This is my first Alex Finley read and I could not put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed all the different POV's from all the families, it was done in such a way that it wasn't confusing at all and developed the story really well. There were so many ways this story could have went, I explored them all and was sure a few times that I was right, however I was not!! I loved that it kept me guessing at every turn. This story was crafted very skillfully with every twist and turn changing my guess the ending. Highly recommend reading this and this will definitely not be my last Alex Finley!

Having enjoyed Alex Finlay's books in the past, I was excited to read his latest work. This story follows five families, often featuring multiple characters within each family, which I found somewhat confusing at times. The ending felt rushed to me, and not all the plot points were resolved in a way that made sense. I appreciated the premise of this book but wish it had developed further.

Parents Weekend was a fun, fast-paced read that had me hooked from the start. The setup is super creepy—𝙛𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙝𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙋𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙒𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙚𝙣𝙙, and no one knows if it’s something innocent… or something much darker. It’s told through multiple POVs (including the parents and the returning FBI Agent Sarah Keller), which made it feel like a mix of a crime show and a true crime podcast. But I had to take notes because I was getting confused with all the different characters.

The short chapters and twists kept me turning the pages. Overall very suspenseful—with some solid action and surprises.

The mystery didn’t totally blow me away, but it was still entertaining and a quick read. I’d say it’s perfect if you want something twisty but not too heavy. Overall a 4 ⭐️ experience.

Thank you to @minotaur_books and @stmartinspress for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This suspenseful novel kicks off with a great hook: five college students mysteriously vanish during Parents Weekend, leaving their families in shock and a quiet campus in chaos. The premise is undeniably compelling, and the early chapters build a strong sense of dread and urgency. However, the pacing stumbles midway, with multiple perspectives muddying the momentum and some characters feeling underdeveloped.
Overall, it’s a solid mystery with a chilling setup, Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this novel.

Welp. So glad I didn’t pledge in college. So much is wrong with these kids and likewise their parents. Still loved it, bunch of selfish psychos. The only person I truly was rooting for was Alice and I would love a book about her and her path.

I loved this! The different view points were sometimes hard to follow, especially on audio, but the story itself was great. I loved the conflict between the various family members, their different struggles and priorities.. The twists and turns kept going to the very end, and its always a nice surprise to not be able to see each one coming.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to listen to this early!

I got half way through and did not finish it didn't feel like it was going anywhere and it wasn't holding my attention and I had too many other books to get to.

I don't think I will read any more of Finlay's books. I find the way he writes women to be ridiculous. And here, the way he writes college students is just silly. I work on a college campus and have never heard them speak the way he writes their dialogue.

I struggle with too many character povs and that was true, here, as well. Not only are there too many of them but none are likeable.

The writing felt off and I never felt the story was fully rounded out. I needed more explanation and details.

Thank you @netgalley for a copy of the book!

Alex Finlay's "Parents Weekend" delivers a premise that's every parent's nightmare: five college students vanish during a seemingly innocent gathering. The book kicks off with a strong hook, immediately plunging readers into the frantic search and the unraveling secrets of the students' diverse and often dysfunctional families. Finlay's signature fast-paced style is evident throughout, making it a quick and engaging read that will keep you turning pages, eager to discover what happened to "The Five."

With such a large cast of characters, it can be challenging at times to keep track of everyone and their intricate backstories. While the multiple POVs are a strength, they occasionally lead to a feeling of character overload, where I just didn't care enough about anyone. Additionally, the ending left me with an "eh, okay" feeling.

4.0
Parents Weeend
Alex Finlay

I love a great thriller that keeps one guessing until the end. In Alex Finlay's Parents Weeked, there are twsts and turns that even stump the detectives that are trying to solve the case. Toldt through multiple viewpoints of past and present, this plot-driven novel addresses family relationships, dysfunction, and loyalty. Although we don't get to know a lot about each character's background, there is a sense of loyalty and protection among The Five. The story is fast- paced and hard to put down. I would recommend this novel to readers who like a fast-paced thriller with lots of action.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my eARC of Parents Weekend. My opinions are my own.

**3.5-stars rounded up**

Alex Finlay's latest Thriller novel, Parents Weekend, revolves around a group of families who each have a child attending a small Liberal Arts college in Northern California. For Parents Weekend, it's decided that the students in this particular Capstone group will all get together for a nice dinner, along with their parents, as a way to kick off the special weekend.

