Just like other B.A Paris books, The Guest pulled me in and kept me guessing. Full of twists and mystery, this book was unputdownable!

B.A. Paris does a really good job of building suspense. Readers who enjoy unreliable narrators will find much to appreciate here. Reading the novel, one is never sure whom to trust as Gabriel, Joseph, Laure, Esme, Pierre, and Iris all seem to have things to hide. Beth and Hugh seem to be the only completely guileless characters. So there are plenty of twists and turns to keep the action moving. I did very much enjoy the pace of the book, the setting, and the atmosphere. The characters did use the word "gosh" more than necessary. It's words on a page; fillers like that aren't needed and they are a distraction.

What detracted from my enjoyment of the book was the underlying theme that choosing not to have children is depressing and something that everyone regrets. It is not and the story would have been just fine without that. The other negative is the author's anti-choice rhetoric. Just stop it. Don't use otherwise unputdownable fiction to preach at readers about your thoughts on reproductive rights. And if you're going to do that, then maybe move into Christian fiction and let those of us who want to read suspense not be beaten over the head with it. Without the moralizing, I would have given the book 4 stars at least.

While many books in the thriller genre seem to have devolved into a contest of who can come up with the biggest twists, the real artists lead readers into the trap of thinking they're reading something straightforward. Great book, great reminder to be careful about giving out your housekey.

Another twisty, consuming tale by Paris. I almost always love their work and devour the story within days. This was was no exception. The mystery built up and the result was shocking.
Another hit! Can't wait for the next

I hated this book and the characters until the epilogue. The twist caught me by surprise, which slightly redeemed it. None of the characters were likeable in the least, and the plot was not only completely unbelievable, but it also wasn’t very interesting.

This thriller is my ideal. Short, compelling chapters that have you continuing to read one more much later than you should. This was a page turner featuring a couple in crisis after a traumatic event, friends new and old carrying secrets, and unexpected loss. Ultimately answering once and for all how long is too long to be a guest?

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. I would like to apologize to the publisher and author for not reviewing this book prior to its publication date. It was a really good book that I enjoyed and I wish I had been able to get to it sooner!

Iris and Gabriel have been married for over 20 years and have been going through a rough patch recently. Gabriel took leave from his medical practice after multiple losses in his life and he has been spiraling into depression. In an attempt to lighten his mood, Iris takes him away on a vacation that unfortunately does not help much. When they get back home, they’re surprised to see that their friend Laure has been staying at their house and says that she’s having serious martial issues with her husband, Pierre. Iris and Gabriel have been close with the other couple for many years and allow Laure to stay with them while (they assume) Laure and Pierre attempt to work out their differences. But then Laure keeps extending her trip and it seems that she will never leave, which is becoming increasingly exhausting for both Iris and Gabriel. While trying to figure out the truth behind what is happening between Laure and Pierre, secrets come to light that someone wants to keep hidden.

Told from alternating perspectives of Iris and Gabriel, this book has a slow burn and was more suspenseful than I expected. There are obvious and purposeful plotholes throughout the book, which didn’t bother me when I was reading it, I just kept noting things that weren’t explained and expected to find out more about them later. I was 100% correct that I would get all of the answers I was looking for when I got to the epilogue. WOW, was I shocked at the ending of this book! Maybe I should have, but I did not see all of the twists coming. I’m surprised at myself that I didn’t anticipate the biggest twist AT ALL. This book was well-written and a quick, enjoyable read!

I’m beginning to wonder if B.A. Paris is a one-hit author for me unfortunately.
This didn’t have any of the tension I was hoping for from a couple of her other books.

Trying to recover their marriage, Iris and Gabriel go on a holiday. Upon returning home, they discover that one of Iris’s friends, Laure has been staying at their house after learning that her husband had an affair and fathered a child. Laure slowly starts to wear out her welcome as she invades the space of her friends, while being unwilling to reconcile with her husband. Things become tense when Iris makes a new friend in town who comes with a sketchy past.


This was a slow moving, but thankfully short, “thriller” that was fairly boring. There wasn’t really any tension throughout the entire story, and almost all of the characters were pretty unlikable. The ending felt a little rushed, but still had some nice twists in it.
However, I loved the narrator through the audiobook.
Overall, a small letdown, but still a quick read if you’re looking for a beginner mystery.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley for an eARC of this story. All opinions are my own.

