I am a fan of Alex Finlay and his character Sarah Keller. I saw an interview before reading the book so I knew the plot going in but I found it interesting about the author’s connection to creating this story. His books have notched down from the first two to the second two so where would this one land?

The chapter headings were creative and there were some characters to get to know. There was a good amount of suspense that kept me guessing which ended up being quite the trick in the end. His books are written for a smooth, easy read which is very important to me as a reader.

I feel this one landed in the same zone as the second two books but I think I liked it the most of the last three because it leaves me very interested in what’s coming next for Sarah Keller and possibly another new character.

Thank you to both Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

Devoured in one sitting! What would you do if during Parents' Weekend your college aged student didn't turn up to the fancy dinner that was pre-planned? What would you do when you looked around the room and realized no one else's child showed up either? Under the pressure that's mounting, everyone looks a bit suspicious but is it enough to uncover the truth of what has happened? This was a fast-paced thriller that hooks you from page one and has you second guessing yourself as you try to unravel the plot twists.

I didn't realize that the featured FBI Agent is a reoccurring character in Finlay's books, but I'm intrigued to read the others mentioned in the blurb to see where her character goes/has been.

I'll definitely be picking up more from this author in the future.

A fast-paced, suspenseful novel that I flew through! I think this was a great beach read. Easy to get through quickly. Although, the beginning is a little bit confusing as you’re introduced to so many characters all at once. I quickly figured it out. I listened and the audio was fine but I think reading in print would also be great!

I'm a bit conflicted about this one. On one hand, I flew through this (short) book and was intrigued to find out what happened. On the other hand, I didn't feel connected to any characters, I disliked many of the adults, and I feel like the ending was not believable. Definitely an interesting premise, and I like quick chapters with multiple POVs, but the ending was kind of -- whatever -- (not to mention, a big stereotype, too).

ℙ𝕒𝕣𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕤 𝕎𝕖𝕖𝕜𝕖𝕟𝕕⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
𝑨𝒍𝒆𝒙 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒍𝒂𝒚

Five sets of parents hit campus for parents' weekend. Each with their own problems, they are shocked to find out their kids are missing.

I found the parents to be a rather self-centered crew. The kids aren’t dwelt on so much until later in the book, when we find they all have their own secrets. I found the whole group to be rather unlikable.

This wasn’t a story that hit the ground running, but I did want to know what happened to the missing college students. It kept me guessing, but it wasn’t a book I couldn’t put down.

I did like the ending, which wrapped the story up nicely.

💕Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing this ebook for me to read and review.

Perfect quick summer mystery. Short captivating chapters. Really sucked me into the story and I wanted to keep reading to find out how it was gonna end. Enjoyed the college campus setting. Multiple povs took a minute to remember them all. Second book by this author and I will continue reading more by them.

When 5 college students go missing on parents weekend, all the secrets start rising to the surface- those of the students and their parents. Following the death of a student, 5 friends go missing and their parents start revealing everything in order to help find their children.

This was engaging. The character development was very good, especially considering there were so many characters involved in the story. The twists were just enough to remain believable.

Engaging, heartfelt drama – Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay explores family dynamics, teenage turmoil, and unexpected bonds with tender insight and sharp dialogue. Finlay’s nuanced storytelling captivates and moves.

It's Parents Weekend at Santa Clara University, but when Stella, Felix, Mark, Blane, and Libby fail to show up for the dinner, the parents become overly worried. Not just because none of them are answering their phones, but because recently another student was found dead. Are the two events connected somehow? FBI Agent Sarah Keller has to figure it out before The Five end up dead as well.

Told from multiple points of view, including the students, the parents, and Agent Keller, it sometimes seems unclear how each thing fits into the puzzle of the missing teenagers. Everything slowly comes together with twists you didn't see coming.

All in all, this is a gripping mystery revolving around a disappearance, secrets, and complicated relationships. If you enjoy a story where you have to put the puzzle pieces together to get the full picture, then you'll enjoy this one.

Thank you to @Minotaur_Books and @NetGalley for a digital copy for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.

LOVED this book! Alex Finlay honestly never disappoints and I think is completely underrated. To be honest, the multiple POVs were slightly confusing at the very beginning, though I quickly caught on to each of their stories. I really thought I had solved the mystery more than once, I was so wrong about every theory I had. It was so well written, kept me on the edge of my seat, and the descriptions were so perfect I felt like I was in every single setting and knew/could picture every single person. Definitely recommend this one, Alex Finlay does it again!