On the designated night though, while all the parents show up to the agreed upon location, the kids never do. At first, all assume, it's just kids being kids, but as the hours pass, and another night falls with no word from any of the students, panic ensues. What could have happened?

Due to the high profile nature of a couple of the families, the campus police are forced to call in reinforcements. Before long the disappearances are national news. FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller, who you may remember from her appearances in Every Last Fear and The Night Shift, is one of the reinforcements brought in to investigate the case. Can she find the five missing students before it's too late?

Parents Weekend is a quick and punchy, action-packed Thriller. I was fully entertained and curious about what had happened with the missing students, and why. Even though I felt the conclusion was a little simplistic, particularly in regards to the who and why, I still feel like it was well worth reading. I will admit though, I rounded up mainly for Sarah Keller. I love her and want Finlay to keep bringing her back.

I did really enjoy the drama of these families. As expected, there were a lot of messy dynamics and I'm always down for feeding on other people's drama. I would recommend this for Thriller Readers who are fine with more action than character work. While we do find out a lot about these characters, the action of the plot is what really drives this story. I always look forward to Alex Finlay's new releases. He never fails to pull me in and I tend to fly through his novels, unable to put them down once I start.

Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me copies to read and review. This is a great pick for your Summer Reading List!

What a thriller! I couldn’t put this down and I was recommending to acquaintances even before I finished it! Every time I thought I know what was going to happen and who was the culprit I was surprised with what happened next. The characters are strong, the setting is realistic and Agent Keller is a character I’d like to encounter again.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for this ebook to read. All opinions are my own.

Alex Finlay does it again! Parents Weekend grabbed me from page one with its drama, suspense, and a jaw-dropping twist I never saw coming. Just when you think you’ve cracked the case, Finlay flips the script—brilliantly. The characters are vivid and unforgettable, and the ending ties everything up perfectly. Absolutely loved it!

This was my very first book by Alex Finlay and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I enjoyed the plot and storyline and felt that the majority of the characters were well written and well defined. I did, however, feel that there were certain portions of the book that were a little unbelievable. I also was able to solve the ending about 60% of the way into the book. Even with that being said, I did enjoy it and I do recommend it.

This author has been on my list for so long, so am glad that i finally made myself read one of his books. THis was a quick read that kept my attention and i totally understand all the hype around these books. Cant wait to see what comes next. Thanks so much for the gifted copy!

I did not enjoy this book. I felt like I was missing substance. This book to me was a mess and a thriller about nothing. I’m really disappointed

I’m still new to Alex Finlay books but he has become an author I follow and enjoy his books. Hi is writing style keeps me engaged in the story and sometimes feels like I’m reading right from current headlines in the news. Although I did enjoy Parents Weekend, it was t a favorite of his work. This sometimes felt a bit YA. Maybe because of the college age students, but still enjoyable and kept me reading. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

This is an engaging and fast paced thriller. It is set at a private school in Northern California, where 5 families plan a night to have a dinner and get together before the family weekend. Unfortunately, as the parents are enjoying a late night of cocktails, the 5 children disappear. the many characters and multiple POV's at times were at times confusing but it was an enjoyable and entertaining read. Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity

Parents Weekend kicks off when five college students go missing during a campus dinner, a juicy setup with FBI involvement, high-stakes politics, and family drama. I’ve enjoyed Alex Finlay’s work in the past, so I had high hopes going in.

Getting into the story, there were a lot of characters to keep track of, and unfortunately, most of them felt a bit flat. I usually love a multi-POV mystery, but in this case, the different perspectives and timelines made it harder to connect. The writing is solid and I flew through it, but the ending didn’t wow me and I guessed the twist pretty early. Still, if you’re into fast-paced campus thrillers and don’t mind juggling a big cast, it’s a decent weekend read!

This book was a quick read & I definitely was intrigued by where it was heading but there was just something missing. The story follows a group of parents and a detective working on a case of five missing college students. The detective POV chapters were so good and I was on edge, however I wish we would’ve gotten more chapters of the missing students POVs and more from the parents? There was also a lot of characters and nothing really distinguishing enough to help me tell them apart so it got confusing at times. Overall, the book was decent & I would recommend giving it a try if it sounds interesting to you!