This was one of my favorite books so far this year. I was immediately hooked and wrapped up in the characters. I ended up finishing it in a day because I couldn’t put it down..I definitely have a book hangover and hope I can find another book as good as this one soon! It had a wonderful twist at the end! This one is definitely a must read!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was a great book and had me hooked from the beginning. I can usually figure out the ending but I did not on this one. Highly recommend!

Thanks NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and B.A. Paris for a copy of this book for my honest review.

Unfortunately this was not one of my favorite books by this author. Briefly, Iris and Gabriel have a great life together until their friend Laure unexpectedly moves in with them after she learns her husband Pierre has had an affair and fathered another women's child. Gabriel has also been struggling after finding an 18 year old dying by the side of the road. Their lives are also upended by their new neighbors Esme, her husband Hugh and their live in help Joseph who become a part of their lives. There is a lot going on in this novel and at some points I felt confused. The best part of the novel was the Epilogue where all of the secrets are revealed. I thought this section really saved the book.

After finishing the book, I came to the conclusion I did like the plot of the story but for some reason did not connect to the characters. The first 25% of the book was really hard for me to get through. I struggled with the dialogue between characters. At some times, it seemed really choppy. I will continue to read books by this author as I usually love them.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was an excellent read that kept me hooked! The characters were so well done and believable. Highly recommend

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review. Unfortunately, this just wasn't for me. I'm not sure if it's because I have read such amazing past BA Paris books that my expectations were high. The pacing was off, the characters were too one dimensional for me to become invested in, and there was a lot of telling rather than showing. The initial mystery and plot didn’t pull me, but the twist definitely shocked me and I did not see it coming.

While this one wasn't my favorite, I still recommend fans of B.A. Paris to give it a try. Despite my experience/opinions, there's still a lot of high reviews for this one.

not my favorite by this author

This starts out well. A British couple come home and find their French friend has left her husband because he confessed that he fathered a daughter years ago. The visit is expected to be short-term, but it drags on.

The writing is good and I liked (or disliked) the characters, but it was just too slow. There was a chunk in the middle where I started to skim and then skip chapters just to speed it up. I missed the finding of some bodies, but I didn't care enough to go back and get the details.

The ending was unexpected and I liked the way it was handled.

The beginning and ending were 5 stars; the middle 3. Averaging to 4.

When they arrive home from vacation to a friend in their home, Iris and Gabriel are taken aback, but glad to welcome her in her time of need. Laure learned that her husband, Pierre has fathered a child out of wedlock but will not provide her any other details, other than he wants to be a part of his daughter's life.
Laure quickly begins overstepping around the home and when her time has come to return to her job and husband she drops the bomb that she plans on staying with them indefinitely.
As they try to enjoy time with some new neighbors to get away from Laure for a bit, they decide to employ their gardner but soon learn he has a very shady past.
As the rumors circle about Laure and Pierra, Iris and Gabriel are ready to be back to their lives but what will it cost them?
The twist at the end just about did me in!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this novel. I am a big fan of many of B.A. Paris’ books but haven’t totally LOVED her most recent releases (The Prisoner). I liked this storyline but thought I was about to be sorely disappointed at the end… until I read the epilogue. This is one heck of an epilogue and the sole redeeming factor for this book. 3.5 stars rounded up.

BA Paris is one of my favorites. The story does not disappoint and kept me going through the last page. Thanks for the opportunity to read now.

Yup, she/he did it again. ( I still don't know if B.A., Paris is male or female.) In any case, I have read all of Paris' books and loved them. Again, Paris put together a cast of believable, semi-flawed characters and wove a web of murder, deceit, and intrigue around them. Paris then threw in a twist that made my head spin, and it was found in the most unusual place. Classic Paris. If you crave domestic drama at its finest and you have plenty of time to read because you won't be able to put the book down, pick up The Guest.

Going into this book I was a fan of Paris books and this book didn't disappoint. I must have had 10 different theories while reading this book....but gosh, the ending. So so good. Highly recommend!! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published February 20, 2024.

This is the 7th book I’ve read by this author. I’ve given her books everything from 2 stars to 5 stars. While this one was lacking a fast-pace it was a solid, well-thought out murder mystery / psychological thriller. I continue to be a fan!

