Thrillers with a group of people at a party or weekend away is my favourite trope and this one didn't disappoint. Fast paced, keeps you guessing, quick and easy read

Boring. Yawning. And most importantly, full of secondhand embarrassment and repetition.

This felt like petty drama I had no business being involved in—just a bunch of grown-ups acting like children. The plot dragged, felt all over the place, and lacked any real direction. The characters weren’t worth rooting for, and I kept waiting for something to hook me... but it never did.

Let’s play Truth or Dare.
Truth? I should’ve left this alone on my NetGalley shelf.
Dare? I dared myself to be open to new authors and genres this year… so far, that’s not going great. Aha.

I might check out more from this author just to see, but this one? Definitely not for me.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯💐.

📖 Genre: Psychological Thriller ⭐ Rating: 3.5/5

📚 Overview
The Uninvited Guest by Ruby Speechley is a psychological thriller that centers around Megan Lewis, whose hen weekend takes an unexpected turn when an uninvited guest, Beth, arrives claiming to be a relative of Megan's fiancé. As the weekend unfolds, secrets from Megan's past resurface, leading to a series of unsettling events that threaten to derail her upcoming wedding.

🧐 What I Loved
✔ Engaging Premise: The storyline is intriguing, with the unexpected guest's arrival setting the stage for suspense and mystery.

✔ Fast-Paced Narrative: The book maintains a brisk pace, with short chapters that keep the reader engaged and eager to uncover the next twist.

✔ Exploration of Secrets and Trust: The novel delves into themes of trust, betrayal, and the impact of past secrets on present relationships, adding depth to the plot.

🤔 What Could Be Better
🔹 Character Decisions: Some of Megan's choices may come across as naive or questionable, which could affect readers' connection to her character.

🔹 Predictability: Certain plot developments might be anticipated by seasoned thriller readers, potentially diminishing the element of surprise.

✨ Final Thoughts
The Uninvited Guest offers an engaging and quick read for fans of psychological thrillers. While some character decisions may raise eyebrows, the novel's exploration of secrets and the consequences of past actions provide ample intrigue to keep readers invested.

📌 Would I recommend it? Yes, particularly for readers seeking a fast-paced thriller that delves into the complexities of trust and hidden pasts.

Megan and Jamie are finally getting married. Although she is uneasy, Megan drops her daughter off with her parents to head off on her hen weekend, while Jamie has his bachelor weekend with his buddies. Things don't start well as there is an ominous message on her parent's front lawn when she drops off her daughter. Her parents assure her they have everything under control and off she goes with Danielle her BFF. When they arrive at the house, there is an uninvited guest waiting for her. Beth, Jamie's cousin has arrived from Australia and wants to get to know Megan. From that moment on, things go from bad to worse. With pranks being played, some unsettling occurrences, secrets revealed and threatening messages, will Megan even make it down the aisle?

The Uninvited guest was a quick, entertaining thriller. I have to say that Megan has got to be the most trusting, okay, gullible bride to be that I have ever come across. I don't care how much money my friends spent on the events, I would have left or maybe even not gone when the first couple of things happened. Having said that, I suspended belief and just went with the story. Every time I thought I knew who was behind something, there was another twist and I changed my mind. I couldn't stop reading because I had to see what was going to happen next, and when Megan would realize that Beth is not her friend. The ending had me flipping pages to see what was going to happen next. This is a book that highlights the dangers of keeping secrets from those you care about, and supporting one another when the chips are down. This was a twisty story that will have you on the edge of your seat, waiting for the next shoe to drop.

Ruby Speechley's "The Uninvited Guest" delves into the unsettling territory of the unknown, exploring the psychological impact of a presence that disrupts the familiar comforts of home. Through subtle hints and creeping dread, Speechley crafts a narrative that preys on our primal fear of the unseen and the unexplainable, leaving the reader questioning the boundaries of reality and the fragility of the human psyche. The effectiveness of the story lies in its ambiguity. The "uninvited guest" is never explicitly defined, leaving ample room for interpretation. Is it a malevolent spirit, a figment of the protagonist's imagination driven to the edge by stress, or a tangible entity with its own agenda? Speechley intentionally leaves these questions unanswered, allowing the reader to project their own fears and anxieties onto the narrative. This ambiguity, rather than detracting from the story, intensifies the suspense and heightens the sense of unease. Furthermore, Speechley skillfully utilizes setting to amplify the story's unsettling atmosphere. The protagonist's home, typically a sanctuary, becomes a source of dread. The creeping shadows, the creaking floorboards, and the sudden cold drafts all contribute to a sense of violation and vulnerability. The mundane details of everyday life are distorted and imbued with a sense of menace, blurring the line between the ordinary and the extraordinary. This subtle manipulation of the familiar is a hallmark of effective horror writing, as it taps into our subconscious anxieties about the safety and security of our own surroundings. Ultimately, "The Uninvited Guest" is a chilling exploration of the power of fear and the fragility of the human mind. By leaving the nature of the uninvited guest undefined, Speechley forces us to confront our own deepest fears and anxieties. The story serves as a reminder that the most terrifying monsters are often those that reside within our own minds, waiting to be unleashed by the slightest hint of the unknown. The lingering unease that remains long after the final page is turned is a testament to Speechley's skill in crafting a truly unsettling and memorable tale.

