I really, really liked this book! And I really, really like this author. This book really made me think what I would do if I were in Iris’s shoes. I thought the mystery was great and I didn’t figure it out before it was revealed. It was fast paced. The epilogue was 🤯! I liked the way they tied all of the characters together. Great psychological thriller! Would definitely recommend!

I really liked this one. I will say it was a bit of a slow burn. There many threads to this one and it was a tangle to undo. But i really loved how slowly different things start happening. It kept me invested. A murder here. A secret relationship there. A guest who overstays their welcome. I felt like there were many different strings being told and i love how all the pieces came together. I was trying to connect the dots on some things and i didn’t know how others connected. But I was pleasantly surprised tho because i thought i had this story figured out and i was wrong!! I was definitely surprised with the ending!

B.A. Paris always manages to draw me in with a compelling story and then blows me away in the end!

The book centers around quite a cast of characters.
-Iris and Gabriel, trying to learn how to be "them" again after Gabriel experiences a tragedy
-Laure and Pierre, separated over Pierre's confession of an affair and a love child. Laure has moved in with Iris and Gabriel, causing quite a stir in their daily routine.
-Esme and Hugh, the new neighbors, who are helping ease some of the tension
-Joseph the gardener, who knows more than he's letting on and is more intertwined with their lives than they know.

As you get to know the characters and the tangled web they weave, you'll be amazed when you get to the ending.

Requested the audio format so I will give full review when completed that foremat. I will be able to send a quicker review .Thank you

While usually a big fan of B.A. Paris, this one fell a little flat for me. My main issue was the timing of the novel which was 99% mysterious build up plot and 1% explanation and closure. This made the payoff less satisfying in my opinion and gave the ending a very rushed feel. None of the characters were very likeable and there was just SO much going on that it felt difficult to relate to any particular plot line. The author does try to connect somethings at the end, but again, it feels like a rushed afterthought and not genuine enough for me. The storyline has good potential but I do feel as if a little fat needs to be trimmed in a few places. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to St Martins Press and NetGalley for the copy of this ARC in return for honest feedback.

I gotta say usually I am a big B. A Paris fan, but “The Guest” just didn’t do it for me. I could not get engaged, I wasn’t into the story at all, not into the characters….just blah. Sorry!!!!!

2/5 ⭐️

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The book started out slow, at first it was hard to remember whose name was what. I didn’t guess the plot twist at all and that’s a win for me. I’m glad I didn’t give up on it and finished the book.

In The Guest, B.A. Paris, renowned for her gripping psychological thrillers, explores a narrative that diverges from her usual breakneck pace. Iris and Gabriel, seemingly living an idyllic life, have their tranquility shattered by a tragic accident and the unexpected arrival of their friend Laure, escaping a marital crisis. The novel, though initially lacking the anticipated intensity, unfolds a nuanced exploration of trust, secrets, and the intricate dynamics of human relationships. As the characters grapple with guilt, trauma, and hidden truths, the deliberate pacing allows for profound character development, culminating in a brilliantly executed twist in the epilogue. While the story may not adhere to the typical B.A. Paris thriller formula, The Guest captivates with its exploration of psychological intricacies and the consequences of concealed realities, reaffirming the author's prowess in weaving captivating tales of suspense.

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thought Laure was unlikeable and untrustworthy and her actions unreasaonble from the beginning. There were too many characters to focus on the main storyline. Especially if you remember half the characters just met eachother and their lives did not need to be tangled together at all.

A tumultuous and at times, chaotic psychological thriller about a houseguest that has stayed too long.
Iris and Gabriel return home to find their friend, Laure, staying in their home after leaving her husband, Pierre.
After a slow-burn beginning, the murders begin. Everyone is a suspect. This was a well-crafted read with good character development. The jaw dropping conclusion was worth the read.

Iris and Gabriel return home from holiday to find their closest friend, Laure, as made herself at home in their house while away. Laure expresses that she has left her husband, their other close friend, after he confessed the news of having a child out of wedlock with another woman.

Laure's presence in the home wears quickly, and Iris and Gabriel find reprieve at their new neighbors', Esme and Hugh. However what begins as a blossoming friendship opens up wounds for both Gabriel and Iris which unravels a series of disturbing and unfortunate events.


I have loved B. A. Paris books and was extremely excited to get my hands on an advanced copy of this book. However, it totally fell flat. Even for a 5 hour read, the storyline was long and repetitive. The characters were extremely annoying and it infuriated me that they never displayed any sort of emotion, only talked about how they were feeling. If one of my "closest friends" was as annoying and needy as Laure, I sure would have been able to talk freely and openly with them and not dote on their every word. It was frustrating beyond belief.

The ending was rushed and not smooth and the epilogue was just a recount of the entire story with the added detail of who actually dunnit! I won't be referring this book to friends like I have with Behind Closed Doors or The Therapist.

