I was hooked from the beginning! The character development was so strong that I felt a connection with each one. The interwoven dynamics made me question what I thought throughout the novel. Highly recommend!!

This was a very quick and easy read like all of BA Paris books have been for me. I had an easy time connecting with the characters and wanting to keep reading to find out what happened and what was going on. I didn’t have the knots in my stomach that all her books usually give me but it was enjoyable and I read it in three days. 3.5 stars for me

~ I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. ~

So this is my very first introduction to B.A. Paris and my first thriller novel as an adult. I have read a bit of true crime and a lot of psychological/mental health related books, but this was new! I adore psychological thriller type movies - they’re my favorite type of film and I love to solve as I go, so delving into this was super exciting!

I enjoyed the storyline, the setting, and the author highlighted details in a way that had me highlighting many a red herring as I went through. I had fun with the characters and enjoyed the introduction of Esme and Hugh, the down-the-street quirky neighbors with a magnetic appeal. One of the main characters even gave personal edges to the descriptions of others around her that were noted so well, like the exasperation and overbearing nature of another character mentioned - I felt annoyed for her!

The plot twists were twisty and I was genuinely surprised by some of them, which was awesome, because who doesn’t love an entertaining surprise in a story?

Things that could have pushed this to 5-stars for me:
- More likeable main characters; I like when I can feel the genuine betrayal of it all and a few more likeable moments could have sealed that deal here.
- The blindness of some of the characters; at some points they were astute, at others they were wearing rose colored glasses. The duality of lies and transparency, like a fogger mirror, was a present theme in the book, so the execution could be cleaned a bit to present this in a reflective manner
-A few more punchy transitions! Great set up and twists, but the transitions would be even more shocking with a few strong transitional paragraphs at the end of the chapters before the reveal.

Overall, this was a fun and quick read; a great introduction to thriller novels to dip my toe into! Cannot wait to dive in and read more - The Therapist from B.A. Paris sounds like a great next read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the digital ARC of ”The Guest” in exchange for my honest opinion. I always look forward to a new book by B. A. Paris. The book starts off with a prologue and then begins to tell the story 6 months in the past. I was a little confused at first since we do not meet some of the characters until later on. I did get caught up in the drama and secrets of all of the characters. Every time you think you have it figured out, there is a new twist. I am usually on top of my game, but didn’t see the final twist coming. I would have rated this higher if the events in the epilogue would have been dispersed throughout the book instead, but that is just my personal preference.

**4.5-stars**

B.A. Paris is back and she's bringing my favorite kind of suspenseful Domestic Drama with her.
I had so much fun reading The Guest. Frustrating in the best ways, I found it to be completely addictive and one heck of a gripping roller coaster ride.

In this story we meet Iris and Gabriel, a married couple living in the British countryside. They have a grown daughter who is currently working abroad in Greece, so all is fairly peaceful on the home-front. That is until the day a local boy suffered a terrible accident, falling into a nearby quarry. Gabriel was the one to find the boy's battered body and even though Gabriel's a skilled doctor, there was nothing he could do. The boy couldn't be saved, but Gabriel did get to be with him in his final moments, so he wasn't alone.

Gabriel hasn't been the same since that tragic day, and even though Iris is trying to help him cope, it's definitely put a strain on their relationship. As they are grappling with this, an unexpected house guest arrives. Their old friend, Laure, has shown up from Paris. She says that she and her husband, Pierre, have had a terrible fight and she needs a place to stay. Iris and Gabriel have been best friends with Laure and Pierre for many, many years, so they tell Laure that she is welcome and that she can stay for as long as she needs.

Laure moves herself in and makes herself as comfortable as possible, wearing Iris's clothes and shadowing her every move. As the days and even weeks pass, the couple begins to question Laure's story and her motives. What is she really doing there and when the heck is she going to leave?

As tension mounts, more people get drawn into the twisted drama; the new couple in town, their handsome gardener and even Iris and Gabriel's daughter. As mentioned above, I really enjoyed this one and found the narrative to be compulsively readable. From the Prologue, Paris had absolutely hooked me. She definitely has a gift for drawing the Reader in.

From the initial set-up, with Laure arriving at the house, you can just tell it is going to get freaking wild. There's a vibe under the surface of constant tension and intrigue. No matter how crazy things get though, I always find Paris's main characters to be relatable. I never have a problem putting myself in their shoes and imagining what I would do in any given situation. This one had me biting my nails with tension, yelling at Laure, yelling at Iris. I would have done some major clean-out of my house, that's for sure.

I really got sucked into all of the interpersonal drama in this story, but also loved the mystery running throughout. It was hard to tell who you could trust and some of the connections were also shady. There were some real strong reveals and I was happy with the way it ultimately concluded. This did feel more reminiscent to some of Paris's earlier works as well, which were a little stronger for me than her more recent releases.

