This is a compulsively readable novel. Initially, I had doubts about whether the main character was compelling and if I would stick with it. But, within a few pages, I was drawn in and eager to follow her journey and learn about her past. An exceptional and dazzling book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of “The Guest” in exchange for an honest review. I have not read Cline’s work prior to this, so I can’t compare it to anything. I enjoyed the style of writing, and I read it in one sitting. I couldn’t figure out what the overall aim of the novel was. Character development and plot both felt a little unfulfilled to me. The energy and atmosphere of the book definitely kept my attention.

Emma Cline is great at captivating readers especially in the page turning new novel The Guest.
Although the main character Alex is lost, in trouble and clearly a user, Cline pulls the reader in making her care deeply about this very unlikeable character while at the same time, pulling for her amidst her circumstances.
I loved this book, but was a bit frustrated with the Dom story line which we learn nothing about. The ending is slightly unsatisfying but the fast paced story makes up for it.
Thanks to NegGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Emma Cline does a great job at conveying how aimless Alex is, especially as she plays on other's desires and slips between personas. I love the smartness of the writing and the focus on one week in time, which is very grounding.

I hope this isn't marketed as a thriller, because although there are some thrilling elements (Alex is being chased), it's more of a quiet literary novel.

Ultimately Cline skewers the wastefulness of the upper-class summer residents, for whom most everything is disposable.

I wish we had more insight into Alex's past as a sex worker, and I expected a bit more closure with the ending. However, I think Cline intended for the reader to feel less than satisfied.

Overall, this is a strong novel recommended for fans of literary fiction.

Like The Girls, The Guest by Emma Cline was an engrossing read. In this book, Alex, a 22 year old grifter, tries to find people (and, by extension, places) to latch on to after her much older boyfriend kicks her out. Alex is skillful at charming (mostly) men and convincing them to take care of her, but only up to the point where she self-destructs; the facade can’t be kept forever.
Alex is a morally questionable and pretty unlikable character; she steals from people around her, doesn’t seem to care about or realize her impact on others, and numbs herself even further with painkillers and alcohol. And yet, I found myself rooting for her and wanting her to leave each scenario unscathed. What I found most interesting was her keen sense of others was contrasted with her lack of introspection. She knew what others needed, and she knew which of their behaviors were strictly performance. At the same time, she’d always be surprised when people caught on to her own performance and she didn’t realize that she had her own tells. It is interesting that it was predominantly those with proximity to wealth who could tell the truth about Alex first, maybe because they had their own facades too.
I wish the ending had been a little bit more satisfying. The tension that had been built up over the final chapter merely fizzled out.
While I do think some more backstory on Alex would have helped us sympathize with her, part of me wonders if we were even supposed to. Maybe we were supposed to be kept out of truly knowing her just like everyone else Alex interacts with.
All in all, this was a good read and I had a hard time putting it down. I will definitely recommend it to my students to put in conversation with The Great Gatsby: similar ideas about wealth and excess as well as the lengths people will go to find belonging/to stop running.

I’ve loved Emma Cline since reading The Girls. The guest is another page turner I was really there with Alex in the Hampton's trying to second guess her next move. I loved every second. 5 stars

In The Guest, Emma Cline presents a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of class dynamics and the consequences of striving for success at all costs. Through the character of Alex, a professional escort attempting to solidify her relationship with a wealthy man named Simon, Cline delves into the world of the wealthy vacationers on Long Island and exposes their flaws and vulnerabilities. As Alex navigates her way through a series of luxurious homes and tries to survive the five days until Labor Day, she is forced to confront the reality of her own moral ambiguities and the limits of her own desires. Overall, The Guest is a captivating and enjoyable read that is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers.

I’m conflicted about The Guest, Emma Cline’s new novel. It’s about a young woman named Alex who slips between lives, inserting herself into situations deceptively and then getting out when she needs to. I think The Guest presents itself like it’s going to be something of a thriller, which I don’t think it really is; at least, that isn’t where any of the interest of the book came from for me. There’s a bit of a mystery set up at the beginning of the novel—apparently someone named Dom is searching for Alex and won’t leave her alone because of something she did—but the thing she did isn’t all that interesting or surprising, and is revealed relatively early on. I never found the threat of Dom’s presence very credible, either; I mean, the sense that Dom is out there, looking for Alex, never felt like a major part of the compulsion of the novel to me.

Basically, I felt like the novel was caught between ideas: on the one hand, it wants to be (something like) a literary thriller, and to be heavily plot-motivated—external events are certainly what causes much of the movement. On the other, the novel is invested in psychological impressions; it’s interested in portraiture of the luxuriance and wastefulness of the upper-class summer residents, for whom nothing seems irreparable, and in contrasting that with Alex’s position, in showing the way she’s able to use the tools at her disposal to navigate this world. The conflict is most evident when we see interesting insights from Alex about a social scenario, and then some kind of external event forces her out of one party and into another; it’s the transitions that feel weakest to me, in retrospect.

