Told from the points of view of Saffron, her husband Miles, her nanny Hayley, and her Mother in Law Caprice, The Unwelcome Guest explores the lengths women will go to protect their family and marriage.
I enjoyed the twists and turns of the novel. I found the switching between narrators to be confusing sometimes and their use of “you”. Overall great read and would highly recommend for all!

* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from Avon Books UK and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

I’ve enjoyed Robson’s books in the past, and this one was definitely right up there with her others! So uniquely written, in that way Robson chooses to write! Tense, fun, and fast paced, makes it absolutely unputdownable! Highly, highly recommend this twisted tale, which you as a reader will get to see unravel!

From the cover, I knew this would be a gripping and suspenseful book. The Unwelcome Guest by Amanda Robson is about a married woman and her awful mother-in-law. Imagine your mother-in-law hating you so much that she will do anything to rid of you? Yikes. Thankfully we can read about it rather than experience this in real life…

Synopsis:

Saffron vowed to love Miles no matter what life threw at them both. But when her mother-in-law moves into their happy family home, Saffron’s shiny life begins to tarnish.

Even as Caprice’s barbed comments turn to something more sinister, Saffron hopes the new nanny’s arrival will shield her from the worst of it. She’s starting to feel paranoid in her own home.

Little does she realize that Caprice longs for a new daughter-in-law – and she’ll do anything to make that happen…

This one is due out on August 19.

Another unknown author to me and another great story.

Miles and Saffron are happy, happily in love with each other and happily parenting their two little boys Harry and Ben then Miles' elderly mother, Caprice moves in with them after her husband dies. Caprice can't stand Saffron and can't understand what her son sees in her. Saffron, after years of trying to get her mother-in-law to like her, feels the same dislike back and Miles is constantly stuck in the middle. When the family hire a nanny to help take care of Harry and Ben while their parents work, Caprice sees the perfect opportunity to try and split Saffron and Miles up for good. Will she get her wish of getting Saffron out of her sons life? And what lengths will she go to achieve this?

At the beginning I didn't feel I was getting a good feel of the characters as the story jumped from character to character very quickly so not much time was spent on each character. However this issue stopped the further I got into the book and I actually ended up enjoying hearing what was happening from each characters perspective and I really liked the way it was told. At the start I wasn't sure who I should feel sorry for however it became clear about 1/3 way through who the villain was. I don't want to spoil things so I wont say who, but what I will say is that it was seriously chilling the plans she made and the lengths she went to. I also did not see the twist coming at the end which is always a sign of a good story.

All in all, I highly recommend this book, I'm very pleased to have found this author and I look forward to reading more of her books.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and Amanda Robson for my advanced reading copy. Due out 19th August 2021.

This book was just ok for me.

Saffron and Miles are happily married. Everything seems perfect with one exception.. Saffron’s mother in-law Caprice despises her with a passion. Turns out the feeling is mutual.

Saffron hires a nanny named Haley to care for their daughter hoping that it will create some distance between her and Caprice.

Caprice is hell bent on getting rid of Saffron and does just about anything to achieve her goal.

Miles is oblivious to the war between his mother and his wife.

The premise is ok. This book is another addition to the crazy mother-in law genre, though I have read other books that have done it better.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Hmm.... yeah..... so in theory it's a book I should have loved and devoured in a day but I just wasn't that keen. I just found myself saying "but why?!" A lot of the time. Its not the most believable of stories and seems to have alot of stereotypes just thrown together to create a story. I think because this basic plot had been done so may times it really has to be a whole new spin or the writing has to be on a completely superior level to make it stand out any and I just didn't feel that fron this book. If you're new to the domestic noir genre or if you have a MIL and can relate then you'll probably find it more enjoyable than I did. It's not a bad book on any way, just fades into the background a bit for me

I’ve never read any books from this author. WOW! I had a hard time putting it down! You won’t be disappointed...

There’s another reviewer, Kat F., who perfectly summed up my thoughts about this book. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me. The short, first person POV chapters would’ve been fine if there were even one likable character in the bunch. There’s no reason for Caprice to so strongly hate her daughter-in-law.. other than her being a working woman? The inundation of random cheating accusations and thoughts. I begrudgingly DNFed this, so I won’t be reviewing it elsewhere, but I wanted to like it so bad. I just didn’t.

