Collage friends reuniting in an ideal sea location for the weekend. Brought together by Aline, who has other motives. Someone is threading to reveal a dark secret they all share. I’ve read a few other books with a similar storyline. This one though was lacking for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Paperbacks for an advanced copy.

Solid start with a lackluster finish.

I felt like this story droned on just for the finish to leave me incredibly confused. Darryl’s chapters where a much needed break from the hum drum of these unlikely friends and everything fell apart the second he exited the story. I feel like his character could have been much more interesting and complex, as well.

Overall, if you like a thriller set in Scotland, give it a shot. Just know you may not find it to be all that thrilling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Told in dual timelines with multiple narrators which I enjoyed! Totally unlikable characters which is frustrating but I absolutely enjoyed that!!!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book …….. up till the ending.

The story was good, the characters are interesting.

A few twists and some surprises. An experienced thriller reader would probably pick up the plot twist about 3/4 way through.

The story was great till the last few chapters. The ending was kinda a flop.

Overall not too bad a read

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity

THE WEEKEND GUESTS is a multi-perspective and multi-timeline thriller packed with an epic secret from the past and complicated relationships with characters that slowly pull you into a web of lies. North crafts an entertaining and tense mystery with twists and turns perfect for any crime fiction lover.

There is something so delicious about a group of people hiding a secret and being forced to deal with it years later. The author gifts her readers with not only this cast of old college friends but with Darryl as well. For as much as I enjoyed reading about Aline, Sienna, Rob, Michael, and Brandon’s reactions to the postcards they received, it was the time spent going down the rabbit hole with Darryl that was my favorite. North truly created an amazingly layered and disturbed character with him.

Even though the general plot of the novel isn’t new, the way the author wrote it was as refreshing as it was absorbing. Where things could have been muddled with the dual timeline and multiple narrators, she excelled at pulling the story together. Each chapter propelled the narrative forward and allowed for well-placed reveals. THE WEEKEND GUESTS is a bingeable, quick read that will have you flipping the pages to find out is going to happen when all is said and done.

Audiobook Note: This story is narrated by Elliot Chapman and Catrin Walker-Booth. The pace was well-timed with the mystery reveals, and it flowed from one narrator to the other pretty seamlessly. Though it took me a minute to get into the audio version of the book because of Elliot Chapman’s character accent in the beginning, I did wind up enjoying it by the end.

Thank you NetGalley! I enjoyed the premise of this book. The back and forth timeline is one of my favorites in a novel. But the excess of characters over the chapters made it hard to keep track of what was going on and who was talking. I ended up halfway through the book before I had to put it down

This was a solid read. It kept me listening to find out what was really going on and why. The characters were all unlikeable. So many secrets between friends and spouses.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was anxiety inducing to the upmost degree. I had no idea what was going to happen next and the author really captured the fear of being around individuals who are so unhinged from reality that you can't anticipate what they'll do because they are operating on a completely different wavelength than you. The only thing I didn't like about this book was that it was hard to follow, lots of POVs and hopping around. A LOT of generic names that I kept getting confused on who was who.

If you like thrillers, I highly recommend checking this book out!

Fantastically atmospheric, creepy, and tense. The dual timelines in this novel were a fascinating way to keep the perspectives where they needed to be. Did I like the characters in this book? Not entirely, but there were some fascinating twists I didn't see coming and this one was a wild ride from start to finish.

Five university friends, Aline, Sienna, Rob, Michael, and Brandon, reunite after they start getting cryptic messages about a secret from the past. Aline gathers them all because she believes one of them is responsible for the messages and wants to figure out who it is.

In this story, there are alternating POVs. Darryl, a neighbor of the group during their university days, narrates the past. His chapters are disturbing, as they are intended to be. They are supposed to give us a glimpse of the group of friends through his eyes, but in the process, we don't really learn anything about them as young adults. This means that they are still virtually strangers to us when we meet them as adults.

I may have read one too many locked-room types of thrillers, and this one was just not well done to me. I didn't really like the characters; I couldn't keep track of who was married, who had relationships in the past, and which kids belonged to which couple. I didn't care enough to figure it out. Finding out who sent the messages was an interesting surprise, but the actual ending was eye-rollingly ridiculous. I think I need to take a break from this trope for a while.

As a book reviewer, I recently had the opportunity to delve into Liza North's "The Weekend Guests," courtesy of NetGalley, and I'm eager to share my impressions.

My initial apprehension stemmed from the book's use of multiple points of view and timelines. Typically, these narrative techniques can create a sense of disorientation, making it challenging to fully immerse oneself in the story. However, Liza North skillfully navigated these complexities, crafting a narrative that was remarkably easy to follow. I found the transitions between perspectives and time periods seamless, never feeling lost or confused. This is a testament to North's ability to structure a complex plot with clarity and precision.

While not every character was designed to be likable, each played a pivotal role in the unfolding drama. Their flaws and imperfections contributed to the authenticity of the story, making them feel like real people with real motivations. This approach, while potentially alienating some readers who prefer universally sympathetic characters, ultimately served to enhance the intrigue and suspense. It is important to note that unlikable characters can make for a very compelling read. As stated by many literary critics, "Flawed characters add depth and realism to a narrative."

