Advanced reader's copy provided by NetGalley

This is the first novel I have read by B.A. Paris, but I don't believe it will be my last. While the domestic thriller genre isn't the most common genre I read in, I have definitely dabbled.

The Guest starts off by introducing us to the main characters, Iris and Gabriel, just as they are coming home from a vacation. They notice that their house appears to be occupied and soon find one of their close friends in the home. The friend, Laure, states that she is in their home because her husband, Pierre, recently found out that he had a child some years ago with another woman. The precarious situation is made all the more difficult as Gabriel has recently witnessed the death of a young man who rode his bike into the quarry, having spent his final moments together before help could arrive.

This story is filled with secrets and twists that I did not see coming in the slightest. And when I say filled, I mean it. Every chapter of the book seemed to bring in some fresh new mystery that I had to continue reading to solve.

However, while the twists and turns and many mysteries were a great aspect of this title, I found that the characters fell a bit flat. Furthermore, though this is somewhat common for domestic thrillers, there was very little action. That is to say that the majority of the story took place through dialogue.

I would absolutely recommend this title for anyone looking for a good domestic thriller.

3.5 stars. I had read B.A. Paris' previous book, Behind Closed Doors and enjoyed that domestic psychological thriller. Paris brings her same signature DNA to her new novel, The Guest -- a new domestic thriller that takes the reader behind another set of closed doors. After coming back from vacation, a couple - Iris and Gabriel return to their home to discover their friend Laure is in their house. Laure has walked out on her husband and crosses many boundaries including rearranging furniture, dressing in Iris' clothes and creating concern over her well being. After a new couple. comes to town ,what seems to be an escape from Laure's behavior becomes more complicated when their gardener also enters the conversation. The past and the present collide in a myriad of secrets and revelations are made.

I love me a good psychological thriller and while Paris provides plenty of opportunity for twists and turns it wasn't until the epilogue that I was fully on board. The pacing was a little off for me in the beginning, but ultimately the pay off was pretty great, I just didn't think we had enough time to focus on all of the characters since the cast was rather big. Ultimately I did find it to be another generic domestic thriller filled with the usual secrets and won't necessarily need to pick it up again. But that ending. Also word to the wise -- if your house guests start wearing your clothes without permission or rearranging your furniture -- abort mission. Kick their behind to the CURB.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, B.A. Paris, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

I've read a handful of B.A. Paris books over the years and The Guest was one of my favorites.

The book starts with husband and wife, Iris and Gabriel returning from a vacation to find their longtime friend, Laure, in their home. Laure left her husband, and Gabriel's best friend, Pierre, after finding out he had a baby with another woman. Obviously devastated, Laure can't bring herself to go back home and overstays her welcome at Iris and Gabriel's, becoming a little too comfortable wearing Iris's clothes, sleeping in their bed, and consuming every moment of free time the couple has. During this time, Iris befriends Esme and Hugh, a couple who just moved into their neighborhood. Iris finds herself becoming suspicious of Laure's increasingly odd behavior as she starts to entangle herself into the lives of Esme and Hugh's family, and more importantly their gardener, Joseph. Laure seems to move on from Pierre rather quickly, and Iris finds herself questioning if Laure's being truthful about her reason for being there.

I found the first half of the book to be quite slow, but the mid to end was full of twists that kept coming - none of which I predicted as I was reading. Was some of it a bit far fetched? Sure. But was it entertaining? Absolutely.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for this ARC.

The whole time I was reading I was asking when is something going to happen? And then it did! It was a good twist and a nice easy read it was just a bit slow to go.

OMG!! Just finished The Guest and am utterly astonished! Iris and Gabriel welcome long time friend, Laure, into their home when Laure leaves her husband, Pierre, after finding out that he had a child from another woman. New friends, Esme and Hugh, enter the picture, and their mysterious gardener, Joseph, becomes an odd part of the story, as well. The lives of these folks become intricately entangled in shocking ways.

There are A LOT of twists and turn in this story, and I did get a little annoyed at all the details, and midway through the book, I almost abandoned it. But sticking with it paid off BIG TIME! Didn't see that comin'!! Loved this book and would highly recommend it!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Guest.

Thank you to NetGalley, B.A. Paris, and St. Martin's Press, for an ARC copy of "The Guest".

"The Guest" is a gripping and suspenseful novel that masterfully delves into the complexities of friendship, secrets, and the dark consequences of hidden truths.

The story revolves around Iris and Gabriel, a couple returning from a holiday only to find their home invaded by a close friend, Laure. Laure's presence quickly becomes unsettling as she crosses boundaries, from sleeping in their bed to wearing Iris' clothes and even rearranging their furniture. Laure's sudden appearance is triggered by her tumultuous relationship with her husband, Pierre, who has confessed to an affair and a secret child.

As Iris and Gabriel attempt to be supportive friends, the tension escalates as Laure's behavior becomes increasingly erratic, causing strain on their own relationship. Amidst this chaos, a new couple moves into town, offering a temporary respite for Iris and Gabriel. However, the arrival of these newcomers also brings their enigmatic gardener, whose past is shrouded in mystery and intrigue.

