3.5⭐
Genre ~ domestic drama
Setting ~ England
Publication date ~ February 20, 2024
Est page Count ~ 304 (p+ 67 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 8 hours 14 minutes
Narrator ~ Emily Joyce
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ secrets, unlikable characters

Iris and Gabriel are our narrators. They've just come home early from holiday to an unexpected guest. A guest that might very well outstay their welcome.

They met Laure & Pierre on holiday almost 20 years ago and have remained close since. They live in different countries, but have been known to stay in each others houses from time to time.

They meet Esme & Hugh, who live close by, and soon begin hanging out frequently.
Joseph lives on their property and does the gardening for both families.

I didn't really like any of the characters really, especially Laure. I'm not one for extended house guests, or any house guests really, so she for sure overstayed her welcome IMO.

It's pretty much a drama and not a thriller. I wasn't sure how they would, but the side plots all came together nicely with the main one. And while I must say the super long (54 minutes and 15 seconds) epilogue did take me by surprise the leading up to it felt like it took an age. Overall, I can see this one being a big hit mystery lovers.

I was lucky enough to have an ebook and an audio copy.

Narration notes:
Emily did an okay job. She was frantic when necessary, but I could have went for a male narrator, which is why I did prefer reading over listening. Her accent was a little difficult for me to understand sometimes as it always sounded like she was saying Law and not Laure. Maybe that's just my American ears.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
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B. A. Paris strikes again with another banger coming for you in 2024. I loved this story. I was sucked into this one right from the beginning and my head exploded by the end of it.
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This book is the definition of drama - drama between couples, drama between friends, between lovers between new acquaintances. It was like watching an episode of housewives. This was lit. There was so much tension in this that you could feel it radiating from the pages. Paris does a great job at creating such tension from having a friend become an unwanted guest which also led to some serious tension as things begin to unravel.
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What a domestic drama/thriller.. I loved how this one unfolded, it’s fast paced, it’s easy to read and it will have you thinking it’s going to go in one direction then boom, you are left shocked and unable to believe what just happened. And that epilogue though, man – that was mind blowing, I did not see that coming at all, but it is one hell of an ending.
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I listened to this one while reading alongside through my kindle. Emily Joyce was the narrator and I love what she did with this story. She did a great job making this one unputdownable.
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The Guest releases 2/20, be sure to check this one out! Huge thank you to NetGalley, B. A. Paris, St. Martins Press and MacMillan Audio for the ALC and eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a solid mystery/thriller to listen to on audio. The story was easy to follow, and the narrator was perfect for the roll. For a quick audiobook, I highly recommend this book.

This was a decent story, but I found myself quite bored throughout the majority of the story. Obviously the entirety of the book before the epilogue was set up for the end, but I feel like we meet so many characters and I was expecting something a lot different than what occurred. Although I was shocked by the epilogue, and definitely did not see the plot going there.

I also thought there would be something more to Esme and Hugh's story. It was strange to me that Esme was so friendly to a stranger and they became best friends immediately. I was slightly disappointed by their story line.

After devouring B. A. Paris’ debut novel, Behind Closed Doors, I have since read every book released by the author. Unfortunately, none of the books have compared to her first book, including the author’s newest release, The Guest.

The story centers around married couple Iris and Gabriel. When returning from vacation, the couple is greeted by their friend, Laure, who has been staying in the house. Laure and her husband, Pierre, had a bit of a disagreement and she needed some time away. In addition to Laure, we meet Iris and Gabriel’s new neighbors, Esme and Hugh and their houseguest, Joseph. Iris and Gabrie’s college-age daughter makes an appearance throughout the story. Oh and prior to the start of the book, Gabriel witnesses a tragic accident that resulted in the death of a teen.

Well, with all the different characters who are introduced, here’s the kicker . . . NOTHING really happens in the book until the epilogue!!

I’m not sure what to make of The Guest. It is a quick read and if you enjoy a slow burn, then this is definitely the book for you! Personally, I found myself rolling my eyes throughout the book.

On a positive note, the audiobook narration was excellent!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was another great story by B.A. Paris. While I guessed the "culprit" and motive pretty early on, I was intrigued with how the story would play out. Paris can definitely weave a tale, and the characters are always fully developed and not one-note. Nothing knock your socks off; but this was a worthy read.

Returning from vacation to an unexpected guest in their house, the events the spiral become more twisted than readers will ever imagine.

Two couples, alcohol, and death. B.A. Paris knows how to craft a tale of suspense and drama.

The Guest by B.A. Paris was a good enough thriller but it was a slow burn. The last few chapters were page turners and I enjoyed the twists and turns. The main characters were uninteresting and forgettable. They didn't come to life. You didn't route for anyone. They are just a bit "bleh". The narrator, Emily Joyce, was excellent. She had distinct voices for all of the characters and her male voices were believable.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy of the audiobook. #netgalley #TheGuest #BAParis

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC audiobook for The Guest. From the first chapter, I felt really connected to our two main characters and I really felt like they were so relatable. B.A. Paris always writes books that feel short and easy to read in one sitting and this was no different. The plot moves quickly yet seemingly benign but you can't help but pick up the masterfully left feeling of dread in the undertones of this novel. By the time you hit the 70% mark you are left with one hit after the other. I never saw the twist coming and loved how the story ended.