For me, the most interesting thing the novel explores is Alex’s experience of sexuality essentially as a tool. We understand that, before the events of the novel, she was a sex worker of some kind—the details are never given with any specificity. Her past experience is the key that grants her access to the world she’s trying to survive in. She understands, from working with clients, how to set people at ease, how to make a certain kind of impression. The moments when Alex’s use of her sexuality ceases to be entirely performative—when she experiences something pleasurable—were something I became very interested in watching throughout the novel.

I suspect some readers might be bothered by the lack of concrete information available about Alex’s past. I know basically nothing, having finished the book; there are flashes here and there, but nothing substantial. This is something I didn’t mind, and in fact enjoyed, in part. A lot of novels I deeply engage with operate similarly, so I respect the principle a lot and I think it was an interesting move to make. I can’t help but feel, though, that there was probably more that could’ve been salvaged from Alex’s past in order to more clearly or directly ‘shade’ the events of the novel, psychologically. That being said, one of the novel’s strengths is the way Alex forms as a character despite the lack of all of that information.

The major problem I had with The Guest was its ending, which is to say, its reliance on externalities for plot paired with its reluctance to deliver anything much with them. The final scene of the novel is vague and feels almost rote to me. But I didn’t know where I wanted it to have gone, either. I’m not sure what else to even write about it.

I really did enjoy reading the novel, and at some point I’ll probably go back to it, not only because I haven’t felt so conflicted about a book in a long time.

Many thanks to the publishers for an advance e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was immediately drawn in by the detailed, descriptive style of the writing, which made me feel engrossed in the narrative. It was difficult to put down and I finished the whole thing in two sittings without ever feeling bored.
Alex was incredibly likeable, and I found myself eager for her to succeed in her con despite her obvious shortcomings, which I think is a testament to the author's ability to create realistic, complex characters.
Had the book continued on the course that it was on for the first 75%, I would have easily. rated it 5/5 stars.

Without giving too much away, I will say that this book certainly does not offer any sort of closure. While I am not someone who automatically hates an open ended conclusion, I felt in this case that the ending did not at all fit with the flow or feel of the rest of the book. What drew me to this book was the careful thought and detail that was obviously put into describing each scene, so to have the penultimate scene close the way it did gave me a feeling of incompleteness and lack of overall satisfaction with my read.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a complex character study, to anyone who cheers for interesting underdogs, and for those who are fans of Cline's other books. If none of these descriptors sound like you, I'm not sure this one will be up your alley. Rating- 3.5/5

Emma Klines’s new book “The Guest” is set during a long weekend in the east end of Long Island. Alex, the antihero of the story scams her way from one despicable rich person to the next in this hard to put down novel. There wasn’t one likeable character in this story and yet, I still couldn’t put it down.

The Guest is the second of Emma Cline’s books that I’ve read. Honestly I didn’t enjoy The Guest as much her other work, but it was still a good read.

I understood what Cline was intending to do, Alex was a walking disaster! I know that’s the whole point, but I couldn’t stand her! She kind of missed the mark for me, she just wasn’t likable enough. I couldn’t find anything redeeming about her and I didn’t enjoy the ending.

I think it’s definitely worth the read, however not quite as good as Cline’s other work.

what a crazy ride this read was! Emma Cline made this so anxiety-inducing, so discomforting, yet so compelling. I cringed very hard and very fast at Alex's horrible decisions, whether that be her stealing, her lying, or her unabashed it's-ok-to-use-people-for-what-you-want-to-reach-your-goals mindset. despite the impending doom in Alex's life, we do get glimpses of Alex experiencing normal emotions – being fearful of other people's angry outbursts, feeling guilt for using some people.

I worried this would not carry much depth, that Alex would be so unbelievably unbearable that I wouldn't finish, but as we see small hints of humanity in her, you begin to hope she finds her way (for herself AND everyone around her). let it be said that she is undoubtedly a swindler and a thief and a very lost person, but you can't help reading on.

4 stars instead of 5 because of the ending. lots left up for interpretation, and with the heaviness throughout the book, solid closure would been left me feeling better.

another thing – cover is eye-catching and I love it. I will definitely read more Emma Cline in the future.

Engaging book that keeps you wondering where it is going. The book is about Alex, a not very likeable character. She is aimless, a grifter and pathological liar. There is not much of a backstory that explains how Alex is so aimless. The book focuses on 1 week, where Alex's goal is to go to her ex boyfriend's Labor Days party after he kicks her out. During the week she burns many bridges. The author does a good job of drawing the reader in especially when there are not many likable characters. I was disappointed in the ending, which is vague and makes the reader draw their own conclusions.

I was personally thrilled to be able to read an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley for Emma Cline's new book "The Guest". The book follows Alex, a young woman who is trying to hang on to her man and her lifestyle. Alex has made her way from the streets of NYC to high society. Unfortunately, Alex has skeletons in her closet that haunt her through her journey and once she finds herself on her own she starts to unravel. But Alex is determined and the reader goes along through her highs and lows in this book.

