THE FAMILY GUEST took me by surprise. I haven't read any books relating to exchange students before and this was a doozy! Natalie was quite the character, I thought she was nice but then her true colors were shown towards the end of the book. Matt, her husband, was another story all together, I can't say I liked him either. Tanya, however, was the main focus and after you read about her you may change your mind about ever hosting an exchange student. I enjoyed Paige and Will the most. They were clever and strong-willed. I really can't say anything more but to grab a copy of this twisty tale, you'll find it hard to put down.

Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my gifted copy.

This review will be shared (@coffee.break.book.reviews) closer to publication date.

The Family Guest was a psychological thriller set in Los Angeles that centers around the Merritt family taking in Tanya Blackstone, an exchange student from England, as their family guest. Blonde and conventional attractive, Tanya is the opposite of mousy, artistic Paige. However, Tanya ends up bonding with Paige's mother, Natalie, as Tanya reminds Natalie of her daughter Annabel, who had passed away a few years prior. As Paige butts heads with Tanya, she eventually realizes that Tanya may not be who she seems and the stakes rise as the Merritt family begins to unravel. This thriller is told through the dual perspective of both Paige and her mother Natalie, as the reader learns who is hiding what secrets.

I decided to begin this review with a quick synopsis because while the general premise of the novel was interesting, this book was not quite for me. The primary issue that threw me off with this novel was the writing style, which felt clunky at times - for example, characters relied on niche phrases (ex. take ____ to the cleaners) that repeated themselves and felt awkward. Additionally, some of the descriptions and internal monologues were a bit juvenile, as Paige always refers to her best friend as "bestie" and the Instagram posts and hashtags described during the novel were unrealistic. For the first part of the novel, I was able to relatively overlook this writing because the pacing felt good until it slowly started to drag on and on. I think that a few subplots could have been excised from the novel for it to still have a suspenseful effect, and I think the book could easily have been at least 50 pages shorter. Some instances of foreshadowing were also a bit to blunt, as I am normally pretty bad at guessing plot twists, but I was able to guess most of them in this novel.

I think that a younger audience is more likely to enjoy this novel given its writing style, but it touched on themes that in my opinion would be too mature/dark for a younger age. The author had a good idea and premise in the novel - that premise is what kept me going to the end - but the execution in the writing and pacing evaporated the tension that could have been built. The book shows potential and there were parts that I enjoyed (Will and Paige's brother/sister relationship and their relationship with their grandmother), but it ultimately just was not for me.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital advanced reader copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

This is my first book by Nelle Lamarr and it won't be my last! You never know who you invite into your home...and sometimes you don't even know who you is living under the same roof! No one is who they seem in this thriller that keeps you guessing until the last page! Frieda McFadden fans will enjoy this fast and fun read! Thank you so much for the advance copy!

Well I did not expect that as the outcome! I thought I had guessed what was going to happen but no I was completely wrong! I read this within a day I just couldn't put it down. I was really routing for paige and really resonated with her relationship with her mum. I would have liked more details of how Tanya managed to actually get to the family and pass the checks that were supposed to have happened with the exchange company. I will definitely look out for more books by this author as I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Thank you for letting me review this title

Wowwwww is all I can say!!!!!! This book sucked me in from the first chapter!!!! So many twists and turns!!! I would recommend this book if you are in a reading slump and need something to get you back into reading! Going to be looking for more books with this author!

#TheFamilyGuest #NetGalley
It was ok.
Natlie has recently lost her eldest child, Anabel, and Tanya is the spitting image of her. Natalie adores Tanya and cannot do enough for her. Daughter Paige cannot stand Tanya. She thinks something is very phony about her and her story of being an exchange student. The plot gets so thick you can cut it with a knife. This is one of the best thrillers I have read in a long time.
Don't expect much from this book. I've read such concepts before but in a better way. It's a one time read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me an advance copy.

As soon as Tanya an exchange student arrives a families
secrets and deceptions threaten to destroy them.
I don’t want to give away to much but suffice to
say there is a lot going on with the family with
Tanya’s arrival being the catalyst to much of it,
Twisty and well paced this is a great read.

OhmiGAWD what a thriller... im a fan of this author and have read her past books, but this, THIS! Is completely different than any other thing she has done. No spoilers here, but if you love fast action, strong characters, and twists and turns with a killer ending, here's your book!

This is a story about an overseas visitor and the story takes you on a journey with a great conclusion. I liked this book but I didn't love it. The story focuses on a few main characters; Natalie being one of them. Natalie is pleasant but a bit too stepford wife for my liking. Like she's putting on a pretence. Paige is the unruly teenager with a soft likeable side. My favourite character has to be Will who seems chilled throughout but has a determined streak within him.

