Read Completed 12/20/23 | 4 stars
I really enjoyed THE GUEST a lot more than I thought I would! I've read all of B.A. Paris' thrillers so far and some have been big flops, including the last few, so I just wasn't sure what to expect. Maybe because my expectations were low, I went into it not expecting much and I was happy when I ended up connecting with it.

The beginning of the book was slower, but enjoyable for me. If nothing else, the concept of a guest that's overstayed their welcome was dread enough for me to feel tension and anxiety while reading. I was okay with this pacing because I liked getting to know the characters really well and wondering where everything was going, but I can see how others might not have enjoyed that. I mean, normally I probably wouldn't have enjoyed that, but I just really ended up clicking with the characters, which doesn't always happen.

Things started to spiral out of control about halfway through and that's where things really got interesting. I didn't want to stop reading and was racing through to try and guess at all of these family secrets! Who was the most sinister? Were these circumstances suspicious or out of character? I really liked all the little surprises and twists.

This could have really ended on a bang but instead, we get a weak epilogue where someone basically tells all, and I really hate that. It's lazy and felt like we reached the conclusion of the book already and this was all an afterthought. It really cheapened everything and I wish that could have been used IN the conclusion because everything else just kind of died off and wasn't exciting.

This was a better B.A. Paris read for me but I'm really disappointed in how everything wrapped up. The answers to the questions were satisfying but I hate how we learned about them and after finding out all the answers, there were too many red herrings and barely-hanging-on parties.

After reading a previous book by B.A. Paris, I was so excited when NetGalley provided me with an audiobook of The Guest. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book and found it very difficult to finish. I really dislike leaving a poor review of a book. I found it challenging to keep track of all the characters and the story fell short for me. I did not find the overall story line very engaging and it seemed repetitive and slow.

On a positive note, I did enjoy that the chapters were short.

1/5 ⭐️

*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received this audio book from NetGalley and truly enjoyed the narrator. She had such a great range and her French accent was spot on.
The book itself was extremely thrilling and a quick page turner - if you’re reading the physical copy.
Iris and her husband return from a trip to find their longtime friend in their home after she had an argument with her husband, also their friend. This is a twisted drama full of secrets and I really had no idea what would happen next. Love B.A. Paris and will continue reading. 3.5 stars ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for this audio book!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! I enjoyed this book but it was a little scattered. The characters were hard to like and quite frustrating throughout the story

This one was okay…not totally as memorable as some of their other ones. Definitely a good palate cleanser in between more demanding books. It’s a typical domestic drama/thriller. Pretty predictable but enjoyable nonetheless. I kind of lost interest by the end. 2.5 rounded up.

What's the limit to a houseguest being a guest as opposed over staying their welcome?

Iris and her husband Gabriel return from vacation to find their friend, Laure staying in their house due to some marital issues. Laure's stay keeps getting extended and secrets, lies and actions from the past and present start to surface.

This book sucked me right in from the start. I definitely did not see the ending coming. B.A. Paris does it again. This book is a wild and twisty ride that you won't regret taking!

I have never not finished a book but I did think about it while reading The Guest. I'm glad I didn’t but overall this was a miss for me. The story moved extremely slowly and I never fully knew what we were building towards.

Iris and Gabriel are a married couple and they go on vacation. They come back home early and find their friend Laure in their home. Laure tells them she just found out that her husband Pierre has a kid with another woman. This is another example of a book that was filled with characters that I just did not like.

For the first half, I did not know what the point of the story was, then there was something that happened, and it's what the mystery then revolved around. I just didn’t find the mystery to be interesting.

By the end, I was expecting the twist to be exactly what it was. I didn’t find it shocking it was the predictable choice and it left me wanting so much more.

Thank you to B.A. Paris, Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced reader copy. Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris is one of my favorite books of this year, so I was beyond thrilled when I received this book! The narration of the audiobook was fantastic. The plot kept me interested and the epilogue was *chefs kiss*. B.A. Paris does it again! Releasing Feburary 2024, be sure to check this one out!

This book had some underlying triggers warnings that I should have paid attention to before leaping in. One line in particular that I can't get over it in my head which might be a really good sign for the authorship.

4.25ish stars

As with many other readers, I was totally captivated by Behind Closed Doors and have been, I think, searching for something else that gives me the same thrilling intrigue from this writer. However, I haven’t quite found that yet; although I’ve enjoyed some of her other books, they haven’t quite lived up to that high standard for me. That being said, I did like the twisty details of this book, and it worked way better for me than the author’s last one. I didn’t quite see the ending coming, which was great, and although the reveals/unrolling of the explanations felt a bit heavy-handed, it was largely still a satisfying conclusion. I’ll be looking forward to what comes next.

So much infidelity. My goodness. If that’s a trope you dislike, you’ll have a hard time with this one. Usually it bothers me more that it did in The Guest. Maybe it was the audio narration- man, did I rip through that! Very well done. And the twists just kept coming, so I didn’t have time to get too upset. B.A. Paris is always a good time for me and this one is no exception. 4.5 rounded down cause it maybe was just a tad too convenient and unbelievable, but overall a really excellent read!

Laure is the houseguest who will never leave. Doctor-husband Gabriel is mourning the loss of his father and eighteen year old Charlie, who dies in a freak accident right in front of his eyes. Iris seems to be the only stable and grounding force as tensions rise around them.

This story pleasantly surprised me with the perfect pacing of events, new characters added, and I had NO idea where it was going!

At 10% in, I was hooked and could not put this twisty psychological thriller down.