I found myself struggling to become engrossed in the mystery lines presented within this book. These 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.. Friendships but are they really...you never know who to trust in this book. I thought what I read was true then the ending happened

HOLY WOW. The literal only words I can think right now after finishing this book.

Let me start off by saying I love B.A. Paris’s books. Every time she has a new novel come out- I immediately purchase it. But this one… might be my absolute favorite so far.

The beginning was a bit confusing to me- but is all thoroughly explained towards the end of the book. I did feel some parts of the story dragged on a bit, but realized later on it was completely necessary to have a clear explained line of events throughout the story for the ending.

Speaking of the ending … OMG. Completely shocked. I had to reread it twice bc I was so mind-blown. Insane. Never saw it coming. Absolutely brilliant!!

This is the story of a very unlucky couple. Iris and Gabriel have their careers, a beautiful home, and an almost grown daughter, Beth, who is away at school. And then, right from the beginning, there's an accidental death in the quarry, their good friend, Laure, comes to stay with them due to marital problems, and nothing will be the same. This story felt long and drawn out at times, often, and I'm not sure why I kept going but I'm so glad I did. While I can't say this is my favorite story by B.A. Paris, I can say it sure packs a punch like no other.

Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Wow! This one really catches you off guard at the very end, just when you think story lines are wrapping up, we learn the real story. The overall theme of this read follows married couple Iris and Gabriel, along with their daughter Beth, their best friend couple Pierre and Laure as well as their new neighbors and their house guest. We see each character develop relationships with new friends, each hiding their own secrets that we learn may be more connected than we initially realized. Another great thriller from B.A. Paris!

b.a. paris books are either hit or miss for me, and I’m so happy to say that this was a firm … in between? my thoughts are still jumbled around in my head from finishing this at like 3am 😅

the initial mystery and plot didn’t pull me in like b.a. paris’ other novels, and while the plot twist TOTALLY shocked me, it came too late in the story for me to feel any satisfaction 🥴

I think the unlikable characters were a bit too annoying for my taste, but I get why the author wrote them this way. laure was the worst house guest ever (I mean, I would have shipped her ass back to paris in a fedex box so fast 😅), and the reasons iris and gabriel had for allowing her to stay were very random and not convincing at all.

the characters I enjoyed most, however, were hugh and esme. they were so integral to the story without really causing damage or being the MC. I wanted to know more about their relationship and why they bought this creepy gothic house!!!!

I sped through this one in one go because I simply could not put it down!! so that automatically is a win in my book ☺️

thank you to st martins press and netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: loire valley cabernet franc

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle Advanced Readers Copy of The Guest. I've read a few of B.A. Paris's previous books and found them to be entertaining and quick reads. At first, I wasn't sure The Guest was for me but the story got me into it and I was glad I stuck with it. Gabriel and Iris have a longi term marriage, a grown daughter and nice home. Their friend, Laure, is experiencing marital troubles and comes to stay with them. Things decline rapidly on all counts - Laure's mental health, Gabriel's guilt over being able to help a wounded bicyclist and the arrival of new neighbors and their shady gardener. The story escalates into an unexpected and explosive finish. The Guest is a fast-paced thriller/suspense novel for anyone into the genre.

What a captivating and intriguing book, I did not see that ending coming! Once again B.A. Paris has pulled in my attention and kept it throughout the whole book. The characters are well developed, and it really all comes together in the end. I wouldn’t make the big reveal an epilogue though. I feel like it was way too long for that and not everyone likes to read and epilogue.

This book was interesting. It kept me guessing, and I was hooked after i got through the beginning. The beginning is slow, so I would say stick with it because once it gets going, I flew through it. This book starts with a guest (Laure), who is Iris, the main character's best friend. Laure crashes with Iris and Gaberil in their house after a falling out with her husband. During this time so many things happen, there's drama, secrets, deaths, explosions, and lies. Gabriel Iri's husband is keeping a secret, Laure is as well, and Esme Iris's new neighbor is also keeping a secret.

I really liked the way everything unfolded. At first, I thought it was petty little secrets between friends and partners, but as the book progressed, it became more than that with different moving pieces and characters. I thought a lot of characters were suspicious and horrible, though I didn't guess the main culprit. The plot twist got me so bad, I did not see that coming, but after reading, I went back, and so many things made sense. Overall a good thriller that kept me interested in the story.