Loved this book!! I was hooked right from the beginning and read non-stop well into the night. The characters are distinct and well-rounded, the plot expertly weaves multiple story lines together, and there are so many secrets and twists you won’t see coming. This book felt like listening to a good friend re-tell the most crazy true story, and I loved every minute of it.

Laure (the annoying house guest from hell) had me grinding my teeth from annoyance throughout this entire novel. As the body count started to rise, I began to suspect one particular character and was not surprised to be proven right at the very end of this long twisted tale!

Many red herrings are left to flop about, gasping for air and attention, but in the end the diabolical culprit ties the entire mystery up in a neat bow, throws dust in everyone's eyes, and ensures that the "status" remains "quo". No spoilers here, so find out for yourself what motivated the rapidly escalating death toll!

I can't say that I was riveted by this slow, rambling story or by the bland cast of characters. I'm rating this one a 3.4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Wowzers! I absolutely love this author and the atmosphere created. There were some triggers for me so I had to stop early in the book. Sorry. I should have read the summary a bit more before I requested.

B.A. Paris has done it again. They have definitely become an auto buy author. I am interested in reading anything this author writes. Such a fun twisty thriller. I can’t wait to get a copy once it’s released!

i really enjoyed this book.

it took me a bit to get into but once i did, i did not want to put it down. i liked how the information was revealed and when. i do love an unreliable narrator and this did not disappoint.

thank you to netgalley for the opportunity to read this book!

As per usually.........twist and turns and gasps and drama!!! love love. Keep em coming. This one kept me wanting more till the very end and left me satisfied.

BA Paris has done it again!! The twists and turns left me on the floor. This was a wild ride that I will be reading again and again.

I am disappointed in this B.A Paris's novel. I expected more as I know her books are better than this. The characters need depth, and the plot is predictable. Most people would say there is a twist at the end; however, I guessed the ending correctly. The pace is extremely slow until halfway through the book, it picks up. If you are a B.A Paris fan as I am, this book is different from her other ones. I wouldn't skip it, but it's not a fantastic read.

I would like to express my gratitude to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Fans of B.A. Paris will not be disappointed with her latest novel! The Guest is a twisty, domestic drama, that was full of WTF moments! This book kind of reminded me of None of This is True by Lisa Jewell, in the sense that I ate it up, and the situation feels so hauntingly real!

What I liked:
- short chapters (a given in a thriller right?!)
- I was so immersed in the plot that I felt like I was in the novel
- WTF moments (there's more than 1!)
- the epilogue?!?!

What I liked less:
- sometimes the writing was very matter-of-fact and felt very flat
- dialogue was repetitive at times
- although the epilogue was good, it was very long
- I enjoyed the ending, but I feel like it could've been more insane

This is my second B.A. Paris novel and I liked it better than the first one I read. I would be interested in reading more of her books!

3.5 stars

We all have had a houseguest that stayed perhaps to long, or imagined what would happen if they would. This book plays creepily on this premise in a fun, twisted way. It had some unexpected moments and some more expected but I like how it took an everyday concept and made it seem frightening. A fun read.

This author is such a hit or miss for me. It was really hard for me to understand who the characters were and who was with who. I don’t feel like they were fully explained well enough. This felt almost unrealistic? Especially since Laure is their friend, why not ask her to leave? Some of the things that tied the story together felt like an after thought.

I absolutely love this author and their books. Each one gets better and better for me!! I can’t wait for the next one!

I embarked on this read with high hopes, but alas, my expectations were met with mixed feelings. The story presented multiple mysteries: a couple's strained relationship due to the revelation of the husband's secret child and a young man's haunting last words. However, these enigmas failed to captivate my interest, leaving me yearning for more depth.

One obstacle that hindered my connection with the story was the characters, particularly Lauren, who, in her role as an unwelcome guest, pushed the boundaries of hospitality. Picture a guest who not only shares your bed with your spouse but also borrows your clothes, rearranges your kitchen, strolls around naked, and unceasingly discusses matters best left unspoken. As someone who identifies with the temperamental Aries sign, I found it challenging to empathize with this situation.

The plot, while promising, unfolded in a rather straightforward manner, missing the element of characters and readers jointly unraveling the mystery. Instead, the revelations felt more like they were merely happening to the characters. The epilogue introduced a twist that explained everything, but it left me yearning for a more integrated approach throughout the main storyline.

Thank you to @netgalley and @StMartinsPress for this ARC. Iris and Gabriel come back from holiday only to find her best friend Laure staying there. Laure's husband, Pierre admitted to having an affair and fathering a child. She left and sought solace at Iris' empty flat. No matter the many offers to help them reconcile, Laure won't leave. Pierre has now disappeared, presumed dead and Laure is the most likely suspect. However, the Pierre isn't the only problem. This book was ok until the twist at the end! #TheGuest #BAParis #Feb2024 #StMartinsPress

I AM SO MAD I READ THIS BOOK. BA Paris is a very hit or miss author for me, and I've had more misses than hits. The Guest was a big ole miss for me. It was boring and too long and things only came together in the epilogue. Literally, a 20 minute chapter that was tossed onto the end of the book explaining everything. It felt like an afterthought. Characters felt overall unnecessary, and it just didn't give me a good feeling. It's hard to explain, but I was not impressed.

B. A. Paris has become an automatic read for me, so I was very excited about being approved for this ARC. This was different from her last few novels, and I enjoyed it. I don’t think it is my favorite by her, but it was still a 3.5 star read for me. I felt like it was a little long winded in some areas, and some of the things that happened didn’t exactly tie in nicely, so that was unfortunate.
A quote near the end made me so mad: “…because of the values instilled in me by my upbringing” WHAT!
IYKYK. I mean, that infuriated me - so if you read this and get to that point, let me know if you feel the same way!

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What to say about this book? Well is was amazing. This was my second book by BA Paris and I loved it. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did. I look forward to a 3rd book from her.

This was a flop for me :/ I was honestly so annoyed with the characters that I had a hard time getting into the story. Laure is honestly so annoying I wanted to reach through the pages and kick her out myself!! Just too slow paced for me.

I am usually an avid reader of B. A. Paris's books, as they tend to draw me in with their captivating pacing and skillfully crafted mysteries that keep me on edge until the very end. However, in this particular instance, I found myself struggling to become engrossed in the mystery lines presented within this book. These storylines include a couple's ill-fated relationship following the discovery of the husband's secret child from another woman, and a man's depression stemming from the haunting last words of an 18-year-old who vindictively declared he would never forgive his mother.

Regrettably, these mystery elements failed to capture my interest. Furthermore, I had difficulty connecting with the characters, particularly Lauren, who could be considered the most unwelcome guest one could imagine. Picture a friend who not only occupies your shared bed with your spouse, but also dons your clothes, rearranges your kitchen, nonchalantly strolls around naked in various rooms, and incessantly discusses her husband's affair and secret love child. As a temperamental Aries woman, I must confess that I, too, might be inclined to dispatch Lauren to Paris in a cargo plane or FedEx box, bearing the label "not fragile, mostly unsplashable."

This one was surprisingly good. At first I was worried it was gonna be boring. Iris’ character was getting on my nerves so much but the epilogue was the best part! I did not expect the twists at all. So I ended up really liking it. I highly recommend it! Thank you so much for the ARC!! 🫶🏻