This story hits the ground running and never slows down. It's a great mystery with lots of engaging, interesting characters. I've read all of Finlay's books and I always like when Sarah Keller is on the case. It's fast-paced, enjoyable, and devastating, all at once. It's also a great reminder that life isn't fair and doesn't always play by the "rules." Great story and one that I definitely think others will enjoy too.

While I didn’t dislike this book, I didn’t love it either. I just never felt super sucked into the plot, and the only characters I felt truly connected to were Officer Keller and Annie. Although, I did like last few chapters that gave a glimpse of where everyone’s at now. I think I would have gotten more interested in the storyline if the development was just focused on the kids and their pasts instead of the parents as well. Overall, I enjoyed listening to it. But it wasn’t as gripping as some of Alex Finlay’s other stories.

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio, and Alex Finlay for providing me with an ARC e-audiobook of "Parents Weekend". This is a fast paced thriller involving 5 freshman students, at a private college in California, who go missing on Parents Weekend. Told from many multiple points of view, the intrigue captures you to understand what has happened to these students and the events that lead up to their disappearance. With a lot of family secrets and drama, you will be captivated. The narrator did an excellent job in building the suspence. My favorite characters was Special Agent Sarah Keller and her husband. I hope there are more books in the future with these characters. Overall, I liked this book but was not my favorite Alex Finlay book. I was disappointed in the ending, as I was hoping for so much more. I am glad I listened to this book but not likely one I would pick up again in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan audio for the advanced audio copy of Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay.

This was a gripping fast paced thriller. It starts out as a rather normal parents weekend at a college. That is until the students of the parents in the group don't show up and as the night goes on, not a text or call is received from any of them.

This is one of those novels that has a multiple points of view, and you're getting it from a fair amount of characters since we have 5 families of parents and students. What I particularly loved was how the story kept surprising me. Just when I thought I had it figured out, another layer would reveal even more secrets and complications.

I think anyone who is a fan of thrillers will enjoy this one.

A group of friends goes missing at the same time their parents are visiting them at college for parents weekend. I enjoyed that this one had short chapters, multiple POV's, and was a quick read. There were a lot of characters, so I feel like they were difficult to keep straight at times. There were a few twists and turns throughout this one -- some that I saw coming and some I didn't. Overall, I found this one enjoyable. If you're looking for a quick read, set on a college campus, this would be a good one to pick up.

3.5 stars ⭐️ SO many characters, POVs, AND dual timeline. I was confused while listening. The narrator, Brittany Pressley, did a great job as a single narrator in this book. I ended up liking the story but I found myself having to rewind to understand what was happening at times.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

3.75⭐️! I thought this was a really good popcorn thriller! I did get the families confused a couple times. I liked the pov from the detective. I did guess the twist, but I liked that there were many many red herrings!

Well, I've tried. Three times. This was the third book I picked by this author and now I quit. Alex Finlay is not an author for me.
I don't enjoy his writing style, his characters and plot twists. And this book has way too many characters, and none of them held my attention or interest.
The audiobook narrator did what she could with what she had on her hands. I really didn't like this book and I only blame the author, not the audiobook production.
Thank you, anyway, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

Alex Finlay's books are always an auto read for me, so I was so excited for the chance to read Parents Weekend! Parents Weekend grabbed me from the first chapter and I couldn't stop listening. I really enjoyed the variety of characters and the twists and turns troughout this mystery for the missing five college kids. You will love Parents Weekend!

Interesting thriller. Narrator did stellar job. It keeps you wanting to know what happened. A nice easy selection for a rainy day

This was ok. It wasn't very suspenseful and was pretty easy to figure out. The multiple POV were ok but I really only enjoyed the FBI agent in terms of moving the story along. The rest just felt forced. The narrator was good, however. Hope you have better luck!

Parents' Weekend comes out next week on May 6, 2025 and you can purchase HERE.

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.

Earlier this week their biggest fears were a mom finding his stash of edibles, a dad finding those condoms in her dorm room nightstand. A mom finding her fake ID. A dad finding his crumpled exam with the D circled in red.

But now, with sand in their shoes, waves crashing, the bonfire burning in the distance, they leave those trivialities behind.

And they run.

They reach the narrow path to the sea cave, link hands in a chain as they navigate the perilous waves and jagged rocks into the hollow.
Huddled in the gloom they stay still as stone. Thoughts swirling, they wonder what clues the police will find. The group chat? The social-media posts? The video of the horror that brought them here?

College students go missing on Parents Weekend! A few too many characters and sub-plots for my liking, but I enjoyed the premise of the book and the multiple POVs. It would make for a good thriller to read during the back-to-school season.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an Audio ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

The twists and turns we love in an Alex Finlay are back and ready to have you so invested.

1. I actually really liked "The Five" but wished it was more of them and less parents.

2. Parents are the worst. I mean it definitely made the story but why are some people the way they are 😅😅😅 *All parents should be like Bob.

