Iris and her husband Gabriel have just returned from a holiday to find someone in their house. They realize it’s their friend Laure from France and find out she’s having issues with her husband, Pierre. They agree to let her stay, but soon days turn into weeks, and it seems there’s no end in sight to her being a guest in their home. She’s started to wear Iris’s clothes and rearrange the cupboards and seemingly take over her life. But when secrets come to light and other neighbors get involved, they won’t all make it out alive.

I really enjoyed this one! The secrets kept coming to the last page, so I really wasn’t sure how it all would end. I would definitely recommend this one for people who like a good mystery/thriller. Out today! Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the advanced digital copy of this book.

4.5 stars

Happy publication day !!
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I was thrilled to get my hands on the guest. This is my 4th by B.A Paris & I typically love their writing style.

The Guest was detailed as a domestic drama so I was anticipating fast paced layers of chaos but I actually found it hard to connect with the story. The short chapters felt choppy at first and it also seemed like a lot of characters to figure out. After a few chapters it all started to flow. I still however did not connect nor did I like the characters. But the one thing that saved the story for me was the ending. B.A Paris will always wrap it I with a “gotcha” kind of stunner.
3.5/5 stars ! Id recommend to anyone that needs a little slow burn drama in their lives

Iris and Gabriel have just arrived home from a holiday to find their good friend, Laure, in their house. She has left her husband, Pierre. He has had an affair and Laure has discovered he had a child from this affair.

“What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” is quote that comes to mind when I think about this book. Secrets, lies and more lies are rampant.

If your are familiar with this author, you know her books are slow burns. This one moves a bit slow, but y’all…I gasped at the ending. And I am going to have to be very careful and not give anything away. This is definitely worth the read…just for the ending! Just keep in mind…everything is not as it seems!

The narrator, Emily Joyce, is wonderful! She has been on my radar for a while and this book has moved her into the top 10 of my favorite narrators.

Need a good read with a surprising ending…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Happy Pub Day 🥳

4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars

I’ve read all of Paris’s novels and this ranks up there with the best of the best! I loved the slow burn leading up to the explosive, twisty ending I’ve come to expect from Paris.

I always read the prologue (I’ve been in online groups who state they don’t?!) and then I go back at the end of the novel to reread it. It always hits differently when you know the true meaning behind it. Well I admit I was super confused by all the characters who were introduced in the prologue but it was sooo worth getting to the end then rereading it.

If you enjoy thrillers where parents, friends, lovers, and even strangers aren’t always who you think they are then you must check this out! If you’re a fan of Paris, this is a must read. And honestly, if you just need to snuggle in and lose yourself in a book that engages and occupies your mind, this is it!

I liked this book but for a while I was sad thinking I might not. It starts off with part of the ending then goes on to tell the backstory. That can be a bad thing but not here. It was exciting enough to get you interested and not too much where you guessed the big twist.

The beginning of the backstory was solid. They were doing a really good job of setting up the characters. But I found myself bored toward the middle. I almost considered DNFing but pushed through because I like this offer and they were nice enough to let me read an advanced copy. I'm really glad I didn't give up because that ending blew up everything you thought you knew.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is my first B.A. Paris book so I may need to get use to style of writing. With that said, I thought the book was slow and then about 60% in it got interesting. The ending I did not see coming.

I have enjoyed B.A. Paris’ novels and hers will be ones I will pick up if I’m not sure what to read!

The Guest is her newest novel, which is a slow burn that shows how secrets and lies can affect everything and everyone. I was engrossed in the story with the death and final words of one character given to another who decides to keep them secret from the mother. Once the body count started around the halfway point is when the story got moving for me. There was so much buildup, but it was needed!

The chapters are short, but then when the novel is over we have the epilogue which is where the ending of the novel comes together in an unexpected way.

Any future B.A. Paris books will be read!

I was so excited to be given an ARC of The Guest by B.A. Paris, so I could not wait to dive in. This mystery is a very slow burn until the last 6 pages of the book. The twists kept coming and everytime I thought I had it figured out I was wrong. The story line was a lot, with different spider webs within.

