2.5 stars!
Iris and Gabriel return from their holiday to find their close friend, Laure, living in their home. Laure has fled Paris, after discovering that her long time partner, Pierre, (also good friends with Iris and Gabriel) had a secret child he had been hiding from her. Iris and Gabriel open their home to her, but become frustrated when she keeps extending her stay. Laure seems too comfortable, and no one can get a hold of Gabriel. How long are they supposed to let Laure stay, especially when she begins overstepping?

Thank you to @stmartispress, @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for my review copies. I normally love the twisty turny thrillers B.A. Paris writes, but in this case, I wasn’t a fan. There was almost no action, until the epilogue chapter. There was a twist in it, but it was literally at the very end. It took too long to get there, the build up was too slow! I did sympathize with Iris and Gabriel and how they were feeling about Laure, but it just wasn’t enough for me to feel super connected to the story.

As I did enjoy the premise, I did find myself having trouble connecting with the characters. But it was definitely a fun read, and did not see the ending coming!

B. A. Paris multi-layered twists and turns in this thriller that kept the reader guessing and second guessing who did what! Excellent narration with great writing hooks you til the end.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC Audio in exchange for my honest opinion.

Another solid thriller from B.A. Paris! When Iris and Gabriel return from vacation to find that their old friend, Laure, has taken up residence in their home after a shocking and upsetting revelation from her husband, they are happy to provide a shoulder to cry on and a listening ear… at least for a little while. As the weeks go by and Laure shows no signs of leaving, her stay begins to wear on the couple. As the tension increases, Iris and Gabriel find solace in a friendship with a couple that has just moved in nearby. Their new friends have a gardener with a troubled history that may have more to do with them than Iris and Gabriel realize. Each hiding their own secrets, Iris and Gabriel’s marriage is put to the test- can they find a way to put the past behind them and save their marriage?

This story is fairly slow burn for the first 60%, but the ending made it worth it for me. I could feel the growing anxiety and irritation as Lauren continues to overstay her welcome. The plot is well laid out- the build-up feels realistic yet the story still surprised me.

This isn’t my favorite book by B.A. Paris (Behind Closed Doors still holds that spot), but I did enjoy reading this one and didn’t want to put it down. The audiobook narrator kept me engaged and I listened to it in just a couple of days. I would definitely recommend to other thriller fans!

Just wow! What a jaw dropping ending. The story starts with Iris and Gabriel going on vacation and finding their mutual friend Laure has been staying there saying she was separated from her husband because she had found out he had a child from a previous relationship. They were never able to have kids so it was understandably upsetting. What follows is a whirlwind of events that will leave your head spinning, in a very good way. This is my first book by B. A. Paris and I had heard so many good things. This definitely did not disappoint. I will definitely be reading more by this author.

I have read all books by B.A. Paris and absolutely love this author. However, I have to say that this particular book was very slow moving for me.
I listened to it as an audiobook and loved the narrator. I loved the epilogue as well. Behind Closed Doors is still my all time favourite by B.A.Paris.

I finished this audio book with a dropped jaw. I did not see the end coming. Truly, I was shocked.

Up until the end, it was a solid book but I wouldn’t say a page turner. What I loved the most was the performance of the narrator. I felt like I was in the story, genuinely wondering when this PITA houseguest was going to leave. I couldn’t quite figure out how all the characters and pieces of the story could fit together but I was happily along for the ride. I cared about the characters and was very invested in their stories.

Toward the end though, I felt like everything fell into place almost too easily. But then came the epilogue. DANG. That was one crazy ending. You think you know your characters, but nope. It was a great ending and a great twist. Loved this book and thankful for the ARC of the audio from NetGalley.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by B.A. Paris, with the audio perfectly narrated by Emily Joyce - 4 stars!

Iris and Gabriel are trying to get their marriage and lives back on track after Gabriel experienced the death of a young man. When they return home from a short holiday, they discover that Laure, an old friend, has walked out on her husband, Pierre, and taken refugee at their house. Pierre is Gabriel's closest friend but they try to be supportive of both., but Pierre isn't answering Gabriel's calls and Laure's continued presence is taking a toll. The couple also meets a new neighbor, Hugo and Esme, and seem to click instantly but Laure seems to be taking over that relationship as well.

Oh my goodness - that ending! This is a must read just because that ending will throw you for a loop! This is a bit of a slow burn, with quite a few characters (mostly unlikeable!) to keep track of, but stick with it. It has short chapters, which I like, and I kept turning to the pages to see how it would all play out. And it sure did!

“The Guest” by B.A. Paris is a psychological thriller that delves into secrets, relationships, and the impact of guilt.

