party by throwing herself of the rocks on the edge of the ocean.
Avery never quite believes Sadie would kill herself, and when weird things begin happening in some of the Loman's rental properties, she is certain someone is trying to stop her from finding out the truth.
While this was not my favorite of Miranda's novels, I still enjoyed the twists and turns of the story. I could never quite figure out who was telling the truth, and how trustworthy a narrator Avery was. Still a great read!

Megan Miranda has written another fast-paced thriller in the same vein as her previous works All The Missing Girls and The Perfect Stranger. Avery Greer is seeking answers a year after her friend Sadie Loman's death. Though the death was ruled a suicide, she is not convinced. Thus, begins a whirlwind investigation that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Miranda reveals the timeline of events that led up to Sadie's death chapter by chapter, alternating between that fateful night and the present investigation in which Avery is embroiled.

I love a book that has multiple layers of mystery and this one delivers just that reading recipe. Though I honed in on one of the mystery layers early in the book I was pleased to be completely surprised by the final twist at the book's conclusion. The two main characters, Avery and Sadie, have depth and are well-developed with their motivations and internal struggles becoming evident throughout the book. However, I felt like some of the Loman family members and peripheral characters were a bit underdeveloped. For readers who gravitate to plot driven narrative this will not be an issue. I highly recommend this one for all thriller/suspense fans! Many thanks to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.