I thought this would be a book about a Houseguest that you couldn't get rid of, well it was that and so much more. The tangled webs of lies, secrets and deceit between 2 couples that span years and involve others is unbelievable. I think I read the ending of this book with my head shaking and mouth open in shock! What a great book. Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martins Press, and the Author, B. A. Paris for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press!

I couldn't put this book down. B.A. Paris books always hook me in. I've never been disappointed by any of her books. Suspenseful and didn't predict anything coming!

This was my first B.A. Paris book, and I enjoyed it! I liked it enough to check out her other work, anyways. This was an ARC via NetGalley, and I went in completely blind. In the beginning, I found all of the characters and different storylines confusing. Towards the middle, things simplified a little bit. I wondered how the book was going to end, as there seemed to be so many questions remaining, but the epilogue answers all of the questions. I did find myself wondering why there needed to be so many storylines, but it worked out in the end. I’m curious if all of her books are like this. Overall, 3.5 stars.

I wasn't a huge fan of this book tbh but I could not put it down , I had to know what was going on with all these people who btw I didn't even like .. 😂 everyone is a hot mess !!!
Beth was the only character I liked .
Everyone else like I said .. a mess !
I thought about giving up on this book several times cause it didn't really get interesting til about 52% in but I had this uncontrollable urge to keep reading . I kinda had the ending figured out but it still somewhat took me by surprise . I'd say this book was a 2.5 ⭐ but I hate half's so I'll round up because it's more good than bad 🤷

#TheGuest #NetGalley #Arc

I didn't enjoy this one. I guess the entire plot line at 50% through - to the extent that I read the epilogue and learned that I had been completely right.

Thank you so much to @stmartinspress @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the ALC and ARC!

🚪 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 🚪
Iris and Gabriel return to their home to find their friend Laure there unexpectedly. Laure and her husband Pierre are having marital problems, so Laure wants to stay for a few weeks. As time goes by, Iris and Gabriel wonder if Laure will ever leave or talk to her husband again. In the midst of their houseguest, Gabriel is having some issues with knowing someone that passed away recently.

The Guest is definitely a domestic suspense story, that starts off as a slow burn. We learn a lot about the characters slowly as Laure stays with them. New neighbors also move in and make friends with the main characters, which adds to their friend group and circle of stories.

The book really picked up halfway through the story! More twists and turns are explored, and it made the mystery more intriguing. I had my guesses as to who may have been doing what, but I did not guess the ending of this one! I definitely love an expected ending, and this one delivers!

🎧 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
🔹 Slow burn thriller
🔹 Domestic suspense
🔹 Murder mysteries
🔹 Explosive ending 🤯

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of the book drew me in but once I started reading it, I just couldn’t get into it at all.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

While an interesting story I found it very slowly paced and I grew bored with some of the characters. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this early copy for read and review

The Guest by B.A. Paris

The Guest by B.A. Paris is a fun and light domestic thriller about a friend moving in with a couple after her own couple imploded.

I love B.A. Paris's writting; its witty and funny and it sets a unusual (but fun) tone to this thriller.

This quick read was really fast-paced and you really can put yourself in the character's shoes.

I would recommend this thriller to everyone looking for a diffenrent - and really good - thriller.

Prepare to be surprised!

This is the third book I’ve read by B. A. Paris, and while I liked it, it didn’t thrill me as much as Behind Closed Doors and The Therapist did. The story opens with a bang - literally - when an explosion in a quiet neighborhood outside London startles Iris, Gabriel, Esme, and Hugh, who are chatting in the garden after Esme and Hugh’s son’s christening. Then the timeline rewinds to six months before the explosion, and we learn about what led to the incident. (Swipe for synopsis.)

While the plot is intriguing and kept my interest, the book gets bogged down in repetitive conversations, inaction, and the minutiae of the characters’ lives. I shouted, “Just tell the guest to leave already” in my head several times! There are a lot of sub plots to keep track of, but they all come together in the end.