Here’s a glimpse of what you can expect:
Iris and Gabriel seemingly have an idyllic life—a beautiful home in the British countryside, a daughter working in Greece, and close friends Laure and Pierre from Paris. However, their world is disrupted when a young man tragically dies in a nearby quarry, leaving Gabriel burdened with guilt. As they cope with the aftermath, Laure, who reveals her husband’s infidelity, becomes an unexpected house guest. But Laure’s presence is unsettling, and secrets pile up, including those of a couple new to town and their mysterious gardener.

B.A. Paris, a New York Times bestselling author, has penned seven novels, including the popular “Behind Closed Doors.” “The Guest,” promises more heart-pounding suspense. Paris’s work has been translated into 41 languages, and she writes from her cottage in Hampshire, England.

In summary, “The Guest” promises intrigue, secrets, and a gripping exploration of relationships. Whether you’re a fan of B.A. Paris’s earlier works or new to her writing, this psychological thriller is sure to keep you turning the pages. You are going to want to stick with this one until the ending, because your mouth will drop and you'll be thrilled by B.A Paris and their writing style all over again!

Kudos truly goes out to narrator Emily Joyce for how much she added to my enjoyment of this book. Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for the opportunity to read "The Guest".

The Guest by B.A. Paris was a twisty, suspenseful novel with themes of friendship and betrayal. A fast read and a page-turner, this was a highly entertaining book. I definitely enjoyed the first half of the book over the second half. B.A. Paris did an amazing job creating tension and letting us know that something was wrong - that something BIG was going on - in the dynamic of friends, family, and neighbors. But in the first half, it was impossible to know exactly what, which kept me completely engaged. The second half of the book felt a little disjointed, however, and the slow build up amounted to to a quick reveal that felt brushed over quickly. There was a lot going on and a lot of things happened quickly. I'm not a huge fan of epilogues that wrap up thrillers with a neat bow, and I feel like this epilogue did just that. Despite this, B.A. Paris will always be an auto-read author for me, and I really enjoyed her latest, The Guest.

The audio version is spectacular with easy to follow character voices and correct emphasis on the reading.

Although I own 2 books by this author, this is my first reading experience. I am looking forward to reading more from this author! I especially loved that this was a clean read with no sexual content or foul language.

My first reaction was that I could not imagine coming home from vacation, and another woman had laid claim to not only my home but my things and my bedroom! It aggravated me that Iris and Gabriel were so passive that they just let her take over. I'm not built like that 😆

Through the first but of the book, I really felt like this would be comparable to Frieda McFadden's work and thought I had the storyline and whodunit pegged. I was wrong. As the second half progressed, I started to doubt my way of thinking over and over. In the end, I was very much shocked and did not see that coming.

Overall, I really enjoyed this domestic thriller, including the audio narration. Emily Joyce did a great job at really bringing out the characters, and I really felt like I was in Iris' head throughout the story. Thank you, NetGalley, and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to listen and review this advanced copy.

Let me start by saying that I'm a big fan of BA Paris'. I happily read my way through her bibiiography and will continue to do so. With that said, "The Guest" is less of a psychological thriller and more of a slowburn. I won't say more, for fear of thrillers, but I was surprised at the relative quietness of this book. It speaks more to range than anything, but it felt like a slight departure.

My criticisms really come with the audiobook, which I was lucky enough to receive as an ARC. The chapters aren't divided by time, so it was sometimes hard to keep up with when things were happening. The characters would talk about doing something and sometimes that thing would happen in the next chapter and sometimes it wouldn't happen until much later. This was likely more disconcerting in an audiobook than in a physical copy.

But, my biggest problem, and the one that nearly ruined the experience for me, was that the narrator sounds exactly the same throughout. So,, not only do Iris and Esme sound the same, but so do Iris and Hugh and Gabriel. There is a large cast of characters and I rarely knew who was speaking to whom.

The Guest: 4 stars
The audiobook: 2.5 stars

This story is about a couple, Gabriel and Iris who are going through some relationship and personal issues due to some deaths that have happened in the husband's life recently.

Upon returning from a trip, they discover that their house has been taken over by a friend of theirs, Laure. Laure has just found out her husband has been hiding something from her. As she needs time away from him, Iris and Gabriel welcome her into their house with open arms in what they think will be a short stay. They soon realize, Laure is planning for a much longer stay. She becomes unbearable and annoying, over staying her welcome.

The new neighbors are introduced, Esme and Hugh, a married couple who are expecting their first child. They also happen to have a house guest, Joseph who has a troubled past.

Honestly, I don't understand the need for the neighbors in the storyline. It more or less seems as if they are only present in the book just to add in some extra pages. Esme and Hugh served no purpose existing in the book. Joseph does. He plays into the storyline, but I think Esme and Hugh's presence is redundant. Although the plot has a solid mystery wrapped into it, I got tired of the characters' constant back-and-forth conversations, anxieties, and daily routines.

