Since I first read Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris I have been reading everything she writes in hopes of getting the same thrilling feeling. The Guest was not the thriller I was hoping for but I did enjoy this drama.

The story follows Iris and her husband Gabriel as they return from vacation to find that one of their friends has moved into their house. The story slow progresses, with a few twists and turns, with an ending I definitely was not expecting!

With many unlikeable characters and slower story line this book won't be for everyone. If you love domestic drama though this book is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

B.A. Paris is notorious for crafting a thrilling suspense. Her stories have range and no two tales have felt the same.

In The Guest the drama is there from page one. Husband and wife Iris and Gabriel are returning home early from what was supposed to be a fun and peaceful vacation. Things have been better between them. You see, a few months ago Gabriel came across a crashed bicyclist and held his hand as he passed away. Traumatic as that is, he also knew the young man, a classmate of his daughters. He's been haunted by the tragedy and now it's getting in the way of his career. He can't talk to Iris like he usually can. He knows he's pulling away from her and hurting her in the process but he just simply cannot deal with working on their marriage or even maintaining the happiness they had before the accident.

When the couple arrives at home, Iris already disappointed that the vacation didn't seem to help her husband, they're startled at the intrusion of their friend, Laure.

Laure & Pierre and Iris & Gabriel all met on their honeymoon. Somehow they've stayed friends, stayed in touch after all these years. They have a standing agreement that if one couple is out of town, the other should feel free to come and stay, like housesitting and vacationing in one. So it's not unusual that Laure would have dropped in while they were gone. But there is no Pierre here with Laure, because it seems that Pierre has been unfaithful.

Laure implores that Iris and Gabriel let her stay on as their guest while she and Pierre attempt to figure it out. As you can imagine, having a house guest, no matter if it IS a close friend being underfoot while you're dealing with your own trauma isn't easy. And Laure quickly gets on both Gabriel and Iris' nerves. They feel like she's never going to leave.

Of course, some elements of this story come off as odd right away: an unconventional new couple that moves in down the street, a houseguest that doesn't seem to want to leave nor deal with her own issues, a gardener that seems suspicious. All these characters interact and overlap in ways that leave you scratching your head as you try to puzzle out just what is happening here.

Add to all this, a few bodies that start turning up and you've got yourself and real knot of confusion.

Readers will enjoy trying to unravel the story and the twists and be left with another exciting novel by Paris.

When Iris and Gabriel return home from a vacation to find family friend Laure staying at their home after leaving her husband, it’s just the beginning of the characters’ lives unraveling. When Hugh, Esme, and Joseph move into the neighborhood even more secrets are revealed. How will they handle them, and is one of them willing to kill to keep them hidden?

This book was paced somewhat slow in the beginning but picked up towards the end with some twists throughout. A good summertime thriller if you want something easy to read!

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

I’m usually a huge fan of this author but this book fell short for me. I found myself struggling with the mystery elements and the pace was slow.. I also had trouble connecting with the characters. I’m still a big fan of this author and can’t wait for their next book .

B.A. Paris has a way of keeping you guessing until the very end. And I find her writing style to be very easy to read - not too simplistic, not over the top in vocabulary - just very down to earth. She has a excellent way of developing a full, rounded cast of characters. I recommend to read all of her novels - they won't let you down.

I tried so hard to really like this book. I truly did. I was lucky enough to receive both the E-Arc and the audiobook. I switched back and forth but I honestly could not get into the book
So I ended up DNFing it. I'm rating the book 3 stars because while it wasn't a book for me it might be the perfect book for someone else.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the E-ARC. And to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

An amazing story with a truly surprising turn. Keeps you thinking you have it all figured out, then WHAM!! An incredible addition to your TBR list.

I really wanted to like this one after loving Behind Closed doors, but this one unfortunately fell a little flat of me.

2.5 stars, rounded up.

I was super pumped to read this because I absolutely love B.A. Paris and her other book (Behind Closed Doors specifically). However, this was a let down for me as it did not in anyway fulfill my expectations. I went into it assuming it would be the quality of her other books and would be similar in the sense that they are all super twisty thrillers that leave you on the edge of your seat wondering what's going to come next.

This was not a thriller, this was a domestic drama. If I had gone into this knowing that, I might have liked it more. I did find the plot somewhat entertaining at times. I just kept waiting for the psychological twists she normally has in her books to happen and they never really did.

Throw that completely off the wall ending in there, and this just wasn't it for me. I do love B.A. Paris and I will continue to read absolutely everything she writes, and HIGHLY recommend checking out her other books, this just wasn't my favorite.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded down-The characters in this book are so unlikeable and not realistic. Who in their right mind goes to someone’s house while they are on vacation and makes themselves at home in their bed, wearing their clothes, leaving a mess everywhere? I can’t think of any reason I would let that guest stay with me after I came home to that. The whole, I just met you, but here are the keys to my house, please use it whenever, or come in without knocking is not something that I could see happening with people who barely know each other. The narrative was very, this happened: dog died, dad died, found someone he knows who fell off a cliff and died. There is a lack of emotion, and a story that is wrapped up with an epilogue of far fetched explananations for the events in the story. Just an ok read if you are able to get past the ridiculous ending.

