The Guest blends psychological suspense, secrets, and unexpected twists into a captivating narrative. Iris and Gabriel's seemingly peaceful home becomes a pressure cooker when their close friend Laure arrives, reeling from a devastating revelation about her husband’s affair and secret child. As Laure's increasingly erratic behavior pushes the limits of their hospitality, the tension mounts, making it impossible to tell if her actions are fueled by grief, anger, or something darker. The addition of a new couple and their enigmatic gardener only deepens the mystery, as secrets from all their pasts begin to surface in surprising and dangerous ways.

It felt as though there was a surprise at every turn with each twist feeling both earned and unexpected which kept me on my toes until the final page. The deaths that occur throughout the story are shrouded in uncertainty, which had me questioning whether they are merely coincidences or if there was something more sinister at play. I thought the multiple storylines and character dynamics were well done and ultimately created a web of intrigue that never felt overwhelming. By the time the epilogue arrives, everything came together in a shocking and satisfying conclusion.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. And thank you to @macmillan.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

A Surprising and Delightful Read

The Guest is a charming and unexpected novel that captivated me from start to finish. Initially, the abundance of characters might feel overwhelming, but as the story progresses, the connections between them become clearer.

The dynamic between Laure, Iris, and Gabriel is intriguing, as their lives intertwine in unexpected ways. While Laure's prolonged stay might seem excessive, it provides an opportunity for character growth and unexpected revelations.

The author skillfully balances the emotional depth of the characters' personal struggles with lighter, more humorous moments. The surprise ending adds a delightful twist to the narrative, leaving readers satisfied and intrigued.

The audiobook narration by Emily Joyce is exceptional. Her distinct voices for each character brought the story to life, making it an immersive listening experience. Her performance significantly enhanced the enjoyment of the book.

Overall, The Guest is a well-crafted novel that offers a heartwarming and thought-provoking reading experience.

4 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #stmartinspress #macmillianaudio #theguest #baparis

New York Times bestselling author B. A. Paris captivated psychological thriller fans everywhere with Behind Closed Doors. Now she invites you into another home full of heart-pounding secrets, in The Guest.


Thank you Macmillan Audio & Netgalley for sending me a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I’ve decided to DNF this book at 60%. It’s not for me. It feels like it’s dragging and I don’t like any of the characters. I’m disappointed because I liked this author’s first 3 books: Behind Closed Doors, The Breakdown and Bring Me Back.

The Guest is a good psychological thriller. It was a touch slow for me throughout but the ending blew me away. I did NOT have it figured out. BA Paris has a style all her own.

The narration was excellent, and at times in the beginning helped to keep people organized in my mind.
A great listen for anyone who doesn’t mind a slow build to a crazy, yet satisfying ending.

I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

Wow. I have really enjoyed the vast majority of B.A. Paris' novels and this one was phenomenal! I loved how the story unfolded and we got little bits and pieces and by the end I thought, all right, well that is all settled....and then there was MORE! And it was utterly jaw dropping and amazing! I never would have guess all that crazy hot mess with wrapping up all the stories! This novel (and especially the ending) reminds me why I have read every single one of B.A. Paris' novels. If you love mystery and thrillers that make you think, you can not go wrong with her novels.

3.5⭐️ I love a domestic thriller, and have read and enjoyed quite a few of B.A. Paris’ novels, and this one definitely had all the drama!

Iris and Gabriel return from a holiday to find they have an unwelcome houseguest in a longtime friend named Laure, who has been staying at their home while they were away.

The drama and short chapters kept me engaged, and it was a slower pace than I usually prefer in a thriller, but overall I enjoyed.

I listened to the audiobook format and thought narrator Emily Joyce did a great job, and I would definitely recommend this format!

*many tanks to St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review .

I love novels by this author and this was another one that I enjoyed. I cannot recommend this one enough.

The Guest by B.A. Paris is a tense psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of friendship, secrets, and trust. As Iris and Gabriel’s home life unravels due to an invasive houseguest, buried truths begin to surface, testing their relationships in unexpected ways. With suspenseful twists, the novel keeps readers on edge as dark secrets threaten to explode.

My thoughts: I really enjoyed this thriller, especially the writing style. While listening, I felt a bit frustrated at the lack of answers, but the epilogue turned that around. The characters were delightfully unlikeable, just how I prefer them. I found myself fully engaged in the complex dynamics between the characters and their motivations

3.75⭐️

Would have been rated much higher had it been a bit more fast paced and the entire reveal / point of the plot hadn’t been revealed at the epilogue of the book. It was shocking, but by the time the reveal happened, the book had kind of dragged on and I wasn’t sure what the drive of the story was. All that to say that it wasn’t a bad book, it was a good story for sure, but I wish it was paced a bit faster.

WOW. What a wild ride. There are stories and secrets and more stories and secrets galore. When Iris and Gabriel arrive to their home and find Iris's friend Laure has been living there as she had just found out her husband was having an affair. And that is just the tip of the iceberg. None of these characters were particularly likable, but their stories definitely kept me entertained. A lot of "didn't see that one coming" twists as well.

An incredible book with wonderful characters and a beautiful setting. It will keep you guessing until the end.

This is a slow and steady pace psychological thriller, with lots of twists and turns. It depicts multiple different relationship dynamics and how the characters struggle to navigate them. Hold out for the surprise ending.

Immersive and compelling audio! The narrator really brought the story alive. The book was fast paced and twisty with plenty of suspense. BA Paris never disappoints! Will be picking up more by this author!

I was really excited for this one! I've enjoyed a few of her backlist titles so my expectations were a little high. However, overall I enjoyed this, I just didn't connect to the storyline. I felt it was an okay thriller.

I was really looking forward to this audiobook, but unfortunately it fell flat for me. I ordinarily really enjoy books by this author, but for some reason, I could not get into this book. The narration was fine, but it did not keep my attention. I ended up DNFing at about 10%.

I enjoyed the book. It was a bit slow, but it was very suspenseful with a pretty good plot twist. I would recommend. The narrator was great.

I tried so hard to really like this book. I truly did. I was lucky enough to receive both the E-Arc and the audiobook. I switched back and forth but I honestly could not get into the book
So I ended up DNFing it. I'm rating the book 3 stars because while it wasn't a book for me it might be the perfect book for someone else.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the E-ARC. And to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

I really enjoyed this thriller/mystery by B.A. Paris. The characters were likeable. The story was not so predictable. I would definitely read more by this author.

This book was a dnf for me. I tried really hard to get into the story but it just wasn’t for me unfortunately.

This is an exciting suspense novel that is enjoyable to read. Not as riveting as some but still keeps you guessing until the end.