Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio. I have been a fan of B.A. Paris for awhile now and her books always make my jaw drop at the end. She weaves these little easter eggs into the story and you wonder how you did not see that end coming. This is a must read.

I received this audio book as an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the author and publisher for this opportunity.

This is my 7th B.A. Paris book read. Once again…she does not disappoint. This audiobook has all the thrills, suspense and drama you expect.

A bit slow…but definitely not boring.

Emily Joyce is a fantastic narrator.


#NetGalley
#goodreads

WILD. This trotted along like any other mystery/thriller, trying to figure out who did what in this loop of couples. I loved that nothing was revealed until the epilogue and my mouth was hanging open. BA never let's me down.

B.A. Paris delivers another solid thriller with a slow build but still utterly unputdownable. There are three couples are the core of the story: Iris and depressed Gabriel (he recently witnessed the death of a local teenager), returning from a holiday, who find Laure, their Parisian friend and wife of mutual friend Pierre, unexpectedly living in their British rural home, sleeping in the their bedroom, and wearing Iris’s clothes. A third local couple, pregnant Esmé and older husband Hugh, are new to the area and also insinuating themselves into Iris’s and Gabriel’s lives. Laure turns out to be the houseguest who is never leaving, and attempts to reach her husband, Pierre, are mysteriously fruitless. Add in a gardener, Joseph, supposedly a recovering alcoholic and with a tangential relationship to some of the characters, hovering in the background, as the couples get more entangled while they question Lauren’s continued presence in England.

If just the thought of an unwanted, over-staying, annoying house guest makes you queasy, then this is your thriller. Author Paris slowly builds the tension among the couples while adding a side story about Gabriel whose witness statement about the accident was fake (and he refuses to meet with the grieving mother). You can understand Iris’ initial reticence to evict her longtime friend, but as evidence mounts that’s something’s off, you want Iris to find her inner strength. As Laure became more exasperating, I needed to rush to the end..

Emily Joyce’s narration was incredibly nuanced for a novel with so many characters. The main character, Iris, comes to life as Joyce voices her and once you’ve become comfortable with the players, the narration easily delineates their conversations. 4 stars for both the narrative and narration.

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO No eye colors are mentioned at all.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO A walled garden is an essential element, but we just know it’s fabulous without detailed descriptions.

Thank you to St. Martin’s PressMacmillan Audio and NetGalley for free advanced copies in exchange for an honest review!

I usually like this author, but I'm mixed on this one. I was intrigued, but too many of the surprises came at the very end in a too long epilogue explanation.
I did like the narrator very much. She did a great job with different voices and accents.

Thank you to Netgalley for the audiobook.

3.5 Stars. The Guest was a classic B.A. Paris thriller. Paris took us for a long ride wondering the whole book who did what and how everyone was connected, only to reveal answers in the epilogue.

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC!

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review.

When Iris and Gabriel return from a vacation designed to strengthen their marriage and connection, they are startled to find their friend, Laure, in their home uninvited. Laure and Pierre, her husband, are Iris and Gabriel's best friends, and Iris and Gabriel are astonished to learn that Pierre has been unfaithful to Laure and has fathered a child with another woman. While Iris and Gabriel are initially sympathetic to Laure - and concerned about Pierre, who doesn't answer their calls - their sympathy turns to dismay when Laure violates their boundaries by sleeping in their bed, rearranging cabinets, wearing Iris's clothes, and settling herself in their home for an extended period of time. Gabriel, too, is dealing with his own grief and decisions in the wake of a young man's death. Meanwhile, Iris and Gabriel (and Laure) become friendly with new neighbors Hugh and Esme, and their gardener Joseph, and Laure - seemingly ready to jettison her relationship with Pierre - and Joseph begin an affair. What follows is a whodunit with a shocking ending. B.A. Paris's compelling storytelling and narration, combined with Emily Joyce's masterful narration, makes The Guest one of my favorite reads/listens of 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC audiobook of The Guest by B.A. Paris, narrated by Emily Joyce.

I ultimately enjoyed this story, though like many I found it a bit middling in the middle and with many characters and storylines to connect to.
The beginning and especially the ending provided the thrills for me.

I happen to love a good expository wrap-up to a book, providing the answers to questions carried along the narrative until the climax. This epilogue contained that along with a huge surprise.

I was already a fan of B.A. Paris books, and while this one did not quite live up to my judgment of some others by this author, it was still a satisfying listening experience.

3.5 stars story and 4.5 to the narration.

This was a bit up and down for me. I liked it at first but then started getting bogged down by all of the characters and their relationships. It seemed pretty incestuous at times. I thought I had most of it figured out but suffice to say, I did NOT. The ending was quite shocking, I just don't know if the payoff was worth slogging through all of the rest. I loved Behind Closed Doors and did not like The Therapist. This was in the middle of those two for me.