Unfortunately, I did not like the writing style, not the characters either. Characters: She - beautiful, smart, perfect, nice name, he - a joke man, the nanny - trying so hard her young body magic on him and the hell mother in law.
This review is not intended to change your mind if you want to read the book, it wasn't for me, that's all.
Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the book.

From the time that Saffron first meets her mother-in-law, Caprice, they clash heads on everything imaginable. Bad turns worse when Caprice’s husband dies and she moves in with Saffron, husband Miles, and their two children. As far as Saffron can tell, Caprice is doing everything in her power to split up Saffron and Miles’ marriage, despite Miles not believing it.

.With entries from Miles, Saffron, Caprice, Miles’ brother Aiden, and Hayley the nanny, this isn’t so much of a mystery as a domestic suspense tale as old as time— the struggle between mother-in-laws and daughter-in-laws— taken much further than you would hope would happen in real life.

I was a bit confused with jumping from character to character, but I found the writing engaging and read The Unwanted Guest in about a day and a half.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Harpercollins for this free ARC in exchange for an honest and fair review.

You wouldn’t know to look at Saffron and Miles that everything is NOT perfect. He’s gorgeous, a lecturer, and a doting husband and father to their two boys. She’s gorgeous, a lawyer, and a great mother. They live in a opulent home in a great neighbourhood. So what’s wrong?

Caprice. She’s what’s wrong. The 68-year-old mother-in-law from Hell resides with Saffron and Miles. She was supposed to live in the annex…but she’s wiggled her way into their daily lives.

Initially, I was all in for this bonkers book. I laughed and giggled and …. then it wasn’t funny any more. The whole novel is about Caprice’s vindictive and manipulative plotting. It was entertaining, don’t get me wrong, but when there isn’t a clear reason for Caprice’s actions other than she doesn’t like her daughter-in-law IN ADDITION TO her son, who chooses to stick his head in the sand, it’s just pages of malicious and devious behaviour. You can imagine what happens when a gorgeous, young nanny is quickly hired and becomes fodder for Caprice’s agenda.

I did like the short chapters and the 1st person POV because it made it more intense, especially when the narration discussed other characters in the 3rd person perspective. Interestingly executed.

Filled with fantastically unlikeable characters attempting unrealistic actions, this was an amusing and quick read, but it offered nothing new in the crazy mother-in-law genre. Please investigate the other reviews before deciding on this book; it looks like 50-50 at a month left to publication.

I received this advance copy from Amanda Robson, Avon Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books for an early copy of The Unwelcome Guest. This book……. Hmmm…..I actually struggled for 68% of it, wondering why I kept reading it. The chapters were very confusing, with the title of the person who was supposed to be talking and then it was another person talking in the middle of that same chapter. Then something confusing happened, I COULD NOT STOP READING!!!!!! Sooooooo many bizarre twists and turns, that my head was spinning round and round. I strongly urge you to keep reading when you struggle with this book because it was a Wild ride from 68% on.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free ebook ARC of this in exchange for my review.

This was not the book for me. The summary sounded interesting and I thought it would be a good read, but it just really didn't work for me at all. The quick chapters, changing POV's and just the unrealistic qualities of the characters and their behaviors didn't work for me at all. I did finish the book, but it was a chore.

2 stars.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. An interesting novel by a new author in my personal reading-sphere! I am sure others would enjoy it too. Good character portrayls, descriptive setting and gripping plot.

Anyone who thinks they have the worst mother-in-law, read this! The unwelcome guest, otherwise known as “Mother-in-law from Hell”. Loved it! Kept me gripped all the way through.

Miles and Saffron have the most wonderful marriage with 2 lovely boys, Harry and Ben. Caprice, Saffron’s Mother-in-law clearly wants Saffron out of the way and does everything she can to split the happy couple up. Miles has a brother, Aidan, who wishes he was with Saffron. Throw in a Nanny from New Zealand who wishes she was with Miles and here you have endless possibilities for deception and adultery.

The style of writing is in the form of each chapter being from the point of view of all the main characters. For me, this helped understand the way each character was thinking and behaving. Just brilliant!

Many thanks to netgalley, the publishers and the author for an arc. Really appreciate the opportunity to read this early!

I’ve loved all of Amanda Robson’s other book, but sadly I just couldn’t get into this one.
I struggled through but didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as her other ones.
Unfortunately, it’s only a 3 star read for me.

As if you need another reason to dislike your mother-in-law… She might actually be planning to break you up and kill you. A very interesting and exciting read about the worst mother-in-law ever. I’m not a huge fan of the way the chapters are laid out, switching back and forth constantly from the point of view of Five different people and I kept having to check and recheck who was narrating. Other than that, a pretty good book that had me promising that my husband’s mother will never set foot in my home again.

