Step into the chilling world of "The Guest," where B. A. Paris weaves a masterful web of suspense that grips you from the first page. Iris and Gabriel return from a pivotal vacation, only to find their haven invaded by their friend Laure. What starts as a gesture of support quickly spirals into a nightmare as Laure's presence turns invasive—claiming their space, their belongings, and their peace of mind. However, not everything is as it seems in this story.

The tension skyrockets as secrets, whispered behind closed doors, threaten to unravel friendships and marriages. Having left her husband Pierre amidst shocking revelations, Laure brings a storm of unease into Iris and Gabriel's tranquil home. As her behavior becomes erratic, the once-idyllic setting transforms into a minefield of uncertainty.

Amidst this turmoil, a new couple arrives, seemingly a beacon of hope for Iris and Gabriel. Yet, their arrival brings an enigmatic gardener, Joesph, whose murky past casts shadows over the already fraught atmosphere. The picturesque countryside conceals a tapestry of hidden truths, some poised to detonate with devastating consequences.

Paris brilliantly crafts a narrative that keeps you teetering on the edge, eagerly turning pages to unearth the next revelation while fearing the dangers lurking within these intertwined relationships. With each chapter, the stakes escalate, secrets unfurl, and the characters hurtle toward a collision course where the consequences of their past choices threaten to destroy their present lives.

"The Guest" is a tantalizing psychological thriller that ensnares you with its atmospheric tension and keeps you guessing until the final, heart-stopping revelation. Brace yourself for a rollercoaster ride of secrets, betrayals, and the chilling realization that some secrets are more dangerous than one could ever imagine.

Some additional takeaways: While there was a gripping story there the pacing of telling this story is drawn out like a syndicated TV show when it really could have fit into a more limited series. Yes, having more context between the characters helps build up to the twists in this book but aspects were overdrawn.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

This was so slow. I think this author is not for me. I know there are people out there who will love this mystery and this author. I recommend this to someone who likes slow domestic thrillers. I know there are many many people out there who fall into this category. Many people love BA Paris and this is very similar to what they does best

Probably last review for 2023. But what a way to end a reading year with The Guest. To say my jaw hit the floor is a complete understatement. B A Paris knocked it out of the park for me. Book coma for me..

⭐️⭐️⭐️-Format: audio, genre: mystery/thriller, Publish date: Feb 20, 2024

Iris and Gabriel come home from a trip, and they have a new houseguest. It’s one of their oldest friends from France, Laure. She has had a fight with her husband and needed some space. She is welcomed by Iris and Gabriel to stay, but soon, she begins to overstay her welcome. They encourage Laure to try to patch things up with her husband so they can get their lives back. I enjoy B.A. Paris, but this one just wasn’t for me. The story was slow. I stuck with it waiting for it to pick up, but it never really seemed to really grab my attention. The twists weren’t that shocking to me. I did really like the characters. I enjoyed the writing style. I love when stories are told from multiple points of view and when we get to hear each characters inner dialogue. Emily Joyce was easy to listen to as the narrator. This is a great book to listen to if you’re looking for a slower, more reflective story.-S📖

Thank you @NetGalley, #BAParis, and @macmillan.audio for the opportunity to listen to this advanced copy for an honest review!

#TheGuest #mystery #thriller #suspense #EmilyJoyce #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #TheMidNOCBookClub

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2! Thank you @netgalley and @Macmillan.Audio for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review.

The narrator of this book was great, her voice was smooth and pleasant to listen to. The tone was just right for this type of novel. I also noticed when reading from a male pov, she doesn't drop her voice an octave, which. Was nice.

The story was a tad slow and the ending fairly predictable. There was quite a bit of build up and I was disappointed that a good amount of the story was wrapped up in one not very important character. The end of the story was a bit far fetched but I did enjoy this while reading it. I'm not entirely sure I'll remember this one among the many that I have read this year- but it was entertaining.

Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read this before its published. A twisty, murderous adventure. A doctor and his wife come home from vacation to find one of their best friends living in their house. She tells them her husband has had an affair and has fathered a daughter. They agree to let her stay for awhile. Crazy things start happening and when you think you have it figured out the author throws in another twist. The Guest by B. A. Paris is a 4 star read and it comes out in February 2024.

Deliciously deceptive! Iris and Gabriel have an unexpected visitor. What is she doing there and how long will she stay? What starts out as a seemingly family drama slow burns into a psychological thriller. Just as I started to think I had it all figured out, things took a turn, and I realized I had figured out nothing at all!

