This was a quick, bingeable read—under 300 pages—which makes it perfect for a weekend thriller fix.

The narration was engaging and easy to follow, adding a nice rhythm to the story. However, the multiple family perspectives made the plot feel a bit scattered and hard to connect with at times. While marketed as a thriller, the storyline was pretty straightforward with no major twists to really surprise me.

It’s a simple, basic thriller that does the job if you’re in the mood for something light and fast-paced, but it may not leave a lasting impression.

Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

🖊️ Publication date: May 6, 2025

“Today won’t be Felix’s entry into a hopeful world, a fresh start, but maybe it can be hers.”

🎓 Genre: Thriller
🎓 Steamy rating: Cold
🎓 Profanity: Mild

Parents Weekend wasn’t my favorite Alex Finlay novel, but it kept me engaged. The story follows a group of parents who arrive at Santa Clara University for Parents Weekend only to have secrets and scandals unravel when 5 of their children go missing.

While the premise was intriguing and it held my attention, the story lacked the cliffhangers and emotionally fueled family drama that I expected from the title of the book. The character development also felt somewhat light. I didn’t find myself truly connecting with any of the characters.

Thank you @macmillan.audio for the gifted copy of Alex Findlay’s new book.

Triggers: Infidelity, death, drug use, and bullying

Alex Finlay is an auto read author for me. I really enjoyed this newest thriller. The wide cast of characters were intriguing and there were a lot of potential ways the storyline could go. So this kept me engaged and guessing. The narration was excellent.

I absolutely loved Parents Weekend—a fast-paced, twisty thriller that kept me guessing until the very end. When five college students vanish during Parents Weekend, their families are thrown into a nightmare that unearths secrets, lies, and deep emotional tension. Told through the perspectives of the parents, the story dives into family dynamics, expectations, and the bonds that form during those early college days.

Alex Finlay does an excellent job of building suspense while making each character feel real and flawed. The return of FBI Agent Sarah Keller adds a sharp investigative edge, and just when you think you have it figured out, a new twist changes everything.

This is a smart, emotional, and utterly gripping read. Highly recommend for fans of character-driven thrillers.

This one takes a little bit to get into because there are soooooooo many characters. Once I settled in though, I was hooked. I absolutely loved the way the plot unfolded, and the audio narration kept me listening! This was almost a 5 star read for me, but the ending just felt......anticlimactic. After all of the build up in the action, I wanted a stronger and twistier ending than we ended up with. That said, I still recommend this one!

Page turner from the start. Imagine showing up for parents weekend and by the end you are solving a murder. There are many complex characters. Very action packed. You will point your finger at each character at least once before the book is done. This will be a perfect summer read!

On opening night of parents weekend at a small private college in Northern California, a dinner is planned for the parents of 5 freshman of Campus Hall. The parents all arrive for the dinner, but then none of the five students show up. At first, no one is worried...they are probably out just being typical college kids and lost track of time. But as the night progresses and calls to each of their cell phones goes unanswered, the parents begin to panic. Campus police are called, who in turn call for reinforcements. Because two of the students have high profile parents, and that could be a possible motive for their disappearance, the FBI is called in as well. Libby, Blane, Mark, Felix, and Stella—The Five, as the podcasters, bloggers, and TikTok sleuths call them seem to have vanished without a trace. Where did they go? And could it be the sins of their mothers and fathers come to cause them peril or a threat to the friend group from within?

This book was so good. I was captivated from the very first chapter. It is told through multiple points of view, and it brings back FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller from Every Last Fear and The Night Shift. The suspense had me on the edge of my seat through most of the book. Although I had guessed what had happened to The Five before the end of the book, there was still a twist at the end. I also like that the book ended with their graduation, and where they all ended up. I had the opportunity to read the book as well as listen to the audiobook, so I switched back and forth between the two. I really liked the narrator for the audiobook and thought they did an excellent job bringing the characters to life. If you enjoy a good thriller, then you should definitely check this out!

