This story starts out with Iris and Gabriel arriving home from vacation to find themselves with an uninvited houseguest Laure. Laure is taking some time away from her husband Pierre and asks to stay a few weeks. As the weeks increase, Laure becomes increasingly needy and clingy.
Meanwhile Iris and Gabriels’ relationship is also feeling a strain due to a secret Gabriel is keeping from Iris.
We meet some new neighbours that have recently moved in and the only real purpose seems to be as an introduction to another character.

I’m a big fan of B.A. Paris books, but I was annoyed with how needy Laure was and that Iris wasn’t able to stand up to her at all. Her character for 99% of the book was so weak and timid.

The epilogue was a total twist that I most definitely did not see coming

Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martins Press for the advanced ebook for my honest review

3.5 ⭐️

I had a hard time enjoying this book. From the start, it confused me because it felt like I missed crucial information. Then they book just drug on about Laure and Pierre without really any drama until the very end of the book. The characters didn’t feel very well thought out. I had a hard time wanting to continue reading this book.

I was excited to get into this one since I have enjoyed several of the author's other novels. Unfortunately, The Guest did not hold my interest. The first several chapters seemed to drag and does not pick up until about halfway through. I think those who like their thrillers with more buildup would enjoy this book. However, I would easily pick up another B.A. Paris book as I have enjoyed others. Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

I very much enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and the story kept me engaged throughout. I would recommend this book to others. Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC!

B.A Paris does it again. The Queen of domestic thrillers. I never tire of her writing, her character and world building. It is the netflix binge read equivalent of books, and sometimes that is exactly what you need.

Thank you so much to the publishers and netgalley for the e-arc.

An unreliable narrator reflects on the events leading up to his friends murder on a private Greek island Easter holiday trip gone wrong. This book was okay. Many of the characters were unlikable and overall I think it was trying to hard and failed.

I have really struggled to read this book. It is slow moving, and it is in 3rd person POV which I'm personally not a huge fan of. I really was hoping to enjoy this book, but it was predictable. It is well written, but the story was not one of my favorites.

I received an advanced copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.

Iris and Gabriel appear to live a charmed life, nestled in the idyllic British countryside with a daughter contentedly working in Greece and their dear friends, Laure and Pierre from Paris, often joining them for vacations. However, their tranquility shatters when Gabriel stumbles upon a tragic accident in a nearby quarry, becoming the unwitting witness to the young man's final words, leaving him burdened by guilt.

As Gabriel grapples with the trauma, their world takes an unexpected turn as Laure, dealing with her husband's revelation of fathering a child with another woman, moves in with Iris and Gabriel. They offer her solace, but Laure's presence becomes increasingly unsettling. She starts imitating Iris, donning her clothes, shadowing her every move, and obsessively questioning her about the recent death of the young man.

Amidst this fraught atmosphere, the arrival of a new couple expecting their first child seems to offer a breath of fresh air. However, their gardener brings with him a shadowy past.

With their relationships fractured and secrets piling up, the question becomes whether Iris and Gabriel's marriage can withstand the weight of the unsettling circumstances surrounding them.

As an avid fan of B. A. Paris, I came into this book with certain expectations, knowing the author's signature style. While this story may have felt a tad slower in pace compared to some of her other works, it more than made up for it with its rich character development and depth of storytelling.

In this particular book, you embark on a six-month journey alongside Iris and Gabriel, and you genuinely feel the weight of their trials and tribulations during this period. It's as though you're right there with them, navigating the complexities of their lives. There's an abundance of intricacies woven into the narrative, keeping you thoroughly engaged throughout the tale. B. A. Paris has a way of delving into the human psyche, and this book is no exception.

If you're a fan of her previous works, you'll appreciate the psychological depth and character-driven narrative of this story, even if the pacing might be a bit different from what you're used to. It's a book that pulls you into the lives of its characters, making their journey, struggles, and secrets feel all the more real.

