First line: Since I have no family of my own, I am yearly asked by friends and colleagues to their homes for the Christmas holidays.

Summary: American student, Ashley Smith, is studying abroad in London. It is Christmas and she is alone. Her mother died a few years before and never knew her father. She imagines a quiet holiday in the big city until she is invited by a new friend to her family’s home in the Cotswolds. Excited with the prospects of having a truly English Christmas she quickly accepts. Upon arrival she is instantly impressed with the house, the village and especially her friend’s brother. As the days pass she falls into the family routine and deeper into her crush for Adam. But when she hears that Adam is a suspect of a recent killing she doesn’t know what to believe about him. Has she been fooled by this handsome English boy or is there someone else lurking in the woods around Starvewood Hall?

My Thoughts: This was a hard book for me to review. I was waffling between 3 and 4 stars. I did not like the first half of the book with the diary entries. I know that the main character is a nineteen year old girl but it was just annoying to read at points. It did feel very juvenile which I applaud the author for achieving since that was the goal but I did not like it too much. However, the second half throws everything on its head. I loved this bit with the twists and background for the first half of the story. And then when you discover the reason behind the title it gave me goosebumps. Part of it felt a little corny but I was in for it at this point. This would definitely be a perfect read for a cold night at Christmastime. It could easily be read in one sitting with a cup of tea and a warm blanket.

A young woman plans to spend her Christmas alone but receives an offer from a friend to come to her home - which is huge.
A romance is included in what seems to be an idyllic family and village. However, she discovers that the man is involved in a serious crime.
The novella turns into a gothic mystery. It is full of twists and turns and is short enough to read in one sitting.

I assume psychopaths enjoy the Christmas season too.

This short novella is told mainly through flashback diary entries.
Unknown narrator, unknown victims, unknown consequences, it’s all there.
Peter Swanson does his signature twists and turns to make even Christmas creepy.

The Christmas Guest is the antidote to all the feel good Christmas books that come out October through December. Enjoy.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Peter Swanson and I love Christmas stories, so this gothic novella was perfect for me! Although it was short, it was well developed and full of tense family drama with a great twist. Highly recommend for a quick holiday read.

Ashley, an American student studying in London, is content on spending the Christmas holiday alone. At the last minute she is invited to spend Christmas with her classmate Emma Chapman and her family at their estate. Ashley is immediately smitten with Emma's brother Adam but realizes not all is happy in the Chapman family.
This gothic Christmas novella may be short, but it is full of family loyalty, hidden agendas, and a great twist half-way through.

When American student Ashley is invited to spend the Christmas holiday with her classmate's family at Starvehood Hall, she is overjoyed. Her previous plans had been to spend the holiday alone, in London, as she has no family of her own left.
As Ashley spends time at the Chapman home with Emma and her brother Adam, she begins to wonder if there was a ulterior motive for bringing her her. There is a lot of tension in the family... could she be here to serve as a bit of a buffer? How wonderful that she and Emma are becoming such good friends, after the rocky was they started. And even better, is there a romance starting between her and Adam?

This creepy novella has family drama, loyalty, treachery and was a delightful read.

Quick, fun read. I kind of wanted it to be longer, but it was still pretty good as it was. Perfect for Christmas season, but also any other time of year! I mean, I read it in April, and it made me yearn for December.