Some secrets never leave.

Now, this one had me hooked from the get-go, I'll give it that. But as the story unfolded, I couldn't shake the feeling that it was all going downhill. The concept? Intriguing. Friendships, secrets, and lies—classic ingredients for a gripping read. But somewhere along the way, things started to feel a bit disjointed. Towards the end, it was like the plot lost its way, leaving me scratching my head.

Here's the thing: BA Paris seems to have a knack for leading you down one path only to pull the rug out from under you in the epilogue. But for me, that formula just doesn't cut it anymore. It's starting to feel a bit tired, reminiscent of Alice Feeney's style.

Now, don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed Paris' earlier work—"Behind Closed Doors," "The Therapist," they had me on the edge of my seat. But more recent offerings like "The Prisoner" and now "The Guest" just leave me feeling... meh.

Overall, "The Guest" had promise, but it ultimately fell short for me. If you're a fan of Paris' earlier work, you might still find something to enjoy here. But if you're like me and looking for a fresh take on the thriller genre, you might want to give this one a pass.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my advanced copy! Out 2/20/24.

Talk about being on the edge of the seat with this book. I was fully invested on what was going to happen. I loved the character development. I highly suggest adding this book to your tbr. Actually move it to the front!

Sometimes you read a great book and vow to read anything that author writes for the rest of their career. This book is the opposite of that. The Guest has to be one of the worst books I have ever read. And because of that, I have zero interest in reading any book by this author again.

The story itself seemed like it was my cup of tea. It has all the makings to be a great thriller book. But it truly felt like the author wanted to bore me to death with plots and details that had no relation to the story. It just felt like the author kept pulling plotlines out of a hat. So I couldn't follow along, I couldn't try to figure things out. It just made no sense. The entire book is filled with questions and it's only in the epilogue do we get answers. But by then I didn't care. Too much had happened and it felt so silly.

It is such a shame this book was so terrible as I enjoyed Behind These Closed Doors. But I can safely say, I won't pick up another B.A. Paris book.

BA Paris does it again with another psychological thriller with The Guest.

Iris and Gabriel return home from their vacation to learn that their friend Laure has been staying at their house. What seems at first Laure's need for space after learning about her husband's affair and secret child, soon becomes more.

Read for the ending you never saw coming.

The Guest is a clever psychological thriller by the prolific B.A. Paris. My favorite Paris novel is still "Behind Closed Doors," but this was a good one. "Some secrets never leave..." Iris and Gabriel just return from vacation, hoping to get that after a vacation rest, when they find their friend Laure is at their home after finding her husband cheating- AND fathering a child with said mistress! Iris wants to support her friend, but Laure is a difficult houseguest; wearing Iris's clothes, acting like she OWNS the place. There's also tension between Iris and Gabe, their marriage not recovered from Gabriel finding a body. The story only gets more and more complicated as you read. There's a massive twist halfway through and the shocks continue in true Paris form. It a slow burn that you may enjoy if you like DRAMA and I do. 3 stars. Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

I thought this book was incredibly slow. To be fair, I didn't realize Pierre was Beth's father until the end. But the build-up of the story involving Charlie took away from the newer "problems" in the book. The only thing connecting the 2 was Joseph and it wasn't a very strong connection.

I am such a fan of B.A. Paris, Behind Closed Doors will always be a top 5 book for me. Unfortunately, The Guest fell short. It was obvious who the “other woman” was early on. How could her husband be in the dark??? I felt like it had a good start but I wouldn’t say it’s one of Paris’s best. But ofcourse I’ll keep reading all her books because I know this story just wasn’t for me.

I STRUGGLED to get through this book! I just don’t think BA Paris books are for me. I read this as a buddy read with a bunch of lovely bookstagrammers and just could not keep up with the reading since there was nothing that got me hooked on this book. Full disclosure if it wasn’t for the buddy read I likely would have DNF this book. Not much more that I can say about this book, as it put me into a major reading slump.

****Many thanks to St Martins Press and NetGalley for my #gifted copy in turn for an honest review.

This story had me from the jump.

In a peaceful rural setting, Iris and Gabriel's quiet life is about to get wildly disrupted. Imagine their surprise when they return home to find someone's practically moved in during their absence. Talk about unexpected guests!