B. A. Paris is the queen of turning everything you thought you knew about what happened upside down at the end of her novels, and The Guest is no exception. The short chapters make it easy to binge read. If you like her other thrillers, I think you will enjoy reading this one, too.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital ARC in exchange for my review.

This wasn’t my favorite by this author, but it certainly wasn’t bad. A good domestic drama/mystery. But I would have kicked this houseguest out loooong before they did! I’m not sure if I’m impatient or just have more sense than the characters!

THIS BOOK. My jaw is on the floor. I cannot believe the ability of B.A. Paris to lead us calmly on one path, a slow burn but still intriguing story....and then crack the door open on what is really going on. And then BUST IT DOWN and the second half was seriously a heart-poundingly race that I could not put down. I was SCREAMING at the ending and my husband had to check on me and I could not even put into words what had gone down. B.A. Paris is my favorite author and this might be my favorite book. The characters are perfectly crafted to be used how the authors needs them to and I was thoroughly reeled in.

I am a huge Paris fan, but I felt this book was just okay. The characters were not as engaging as usual. I also really wanted a twist at the end.

So I like the story as a whole, but it really really bothered me that the epilogue was just what revealed what actually took place. I like when there are better Easter Eggs in a thriller book.

In the riveting world of B. A. Paris's latest masterpiece, "The Guest," forget about Airbnb horror stories; this tale takes the term "unwanted guest" to a whole new level of chilling absurdity! Unhappily married English couple Iris and Gabriel are returning home to the village of Markham after a two-week holiday.
Picture this: ) Unhappily married English couple Iris and Gabriel are returning home to the village of Markham after a two-week holiday only to find their friend Laure has decided to take up permanent residence in their home. And no, this isn't some quirky sitcom plot; it's a full-blown psychological thriller. They’re shocked to discover that their friend, Laure, has moved in. Laure explains that her husband has fathered a child with another woman, and she needs space to clear her head. She vastly overstays her welcome.
Laure, with all the subtlety of a bulldozer, starts redecorating, rearranging, and treating Iris and Gabriel's house like her own personal Airbnb, minus the five-star reviews. Meanwhile, poor Gabriel is dealing with trauma from a tragic event involving a dying student who inexplicably spilled his guts to him (figuratively speaking) before passing away. Gabriel's coping mechanism? Avoiding jogging and getting elbow-deep in gardening. Because nothing says "mental health break" like a good garden project.
But wait, there's more! Enter Esme and Hugh, the enigmatic new neighbors with a significant age gap and a gardener with a past as murky as a swamp. Throw in a missing husband, mysterious trips, and enough secrets to rival a government conspiracy, and you've got a recipe for domestic chaos that even Martha Stewart couldn't handle.
As the tension mounts faster than Gabriel's overdue gardening project, readers are left wondering: who's the murderer? Who's telling the truth? And most importantly, who invited Laure to stay indefinitely?
With twists and turns more convoluted than a pretzel, "The Guest" keeps you guessing until the very end. And if you think you've got it all figured out, think again. B. A. Paris has crafted a psychological rollercoaster so wild, you'll need a seatbelt just to flip the pages.
So, grab your gardening gloves and a good lock for your front door because after reading "The Guest," you'll never look at houseguests—the same way again. Trust no one, especially not your friends with a penchant for interior decorating. And remember, if someone overstays their welcome, it might just be time to call the cops instead of offering them a spare key.
In B. A. Paris's latest psychological thriller, "The Guest," readers are thrust into a whirlwind of suspense, betrayal, and domestic chaos that will leave them questioning the boundaries of hospitality. Set against the backdrop of a seemingly ordinary home, Paris masterfully weaves a tale that transforms the mundane into macabre, offering a chilling exploration of what happens when a houseguest refuses to leave. As if Laure's unwelcome presence isn't enough, mysterious new neighbors and a missing husband add layers of intrigue to the already chaotic narrative.

