Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. And thank you to @macmillan.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

A Surprising and Delightful Read

The Guest is a charming and unexpected novel that captivated me from start to finish. Initially, the abundance of characters might feel overwhelming, but as the story progresses, the connections between them become clearer.

The dynamic between Laure, Iris, and Gabriel is intriguing, as their lives intertwine in unexpected ways. While Laure's prolonged stay might seem excessive, it provides an opportunity for character growth and unexpected revelations.

The author skillfully balances the emotional depth of the characters' personal struggles with lighter, more humorous moments. The surprise ending adds a delightful twist to the narrative, leaving readers satisfied and intrigued.

The audiobook narration by Emily Joyce is exceptional. Her distinct voices for each character brought the story to life, making it an immersive listening experience. Her performance significantly enhanced the enjoyment of the book.

Overall, The Guest is a well-crafted novel that offers a heartwarming and thought-provoking reading experience.

4 stars

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This book had me utterly captivated from start to finish! The tension is palpable from the moment Iris and Gabriel return home to find their friend Laure in their house. Laure's unpredictable behavior creates an atmosphere of suspense that had me on the edge of my seat. Her actions—sleeping in their bed, wearing Iris' clothes, and rearranging furniture—build a creeping sense of unease that intensifies with every chapter.

Laure's dramatic exit from her marriage, spurred by the revelation of her husband's affair and secret child, adds a deep, emotional layer to the story. Iris and Gabriel's struggle to support their friend, while dealing with the strain her presence puts on their own lives, is portrayed with raw authenticity.

The introduction of a new couple in town and their mysterious gardener with a checkered past adds another intriguing dimension to the plot. As secrets from everyone's pasts begin to unravel, the story twists and turns in unexpected ways, keeping me guessing until the very end.

The author skillfully weaves together these complex characters and their intertwined fates, making for a deeply engaging and thrilling read. The emotional depth, combined with the edge-of-your-seat suspense, makes this book an absolute must-read for anyone who loves a good thriller.

I highly recommend this book. It's a gripping tale of deception, betrayal, and the dark secrets that can lie hidden in even the closest relationships. This is one thriller that you won't be able to put down!

I thought I had this book pegged and I was so wrong!! This book threw me for a loop and my mind is still reeling. The Guest is slow-burn psychological thriller that makes you question how well you know the people around you and how far you’d go to protect the people you love.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the gifted copy of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest feedback.

Gabriel and Iris come home from vacation to their best friend Laure staying at their home. She's just found out that her husband Pierre (their other best friend) cheated and has a secret child because of the one night stand. They're confused about the whole situation, but she is clearly distraught and needs some time away from her husband so they let her stay.

Her time at their home would put anyone into an early grave. She is there for months on end, taking up all of their time, money, and energy. It got so insane at several points I had to put the book down because ... just no. Nobody would let anyone treat them like that in their own home.

Laure, surprising to no one, ends up dead. Then the couple finds out that her husband has been found dead as well. Everyone initially thinks Laure killed him for his infidelity, but a list of suspects quickly begins to form. People who have reasons to want both of them killed off.

The Guest is a domestic drama with a little bit of mystery sprinkled in. The majority of the book was the annoying trio at their house driving each other (and me) crazy. The ending did surprise me, so I gave it 3 stars. Would I read it again? Definitely not. I feel like every BA Paris book I read follows the exact same formula?? I don't know, I was just so bored!

I've read multiple past books by Paris, and this one was in the middle - not as good as the first of hers I've read, and not as bad as the second or third. A solid thriller with good twists; this one gets 4 stars!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for providing me this Digital Advanced Readers Copy of the book!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley..

"Secrets, secrets are no fun, unless you share them with everyone."

This book - wow. There were so many twists and turns that when it was over, I was wondering how I missed some clues.

Gabriel and Iris return from a holiday break to find someone is in their house. When they yell out, a close friend appears at the top of the stairs. She has left her husband and crashed at their place. Since both couples swap houses from time to time, this was not a huge shock. However, Laure is not the greatest house guest and starts to outstay her welcome. To help her try to reconcile with her husband, Pierre, they try to contact him, to no avail.

Gabriel and Iris also become friends with a new couple in town. As they become closer, Laure appears jealous and worms her way into the situation. As the five of them intertwine, weird things start to happen, and then come the deaths. Who is the killer? You will be surprised.

While I'm typically a fan of B. A. Paris's work, known for her gripping pacing and intricate mysteries, this novel left me somewhat disappointed. The plot centers on Iris and Gabriel, a married couple whose peaceful life is upended by the arrival of their intrusive friend Lauren and Gabriel’s haunting encounter with a young man’s tragic final words. While the storyline offers plenty of suspense, I found it challenging to connect with the characters, particularly Lauren, whose overbearing and boundary-pushing presence felt exaggerated and frustrating. The story introduces multiple subplots and characters, including new neighbors with their own secrets, which felt cluttered and detracted from the main narrative. Despite a slow start, the short, punchy chapters and a well-executed ending kept me invested, and the final twists were rewarding. Overall, while this wasn’t my favorite of Paris’s novels, the writing remained engaging, and I'm still looking forward to her next book. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

Just like other B.A Paris books, The Guest pulled me in and kept me guessing. Full of twists and mystery, this book was unputdownable!

