This was an incredible book. I loved everything about it

Thank you so much NetGalley for letting me read this one

3.5 stars
A hen weekend gone wrong. The bride Megan is so excited to marry her partner but her bachelorette seems to go all wrong. Is her past coming back to haunt her or is it just coincidence or just mean girls?

The Uninvited Guest is a psychological thriller that centers around a hen weekend gone awry, filled with secrets, lies, and unexpected twists. It's a book that aims to keep readers guessing until the very end, with a focus on dramatic reveals and unexpected developments

Ruby Speechley's The Uninvited Guest is a thrilling psychological novel that keeps readers on edge. When Megan Lewis's hen weekend is disrupted by an unexpected guest claiming to be her fiancé's cousin, secrets from the past begin to unravel. Speechley expertly builds suspense and tension, making this a must-read for fans of twisty, page-turning thrillers

A suspenseful page turner! Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. This was a quick read with good suspense.

Good book if I was this woman utter him party waiting up to her wedding and some dance music comes!!!!

This was a really quick and easy read. Thr characters were committed to being annoying and immature but they were perfectly brought to life in their very human flaws. I love the premise of reunions and secrets and such and this did a good job on making the plot a bit original and although a few bits are predictive , it still felt fresh and had a few really unexpected twists

What an Awesome book. The characters in this book were great. This is one of the best books I've read this year. Kept me hooked the whole time.

Thrillers with a group of people at a party or weekend away is my favourite trope and this one didn't disappoint. Fast paced, keeps you guessing, quick and easy read

Boring. Yawning. And most importantly, full of secondhand embarrassment and repetition.

This felt like petty drama I had no business being involved in—just a bunch of grown-ups acting like children. The plot dragged, felt all over the place, and lacked any real direction. The characters weren’t worth rooting for, and I kept waiting for something to hook me... but it never did.

Let’s play Truth or Dare.
Truth? I should’ve left this alone on my NetGalley shelf.
Dare? I dared myself to be open to new authors and genres this year… so far, that’s not going great. Aha.

I might check out more from this author just to see, but this one? Definitely not for me.

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘸𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯💐.

📖 Genre: Psychological Thriller ⭐ Rating: 3.5/5

📚 Overview
The Uninvited Guest by Ruby Speechley is a psychological thriller that centers around Megan Lewis, whose hen weekend takes an unexpected turn when an uninvited guest, Beth, arrives claiming to be a relative of Megan's fiancé. As the weekend unfolds, secrets from Megan's past resurface, leading to a series of unsettling events that threaten to derail her upcoming wedding.

🧐 What I Loved
✔ Engaging Premise: The storyline is intriguing, with the unexpected guest's arrival setting the stage for suspense and mystery.

✔ Fast-Paced Narrative: The book maintains a brisk pace, with short chapters that keep the reader engaged and eager to uncover the next twist.

✔ Exploration of Secrets and Trust: The novel delves into themes of trust, betrayal, and the impact of past secrets on present relationships, adding depth to the plot.

🤔 What Could Be Better
🔹 Character Decisions: Some of Megan's choices may come across as naive or questionable, which could affect readers' connection to her character.

🔹 Predictability: Certain plot developments might be anticipated by seasoned thriller readers, potentially diminishing the element of surprise.

✨ Final Thoughts
The Uninvited Guest offers an engaging and quick read for fans of psychological thrillers. While some character decisions may raise eyebrows, the novel's exploration of secrets and the consequences of past actions provide ample intrigue to keep readers invested.

📌 Would I recommend it? Yes, particularly for readers seeking a fast-paced thriller that delves into the complexities of trust and hidden pasts.

Megan and Jamie are finally getting married. Although she is uneasy, Megan drops her daughter off with her parents to head off on her hen weekend, while Jamie has his bachelor weekend with his buddies. Things don't start well as there is an ominous message on her parent's front lawn when she drops off her daughter. Her parents assure her they have everything under control and off she goes with Danielle her BFF. When they arrive at the house, there is an uninvited guest waiting for her. Beth, Jamie's cousin has arrived from Australia and wants to get to know Megan. From that moment on, things go from bad to worse. With pranks being played, some unsettling occurrences, secrets revealed and threatening messages, will Megan even make it down the aisle?

