Alex Finlay does NOT disappoint! I don’t always love a book with a huge cast of characters. But Finlay managed to develop them all well and keep me invested. Then just when you think the story has concluded… BOOM! Plot twist!

Parents Weekend had me glued to the pages from the start. Having a child in college I knew going into this what Parents Weekend was about. I enjoyed the over all plot, fast pace and surprises throughout the book. Overall, this was a winner. Highly recommend!

This review will be shared to my account @coffee.break.book.reviews closer to pub date.

Many thanks for my gifted copy.

Very much enjoyed this book. Interesting story line and the characters are easy to either like or dislike. I could see the police lady (FBI? ) in the book being a character in a future book by Finlay.
Audio narration was excellent.

The story takes its time building up, with a slower pace that may not be for everyone. While the premise has potential, the unfolding of events felt gradual and less impactful than expected. It might appeal to readers who enjoy a more measured approach to suspense.

Libby, Blane, Mark, Felix and Stella are known as the five. And when all five of them go missing from campus on parents weekend their parents demand to know where they are. Their parents range from the super powerful and wealthy to a nice simple woman who works for the dean to put her son through school. We hear from all of them. There are so many characters in this book you’ll need a spreadsheet. Jk, but I was close to whipping one out.
Agent Keller, who has apparently appeared in other Alex Finlay books, such as The Night Shift, is having some upheaval in her personal life, but when she’s brought on the case she’s good to go. I liked this character the most and enjoyed the asides with her family.
The story itself was pretty good but just felt rushed. There could have been so many more details. And I had no reason whatsoever to care about these characters. Most were very unlikable and others were vague and not fleshed out.
Character is a huge part of a story for me. I can read a bad book with great characters any day over what this was, an okay story with lifeless characters.
I received this in audio format in exchange for an honest review. It was read by Brittany Pressley, she did a good job. Some of the voices she did were a little syrupy for my taste. But, overall, I would recommend this as an audio book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Always love an Alex Finlay thriller. The only thing that ever causes me to drop to four stars is the quantity of people to keep track of in the beginning! But it always comes full circle and pulls it all together! This was a good one for sure! It will be on my hook clubs to read list!

It is parents weekend at a exclusive private college. The students in seminar will be eating with their parents and the parents of the other members of their group. The students do not show up. Even worse, their phones are not working and they are not answering text messages. A few days before parents weekend, a female student was found dead, so now the mystery surrounding that adds mystery to this. Slowly, you are introduced to each set of parents and you are given information that makes it even spookier for their kids. Things like affairs, government issues, divorces, add to all the drama unfolding. There are a few students that you really want to root for, but when it is discovered who has the students it becomes fast paced and you just cannot wait for the end. This one kept my attention but some of these parents are horrible. Thank you #Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this title.

Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay has an interesting premise but fell a bit short in execution. What happens when five students disappear during parents weekend? Told from multiple points of view and timelines, the story had good potential. However, trying to develop five studients, five sets of parents, and the investigators resulted in all characters feeling underdeveloped. Normally I can forgive that in a thriller, but this didn't feel too thrilling. It was a fine novel but forgettable. In contrast to Finlay's last work, If Something Happens to Me, this one was disappointing.

The narration was good.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for a free copy of #ParentsWeekend by Alex Finlay. All opinions are my own.

When a group of college kids goes missing, the search for answers begins. This was a book with a lot of different characters and personalities. I enjoyed following the clues until the culprit was finally revealed.

Parents Weekend was an enjoyable read (or listen in this case) but it was difficult to follow at times. To be honest I still cannot fully recall which parents went to which students.

The ending left me needing more. More pages, more character development, just more. A lot happened, yet not enough happened…

I don’t mind multiple POVs as I love Lucy Foley books, but this was too much for me.

I did like the overall vibe, yes, but I also wouldn’t go around recommending it as a must read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC.

Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay is a thrilling, cleverly written mystery that shines in both audiobook and print formats. Whether you’re listening or reading, this book keeps you on the edge of your seat with its gripping plot and unexpected twists.

In both versions, Finlay’s storytelling is sharp and engaging, weaving a web of secrets, lies, and family dynamics that will keep you hooked from start to finish. The characters are complex, and the suspense builds steadily, making it a true page-turner (or in the case of the audiobook, a “press-play-and-don’t-want-to-pause” experience).

The audiobook is wonderfully narrated, with the voice actors bringing the tension and emotional depth of the story to life. The pacing is spot-on, and the delivery of the twists is absolutely perfect. In print, the writing flows just as effortlessly, with the same captivating suspense and plot twists that make Finlay’s work so enjoyable.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced, well-crafted mystery with a strong sense of tension and heart, Parents Weekend is a must-read/listen. Whether you prefer audio or print, this one delivers an unforgettable experience.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.25/5)

“How many worst days can one person have?”