B.A. Paris does a really good job of building suspense. Readers who enjoy unreliable narrators will find much to appreciate here. Reading the novel, one is never sure whom to trust as Gabriel, Joseph, Laure, Esme, Pierre, and Iris all seem to have things to hide. Beth and Hugh seem to be the only completely guileless characters. So there are plenty of twists and turns to keep the action moving. I did very much enjoy the pace of the book, the setting, and the atmosphere. The characters did use the word "gosh" more than necessary. It's words on a page; fillers like that aren't needed and they are a distraction.

What detracted from my enjoyment of the book was the underlying theme that choosing not to have children is depressing and something that everyone regrets. It is not and the story would have been just fine without that. The other negative is the author's anti-choice rhetoric. Just stop it. Don't use otherwise unputdownable fiction to preach at readers about your thoughts on reproductive rights. And if you're going to do that, then maybe move into Christian fiction and let those of us who want to read suspense not be beaten over the head with it. Without the moralizing, I would have given the book 4 stars at least.

While many books in the thriller genre seem to have devolved into a contest of who can come up with the biggest twists, the real artists lead readers into the trap of thinking they're reading something straightforward. Great book, great reminder to be careful about giving out your housekey.

Another twisty, consuming tale by Paris. I almost always love their work and devour the story within days. This was was no exception. The mystery built up and the result was shocking.
Another hit! Can't wait for the next

I hated this book and the characters until the epilogue. The twist caught me by surprise, which slightly redeemed it. None of the characters were likeable in the least, and the plot was not only completely unbelievable, but it also wasn’t very interesting.

This thriller is my ideal. Short, compelling chapters that have you continuing to read one more much later than you should. This was a page turner featuring a couple in crisis after a traumatic event, friends new and old carrying secrets, and unexpected loss. Ultimately answering once and for all how long is too long to be a guest?

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. I would like to apologize to the publisher and author for not reviewing this book prior to its publication date. It was a really good book that I enjoyed and I wish I had been able to get to it sooner!

Iris and Gabriel have been married for over 20 years and have been going through a rough patch recently. Gabriel took leave from his medical practice after multiple losses in his life and he has been spiraling into depression. In an attempt to lighten his mood, Iris takes him away on a vacation that unfortunately does not help much. When they get back home, they’re surprised to see that their friend Laure has been staying at their house and says that she’s having serious martial issues with her husband, Pierre. Iris and Gabriel have been close with the other couple for many years and allow Laure to stay with them while (they assume) Laure and Pierre attempt to work out their differences. But then Laure keeps extending her trip and it seems that she will never leave, which is becoming increasingly exhausting for both Iris and Gabriel. While trying to figure out the truth behind what is happening between Laure and Pierre, secrets come to light that someone wants to keep hidden.

Told from alternating perspectives of Iris and Gabriel, this book has a slow burn and was more suspenseful than I expected. There are obvious and purposeful plotholes throughout the book, which didn’t bother me when I was reading it, I just kept noting things that weren’t explained and expected to find out more about them later. I was 100% correct that I would get all of the answers I was looking for when I got to the epilogue. WOW, was I shocked at the ending of this book! Maybe I should have, but I did not see all of the twists coming. I’m surprised at myself that I didn’t anticipate the biggest twist AT ALL. This book was well-written and a quick, enjoyable read!

I’m beginning to wonder if B.A. Paris is a one-hit author for me unfortunately.
This didn’t have any of the tension I was hoping for from a couple of her other books.

Trying to recover their marriage, Iris and Gabriel go on a holiday. Upon returning home, they discover that one of Iris’s friends, Laure has been staying at their house after learning that her husband had an affair and fathered a child. Laure slowly starts to wear out her welcome as she invades the space of her friends, while being unwilling to reconcile with her husband. Things become tense when Iris makes a new friend in town who comes with a sketchy past.


This was a slow moving, but thankfully short, “thriller” that was fairly boring. There wasn’t really any tension throughout the entire story, and almost all of the characters were pretty unlikable. The ending felt a little rushed, but still had some nice twists in it.
However, I loved the narrator through the audiobook.
Overall, a small letdown, but still a quick read if you’re looking for a beginner mystery.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley for an eARC of this story. All opinions are my own.

Big B. A. Paris fan -- this one had my mind reeling throughout. I could not see the ending coming. It was a ride from page one, just trying to even guess what would happen with all these character connections and storylines. I had the thought that someone was lying but could not put my finger on it at all.

I'm a big B.A. Paris fan and this book was another winner! Gripping from start to finish, The Guest is a compelling and suspenseful thriller that will keep readers guessing until the very last page.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very interesting thriller that had me guessing throughout. I did not see that ending coming at all! I really enjoyed how this book played out.

I always truly enjoy B.A. Paris. This one I felt I really didn’t like the main character but with the twist in the epilogue I guess I can really see why I felt like she was daft.