The Uninvited guest was a quick, entertaining thriller. I have to say that Megan has got to be the most trusting, okay, gullible bride to be that I have ever come across. I don't care how much money my friends spent on the events, I would have left or maybe even not gone when the first couple of things happened. Having said that, I suspended belief and just went with the story. Every time I thought I knew who was behind something, there was another twist and I changed my mind. I couldn't stop reading because I had to see what was going to happen next, and when Megan would realize that Beth is not her friend. The ending had me flipping pages to see what was going to happen next. This is a book that highlights the dangers of keeping secrets from those you care about, and supporting one another when the chips are down. This was a twisty story that will have you on the edge of your seat, waiting for the next shoe to drop.

Ruby Speechley's "The Uninvited Guest" delves into the unsettling territory of the unknown, exploring the psychological impact of a presence that disrupts the familiar comforts of home. Through subtle hints and creeping dread, Speechley crafts a narrative that preys on our primal fear of the unseen and the unexplainable, leaving the reader questioning the boundaries of reality and the fragility of the human psyche. The effectiveness of the story lies in its ambiguity. The "uninvited guest" is never explicitly defined, leaving ample room for interpretation. Is it a malevolent spirit, a figment of the protagonist's imagination driven to the edge by stress, or a tangible entity with its own agenda? Speechley intentionally leaves these questions unanswered, allowing the reader to project their own fears and anxieties onto the narrative. This ambiguity, rather than detracting from the story, intensifies the suspense and heightens the sense of unease. Furthermore, Speechley skillfully utilizes setting to amplify the story's unsettling atmosphere. The protagonist's home, typically a sanctuary, becomes a source of dread. The creeping shadows, the creaking floorboards, and the sudden cold drafts all contribute to a sense of violation and vulnerability. The mundane details of everyday life are distorted and imbued with a sense of menace, blurring the line between the ordinary and the extraordinary. This subtle manipulation of the familiar is a hallmark of effective horror writing, as it taps into our subconscious anxieties about the safety and security of our own surroundings. Ultimately, "The Uninvited Guest" is a chilling exploration of the power of fear and the fragility of the human mind. By leaving the nature of the uninvited guest undefined, Speechley forces us to confront our own deepest fears and anxieties. The story serves as a reminder that the most terrifying monsters are often those that reside within our own minds, waiting to be unleashed by the slightest hint of the unknown. The lingering unease that remains long after the final page is turned is a testament to Speechley's skill in crafting a truly unsettling and memorable tale.

The characters were so entertaining yet unlikeable. This thriller kept me guessing and I definitely wanna read more of this authors books.

This book was pretty good! It was a solid 4 star for me. The writing itself was pretty bland, but there were twists around literally every corner! I read this book in 24 hours because I NEEDED to know what happened next.

I’m not sure I was a fan of Megan, the main character. She was pretty unlikable to me, and way too forgiving throughout this whole story. BUT, the author definitely had me fooled at some points; I didn’t know what was the truth and what were lies so I understand Megan’s confusion!!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read The Uninvited Guest for free in exchange for my honest review.

Wow, I really enjoyed this one. Ms Speechley is an excellent author, and once again she didn't disappoint with this one. I can't wait to get my hands on the next one! Highly recommended
TB

Megan is about to marry the love of her life and goes on a "hen" weekend with some girlfriends. She doesn't know Beth who claims to be a cousin of her fiance. Things get pretty intense and Megan can't help but wonder who is trying to derail her marriage. I definitely enjoyed this and couldn't stop reading. The end was a total shock.

This one was not for me. Very juvenile and read more as a YA book. Very predictable, repetitive, and super over the top. Truly lacked suspense and I guessed where it was heading. It was also really hard to read because I hated all of the characters. They were all super annoying and fake and truly awful.

The was an enjoyable and well written book however the twists left a little to be desired. Overall the ending was interesting

Megan is about to go on her "hen party". When she gets there, there is a guest that no one seems to know- yet she knows all of them. This is an easy, breezy thriller that you can read in one day. There are twists- and boy was one of them a doozy!! However, I found that I could not connect, root for, or even admire a single character. I kept reading- even though at times Megan seemed incredibly naive, and did many ridiculous things. Everyone has secrets at this party, and trying to figure out who did what got a little crazy. You need to suspend belief to enjoy this thing! I can't write more- or I will give a lot away. If you want a quick read, with shocking turns (that don't all make sense), and can deal with unlikable characters- this would be a quick read for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books. This is my honest and voluntary review.