As an audiobook, the narrator did a fantastic job of portraying characters and giving each character a voice in the subtle changes. Some narrators with an accent I am hesistant about but I felt like this narrator told the story in a clear yet compelling way. Overall, I do recommend this book.

ARC Review: One of my friends got me on the B.A. Paris train back in my first year of college and I haven’t gotten off yet.

The Guest by B.A. Paris is a character-based thriller primarily following a woman and her husband as they host a family friend who overstays her welcome and embeds herself into their lives. I didn’t really think this book necessarily gave thriller vibes; it was missing some of the suspense that I was hoping for and had a bit of a slower pace than what I generally associate with this genre. It honestly didn’t really feel like a thriller until the epilogue, which gave me a bit of whiplash just because it was so different from the rest of the book. Besides that, the writing was solid and the characters were well-developed. This book has an unreliable narrator and suspicious characters, and the author does a really good job of timing when information is revealed to the audience. While this was not the best book I’ve read by this author, I still enjoyed it; however, I would recommend starting with The Breakdown if you want to get into B.A. Paris’s works.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. This is narrated by Emily Joyce who does a great job!

I have mixed thoughts about this story as I had a hard time becoming engrossed in and remaining interested in this book. Who does not like to read about friendships, lies and secrets? However, I found this to be a bit of a slow, rambling story with a bland cast of characters.

Iris and Gabriel return home from a troubling holiday only to find a surprise, unannounced houseguest. Yes, in the past, the couples has stayed at each other's homes while vacant but this time its different. Laure has separated from Pierre due to infidelity's, and has made herself quite at home in Iris and Gabriel's house. Suffering from marital issues themselves, the house guest is adding pressure to Iris and Gabriel's relationship while overstaying her welcome. It does not help that there is a new family in the neighborhood that befriends them and the group soon becomes enmeshed in a variety of unhealthy ways and the lies and bodies start to pile up.

The epilogue is definitely a hum dinger but up until that point, the story is too slow of a burn for me. I have enjoyed this author's earlier books and this is worth the read....just not as great as the earlier works.3.4 stars.

That epilogue though! This was my first B.A Paris novel and am I ever glad it found its way onto my shelf. This story unraveled slowly and I can't say that I became overly attached to any of the characters themselves. In most cases I find myself getting frustrated with novels that take so long to get to the point where the pieces come together, but I remained hooked from beginning to end; and omg that end. If you enjoy a good last second mind blowing revelation, I highly recommend this book. From what I have read about B.A Paris since finishing The Guest, her work will only excite me more from here.

Thank you B.A Paris and NetGalley for my ARC of The Guest.

Paris consistently leaves me on the edge of my seat, and The Guest didn’t change that. This book leaves you questioning everything you think you know until the very last page!

Quick listen, the plot line was and held my attention but none of the characters were especially likable. Especially Laure. Laure was an absolute bore.

This book is very twisty and when it comes to drama - overload city. It reads like a soap opera - which will be fantastic for a very large number of readers.

I have yet to be totally entranced by B.A. Paris - if recommended to me I would give a different book a chance but I do see myself gravitating toward her novels at a book store.

I just reviewed The Guest by B.A. Paris. #NetGalley

I was interested in where the story was going. The twist didn't surprise me, but I didn't guess it either. I definitely liked it more than The Prisoner and look forward to more. Paris is an auto-pickup for me. (3.5)

I was hesitant to agree to read this book early as I had some issues with the animal violence in Behind Closed Doors, another title from this author. Luckily, The Guest, does not have that type of content. I personally found the pace of the novel to be slow which led to a waning interest on my end and a three-star rating. However, I predict that psychological thriller aficionados will enjoy this book with its twists and turns once it is published to the masses.

This book was something else! I was not sure what was happening here. Lots of deaths and misunderstandings.

This was not a traditional mystery, but it kept me guessing and wondering what was happening. The ending was quite shocking.

Great narration for this tense Thriller!

**4.5-stars**

B.A. Paris is back and she's bringing my favorite kind of suspenseful Domestic Drama with her. I had so much fun reading The Guest. Frustrating in the best ways, I found it to be completely addictive and one heck of a gripping roller coaster ride.

In this story we meet Iris and Gabriel, a married couple living in the British countryside. They have a grown daughter who is currently working abroad in Greece, so all is fairly peaceful on the home-front. That is until the day a local boy suffered a terrible accident, falling into a nearby quarry. Gabriel was the one to find the boy's battered body and even though Gabriel's a skilled doctor, there was nothing he could do. The boy couldn't be saved, but Gabriel did get to be with him in his final moments, so he wasn't alone.

