I really enjoyed Miranda’s Perfect Stranger. It definitely had what it takes to stand out in the homogenous sea of female authored female driven domestic thrillers that are so ubiquitous these days. I’m obviously not the only one who thinks so, because I’m yet to read her other thriller, it’s always out at the library. So naturally when her latest showed up on Netgalley, I requested it immediately without even reading the description. I’m not regretting the choice, though I did like this one less than The Perfect Stranger. But…but objectively this was still very good, the quality is still there. I very much appreciate the fact that the author doesn’t follow the clichéd genre formulas and genuinely takes the time to craft a proper literary thriller. Avoiding cheap thrills, Miranda goes for story and character development instead, these are technically thrillers, but more so crime dramas as in serious dramatic fiction featuring a crime (or several crimes as the case may be). Plus it’s all as darkly psychological as I like. The characters might have been somewhat too young (mid 20s), but interesting in their own way. At the center of the story is a fascinating power dynamic of a friendship. Avery and Sadie, two girls from very different worlds. Essentially an upstairs/downstairs drama, American style, set in a small resort town in Maine, where one wealthy family has all the power and all the money. Or so it would seem. The best parties, every privilege, every entitlement…and yet not entirely safe after all as they find out when Sadie, their daughter, turns up dead. Her best friend Avery, a local girl who for years has been involved with the Lomans personally and financially, almost but not quite one of the family, sets off to find out the truth, which turns out far uglier than she might have ever suspected. So there is plenty of suspense for genre fans, but what attracted me personally was the dramatic writing. The juxtaposition of two different world, the summer guests and the locals, the way they depend on each other and resent each other at the same time, it’s the classic power struggles isolated to one idyllic small town. The callous way that money rules the world and the devastation it leaves in its wake. All of that is done very well in this novel. Plus I’ve always been fascinated by a year round living in a vacation town. The way the place comes alive so vividly in the summer and hibernates the rest of the time. Is it still as happy and shiny of a destination when the visitors leave and the party is over. Would you ever want to be the last guest? So yeah, there is much to like here. Personally I didn’t especially engage with the characters and found the book to be slightly longer than the plot demanded, ever so slightly stretched out. (Although it did read pretty quickly, actually. Easy one morning/afternoon read.) But other than that, it was a very enjoyable book. Thanks Netgalley.

This book was awesome! It had me scared and guessing the whole time. I have become a fan of Megan Miranda over the past 2 years and this book lives up to her hype. I would highly recommend it.

This was my third book by this author and I enjoyed it a lot. The setting was well developed and created an effective atmospheric feel. The plot was well-paced and I couldn’t wait to find out the answers at the end. I loved how thoughtfully written Avery was; she was flawed but not overly so and had a unique life experience. This book also has more of a “new adult fiction” feel. The one character I thought could have been better developed was Parker. Overall, this was an engaging, well-written suspense read with the perfect setting for the plot. The ending was a little too abrupt in my opinion, though.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A real page turner. I enjoyed the u folding if the story in both past and present. Kept me on my toes and unlike many mysteries, I wasn't sure I'd figured it out until pretty late in story. Good read.

“The Last House Guest” by Megan Miranda is a thriller set in the coastal town of Littleport, Maine.
The protagonist, Avery, is investigating the “suicide” the previous summer of her best friend, Sadie Loman.
The story alternates between the night of the crime and the following summer as Avery tries to work out what really happened to Sadie.

This was a fast paced thriller and a perfect beach read.

I’m am a huge fan of myster/thriller books. I am a media specialist in a high school library. My students love these type of books too, but so many of them have unnecessary sexual content that doesn’t seem to add to the story. I recently discovered books by Megan Miranda and I am hooked. The story of Avery and Sadie has strong appeal. Immediately their friendship pulls you in. The haves with the haves nots. The story weaves around the alleged suicide of Sadie on the last party of the season. It’s a modern who done it. Megan develops and reveals Avery’s character through her interactions with people in Littleport both in the present and the past. The story twists and weaves and as soon as you think you know what happened on that fateful night, something else occurs that makes you think differently.

I have already recommended this to other teachers and students. I actually already have it in my Amazon cart to be delivered as soon as it is released!