I am a fan of Alex Finlay’s previous thrillers. Although I read this book quickly, I was a bit underwhelmed with the overall plot. Although the book was ell written, I was just a bit disappointed with the ending and the build up - especially with so many characters involved.
I do look forward to Finlay’s next book.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press For this ARC!
2.5/5 rounded up

Parents Weekend was an interesting concept and I was eager to read it. I enjoyed the book but I wouldn’t say that it was the most spectacular.

I am grateful to NetGalley, the Author, and the Publisher for the ARC. Thank you!

This is a new author for me. I enjoyed the book. The characters were interesting and the plot was pretty good.

It’s Parents Weekend at a small West Coast university, and the families of five friends are gathering for a dinner. The only problem? The parents are left waiting after none of the students show up. No one can get in touch with them. A frantic search begins, and it emerges that these families have big secrets…and there are multiple people in their lives who might have had reason to hurt the students.

I found this book to be a real page-turner with a twisty plot. It was definitely a quick read with a straightforward writing style. The rich cast of characters was a blast to spend time with. Overall, if you’re a thriller fan looking for a great beach read, this will do the job!

Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay is a fast-paced, twisty thriller that keeps readers guessing until the final pages. The plot masterfully blends campus suspense with emotional depth, centering on a mother’s desperate search for truth when her daughter is accused of a brutal crime. Finlay’s writing is sharp, cinematic, and full of red herrings that make for a compulsive read. The characters are well-drawn, especially the fiercely determined parents caught in a web of secrets and lies. A gripping, timely story that delivers both heart and high-stakes suspense—perfect for fans of domestic thrillers and true crime drama.

The twists and turns in this book! It lived up to the hype. I do always struggle with this type of story where everyone in a friend group has like the craziest secrets. Hard for that to be believable, but this was a one day binge read for me!

It’s Parents Weekend at Sata Clara University and five sets of parents are waiting for their freshman students at dinner, hours pass, and they never show up. The Five and their families are dysfunctional, most have salacious secrets, some are high-profile, and all of them are in danger.

I love that we got another FBI Agent Sarah Keller book! Interconnected standalones are my favorite sub-genre! Keller was in both The Night Shift and Every Last Fear, and she is an incredible character. In typical Finlay style, Parents Weekend is fast-moving and complex with a huge cast of characters. What makes Finlay’s complex stories so digestible are the unique characters and short punchy chapters. I will always pick up Alex Finlay's thrillers!

Thank you very much to Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I was intrigued by the premise of Parents' Weekend, but the execution lacked for me. A lot of the parents were unlikeable and I felt that I didn't get a chance to connect with their kids (college students). I didn't feel an urgency to find out what happened with the students. Also there was so much of Sarah Keller's chapters (FBI agent) that the other stories got lost. I can't remember her from Finlay's other novels so I can't remember if she was that much of a main character previously.

Thank you to Netgallery for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I tried hard to enjoy this book. The premise is unique. Why did the 5 kids go missing? Was it their parents past indiscretions that caused these series of events? It definitely sounds good as a movie script. However, I got bogged down in the multiple POVs and trying to keep up with the details that those characters were trying to convey. It was a great mystery, but left me feeling a little meh.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy in exchange for my honest review.

"𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒓𝒖𝒏. 𝑹𝒖𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒍 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒔𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏, 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒅𝒊𝒆."

Special thanks to @alexfinlay @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the #gifted eARC.

👉🏼 swipe for synopsis ➡️

𝙈𝙔 𝙍𝙀𝙑𝙄𝙀𝙒:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This is my third @alexfinlay book and i was so excited to get my hands on this one. It's been blowing up on booksta and I can't wait to read about all the hype.

The case itself stumps me with all the twisted info and the dead ends. Though I secretly love when Intern Annie shows up translating the hot gos from the online forums. I love the multiple POVS, it did take a bit to keep them straight, but i love how the kids POVs are sprinkled throughout the case. I expected this to be more about the kids and less the patents but im pleasantly surprised how much I love their adult drama.

Read this is you ❤️

📖 Fast paced
📖 Multiple characters
📖 Lingering suspense
📖 Academia setting

𝙋𝙐𝘽 𝘿𝘼𝙔:
May 6, 2025

ℚ𝕆𝕋𝔻❓️⁉️❓️ Whats your favorite salty treat?

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#mysteryandthrills #thrillersandsuspense #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #thrillerjunkie #thrillergirlie #bookbuzz #alexfinlay #stmartinspresspartner #netgalley #parentsweekend
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