Thank you to NetGalley, SMP and B.A. Paris for digital ARC of The Guest in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, SMP and B.A. Paris for digital ARC of The Guest in exchange for an honest review.

"Iris and Gabriel have just arrived home from a make-or-break holiday. But a shock awaits them. One of their closest friends, Laure, is in their house. The atmosphere quickly becomes tense as she oversteps again and again: sleeping in their bed, wearing Iris' clothes, even rearranging the furniture.

Laure has walked out on her husband—and their good friend—Pierre, over his confession of an affair and a secret child. Iris and Gabriel want to be supportive of their friends, but as Laure's mood becomes increasingly unpredictable, her presence takes its toll.

Iris and Gabriel's only respite comes in the form of a couple new to town. But with them comes their gardener, who has a checkered past. Soon, secrets from all their pasts will unravel, some more dangerous than they could have known."

Oy Vey! I had such high hopes for this book even those B.A. Paris is one of those authors who is more of a miss for me than a hit. I have read a lot of hits this year from authors who normally miss for me, so I was hoping this would keep up that trend. Sadly, it did not.

Not only did it miss, it is possibly one of the most awful books I've read this year. Don't worry - this is feedback only going to the publisher through NetGalley. I will not be sharing in publicly.

The story was extremely boring and repetitive. SOOOOOO repetitive! This book was VERY close to being a DNF and I wish I had. None of the characters had any redeeming qualities and were not likeable at all. It gets so muddled up along the way that you forget you are even trying figure out who the killer is.

Then, to top it all off, the story ends in a muddled mess and then ridiculously long epilogue was just thrown onto the end. An epilogue that completely comes out of leftfield and attempts to explain away the entire book.

The revelations in the epilogue were not surprising nor were they interesting. It's almost as if the author realized she had a mess of a book and attempted to salvage it by this uber long epilogue.

I often realize that when I don't enjoy a book, I see where others would. I know a lot of the time that it is just my personal taste. This is not one of those books. I truly believe this book is utterly AWFUL.

I appreciate the opportunity to review it, but this one just wasn't good.

B.A. Paris has done it again with a stellar novel that keeps you guessing. The end of the novel was brilliant and caught this avid reader completely off guard. Well-done!

I really enjoyed this! B.A. is a favorite of mine and I have ready many from this author. This one is pretty great! The plot kept me interested and the storyline progressed quickly. My only complaint is that most of the twists came in the epilogue at the very end. I wish there had been a few more throughout.

Dear B.A. Paris,

You really had me going there for a while. I enjoyed the writing, and the world building, and the characters that were mostly quite ambiguous. But I didn't really see the point to all the drama. Until the epilogue. That epilogue was everything. Thank you for redeeming yourself and making that journey worth the wait,

Signed,
Not so disappointed anymore ☻

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thanks to #St.MartinsPress #NetGalley and #B.A. Paris for the ARC of #TheGuest. Iris and Gabriel come home from vacation to find their friend, Laure basically moved in while they were gone. Promising to leave shortly, Laure ends up well overstaying her welcome. Laure becomes very needy, imposing herself into their lives, wearing Iris’ clothes, becoming the third wheel. I have to say I found no connection to the characters, I didn’t like anybody – they were all unlikeable people with secrets to hides. This slow burn domestic thriller unfolds what secrets married couples try to hide from the outside world – and from each other. I’m a 100% huge B. A. Paris fan, but this one was just a meh for me.

It pains me to say it, but I struggled reading this one. I felt zero connections and the pacing felt.......sedated.

Regardless, I still love B. A. Paris and I will always, always read her work.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's press for this arc!

Pub date: 2.20.2024.

Had me guessing and page turning throughout. You think you know what each character is up to and then of course youre wrong. It was a wonderful read until the end.

I unfortunately DNF’ed this book at 40% because the pacing was very off for me and the dialogue was very frustrating. I tried my best to keep going but ultimately decided I did not want to keep reading. It just wasn’t for me!

A huge thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC and to Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook!

I have now read all 7 of B. A. Paris' books and I'm happy to report that this one is in the top 2 for me! I know so many people's favorite is Behind Closed Doors, but my favorite is Bring Me Back and now that is possibly tied with this one!

I admit it took me a while to get into and I was starting to think it was more of a domestic suspense book then a thriller, but then it got...thrilling! All of the characters were so well written and each of them were deeper than I was initially led to believe. I really was impressed with the way this book was laid out from the prologue to the epilogue, everything unfolded so well leading to the dramatic conclusion (I sound like the host on The Bachelor), but for real it was a twist I did NOT see coming!

This book has one of those sharp endings that makes you want to give the book a round of applause.

I listened to the audio version and absolutely could not stop once I started! I think this will be a big hit!

The book and audiobook are available for purchase on February 20th!