I received an advance galley of this book from NetGalley.
This is a story about the mysterious death of a young woman from a highly well-to-do family in a summer resort town. Was it a suicide? If not, who did it? And why?
The best part of the book is how well the author created the report down environment, the folks who live there year round versus those that come Memorial Day and leave on Labor Day.
There are a lot of characters in this book. Thus, many possibilities for who did it if it was not a suicide. The book is told mainly from the point of view of a young woman, a year-round resident and helping hand to the wealthy family who owned several rental properties. This young woman was the victim’s best friend, but seemed under suspicion throughout the book. Was she the culprit? If so, why? If not, why are people suspecting her?
The book also goes back and forth between the time of the suicide or murder and a year later when the case remains under investigation. Between all the characters and the flashbacks and flash forwards, it was tough to follow what was going on.
The ending was pretty good and surprising. A solid mystery.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to.

I loved this book, such smart writing, dropping clues in layers. many heart stopping phrases, poetry and philosophy with a turn of a phrase. loved the heroine, loved that i didn't get it until just about when she did, and loved the internal journey that came with the storyline

Colored me impressed by this writing. For such a complex plot and extensive character list, Miranda nailed it. I appreciate the format of the book and the attention to detail of the different perspectives. The setting was interesting and I enjoyed mentally investigating all the avenues of “who done it.” Miranda is VERY good at what she does; all thriller authors should take note.

Wowzer!! Megan Miranda absolutely never disappoints!! The Last House Guest is an epic mystery/thriller that I literally didn’t put down until I had read the entire novel!!! The storyline was brilliantly spun to have me creating several conspiracy theories that all proved wrong lol!! Megan Miranda has true gift in masterfully writing novels that have you in awe afterwards- so well thought out!!! I’ve read all of Megan Miranda’s thrillers and every time I think there is no way she can top herself, but low and behold she does EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. The Last Guest House is a 5+++ star novel that needs to be on everyone’s summer reading list!!!

The Last House Guest was great. It was gripping and intense. I was hooked from the first page. It had just enough suspense that I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I would recommend this book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Megan Miranda does it again! In THE LAST HOUSE GUEST, Miranda gives us compelling characters and a really good plot. Miranda set the novel in Littleport, Maine and beautifully describes the Maine coast. But she focuses her attention on the human relationships between Avery, a young woman who grew up in Littleport and the Lomans, the family that summered there and took her under their wing. But when Sadie Loman, one of Avery's best friends, dies, Avery begins to question everything she thought she knew about the Lomans. As F. Scott Fitzgerald famously quoted, "Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different from you and me." Great read.

This was my first Megan Miranda book, but I’m
glad I own them all, because soon I will be binge reading hers. It starts out with a grip on you and doesn’t release until the end. Chilling, thrilling, and enough drama to give you some breaks from the intensity of the story. Definitely a book that all suspense/thriller lovers must read. You will not discover the truth, until Miranda guides you to it!
I will be reviewing, using in a challenge, and chatting it up in Chapter Chatter Pub’

Title : The Last House Guest

Author: Megan Miranda

Genre: General Fiction - Adult

Pages: 336

Simon & Schuster

Pub date is : May 2nd

Netgalley
book synopsis

Littleport, Maine is like two separate towns: a vacation paradise for wealthy holidaymakers and a simple harbour community for the residents who serve them. Friendships between locals and visitors are unheard of - but that's just what happened with Avery Greer and Sadie Loman.


Each summer for a decade the girls are inseparable - until Sadie is found dead. When the police rule the death a suicide, Avery can't help but feel there are those in the community, including a local detective and Sadie's brother Parker, who blame her. Someone known more than they're saying, and Avery is intent on clearing her name before the facts get twisted against her.

My thoughts
rating : 5
Would I recommend this book : yes
Will I read any thing else by this author: yes
In fact I have read both of her books All The Missing Girls & The Perfect Stranger and loved them , so as soon as I saw she had this one coming out I had to request it. All of her stories take place in a small town where it seems everybody knows everybody's business ,but can still keep secrets no matter how dark they are. As your reading the story your finding out what happened and why , it keeps you guessing and asking questions like was Sadie's death a suicide ,or murder and if it was suicide why did she do , or who killed her and why, or did Avery have something to do with or does she know more then she's telling people . It also keeps you guessing on who can she truest and can she clear her name . Just like All The Missing Girls and The Perfect Stranger the story is interesting and well writing , and slow burning which is good because it keeps you pulled in to the story to the ever last page , So to find out more you have to read the book . With that said I want to thank Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for letting me read and review it exchange for my honest opinion.