Meet married couple Iris and Gabriel. Gabriel was witness to a terrible tragedy that continues to haunts him, he can’t seem to shake it off and move on which has begun to impact his marriage. A friend comes to stay with them for a while, having marital troubles of her own. Throw in some new neighbors, a handsome landscaper, spill in some secrets and we have ourselves a story!!

I wasn’t sure who or what was the main focus of the story as there was a lot of independent things that happen and I wasn’t sure how they all fit together – doubt was planted on almost all the characters, as though they all had backstory that we know nothing about but are hoping to find out sooner rather than later….all that being said, the ending was a great surprise, after all the time spent trying to figure it all out, that ending was not expected it all!!

I enjoyed the light writing and short chapters – which made it a quicker read.

Thank-you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC!

3.5 stars - After reading “Behind Closed Doors” I was a little nervous going into this one bc I wasn’t a huge fan. But this one was better in my opinion! I loved the whodunit vibe. I thought it was going to be another very predictable book but the epilogue really threw me! What a great twist!

I really enjoyed this domestic drama, I could not put it down. The beginning of the book piqued my interest right away. I was pleasantly surprised by the end with all the twists and turns. I had so much angst about Laure as the house guest - I was anticipating the worst. And honestly who was even trustworthy? It was so good, so entertaining. This would be a fun one for a book club too. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher St. Martins Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced reading copy of The Guest by B.A. Paris in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars round up to 3.

The Guest is about married couple Iris and Gabriel. Laure and Pierre are their best friends but are currently having some marital problems so Laure is staying with the couple for a while.

Iris can't help but feel overwhelmed with Laure staying with them as she is always following her around and wearing her clothes and never giving her a moment to herself.

Gabriel is going through his own struggles as he recently saw a young man die and heard his final words. He hasn't been himself and is having a hard time coping.

Laure, their new houseguest, has told them her husband had admitted to having a child with another women since they have been together. She is devastated and trying to decide what she should do.

A new pregnant couple also moved into their neighborhood. They have a gardener that has a bit of a past as well.

It is hard to explain the premise of this book without spoilers, but the plot centers around all of these characters living their day to day, all of whom are dealing with a lot of stress. Tensions get high and secrets start to come out.

This book really didn't do it for me. I liked the beginning but the middle part dragged on too long with too many details that didn't seem needed and I personally did not like the twist at the end. I thought the twist as the end was far fetched and a bit ridiculous. Honestly had it ended differently I think my whole opinion on this book would be different.

Having said that I think this book was well written and I can see it appealing to others. It just wasn't my cup of tea and that is ok! I have read Behind Closed Doors by this author which I gave 4 stars and The Therapist which I gave 5 stars. I will definitely continue to read more books by B.A. Paris

This books publication date is February 20 2024

This one fell pretty flat for me 👎🏼 I’ve read all of her books, but this one kind of seemed all over the place. There were so many different characters that it was a little hard to follow & it jumped around quite a bit. It just didn’t flow very well

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an early copy of The Guest. B.A. Paris is why I read psychological thrillers, because of Behind Closed Doors. The ending of this book was just like that one, OHMYGOSH!!!!!!! I have to admit, the conversations were too polite between a husband and wife, it frustrated me but also I could NOT STOP reading. You never DISAPPOINT, Ms. Paris. LOVED THIS BOOK, I don't want it to be done with. Fantastic and Fast Read, I'm jealous of those who will just be starting to read this.

This twisty turny who done it is a psychological thriller that moves along slowly and periodically gains momentum. At the center is a couple, Iris and Gabriel, parents of an independent young daughter, who have reached an impasse in their marriage after Gabriel discovers a dead body. It is his lie about the victim’s final words that have Gabriel in an emotionally challenged state. But can he tell the bereft mother of the deceased what truly transpired?

Enter Laure, a Parisian friend who simply moves into Iris and Gabriel’s home after a rift with her husband, Pierre, who has confessed to fathering an out of wedlock daughter, with a woman he refuses to name. Now Laure has made herself at home with no end to her “ visit” in sight. She is always there, wearing Iris’s clothing, while interfering with iris’s other friends and relationships.

A third couple, Esme and Hugh, are neighbors in the English countryside, who develop a fast unusually close relationship with the other cast of characters. In other words, there are lots of people, none overly likable, who all seem to be guarding secrets and might have a motive in the ever increasing number of suspicious deaths that permeate the story.

B.A. Paris is someone who knows how to concoct an interesting plot, in which it’s very difficult to figure out who is involved or guilty of which dastardly deed. Yet, I found the intertwining of all the persons of interest to be a bit confusing at times, causing me to be less invested in the outcome.

All in all, I liked this book enough to read onto the end and enjoy the final chapter which pulled it all together. Three stars for this interesting read. Looking forward to more of her books. My thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for my review. This book will be published on February 20, 2024. Look for it!
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Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Some secrets never leave. This book follows married couple Iris and Gabriel and their guest, Laurie. There is a good mystery throughout the plot, but I did feel that it was a bit draggy at some points. Overall, it was a good read.

Honestly, I have to admit that I had a tough time staying engaged in this book. It seemed to drag quite a bit, especially through the first several chapters. I did want to see how the loose ends were tied up and how it ended, which is probably the only reason I stuck it out. This book centers around three separate couples: Iris and Gabriel, Laure and Pierre, and Esme and Hugh. All have issues in their marriages, and some harbor dark secrets.