So this one was alright but overall a miss for me. It wasn’t bad but just not my jam and here’s why…

🚫Dark Academia
🚫Too many characters without development (although I did like Agent Keller)
🚫Unnecessary characters (all of the cheating wasn’t necessary, well except the one)
🚫 Cohesiveness just didn’t get there for me. It was a bit all over the place.

I did think the audio narrator was an excellent choice and definitely added to holding my interest in the story.

I won’t go as far as to say Alex Finlay isn’t an author for me, because I do like some of his stuff. This book just wasn’t one that I was all that invested in. The only thing I remember about it was geofencing, going to the country club to meet up with the judge for the warrant and the cave details…which isn’t good bc I legit just finished the book.

All of that being said, you can tell the author really did his research in putting this one together. So kudos to him for that.

Honestly I struggled with this one. There were so many characters it became really hard to follow and was just kind of blah. The end was interesting but that was about it.

Well…Alex Finlay has done it again! Parents Weekend was a total blast! I love his short chapters & how he weaves the multiple POV’s together!

Parents Weekend follows, well, a group a parents after there kids go missing during…parents weekend! (Shall I say parents weekend again!)

This was super fun…I loved all the different family stories and drama. I was kinda underwhelmed by the outcome but I still totally enjoyed this book! File this under you’re best fun “popcorn thriller”.

I thought the audio was fantastic!

Five families arrive at a small private college in northern Cali for parents weekend. Despite confirming with their children, none of the five students show up to the parents dinner at the restaurant just off campus. In fact, none of the students can be found at all. One of the kids' mother is in a high profile job in D.C. and was kidnapped as a young child. Another of the kids' father is a judge who recently completed a case with a Hollywood power couple. Could that be why the kids have disappeared, or was it something else? FBI Agent Sarah Keller has just moved out to California, and finds herself in the middle of this mess. After several days, the kids are still missing and not a ping from their phones. Where could they have all gone?

I enjoyed Agent Keller's character, but the characterization of the college kids - the ones we are supposed to be invested in finding - was too minimal for me. I didn't really care if they were found or not as I didn't really know them. I dropped a star due to that. Overall, the story was engaging and a quick read.

As a parent of a college-aged daughter I was very intrigued by this thriller as soon as I saw the title! From the very beginning as we meet the various parent couples, Alex Finlay doesn't take long in building suspense - one by one we discover the parents are all pretty much a red hot mess in various incarnations. The beginning third is very taut and moves quickly into the setup; the middle third for this reader was a bit slow, and I did keep wondering when are we going to learn more about the kids, which I felt was critical to add to the tension so the reader really cares how this situation plays out; the final third moved very quickly again, maybe almost too quickly, to the reveal. While this was a wild ride filled with great red herrings and clever twists, and with some really excellent writing and rich characters, I did think the reveal was obvious by the end, but it was definitely still worth the thrill and I will definitely look for more books by Alex Finlay.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Set against the backdrop of a Northern California private college, families are gathering for Parents Weekend with their kids at the college. While drinks and small talk occupy the adults, none notice that some students never arrive. Five are missing.
Five who shared the same dorm but are all from different backgrounds.

Unfortunately, the kids were not the main focus. The parents and the FBI case were instead. I understand this, but I would have liked to learn more about The Five, as the poscasters called them.

While I enjoyed the story, it was a bit difficult to follow the large cast of characters and multiple POV. Also, this book is definitely a slow burn. Switching over from eyeballs 👀 to 🎧 audiobook helped the pacing and tone, making it much easier to follow along without the confusion.

Brittany Pressley did a stellar job with all the different voices and absolutely brought the story to life.

Read if you enjoy :
♥︎ campus setting ♥︎ lies
♥︎ secrets. ♥︎ Family drama
♥︎ betrayal. ♥︎ dual timeline
♥︎ revenge

Thanks to Macmillian Audio and Saint Martin's Press for my advanced copy. My review was voluntary.

My first dive into an Alex Finley novel proved to be a satisfying experience, offering a decent mystery that shines through its immersive multiple points of view. The shifting perspectives initially caused some confusion, but once I found my footing, they enriched the story, pulling me deeper into the narrative. Special Agent Keller’s POV stole the show, bringing a compelling and dynamic voice that stood out among the rest.
While the mystery itself leaned predictable at times, it didn’t detract from the overall enjoyment. The narrator’s performance added an extra layer of polish, enhancing the storytelling with skill and clarity. For newcomers to Finley’s work or fans of character-driven mysteries, this is a solid, engaging read worth checking out.

Every parents worst nightmare come true - your child says they will meet you for dinner and they never show up. Now times this by five! Five parents who expected their children for Parents Weekend Dinner and suddenly what was supposed to be a celebration turns into the worst night of their lives.

Oh what a delicious ride this was, as this book takes you deep into the hidden lives of parents and children until the truths are laid bare. But will everything come to light in time? You’ll just have to read this fabulous book and find out.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of thrillers, this was one of the good ones and I enjoyed every moment of it.

Parents Weekend was an enjoyable story set on a college campus. This was a pretty fast read but so many characters to keep up with. I did get sucked in from the beginning.