Gabriel hasn't been the same since that tragic day, and even though Iris is trying to help him cope, it's definitely put a strain on their relationship. As they are grappling with this, an unexpected house guest arrives. Their old friend, Laure, has shown up from Paris. She says that she and her husband, Pierre, have had a terrible fight and she needs a place to stay. Iris and Gabriel have been best friends with Laure and Pierre for many, many years, so they tell Laure that she is welcome and that she can stay for as long as she needs.

Laure moves herself in and makes herself as comfortable as possible, wearing Iris's clothes and shadowing her every move. As the days and even weeks pass, the couple begins to question Laure's story and her motives. What is she really doing there and when the heck is she going to leave?

As tension mounts, more people get drawn into the twisted drama; the new couple in town, their handsome gardener and even Iris and Gabriel's daughter. As mentioned above, I really enjoyed this one and found the narrative to be compulsively readable. From the Prologue, Paris had absolutely hooked me. She definitely has a gift for drawing the Reader in.

From the initial set-up, with Laure arriving at the house, you can just tell it is going to get freaking wild. There's a vibe under the surface of constant tension and intrigue. No matter how crazy things get though, I always find Paris's main characters to be relatable. I never have a problem putting myself in their shoes and imagining what I would do in any given situation. This one had me biting my nails with tension, yelling at Laure, yelling at Iris. I would have done some major clean-out of my house, that's for sure.

I really got sucked into all of the interpersonal drama in this story, but also loved the mystery running throughout. It was hard to tell who you could trust and some of the connections were also shady. There were some real strong reveals and I was happy with the way it ultimately concluded. This did feel more reminiscent to some of Paris's earlier works as well, which were a little stronger for me than her more recent releases.

I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a taut, twisted Domestic Drama, particularly if you have enjoyed B.A. Paris's earlier stories. I would also recommend reading this one with a friend, or Book Club. I actually Buddy Read it and thought it was exciting to discuss it with someone else as we discovered the twists and turns together.

Overall, I thought this was such a great read. I'm so happy Paris continues to write these types of stories. As long as she is writing them, I'll be reading them.

Thank you so much to the publisher, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio, for providing me copies to read and review. The Guest is releasing on February 20, 2024, and IMO, this one should not be missed!!

Another suspenseful domestic drama story from B.A. Paris. It was difficult to really like or feel invested in any of the main characters in this book, but the story had so many twists and turns that it just compelled me to keep reading - and just as I thought I had it all figured out - the ending proved me quite wrong! Highly entertaining.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC.

You come home from holiday to find someone in your house. She is wearing your clothes, and sleeping in your bed instead of a perfectly suitable guest bed. Yes this guest is your friend, and yes you gave her a key to your house. You understand she is going through marital problems and you want to be a good friend and support her, but when is she going to leave? Why did she rearrange your kitchen cabinets/drawers? After weeks, why is she still wearing your clothes and why did she cut her hair to look like yours?
This novel felt like a drama until about half way through, then boom death, after death, after death. Could it be accidental or is it murder?
There are many characters in the beginning of the novel to get fimilar with. Iris & Gabriel are the owners of the house. They have a daughter named Beth who is away. Gabriel found a boy named Charlie as Charlie was dying. Laure is the guest and Peirre (her husband). Then a new couple in the neighborhood, Esme and Hugh. And then Joseph is the gardener. All these people play a roll.
Twists kept coming in the second half of the book and I enjoyed all. The epilogue was a longer chapter which I needed desperately to wrap things up and answer all my questions. The main answer in the epilogue I didn’t really care for, but it was the only one that made the most sense.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for an ARC of this novel. I liked the narrator’s voice, and her accents were great, however sometimes it was tough to tell if she was talking for Iris or Gabriel. I love B.A Paris, her novels never disappoint.

(I ended up requesting the ebook and audiobook so I posted this review to both, and changed this to add my opinion of the narrator)

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. That is until Laure and Pierre's relationship becomes rocky and Laure comes to stay with her dear friends. Unfortunately, the majority of her stay nothing much happens, except the slow fracture of relationships, and just like Laure, this part of the book stayed around a little too long.

I have really enjoyed some of B.A. Paris' books in the past, The Breakdown and Behind Closed Doors being my favorites... But The Guest, was just okay... But the ending was its saving grace. Once you get past the slow burn buildup, the last quarter of the story is is revelation after revelation and had me turning up the audiobook speed, and stuffing popcorn in my mouth as secrets and craziness was revealed.

I've been in the mood for a fast paced thriller, which is why I was probably a little disappointed with the buildup, but if you're in the mood of a good slow burn and have enjoyed Paris' books in the past, I recommend giving this one a go.

I listened to the audiobook, thank you Macmillan Audio, and was very pleased with the narrator, Emily Joyce. This is the first time I've listened to one of her narrations, and I'll definitely be adding her on my narrators to watch list.