This book had so much potential and i was absolutely loving the multiple storylines, but the ending felt so rushed and a bit lazy. I didn't connect that Iris was malicious at all - and I also didn't feel like it was particularly shocking that she revealed all in the epilogue either. It was just lacking any tension or interesting twists - and I don't consider it a twist to just have the epilogue wrap it up in a neat bow.

Another solid B.A. Paris read. I enjoyed the book but did not think it had the suspenseful pacing of her others. It was more a glimpse into the deteriorating relationship of Iris and Gabriel with the addition of their new houseguest and friend, Laure, and the story of her elongated stay. I could feel the pain of Iris and Gabriel as Laure continued to lengthen her stay--they had much more patience than I would have. There are several different intriguing plotlines--the deterioration of Iris and Gabe's relationship, Gabe's focus on his past and its trauma, Laure's own drama, developing relationships in the neighborhood, and Iris' reactions to be a observer in the drama surrounding her. Even when I was close to the end, I was puzzled by how it was going to end. I don't want to give anything away, but overall I enjoyed the read and can recommend it as a quick read with mystery, intrigue, and suspense.

I read this twisty book in about 24 hours. It was the perfect beach read.

I loved this book! There are parts of the book that read like a drana but stick with it, later you will see that it's part of the slow burn.

The last chapter reveals the final twist and made the entire book make sense.

Thanks to St Martin Press, Netgalley and the author for this ARC.

3.5 stars

Iris and Gabriel have welcomed Laure into their home after she finds out devastating news about her husband, Pierre. Pierre has fathered a child with another woman and Laure is despondent. As days drag into weeks, Iris and Gabriel begin to be annoyed by Laure and her constant presence and whining. They all make friends with a local couple and their landscaper, Joseph. As everyone begins to mix, tensions grow higher, and secrets begin to come to light. With betrayal around every corner, will anyone be able to make it out unscathed?

Having only read one other book by B.A. Paris, this one is far superior and the twists in the epilogue are good and make it a nice thriller. However, parts of this book drag on, especially the first half before the action gets started.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's for the advanced copy of this book.

I have read every single one of the BA Paris’ books, so I was extremely excited to get an advance copy of this book. Reading this book was a struggle for me. I was so bored and confused throughout the entire book as to what was really going on. I asked myself what is the point of the book? I hate to give it such a low rating but I was just extremely bored, and found the writing to be immature.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and B.A. Paris for the opportunity to read this arc!
@netgalley
@baparisauthor
@stmartinspress

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Publishing date: 2/20/24

Summary:

It was super twisty with secrets galore! The characters and the plot were excellent! It’s a bit of a slow burn but I really enjoyed it! A must add to your tbr!

#read #thriller #suspense #sus #bookstagram #booknerds #booklover #bookworms #fivestarbooks #bookstagrammer #bookstack #avidreader #booksaremylife #baparis #stmartinspress #netgalley #secret

It’s national read a book day and I wanted to celebrate by posting my review for the book “The Guest” by B. A. Paris!

This book is in my top 3 for the year! Although it doesn’t publish until 2024 please be on the lookout because you HAVE to read this book! This is my first book by this author and I am already hooked and cannot wait to get my hands on more! It had me sucked in all the while I had no idea where it was going to end and when I got there I READ FOR TWENTY MINUTES straight with my mouth wide opened! My jaw had dropped! I never knew I needed this so please! You have to read it! 4.5 ⭐️ - I felt it could of been a bit longer. I wanted more!

This is the perfect lazy day read. While it’s not a gripping page turner, it’s a nice distracting read that you can pause when you need to. I was going to give this book 3 starts until the end. I didn’t see any of that coming at all. I loved the complete surprise and how looking back it made sense. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for my advanced copy!

I was so excited to get a copy of this one, I have really enjoyed other books by BA Paris. This one did not disappoint!
It grabbed my attention right from the beginning, I continuously flipped my opinion on what was happening. I love being able to guess who did it- even if I am wrong and let's just say I was not right.

Gabriel & Iris have it all, great friends, a beautiful house, good jobs and a lovely daughter.
Gabriel unfortunately runs into a sad situation when out for a run, and finds an injured man, who burdens him with a deep secret in his last breath.
As if that wasn't stressful enough, a friend of theirs comes to stay with them while struggling with some martial issues. Everyone is keeping a secret and were waiting to see who crumbles first.


Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This review will be shared to my Instagram (@mugsbooks) at a later date

Told thru many twists and turns, B.A. Paris sets up another who dun it!!! Brilliant story!
Iris and Gabriel are great friends! So much so they open their home to Laure, who has left her husband. Do the reasons she left add up? Why is Laure wearing Iris's clothes? Sleeping in their bed?
With the help of neighbors, and a questionable gardener, these questions and more are answered! If you have never read this author, you should. If you have read this author, you know that this will be a great story!!!!

3.5 ⭐ This has been a wild ride, the book kept me hooked from beginning to end. At first, I was more interested in the gossip to be honest, a good domestic drama! But as I kept reading, I was getting more and more intrigued as to who had done it and why was all of these events happening. This book is full of secrets and lies that I really wanted to get to the end of it and know how everything was going to unfold, and the ending was such a shock! If you are into domestic dramas, and Mystery thrillers, make sure to pick this book up. It will be released at the end of February, 2024.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for my ARC!

If I had one word to describe this book, it would be bland. None of the main characters (Iris, Gabriel, Lauren) are particularly interesting and feel very one-dimensional. The pacing of this story is so slow, it doesn’t get interesting at all until 60% of the way through. And even then, it never really builds towards some big climactic moment.

I hate books that are written in a specific POV where the character basically just lies to themselves in their own head so that information is concealed from the reader. It makes the final reveal feel so unearned and not shocking.

This book’s final chapter is a confession/tell-all that not only goes on for way too long (and walks us through literally every single detail) but is also just a terrible and clumsy way to do a plot twist.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The first half of this book was slow and winding, and I couldn’t figure out the point of it all. The dialogue was juvenile and distracting. When the plot finally started picking up speed it felt forced and unrealistic. The epilogue explained it all but I just felt annoyed at the whole thing because it felt like someone doing a bad job of explaining the plot of a made for TV movie. Skip this one!

Unfortunately, I could not get into this book. The writing style seemed old fashioned to me, like I was reading a book from the 1950’s or something. I was not able to continue reading past 10% because of it. I wouldn’t recommend this novel, but B.A Paris has other novels that are magnificent.

Gabriel and Iris are just returning home, only to be surprised by the presence of their friend Laure, who tells them she's separating from her husband Pierre. Apparently, Pierre has just revealed he has a daughter with another woman, but that's all he's telling her at the moment.

Severely distressed, Laure decides to stay for a few weeks until she sorts things out, which is ok at first. But eventually, her presence starts being a bother because she is permanently there, always crying, and always talking about that single tiresome subject.

Since Gabriel hasn't been ok either, Iris is happy when she meets a new friend, Esme, who's about to give birth to her first child.

So what happens? Well, someone dies, of course.

____

My take: Three stars!! The first half of the book was quite fast paced and interesting, but then it starts to stall and at some point I stopped caring until the last few chapters, where everything starts getting super interesting again.

I love this author, so I will always read and recommend her books, so I'm very glad I read this one!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Secrets, secrets, secrets, this book has lots! I am never disappointed by Ms Paris. This book was brilliantly twisty! Iris and Gabriel have a great life in the countryside. They have one daughter who is taking a gap year before college. They have great friends and a new couple has just moved in near them. Circumstances occur which lead us to know there are lots of secrets here. I thought I had it worked out but then the end was so twisty and unexpected. It was great!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

B A Paris does not disappoint. Story starts slowly when a French friend comes to stay., or should I say out stays her welcome.. Two couples on either side of the English channel have been friends for some twenty years, when one couple experiences a crises. One thing this story brings out is how fast it is nowdays to get from London to Paris, a day trip. The tension builds after several deaths, that seem to be connected. Be sure to read the epilogue which is full of surprises that I did not see coming. I would question why Esme, who is pregnant and on bed rest, went out to dinner!

I absolutely love any and all of this author's novels! She is an outstanding novel and knows exactly how to write a good thriller. I am intrigued the whole time reading this novel. The suspense kept me wanting to read all night long! Absolute must read.

I am a HUGE B.A. Paris fan. This book did NOT disappoint. I couldn’t put it down and read it in less than 24 hours. The characters, the setting, the plot were all amazing and kept me hooked.

B A Paris has done it again! This book was really good—-suspenseful, character-driven, and with enough twists to really surprise me! I wasn’t expecting all the reveals on the epilogue—-the author fooled me all the way through!

Iris and Gabriel have an unexpected guest that shows up in their home while they’re away—-but that really is the least of their problems!

My thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.