I love all of B.A. Paris books, and enjoy the edge of your seat ride. Yet, this book was missing that edge of my seat feeling. I thought the plot was very slow. The book centers around, Gabriel, Iris, Lauren, and Pierre's lives and friendships. The storylines include a couple's ill-fated relationship following the discovery of the husband's secret child from another woman, and a man's depression stemming from the haunting last words of an 18-year-old who vindictively declared he would never forgive his mother. Lauren, who could be considered the most unwelcome guest you can imagine. It was very hard to like her, and to feel sorry about her husband’s affair. The last half of the book, had me thinking I was reading a different book, it was like the author had a hard time trying to connect the dots and end the story.

I will still look forward to her next book, and she will still be one of my favorite authors. This one was just not for me.

Many thanks to netgalley for allowing me to review this book

# netgalley

The Guest is a domestic thriller that intertwines three very different couples with a series of secrets linking them. This a different set up for a domestic thriller and it mostly succeeds. I enjoyed the twist, but felt it came a little late in the novel. Everything was revealed in the last chapter. Overall an enjoyable and quick read.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Iris and her husband are surprised to find a friend in their house when they return from vacation. The woman has no problem making herself at home in their house. The friend is at a crossroads in her life. I liked this book.

the ending of this book blew my mind! it tied everything together so well and answered all of the questions i still had. i did go into it expecting a much faster paced read, but it was still worth reading and i would still recommend it!

Iris and Gabriel return home from a holiday in Scotland to find one of their best friends of twenty years living in their home after leaving her husband who dropped a bombshell on her - he fathered a child with another woman. Laure is distraught by Pierre's betrayal and sets up camp with Iris and Gabriel who have been struggling with Gabriel's recent brushes with death - first his father, beloved dog, and a boy he used to coach. The couple tries to make the best of it by befriending a new couple down the street but the new neighbors might just bring more drama into their lives that they don't need.

I went into this cautiously optimistic and I was not disappointed! Throughout the entire book, I kept thinking that I had a handle on what was going on only to be shocked by a twist or a turn. My only complaint is that I was just not clever enough to not fall for a few red herrings thrown about. I would fall in love with a character only to immediately suspect them of something nefarious! It made for a wonderful, twisty ride though.

And the ending... the ending left me floored. I had made countless guesses throughout the entire book, but never even touched the big reveal. A good, nay great, thriller MUST have a good ending. If the ending doesn't rock you right out of your chair, then it just wasn't a great thriller. This, despite admittedly some slowness here and there, was a great thriller with an ending that you likely will not see coming.

B.A. Paris, writes another compelling and unpredictable thriller. This time, with ‘The Guest.’

Although, it took about 25%-30% into this particular novel for me to become really hooked, the story was twisty and though I thought I had it all figured out, I obviously didn’t. The only redeeming character is Gabriel, the others, including Iris, I really could not find redeeming qualities with, it wasn’t about being unlikeable, it was more they were just insipid.

The ending was a bit wrapped in guild edge golden paper with a pretty bow, which I’m still coming to terms with because at mid mark, I wasn’t sure how this could happen? With that being said, the story was twisty and trademark Paris, which makes for a fun and entertaining read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Not my favorite BA Paris, but as with all her books, they’re compellingly written and tough to put down! This plot was a bit far fetched in my opinion, but like I said, I enjoyed the ride and the bombshell dropped at the end. I will recommend!

I love BA Paris’ books. This is a twisty psychological thriller that kept me guessing the whole time. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Very interesting read. I was kept guessing as to what was happening. What is Laure up to, the changing dynamics of Iris's marriage, Gabriel's struggles, Joseph's persona, and Esme's role? Finally all these line up with a surprise ending. Very exciting read.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for an ARC ebook of "The Guest", by B.A. Paris. Paris captivates us once again with this newest thriller. With twists and turns throughout, just when you think you know, you assuredly do not! With characters you'll love and a plot that keeps you guessing, this one is hard to put down.

I received a free galley copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

BA Paris is a master when it comes to crafting a thriller that will keep you guessing. The Guest was no exception. I had a hard time putting this book down because I just wanted to know what was going to happen next. Paris has a particular way of developing the characters in a way that makes you want to root for them or align with their feelings and be on their side. If you are looking for a thriller that will keep you guessing the whole way through this is a book you should pick up.

I loved this book! I did not see the twist coming at all! I gave this book 4 starts if it wouldn’t have been for the third person POV I would have given it 5!

I consider myself a slower reader.. and I read this in 2 days!! Starting out I couldn't think of a single way to connect everyone, and when I thought I might have an idea of what was going to happen next, everything changed! Great psych triller.

This was a typical BA Paris book for me. I read it in one day, eager to read all the twists and turns. It’s so easy to fall into the web of all the characters she writes; it’s hard to put the book down because you just want to find out what’s going on! While this wasn’t my favorite of her books, it was an enjoyable and easy read that kept my attention and I couldn’t wait to get to the end!

I was already a fan of BA Paris after reading a couple other of their books. This book left me with my jaw hanging!!! I did not see that twist coming at all. I enjoyed the characters and their individual developments.

This book gave me some mixed feelings. The 2 main characters are Gabriel and Iris, and their friend Laure comes to stay with them when she learns her husband has a child he has just found out about, and wants to be in that child's life. The events that follow are full of mystery, lies, and guilt.

The characters weren't super likable, but Laure especially got on my nerves. I liked that there were plenty of side characters.

The plot moved so slowly. It started to seem like nothing was ever truly going to happen. Despite moving at a snails pace, I had plenty of questions throughout the story, and it kept me going so that I could see them answered. I thought I knew exactly how it would end, and even though I figured out some minor things, I was pretty surprised by the twist ending.

My main complaint is really just that it felt like you had to sludge through a good bit of the book, but it did end up picking up in pace and intrigue. It's a slow simmer type of thriller rather than a rolling boil. I really like the way B.A. Paris writes. She made the end come together in a way that wrapped up everything there was to wonder about and satisfied my appetite for a big twist.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with this ARC!

B.A. Paris, you have done it again! I literally fly through books from this author and this was no different. I did not figure out the ending at all and was blown away by it. Paris has a gift with making seemingly innocuous interactions come to a frighteningly amazing conclusion. What a reveal.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book!

The guest by BA Paris. Woah. This twisty tale was truly unpredictable. I was shook by the end. I thought without doubt I had it all figured out, and though I had pieces, I was wrong.

I found myself not super connected to Iris, though I truly enjoyed Gabriel.

B.A. Paris hooked me at about the 30% mark and I enjoyed the story. Everything was tied up nicely with a bow at the end, I’m
Honestly still unsure of how because by the middle I had no clue how everything could possibly be explained.

Grateful to have read this early release and still shook with all the twisty fun that was the guest.

I am always excited for a B.A. Paris book so I was thrilled to received an advanced copy.

When I start a B.A. Paris book I know I am in for a wild ride and a great story. However, this one I did struggle with. The characters were hard to connect with and I felt there was not enough development of the main characters. I don't mind the different points of view but each chapter seemed just a little rushed and at some points I became a little confused as to what timeline I was in. I needed just a little more. I had a very hard time connecting with Iris because I couldn't get over how she just let things go with Laure and Gabriel. I needed more of a reaction.

I will say the redemption of the story was the epilogue and I loved every part of it. However, I just did not enjoy it as I thought I would up until that point.

2.5, generously
You can't put the entire twist in the epilogue. You just can't. Further, if you must: You can't make the epilogue almost 20% of the book! I'm actually slightly insulted by the laziness deployed here.