I gave this 4.25 stars. Well done Ms. Paris, I really enjoyed this one. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date: February 20, 2024

The Guest by B.A. Paris centers around the main couple Iris and Gabriel, their very closest and oldest friends- Laure and Pierre, and their new neighbors Esme and Hugh. Told mostly through Iris's point of view with some of Gabriel sprinkled in, we have a very quintessential domestic drama. The story goes in many different directions and while it wasn't especially captivating, it piqued enough interest to keep me reading. A lot happened and nothing was too mind-blowing, until you get to the very end! Overall. a solid but forgettable thriller.

The Guest starts off slowly and introduces a number of characters and plot lines in the early chapters. At times it is a struggle to keep them all straight. This is the perfect example of a slow burn; seemingly nothing happens during the first 75% of the book and then the action picks up dramatically.

B.A. Paris wraps everything up in the epilogue with a number of “didn’t see that coming” revelations. The ending was quite satisfying, but it took a lot of effort to get there. Emily Joyce’s narration was outstanding and kept me listening through the slower parts of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC! I’ve been a huge fan of Paris’s book since I read Behind Closed Doors a couple of years ago.

I really enjoyed The Guest, but I will say it’s more of a slow burn than her other books. The narrator did a great job as well. I felt this book was very dialogue heavy and at times felt repetitive. I definitely didn’t see the last chapter coming and I liked how she tied everything together!

I would recommend this book to fans of domestic dramas.

2.5 stars

Since this is not my first B.A. Paris book, I came into this listen expecting a twisty, engaging plot and compelling characters. Unfortunately, I did not get either. I had a really hard time staying focused on what was happening because the characters were troubled but in ways that seemed repetitive instead of evolving. They grapple with serious stuff, but I found myself quickly thinking, "MOVE ON!" rather than empathizing or at least sympathizing with their plights. Though there is some twisting ultimately, it's not exciting enough for me to recommend reading/listening to the whole production just to get there.

I'll be back for more from this author, but it will be based on past reads and a desire for something more thrilling than this one was. Had I not accessed the audio version, I feel this may have ended up in the DNF or the FBS (finished by skimming) pile, unfortunately.

Now that was twisted!!! So many plot elements that all merged into an explosive ending!

Iris and Gabriel are empty nesters with their daughter Beth taking a gap year in Greece before she starts uni. Unexpectedly, one day, their good friend Laure shows up stating that her husband Pierre has confessed to fathering a child with another woman but won't say who. He and Laure are taking a break so he can decide what to do. Meanwhile, Gabriel is on leave from his work as a doctor. He is out for a walk when he comes across a young man who is near death after riding his bike off the ledge of a quarry. Just before he passes, he tells Gabriel something, which causes him to spiral. New to the neighbourhood are Esme and Hugh who are expecting their first child. Living in their carriage house is their attractive gardner, Joseph, who comes with a checkered past. As Iris befriends Esme, she starts to learn more about the couple and Joseph.

I will admit there were a lot of characters and plot elements introduced at the start, which made it initially confusing and difficult to know who was who. However, once I was able to sort it all out after a few chapters, the book was unputdownable! I was utterly gripped by the cryptic plot, unsure where it was going.

I would've given this book five stars except I guessed the reveal at about the 80 percent mark. So bummed! Nevertheless, it was a fantastic domestic suspense that I would absolutely recommend!

The audio performance was superb. A gracious thank you to @Netgalley, and @McMillanAudio for an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I've been a big fan of B.A. Paris since the The Therapist, going to back to read other titles. Having said that, The Guest was a huge disappointment. Sometimes an ending can't salvage the rest of the book. And this is one of those cases. And even if an ending could salvage a book? This was not that ending.

3.5 Star Review of "The Guest" by B.A. Paris


As a fan of B.A. Paris, I have thoroughly enjoyed her previous works, including "Behind Closed Doors," "The Breakdown," and "The Therapist," just to name a few. These books have captivated me with their intense plots and compelling characters.

When I was chosen by Netgalley to listen to the audiobook of "The Guest," I was excited, based on my love for Paris' previous works. However, while this book showcases Paris' talent for character development, the overall story didn't quite live up to the excitement and anticipation I had experienced with her previous novels.

"The Guest" took a bit longer to come together, and it wasn't until the last few chapters that the plot finally gained some momentum. Even then, it didn't quite reach the level of excitement I had hoped for.

I want to express my gratitude to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. The narration was spot on, and because of that, I still found some enjoyment in the listening experience.

Overall, while "The Guest" may not have matched the intensity of my favorite B.A. Paris novels, it still showcases her talent for character development. Fans of the author may find some enjoyment in this book, but it may not be as gripping as her previous works.

I know BA Paris has written loads of novels, but this was my first of hers, and it was so well done. Iris and Gabriel welcome their friend Laure to stay with them for a few weeks as she puts her life back together after discovering her husband has a child he never told her about. But Laure overstays her welcome and things become strained between Laure and her hosts. I really enjoyed this one. The plot was unique; the pacing was perfect; and the twist was amazing. My favorite kind of twist is one that floors me, and yet, I realize, after the fact, that it should have been entirely obvious. The final twist in this novel did just that for me. I listened to this one and loved consuming The Guest in that format.

Paternity testing of the child in question was performed secretly using a hair snagged from the child's clothing. A single hair can be used to confirm paternity, but needs to contain the follicle at the tip, which should have enough high quality DNA to validate paternity.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the early opportunity to listen to and review this book.