Iris and Gabriel return from vacation to find an unexpected houseguest staying in their home. Their friend Laure from Paris has left her husband Pierre (Gabriel's best friend) because of his revelation that he has a child with another women. She definitely overstays her welcome and becomes the houseguest from hell.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. At first, I really enjoyed it because it was fast paced and there were cliffhangers at the end of each chapter that kept me reading. However, as I kept reading, more and more characters were introduced with their own storylines and it was hard to see how they all fit together. Additionally, I felt that there was a lot of dialogue which became monotonous. It was as if a lot of what happened was only revealed to the reader because it was discussed by the characters ad nauseum. Details were told but not shown. I especially felt this way with the super long epilogue. And, while it was nice to have closure and for everything to tie together nicely, there weren't a lot of hints that led up to the conclusion.

This book had a lot of potential because the initial premise was interesting, but unfortunately it fell kind of flat for me.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and BA Paris for the ARC of this book which will be released for publication on February 20, 2024.

I'm a huge fan of BA Paris so I was very excited to get an ARC of her newest book, The Guest. For me, it started a little bit slower than I would have liked. I feel like the story line dragged forward while also throwing a bunch of characters into the mix (I kept getting them confused). Gabriel and Iris - Pierre and Laure and the new neighbors Esme and Hugh.

The pace stayed pretty steady for me - and then the bodies started dropping (literally). I, like Iris, thought I had the story figured out, but boy was I wrong. The twist definitely threw me for a loop - did NOT see that coming.

I feel like the story is easy to understand once you understand who is who.

I liked this and would recommend it for those who like BA Paris and thrillers!

I was into this right from the first chapter. Read in one sitting! I didn’t see the twist coming at all so was shook and had to sit in silence with my thoughts for a few minutes after 😅

5/5 stars! Highly recommend!

This is one of those slow burn stories with an unreliable narrator. Just when I thought I had figured it out there is another surprise. It takes place in a countryside village in England outside of London. The guest is good friend from Paris who is taking a break from her life.. Many characters are introduced and adds to the mystery.

4 🌟

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Beware of sharp curves!

Wow, just when you think you have the culprit of all these deaths nailed down, B.A. Paris bamboozles you!

Love, pregnancy, death, deception, lies… this book has it all.

My only qualm with this book was that parts seemed a bit unrealistic, but life can be like that sometimes.

I hope that none of us ever have an Iris in our lives. What a frightening thought.

Holy mackerel! That is by far the best BA Paris book I’ve read. It left me feeling absolutely gobsmacked! Thrillers are often hit or miss for me in the twist department, but boy did this one hit the mark! I did NOT see any of this coming. This book took me totally by surprise and I loved every second of it! Well done!

Thank you to Net Galley for this e-book on exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. There were many twists along the way. I liked the characters and the way they all intertwined. Great book.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC copy and to ST Martin's press, and the author for this copy in exchange for a review.

B.A. Paris is a new to me author but so far I have enjoyed all I have read by her. This book was no different. It was a little slow, still enjoyable but didn't quite feel like I had to neglect all chores and call into work. You get what I mean?

Two couples are in this book both with a house guest. This makes it a little hard to follow but is necessary for the story. Alot of secrets are revealed and some twists are throughout the book, but the end twist nope didn't see it coming.

Overall this was still a good book that I recommend to read.

This is my new favorite B.A.Paris book and I really enjoyed the previous ones. This book allows us to explore the relationships between couples, old friends, and new friends.

The character development was incredible, yet there was always something that I didn’t realize that I didn’t know. At a few points, I found myself extremely frustrated with a characters actions only to learn the reasoning behind it several pages later.

I was on the edge of my seat as I read and was shocked by a turn of events quite often. This is not a book where you will likely figure out the plot early on and you will want to keep reading.

I completed this book in less than 24 hours. While that happens sometimes, my past few reads had not pulled me in like this.

Readers have a lot to be excited for with this book and book clubs should add it to their lists ASAP.

Iris and Gabriel have just arrived home from a make-or-break holiday. But a shock awaits them. One of their closest friends, Laure, is in their house. The atmosphere quickly becomes tense as she oversteps again and again: sleeping in their bed, wearing Iris’ clothes, even rearranging the furniture.

Laure has walked out on her husband—and their good friend—Pierre, over his confession of an affair and a secret child. Iris and Gabriel want to be supportive of their friends, but as Laure’s mood becomes increasingly unpredictable, her presence takes its toll.

Iris and Gabriel’s only respite comes in the form of a couple new to town. But with them comes their gardener, who has a checkered past.

Soon, secrets from all their pasts will unravel, some more dangerous than they could have known.



MY THOUGHTS:

As I began reading The Guest, I had an idea about how the story would unfold. An unexpected and even unwanted guest could derail a family.

But what I wouldn’t know or see coming was how the characters with their dark secrets would gradually come to reveal more to the story.

Iris, as our primary narrator, was the last one I suspected of any wrong- doing. I had doubts about Gabriel, of course, and Laure would come under my lens as she became more and more annoying. Soon Joseph would come under scrutiny.

What would ultimately happen to turn everything upside down? Who would be the most nefarious of the lot? A stunning reveal would come at the very end, earning five stars from this book.

