Love finding all the new authors on here! I requested this book and could NOT put it down. I love a good page turning thriller and this did not disappoint. Thanks so much for the gifted copy

This was an interesting enough read that started off strong but I felt faltered towards the end. I did enjoy the premise of this book and the isolated setting, the characters were all unlikeable which was perfect for the plot line. A few twists & surprises along the way but quiet predictable at times. Overall not a bad read just didn't really hit the spot for me.

I’m sad to say this one was not for me. It didn’t feel like a thriller. I was bored. I hated the characters. The writing style confused me.

I seriously don't even know what I just read. I can guarantee you that I will forget even the basic premise of this book by next week. This is marketed as a thriller but I got zero thriller vibes from this book. Mystery…yes, but definitely not a thriller. The story did not captivate me even the tiniest bit. I found myself distracted…A LOT! I had to keep reeling myself back to the story, forcing myself to refocus and try to figure out what was going on. I usually don't mind a dual timeline but I found this one to be incredibly difficult to navigate. I felt like I never knew what was happening and in what time period. I never knew if I was in the current or the past storyline.

Character connection is a huge part of how I relate to a book andif I don't feel that character connection it really impacts my rating of the book. I am not a fan of books that have multiple "main" characters. I think it makes it really hard to feel a connection to the characters and to get to know them. I also didn’t get the POV changes. Sometimes the story was told in first person and sometimes third person. Why? You have multiple narrators so pick first person or third but don't mix them up. Additionally, I found almost all of the characters to be incredibly unlikable and I am just not drawn to books where characters are not likable. If this had not been an ARC I probably would have DNF'd this. This could very well be somebody's niche but it was not mine and for that reason I really struggled with this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my free and honest review in exchange for an eARC. This book was interesting but difficult to follow and unfortunately i figured out the plot twists decently early. The premise was curious and i liked how the outcast character was written to make you pity them more than hate them.

The Weekend Guests by Liza North; felt very trite. "Have I read this before" I thought to myself many times over the course of reading this. Still, I think lots of readers will enjoy and we will purchase a copy for our collection.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Liza North’s "The Weekend Guests" plunges readers into the decadent yet treacherous world of an elite gathering that has gone horribly wrong. With sharp prose and meticulous pacing, North crafts a psychological thriller that is sophisticated and chilling, reminiscent of the best locked-room mysteries but with a modern edge.

The story unfolds at a secluded estate where an exclusive group assembles for what promises to be a luxurious weekend. The air is thick with secrets even before the first glass of champagne is poured. When one guest disappears, tension tightens like a noose—relationships unravel, allegiances shift, and privilege becomes a dangerous liability.

North’s gift lies in her ability to create an atmosphere that is dazzling and claustrophobic. The lavish setting only serves to heighten the psychological strain, with each room and hallway seeming to harbor its own brand of menace.

This novel excels in its exploration of character psychology. Each guest arrives with a carefully curated image, masking desires, regrets, and long-buried betrayals. The interplay of deception and self-preservation creates a storm of suspicion, making every interaction feel loaded with unspoken danger.

The protagonist is particularly compelling—a figure caught between privilege and morality, forced to navigate the treacherous social terrain while seeking the truth. As the mystery deepens, North forces us to question whether anyone at this gathering is truly innocent.

North controls the novel’s rhythm with precision, alternating between slow-building dread and moments of breathtaking revelation. Just when the reader feels confident in their understanding of events, the narrative shifts—forcing a reevaluation of everything.

What makes "The Weekend Guests" truly engrossing is its ability to maintain suspense while delivering sharp social commentary. Beneath the gripping twists lies an astute examination of power, privilege, and the dangerous lengths people will go to protect themselves.

Liza North has crafted a thriller that is as psychologically rich as it is irresistibly tense. "The Weekend Guests" doesn’t just ask “whodunit”—it asks how far people are willing to go to maintain the illusions they’ve built.

With a sinister elegance and an unforgettable climax, this novel is a must-read for fans of smart, character-driven suspense.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was an enjoyable read, but it didn’t fully capture me the way I had hoped. There were elements I appreciated, like the writing style and setting, but other parts fell a little flat. The pacing at times felt uneven, and I struggled to stay fully invested in the story.

Overall, it was a solid read with some memorable moments, and I think readers who enjoy this genre will find a lot to like, even if it wasn’t a perfect fit for me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me access this book! This was not my fave. The dual timelines were interesting at first, but took too long to get anywhere and the reveals in the past that related to the present were at times important and at others more like fun facts about the characters. Additionally, none of the characters were really likable, and so I wasn’t really torn when you found out that they had done something really terrible and were at risk for others finding out/having consequences.



SPOILERS: Although, and maybe this is an unpopular opinion, but the friends that were asleep in the backseat I think really weren’t at fault for the death, though they did agree to cover things up and lie after the fact, but I felt like they deserve far less of a punishment than the people who were conscious at the time thus making the decision to make everyone else complicit, but especially the person who was driving. The other thing was, I felt like the timeline didn’t fully lineup for the postcards and everything else. I know that the reunion is supposed to be in December and that they started getting the postcards also in December but everybody acts like the postcards have been weighing on them for forever, but then it’s only been maximum three weeks? And adding in that Milly supposedly started working for them for six months or so but she didn’t even try to get hired by them until after she met Darryl, who died the day after she saw him five months earlier, so I don’t understand how she could’ve been not only working for them for six months, but also not have known that they existed until five months ago. It may just be that I misread it, but it felt like the timelines were so tight that it really didn’t make sense to me. The other timing element that I struggled with was the idea that after Aline got the postcard, she decided to do this reunion, but how can we believe that she got the postcard and put together this entire reunion in three weeks? Especially as it seemed like an established plan, given that Sienna had to already be in the UK for a bit before receiving the invitation (which was after getting her postcard) and others had to travel relatively far. I don’t know, maybe it was better laid out in the actual book, but based on everything I remembered as I was reading it and I read it within a day so it was pretty familiar to me, it felt like a lot of the timeline didn’t match up.

