Thank you, St Martin's Press and NetGalley, for the advanced copy of The Guest.

Boring. There was nothing that grabbed my attention and kept it there. Character development wasn't just not executed well; it straight up wasn't there. I'm usually a one-book-at-a-time reader, but I had to stop and read a different book twice during the course of TRYING to complete this one. The twist wasn't much of a twist, and you don't find out anything until the epilogue. I was ready for this one to end.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC!!

B. A. Paris knows how to keep a reader on the edge of their seat. While this book was more of a slow burn, you will not see the final twist coming and your jaw will hit the ground.

I was genuinely hooked on this one, devoured it in a day. Early on there were some subtle hints sprinkled in that really had my head churning. The pacing was good in my union. Sure, there were moments when things felt sluggish - the characters pretty much repeated the same day-to-day activities and were stuck on their specific worries, but I didn't find that too bothering. Speaking of characters, lol, what a messy set of people. I was eager for all their secrets to come to light. The major plot twist doesn't require much thought but I'm telling you the journey getting there is worth it. The smallest detail contributed to such a snowball effect. I'm very satisfied with that ending.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was not a fan of this book. The build up took way too long and it was almost a DNF for me. I couldn’t connect with the characters but, decided to stick it out. Although the ending was exciting, the plot was not believable. Overall, I was disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read the digital ARC of The Guest.

I have enjoyed several B.A. Paris's books and The Guest did not disappoint. I could not put this one down. The first half of the book really built up the characters well and you feel like you get to know them, but then you realize that you don't really know them at all. Iris and Gabriel come home from a holiday only to find their friend Laure staying at their home due to marriage problems she is having. Things get crazy from there.

There are twists and turns that I did not see coming. What a Thriller! The surprises and secrets kept me engrossed the whole way through. You really don't know who you can trust. 4 out of 5 stars from me.

Publication date: February 20, 2024.

The book was pretty simple and slow until about 85% through. I did not like the repetitiveness of it, I felt like after one chapter ended, the next chapter reiterated what the previous chapter said. There also wasn't much depth in the story. The twist was good, but I think overall the book fell flat for me.

This book felt all over the place. Like there were so many different stories going on at once.it also felt unnecessarily long. The twist at the end saved the book from being a lower rating for me.

THE GUEST by B.A. Paris was a thrill ride from beginning to end. The characters were so well developed and easy to follow - and the breadcrumbs for that twist of an ending were perfectly placed. There were several light bulb moments at the end that had me agape, the truest sign of a fabulous story and great author. Loved THE GUEST and excited to read whatever B.A. Paris writes next!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review THE GUEST.

I’ve read several BA Paris books and I will say that this domestic thriller, which is my favorite genre, was better than the last book. I liked the characters but it really lagged for me in the middle to the point where I wanted to skip to the end at times. Yet, it’s an intriguing story that kept me guessing at times, Enjoyed it, but the “slow burn” was a little too slow.

"The Guest" by B.A. Paris is an intricately woven psychological thriller that delves into the complex lives of Iris and Gabriel, a couple whose world is turned upside down by the unexpected arrival of their friend, Laure. As Laure overstays her welcome, the tension builds, revealing the fragility of relationships and the secrets hidden within. Paris skillfully develops the characters, each harboring their own demons and pasts, creating a web of suspense that kept me hooked until the very end. The addition of new characters, Esme and Hugh, brings a fresh dynamic, while Joseph, the enigmatic gardener, adds an extra layer of mystery. The narrative is a rollercoaster of emotions, with unexpected twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. B.A. Paris masterfully explores the darker facets of human nature, making "The Guest" a gripping and satisfying read that will leave you questioning the depth of secrets that can reside within seemingly ordinary lives.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, B.A. Paris, and NetGalley for this ARC. While I have enjoyed all of Paris’ other books, I just could not get into this book. It started out slow, and only picked up after halfway through the book. Laure was extremely annoying (which she was probably made to be on purpose). There was too much talk of Pierre, and the amount of affairs that went on between different characters in the book was the sealing fate for me to dislike the book. I do have to admit that I was surprised by the ending and all the reasonings, plots, and plannings - very clever.