I received an ARC from NetGalley, but my opinions are all mine.

A gripping, enticing and arresting book to be sure! Saffron, a beautiful and successful lawyer with her own high-end law firm is married to a gorgeous man, Miles, who dotes on her as much as she dotes on him. Their two young sons are lively and full of mischief as they ought to be...sounds great, doesn't it? Well...not so much. Enter Caprice, wealthy and evil in the form of dreaded mother in law. Her hatred of Saffron isn't even hidden but blatant and scheming. If this doesn't sound ideal, just wait. Youthful Hayley becomes the nanny to the two boys and isn't what she seems, either. Aiden is Caprice's second son but not treated equally. He is also in love. Distrust every way you look!

The characters are rolled up into an elastic ball, each closely connected and very snappy. As you can imagine there are loads of relationship combinations. I almost felt tightly-wound reading this twisty story! Yes, parts are predictable, but I enjoyed it for what it was without reading into it. An entertaining if not realistic book, the premise is built on layer upon layer of secrets, revenge and twisted love. I really like the multiple narration but am not smitten with some of the relationships. The characters are not exactly loveable with the exception of the children but that's ok...sometimes we need to passionately hate characters! Stories can be more interesting that way.

Know there is some adult language. On the whole this book is a great escape so if that's what you are after, you may really enjoy this book, unless multiple perspectives are not your thing.

My sincere thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this book.

It's not often that I don't complete a book, I don't like to feel they've got the better of me 🙂 this book nearly had me beat but I decided to continue.
The premise of the book seemed really good but the reality for me was disappointing.
Saffron and Miles are happily married with two boys, both have successful careers. The only downside for Saffron is the mother in law from hell (Caprice) lives with them. For some unknown reason, and we never do find out, Caprice hates Saffron and will do anything to cause Saffron problems. Also enter into the equation a Nanny (Hayley) who fancies the husband and a brother who's in lust with his sister in law. No likeable characters and a toxic household
Be aware that in some chapters the POV of the characters can change mud paragraph, may be an uncorrected copy.
Many thanks to Netgalley and publishers for the advanced copy, my opinions are my own

There comes a time in every reader’s life where they have to wave the white flag in their battle with a book and admit defeat.

The Unwelcome Guest … you win. I gave it my best effort, but you were too much for me.

Am I saying the book is awful? No. Amanda Robson has written a book that plenty of others have liked, it’s just not a style that works for me.

Saffron, a lawyer, and Miles, a lecturer, are married and live in an opulent house with their two young sons, Ben and Harry. Miles’ widowed mother, Caprice, lives in the house with them, having switched from their annex. Aiden is Miles’ arrogant and wealthy younger brother, who is divorced from Julie, Saffron’s personal assistant and Miles’ first love from way back. Throw into the mix, Hayley, the recently hired young nanny who develops insta-hots for Miles the moment she lays eyes on him.

I only made it through 25%, but so far it went something like this:

Saffron barely interviews Hayley, basically saying I read your resume and references and can you start Monday? Always good to know who you’re entrusting your beloved children to. Hayley sees Miles and basically wants to have his babies already. (OK … I might’ve exaggerated there, but that thought entertains me.) Mean-spirited Caprice hates Saffron. No real, satisfying explanation given for that, other than perhaps that Saffron is a career woman? (Eeek! The horror.) Aiden lusts for Saffron, who loves Miles, who probably loves Saffron too, but might possibly still have feelings for Julie, who inexplicably married Aiden after having once been in a relationship with Miles. It all makes perfect sense, right?

The short chapters pinball from unlikable character to unlikable character, all told in a first person, mostly present tense, “fly on the wall” POV, which read more like melodramatic diary entries from people with too much time on their hands. Added to this was stilted dialogue that was just too cheesy for my taste buds.

As I said, there are many others who enjoyed this book, so please take time to read their reviews if you’re considering this book. It might work for you! I’ll hand it to Robson that she knows how to write some OTT characters doing OTT things, which may be exactly what she was going for! Who knows? On a different day I might’ve been in the mood for that.

Based on the characters and style of this particular story, I feel confident that my rating wouldn’t be any different were I to finish the book:

★★

Thanks to Avon UK Publishing, Netgalley, and author Amanda Robson for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. It will be published August 19, 2021.