BA Paris has never disappointed me, and continues to amaze me with the twists and turns in her books! I thought I had this one figured out, but oh boy was I wrong! And that epilogue!!

I love the short chapters, and the multiple point of views! The audible version of this was *chefs kiss*. The narrators voice was perfection.

Well shut the front door I was not expecting that ending! I'm not going to lie, I was very confident I knew who the killer was but I was wrong! I really enjoyed this audiobook. There is a lot going on in this book so it kept me entertained the whole time. A very twisted domestic thriller that will keep you guessing and hooked. I will say the characters got a little confusing for me but once I got the names down, it was a smoother read! I included the names on this post to help you out!

This is a good one to pick up if you enjoy domestic thrillers full of plot twists with multiple mysteries! 

Main Couple: Iris & Gabriel
Main Couple daughter: Beth
Guest: Laurie 
Laurie's cheating hubby: Pierre
Neighbors: Esme & Hugh
Landscape Gardener: Joseph

I received a copy of this audiobook from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. I enjoyed this psychological thriller, another winner from B.A. Paris!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚.

This was such an interesting and unique story. I did a combo of the ebook and audiobook.

I have read from this author in the past and have had a mixed rating so far. This one was a solid read! I was immediately hooked by the story and couldn’t put it down.

This was sort of a psychological thriller with a domestic drama touch to it (more focused on the drama). I thought it was twisty and suspenseful. This is one of those stories that has you guessing until the end.

There were a lot of twists and turns throughout the book. There’s also a good mystery included, but the characters did get ridiculous at times. Some parts did also get slower and some dialogue in this felt irreverent. Also, it did get confusing with all the characters.

If you’re looking for a story that’s more focused on the drama rather than the thriller, The Guest might be the read for you!

Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the e-ARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of the audiobook. I was excited to read another B.A. Paris as I enjoyed Behind Closed Doors and The Therapist. I know I can trust this author to give me unreliable characters and throw some curve balls. This newest book does both of those things. However, the first 40-50% of the book was slooooow. Not a slow burn. Just slow. Lots of character development and one of the characters is repetitive and gets annoying to the other characters in the story but I feel like this point was over stated. The story could have moved along better without so much of the stage setting. Around halfway through, things start to get more interesting. This coincides with some different relationships forming. After beating us over the head with Laure being Iris’ shadow for the first half of the book, all of a sudden she feels like an aside as she starts to connect with others. The shift is jarring but it’s not acknowledged. The silver lining of the book really comes in the afterword that comprises the last ten percent. I must admit that then it was on the edge of my seat wanted to figure it all out and see it through a different lens, fight club style. If I were to recommend it to a friend, I would say to accelerate the listening speed to at least 1.5 x until 40% in then you can slow to 1.25 x, a suitable pace for most books. The narrators voice was great, never distracting.

I loved the narration of this! The story itself was a bit slow at points and I never quite connected with any of the characters, but I still enjoyed it. And I'm usually pretty good at guessing the twists but I didn't see part of this twist coming! That always deserves some stars! Thanks to the author publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for ARC of “The Guest” by B.A. Paris

Let me start by saying this audio book was fantastic and the narrator did a phenomenal job! The book was paced well to a brilliant end. I love reading books by this author she has never disappointed. This book is a solid 5 ⭐️ read!

3.75/5 ⭐️

If you are a fan of B.A. Paris and love her thriller/suspense stories- you may need to adjust your mindset before going into this read.
This story is a messy love pentagon with murder/death popping up at each turn.
You follow the story of couple Iris and Gabriel at their home and their good friends Laure and Pierre.
Returning home from vacation, Iris and Gabriel find that Laure has moved in in their absence, distraught that Pierre has been keeping an awful secret.


And things just get worse from there.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #TheGuest

4.5/5 Stars! Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for audio book of The Guest by B.A. Paris and narrated by Emily Joyce.

First off, Emily Joyce did a fantastic job narrating the whole book. I'm typically all about getting multiple narrators but the voice alteration was done very well and easy to follow.

Now, onto the story. It was great! I had read a prior book by B.A. Paris and was slightly disappointed with it and it's about time I gave this author another chance. Let's just say this book has gotten me interested in her other novels. I was hooked from the beginning on this one and finished it in one day! It took a little bit of a while to fully understand who the main characters would be in this story and it was no problem. Gabriel and Iris are a married couple in a town when one of their friends, comes to stay with them because she found out that her husband fathered a child and doesn't know what to do. The twisted plots builds throughout the book and murders are just happening. The epilogue was long (and juicy)! I had some suspicions but it still shocked me and left my jaw dropped. Wowza, very enjoyable!

Again, the Narrator did a fantastic job with this story.

This book was addictive from start to finish. The whole time I was listening to the story unfold I tried to figure out who was the villain and how the stories were interconnected, but I could not predict the wild twists and turns. I was absolutely stunned at the ending. I cannot wait for the next masterpiece from Paris. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of this book for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc. Unfortunately, I was not a fan of this. I found myself not connecting to the characters or the plot. It was not as thrilling as I hoped it would have been from reading other books from Paris. It might be due to the fact that I did not like the narrator of the book. Just wasn't for me.