When the book was winding down toward the ending, it was seeming pretty anticlimactic. Until the epilogue dropped a bomb! The twist the epilogue brought was great! The ending threw me! I did not see it coming at all! I love me a good jaw dropping twist! A great way to end the book. It was just what the ending needed. *chef's kiss*

This is my second BA Paris book. The first was Behind Closed Doors. She has a way with words—a way to keep you interested until the very last page. I admire any author who can deliver such a great twist. I look forward to venturing into more of her work!

The audiobook is performed well. The voice acting and tempo were both excellent. The narrator has a voice that just seems so elegant. It made the story come to life and gave a great depiction of each character. Emily gave an outstanding performance.

Thanks to the author, St Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC and audio copy.

🎧B. A. Paris's next suspense is THE GUEST narrated by Emily Joyce and had me cringing in probably the right way!

I say that because this story is centered around a couple who has a friend come in crisis and doesn't seem to be in a hurry to leave. That alone is a horror story for me. I can tell you that this would not happen with my husband.

Moving on.

This woman who overstays her welcome is bringing her drama concurrent to the new neighbors who also hire an enigmatic gardener. All these new people in her space rather upsets Iris. The results aren't pretty.

This was another story that I find leaves me feeling fascinated. This was a slow build of tension and secrets exposed that certainly held my attention. When events began to unravel, I was very curious to discover motives and method. The style of this quietly unsettling story will be for those who can wait until the last chapter to have the answers and don't mind the wait. I thought it was worth it, though it did feel a tiny bit abrubt in style compared to the rest. I do think it is meant to be, thus causing a continued feeling of being a bit unnerved.

The narration was fantastic. I felt exactly how I imagined the author intended and to say more gives spoilers! Well done. A solid recommend.

Thank you to @netgalley & @macmillan.audio for this unsettled feeling! If you enjoy these kinds of psychological suspense novels, be sure to grab this when I publishes on February 20th.

I do love an uninvited guest trope - they are always here to shake things up. The characters in this are going through a lot of things including marriage separation, grief, and depression. Parts of this felt extremely repetitive. I went back and forth between reading and listening and at one point didn’t realize I had skipped back a chapter because many parts felt so similar. I definitely didn’t see the ending coming and I would be shocked if anyone does predict it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Guest
By: B. P. Paris
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Pub Date: 2/20/24
Narrators by: Emily Joyce

B.A. Paris’s thrillers never let me down. Her twists always knock me for a loop.
Iris and Gabriel have it all or so it seems from the outside. When they were on their honeymoon they met Laure and her husband Pierre. They kept in touch and and become good friends. Only the secrets began from the beginning. Now Pierre isn’t happy. He’s found out he had a child but who is this child and who's the mother? He makes a big mistake by not telling Laure what’s really going on. He continues to keep secrets until she flees France and heads to Iris’ & Gabriel’s place. Gabriel calls and texts Pierre over and over and he never picks up. When people start disappearing and bodies begin to appear you know there's more to the story.
I love how these thrillers are so easy to get sucked into. I just kept saying one more chapter well now it’s 2 a.m. I’ve read the whole thing in just a few hours. This book comes out Tuesday February 20th.

I listened to the audiobook of this one for the first third and then I switched to kindle because I honestly am a bit behind with audiobooks and they take me a little longer to read. I liked the narrator and I think it was a well done audiobook and I could have finished it that way. I liked this thriller overall even though I found the story to start way slower than I would have liked and it took way longer than I would have preferred to get more interesting. The epilogue was great and full of some fun twists (I had suspicions but I wasn’t positive of the outcome). Gabriel and his wife Iris return from a trip to see that someone has been in their home. Surprised they find an old family friend Laure who tells them she has left her husband because he had an affair and fathered a child. Laure plans on staying a few weeks, but after a few weeks goes by she doesn’t feel ready to return and asks to stay longer. The writing was good and I thought the characters were well developed (even if I didn’t really like any of the characters except Beth and Esme).

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an early audio copy of this book.

It was fairly entertaining, I do think some of the mundane tasks could have been cut out. I felt like it dragged for a while. The epilogue and its explanations were definitely a fun part. But I did see it coming to an extent.

This book was so delightfully twisty and twisted. There is a LOT going on, but I managed to keep all the characters and subplots sorted without too much trouble, and it all ties up pretty well at the end. Laure, the guest, was infuriatingly needy, and she and her friends really kept me guessing as to what the hell was going on! My genre tastes have expanded a lot in recent years, but I still enjoy few things more than a gripping psychological thriller, and this one delivered. Great narration, too.

Iris and Gabriel return home from a holiday abroad to find that they have a houseguest. Laure has made herself at home, having left her husband, Pierre, because he discovered that he has a child. Laure quickly makes herself quite the nuisance and Iris and Gabriel find respite in a new couple that has moved into the neighborhood. However, Esme & Hugh have brought along a gardener/landscaper/family friend named Joseph who has troubles of his own. The tension is a slow-build and the twist is so worth it! You won't see it coming. :)

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc.*