I did find that as I got toward the end of the book, that it was much more engaging. However, I probably wouldn't read this again. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an early copy of this!

First I’d like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book. It was an interesting read for me. I loved Behind Closed Doors so much so I think all of her books will always be compared to that one. This started off slower and I was really hoping for a little more twists and turns throughout the book. It felt like there were a bunch of storylines and I couldn’t figure out why they were all in the story and how they were connected. I kept trying to figure out where it was going and I was worried that was it. That some of the questions weren’t going to get answered. Then BOOM the epilogue hit! And I was not expecting that at all. I loved how everything tied up in the end. That ending made the whole book for me.

This was a quick and easy read (like all of BA Paris books have been for me.) It was easy to connect with the characters. I felt myself wanting to keep reading to find out what happened and what was going on. Only downfall was that I didn't have the knots in my stomach that all her books usually give me. Overall, it was enjoyable and I read it in three days. 3.5 stars for me

This wasn’t my favorite BA Paris book, but any book by her is great. This one was more predictable than her other books. I guessed the twist early on. It was still a fun read, quick read, and I like her writing style.

A Captivating and Complex Story

SUMMARY
Gabriel and Iris have just returned to their countryside home from a much-needed vacation. They are relieved to be back, but upon entering their house, they realize that something is not right. It appears that someone has been in their home. Laure, a close friend from France, has left her husband over a secret from his past and has taken refuge in their home. She has rearranged their furniture, worn Iris's clothes, and even slept in their bed. Although Gabriel and Iris want to be supportive, as weeks pass, Laure’s presence becomes burdensome and her behavior erratic. They want her to leave. Laure’s husband, Pierre, will not return their calls. As the story unfolds and more and more characters are introduced, dangerous secrets abound.

REVIEW
THE GUEST is a captivating and complex story that weaves together multiple plot lines and characters. While the characters aren't particularly likable, the writing keeps you engaged and eager to find out what happens next. Although the character development is adequate, the real highlight of the book is the shocking twist at the end. Overall, THE GUEST is a worthwhile read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Publisher St. Martin’s Press
Published February 6, 2024
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

I want to start by giving thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and B.A. Paris for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

B.A. Paris is one of my favorite authors so I was thrilled when I was approved for this ARC! With that being said, I’m giving this book five stars. There are many reasons why I’m giving this a five star review but the most important one is because I could not put it down! I loved that the chapters were small and I felt like I knew the characters and was a fly on the wall throughout the whole book. It’s a must read once it hits the shelves in February!

A couple’s friend comes to stay with them because of a betrayal. However, she starts to dress and act more like the wife, leading to consequences.

The prologue drew me in here but then I don’t think the suspense built up after that. Paris has other books that do build that up well, but I was missing that here.

I decided to ask for an advanced copy of this novel because of my positive history reading from B.A Paris. You jump right into the story without much introduction to any of the characters and that sort of distant feeling remained throughout. Although the distance succeeded in reflecting each character as untrustworthy, I felt as though the stakes were lowered since I didn’t care about any of the characters. The twist at the end was surprising, but waiting until the epilogue to reveal most of the information was a little tiresome. I was surprised at how long the epilogue was, I think it was in attempt to wrap each plot point into the perfect package. Overall, this was mostly an enjoyable reading experience. B.A Paris pushes and pulls us as the reader into different directions which threw me off more than once. There was a lot going on (not sure ALL of it was necessary - mainly the Charlie side plot) and the story is told through a lot of dialogue. It was entertaining, but slow paced.

The Guest is the most recent novel by B.A. Paris. Normally I find Paris' books to be relatively quick paced, but this particular book was a very slow burn. There were some parts in the second half that seemed to drag. The end however was well paced and full of surprises. Overall this was a bit of a miss for me, but fans of slow burn mysteries should definitely give it a read. B.A. Paris will still continue to be an auto read for me!

Thank you to B. A. Paris, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the ARC of The Guest. This is only my second book by Paris that I have read. I was really looking forward as the first book was captivating right from the beginning! Right off the bat, this book had me confused. There were so many different characters that it had me circling back to earlier pages multiple times. Once I finally got a good grasp of who was who, I became almost annoyed at the main couple, Their frequent worries and their annoying guest had me extremely frustrated. I did not see the ending coming, but the frustration I felt reading this book was almost enough for me to stop reading. I really enjoyed my first book by Paris, enough that I will give her another chance after this one let me down. Begrudgingly, I will rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.

Iris and Gabriel have a pretty good life. When Laure shows up on their doorstep after finding out Pierre had a child behind her back, they quickly invite her to stay as long as she needs. When her welcome seems to go on a bit too long, the tension in the house begins to grow.

OMG if I was Iris or Gabriel I would have lost my mind with Laure staying with me for so long. She just had no boundaries about the fact that she was in someone else’s home and treated it like she was staying in a hotel or something. While I did fly through this book, I found the story to be just ok. I spent most of the book enjoying the read but also kind of wondering where it was going and what the point was. The twist saved the book a bit, but in the end this was not my favorite of B.A. Paris’s works.

Absolutely amazing! B.A. Paris has done it again. I tried to figure it out. I played the story in my mind so many different ways while reading it, and I was still stunned by the ending.