Iris and Gabriel are a seemingly normal middle-aged couple who unfortunately have seen better days, especially Gabriel. Throughout the entire book he is repeatedly kicked after already being down, so to speak. After having recently lost his father, beloved dog and a young acquaintance with whom he spent the last minutes of his life with, the punches just keep coming. While Gabriel struggles with everyone and everything going wrong in his life, he manages to save face and carry on the best that he can, all while still looking out for his wife and young adult daughter. Iris does her best to make sure that all of the relationships in her (and Gabriel's) life are maintained and is always looking out for what's best for those around her even if it means being let down and losing herself in the process. It's a price she knows she must pay to keep everyone in her life happy and.... in the dark.
This was the first book of B.A. Paris's that I have read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was an easy read that I couldn't put down because I had to get to the end and was not disappointed when I did. I'm never very good at predicting the twists in thrillers like these which is why I enjoy them so much - I never spoil them for myself! :D I did feel that the characters and overall plot were kind of all over the place at times, but it wasn't so much that it was a difficult or bad read.
I definitely plan to add more books by B.A. Paris to my never ending TBR list and will recommend this one to friends in the future.
Thank you to the author, St. Marin's Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Guest in exchange for my honest review.

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Guest
Author: B.A. Paris
Thriller

This book was amazing! Thank you Netgalley and St Martins Press for this ARC! I have read several other books by Paris, so I have been really looking forward to this one. It starts off with alternating between our two main characters, husband and wife, Iris and Gabriel. There is so much going on right from the beginning. First, they come home from a trip to their friend Laurie in their house. She is going through some issues with her husband, their close friend Pierre and asks if she can stay with them for a while. At the same time, they have new neighbors move in. A man, and his pregnant wife, and the strange hot mysterious gardener. Also, Gabriel is healing from a traumatic experience. He found a boy dying in a gulch near their home who spoke his last words to him in confidence. This book is fast paced, captivating, and had me on the edge of my seat. The twist was unexpected but I felt betrayed. I didn’t see it coming, so if you read it let me know if it got you too. Add this to your TBR for sure.

I’ve liked other books from this author so I was excited to get approved for an ARC of this one.

It kind of fell flat for me though. I didn’t like the characters. I never really got invested in the story. The epilogue did a nice job of wrapping it all up and explaining what happened, but at that point I didn’t really care.

This was so so. I probably wouldn’t recommend it to others.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

The Guest by B.A. Paris is a psychological thriller that will be released on February 20th. This book follows a couple, Iris and Gabriel. The book opens up with a scene and then, we are transported back 6 months. The story picks up with Iris and Gabriel returning home from a vacation, only to discover there is a person living in their home. They are immediately fearful. They quickly realize that it is their close friend, Laure. Iris and Gabriel have a very good relationship with this couple, Laure and Pierre. Things start to seem amiss. Laure becomes comfortable staying in their home. Laure explains that she found out Pierre had an affair and she needs time to figure things out. Through the course of the book, there are certain situations that just seem a little off. Gabriel reaches out to Pierre multiple times to check in with him, only to be sent to voicemail. There are mysterious things occurring between these two couples and their gardener, Joseph. The author takes the reader on a journey to solve the mystery of what is really going on with the guest. This book is full of unexpected twists. You might think that you have it figured out only to realize that you have it wrong.

I liked this book. This storyline has a flowing plot leaving the reader to question what is happening. The writing in this book is excellent. The author delivers this entire story in a very fascinating manner. There are tidbits of information thrown into the story to confuse the reader from figuring out the truth. I would recommend this book to someone interested in reading a captivating thriller. This author writes in a way that makes you want to keep reading. The Guest is going to leave you feeling shocked, once the truth is revealed.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. A day away from its birthday (2/20!), we all know the drill with B.A. Paris books. BUY IMMEDIATELY. Ever since her first novel, I've been hooked and haven't been disappointed yet. I always look forward to the next release and this one got me through my slump.

4⭐️ B O O K R E V I E W
Genre: Thriller
Pub Date: Today!

“Iris and Gabriel seem to have it all: a beautiful home in the British countryside, a daughter happily working in Greece, and good friends Laure and Pierre from Paris, who they often vacation with. But when a young man has a tragic accident in a nearby quarry, Gabriel is the one to find him and hear his final words, leaving Gabriel with a guilty burden.”