The Weekend Guests is a twisty, atmospheric thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end. Liza North invites you into a seemingly perfect gathering where secrets simmer beneath every conversation and no one is quite who they seem. The tension builds with every chapter, and the shifting dynamics between the characters make for a gripping, page-turning read. With sharp writing and a chilling undercurrent, this is the kind of story that makes you second-guess every friendly smile—and every invitation.

Liza North's The Weekend Guests is a chilling descent into a weekend reunion where long-buried secrets refuse to stay hidden, and the idyllic Dorset coast becomes the backdrop for a deadly game.

Five old college friends gather at a luxurious cliffside house, a reunion orchestrated by the enigmatic Aline. But this isn't a simple catch-up; it's a carefully constructed trap. Years ago, these friends made a pact of silence about a dark crime, and now, someone is threatening to expose them.

North masterfully weaves a dual timeline, flashing between their carefree university days and the tension-filled present. As old grudges resurface and new betrayals unfold, the weekend unravels, revealing that the greatest threat comes from within the group itself.

The Weekend Guests is a propulsive thriller, rich in atmosphere and brimming with suspense. North expertly ratchets up the tension, keeping you guessing until the final, shocking twist. This is a must-read for fans of dark, twisty mysteries where friendships are as dangerous as they are binding.

Collage friends reuniting in an ideal sea location for the weekend. Brought together by Aline, who has other motives. Someone is threading to reveal a dark secret they all share. I’ve read a few other books with a similar storyline. This one though was lacking for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Paperbacks for an advanced copy.

Solid start with a lackluster finish.

I felt like this story droned on just for the finish to leave me incredibly confused. Darryl’s chapters where a much needed break from the hum drum of these unlikely friends and everything fell apart the second he exited the story. I feel like his character could have been much more interesting and complex, as well.

Overall, if you like a thriller set in Scotland, give it a shot. Just know you may not find it to be all that thrilling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Told in dual timelines with multiple narrators which I enjoyed! Totally unlikable characters which is frustrating but I absolutely enjoyed that!!!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book …….. up till the ending.

The story was good, the characters are interesting.

A few twists and some surprises. An experienced thriller reader would probably pick up the plot twist about 3/4 way through.

The story was great till the last few chapters. The ending was kinda a flop.

Overall not too bad a read

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity

THE WEEKEND GUESTS is a multi-perspective and multi-timeline thriller packed with an epic secret from the past and complicated relationships with characters that slowly pull you into a web of lies. North crafts an entertaining and tense mystery with twists and turns perfect for any crime fiction lover.

There is something so delicious about a group of people hiding a secret and being forced to deal with it years later. The author gifts her readers with not only this cast of old college friends but with Darryl as well. For as much as I enjoyed reading about Aline, Sienna, Rob, Michael, and Brandon’s reactions to the postcards they received, it was the time spent going down the rabbit hole with Darryl that was my favorite. North truly created an amazingly layered and disturbed character with him.

Even though the general plot of the novel isn’t new, the way the author wrote it was as refreshing as it was absorbing. Where things could have been muddled with the dual timeline and multiple narrators, she excelled at pulling the story together. Each chapter propelled the narrative forward and allowed for well-placed reveals. THE WEEKEND GUESTS is a bingeable, quick read that will have you flipping the pages to find out is going to happen when all is said and done.

Audiobook Note: This story is narrated by Elliot Chapman and Catrin Walker-Booth. The pace was well-timed with the mystery reveals, and it flowed from one narrator to the other pretty seamlessly. Though it took me a minute to get into the audio version of the book because of Elliot Chapman’s character accent in the beginning, I did wind up enjoying it by the end.

Thank you NetGalley! I enjoyed the premise of this book. The back and forth timeline is one of my favorites in a novel. But the excess of characters over the chapters made it hard to keep track of what was going on and who was talking. I ended up halfway through the book before I had to put it down

This was a solid read. It kept me listening to find out what was really going on and why. The characters were all unlikeable. So many secrets between friends and spouses.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was anxiety inducing to the upmost degree. I had no idea what was going to happen next and the author really captured the fear of being around individuals who are so unhinged from reality that you can't anticipate what they'll do because they are operating on a completely different wavelength than you. The only thing I didn't like about this book was that it was hard to follow, lots of POVs and hopping around. A LOT of generic names that I kept getting confused on who was who.

If you like thrillers, I highly recommend checking this book out!

Fantastically atmospheric, creepy, and tense. The dual timelines in this novel were a fascinating way to keep the perspectives where they needed to be. Did I like the characters in this book? Not entirely, but there were some fascinating twists I didn't see coming and this one was a wild ride from start to finish.

Five university friends, Aline, Sienna, Rob, Michael, and Brandon, reunite after they start getting cryptic messages about a secret from the past. Aline gathers them all because she believes one of them is responsible for the messages and wants to figure out who it is.

In this story, there are alternating POVs. Darryl, a neighbor of the group during their university days, narrates the past. His chapters are disturbing, as they are intended to be. They are supposed to give us a glimpse of the group of friends through his eyes, but in the process, we don't really learn anything about them as young adults. This means that they are still virtually strangers to us when we meet them as adults.

I may have read one too many locked-room types of thrillers, and this one was just not well done to me. I didn't really like the characters; I couldn't keep track of who was married, who had relationships in the past, and which kids belonged to which couple. I didn't care enough to figure it out. Finding out who sent the messages was an interesting surprise, but the actual ending was eye-rollingly ridiculous. I think I need to take a break from this trope for a while.