Wow! Another hit by the author. I could feel the claustrophobia from having a guest in the house who would not leave. The first chapter is tough as you are asked to remember many names but once you realize there are 3 couples and 3 more characters, it becomes easier. The one lingering issue I had with the book is the death of Charlie - I didn't know how it related to the plot. It does but super tenuously. If you're into domestic thrillers, gardening, and secrets - this book is for you!

The title is a bit confusing as Emma Cline also has a book with this title!

I was so happy when I got approved to read this one. Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris was my first book by the author, and I couldn’t wait to read a second one!

Although I didn’t enjoy it as much as Behind Closed Doors, I did overall like it. To me, it was a slow burn and I struggled to get through some pages, but the ending surprised me and had a really good plot twist!

My rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️

So disappointing... This is a favorite author of mine and this book did not even feel like it was written by the same person! It was boring, with characters I couldn't care about. There was no tension or intrigue. It just went on and on about who knows what. And the ending! Terrible. An epilogue that literally retold the whole book. This one was not for me.

That ending! Let me pick my jaw up off the ground…never saw that coming. A domestic thriller that had my hooked from the first chapter and I read this so quick. Couldn’t put it down. B.A Paris never disappoints and this story was no exception..

Thank you NetGalley for this arc

I definitely didn't see the ending coming, but I feel like the set up to that moment wasn't entirely in keeping with what was presented prior to that moment. (Perhaps that's the point of the surprise ending!). I found myself bored about halfway through the book and feel like it could've been paced a little more - perhaps more backstory of the interactions between the two couples? The misdirect of the one lone character was good though.

I enjoy BA Paris books and this was a fun read.
Iris and Gabriel return to their home from a vacation when they find their longtime friend Laure in their house. She is having problems with her marriage to Pierre and looked for refuge with their friends. Days turn into weeks and then months, as the summer drags into autumn and no sign or progress with Laure and Pierre’s marriage. In addition, Gabriel is on leave from his job as a physician after finding a local boy after a trauma and not being able to save him.
This book focuses on the main characters with a great cast of supporting characters adding to the story.. I loved all the questions and twists throughout this novel. I was not thrilled with how neatly it tied up in the end. This felt like a book that could have left some plot points more open-ended.
Overall, I enjoyed it and would recommend.
#TheGuest #NetGalley #StMartinsPress

I'm just not sure I am the target audience for B.A. Paris books. While they read okay, I'm just never blown away by them and greatly dislike the information dump at the end of them! This is the second time I found myself reading one of her books and being completely disappointed by how we solve the mystery, if you will, at the end by being told exactly what happens all in the last chapter instead of being fed information throughout the story. I felt zero connection to any of the characters which made it all the less shocking when one would die, especially when we figure out how the murder is. While it was an easy enough read, it just didn't check the boxes that I need when I'm reading an intense and fantastic thriller.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

The Guest by B. A. Paris is a fantastic thriller that I absolutely devoured.

The charactes were so well writtten, complex and fleshed out.

This book was so twisty and I absoultey loved the final reveal.

Twists and turns in all the right places propel this mystery forward. An idyllic christening party ends in a literal bang as there's an explosion across the village in The Guest's prologue. We turn back six months in time with the arrival of Laure, the titular guest, showing up unexpectedly at the home of Iris and Gabriel. Laure is distraught because her husband's revealed a secret that undermines everything she knows about him and their marriage.

This one kept me guessing. The clues are all there, and the big question of how well people really know each other is a recurring theme. Every element in this story is there for a reason. Clever, crafty. I'll be adding B.A. Paris' psychological thrillers to my TBR pile!

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

The Guest follows Iris and Gabriel who have just arrived home from Holiday. When they arrive home they see one of their closest friends Laure in their house. Things become tense because it is clear that Laure is overstepping. She has just walked out her husband because he was having an affair and has a secret child. Iris and Gabriel are trying to be good supportive friends. But Lauren is over staying her welcome and has become moody and unpredictable. Soon secrets from the past start to come out and could become dangerous.

B.A. Paris is such hit or miss for me and this one was such a miss. The pacing of this book was so slow. It also very repetitive and kind of boring. No thriller vibes really happened until like the last 30 % of the book. Most of this book was the characters pretty much sitting around in circles, and just talking to each other with nothing really happening. I didn’t see the plot twist coming in this book. But by the time the plot twist came I didn’t care. I will keep reading books by this author but this one was not for me.

Short synopsis: Iris and Gabriel get home from a trip to find their friend Laure staying at their house. Laure soon overstays her welcome, because she’s left her husband she’s accused of an affair.