Five families are planning for a parents weekend at a private Northern California University, these parents are all influential and much care has been taken in the security for this weekend. As the families arrive, we get to know each one of them, as well as teens. Also new to town is FBI agent Keller, her and her husband and children have moved to look after his ill father and she’s looking forward to working in the local office.

When the parents arrive at the first evening’s dinner for drinks and food, the teens do not show up. At first, the parents think they just blew off the dinner, but it quickly becomes a parent that all of them are missing. Agent Keller is tasked with investigating crime; and she won’t stop until she gets to the bottom of things.

This book started out really strong and I really enjoyed agent Keller’s character, but as the story went on, I felt the storyline wasn’t as strong in the end as at the beginning. Still a pretty good read for sure.


Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house and author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

When I start an Alex Finlay book, I know that I'm going to be entertained, and Parents Weekend delivered. Five missing college kids during parents weekend event is an intriguing concept. Add in a few high-profile parents and some with dark pasts, and Parents Weekend is a one-sitting binge. If I had one criticism, it would be that there's a lot of characters to keep track of, and I found myself flipping back frequently in the first quarter of the book to keep myself straight on who was who. It didn't affect my enjoyment of the book in any way, and I would highly recommend this book to all my thriller-loving friends. I'm expecting to see Parents Weekend in a lot of beach bags this summer. It's the perfect summer read.

Alex Finlay does it again! I love how his novels always intertwines multiple characters and their perspectives. Its always a wild ride trying to figure out how everyone is interconnected. I also love how this novel reunites the reader with Special Agent Sarah Keller. A group of students goes missing during Parents Weekend at their university. As the novel unravels, readers are left on a wild adventure to try and figure out what happened while learning about each families secrets and why they would want to keep it hidden. Do not pass this one up!
!

If you’re looking for a fast paced thriller this is it! I can always count on his books to get me to read and to read a book fast! I binged this in two days! A college campus with missing college kids and rich parents. Agent Sarah Keller is back to help find the kids. I enjoyed this book and all the different point of views. I will definitely recommend this book to my family and friends.

Alex Finlay’s Parents Weekend delivers a whirlwind of suspense, secrets, and high-stakes drama set against the backdrop of a college campus weekend that takes a dark and unexpected turn. Known for his twisty plots and sharp pacing, Finlay once again brings a gripping thriller to the table—but this time, with a narrative that can at times feel overwhelming due to its complex layers.

From the outset, the story hits the ground running, offering a multitude of characters, perspectives, and plot threads that demand close attention. While the fast pace and constant developments create a sense of urgency and intrigue, the sheer volume of action and shifting focus can make it a challenge to stay fully grounded in the storyline. That said, the mystery at its core is compelling, and the suspense builds steadily, keeping listeners engaged and eager to uncover the truth.

The audiobook format adds an extra layer of immersion, with the narrator effectively capturing the emotional highs and lows of the characters while maintaining momentum throughout the twists and turns. Still, some listeners may find themselves wishing for a bit more depth and character development to fully connect with the stakes at hand.

Despite its complexity, Parents Weekend is an entertaining and fast-paced listen that offers plenty of suspense and surprise. Fans of Finlay’s previous work will appreciate the high-energy style and signature misdirection. With just a touch more narrative clarity and character depth, this could have been a standout. As it stands, it’s a solid thriller that mystery lovers will still find enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!
Loved it! I have loved other books by Alex Finlay and jumped to read this when I had the chance! I loved it! There were some parts that may have been predictable but overall, I hadn’t guessed the main twists and had been surprised! I had the audiobook version, and the narrator was great! I listened to this in one sitting!

I really enjoy this author! Surprisingly I didn't get lost in how many characters there were, each one had an interesting story and secret that they held. I was captivated, even though I had a sneaking suspicion all along who the kidnapper(s) were. Even though I was right, I enjoyed the audiobook. I would recommend to those that like thrillers!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I didn’t find this book to be as thrilling or interesting as some of this authors other books. There was a lot of jumping around and it felt like there were just so many characters and I couldn’t fully keep up. I think this book would have ended a few chapters in if anyone talked to each other or talked about their problems. I predicted the twist but I enjoyed the way the author revealed it and the edge of your seat thrill as the book came to an end.

