I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.

Iris and Gabriel return home from holiday only to find they have a houseguest. A close friend, Laure, has come to visit after leaving her husband, Pierre, also their friend. Laure has discovered that Pierre, who had never wanted children, has a child with another woman. While Iris and Gabriel want to be supportive, Laure soon wears out her welcome with her self-centered ways and constant complaining. Mysterious disappearances, past secrets and sudden deaths round out the story.

Huge fan of B A Paris but found The Guest to be my least favorite of those novels I've read thus far; probably because I am horribly impatient. The story moves along, and I kept wondering when the big reveal would appear to make me gasp. I even had moments when I gave thought to not finishing but I have enjoyed Paris' novels so much decided to persevere. The ending is worth the wait - certainly not what I was expecting with a surprise twist.

This is not the first BA Paris book I have read and certainly won't be the last. The book is a well written domestic thriller which the story evolving around the lives of Iris and Gabriel. Gabriel recently was at the scene where a young man had a tragic accident and was with his when he passed away and is harboring guilt. Iris and Gabriel have a trip away and come home to find their best friend Laure at their home. Laure announces that she has left her husband and needs time to deal with it. Gabriel and Iris are happy to have her. Meanwhile a new coupon move into the neighborhood and Iris befriends Esme and Gabriel becomes friends with her husband Hugh. All the characters are likable and as I was reading and enjoying I was wondering where the "thriller" or the twist would play out. I was not disappointed in the ending, but then, wow the Epilogue was like a completely different story was let loose and bam everything I thought I thought I knew was nothing was I thought. Definitely grab this one - don't miss out on it!

I'm a huge fan of B.A. Paris, but The Guest was a miss for me. There were too many characters, relationships, names, and conflicts introduced all at once. For readers who stuck it out, it sounds like the ending was great. Unfortunately, I couldn't get through the beginning. However, I remain a fan of the author's and look forward to her next book.

When Iris and Gabriel return home from their vacation they find their dear friend Laures staying at their house. At first they have no problem supporting their friend while she deals with a huge secret her husband was keeping from her but quickly Laures had overstepped her stay. As the book continues the story unfolds the reader learns everyone is hiding something and as secrets are threatened to be exposed some characters will stop at nothing to prevent their secrets from coming out.
Paris yet again did a great job with building the story and gave the reader the twist ending that Paris is known for. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

Iris and Gabriel come home early from their trip to find their friend, Laure, making herself comfortable in their home. Laure is taking time away from her husband, Pierre, after discovering that he may have fathered a child during their marriage. Iris and Gabriel reluctantly agree to let their friend stay as long as they need.

This wasn't my favourite by the author but I enjoyed the journey that this novel took me on. There were several side stories with side characters that kept confusing me as they were all quite similar. The confusion I felt may or may not have been on purpose on the author's creative part to keep me guessing about the "big reveal." The epilogue was probably the longest I've read for a domestic thriller like this novel.. it's where B.A. Paris reveals the "who dun it" and all the motivations behind the mystery. I enjoy it when it's sprinkled throughout the novel. I didn't expect the "big reveal" (I'm keeping it quite vague), so I'm giving this book 3.5 stars.

Looking forward to the next B.A. Paris novel

A couple is navigating through successive tragedies that challenge their emotional stability and their marital bond. It seems as though Iris and Gabriel are the most unlucky couple in that those around them disappear or die. Also, the presence of an uninvited guest/friend in their home keeps them from finding peace in their one safe harbor and each other. These unconnected events could break them if not for the friendship developing with a new neighbor. Even that presents challenges, though, as the new friend brings a gardener into their lives that presents an element of temptation and mistrust. There is a storm of calamity brewing, and the devastation will leave you shocked! This is an ending that I never saw coming!

Oh. My. WHOA!

I did NOT see that twist coming a mile away! The whole story made everything seem connected and concise. The last chapter completely threw me for a loop. That was the last thing that I possibly thought would happen. The author did a phenomenal job of making me think I had everything worked out in my head and then showed me how wrong I was.! I legitimately love that I was clueless until the very end. Wow. Just WOW!

I just finished my ARC and was blown away!
The Epilogue was great-did not see all of that coming. The twists and turns were great. I thought it was tied up a little too nicely-til the end! BA Paris has done it again!

I thought I knew what was happening in this book, but the last few pages turned all of that upside down. Wow, what a twist, what an ending!

Thanks to the author and the publisher for giving me a chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What can I say? This book just like every other BA Paris book was fantastic. Kept me guessing right until the end. The whole time I was reading I felt like there was something I was missing. Just the feeling that kept me reading and led to the “suspense”.

As I neared the end of this book,
I was worried we were not going to receive the jaw-dropping twists that B.A. Paris always delivers- all signs were pointing towards…normal? I should have known better- Paris never disappoints. From the absent but much discussed unfaithful husband, to the seemingly too good to be true new neighbors, it is difficult to predict who will ultimately end up being the “bad guy”. Plenty of family dynamics and long-kept secrets are in okay to keep readers guessing until the very end of this page turner!