I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a taut, twisted Domestic Drama, particularly if you have enjoyed B.A. Paris's earlier stories. I would also recommend reading this one with a friend, or Book Club. I actually Buddy Read it and thought it was exciting to discuss it with someone else as we discovered the twists and turns together.

Overall, I thought this was such a great read. I'm so happy Paris continues to write these types of stories. As long as she is writing them, I'll be reading them.

Thank you so much to the publisher, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio, for providing me copies to read and review. The Guest is releasing on February 20, 2024, and IMO, this one should not be missed!!

A slow burn psychological thriller. The beginning is very slow but then it eventually picks up. For me, the most pacing was too slow.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars ⭐️

Gabriel witnesses the murder of a local teen boy, which sends him into a tailspin of trauma and grief that his wife, Iris, feels helpless in supporting him out of. Upon returning from a vacation to try to get their marriage back on track, they are greeted by an unexpected house guest. Laure, a good friend of theirs, says she needs time away after finding out her husband has a daughter with another woman. Laure begins to overstay her welcome, just as a new couple and their gardener (Esme and Hugh, with Joseph) move into the neighborhood. As their paths all cross, it leads to even more secrets, confusion and tragedy.

While I was immediately hooked, this book ended up feeling more domestic drama than thriller. I also found some of the characters (ex. Laure and Gabriel) to be kind of annoying. Lastly, I loved the epilogue and how it tied everything together BUT it didn’t have the shock value I was expecting.

B. A. Paris is a must read author for me so I still enjoyed this book, the quick chapters and the alternating timelines. Thanks NetGalley and St. Marten’s Press!

I picked up this book yesterday planning on reading just a few chapters and ended up reading the whole thing in one sitting. I thought this was a great read with a great twist that I didn’t see coming.

"The Guest" by B.A. Paris is a gripping and strangely addicting psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of relationships and hidden secrets.

Set in the British countryside, this captivating read follows Iris and Gabriel as they navigate an unsettling series of events, including the arrival of an unexpected house guest and the revelation of long-buried secrets. With its suspenseful narrative and compelling character dynamics, "The Guest" is a page-turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Get ready for an unexpected twist that will leave you guessing until the very end! Once I got to 40% of the book, I couldn't put it down and spend the afternoon binging it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me receive an ARC!

Another suspenseful domestic drama story from B.A. Paris. It was difficult to really like or feel invested in any of the main characters in this book, but the story had so many twists and turns that it just compelled me to keep reading - and just as I thought I had it all figured out - the ending proved me quite wrong! Highly entertaining.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC.

Iris and Gabriel arrive home from vacation to their home in England to discover their friend Laure has come to stay with them. Laure and Pierre, who reside in Paris, have been best friends with Iris and Gabriel for several decades. They are shocked to learn that Laure is having some troubles with Pierre but let her stay for a while to give her time to think. At the same time, a new couple, Esme and Hugh, have moved in down the road from them with their friend Joseph. It becomes very clear from the multiple viewpoints in the story that these people will all become connected in the story, but how?

This one was a little slower-paced than I’ve come to expect from B.A. Paris. Overall, I enjoyed the story and the twists throughout. However, I got a little tired of hearing the same discussions and worries about everyday life over and over again. I also got very tired of Laure constantly going on about Pierre and very much overstaying her welcome. Nevertheless, I was invested in the story and wanted to see how it all ended. The epilogue tied everything together for me in a shocking way. I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys a slow-burn thriller! I give it 3.5/5 stars.

You come home from holiday to find someone in your house. She is wearing your clothes, and sleeping in your bed instead of a perfectly suitable guest bed. Yes this guest is your friend, and yes you gave her a key to your house. You understand she is going through marital problems and you want to be a good friend and support her, but when is she going to leave? Why did she rearrange your kitchen cabinets/drawers? After weeks, why is she still wearing your clothes and why did she cut her hair to look like yours?
This novel felt like a drama until about half way through, then boom death, after death, after death. Could it be accidental or is it murder?
There are many characters in the beginning of the novel to get fimilar with. Iris & Gabriel are the owners of the house. They have a daughter named Beth who is away. Gabriel found a boy named Charlie as Charlie was dying. Laure is the guest and Peirre (her husband). Then a new couple in the neighborhood, Esme and Hugh. And then Joseph is the gardener. All these people play a roll.
Twists kept coming in the second half of the book and I enjoyed all. The epilogue was a longer chapter which I needed desperately to wrap things up and answer all my questions. The main answer in the epilogue I didn’t really care for, but it was the only one that made the most sense.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this novel. I love B.A Paris, her novels never disappoint.

