I really enjoyed this audiobook. Listening to it was like relaxing in a warm bath. The story started out slowly as I got to know the characters and gradually began to realize that all was not as it appeared to be in this tightly bonded group. How far would you go to keep a secret if revealing that secret would shatter not only your life but everyone you love as well? The epilogue left me breathless and listening to parts of it literally gave me chills. This was definitely one twisted, shocking ride! Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my audiobook.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for allowing me to audibly read and review The Guest on NetGalley.

Published: 02/20/24

Narrator: Emily Joyce

Stars: 3.5

This is an average book with a good narrator bringing the rating up one star. Can you imagine living in times when the book is so much better than the movie is not said? I can't and long for the day. What I see now is equivocally the same for narrators.

Reading on my own in physical or E-format would have been a boring experience, one in which I may not have finished this book. However, Joyce kept going when my mind started to wander, when I stared out the window, and when I made coffee. If it weren't for her talents I would have missed the Hercule Poirot are you kidding me moment as the story closed reveal that I didn't see it coming and appreciated. I'm not spoiling, it was small and made this book memorable. That creative piece has me wanting to seek more of the author's work.

The story overall is meh. The downfall was too many Chiefs and not enough Indians. Too many murders, lies, and affairs for the cast of characters. I knew by 75% there would be an epilogue, too many unanswered issues. The epilogue replaces creative writing. Paris has talent and now needs to hone the craft.

Yes, I would recommend. In my travel days, pre-kindle and WIFI this was a perfect airport book (carry one way.).

I don't recall any swearing.

I thought maybe trying this in audio format might make it either more enjoyable or the story more engaging for me and it did not. The plot still suffers from an excruciating slow pace where absolutely nothing happens for the longest stretch. Then when things do happen it’s almost all at once and doesn’t leave much of an impact.

I was also disappointed at the epilogue that felt more like a half hearted blanket to cover the plot. I wasn’t thrilled at the idea of the big reveal and felt it was a huge let down.

On a positive note, I do like the author’s writing so I plan on reading more of her books. Especially because she’s been a five star read for me, unfortunately this book is just a huge miss for me. Even with retrying for a 2nd time.

Paris is an auto buy author. She writes the most interesting stories that have a way of consuming you. I binged this audiobook in a day. The narrator did a wonderful job keeping the reader engaged. Thank you netgalley for this gifted audiobook.

I’ve read so many books by this author so I was so excited for this one and while I liked it, it fell short for me.

Almost all of the characters were so annoying. The guest, that I wanted to kick out myself, the homeowners who really needed to grow a pair and talk to the guest to get out of there, all of the other side characters and their pointless twists.

I will say the book wrapped up pretty nicely and I didn’t have any questions in the end so that made me happy.

Oh this was a great listen! I loved the narrator and this one just kept me guessing. And just when I didn't think I could be any more shocked and appalled by Paris' revelations, she hits me with another one. Paris' is one of my favorite authors and stories like this remind me how much i just want to be a fly on the wall in her brain because my my my! What a story teller and the tangled webs she weaves. Loved this one!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Netgalley and the author for allowing me to listen to this audiobook for an honest review. This was my first B.A. Paris book and it didn't disappoint. This book had me hooked from the first page and kept me interested throughout the whole book. I had no idea what was going on and the twist in the epilogue was literally perfect. I love her writing style and I cannot wait to read more of her books. (shared on Goodreads as well)

The Guest || Review

The Guest
Thank you, St Martin’s Press, for the gifted copy of The Guest by B.A Paris{partner}

Genre: Mystery
Format: 🎧
Audiobook Narration: ☆☆☆☆
Pub Date: 2.20.2024
Star Rating: ☆☆☆

I wanted to love this book - I did. BA Paris is one of the authors who got me to like thrillers when I started reviewing books. But, The Guest was just not my cup of tea.

The characters were all dull and unlikable, and the plot was slow to build and really didn’t seem to follow any path towards a good twist. There were so many times that I almost DNF, but I kept on going because I hoped there would be something redeeming.

There was actually a *little* something—the epilogue. It made me sit back and say, “Well, that’s more like it,” but it almost felt like it was just too little, too late for me.

🐌 Slow from start to finish
😤 Unlikeable characters
🤷🏽‍♀️ Epilogue

I’m still hopeful that B.A. Paris will write a book like her 2018 hit, Bring Me Back, so I’ll keep reading and crossing my fingers that her next book will be the ✨the✨ book.