A 3, for me, is still a good book, just not my favorite. I would recommend reading this one for a quick twisty thriller!

Parents Weekend is about five students from a private university who disappear right before their parent’s weekend dinner. Their parents have all traveled in and are at dinner but their kids never show. These students, nicknamed “The Five” all seem to be from different crowds so why did they all go missing? How did five students all vanish at the same time?

Parents Weekend is told from each of the different students parent’s perspectives. We learn about the different families as well as the FBI agent that gets pulled in to help find The Five. This was fast paced and twisty. I loved the short chapters that made me not able to stop reading. Parents Weekend read like a movie This was my first Alex Finlay thriller but I am excited to read more! I thoroughly enjoyed Parents Weekend!

(3.5 stars, rounded up to 4)
I received an advance copy of the audiobook. Narrator Brittany Pressley does a stellar, five-star job, deftly voicing a multitude of characters.
I’m of two minds about this book.
The premise is fantastic: four college freshmen go missing during Parents Weekend, leaving their families waiting anxiously at a restaurant. As minutes turn into hours, annoyance turns to fear. The police get involved, and each student’s life — and those of their parents — are examined.
Finlay knows his way around a sentence. He defines characters quickly and skillfully, with just a few elegant brushstrokes — a real strength, considering the sheer number of people in play. Between the students, their friends, the parents, detectives, and school officials, it feels like a cast of thousands, but I was never confused or lost track of who was who.
The first 75% of the book was excellent. I found myself lingering in my driveway just to listen a little longer. But the final stretch felt rushed — almost as if a chapter had gone missing. A pivotal character doesn’t appear until well into the story, which felt off-balance, especially given how much attention Finlay gives to more peripheral players. Just a paragraph or two with said character in the background earlier would have made me feel like all the pieces were properly laid out on the board.
That said, the ending is ultimately satisfying, and the final pages are genuinely lovely.
This is a good book — and certainly worth a read — but it felt tantalizingly close to being a great one.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7491182781

“They run, run with a primal fear knowing that if they slow down all five of them will die. It’s hard to think in this fog of terror…but now, with sand in their shoes, waves crashing, the bonfire burning in the distance, they leave those trivialities behind, and they run.”

Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay is an exciting thriller narrated by Brittany Pressley, who brings Finley‘s words and characters to life.

The novel is full of unexpected twists and turns, and the parents seem real albeit flawed. I did, however, feel as though the storyline of the missing students was underdeveloped. Most of the novel was spent on developing the characters of the students’ parents - yet I found myself getting confused with who was whom.

I loved the relationship of Agent Sarah Keller and her husband Bob. Everyone should have a Bob to bring the sunshine to life!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing an advanced review copy of the audio version of this title for an honest review.

📖 Bookish Thoughts:
Absolutely loved this thriller! The five college students vanishing during Parents Weekend? Immediate hit. I really enjoyed getting POVs from both the students and their parents—it gave the story more momentum!

And our FBI Agent? She was a total baddie. Smart, sharp, and calm. I adored her and her sweet, supportive husband.

It was a little confusing at first with all the POV shifts, but once it clicked—ohhh it clicked. I felt like I was watching a movie the whole time. The ending? So freaking good… and so absolutely heartbreaking. 😭😭😭 This is that “hold your breath” kind of suspense.

🖤 Read if you love:
• Missing persons
• Dual timelines
• Multiple POVs
• College campus
• Helicopter parents
• Baddie FBI agent

⭐️ Book Rating: ★★★★★
🎧 Audio Score: ★★★★★
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo Narrator

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy. All thoughts are my own.

'Parents Weekend' was an interesting thriller. At parents' dinner for a college event, five students never arrive and seemed to have disappeared. Initially, taking the case is Agent Keller. I liked her no-nonsense approach. There were multiple points of view within the story. Secrets were discovered in all the families as the investigation continued. Short chapters added to the suspense. The narrator handled all of the voices well. 4 stars.