I have been buying BA Paris’ books since Behind Closed Doors; some of them ive loved and some of them have been major misses. This one fell right in the middle.

This novel follows couple Gabriel and Iris who return from a trip and find one of their closest friends, Laure, staying in their home after a tiff with her husband, Pierre.

Typically Paris is viewed as a mystery / thriller writer but this was not that; yes, the reader is wondering what is happening in each of the characters lives but it is first and foremost a domestic drama and I think knowing this before picking up the book will really aid in a readers enjoyment as the pacing is incredibly slow.

This book won’t be for everyone; the characters are unlikable, pacing was sluggish and reading about the mundane existence of the aforementioned unlikable characters day to day life felt repetitive and borderline boring… but it was supposed to. Paris did an excellent job making the reader feel Iris and Gabriel’s annoyance and frustration with their guest, Laure.

If you’re finding the pacing to be hard hang in there because…that ending! It’s very rare that I’m completely surprised by an ending and I definitely didn’t see this one coming. (Slide into my DMs if you’ve read this one because I’m still undecided on if it was expertly plotted, or came out of no where.)

If you’re looking for a fast paced mystery / thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this is absolutely not that. If you enjoy a domestic drama filled with unlikable characters and a heck of an ending, then I definitely suggest picking it up.

Looking for a twisting, plot driven thriller? Look no further than "The Guest"! This book messes with your head in the best way possible. There are so many subplots, and you suspect EVERYONE! If you would like to read a book that will keep you guessing until the end and punch you in the face with reveals, then you should definitely read this book!

Overall, I really enjoyed this multiple POV mystery thriller. You get sucked into the story so quickly and the psychological action just keeps coming. The Guest is a book for anyone that loves a thrilling mystery filled with all the drama, but relatively zero gore.

This book does pack a punch towards the end, so if you are an impatient reader than this might not be the book for you. I thought the pacing was incredible and loved how it was action packed, but not in a traditional way. If you want a book with lots of "things" happening then it may not be for you, as most of the action is in the psychological drama that played out - I thought that this really complimented the story though and enjoyed it.

I will definitely be recommending this one to all of my thriller lovers! I can't wait to dig into BA Paris' back log, as this was my first book by this author. This short, fast-paced thriller is a great read for even those just interested in dipping their toes into the genre. Great story and even better writing!

I thought this book started out strong. It immediately grabbed my attention, and I had high hopes until it just kept dragging on. I didn’t particularly like any of the main characters and the ending was very predictable.

Overall, I did not enjoy this book. I think the ending could have been better and characters could have been more likable.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely couldn’t put down or shut up about “Behind Closed Doors” from Paris, so I’ve given others chances and was excited to read this one however it was too much of a slow burn for me. There were also many characters to keep in mind. Overall, I enjoyed but it doesn’t beat behind closed doors.

This was a slow read for me for being suspense. I had a hard time getting into it but I do typically like this author’s work.

Although the decisions of some of the characters really didn’t sit with me – I enjoyed the beginning of this book.

Would I ask someone to stay in my house after they were in my house without me knowing for months on end? Hell to the NO - but I’m not characters in the book and although it was very cringe I did the beginning.

Now around 80% it started a full flat for me. There was one plot line that I could not get behind and the epilogue drove me mad.

I absolutely hated that ending and that brought the book from four stars down to 1.5

I loved B.A. Paris’ first book, “Behind Closed Doors” so much that I literally gave it to a colleague when I finished it who proceeded to read it in one day. Unfortunately, “The Guest” does not move me to the same levels of excitement of her earlier works. The plot in this one was rather convoluted and there were a lot of characters that were hard to be too invested in. I will say that the final chapter absolutely increased the intrigue factor of this book, but I wish that had existed throughout. 3 stars ⭐️. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy for review.

I enjoyed this book! It was not my favorite of B.A. Paris, but it kept me interested. From the beginning, I was confused by Laure and her relationship to Iris and Gabriel, but in a way that drove me to keep reading. The epilogue of this book made my head spin!

"The Guest List" by B.A. Paris is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The story is set on a remote island off the coast of Ireland, where a glamorous wedding is taking place. As the guests gather for the celebration, secrets and betrayals come to light, leading to a tense and suspenseful atmosphere.

The novel is told from multiple perspectives, allowing readers to see the events unfold from different angles. The characters are well-developed and complex, each with their own motives and secrets. The pacing is fast and the twists and turns keep the reader guessing until the very end.

Overall, "The Guest List" is a thrilling and atmospheric read that will appeal to fans of suspenseful fiction. B.A. Paris has once again delivered a captivating story that will leave readers eager for more.

I was interested in this book because I really enjoy other work by BA Paris. Unfortunately, this one didn't grip me in the same way others have. I'd recommend The Guest for anyone looking for a domestic drama with short, fast paced chapters, and unreliable narrators. With that said, be prepared for a cast of extremely unlikeable characters and confusing storylines to sort out.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-arc of The Guest by B.A. Pairs in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, I did not get it downloaded in time, but I ended up purchasing a copy separately and wanted to give some thoughts on this one.