This book kept my guessing all the way until the last chapter. Moral of the story … don’t trust anyone!
This was another great read written by BA Paris.

This book definitely kept me on my toes, and kept me constantly guessing at not only who was the killer, but what was actually going on in the book. One part domestic thriller, one part murder mystery, this book has the perfect blend to keep you interested and engaged, and guessing. The twist at the end was perfected, and narrated with perfect nonchalance-- so much so you may miss it if not paying attention.

I find some books are hit or miss for me with this author, but this book was definitely a winner.

Thank you to the Author, publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own.

I really enjoy this author and this newest book didn't disappoint. For such a slow burn, it kept me totally engrossed. Best part was that I didn't see the twist coming at all.

The plot of this book was super intriguing, and I was fully into it the first 30%, but then things drastically slowed down and took a turn. I wasn’t attached to any of the characters, their mannerisms and decisions drove me a little crazy, and I felt like a lot of details about them were including that didn’t add to the story.
I was hoping for more twists along the way, but there was just the one main story that ended up being a major slow burn.

While this one was a miss for me, I’ve enjoyed some other books by this author!

I love a twisty book. This is part domestic problems and then people just keep dying. Iris and Gabriel seem to have an idyllic life, but one thing happens then another. When an old friend comes to stay with them I see red flags everywhere.
It’s a great short book. Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press Macmillan Audio for early copies.
Audio was well done, narrator does have an English accent but it was easy to listen to.
This book is available February 20,2024 and I highly recommend it

Iris and Gabrielle have come home from vacation and when they get home there is a guest in their house. Their close friend , Laure has left her husband, Pierre. Saying that he told her he had a child with someone else.
They also meet their new neighbors and their new gardener who comes to help Gabrielle with hs garden.
I wasn't very trusting of the new neighbor for some reason.. She just seemed a little off to me.
If I was Iris and Gabrielle then I would have had to say something to Laure about her staying to long. she was driving Iris crazy. But the ending I did not see coming.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's for the ebook to review.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. This book was just okay. It is a domestic thriller, which I usually love, but this one fell a bit flat. I enjoyed the short chapters and the setting in England, but I found the storyline slightly underwhelming. I was not invested in the plot or characters, and found it disappointing that the entirety of the book’s twists and revelations happened in the epilogue. I think this story could have been so much more, but it was limited by the author’s writing and lack of character depth. It was not my favorite and I wouldn’t particularly recommend it, but it was an easy read.

This book published February 20, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC is exchange for an honest review. Also thank you to the author, BA Paris and St. Martin’s press. Three stars

The story revolves around Iris and her husband, Gabriel. Gabriel is haunted after witnessing the death of an 18 year old he knew. He is preoccupied by the young man’s last words which he chooses not to share with Iris.
When they return home from a trip, they find Laure, their friend of 20 years, , in their house. She has made herself at home after learning that her husband, Pierre, has a secret child. Laure becomes a super annoying, clingy houseguest that will not leave. Both Iris and Gabriel try contacting Pierre so he and Laure can work it out.

There is also a couple down the street named Hugh and Esme. I feel like they were kind of thrown in to the narrative. They also have a suspicious guest staying with them.

I can’t say too much else without giving the plot away. There were parts were their everyday lives dragged and not a lot happened. I was annoyed towards the end when it seemed like I was not going to get answers. But then the epilogue was like boom! WOW! I will say I did not see it coming.

DNF, I used to enjoy most of BA Paris novels but unfortunately they have gone downhill for me. This novel had my attention at the beginning, like they all do. However, it got to the point where I had to ask “what is the synopsis of this book?” I didn’t know what the actual thrill was. The thrill started to pick up more than 50% through but it still made me question what is the whole book suppose to be about? We had nothing for the beginning then two random murders. It just made me feel like that could have happened sooner.

B.A. Paris never disappoints. Another great read from this author.

Iris and Gabriel return from a holiday to find their friend Lauren in their home. When asked she indicated that she and her husband are having issues and she needed a place to stay for a bit. Lauren starts to overstay her welcome
And all three of these individuals are harboring secrets and getting under each others skin. A new couple down the street becomes their escape however their gardner has secrets that will destroy them as well. Is anyone safe from secrets and what will happen when they are all exposed?