Thank you to St Martins Press, Net Gallery & B.A.Paris for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book! I finished it in two days. It kept my attention the entire time.
Iris and Gabriel appear to have an ideal life until Gabriel comes upon a young man who has had a fatal bike accident . Gabriel sits with him while they await emergency medical assistance. Gabriel is the messenger of his last words to his mother when the young man dies. Gabriel is consumed with guilt and this affects his entire life and marriage.
Trying to cheer Gabriel up, his wife plans a couples trip for them. When they arrive home from this trip they are shocked to find their friend, Laure has made herself at home in their house to the point of sleeping in their bedroom!
She is there because she has left her husband.
Then they meet their new neighbors, and Gardner, who lives on their property. They all have secrets! I definitely did not see this twist ending coming!
I have read all of this authors books and she still shocks me with her twists and turns!

Can’t go wrong with BA Paris and this book is no exception! The friend that overstays her welcome.. the main character is way nicer than me bc I would have asked her to leave a long time ago! Quite a few twists I definitely didn’t see coming. All of the characters were interesting and this book had me hooked from the beginning. Great read!

This was a very good, suspenseful story. Plenty of characters with well defined roles in the story. The twists were well thought out and creative. Thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I've read all the B.A. Paris books and she is most certainly an auto-read author for me. I typically love her character development, pacing, and slow twists. For her latest book, The Guest, it fell firmly in the 3.5 stars category for me - it was entertaining, held my attention, and was a good book I'd recommend to readers who enjoy family drama and high-stakes twists. There were moments where I didn't love the characters and their choices felt outlandish, but again, it was entertaining. Solid thriller from an author who knows how to craft a story and keep the pages turning.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the providing a copy of this book - I always appreciate it!!

I felt like this book was a bit slower paced which was similar to me as The Therapist and her past few books. Paris' earlier books had quicker pacing which are more my taste and I highly recommend! Some of the problem may have been I never got to a place of liking the characters, which isn't always necessary, but I found it hard to be invested.

While a good storyline and interesting read, this was a sllllooowwww burn. I never felt full immersed and wondered when more would happen. Felt long and drug out. Worth the read, but don't expect it to hold you for dear life.

I have just recently discovered this author; she has already become a favorite. I like her writing style - it is typically skilled as to language use, plot sequencing, and character development. I didn't like this book as well as others I have read by her. The timeline was not always clear to me, and the action seemed too repetitive. Overall, though, it was an interesting read, largely due to the character-driven plot. The reader quickly "knows" the characters and wants to see what happens to them.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This wasn't my favorite, but it got better as I read. Iris and Gabriel have some major secrets, but so does Joseph. Who is telling the truth and who is the murderer? You will be surprised to find out.

3.5⭐

I had the chance to read an ARC of The Guest by B.A. Paris, coming up on February 20th, 2024.

I love B.A. Paris. I read all her other books and they were all between 4 and 5 stars. She mainly writes psychological thrillers.

The Guest is more of a mystery. Just like her other books, it's written in short chapters that are super easy to read. It's a domestic suspense, told from a dual point of view. This book felt pretty different from everything else she has written. I still enjoyed it, but it's really not what I expected.

I feel like it was quite a slow start. It only started to pick up around 50% of the book, to get to a medium pace. The characters also felt kind of flat. They were lacking the dimensions her characters usually have.
I wasn't expecting the final twist, but at the same time, although I was a little surprised, I wasn't shocked. I feel like the twist came too late or it was too rushed.

I still enjoyed B.A. Paris' writing and I was still into the story. It's still an entertaining read, and you want to know what's gonna happen next. I just felt like it was lacking the oomph her books usually have.
In any way, I'll still keep recommending her to anyone asking! 🤍

Thank you to Netgalley, St Martins Press, and B.A Paris for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.