This was a slow paced drama that was repetitive in several places. The characters were fine but frustrating at times. I was so annoyed with Laure and the how intrusive she was. A guest just showing up and staying for months would be my worst nightmare lol. I didn’t see the ending coming so that twist was a surprise. The epilogue was very long and just was a let me tell you what happened instead of showing you. The ending was the best part but I didn’t like how it was executed. Overall a middle of the road read for me.

Thank you to Net Galley, St Martin’s Press and B.A. Paris for the opportunity to read The Guest. This is my second book from this author. My first was Behind Closed Doors, and that was an easy 5 star read for me. The Guest did not score as high for me. While the story was good, I felt like the pacing was off. It’s definitely a slow burn, but maybe a little too slow? I really enjoyed the multiple POVs in this book. I will say that I thought I had the ending all figured out, and I was SO wrong. The twist is definitely shocking! So while this book was not my favorite, it was a good story with a great twist! I look forward to reading more of her books!

"The Guest" by B.A. Paris is a masterfully crafted psychological thriller that ensnares the reader from the first page and refuses to let go until the very last twist is revealed. Paris, known for her ability to weave tension and suspense into the fabric of her narratives, delivers yet again with a story that is both chilling and deeply engrossing. The novel explores the dark undercurrents of seemingly ordinary lives, revealing how secrets and lies can unravel even the most meticulously constructed facades.

Set against the backdrop of a lavish party at a grand estate, "The Guest" introduces us to a cast of characters each harboring their own mysteries and motivations. The novel's brilliance lies in Paris's skillful character development and her ability to maintain an atmosphere of unease and anticipation throughout. As the story unfolds, the reader is drawn deeper into the complex web of relationships and past traumas that link the guests and hosts in unexpected ways.

Paris's writing is sharp and incisive, masterfully constructing a narrative where every detail is significant, and every dialogue crackles with underlying tension. The pacing of the novel is impeccable, with each chapter peeling back another layer of the mystery, compelling the reader to turn the page. The setting of the grand, isolated estate serves as the perfect backdrop, amplifying the sense of claustrophobia and suspense that permeates the story.

At the heart of "The Guest" is an exploration of the themes of trust, betrayal, and the lengths to which people will go to protect their secrets. Paris delves into the psychology of her characters with a keen eye, exposing the frailties and fears that drive them. This psychological depth adds a rich layer to the novel, elevating it above a mere thriller to a poignant study of human nature.

The twists and turns of "The Guest" are meticulously plotted, with Paris demonstrating her prowess as a storyteller. Just when the reader thinks they have untangled the mystery, Paris introduces another twist that reshapes everything that has come before. The climax of the novel is both shocking and satisfying, leaving the reader to ponder the implications long after the book is closed.

In conclusion, "The Guest" by B.A. Paris is a thrilling psychological drama that confirms Paris's status as a master of the genre. With its intricate plot, complex characters, and relentless tension, it is a novel that hooks you early and keeps you riveted until the very end. For fans of psychological thrillers, "The Guest" is an unforgettable journey into the dark side of human nature, showcasing Paris's talent for creating suspenseful, compelling narratives that resonate with readers.

This book started out slow-paced but eventually picked up. I enjoyed it very much. It was my first book by B.A. Paris and will not be my last.

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

I know her book ‘Behind Closed Doors’ is so highly rated, but honestly it triggered me and I didn’t enjoy it once so ever. So going into this book I was a bit hesitant, but this was a great read!

This is definitely a slow burn, but I was constantly trying to piece together and guess where it was going. I did not see the big twist coming.

The beginning was a bit confusing to me, because there are several characters in the prologue you don’t meet right away, so it took me a bit of time before I began to grasp what’s happening. I loved the English countryside setting, and the mystery buildup.

The epilogue was 10/10 🤯