Enjoyed this audiobook! Loved the English accent for the narrator. It really helped paint the picture of the setting and characters. I enjoyed all of the stories included in this book. Each character had their own story, but they all intertwined nicely too!

This was a 3.5 star read. While it took awhile for it to feel like a suspense novel for me, it worked on the level of a drama for me. I was interested in the characters although I would have liked it if they had been a little more fleshed out. About half way through, it started to feel more like a suspense novel and although I did more or less figure out who did it, I was thrown off for awhile (when people who could be candidates are killed, it kind of removes them from the suspect list). The epilogue filled me in as to all of the whys.
The narrator was good and made it a little easier to get through a few less paced parts of the books. All in all, it was a solid suspense novel.
Thanks to NetGalley and McMillan audio for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

Imagine a guest that surprise visits you, begging to stay for a few days … and then won’t leave, infiltrating your personal space and life? 😳

This is exactly what happens in The Guest! Throw in secrets, lies and the last words spoken by a dying man and we have a web of deceit weaving its way through everyones lives.

Slow to start, but with short chapters and a compelling storyline, I found myself flying through it - the last 30% is full of twisty reveals and a mind boggling epilogue!

The audiobook narrated by Emily Joyce was wonderful!
Another fantastic audiobook sent by #macmillanaudio #netgalley 🎧

This was my first audiobook and man was it more spooky to hear the story than actually read it! B.A. Paris wrote another spine tingler for sure!!

"The Guest" by B.A. Paris is whatever the audio version of a page-turner is! Paris masterfully crafts a story that is both suspenseful and thought-provoking. And one where I actually enjoyed the characters. The tension builds steadily throughout the novel, leaving readers guessing until the very end. Paris's skillful writing draws readers into the world she has created, making it nearly impossible to put the book down. Overall, "The Guest" is a gripping read that will leave readers eagerly awaiting Paris's next masterpiece.

Ooh, this was SO good! I absolutely loved the twists and turns of this story…and that ending!! Amazing! I loved the setting of the English village, and the way every thread of the plot ended up weaving together in such a surprising way! And the narration is FANTASTIC!

This was a wild ride and I did not see some of those twists coming! I am not sure how I would deal with a friend that just let themselves into my house, used my stuff, and basically didn't leave for over a month! In addition to fucking up my business. I would definitely not have been nearly as calm and understanding as Iris! I also just knew that gardener was doing to turn out to be a bag of dicks...but Iris did what she needed to do to keep her daughter safe in the end!

While I wouldn’t call this one super twisty, it had SO many red herrings and kept me guessing until the very end! I listened to it on audio and thought the narration was fantastic. There were a few times I was a little confused about who was who, but that could have been a result of listening vs reading. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys British domestic suspense books!

This book read much more a drama than a thriller. Loads of unlikeable characters and conversations about their woes make this book feel longer than it needed to be. The guest is rather provocative and unnerving. The ending was by far the most enjoyable part of the book.

I struggled with the narrator's accent and had to slow the pace down.

The Guest was a bingeable mystery that had me wondering how all of these loose ends were going to come together. The narration was engaging and easy to listen to. I thought it really helped immerse me in the story.
When Iris and Gabriel return home from a trip to find their friend, Laure, in their house after leaving her husband, a lot of questions and tension arise. The Guest slowly peels back the layers of secrets and mystery surrounding all of the characters in a way that was having me wondering how it was all going to come together by the end. When I reached the epilogue, I was happy to see how everything came together but also felt a bit that the tone change to first person and all explanations to be a jarring change of pace from the rest of the story. Overall, I found this to be an interesting popcorn thriller that was entertaining.
Thank you Macmillan Audio for the copy through NetGalley in exchange for a review.

#TheGuest #BAParis #MacmillanAudio #EmilyJoyce

This twisted psychological thriller is both captivating and entertaining.

When Iris and Gabriel return home, they find their friend Laure seeking refuge after leaving her husband. Laure's increasingly strange behavior as she overstays her welcome raises suspicions. The narrative intensifies with the introduction of other characters like the gardener and a new couple in town, leading to a climactic showdown where all is revealed.

The well-crafted story and authentic narration enhance the experience.

I enjoyed this advanced listening copy and look forward to more novels by B.A. Paris.

B. A. Paris is an amazing author. The twists and turns in this thriller makes it quite the page turner. You will be hooked from the start.