I really enjoyed the way this book was written. I was never entirely sure what was going to happen next (which is always so fun!), and the story itself was compelling.

However! While I do really enjoy books with multiple narrators, this book would sometimes switch narrator without letting the reader know! It was easy enough to figure out, but it would take a pause every now and then--- and add unnecessary confusion. Please change this before the book is released!

Thank you to netgalley and to Avon Books UK for the ARC.

Unfortunately, this book just really wasn’t for me. I found the characters unlikeable and everything just happened way to quickly. There was no time for characters to process emotions, they just felt one way one second and another the next. Similarly, there were way too many POV switches and perhaps this is because it’s an ARC, but some didn’t have headings so I’d have to check the names and who the ‘You’ Referred to, on that note, I didn’t like the you tense, I wouldn’t mind it for a couple of chapters, perhaps even just saffron and caprice’s chapters, but it was too much for me,

Thanks to netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Caprice is definitely the mother-in-law from hell. Having lost her husband and (in her eyes) her status as head of the family, she moved into an annexe in son Miles and daughter in law Saffron’s home. Unhappy there, she persuaded Miles to allow her to have a room in the house. Although she carries out some some household duties and school runs while Saffron is at work – managing her own legal practice – she is angry and resentful.
Cleverly written (although I can’t imagine anyone as devious), Caprice is certainly good at making bullets for other people to fire. Whether it is encouraging the au pair to make a play for Miles, reporting Saffron to the authorities, or planting doubts in Miles’ mind about Saffron’s fidelity, she’s definitely one of a kind.
At first I thought there might be some common ground both Saffron and Caprice could reach. But as the story progresses it’s clear Caprice won’t be happy until her daughter in law has been driven out of the family home.
It’s a complex plot, in that Caprice is always trying to find something that will rid her of Saffron. As she becomes increasingly desperate her plans become more and more outrageous. There’s a sting in the tail too and just when you thought it was all over, there’s a surprise waiting.
My thanks to Amanda Robson, Avon and Netgalley for an ARC of The Unwelcome Guest in exchange for an honest review.

Saffron and Miles are happily married. Living with them and their two young sons is Caprice, Miles’ mother and she berates and belittles Saffron all she can. Enter Hayley the new nanny and things are about to get very interesting.
I really enjoy Amanda’s books and she always writes such convincing characters. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I thought this sounded so good and I couldn't wait to read it. Unfortunately, I was annoyed because every character but the couple's two children had a turn to tell the story. I like the 2 pov storylines, but once it gets to be more than that It's just a mess. Read this if you dare.

I loved this-- it was twisty and addictive and watching all the toxic mother-in-law stuff unfold was wildly entertaining.

The Unwelcome Guest is a fast read even though I wasn’t enjoying the whole Saffron and mother-in-law hating each other through the whole entire story. Saffron’s hubby Miles is oblivious to everything and anything his mother is doing. Looking forward to more books by Amanda Robson. This one for me didn’t quite do it for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

I have read books by Amanda Robson before. Obsession did not do it for me, but there have been reads that I very much enjoyed.

The Unwelcome Guest falls in the middle for me. I liked it, but it is not something I would read again just for fun. If you are looking for a pleasant read for a one off, this book will suit you just fine.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, although I found it a bit slow to start with. Miles and Saffron are happily married with two kids, she is the breadwinner as he is a philosopher who doesn't earn very much. His mother Caprice lives with them, she is a manipulative and disturbing character who hates Saffron for reasons that are not particularly logical. If that, it's not enough, Saffron and Miles have a nanny from New Zealand called Hailey who fancies Miles. While Miles' brother Aiden fancies Saffron. Yes, it's a bit of a mess.

Caprice is prepared to go to basically any lengths to get rid of her. The evil mother-in-law's story is nothing new, and it can get quite predictable, especially the fact the her son is completely oblivious to the fact that his mother is a kind of monster. The book has different point of views by the different characters, and I was often confused who was the active narrator at times, at the same time it worked quite well. Each character didn't always have a long chapter, sometimes they had only a few lines. I would give it 3.5 stars, not greatly innovative and predictable at times but still entertaining. And a good holiday read.

An incredible story and very realistic which is terryfying. Plenty of unexpected twists and turns. Highly recommended xxx

Saffron has the mother-in-law from hell, Caprice. In this story, we see just how far people will go to get people they don’t like out of their lives. Enjoyed this fast-paced psychological thriller!

This was a fast paced read from one of my favourite authors and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. I picked this book up on the Saturday afternoon and couldn’t put it down till I had finished a complete page Turner with lots of twists and turns and just when I thought I had worked it out bang something else came along to change my mind. This story showed that no matter how perfect people’s lives look on the outside that is not always the case on the inside. Loved how it was written from the different points of view of the various characters. The wife, the husband and brother and the mother in law and nanny and how they all played a part in what was going on. The main crook of the story was the power struggle and dynamics between the wife and her mother in law and how they really didn’t get along and how caprice would do anything to try and destroy her daughter in law saffron’s life.

A thrilling read!!!

I discovered Amanda Robson last year with My Darling (yes, I am very late to the game) and loved the way she writes using different POVs. When I heard about the release of The Unwelcome Guest, I knew I had to read it.