Enter Laure, a close friend from their days in France, fleeing a broken marriage in search of refuge. Sounds simple enough—offer your friend a spot to crash in a time of need, right? But what starts as a temporary arrangement quickly spirals out of control. Laure's brief stay stretches out indefinitely, and it's clear she's not keen on leaving any time soon.

Truthfully, none of the characters really won my affection—they all have quirks and flaws that border on exasperating. However, this book gripped me, compelling me to snatch it up whenever I had a moment to spare.

And for those who live for a good plot twist, this book delivers a stunner that will catch you off guard. Absolutely did not see that coming!

The two couples were close. They met each other very early on in both their relationship are Pierre lived in Paris but Pierre traveled often for work so he'd call upon Iris and Gabriel often on his travels. Soon they were the best of friends. Fast forward to current. Iris and Gabriel were coming home from a vacation and when they get home they find Laure in their bedroom but no Pierre. Laure soon explains that Pierre has a child with someone he just found out. He needs some time to think.
Gabriel is also going through something as well and has been distancing himself from Iris. He was riding his bike and saw one of his young boys from sports years later hurt and almost dead. He is struggling to move on from this.
Laure ends up staying awhile and both Gabriel and Iris are at their wits end. They want her out of their house. Finally Pierre and Iris plan a time to meet.
I enjoyed this novel but I didn't love. I think her other novels were much better. This one was confusing, too long and anticlimactic. Overall the plot was a good one. I joined the twists when they came. The prose was easy to read and the story unfolded well.

This book was pretty good. Not as sensational as the author's previous work. Different tone - think more domestic drama than the psychological suspense we are used to. The pacing was fine, the ending was satisfying. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy.

I love this author, B.A Paris never fails to keep me hooked in all of their books. I absolutely enjoyed this book and read it in a day.

Pleasantly surprised by this one after I loved the first two by the author and not so much the others. It was an excellent audio and a fun read.

Another excellent domestic suspense thriller from B.A. Paris.

When Iris and Gabriel come home from a vacation they hope heals their relationship, they are shocked to find their friend Laure in their house. She's recently left her husband and has sought refuge. Having a visitor gets old fast, and they make new friends in town... which should be a good thing, but a series of secrets from the past quickly unravel, leading to danger at every turn.

Can B.A. Paris do wrong? The Queen of psychological thrillers is back. This time with a story that slows to the top and lets it fall. Tad slow but builds steam. Another solid choice from this author.

Ooh, this was SO good! I absolutely loved the twists and turns of this story…and that ending!! Amazing! I loved the setting of the English village, and the way every thread of the plot ended up weaving together in such a surprising way!

I'm always a fan of B.A. Paris' writing. This book was very much a slow burn domestic suspense, and I was frustrated by how the epilogue was more engaging than any other part of the book. The twists and mysteries all paid off big time. It was a quick read, and I look forward to reading whatever B.A. Paris writes next. Thank you St Martins for the copy!

Unlikable characters, shocking plot twist, unhinged but still entertaining story. Not my favorite BA Paris book but it’s hard to top Behind Closed Doors.

I recently read "The Guest" written by B.A. Paris. I liked the flow of the story and the chapters went quick enough to really keep my interest and keep my attention. I was able to read this and finish it quite quickly as I was interested in the story. I thought I had the ending figured out but realized that I definitely did not. I found the ending to be a big twist. All in all, I enjoyed reading this book. Thank you NetGalley!

Well, that took a completely unexpected turn! I can always count on B. A. Paris to throw in a twist I didn’t see coming and this one was a doozy. THE GUEST kept me engaged from the beginning, and there were enough clues that made me wonder, and every time I thought I was on the right track, something else would happen.
Iris and Gabriel are empty nesters that come home from a trip that Iris hoped would help Gabriel work through the traumas he’d had recently and get their marriage back on track. Unfortunately, they return home early to find they have a house guest that has made herself comfortable in their bed and Iris’s clothes. Laure is half of their best friend couple who fled her marriage to Pierre when he confessed to having a daughter he just found out about. In her devastation, Laure turns to the friends, planning to stay until they can work things out. At the same time, a new couple has moved to town with a friend who is a live-in gardener, and all their lives become intertwined. Everyone has secrets and puzzle everything out will keep you turning the pages. Laure does continue to overstep and overstay her welcome, I would sent her home well before the three weeks she planned.
Once you start this one, you will want to keep reading until the shocking end.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.