The story comes to a nice conclusion and all wrapped up in a bow but leaves chance of a second book? Overall a good 4 but not quite a 5 for me.

Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book for an unbiased review.

From the day exchange student Tanya arrives to stay with the Merritt family, everyone's secrets and lies are vulnerable to exposure, and not everything is as it seems.

The Family Guest is a twisty thriller guaranteed to leave you guessing. Four stars!

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was so good. I read it in one day!

This book gave me life time movie vibes! Tanya, a foreign exchange student stays with the Merritt Family. It turns out she is not who she claims to be. So many twists in this story!

I would definitely recommend this book! Such a good easy read! I couldn’t believe the ending!

Thank you NetGalley, Nelle and Bookouture for the ARC!

Wow! This book was great! It was hard to put down. I stayed engaged from beginning to end wanting to know what happened next.

This was excellent. Hard to put down and clever plot. I am looking forward to this author's future books.

This was a very easy read with many twist I did not see coming throughout. I was hooked could not put my kindle down.

When the Merritt family decides to open their home to a foreign exchange student, they get much more than they bargained for in Tanya, a girl who bears an uncanny resemblance to the daughter and sister that the family has lost. It is told from the alternating perspectives of Natalie and Paige which I think definitely helped build the suspense.

Highly recommended thriller. Thanks to netgallery and the publisher for my advanced copy.

Well, the thought of ever wanting to host a foreign exchange student is officially off the table!! Fast paced from the start and a nice quick read, in the best way possible. Could not put it down. Psychological thriller to the max. Duo point of view between mother and daughter was perfect. Kept me guessing the ENTIRE time. The writing reminded me a lot like two of my other favorite authors, Freida McFadden and Lucinda Berry. Best book I’ve read in this genre in a while to be honest. Would give more stars if they were available!!

Wow,I absolutely loved this book and couldn't put it down! There are so many layers and surprises all the way to the end which was great! Definitely should be on your to read list!
I look forward to reading more from this author!
Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this book!

Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
*********************************************************

Long blonde hair. Sparkling dark eyes. Perfect pearly-white teeth. I’ve never met her before but I know exactly who she is as I spot her through the crowds of the terminal. Because our new guest is the spitting image of the daughter we lost. And that’s exactly why I chose her.

From the moment our exchange student Tanya comes into our home, I feel like my daughter has come back to life. Tanya, with her long blonde hair and slender frame, looks so much like Anabel that sometimes I can almost pretend she didn’t die in that tragic accident.

Tanya really is the perfect guest – kind, polite, and always happy to help me in the kitchen. At last, a member of the family who compliments my beautiful house and enjoys my homemade dinners. And when she asks questions about my life, I feel I’ve finally found someone I can confide in.

My younger teenage daughter, Paige, isn’t so happy about our guest. She thinks it’s weird that Tanya looks like Anabel, and she hates it when she wears her sister’s old clothes. But then again Paige and Anabel always had a strained relationship… And I’m certain that having another teenage girl in the house will help heal our family.

But now Paige is insisting I check Tanya’s records. She’s become convinced Tanya isn’t who she says she is. But I learnt a long time ago that sometimes it’s best not to ask questions you don’t want to know the answer to. And I definitely don’t want Paige pulling this thread… because I’m growing suspicious that our new guest Tanya might have a secret. But I’m certain it is nothing in comparison to mine…

They say that houseguests and fish stink after three days and Tanya is quite the fish. Mind you, the mother is not the best person in this scenario, either --- you will wonder about her intentions all the time, same with Page. It is hard to write more without giving away plot details but this is a great read that I will recommend far and wide.


#shortbutsweetreviews

I wanted to enjoy this book but the characters felt forced. It gave “parent trap”, the Orphan and Disney thriller vibes for me.

Overall, it was an easy read but I would have liked a little more suspense in the plot. I was able to predict the ending long before we got to the end.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars!

The Family Guest follows the Merritt family as they host an exchange student, Tanya, from London. From the very beginning, Natalie Merritt feels a strong connection to Tanya and they immediately form a strong bond..Paige, the Merritt’s daughter, has feelings of mistrust about Tanya and the two don’t get along. As the story unfolds, Tanya’s behavior seems off and as a reader I felt a dislike for her. The plot twist towards the end was unsuspected. I was drawn in from the very beginning and couldn’t put this page turner down.

OMG, this was a gripping page turner from the beginning!

The Merritt family lost one daughter in an accident, and decided to take in an exchange student for the year. Strangely enough, the exchange student Tanya looks eerily like their dead sister. Paige and Will feel uneasy, and they're determined to get to the bottom of this stranger in their midst.

This seriously is one of the best books I've read this year. Fantastic characters, hair-raising plot twists, one late night because I couldn't put it down. 😂 The ending was chef's-kiss! Five stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!