The story appears straight forward. We meet a happy couple -Safffron and Miles- whose marriage is threatened by the ultimate enemy.... the evil mother-in-law! Add to the mix a flirty nanny and a nosey brother (who may or may not have feelings for Saffron) and you have a perfect recipe for disaster... or maybe even murder...

But careful, everything is not as it appears... the ending will shock you.

As with My Darling, I have actually read this book various times. I really don't know what it is about Amanda's writing that appeals to me so much but I absolutely love it.

goodreads.com/booksireadandliked
Disclosure: I would like to thank the publisher for my advanced reader copy of the book. This is my honest review

The Unwelcome Guest was hard for me to get through. I love psychological thrillers, especially involving families, but found this book to be dramatic more than anything else. It felt like I was watching a soap opera. The characters weren’t great and the ending was predictable.

This story is very straightforward without a hint of mystery or thriller. From the beginning, I can see that Caprice hates her daughter-in-law, Saffron. Whether it be because Saffron is a modern woman who wants a career as well as a family or because Caprice did not think she was good enough for her favorite son, the hatred was there. Caprice's character is judgmental without a cause. Miles is oblivious to everything in the house. The relationship between Saffron and Miles was not convincing as husband and wife. Hayley is the most naïve person I've read in a story in a long time. I don't know why character Julie and Aiden is written into the story. Their characters doesn't add to the storyline. The story read like a bad long-running soap opera. It was not impressive.

Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Unwelcome Guest by Amanda Robson drew me in immediately and did not let go. Short, crisp chapters told in alternating voices propelled me through the pages, and I found this one difficult to put down, even for a moment.

Saffron loves her husband Miles, but things become strained when her mother-in-law Caprice moves in. It seems that Caprice has an agenda that is far more sinister than the typical rivalry between a mother and her son's wife, and this twisted tale will have you seeing your own in-laws in an entirely new, and undoubtedly more positive, light. I could not look away for a second, so chilling was this diabolical narrative of domestic discontent. I cannot wait to see what Ms Robson has in store for us next. 4.5 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an ARC.

Miles and Saffron are a very happily married couple (are they really though?) Enter Caprice, the proverbial mother in law from hell. Caprice is not a very big fan of saffron, and has no problem showing it. This book was one heck of a fun wild ride! These characters are all batsh*t crazy in the best way! Lots of fun, some twisty turns and a wild ending! I can't wait to read more by this author!

I received a very lightly edited ebook ARC of The Unwelcome Guest. I feel this is important to note as I believe many of my issues with this book stem from this. I always strive to be fair and honest with my reviews, so I want to note this in advance.

The Unwelcome Guest is a tale of the mother-in-law from hell. It is advertised as a thriller, but it definitely lacks the fast-paced, twisty-turny style that is typical of thrillers. It is written from many different points of view, often ending on one sentence of a conversation and picking up with a new POV for the following sentence. In and of itself this isn't an issue, but in my copy many of the chapter titles (showing who's POV we are reading) were missing or mislabeled. The timeline was also difficult to follow, but again I feel this is due to editing errors where November is used in place of December. The overall story is fairly predictable, and follows the basic "evil in-law" trope. It is a quick read and would likely be very enjoyable for someone new to thrillers and doesn't like to read about violence. I will add that even though I didn't find any of the characters likeable, I still found myself rooting for some of them. The ending also feels abrupt and slightly rushed. If you are a die-hard thriller fan, this probably is not the book for you.

The Unwelcome Guest’ was a very welcome addition to my reading matter – an utterly fantastic read with Amanda Robson's trademark sass and acerbic style heavily in evidence throughout this book.

Main character Saffron, a career woman, is wife to gorgeous academic, Miles and mother to two lively young boys. Mother in law, Candace, lives with them and will stop at nothing to spilt up Saffron and Miles’ marriage - believing that Saffron is unsuitable for her precious son. Consequently, she makes Saffron's life a living hell. Also playing a prominent role is nanny, Hayley, a young Kiwi, who develops an inappropriate crush! Events play out with unimaginable consequences in this modern work of contemporary / psychological fiction.

The writing style is totally unique and fantastically engaging. Amanda Robson’s books are distinctive with a unique selling point and very modern feel. she captures this through the narrative where each character directs their thoughts / narrative to another character. I have never come across this style before but it really works.

This is a book I can’t recommend highly enough – great story, superb narrative and heavily featuring those all important plot twists!

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advanced copy.

It’s a brave person who takes on the subject of the dreaded mother-in-law, the reader could instantly dislike it! This book is written by a new author for me so I gave it a try!
Saffron of course loves Miles and her children, life is difficult with his horrid mother Caprice living in their home, she’s doing all she can to find a new daughter-in-law! Hayley is the new nanny, she moves in when other nannies have failed and Aiden, Miles’ brother, has his sneaky moments too!
I felt every tension, every devious plan and manipulation and wondered, how the mind works to scheme and meddle into others lives.
The plot is brilliant, superb and a book that all mothers-in-law should read, if you dare!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks so much to Avon Books UK for the opportunity to read and offer my review of this superbly written book!