This was my first time reading a book by Cline. I am disappointed in myself for not picking up any of her work sooner but now I know.

I enjoyed this book immensely, which might be strange because this is not a fun book. Although it takes place in the summer, you are not in for a fun summer beach. Instead, we follow Alex, a twenty-two-year-old who kind of sucks, through a week before a special labor day party that will solve all of her problems.

I like the fact that Alex doesn't want to change her ways. It makes her more human to me. She keeps getting herself into situations that aren't good for her, and in at least one situation, she is the problem. She is a big problem that she does nothing to fix and tries to use the situation to help herself. *Ahem * Please leave Jack alone. Alex keeps running away from her problems and to the arms of any random man. Her presence brings chaos and ruin but subtly. She ruins some aspect of every situation she gets into, then runs to the next man, and it starts over.

Alex is very messy and apathetic to the fact that she is this way. This makes her a fascinating character in that regard. It captures the energy of being a floundering person in their early twenties quite well. However, I hope most of us that age are not as problematic as Alex. It also emphasizes the attitude that people can have where if some random thing in their life happens, here the labor day party, everything will be great, and all the problems will be solved. This obviously is not true, but something very easy to think at times.

I also found it interesting that Alex has little to no background, something that Jack comments on. We don't know why she is the way she is, whether she's had a rough life or she's just not a great person. I'm glad the backstory wasn't added and is more left up for interpretation. The current events and story stand alone. It will be easy for readers to interpret their version of why Alex is like this.

This book confounded me and made me a bit depressed and nihilistic but in the best way. I think that was the point. Cline is a stunning and intelligent writer. This book hit all the right notes for me. "The Girls" has just made its way to the top of my tbr after this book.

"But maybe some things could never be erased. Maybe they tinted some cellular level of your experience, and even if you scraped away whatever part was on the surface, the rot had already gotten beneath."

Just didn't do anything for me--I adored "The Girls" but this one didn't seem to say much. I don't mind if a protagonist is unlikable, but I should have an opinion about her ultimate fate. I was interested to know how it all would end but I didn't care what happened to Alex or any of the other characters. It's unexpected to be in a person's head for an entire book and know so little about them--only how they survive. There wasn't any dialogue until (I believe) around page twenty, so Cline told rather than showed. Alex was the only character even semi-fleshed out, and the rest were cocooned by their money and given no apparent interiority. They all just existed as a help or hindrance on Alex's journey of survival.

Obviously Cline is an adept writer. But the plot? Just blah.

this book felt like stumbling through a thick, drunken fog. i think it made me dissociate a bit but i might've just been high. it took me a long time to read this bc i went through a reading slump, but this book got me back into reading...? so

i wish i had more to say on this, but...

thanks to random house publishing group for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Wow. As an Emma Cline fan, I'm not going to lie: I expected something good. And boy, did she deliver. I started this book last night around 11pm and finished at 1am. I couldn't put it down, staying up into the night to get to the final page. And that ending! Amazing how such a simple story with so many ambiguous details can draw you in. Such a talent. And the writing is incredible.

I rely enjoyed the disturbing story however my only complaint was the ending.

Thanks Netgalley and Random House for allowing me to read this book

All thoughts are my own and aren't influenced be anyone else

I could almost take my review of The Girls and paste it here. Different plot, but same strengths and weaknesses.

In The Guest we meet objectively despicable Alex. Alex is a grifter, possibly a high class call girl, and reminds me of the real life Anna Sorokin in some ways. Yet somehow, someway, Cline has me simultaneously abhorring this girl and hoping she survives her extremely tenuous situation. She's manipulative, but also desperate which somehow makes the reader empathize.

The focus of the book is a week in time in a wealthy area (the Hamptons?). Alex is living with her much older boyfriend. When things go awry between them, Alex is essentially homeless. Caught between a rock and a hard place, Alex uses her considerable charisma and looks to attempt to solve her problems and emerge unscathed.

Unfortunately, just like The Girls, Cline builds this dark, very suspenseful situation and brings the reader along for the ride. I couldn't put it down once I hit the two-thirds mark. But the ending. The ending was what took this book from 5 start territory down to 4 (and I suspect for some readers it will be even more impactful from a negative standpoint). The reader is left to interpret the finale, and in that way the whole novel reminded me of a short story. Short stories often leave a lot of the work up to the reader; and that's one of the things I really LOVE about short stories. But when the author does this in a novel, the reader is expecting the payoff. We have invested a lot of time and thought into the character, and we want to know what the author envisions happening to this woman. But alas, the reader is left to use their imagination to a great extent (think the Sopranos finale) . . .and while I still really enjoyed the ride, I wanted, needed actually a tad more resolution.

All that being said, I totally love Cline's writing. She is great at developing compelling characters and making the reader care and turn the pages. I'll read her next book and her next . . .even if I have to decide the endings for myself.