I did enjoy the narrator although I had to look up the name she was saying because I couldn't figure it out. I don't think I have ever heard the name Laure before.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, this was a solid thriller with a satisfying ending, which is always something I hope for with a thriller. Initially, I struggled with getting into the story. I did not find the storylines about the houseguest who would not leave, the expecting couple, nor the depressed husband to be interesting. It wasn’t until the shed scene around the 45% mark that things picked up for me. From that point on, I was hooked to the story. Although I did figure out the ending ahead of time, that didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book. This was my first novel by BA Paris, and I’m looking forward to reading more of their works.

How well do you know your friends? If they randomly showed up at your house while you were on vacation? Allowing them to stay in your space for the unforeseeable future? I mean, a few red flags there, but I was seriously hooked on this one. The characters or wildly likable, the setting had me swooning, and each chapter left me wanting to read just one more!

The narrator was captivating, and there was such an ease to her effortless storytelling!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook. I’ve been working on getting through this book for over a week. It is just not for me. DNF at 57%

A quick mystery/thriller. The audiobook is narrated very well. I found the book a bit slow in the beginning. It picks and the ending caught me by surprise.

Thank you #NetGalley, #MacmillanAudio, #B.A.Paris, #EmilyJoyce and #TheGuest for the advance audiobook for my honest review.

"The Guest" by B.A. Paris is skillfully narrated by Emily Joyce who has a lovely British accent.

Despite a slow start, this thriller/mystery ultimately delivers with a cleverly woven narrative and a satisfying, twist-filled conclusion.

I'd rate this 3.5 stars, rounded up to four. It's recommended for those in search of a quick, easy read ... perfect for a day at the beach.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing an advanced listener copy of the audiobook.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This book follows Iris and Gabriel, a married couple whose friend, Laure, shows up at their home to stay for a while because her and her husband, Pierre, are having marital issues. Laure ended up staying longer than expected and started to cause some issues for Iris & Gabriel.

There is also another couple that moved into the neighborhood, Esme and Huge, who brought their gardener,Joseph, along with them. As all of these characters intertwine, secrets and lies are revealed leading to several plot twists.


I am a huge fan on B.A. Paris’ writing and this book was also great but fell short compared to some of her others.The abundance of characters whose storylines all intertwine left me re-reading to figure out who was who again. I didn’t get the strong bond to the characters that I was hoping for and I think it was just simply because there were so many. There were characters that really got under my skin though, like Laure. Whyyyy are you in your friend’s marital bed when they have guest rooms?! Ugh. I really couldn’t wait for her to leave.
The overall storyline was great and I definitely wasn’t expecting what came in the epilogue. I also loved that every loose end was tied up at the ending of the book. If you’re looking for a quick, easy thriller, i think you’d like this book.


Thank you NetGalley for the early arc of this book. It is set to release on Feb 20th

I loved every part of this book!! I went in blind had no idea what to expect.
The narrator, Emily Joyce did an incredible job at bringing this book to life. The Guest follows a couple who have been married for a long time and has a daughter in college, Iris and Gabriel. They’re best friends, who of which are married and live in Paris, Laure and Pierre. Lastly, Iris and Gabriel’s new neighbors and their gardener.
The Gabriel happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and witnesses the first tragedy surrounding this family.
You will never guess the twists throughout this entire book. The first chapter drew me in right away and it was very fast paced read. B.A. Paris’ books are always excellent.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The narrator of "The Guest" played a crucial role in enhancing the overall experience. Having both read parts of the book and listened to the audiobook, I found the narrator's performance commendable. She skillfully embraced the characters, particularly Iris, bringing them to life in a way that made the audiobook almost indistinguishable from reading. The narrator's ability to embody the characters added an extra layer of immersion, making the listening experience truly engaging. I would rate the narration 4/5 for its effective portrayal of the characters, especially Iris, contributing significantly to the overall enjoyment of the story.

I have also reviewed of the book .

Thank you to @netgalley & @macmillan.audio for copies of The Guest!

I am a HUGE sucker for a B.A. Paris novel, being an autobuy author for me! So imagine my excitement when I was approved for this one! And you all know how I've been enjoying going back and forth between both mediums.

The narrator was fantastic. She was easy to listen to and understand. I adored her accent and ability to give a voice to everyone.

The story was twisty and fast paced, until the end. I felt the epilogue went on entirely too long. But it was a twist I did NOT see coming. 👏👏👏

Also, a guest overstaying their welcome is my own personal nightmare. 🤣

3.5 stars rounded up. This is a pretty slow paced book that has a lot of components that kind of mesh together towards the ending. I did find it to be a big predictable, a bit boring at times. I think you will love it if you enjoyed other books by B. A. Paris!

The narrator did a great job on this book - five stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my advanced colt of this audio in exchange for my honest review!

I struggled to keep all of the characters straight but found the storyline to be intriguing. I will definitely recommend to people who have enjoyed B.A. Paris' other books!