3.75/5⭐️ (rounded to 4⭐️)

Oh my. After the first few chapters started a bit slowly, The Guest by [author:B. A. Paris|34016403] ramped up, and I found myself turning the pages as quickly as I could to keep up with the tension, intrigue and suspense tucked into this domestic drama. Paris introduces us to three couples in various stages of their marriages, and each with their own challenges, secrets, and betrayals. Although I had a bit of a hard time keeping up with the plethora of characters, their personal development and relationships, and the many plotlines, I found myself sucked into the storyline, attempting to keep up with the twists and turns (and perhaps a red herring or two?) as the novel unfolded, right up to the last page (gulp).

If you like a book to keep you guessing until the very end, The Guest should be on your TBR list. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

I have to say that the disappointment I feel with every BA Paris book it’s greater each time she comes out with a new release. I don’t know what happened to this author since her first few books, which I loved. This book was just all over the place. I got confused with all the characters, and really did not connect with any of them. The storyline is completely unbelievable, which is usual with most thrillers, but this was just completely off-the-wall.

Loved this book!! I was hooked right from the beginning and read non-stop well into the night. The characters are distinct and well-rounded, the plot expertly weaves multiple story lines together, and there are so many secrets and twists you won’t see coming. This book felt like listening to a good friend re-tell the most crazy true story, and I loved every minute of it.

Laure (the annoying house guest from hell) had me grinding my teeth from annoyance throughout this entire novel. As the body count started to rise, I began to suspect one particular character and was not surprised to be proven right at the very end of this long twisted tale!

Many red herrings are left to flop about, gasping for air and attention, but in the end the diabolical culprit ties the entire mystery up in a neat bow, throws dust in everyone's eyes, and ensures that the "status" remains "quo". No spoilers here, so find out for yourself what motivated the rapidly escalating death toll!

I can't say that I was riveted by this slow, rambling story or by the bland cast of characters. I'm rating this one a 3.4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Wowzers! I absolutely love this author and the atmosphere created. There were some triggers for me so I had to stop early in the book. Sorry. I should have read the summary a bit more before I requested.

B.A. Paris has done it again. They have definitely become an auto buy author. I am interested in reading anything this author writes. Such a fun twisty thriller. I can’t wait to get a copy once it’s released!

i really enjoyed this book.

it took me a bit to get into but once i did, i did not want to put it down. i liked how the information was revealed and when. i do love an unreliable narrator and this did not disappoint.

thank you to netgalley for the opportunity to read this book!

As per usually.........twist and turns and gasps and drama!!! love love. Keep em coming. This one kept me wanting more till the very end and left me satisfied.

BA Paris has done it again!! The twists and turns left me on the floor. This was a wild ride that I will be reading again and again.

I am disappointed in this B.A Paris's novel. I expected more as I know her books are better than this. The characters need depth, and the plot is predictable. Most people would say there is a twist at the end; however, I guessed the ending correctly. The pace is extremely slow until halfway through the book, it picks up. If you are a B.A Paris fan as I am, this book is different from her other ones. I wouldn't skip it, but it's not a fantastic read.

I would like to express my gratitude to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Fans of B.A. Paris will not be disappointed with her latest novel! The Guest is a twisty, domestic drama, that was full of WTF moments! This book kind of reminded me of None of This is True by Lisa Jewell, in the sense that I ate it up, and the situation feels so hauntingly real!

What I liked:
- short chapters (a given in a thriller right?!)
- I was so immersed in the plot that I felt like I was in the novel
- WTF moments (there's more than 1!)
- the epilogue?!?!

What I liked less:
- sometimes the writing was very matter-of-fact and felt very flat
- dialogue was repetitive at times
- although the epilogue was good, it was very long
- I enjoyed the ending, but I feel like it could've been more insane

This is my second B.A. Paris novel and I liked it better than the first one I read. I would be interested in reading more of her books!

3.5 stars

We all have had a houseguest that stayed perhaps to long, or imagined what would happen if they would. This book plays creepily on this premise in a fun, twisted way. It had some unexpected moments and some more expected but I like how it took an everyday concept and made it seem frightening. A fun read.