My thoughts: I did most of this on audio and really enjoyed the narration. This is definitely a fun psychological thriller, and the multiple POV kept the story rolling. This was completely bingeworthy and the twists kept me guessing until the very end.

It did drag somewhat in the middle to me, but the wrap up totally came out of nowhere and was completely unexpected. I recommend to those wanting a fun fast paced thriller.

Read if you love:
- Psychological thrillers with mystery elements
- Houseguests
- Multiple POV
- Quick paced story’s
- Secrets

There literally isn't a thing that B.A. Paris writes that I wouldn't read...so, you've been warned that I'm a fan.

Was this my favorite of hers? Nope. Nothing can beat Behind Closed Doors or the Breakdown for me, but was it good? Better than others in the genre? Uh, yeah. It's a B.A. Paris, people!

There was a good tug of war between the duty of helping a friend, being suspicious of neighbors, and trying to talk oneself out of feeling unease. I live for that stuff.

So, while it's not a 5 for me, it's a 4.5, rounded.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

I’m a sucker for a good domestic thriller.

I flew through this in a couple of sittings. I do agree with reviews that some of the pacing was really off. Some events were super abrupt (looking at you Laure) and others dragged on. I will admit I didn’t see the twist coming, but that’s not surprising because I’m awful at guessing. If you are good at figuring out twists, you probably won’t love this.

3.5

Happy (belated) Pub Day to BA Paris and her newest novel, THE GUEST! I just read & listened to it in two days. It was hard to put down, and I think this one is her best yet although the end of Behind Closed Doors leaves me satisfied (I’m not sure if that makes me a psycho 🤷‍♀️). The end of The Guest left my mouth open— totally didn’t see that one coming. Suspend your disbelief and enjoy the twists and turns.

Quick synopsis: Laure shows up unannounced to Iris and Gabriel’s home to get away from her husband for a few days after he confessed to a previous affair where he fathered a child. Laure overstays her welcome and starts inserting herself more and more into their lives and the lives of their new friends/neighbors. Meanwhile, they all have secrets that start to unravel. Some innocent secrets and some dark secrets.

If you’re looking for a good, riveting suburban drama/suspense, look no further. I enjoyed both audio narration and reading the book with my eyes. I was able to go back and forth between the two modes seamlessly. Many thanks to @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for the galley and early audiobook!

This author's books are hit or miss for me. This one was just ok to start and picked up at some point with a hold my breath ending that made it all worthwhile.

You go on vacation and come home to a house guest. Albeit it is a friend but still. Family secrets. Death and sadness. A possible affair. So much happening to keep you turning the pages.

Sometimes you just hang in there and a book will take you by surprise. Make you hold your breath. Gasp out loud. This is one such book. That ending!!

Thank you #NetGalley, #BAParis, #StMartinsPress for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts.

4 big stars.

B.A. Paris delivers once again! This gripping domestic thriller is expertly crafted with twists that will leave you breathless. Iris and Gabriel reluctantly welcome their friend Laure into their home after she flees her husband Pierre, who has dropped a bombshell about a secret child. Initially intended as a short stay, Laure's presence lingers, straining Iris and Gabriel's patience. Seeking solace, Iris befriends a new couple in the village, leading to shared confidences and unexpected complications. However, when tragedy strikes, the mounting coincidences and concealed secrets become too glaring to ignore. For fans of domestic thrillers, this book is an absolute must-read—it's flawlessly executed and utterly engrossing!

3.5 stars rounded up.

This book was definitely not my favorite. It was super slow, and ended up being predictable by the 2/3 mark. It was honestly more boring to me than anything and it became a quick read because I just wanted to know if I was right.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and author B.A. Paris for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

And you think you know what is going on when reading this book but guess again. Great twists involved. I was sure I knew the killer(s) but I was so wrong. Great read and the author knows how to keep you reading. You don't wanna miss this one.

I enjoyed this book better than the last one I read by her, which was “the therapist”. I will say there was parts that were really enjoyable and others that felt drawn out. Overall an easy page turner! Thank you NetGalley, B.A Paris, and publisher for the ARC!

This had all the makings of a great domestic thriller - characters with questionable morals and personality traits plus a bunch of secrets, suspenseful scenes that build slowly throughout the book and a twist ending that I never saw coming. I was invested throughout much of the book, but there were too many elements that got in the way and left me underwhelmed. The pacing was almost too slow and there was a lot of repetitive dialogue that just felt unnecessary. There were also a few too many plot lines and some of the ways in which they were resolved or explained fell short. I was so excited for this story but ultimately it didn't deliver for me.