The Guest is a multi layered domestic drama/thriller. There are a few different storylines in this one:
First we have Gabriel & Iris, a married couple who get a surprise visit from Laure, a long time friend of theirs who has just found out her husband has a child with another woman.
Then, we have Gabriel & Iris's neighbors - expecting parents, Hugh & Esme, as well as their gardener, Joseph.
In addition, there is the storyline of Charlie, a young boy who recently died after a biking accident and Gabriel was the last person to see him alive...

Though I was intrigued by the story at first, I quickly lost interest as it's about 50% of the way through the book before things really pick up. I had a hard time with the dialogue between characters in this one. It seemed very stiff & unrealistic at times. The story also became repetitive as we would have a conversation between two characters, then one of the characters would recount the conversation to someone else, resulting in us reading the same thing over & over.

A lot of the plot was very slow as well, I wouldn't really classify this as a thriller since there weren't really any suspense/intense/thrilling aspects to it at all. A lot of the plot is filled with mundane tasks & conversations that do not hold any value to the plot. Personally, I felt the Charlie/Gabriel storyline was sort of pointless and doesn't really fit along with the rest of it, in my opinion. The book could do just fine without it.

Next, the prologue. I think having this was entirely unnecessary as it is just confusing more than anything. You are thrown into a random night & a random conversation with characters you don't know and given no context. Only for the same exact chapter word for word to repeat towards the end of the book.

aaaaannndddd, the epilogue. This is one of my biggest issues with the book. Without the epilogue, this is nothing. The book ends with no explanation & no conclusion except the epilogue which is extremelyyy long and takes you through the ENTIRE book ..one more time! As if it wasn't already repetitive enough. We are essentially taken through moment by moment and explained who the killer is, how they committed the murders, and why. I'm sorry, but I hate a mystery book that just tells you the explanation, rather than shows you, and I hate when the explanation is shoved at the end as if it's an after thought 🤦🏼‍♀️

I usually enjoy this author’s stories. This one was not one of those. The main part of the book dragged on and on and the big “twist” at the end did not feel like a twist at all. I didn’t like most of the characters, the plot (not that there was much of a plot), or the ending. This book missed the mark for me on all levels. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I went into this book without really knowing anything about it. And the prologue had me hooked right away!

Unfortunately, after a few more chapters, I found it had slowed down. A lot. While I was never bored or having thoughts of not finishing, it was not holding my attention quite like the prologue did or drawing me back in to find out what would happen next.

The burn was definitely slow with this one. It did start to build toward the end, but I found the chapter before the epilogue ended so abruptly and without revealing anything or leaving you on a cliffhanger. The epilogue just explained everything, which felt very drawn out and quite anticlimactic.

This one was a miss for me.

This is definitely more of a slow burn than a quick paced book but still kept my interest until the end. At the beginning, I was confused with all the different names and had to reread it a few times to get who was who. I did not see the ending coming but enjoyed it.

3.5 stars

This domestic drama was overall just alright. I found it to be pretty slow throughout most but I was invested in figuring out what happened. I think the epilogue really shook things up.

I both listened to the audibook and read the book, both versions were good.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

B.A. Paris' books are some of my favorite thrillers. But honestly, this one was not my favorite. I didn't feel like I connected to any of the main characters. I felt like the second half of the book was much faster paced than the first half. So overall, not my favorite, but not horrible.

The Guest was a quick read and it had a twist at the end that I didn’t see coming which left me reeling. In that sense, it was diverting. It started rather slow with almost more characters than I could keep up with, and I had a hard time connecting the prologue with the story line at all until the end, and I have a hard time understanding why the author pulled that section out of the timeline to start the book there. It confused me until the end, even now, I think there might have been better scenes to pull out of the narrative to draw the reader in that made more sense in context of the story.

As I mentioned, there is a twist that I never saw coming - which in the moment, made the book entertaining, but the more I consider everything, the less satisfied I am with the explanations offered. The characterizations don’t entirely line up or rather hold true and in the end, I just felt hoodwinked by the whole of it. If you don’t think too hard, it’s enjoyable and entertaining. If you’re left to ponder and consider all the breadcrumbs leading to the climax, it becomes more and more bewildering and unbelievable. But if you can read and not over think, it was a fun book with a dark and twisty ending that you’ll not see coming.

I’d like to thank Saint Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

B.A. Paris' upcoming novel, "The Guest," offers readers a captivating domestic drama that delves into the lives of three separate couples. While not as fast-paced as some of Paris' previous works, this story gradually builds up tension and surprises readers with its unexpected ending.
Initially centered around the lives of three separate couples, "The Guest" gradually evolves into a gripping murder mystery. As the story unfolds, secrets are revealed, tensions rise, and the characters find themselves entangled in a web of deceit and betrayal. Paris skillfully navigates the transition from domestic drama to murder mystery, keeping readers guessing and engaged throughout.
At first, it took me a moment to figure out the pairings of the three couples, but once I got that down, the everything began to make sense. Paris skillfully weaves their stories together, exploring their relationships, secrets, and the complexities of their lives.
While "The Guest" may not be a fast-paced thriller, it excels as a domestic drama. Paris expertly explores the dynamics between the couples. The author's ability to create relatable and flawed characters adds depth to the story, making it easy to become emotionally invested in their lives.
The ending of "The Guest" took me by surprise, adding an unexpected twist for me. Paris manages to tie up loose ends while leaving room for interpretation, leaving readers with a sense of satisfaction and curiosity.
Although "The Guest" may not surpass Paris' previous novel, "Behind Closed Doors," it still stands as a commendable addition to her repertoire. Fans of domestic dramas will find themselves engrossed in the lives of the characters and the intricate web of relationships that Paris has crafted.