The characters were so entertaining yet unlikeable. This thriller kept me guessing and I definitely wanna read more of this authors books.

This book was pretty good! It was a solid 4 star for me. The writing itself was pretty bland, but there were twists around literally every corner! I read this book in 24 hours because I NEEDED to know what happened next.

I’m not sure I was a fan of Megan, the main character. She was pretty unlikable to me, and way too forgiving throughout this whole story. BUT, the author definitely had me fooled at some points; I didn’t know what was the truth and what were lies so I understand Megan’s confusion!!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read The Uninvited Guest for free in exchange for my honest review.

Wow, I really enjoyed this one. Ms Speechley is an excellent author, and once again she didn't disappoint with this one. I can't wait to get my hands on the next one! Highly recommended
TB

Megan is about to marry the love of her life and goes on a "hen" weekend with some girlfriends. She doesn't know Beth who claims to be a cousin of her fiance. Things get pretty intense and Megan can't help but wonder who is trying to derail her marriage. I definitely enjoyed this and couldn't stop reading. The end was a total shock.

This one was not for me. Very juvenile and read more as a YA book. Very predictable, repetitive, and super over the top. Truly lacked suspense and I guessed where it was heading. It was also really hard to read because I hated all of the characters. They were all super annoying and fake and truly awful.

The was an enjoyable and well written book however the twists left a little to be desired. Overall the ending was interesting

Megan is about to go on her "hen party". When she gets there, there is a guest that no one seems to know- yet she knows all of them. This is an easy, breezy thriller that you can read in one day. There are twists- and boy was one of them a doozy!! However, I found that I could not connect, root for, or even admire a single character. I kept reading- even though at times Megan seemed incredibly naive, and did many ridiculous things. Everyone has secrets at this party, and trying to figure out who did what got a little crazy. You need to suspend belief to enjoy this thing! I can't write more- or I will give a lot away. If you want a quick read, with shocking turns (that don't all make sense), and can deal with unlikable characters- this would be a quick read for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I had really looked forward to reading this book but was somewhat disappointed. It was interesting and kept my attention but some of it was pretty far fetched . I did enjoy trying to figure out who the culprit was but it lagged a bit before getting thereand I wish the epilog had been longer.. Thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A fast-paced, entertaining read that was full of drama, secrets, and lies. There wasn't a dull moment! It kept me guessing throughout, and I was definitely intrigued from beginning to end.
Megan, however, was laughably gullible. Her actions and behaviour had me continuously shaking my head. She was so ridiculously naive, I just wanted to scream at her! 🙈
Honestly, there wasn't one likeable character in the bunch, but at least the story kept me entertained.
It's not the best book by this author, but it's still worth a read.

Thank you, Netgalley, for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Yeah, this wasn’t it. The plot dragged, the characters felt one-dimensional, and I kept waiting for something to hook me... but it never did. Just not for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book and read it in one day! I had to know what happened and actually lost sleep to finish this book! I would definitely recommend this book.

This book centers on Megan and her "hen night" before her marriage. I thought the premise of the book was one that has been done before, however the book was engaging. I did find Megan to be gullible and naive which made for some of the story being monotonous. Her so called friends are an eclectic group from childhood through more recently. I was not surprised at all by the twist, however the middle of the book kept me engaged as it was a good story.

Reading in Between the Wines book review #18/125 for 2025:
Rating: 3 🍷🍷🍷
Book: The Uninvited Guest
Author: Ruby Speechley
AVAILABLE NOW!!!

Sipping thoughts: Ugh, I was so annoyed and mad at a lot of the characters throughout this book. I did not know what to expect as I love how Speechley reveals unexpected twists in her books. I have to say I did not love this “twist” or reveal. I was hoping it was someone different to offer more juiciness. Overall, I liked the book and can’t wait for the next release.

Cheers and thank you to @Netgalley and @BoldwoodBooks for an advanced copy of @TheUninvitedGuest.

#TheUninvitedGuest #RubySpeechley #BoldwoodBooks #NetGalley #ARC #advancedreader #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bokreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

This book had an interesting premise and started off strong, but the execution fell flat. The main character, Megan, was frustratingly naive and made unrealistic choices, making it hard to connect with her. The plot was predictable, repetitive, and at times, far-fetched. While it was a fast read, the writing felt sloppy, and there were noticeable inconsistencies. Unfortunately, this one wasn’t for me.

This book was horrible. The story and plot lines were a mess, the characters were shit, the ending was shit as well. You drag us through this whole story and end in two pages? Just like that. This was one of the worst books I’ve read, felt like something written for a teenager but then even teens wouldn’t waste their time with this. What the heck ..