***My ARC came from publisher at NetGalley

Another great read by B.A Paris! This one grabbed my attention right away. I felt connected to the characters and the quick chapters kept me turning the pages! And WOW that ending actually had me gasp out loud!

First off, I want to start by saying B.A.Paris book Behind Closed Doors got me hooked on reading! So to be approved for an early copy of her newest book was the best surprise.
The beginning of the book was good, and by the middle I was hooked however the end lost me. I expected more in depth of some of the things that were going on, I expected there to be another twist or two but sadly that wasn't the case. I found the end more on the predictable side. It took me a bit to get through towards the end but the beginning and end I was sucked into and it was a fast paced read at first. I'm sure others will enjoy it :) just the ending I mostly seen coming.

'The Guest' tells the tale of a woman scorned--she finds out that her husband cheated on her and fathered a child, one neither of them knew nothing about. She runs away to stay with friends, where she hopes for comfort and support.

Iris and Gabriel have been going through a hard time, but when Larre shows up, they can hardly turn their dear friend away, despite the fact that she stays so long she wears out her welcome. Over the course of the novel, new characters are introduced, and while initially they all appear to be strangers, new information comes to light that makes it clear things aren't quite what they seem.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Guest and was surprised at the ending (which is always a good thing!). I'd definitely recommend this if you are a fan of B.A. Paris.

Thank you to the publisher and #NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Really enjoyed this book. I did not see the ending coming at all. The last 20% of the books is packed with twists and I loved that.

This was a great thriller. The building sense that something was wrong was subtle and expertly paced. I got to know each character, and understand the secrets they were hiding. I was desperate to get to the final reveals and figure out exactly what was going on. For me, the ending felt a little out of place. While the storylines had been woven together for a nice and explained conclusion, it didn’t match what I’d learned about each character. Regardless, the twist still got me, and it didn’t ruin the story in any way.
I’d recommend this to anyone who has enjoyed B. A. Paris’s other books or anyone looking for a suburban-based thriller that doesn’t include locking people in basements or child kidnapping!
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s for the advanced copy!

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of "The Guest" by B.A. Paris in exchange for an honest review.

Folks, B.A. Paris is BACK with another mind-bending read. Saying this read is WILD doesn't even begin to cover the ride I was on while reading this. A whole cast of characters full of selfish secrets, and well, I can't tell you what happens but buckle up friends!!

Speaking of characters, I loved Paris' complex characters. And since she's the queen of the plot twist, well, these complex characters get even more complicated. You'll be able to follow along just fine because the logic is top-notch. It's actually unbelievable that Paris is able to craft such a wicked tale and keep all the pieces together.

I can't wait for ya'll to read this one!

This was probably my least favorite BA Paris book, unfortunately. I can’t put my finger on it exactly. I don’t think the writing was her best. Many of the conversations in the book were very surface-y and felt like they were there to give you information and not to add to the story. I loved that the chapters were short but they took jumps (sometimes) and never really indicated how long it was. The epilogue was the longest chapter and it did so much telling and not enough showing. I appreciated how the epilogue tied everything up. None of the characters were likable nor did I enjoy not liking them. Overall, it was a disappointment because I’ve loved BA Paris books so much.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for an early copy to review.

Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martins Press for the eARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.

This wasn’t my favorite B. A Paris book by far but it was still a pretty decent read. I would agree with a lot of the other reviews that this is less thriller and more domestic drama (until the epilogue at least) so if you’re looking for something super mysterious this one is going to leave you wanting more. That being said I wasn’t totally disappointed in the book. It’s a quick read and I’d rate the predictability 50/50 so if you want something to while away a Saturday afternoon this is a good choice just be aware that it’s a little slower than her typical books.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Book: The Guest
Author: B. A. Paris
Genre: Domestic Thriller

Rating ☆☆☆.5

Overview: Long-time friend couples Iris and Gabriel, and Pierre and Loure have been in each other lives since they met many years ago while vacationing at the same resort.

One day, Loure shows up uninvited to Iris and Gabriel's home where she is in hysterics about Pierre. She has discovered some news about Pierre's past and can't cope with all of the destruction that is happening to their marriage with the coming of that news. She is invited to stay with Gabriel and Iris and suddenly strange things keep happening around them. People are mysteriously dying and circumstances are led to indicate that someone is behind all of the deaths. But what really happened will absolutely shock you.

Rating: The Guest is a decent read. However, it was a very slow read, and the story was drawn out and unnecessarily long. I understand the need to throw in extra characters to help hide the truth of all the mysterious deaths, but they felt out of place to me. Overall, the story is interesting and the twist is a little unexpected but also not surprising.

I would recommend this read to someone who enjoys an easy read, but it's a little flat for thriller fans neededing thay adrenaline rush.

I liked this book, but thought the story was way too long. I was all about the ending though, that was a major plot twist! I did not suspect this person at all during the story, so when it was revealed I was like "whhhaaattttt". I normally guess the person beforehand so this was a nice surprise.
This was the first time I listened to the narrator, Emily Joyce, and I would listen to more audiobooks narrated by her.
Thanks to Netgalley to letting me read this ARC.