3. Sarah Keller is back! IYKYK. If you don't please go back and read Every Last Fear and thank me later.

4. I love multiple POVs. It does take longer to set the scene but in my opinion worth it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.

If you’re looking for your next can’t-press-pause thriller, Parents Weekend is it! The audiobook had me fully hooked—from the opening chapter to the final twist. With multiple POVs and a mix of past and present timelines, this story was made for audio. Each narrator brought a fresh, distinct voice to the characters, and the pacing was chef’s kiss 🔥.

Set at a Northern California college during what should’ve been a celebratory Parents Weekend, the story unravels after five freshmen mysteriously vanish. At first, it feels like college kids being college kids… but when silence stretches into days, panic sets in. From suspicious parents to hidden pasts and social media speculation, Parents Weekend becomes a smart, layered mystery about secrets, family pressure, and the weight of expectations.

The return of FBI Agent Sarah Keller (yes, from Every Last Fear and The Night Shift) is a welcome bonus for longtime Finlay fans, and the ensemble cast adds real depth and emotion to the listening experience. 🎙️

I can definitely see why there's so much hype around this book on bookstagram - I thought it was great! I was worried at first that the amount of people involved, and with there being perspectives from most of them, that it would get confusing, but each set of characters/couples are really their own so it was simple enough to keep it all together. I think this story line was super interesting, especially after the author stating it came to him after his own parents weekend at his son's college. I felt the pacing of this was well done and kept me hooked. It only took me a few days to get through it. Well done in my opinion.

I have enjoyed several of Alex Finlay’s previous books and always appreciate Brittany Pressley's engaging narration style. Unfortunately, this particular story struggled to keep my attention consistently, and I often found myself distracted. I think what was missing for me was a stronger introduction to the college student characters—I didn't feel emotionally connected or invested in their outcomes by the midpoint. However, this wasn't a bad read overall, and I'm sure many readers will find it enjoyable. That's why I settled on giving it a middle-of-the-road rating of three stars.

His son’s parents weekend freshman year inspired Alex Finlay’s latest thriller. A girl at the college is found dead and 4 parents can’t reach their teens. As the hunt for the missing students starts in earnest the POV alternates between FBI Agent Sarah Keller, the various parents and occasionally a glimpse in to the kids’ ordeal. All of the parents are a bit dysfunctional in their own right, with so many secrets, Keller is not short for leads - just time. Readers will feel nostalgic for college and likely identify with a parent’s hopes and dreams too.

3.75 out of 5 stars (rounded to four)

Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay, narrated by Brittany Pressley

This book has everything you expect (and want) from a contemporary thriller: multiple POVs, unexpected plot twists, and morally ambiguous characters with layered backstories that slowly unravel as the story unfolds.

At first, I had a hard time pinning down who the true main character was—a common trait in thrillers these days—but as the narrative progressed, it became clear whose perspective was central to the storyline. Listening to the audiobook made it easier to follow the shifting POVs; I think if I had read a physical copy, I might have struggled more to keep track of everyone.

That said, there are a lot of characters and perspectives to juggle. But it makes sense—this all takes place during Parents Weekend at a college campus, and the plot revolves around the intertwining lives of people who don’t really know each other but are all connected through their college-aged kids (who, let’s be real, are always someone’s baby).
Some plot points were predictable, but a few still managed to catch me off guard. And even the side stories, which at times felt like standalone episodes, ended up tying together in a way that gave the whole book a TV show vibe—in a good way. It had that bingeable quality.

One thing I really appreciated was how well-researched the story felt. You could tell the author took care with the details and put thought into the concept and execution.

Trigger warnings: death, murder, sexual assault, stalking, infidelity, and drug use.

It's parents weekend for five freshmen at a small private school in California. And the parents are visiting. Students have been grouped in their residential hall and the group of five, Libby, Blaine, Mark, Felix, and Stella, agree to meet along with all their parents for dinner. But, the students never show up. Initially, it's assumed they found a better party, but as time goes on and the freshmen aren't heard from, the police and reporters become involved. Especially since another student was recently found dead. Drowned. She was a friend of theirs.

Narration rotates from family to family, giving the reader a glimpse into the diverse lives and difficulties of each. From the single mother with the scholarship student to the D.C. politician who comes with an entourage, all the parents face some harsh realities about themselves and their families.

FBI Agent Sarah Keller has just transferred to the California office and gets pulled into the case. No easy feat since she's 'new kid on the block,'
and trying to settle her children and husband in with his terminally ill father in a new environment. The story takes expected and unexpected twists with completely unanticipated problems that might figure into the disappearance of the students.

A dramatic conclusion answers the questions, and brings sorrow and changes for some of the families.

Narrator Brittany Presley offers convincing perspectives for each family. Fans of Finlay and mystery fans everywhere will enjoy this one.

This book had me from the first chapter. The various POV's of the different parents and students were fascinating and I had no idea what was coming next.