Thanks to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for the ARC.

This was a tough read for. me unfortunately. I did not find the story all that interesting and it didn't hold my attention.

B.A. Paris books always have a massive twist, which usually makes it so the reader can get lost in an enjoyable reading experience. This was not the case with The Guest. Everything about this book is glaringly obvious from the beginning, and the pacing is so plodding. The same conversations and actions over and over and over again make for an incredibly boring experience. Then the epilogue....the entire plot summed up in the longest epilogue ever. Two mentions of abortion were incredibly strange, not due to the mentions, but due to the weird personal lecture that was included. I would recommend other Paris books over The Guest.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have read other books by B.A. Paris, which I enjoyed. However, I felt The Guest didn't know what it wanted to be. Is it a family drama? Is it a psycho-thriller? I didn't enjoy the characters, the plot was okay, and there wasn't really a resolution. I appreciate Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my opinions, but this one wasn't for me.

The Guest
B.A. Paris @baparisauthor
Genre:Thriller
Pace: Fast

Returning home from holiday Gabriel and Iris are greeted with an unsuspected guest that may just be the undoing of their happily ever after.

WHOAH! Paris does it again with another PHENOMINAL display of when everything looks great from the outside but what's actually going on inside will blow your mind. And I am so here for it

The story line immedietly pulls you in right from the very beginning with the mysterious falling out of this couples closest and dearest friends. And while their trying to help them piece back together their marriage their own Happily Ever After may be jeopardized with secrets of their past dying to resurface.

With character development that will have you connecting and sympathizing with these character while questioning everything they say and do all at the same time. No one can be trusted, making it super difficult to peg the real villain of the story. Paris defenitly keeps you on your toes until the very last page

And the FINAL REVEAL, there's no way you wont be so twisted up and questioning how you didn't see that coming. Turning back pages immedietly trying to connect the pieces all over again. I truly can't recommend it enough!!

Huge shout out to @stmartinspress @baparisauthor and @netgalley for the advanced readers copy!! 🖤

This was a slow burn, but what a build up! All the bits and pieces coming together, and that ending!? I didn’t see that coming! Mind blown! It’s not until all is revealed that I thought “why didn’t I catch that!?” I loved the short chapters. I felt that all of the characters had a secret and a reason to get rid of someone. Very well done!

This was a well plotted, twisty thriller. It started out a little slow, but once it picked up, I was invested in wanting to know what was going on, and more importantly, if Laure was ever going to leave! All of the characters seemed to be keeping secrets, so it was hard to know who to trust. The ending was quite surprising!

Thank you, @netgalley and @stmartinspress, for the #gifted e-arc!

3.5 stars rounded

although it’s a fast read propelled by short chapters, this is a very basic domestic thriller. Paris has been a very hit or miss author for me and sadly this was a big miss. the amount of mundane dialogue drove me crazy, and felt like it was just trying to meet a word count. this is not something that I’d expect from a seasoned author like her.

Maybe I wasn’t looking closely enough but this plot twist completely blew me away. Looking back, the clues were probably there, but I didn’t put them together until the very end. I will look forward to rereading someday. This B. A. Paris book is more of a slow burn compared to the more fast paced Behind Closed Doors and The Prisoner. It was more in line with The Breakdown, especially since it focused more on domestic drama rather than the wildly insane situations the characters have to deal with in some of her other books. I liked this one much more than The Prisoner, which I found a little too far fetched. The Guest has you guessing which characters are lying and keeping secrets, up until the end. Like I said, this one has a shocking twist that I enjoyed, but it took a little too long to get there. Some of the plot points and conversations between characters felt like they were getting repetitive and rehashed too many times, but other than that, I loved it.

From the first book I read of this author, Behind Closed Doors, I was hooked. So glad I found this author. Every book is more amazing than the last!

3.75/5⭐️

I found this book to be a well written, quick read with lots of suspicious characters and some interesting twists. I am a very avid thriller/mystery reader so unfortunately it takes a lot to stump me and I was able to figure out each twist before it was revealed.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Infidelity, Murder, Pregnancy, Violence, Child death, Blood, Alcoholism, Grief, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Car accident, and Death
Minor: Abortion, Body shaming, Bullying, Infertility, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, and Suicide attempt