While I enjoyed this thriller, I found it to be a bit too far fetched in the end, as if the author was trying too hard to produce the kind of plot twist the reader wouldn’t see coming. Overall, it was entertaining and worth the read, but not one of favorites. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

I literally couldn’t put this book down from the moment I picked it up. This author is legit one of my favorites. Such page turners always and this one did not disappoint. A best friend goes through a situation and needs to move in with her best friend and her husband. Honestly so many twists and turns. What I thought was going on wasn’t even close. Highly recommend. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thanks to NetGalley for an audio ARC of this book. I found it pretty slow and just kind of so-so. I didn’t really feel like much happened and all the characters were just kind of meh. I did enjoy the ending quite a bit- it kind of came up quickly and was not what I was expecting.

In true BA fashion...the killer wives. This is why I love her books. HOWEVER, I really wish instead of an epilog that just explains the ending that she would add a few extra chapters to unfold the twist. I did enjoy the fact that this one didn't have an abusive husband that caused the wife to become murderous and that the wife was just psychotic and afraid of her truth being revealed. Once again, great job BA.

Initially, I struggled to maintain interest in the audiobook, often having to backtrack to grasp the unfolding plot. However, as the story progressed, the narrative captivated me with unexpected character twists. The climax was particularly engaging, and the epilogue masterfully tied all the elements together, providing a satisfying culmination to the entire experience.

One of the best books I’ve read in a long time!!!
Once you start this book you cannot put it down because you will want to know what happens next and will be on the edge of your seat!
Iris and Gabriel seem to have everything put together. They have a home in the countryside, a good marriage, and a daughter who is happy and thriving while working abroad.
Everything is going really well until they come home from vacation and find Laure in their home, which is not unusual because they are good friends with her and her husband but, it was unexpected. What is more unexpected is Laure came because her husband Pierre has told her he had a child with another woman, and she is very understandably distraught. So as Iris tries to comfort Laure as an extended house guest she begins wearing Iris's clothes and starts making friends with the neighbors and getting intertangled with her life. Iris is trying to push Laure to go home and try to work it out with her husband but Laure is not on the same page she wants to weigh out all her options before she makes up her mind on what she's going to do.
However, with everything going on nothing is as it seems. Gabriel has a secret of his own and it is eating him alive Laure has a secret and Iris has a secret of her own. While the secrets start to unravel everything begins to get more intense and lives are lost and there is more than what meets the eye.
I listened to the Audiobook and the narrarator was on point! She fit the character and she was very pleasant to listen to! Definitely an Audiobook I am going to purchase for myself!
This is probably my favorite read of the past two months! It was amazing! I loved it and finished it in one afternoon because it was so good I was hooked. Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the treat of listening and reviewing this one!

Another twisty psychological thriller from B.A. Paris and it does not disappoint. This one is a domestic thriller following neighbor couples. The ending is fantastic! Well written, fast read, characters to love and hate. Thank you, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4 Stars

I read the kindle and listened to audiobook. The audiobook had a great narrator and kept me in the story.

Review for Audio/Kindle:
Just finished my first BA Paris audio and book. I'm a sucker for domestic thrillers with multiple perspectives and questionable neighbors/friends potentially doing bad things, and this one delivered. I was hooked from the beginning when Iris and Gabrielle return from a trip to find their friend Laure has not only moved in but also left her husband, Pierre.. Add some drama with new neighbors and a charming handyman – let's just say, not everyone is making the best life choices and not everyone is very likable . At times I found myself wanting to shake some sense into them.

It's a bit of a slow burn, but the short chapters had me flipping through like crazy. I had to know what secrets everyone was hiding! The final “act” caught me off guard, and it's presented in a way I hadn't seen before in my usual books. But the more I thought about it, the more I appreciated the unique approach. Definitely adding more BA Paris to my reading list!

B. A. Paris is amazing. This book was excellent! Had me stunned. I was not expecting the twist in the story but it was put together beautifully!

I went into this book without really knowing anything about it. And the prologue had me hooked right away!

Unfortunately, after a few more chapters, I found it had slowed down. A lot. While I was never bored or having thoughts of not finishing, it was not holding my attention quite like the prologue did or drawing me back in to find out what would happen next.

The burn was definitely slow with this one. It did start to build toward the end, but I found the chapter before the epilogue ended so abruptly and without revealing anything or leaving you on a cliffhanger. The epilogue just explained everything, which felt very drawn out and quite anticlimactic.

This one was a miss for me.

3.5 stars

This domestic drama was overall just alright. I found it to be pretty slow throughout most but I was invested in figuring out what happened. I think the epilogue really shook things up.

I both listened to the audibook and read the book, both versions were good.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copies in exchange for my honest review

B.A. Paris' books are some of my favorite thrillers. But honestly, this one was not my favorite. I didn't feel like I connected to any of the main characters. I really felt like the narrator did a great job and kept me interested in listening. I felt like the second half of the book was much faster paced than the first half. So overall, not my favorite, but not horrible.

I don't think I am the right reader for this. I love psychological thrillers but this wasn't thrilling enough for me. I felt very bored with the storyline and had no interest for the characters and their worries. I think the narrator did good with the French accent and performing the various characters though.