I was immediately drawn into the lives of the characters. The unfolding twists and turns left me constantly guessing, akin to navigating through a captivating maze with unexpected paths. Just as I thought I had it figured out, the story led me down an entirely new rabbit hole. In classic B. A. Paris style, the book had me completely engrossed. It was an addictive read that I simply couldn't tear myself away from, craving to uncover what was to come next. The characters, Iris and Gabriel, exuded an unwavering patience that truly resonated with me. The delicate balance of their character traits was precisely what I find compelling. This book was at the top of my reading list, and it exceeded my highest expectations. It was a truly immersive experience, particularly when I enjoyed the audiobook version. The narrator's performance was exceptional, elevating the storytelling to the highest level.

Behind Closed Doors is a favorite but the other author’s books haven’t lived up to that one. I was excited to read this one in hopes it would be as good as Behind Closed Doors and it didn’t disappoint! Although a little drawn out in day to day conversations at time and the guest was super annoying, still an addicting read.

Once I had the three main couples figured out, it was an easy listen. A domestic drama with intertwined characters left wondering who is lying and what each is trying to hide. At first I thought I had it figured out but as the story intertwined I thought there was no way.

The epilogue made the book. Turns out I was right but the last chapter still left my jaw dropped.

This has been posted to Goodreads.

Personally, this was just meh and ultimately fell flat for me. I found all the characters to be so unlikeable I didn’t care about the plot. I feel like once we got answers, the story continued when it could’ve ended. I didn’t find this thrilling, but more drama-focused with mystery elements. It wasn't a bad read, just not my favorite.

I'd give this a try if you’re looking for:
-a quick read
-easy-to-follow audio
-unlikeable characters
-drama within friendships/relationships

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC!

The pacing wasn't great. Not my favorite book by this author. Too many different characters. It was hard to get engrossed in the book.

When iris and Gabriel arrive home from a holiday they are shocked to find Laure, one of their closest friends has made herself at home; sleeping in their bed and even wearing Iris’s clothes. Her husband Pierre has confessed of an affair and she let him. Secrets unravel and danger is just around the corner.

This super thriller was made complete by the narrators talent to and edge and anxiety to her voice at just the right moment. B. A. Paris has done it again! Leaving you on the edge of your seat waiting to find out if you solved the puzzle just to know you were wrong again. If you pick this up you definitely will not want to put it down until you are finished.

I have loved so many of B.A. Paris’s books , but this one missed the mark for me. Now, I did enjoy the story, but unfortunately I felt like it was too predictable. I had it figured out within just a few pages into chapter one. So the book felt like it dragged on for me just to find out what I already knew.

Again, I did enjoy the book and the characters but the payoff was lacking for me. I think I have just read too many thrillers and am very hard to shock anymore.

I do feel like someone new to thrillers will be absolutely MIND BLOWN by the epilogue.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This audiobook was so well done! I loved the narrator. Her accents and character narrations made this book the easiest to listen to! The story was absolutely fantastic! If you’re a fan of domestic thrillers like me, then this is a must read. I simply did not want it to end, but I also could not wait for that final reveal, and let me tell you… I was shocked. This was the epitome of a reliable narrator and I held onto Iris’s every word. I honestly just wanted to be her friend, I loved how she was written which makes the book in and of itself, brilliant!
A very easy 5 stars for me. I have read several of BA Paris’s books and this is a new favorite to add to my list.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and MacMillian Audio for my #gift ALC!

Iris and Gabriel have a pretty good life. When Laure shows up on their doorstep after finding out Pierre had a child behind her back, they quickly invite her to stay as long as she needs. When her welcome seems to go on a bit too long, the tension in the house begins to grow.

OMG if I was Iris or Gabriel I would have lost my mind with Laure staying with me for so long. She just had no boundaries about the fact that she was in someone else’s home and treated it like she was staying in a hotel or something. While I did fly through this book, I found the story to be just ok. I spent most of the book enjoying the read but also kind of wondering where it was going and what the point was. The twist saved the book a bit, but in the end this was not my favorite of B.A. Paris’s works.

3.5 stars

I have enjoyed B.A. Paris’ novels and hers will be ones I will pick up, but her last few have been less than enjoyable for me. I have also listened to those in audiobook format, so at this point I think her books I need to actually read versus listen to get everything I need to from the book and full enjoyment. This is no fault of the narrator, It just seems that Paris’ books I need to read.

The Guest is her newest novel coming out on February 20th, 2024. It is an extremely slow burn that shows how secrets and lies can affect everything and everyone. I did have trouble keeping the characters straight, even though it is not a huge cast of characters. I was totally engrossed in the story with the death and final words of one character given to another who decides to keep them secret from the mother. The rest I was not interested in. Once the body count started around 55% in is when the story got moving for me. There was so much buildup, but it was needed!

The chapters are short, but then when the novel is over we have the epilogue and that was almost an hour long! And there is where the ending of the novel comes together in an unexpected way, so I gave an extra half star to my rating for it.

I will have to try and read a physical copy of The Guest at some point because I know I missed so much with the audiobook in this case. I might even enjoy it better that second time around. Any future B.A. Paris books will be read!

Many thanks to the publisher Macmillan Audio for granting me an alc!