I received an ARC copy of The Guest by B.A. Paris and it did not disappoint!

How well do you really know someone, and what secrets can they be hiding?! This book takes you through the intricacies of different relationships and the emotions of grief, loss, revenge, hate, anger, jealousy.. it has it all !
Just when you think you have everything figured you... YOU DON'T. The epilogue of this book does not disappoint and comes with a twist that you would never see coming! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend to a friend!

Iris and Gabriel have been away and return to find their family friend Laure staying in their house. She and her husband are having problems and Iris and Gabriel are more than willing to let her stay. But as time goes on, things are getting a little testy.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this book. It takes you along at an easy pace and then Wham! I have loved all of Paris' books and this one is no exception. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!

Thanks to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

From the outside looking in Iris and Gabriel have it all. A good marriage, good daughter and good friends( Pierre and Laure). But when a young man has an accident in a quarry and Gabriel finds him, their “good” world starts to unravel. Will their marriage survive it?
B A Paris does it again with this slow burn. I spent most of the book trying to figure out what “really” is going on.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for this ACR. #Netgally #BAParis
Pub. Date: Feb. 20 2024

I love every B.A. Paris book I've read (and there have been quite a few). This one is a little tougher to rate than all the others.

At times, I felt it was five star worthy. At other times, I was certain it was three stars.

The character development, like in all the Paris books, is first rate. By the end of the novel, you feel like you know every character, his/her foibles, his/her tendencies. You're wrong!

With great character development and multiple twists and turns, why would I rate it four stars? At times, I felt like I was dealing with a bunch of impish high schoolers. They bickered, they tattled, and they betrayed.

I'm sticking with this rating!

As a big fan of BA Paris (I’ve read all her books) I was thrilled to get an advanced copy of her latest work, THE GUEST.

THE GUEST was a domestic thriller and did not disappoint.

I loved the way the story started with a bang (literally) then took you 6 months before and worked your way back to the beginning. A cool way to tell the story, knowing what’s the come but not how you got there.

The epilogue is where the good stuff is! Wow, did not see that coming.

Definitely recommend this one to BA Paris fans and fans of domestic thrillers.

I was pulled in right away and couldn’t put it down but I also felt myself annoyed at how repetitive it was. Restating the exact sentence it just stated. The next chapter repeating everything from the past chapter. I understand it was for clarity of context since there were so many crossing over of timelines and characters but it was unnecessary. Some characters and part were almost too intertwined where it just felt unnecessary and like a messy reach that wasn’t needed. For example the whole Charlie part was so random to be tangled with Joseph? I get that it pulled it together maybe? Ok. But then him and esme? And Beth? Really didn’t need either of those twists.

I love that there were multiple twists and it just kept get more awful for the characters. I really did get annoyed with Laure as much as iris was lol so she was written perfectly and i totally believed she killed piere. I thought Gabriel killed Charlie and laure and Jeremy. I did guess Beth being pieres, but it was kept hidden their background of their trips and friendship. And how did piere not know for 20 years? Far fetched!
It was thoroughly entertaining and every detail was explained very well at the end!

I've liked many of B.A. Paris's books and was excited to read this one. I know this is probably just personal preference, but I don't care for the kind of ending used in The Guest--I don't want to be more specific than that because of spoilers. That said, the book certainly held my interest.

Let’s Get Bookie With It….

It’s Wicked Wednesday, y’all!

The Guest, is written by our thriller queen, BA Paris. This to me was undebatable decision . What organ could I sell to get my hands on this book?

Having read The Prisoner, Behind Closed Doors and Bring Me Back, I knew that The Guest, could never disappoint and boy oh boy was I right.

This book right here... bestseller!

I was hooked from page one. I loved the writing. The flow is executed perfectly. The character development is on point. The twists and buried secrets that reveal themselves throughout the book keep you begging for more. There was not one thing that I did not love about this book.

There were so many twists that I was unable to anticipate that I was on the edge of my seat as each chapter concluded.

The end ties everything together and has major shock value.

Are you ready for this one folks? You do NOT want to miss this! Now, go take your happy little fingers over to Amazon and click “buy now”

Teaser:

Some secrets never leave.

Iris and Gabriel have just arrived home from a make-or-break holiday. But a shock awaits them. One of their closest friends, Laure, is in their house. The atmosphere quickly becomes tense as she oversteps again and again: sleeping in their bed, wearing Iris' clothes, even rearranging the furniture.

Laure has walked out on her husband―and their good friend―Pierre, over his confession of an affair and a secret child. Iris and Gabriel want to be supportive of their friends, but as Laure's mood becomes increasingly unpredictable, her presence takes its toll.

Iris and Gabriel's only respite comes in the form of a couple new to town. But with them comes their gardener, who has a checkered past.

Soon, secrets from all their pasts will unravel, some more dangerous than they could have known.

I always enjoy BA Paris books and this was no different. It was engaging with lots of twists and especially at the end. I read this in 2 days and couldn't wait to get to the end. Thanks for this opportunity!!