Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the arc of B. A. Paris' upcoming novel!
I was excited for this one because the blurb had me intrigued. While the idea of the story was good, I didn't really like how it was executed. I liked the story in the beginning; how things didn't add up and all the events that occurred. I did get annoyed with the repetitiveness of some things (like Iris & Gabe getting tired of Laure, but continually going in circles of doing something about it and then feeling bad for her) and the slow pace of the story. The story picked up in the middle and the twist was interesting. It did slow down again until the end. The epilogue was great though and I loved the reveal! I do wish the whole book could've been written in the same tone and pace as the epilogue. I feel like that could've made the story more gripping.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review. This book was certainly very entertaining but it seemed like they kept repeating details over and over

Iris and Gabriel return from a trip to find their friend Laure in their home. She is one half of the couple Iris and Gabriel are very close with. The two couples met twenty years ago in the Bahamas where Laure and Pierre were on their honeymoon and Iris and Gabriel were celebrating their one year anniversary. Laure and Pierre live in Paris and the two couples often visit each other and have keys to the other’s homes. Iris and Gabriel live in a small village in the British countryside and have a daughter who is working in Greece currently during a “gap year” before heading off to university. So, Laure has shown up at Iris and Gabriel’s home unexpectedly and announces she is distraught because Pierre has told her he has discovered he has a child. Laure asks to stay with her friends for a couple a weeks and of course Iris and Gabriel feel badly for her and tell her she is welcome to stay as long as she needs to. Well, things get a bit tense as Laure never stops talking about Pierre and is constantly following Iris everywhere and borrows Iris’s clothes and rearranges her kitchen cabinets, etc. Iris and Gabriel are struggling in their marriage as well, ever since Gabriel discovered a boy hurt and dying. Gabriel can’t come to terms with the boy’s last words and what he told the police. Another couple, Esme and Hugo, move into the village and become good friends with Iris and Gabriel. Esme is pregnant and they also have someone staying with them by the name of Joseph. Joseph is an old friend of Esme’s and is helping them fix up their house. He also starts working at Iris and Gabriel’s to help fix up their walled garden. A lot of tension is present and then someone dies. Without giving away the plot, I’ll stop there. The book moves along fairly well, just dragging in a few parts where it seems to get bogged down with the repetitive neediness of Laure. I was interested in the story and curious where it was going and I admit being surprised at the end. This was a quick read and I’d recommend it as a decent book - just not great. I give it 3.5 stars out of 5.

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

I really enjoyed this novel for the most part. The characters are believable and their relationships developed and revealed themselves in a fascinating way throughout the story. The gradual revelations were handled well; the pace and suspense were compelling right up to the epilogue. This was, for me, the disappointing part of the book--I didn't like the switch to first person, with the murderer giving a long explication of events with the missing links filled in. To me, it would have been more effective to keep the third person point of view, using a date under the epilogue heading or a phrase like 'Twenty years previously', or something similar. I felt the novel's intensity really dropped off in the final pages, leading me to give it three rather than four stars. Still, the story was great up until that point, and I look forward to reading more from this author.

I enjoyed this psychological thriller, though it felt a little repetitive at times. Overall, it has a strong plot and an excellent twist at the end that I did not see coming.

B.A. Paris is an auto-read author for me and will continue to be after The Guest. This was a quick page turning read with a lot of twists that I did not see coming. I really enjoyed the alternating POV of the main characters and how quick each chapter felt. I would definitely recommend this one 4 stars. I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I normally devour Paris's books however this one was much slower paced for me. While there's clearly a mystery from the beginning, this was a lot less action and suspense focused than her other novels. We spend a lot of time with Iris and Gabriel at home with Laure as their guest, but it almost felt a little too static. I did really enjoy the plot and was SHOCKED at the epilogue- I definitely didn't see that coming however it made me question other hints throughout the first half of the book. I s till really enjoyed this but not my favorite of Paris's!

I was shocked at the ending of this book. When I first started to read it.my thoughts were its going to be like Ms. Paris book behind closed doors, but it did surprise me, just when I thought one thing I'd fine I was wrong in my thinking, I read this book in a day, and I loved it. I have been a big fan of B.A. Paris since I read her first book, She sure can keep you guessing who done it ,. My thoughts were the new neighbors were up to know good.

Behind Closed Doors is a favorite but the other author’s books haven’t lived up to that one. I was excited to read this one in hopes it would be as good as Behind Closed Doors and it didn’t disappoint! Although a little drawn out in day to day conversations at time and the guest was super annoying, still an addicting read.

Once I had the three main couples figured out, it was an easy listen. A domestic drama with intertwined characters left wondering who is lying and what each is trying to hide. At first I thought I had it figured out but as the story intertwined I thought there was no way.

The epilogue made the book. Turns out I was right but the last chapter still left my jaw dropped.

This has been posted to Goodreads.

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