Big B. A. Paris fan -- this one had my mind reeling throughout. I could not see the ending coming. It was a ride from page one, just trying to even guess what would happen with all these character connections and storylines. I had the thought that someone was lying but could not put my finger on it at all.

I'm a big B.A. Paris fan and this book was another winner! Gripping from start to finish, The Guest is a compelling and suspenseful thriller that will keep readers guessing until the very last page.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very interesting thriller that had me guessing throughout. I did not see that ending coming at all! I really enjoyed how this book played out.

I always truly enjoy B.A. Paris. This one I felt I really didn’t like the main character but with the twist in the epilogue I guess I can really see why I felt like she was daft.

I’m a huge B.A. Paris fan and this novel did not disappoint. After returning home from vacation, Gabriel and Iris are shocked to find their friend Laure staying in their house. As time goes on, Laure becomes more and more reckless, sleeping in their bed and wearing Iris’s clothes. How far will this couple go to be a good friend? How far would you?

Loved the epilogue here. A little slow paced but still a solid psychological thriller.

I am usually a massive B.A. Paris fan, but this one fell a little short. I had a hard time really getting into the storyline and it didn't capture my attention too quickly. There were a lot of intertwining characters and storylines, which added a bit of confusion at times. Overall, it was an okay read, but I've definitely read better from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this wonderful read!This author is GOOD but not my favorite. I wasn’t necessarily expecting the twist, which upped my opinion of this book. B. A. Paris always comes through with a decent ending and so I do enjoy her work, this one was no exception. I just wish this was a little more oomph.

Edit:: I went back and reread this and it hit me harder the second time! I loved this story so much. It is kind of slow to start, which colored my first review, but going back and seeing the foreshowing that the author was putting down, WOW!

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

Wow. I have really enjoyed the vast majority of B.A. Paris' novels and this one was phenomenal! I loved how the story unfolded and we got little bits and pieces and by the end I thought, all right, well that is all settled....and then there was MORE! And it was utterly jaw dropping and amazing! I never would have guess all that crazy hot mess with wrapping up all the stories! This novel (and especially the ending) reminds me why I have read every single one of B.A. Paris' novels. If you love mystery and thrillers that make you think, you can not go wrong with her novels.

Firstly, If B.A. Paris writes it, I am reading it, I don't care what it is about... sign me up!

I did find that there were a lot of names/ characters to keep up with in the first portion of the book but once I had them all straightened out in my head, it was fine. Iris & Gabriel, Laure & Pierre are the two main couples in this book and then the neighbours, Esme & Hugh are introduced as well.

These storylines include one couple's ill-fated relationship following the discovery of the husband's secret child from another woman, and a man's depression stemming from the haunting last words of an 18-year-old who declared he would never forgive his mother. Iris & Gabriel are surprised when they have Laure unexpectedly show up at their home after she and Pierre had gotten into a fight. There is so much drama and mystery throughout this entire book and that is what kept me hooked right from the beginning.

There are so many things that happen throughout this book that I just needed to discuss with someone else who had read it, I think The Guest would be fabulous for a bookclub or buddy read!! So many twists and turns!

If you love B.A. Paris like I do, give this one a read!!

BA Paris is one of the greatest suspense writers of our generation, in my opinion. And, this one did not disappoint either! The characters and suspense were well developed.

B.A. Paris never fails to pull me in with her stories. She’s an autoread author for me - I read each of her books without ever even glancing at the description. This one was definitely a wild ride. When I tell you I had no idea what this book was about, I mean it. When Iris and Gabriel get home to Laure in their house, I was shocked. That’s literally the whole premise of the book and I had no clue!

Seriously, every single twist in the book got me, but the biggest twist had me ab-so-lute-ly flabbergasted. I was shook to my core. I never, not in a million years, saw it coming.

I will say that the prologue of the book was unnecessary though. It’s just a snippet from a later chapter, and it didn’t need to be there. It didn’t add to the suspense or anything. I didn’t even know who any of the characters were at that point so it felt irrelevant.

Y’all. This book is unbelievable, in a great way. If you love a twisty thriller, pick this one up immediately.

I enjoyed this much more than her last, but it fell short in overall pacing.

I liked the plot but I grew tired of the characters discussions, worries and day to day lives that circled around a bit too long. I also became annoyed with the guest Laure and wanted to kick her out myself! *SCREAM*