I have read a few books by the same author and really enjoyed them. This one was good as anticipated! It was a page turner for sure!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and BA Paris for the ARC of The Guest.

I have loved every BA Paris book I have read, and this one is no different! The characters were so well developed, I felt like I knew them. Not every family is as perfect as they may seem from the outside. Don’t believe me, just read this book!

I was underwhelmed with this read. Not my favorite from this author. Thank you for the e-book and opportunity to review.

3.5/5

My ratings for this authors books are all over the place and this one falls somewhere right in the middle for me. She has a knack for writing short and fairly fast paced mysteries that hold my attention and while the pacing here had some issues, I was mostly invested. The central mystery was solid for me but things lost me a bit dealing with the characters everyday minutiae of their lives, I got a little bogged down with the details and didn’t feel like they were wholly necessary. But like I said, the main mystery was good and the twists were fun so definitely some enjoyable moments. If you like fluffy popcorn style thrillers this may be for you.

I have read all of B.A. Paris’s other work and was over the moon when I was granted an e-ARC of her latest novel, The Guest.

Like “The Dilemma” by the same author, this book is not a thriller - it’s more of a drama. So if you adjust your expectations accordingly, I think you’ll really love it. This story features three couples, Iris and Gabriel (the main characters), Laure and Pierre (their close friends of 20 years), and Esme and Hugh (a new couple who moved into the village).

Iris and Gabriel have been in a rut when the story begins, and they attempted to overcome this with a romantic trip to Scotland. Returning a day early, Iris and Gabriel arrive home to find their home is occupied by their close friend Laure who has recently separated from her husband after learning he cheated on her in the past and has a child with another woman.

Laure quickly overstays her welcome, staying for weeks and weeks, while constantly agonizing over her husband’s betrayal. She begins wearing Iris’s clothes, cozying up to Iris’s friends Esme and Hugh, and even copies Iris’s hairstyle. Worse, she doesn’t even seem to realize the strain she’s putting on Iris and Gabriel’s marriage by her constant presence. How with Gabriel and Iris convince her to move out? And what really happened with Pierre’s love child?

This was a great story and there were many unexpected twists and turns. I was happy to see how everything turned out. Everything was tied up in a neat bow in the epilogue which I love.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. I love B.A. Paris and will always come back for more!

Loved this exciting book!! I've read all of this Author's books and the suspense just gets better and better!! You will NOT want to miss this thriller!!

** spoiler alert ** Thank you to NetGalley and B.A. Paris for an ARC copy of The Guest. Below is my unbiased review WITH SPOILERS:

What a wild ride! Iris and Gabriel are a couple whom are experiencing difficulties in their 20+ year marriage. Gabriel went through an incredibly traumatic experience, and Iris is doing what she can to be the supportive wife that she knows herself to be, albeit her husband is making it difficult on her.

When they return from holiday in Scotland, they are shocked to find their friend Laure staying in their house. Despite the shock that she is there, they are also happy to host her. Laure and her husband, Pierre, have been friends with Iris and Gabriel since meeting on a holiday many years ago. However, Laure's disruption on their lives begin to leave them feeling restless, hoping and praying that the hardship between Laure and Pierre would soon be resolved so Laure could return to Paris.

However, only hardship follows them. Gabriel comes to terms with the traumatic experience he had but leaving Iris feeling her own traumatic experience after Laure is found deceased after going for a run and not returning. On top of this, Pierre is also found dead, leaving Gabriel devastated by all the death surrounding him as of late.

Eventually, all things come to a head and Iris admits that she has been hiding a secret of her own, and that she would do anything, ANYTHING, to keep that secret hidden just as it had been over the last 20+ years.

During the entire novel, I was questioning where B.A. Paris was going with this novel. I had previously read Behind Closed Doors and was completely enamored with the story, and have recommended it. But, the further I got into The Guest, I found myself questioning the storyline. It wasn't until I got through the epilogue, which by the way, is the longest chapter in the novel, that I began to change my 2-star review to the 4-star review that it is. I did not see the ending coming, and I think that is why I tend to love this author so much. You're left questioning everything until finally, it's all spelled out for you in the end.

Absolutely well done novel, and I hope others enjoy this as much as I did. Once again, thank you NetGalley and B.A. Paris for allowing me an ARC copy of this story in order to provide my honest review.

B.A. Paris is a good writer and always has a good story to tell, and I have read and enjoyed several of her books. Gabriel and Iris are a married couple with a young adult daughter, living in England. Their good friend, Laure, is temporarily staying with them when she is having difficulties in her marriage to Pierre. This is quite a suspenseful story, a slow burn, with just the right amount of complicated. No spoilers! Recommend this book and all of the author’s books.