The pacing was a significant strength. From the outset, the story moved swiftly, drawing me into its web of secrets and intrigue. The narrative unfolded with a sense of urgency, keeping me engaged and eager to discover what would happen next. This fast-paced approach, coupled with the intriguing plot, made for a compelling and enjoyable reading experience.

Liza North has crafted a thriller that deftly balances complex narrative structures with compelling character development and a gripping plot. "The Weekend Guests" is a testament to her skill as a storyteller, and I would recommend it to anyone seeking a fast-paced and intriguing read.

Liza North crafts a compelling thriller that kept me engaged. The dual timeline structure effectively builds suspense. While some plot twists may be anticipated, the overall execution was engaging. For readers who appreciate atmospheric settings and intricate character dynamics, this novel offers a gripping exploration of the shadows that linger from our pasts.

Five old friends... One reunion to die for…

I really liked the Dorset coast setting - no spoilers but it definitely adds depth to the story. We get this solid sense of tension while reading this book. While I did guess a few things right, I also was also surprised at a few twists. I really liked the use of dual timelines in this story - we go back to their University days and I also liked then use of the post cards and journal entries.

These characters are flawed and problematic…but can they redeem themselves? I liked the Multiple POV and how we get to know the characters. The one in particular really brings the creep factor.

You probably aren’t going to like them, but I still wanted to see what would happen and to understand what they did.

I personally liked the ending - was it a little far fetched? Eh, maybe - but I found it to be satisfying and hey, this is fiction - anything goes!

Five college friends reunite after time apart, seemingly to simply reconnect. But there is a darker undertone, a crime from the past that is threatening to resurface, punishment promised by mysterious postcards.

This was a very suspenseful book. I honestly never saw the ending coming. The characters are all highly unlikeable (except the children), but that seems to be the point. This is not a group to root for, even while you as a reader are so involved in their lives. I wouldn’t recommend the characters as friends, but I would recommend this book.

3.5 stars

Four college friends and their spouses and children are called together by the group leader, presumably for a posh weekend getaway in her glamorous cliffside retreat. In reality, each has received an ominous postcard referencing a secret from the past. As the weekend progresses, cracks in the ones inseparable group begin to show, and as the group spirals, the truth about what happened all those years ago threatens to finally come out.

The story is told from multiple points of view and over two timelines: in the past when the group was at university and the present, while they are together on this vacation. Both storylines were interesting, but I have to say the past storyline and the character who narrates it definitely held my attention much more.

As I said, this is a dual timeline story, and it is filled with suspense along both timelines as a creepy atmosphere hangs over both stories. However, the storyline that takes place in 2001 when they are students in Edinburgh, that is narrated by a person outside of their group really will stand out as a spectacular thriller as you read it. The present day storyline is a little more slow going and doesn’t quite have as much punch to it. It’s much more of a slow burn whereas the past timeline, you notice the alarming qualities right away.

But I still enjoyed both stories because they created a full picture of these troubled people’s lives and how they seem to create chaos and it definitely led to a tense and almost Gothic atmosphere.

I was definitely intrigued by what was going to happen, even if I was a bit annoyed by some of the characters, who didn’t seem to be able to stand up for themselves and weren’t terribly likable. But what kind of stands out in this book that confused me is the very last page and a half of this book which I did not understand at all. It felt like the book had an ending in that things had wrapped up, but then all of a sudden there was this “Afterward.” Was I the only one confused by that?

So I would say this is absolutely a book worth reading, but maybe once you do, you can explain the ending to me. Because while I enjoyed this book, I definitely did not “get it.” And that may have tinged my view of the book.

Not a bad book but the plot is so common and rather forgettable.

It took awhile to keep the characters straight because they blended into each other. Thanks for the advance review copy.

I really struggled with this book. Juggling multiple characters across two timelines made the story more confusing than it needed to be.

Unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. The plot felt predictable, lacking the twists or fresh ideas I was hoping for.

It took me a bit to get into this one as it has a slow start and it was hard for me to keep track of all the characters. About halfway through I started getting the hang out who everyone was and started to enjoy it more. One of the POVs will definitely give you the heebie-jeebies and you just know he is up to no good. Overall, a solid premise with a good mystery at it’s center.

I initially found it a bit difficult to get engrossed in the book, the many POVs confused me a little at the start. After a few chapters, it became interesting. The book switches from 2019 to 2001 and we get to see the reunion of a group of college friends and their past. The characters were all different, yet I didn't feel any attachment to them. The ending does tend to surprise you. This is a good book which is probably a one-time read.

[arc review]
Thank you to Harper Perennial for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Weekend Guests releases January 28, 2025

3.75

In the present timeline, Brandon and Aline have just invited three of their close university friends and their spouses/kids to their secondary home in Dorset for a weekend reunion now that their renovations are complete.

As a way to build suspense leading up to the reveal of what really brought the group of undergrads together again, the reader is brought back eighteen years in time to 2001 when Aline, Michael, and Rob have just become neighbours with a PhD student named Darryl.

Darryl’s chapters were much more captivating and I could have spent the entirety of the story from his pov as an outcast and observer. His frequent mentions of Phyllis added intrigue early on, and was a puzzle piece I was eager to solve as it was clear that she was not someone who was alive, which made me quickly question the credibility of Darryl’s mental state.

Despite thinking that the character pov’s from the present timeline could’ve been stronger, I really liked how the story was structured and how the events unfolded.