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.

B.A. Paris' upcoming novel, "The Guest," offers readers a captivating domestic drama that delves into the lives of three separate couples. While not as fast-paced as some of Paris' previous works, this story gradually builds up tension and surprises readers with its unexpected ending.

One of the highlights of experiencing "The Guest" was listening to the audiobook version. The narrator's accent added an extra layer of authenticity to the characters and their interactions.

Initially centered around the lives of three separate couples, "The Guest" gradually evolves into a gripping murder mystery. As the story unfolds, secrets are revealed, tensions rise, and the characters find themselves entangled in a web of deceit and betrayal. Paris skillfully navigates the transition from domestic drama to murder mystery, keeping readers guessing and engaged throughout.

At first, it took me a moment to figure out the pairings of the three couples, but once I got that down, the everything began to make sense. Paris skillfully weaves their stories together, exploring their relationships, secrets, and the complexities of their lives.

While "The Guest" may not be a fast-paced thriller, it excels as a domestic drama. Paris expertly explores the dynamics between the couples. The author's ability to create relatable and flawed characters adds depth to the story, making it easy to become emotionally invested in their lives.

The ending of "The Guest" took me by surprise, adding an unexpected twist for me. Paris manages to tie up loose ends while leaving room for interpretation, leaving readers with a sense of satisfaction and curiosity.

Although "The Guest" may not surpass Paris' previous novel, "Behind Closed Doors," it still stands as a commendable addition to her repertoire. Fans of domestic dramas will find themselves engrossed in the lives of the characters and the intricate web of relationships that Paris has crafted.

"The Guest" is a well-written and engaging novel that offers a compelling domestic drama with a gradual build-up and a surprising ending. B.A. Paris continues to showcase her talent for creating complex characters and exploring the intricacies of human relationships .

Thank you to Macmillan audio and Netgalley for my advanced listening copy of this upcoming audiobook in exchange for my honest review. 4 stars

I don’t know about you but having an unexpected house guest gives me extreme anxiety. But when they decide to stay longer than originally thought is a million times worse! These characters were incredibly flawed and keeping secrets from each other. Laure is clearly overstaying her welcome and refusing to deal with what is happening at home. Gabriel is keeping something from his wife as his wife is keeping plenty from him.

This one was great to listen to on audio because it did start pretty slow. I didn’t know where the plot was going until about 50% in so listening it to while working made it easier to get into. The ending was not something I expected and goodness, so many people died lol. This was an interesting read once things really started to unravel!

First things first – I adored the narrator on this book. I loved her accent and the way it so seamlessly flowed into a french accent. I was enchanted and honestly – the narration is probably the biggest thing that kept me hooked on this book. Well done!

This was my first book by B.A. Paris and I was really excited to stray out of my normal genre and into something that was going to really mess with my head. That’s not…exactly what I got here. The story was interesting enough, if a little slow. But there was nothing really twisty or turny about it. Sure, there’s a twist at the end. But it was kind of dropped like an anvil on the reader and there were no other real twists that my mind would have imagined. It wasn’t like there were several suspects, or a lot of motives floating around. I didn’t see the twist coming, but I also didn’t guess wrong because I didn’t really guess at all.

The ending also left me feeling a certain amount of ick. Like, I just ended the book feeling flat and a little sad. This, of course, is not my favorite way to end a book. Maybe it’s because it’s outside of my normal genre, or maybe it’s because it really does sort of involve that flat, sad feeling – but, while I found it overall entertaining, it definitely won’t go down as a favorite for me.

I did not get very far into the audiobook before I knew this book was not for me. I had no interest in it at all unfortunately. Thanks to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio & St Martin's Press for advance copies.

I'm a huge BA Paris fan but this one was a disappointment. I was very much enjoying it....until the end.
Narrator was great.
Thanks for the chance to listen and review.

This book was too good! It left me wanting to read more and more. The twists, the story, and everything in between.. so good!

I have read all of this author's books and they are all worth reading. This was good, but not great. The epilogue at the end that reveals everything was a bit over the top. I enjoyed the story for the most part but hoped for a better resolution. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

1 star
DNF. Talked about the same topic for the first 20% of the entire book and I was so bored that I had no interest in the characters or the storyline … will not be finishing unfortunately. loved work from this author, but not this book unfortunately

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the audiobook!
Synopsis: Iris and her husband Gabriel come home from a trip to find their longtime friend, Laure, unexpectedly at their house. Laure says she has had a family emergency and while she is initially invited into their home, a few weeks go by and she has made no plans to leave. With a house guest overstaying their welcome, tensions are high, and secrets, lies, and drama from the past and present begin to surface.
My thoughts: This was a fun little domestic thriller! I did feel the pacing of the book was really slow up until about the last quarter. The last bit packed a punch and made up for the slow start with tons of action and a good twist at the end. Overall, I don’t think this will be a super memorable one for me, it was missing something to really standout as a thriller. I’m still looking forward to trying this author’s other book, Behind Closed Doors because of the raving reviews!

A strain is weighing on Iris and Gabriel’s marriage. Since they do not feel they can be open with one another, it festers and seeps through more of their relationship. Just what they do not need right then arrives in the form of their friend, Laure. She left her husband because he admitted to being the father of a girl. The longer Laure stays, the more space emerges between Iris and Gabriel.

They meet a couple who have just moved to their town and their gardener. This gives the couple someone to confide in and a place to get away from Laure. Relationships will have their highs and lows. The characters are well-written and likable, except Laure. She is self-centered and oblivious to those around her. Even so each person is well developed, and you find yourself forgetting that this is a story.

I am a huge fan of BA Paris and this book stands up to the excellence in the other works.





I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press and Audiobook from MacMillan Audio. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

I am very thankful to B.A. Paris, Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for granting me advanced access to this book and audiobook, but it just wasn't for me. I couldn't stay focused at all.