B.A. Paris excels in creating a chilling atmosphere and crafting a narrative that explores the consequences of betrayal and the lengths to which people will go to protect their secrets. The novel is a rollercoaster of emotions, offering unexpected twists and revelations that will leave you breathless. This book is a must-read and keeps readers engaged and guessing with a tale that proves that some secrets never truly leave us.

Solid 4 star read. This one definitely kept me guessing up until the end.

Worth reading - another Paris hit!

B.A. Paris does not disappoint! Iris and Gabriel return from a holiday to find they have an unexpected guest. Their good friend Laure has left her husband, Pierre. He has confessed that has a daughter. Laure is devastated! She and Pierre are childless by choice, at least his choice. She doesn’t understand. Iris and and Gabriel welcome her, somewhat reluctantly. What could go wrong, this will get sorted.
This dark thriller is filled with secrets, lies and murder! Well developed, unlikeable characters drive this quick who done it. Atmospheric and brooding, and a twist you won’t see coming.

** spoiler alert ** This book kept me entertained right to the end with a twist I didn't see coming.

The beginning started a little slow and I was unsure of where it was headed a couple of times, it seemed like a lot of different things were happening and didn't all come together cohesively in the beginning. Then it all came together in the last few chapters with a lot of wow moments.

I enjoyed that this plot line was very different from anything I've read and wasn't predictable. The direction I anticipated the story going in was very different than what actually happened which kept me entertained and guessing throughout the whole story.

There were some moments where the main characters felt a little bit clueless, and Laure was annoying by the middle of the book, though I think that was the point. I would have liked to know more about the daughter Beth and her story.

Overall, solid read that I really enjoyed!

5 stars for the conclusion being both a crazy stretch and totally plausible, at the same time.

Like Paris’s other works, the big twist(s) were foreshadowed…if you were looking closely (and do I mean CLOSELY). I missed them. Which makes me want to reread now that I know what they are to see what else I missed!

Overall, this was a twisty domestic thriller (maybe closer to psychological suspense or domestic suspense), and I definitely lived the emotional response of having a houseguest who overstays their welcome. I felt the emotion of having a best friend who has gone missing. And the teen daughter was so well written I could imagine her existing in real life.

Overall, it makes me want to move to a country house with a walled garden and live a peaceful life (without the drama of my friend moving in indefinitely!)

So first I love this author so much their writing is magical and I always feel good about reading these books. I will say this book felt like those small town mysteries that could be a “cozy” mystery with a cute food or pet related name. I did love it though I just thought the twists would be a tad more twisty.

Another book from BA Paris that grabs you from the beginning and doesn’t let go until the very last sentence. Iris and Gabriel return from vacation to find their friend Laure staying at their house without her husband who they have been friends with for 20 years. Laure tell them that she has left Pierre and she needs to stay for a few days. Days turn into weeks and months. Iris and Gabriel start to question her story of why she left Pierre and they start to do some investigation of their own. What is found will have an impact on everyone including the new couple who just moved into the neighborhood and their gardener. Everyone’s stories and lives become intertwined and they are affected by Laure and her reason for wearing out her welcome. The Epilogue brings the entire story together in a twist that wasn’t expected and proves that everything isn’t as it seems. Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC. in exchange for my honest review.

I could not put this book down! I LOVE a well done unreliable narrator and B. A. Paris did not disappoint! There was just enough deception through the book that I kept switching back and forth between who I thought the ultimate unreliable narrator was. When I am unable to put down a thriller I call it a success. I will be upselling and talking about this book to all my thriller reading friends! Very well done! I will be featuring this book on my instagram account @julesreadsalot on Thurs. Sept. 14, 2023.

I wouldn't say this is my favorite B.A. Paris book but, it was a lighter read with a good ending!

It's a slow paced read so there were times where I was getting a bit bored. There was a bit too much day to day and not enough movement with the actual plot at hand.

Also, Laure.... I was ready to evict her myself! I still needed to know what happened and I was invested until the end. Glad I stuck it out as the ending was the best part!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing team for the fre ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a bit hard to read and understand the point of the story for the first 80 or so pages. It began to pick up, and where I thought I knew what was coming, I surely did not! Highly recommend!!

This was slow and drawn out in my opinion, but the ending was a shocker. I found myself just barely grazing over paragraphs for most the book, then once I got to the end I certainly did not see the twist coming at all! But unfortunately I just wanted it to end….not one of her best for sure!

OMG...I did not see it coming. Such a twist. I thought I had it figured out...I was wrong. Very engaging writing. Read it in one day.

B.A. Paris slams it out of the park with another corker! In a market saturated with thrillers she has come up with an entirely original story that propelled me through the pages.

Unbelievably well-written with relatable characters, perfect plotting and an ending that was everything! I read this in one day resenting anyone who interrupted me.

Five stars ALL DAY!

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy. It is my pleasure to write an honest review.

I have read a few B.A. Paris novels in the past and have found them to be just alright, so I was really excited to get an ARC for The Guest.
Once again though, I have to say she feel short on the delivery. The characters were kind of boring and the plot just lacked engagement. The story had be guessing and I was surprised with a few of the twists, but I felt the ending came too abruptly.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my ARC.

The Guest was unexpected and crazy! I couldn’t stop reading this book. I would definitely NOT want to have or be a guest like this one. If you’re looking for a thriller with unexpected turns than this is the book for you.