This book was so good I read it in two days. Unputdownable, twisty, and had me suspecting someone else until the very end. If you’re one of those people who skip the epilogues, you’re not going to want to skip this one! Such a satisfying ending.
〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️〰️
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions are my own.

WOWWWWW!!! I did not see that ending coming. I thought I had it all figured out but boy was I far from wrong.
Iris and Gabriel return from their quick holiday together to find their good friend Laure had moved herself in after finding out that her husband had an affair and another child during their marriage. Confused, uncertain, and upset, Laure latches onto Iris and Gabriel and overstays her welcome. When Pierre doesn't show up for their meeting to talk about their marriage, Laure is hurt and tensions rise in the household. Secrets come out, secrets pile up, and lots of questions are asked. When will Laure move out? Where is Pierre? Pick up this gripping, page-turning, to find out what happens!!!
This book kind of slowed down for me in the middle but when the plot twist hit, I could not put it down! I was itching for the next page and the next chapters to find out what happened next.
I highly recommend for fans of thrillers with murder mysteries, marital issues, plot twists, and surprise endings!

B.A.Paris does it again! There were so many twists and layers to this novel that I struggle to unpack them at the risk of spoilers. When young physician, Gabriel, finds a teen at a quarry near his home, his life is changed dramatically. The boy shares last words that will haunt Gabriel for a long time, Meanwhile, when his best friend’s wife turns up at his home after an argument with her husband, Gabriel & his wife, Iris, invite her to stay as their guest until she can resolve her marital problems. Enter a young, pregnant couple, a handsome gardener, a missing husband, mix in more deaths and hold on as the stories intertwine in some unexpected ways. Might make you think twice about hosting a guest in your home. Thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for this ARC. This is my honest review.

When I say I could not put this book down, I absolutely mean it. I read this book in just a few hours.
They way the story comes together is really incredible. We have multiple points of view from Iris & Gabriel and it was perfectly woven to give us a lot of details but now flush everything out until the very ending. I had no idea what the twist was going to be and when the final piece slotted in, I was absolutely shocked and thrilled.

If you enjoy twisty stories where you might not be getting the full story and lies are stacked on lies to create a full sense of mystery. this is a good book for you. I am still reeling from the epilogue.

I freaking love B.A. Paris's plot twists!! Literally finished this book just a few minutes ago and was floored at how it ended. She uncovered everything, down to the very last detail. I'm still shaking my head. :)

Is there anything worse than a house guest who overstays their welcome?

Gabriel and Iris seem to have the idyllic life living in a countryside estate in the outskirts of London. He is a physician and she is a designer who have just sent their only child abroad to study in Greece for the summer. Things start to go south when they return from a holiday where they were unsuccessfully able to reconnect with each other. Their marriage is on the brink as Gabriel continues to struggle with being the only witness to a tragic accident in a nearby quarry. He is haunted not only by the fact that he wasn't able to save the boy but also by the whispered last words that Charlie reveals to him just before he takes his last breath. Are some secrets better off taking to your grave? Iris tries her best to be supportive of what her husband is going through but starts to unravel when an old friend from Paris, Laure, sh0ws up unexpectedly and becomes the house guest who just will not leave. Laure is always underfoot, wearing Iris' clothes, infringing on her space and even sleeping in her bed and befriending the new neighbors down the street. When Laure's husband, Pierre, suddenly disappears, more questions than answers arise. Did Laure have something to do with his disappearance? Is there more to the accident in the quarry than first thought? What is the deal with the neighbor's gardener and his checkered past? This one has a slow burn that leads to an unforgettable epilogue with a twist that you absolutely will not see coming! The ending was more tell than show but it worked. Pick this one up if you enjoy a twisty psychological thriller with an unreliable narrator, marital and friend drama, and characters that you can't completely trust.

Stand out quote: "Regret is such a waste of emotion. No matter how much we want to, we can't change the past. We need to acknowledge the mistakes we've made but not allow them to cloud every moment of every day."

This is a bit of a slow burn, building tension and suspense as Gabriel and Iris get more and more frustrated with their uninvited house guest, Laure, and secrets start coming out. B.A. Paris always seems to have another surprise around the next page. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, I was gasping out loud and turning back pages to see how I missed the clues leading to each twist and turn.