Thank you to Macmillan audio and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 4 stars

The Guest by B.A. Paris is a tangled web of plot and characters. The first half of the novel begins with married middle-aged couple Gabriel and Iris Pelley arriving home late at night to find their family friend, Laure in their house. Laure has unexpectedly come to stay because her husband and Gabriel's best friend, Pierre, has revealed that he has been harboring a secret from his past that threatens to alter their marriage now. Laure soon becomes a cumbersome guest to the Pelleys. As Laure overstays her welcome, Iris meets new neighbors who also have a guest, Jospeh, staying with them. Joseph has a checkered past and the web gets more tangled.

There are layers of plot happening and a whole host of characters to keep track of in this novel. The first half of the book moves fairly slowly, and I often found myself uninterested. Where the first half was slow, the second half felt rushed. The epilogue is a good 10% of the book, which felt off balance; however, Paris does bring all the little details together as the twist is revealed. Although I'm not gushing about this book, I will likely give B.A. Paris books another chance. Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

I don’t know about you but having an unexpected house guest gives me extreme anxiety. But when they decide to stay longer than originally thought is a million times worse! These characters were incredibly flawed and keeping secrets from each other. Laure is clearly overstaying her welcome and refusing to deal with what is happening at home. Gabriel is keeping something from his wife as his wife is keeping plenty from him.

This one was great to listen to on audio because it did start pretty slow. I didn’t know where the plot was going until about 50% in so listening it to while working made it easier to get into. The ending was not something I expected and goodness, so many people died lol. This was an interesting read once things really started to unravel!

This one was sooooo good. Addicting and so easy to read. At first I was like where is this going? But it all came together and that was a killer epilogue!

I will admit Laure drove me absolutely nuts, but that was the point I believe. Every character is shady and seems guilty of something. This was so good! Can’t wait to read more from this author as she always does such a great job writing thrilling and suspenseful stories.

I did not get very far into the audiobook before I knew this book was not for me. I had no interest in it at all unfortunately. Thanks to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio & St Martin's Press for advance copies.

I have read all of this author's books and they are all worth reading. This was good, but not great. The epilogue at the end that reveals everything was a bit over the top. I enjoyed the story for the most part but hoped for a better resolution. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have long been a fan of B.A. Paris and her knack for building suspense. The Guest is another winner in the suspense/thriller department. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters, and I even enjoyed liking the unlikable! Finally, the twist is perfectly executed and just made for a really fun and exciting read. Well done!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review.

This one was okay…not totally as memorable as some of their other ones. Definitely a good palate cleanser in between more demanding books. It’s a typical domestic drama/thriller. Pretty predictable but enjoyable nonetheless.

A strain is weighing on Iris and Gabriel’s marriage. Since they do not feel they can be open with one another, it festers and seeps through more of their relationship. Just what they do not need right then arrives in the form of their friend, Laure. She left her husband because he admitted to being the father of a girl. The longer Laure stays, the more space emerges between Iris and Gabriel.

They meet a couple who have just moved to their town and their gardener. This gives the couple someone to confide in and a place to get away from Laure. Relationships will have their highs and lows. The characters are well-written and likable, except Laure. She is self-centered and oblivious to those around her. Even so each person is well developed, and you find yourself forgetting that this is a story.

I am a huge fan of BA Paris and this book stands up to the excellence in the other works.





I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press and Audiobook from MacMillan Audio. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

Intriguing domestic thriller by B.A. Paris set in an upscale village in England. When empty nesters Iris and Graham have a houseguest come visit from France, they aren't expecting her to stay so long. But as summer turns into fall, she is still there and secrets are revealed. The twist was interesting and unexpected. This was almost five stars, but the writing style was a little bit "too much tell, not enough show" for me, especially the last chapter, and the plot dragged a bit in the middle.

Whenever I read a book by B.A. Paris, I like to mention she's the reason I joined Instagram back in June of 2016. I had won a copy of BEHIND CLOSED DOORS from Good Reads and wanted to promote it. Now here I am seven B.A. Paris books later and also reviewing NetGalley books for the last two years.

I am very thankful to St. Martin's Press, B.A. Paris, and Netgalley for granting me multiple forms of this book, but I just couldn't focus on it. It read like a sequel to a book I didn't read.

I must have liked this somewhat as I finished it in a day :) I wouldn’t say this was a favorite of mine, but it was a quick read that kept my interest and had a twist that I didn’t guess. From the description, I didn’t expect the story to take the path it did. It does make you wonder what you might do or how far you might go to protect a secret you didn’t want exposed…

Some secrets never leave.

This is a twisty & slow-burn domestic thriller. Gabrielle and Iris are a couple who seem to have it all, but a local tragedy has left their marriage on the rocks. When they return from vacation they find their close friend Lauren unexpectedly moved in after leaving her husband, Pierre. From here, we follow their story as they navigate a very uncomfortable dynamic with Laure, whose own story doesn’t quite add up, on top of their own secrets. Although at times the pacing was a little off, this was a quick read and just when I thought I had this story figured out, it pivoted in a direction I didn’t expect!

I really enjoyed this book & would recommend checking it out come February! And if you haven’t read any B.A. Paris books yet, check out her past releases including The Therapist and Behind Closed Doors.