I always have loved Heather's books and this one did not disappoint either! The story was super crazy and so many things were happening. Its definitely a "at the edge of my seat" type of story.

The beginning of this book really captures your attention with the couple Madeline and Wes who are about to have a baby and having a gender reveal party on their ranch when something goes terribly wrong. From that point on you are instantly grabbed by it and need to know more. The story is filled with secrets, lies, betrayal and so much more. There were quite a few POV's so be on the lookout for that which i am not always a fan of with too many people but this one made an exception since all of the characters tie together with the story.

The ending too makes you think there just might be another book with that cliffhanger!
Great book, Definitely recommend it!

Oh this is a good one! The author does not disappoint! The twisty plot and shocking ending is worth the time of reading. Well done!

This one was hot mess express in a lot of ways. Uber rich country folk and a gender reveal gone wrong? I wasn’t sure where the hell it was going but it was very different than most Gudenkauf stories

Heather Gudenkauf’s The Perfect Hosts is a riveting blend of high-society glamour and dark secrets that will keep you guessing until the very last page. The story kicks off with Madeline and Wes Drake’s over-the-top gender reveal party at their sprawling horse ranch—think pistols, pearls, and enough drama to fill a small town. But what starts as a celebration quickly spirals into chaos when an explosive accident leaves one woman dead and everyone questioning what really happened. The author masterfully captures the tension among the guest list, revealing layers of deception, jealousy, and buried truths as Agent Jamie Saldano attempts to piece together the puzzle. Saldano’s internal struggles add depth to the investigation, making him a compelling character amidst the glamorous yet dangerous backdrop. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, a twist or two kicks in to keep you on your toes. Gudenkauf perfectly balances suspense, intrigue, and a splash of Southern sass, creating a story that’s equal parts thrilling mystery and satirical peek into the upper class. Whether you’re into tense whodunits or stories about secrets lurking behind perfect facades, The Perfect Hosts delivers an enjoyably unpredictable ride. A fantastic read that proves sometimes, the most beautiful parties hide the darkest secrets.

A ritzy gender reveal party goes horribly wrong in this twisty thriller. There are tons of characters and trying to figure out who is doing what and why makes this an unputdownable page-turner. Highly recommend for readers who like unreliable narrators, plot twists, and a whodunnit that keeps you guessing.

Thanks so much for the opportunity to read in advance!

The Perfect Hosts is a great who-done-it about a gender reveal party that goes horribly wrong. Madeline and husband, Wes, are having their first child. Wes has planned an over-the-top gender reveal party for the occasion. With all the town’s population at the event, what could possibly go wrong?!?
I loved all the twists, who did what to whom. I will definitely be reading more of Heather’s books!

This was a great book with an interesting setting and concept. All of the characters seemed untrustworthy and there was a lot of mystery around this gender reveal party!

✨I love a good ripped from the headlines story, and this one grabbed my attention from the start with an outrageous gender reveal turned tragedy. There were secrets and lies, mysteries to solve, a cold case, characters you love to hate and twists I didn’t see coming.

✨ The ending definitely has me pondering – and I kept help but think a sequel would be so amazing.

🌿Read if you like:
✨Thrillers
✨Ripped from the headline stories
✨Multiple points of view
✨Wyoming settings
✨Horse and ranch life
✨Reba (yes, that Reba)

My thanks to @parkrowbooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book before its publication date.

Once again, Heather Gudenkauf has written a thrilling, suspense-filled novel in her latest, "The Perfect Hosts". Grab this book and run to read it!!!!!

A gender reveal party gone wrong. Wes and Madeline Drake are the happy couple waiting to see if it’s a boy or girl, but an explosion happens and it’s chaos. They invited 200 of their closet so there’s presents scattered everywhere and people running. Agent Jaimie Saldana is called to the scene, he has a past with Wes and the Drake family. Everyone has a secret and can’t stay hidden forever. Thank you to the publisher for a copy.

This review contains spoilers.

When I was just a few pages in to The Perfect Hosts, I found myself thinking that there were already too many characters to keep track of. It didn't help that three of the characters introduced were Madeline, Mellie and Mia. However, once I got everyone straight, I found myself getting pulled in to the mystery. Heather Gudenkauf is a favorite thriller writer of mine. I will genuinely find myself on pins and needles reading her books. However, this one wasn't hitting the same way for me. It was almost as if there were too many mysteries to solve - past cases 20+ years old, infidelity mysteries, the most current mystery of the bombing. It just became a bit much. And never mind a story with one or two red herrings - in this story, just about every character was a red herring.
I also didn't find the characters very likable which made it hard to connect to the story.
Lastly, the end of the story became entirely too rushed as it became a race to solve all the open-ended mysteries. The treatment given to Juneau's story was almost an afterthought which I thought was not right after spending so much time on her and Jamie's stories.

I was left a bit unsatisfied by the story. However, I will still order this for the library's collection and recommend to those looking for a thriller.

Thank you to Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow, the way the author tied in real-life scenarios for gender reveals and put an unexpected spin on it was wonderful. The who done it had twists and turns right to the end. Such a good read that I sadly finished it too quick!!!

gripping, slow-burn thriller that delves into trust, trauma, and the facades people wear. With sharp pacing and emotional depth, Gudenkauf crafts a story that’s both suspenseful and hauntingly intimate.

I read this in one evening. I was all in from chapter one. There are twists and turns throughout. Loved it.

What starts out as a fun gender reveal party idea leads into a mystery that will leave you questioning everything. I loved learning more about these characters and the twisted motives they had. Keeps you guessing the whole way through!

This was such a gripping read! Heather Gudenkauf really knows how to build suspense, and The Perfect Hostess had me hooked from the start.

The story is full of twists, and just when you think you know what’s going on—boom, you’re wrong!

The characters felt real, and the tension kept me flipping pages late into the night. If you love a good psychological thriller, definitely check this one out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy for an honest review.

Loved this dark thriller that takes place during an over the top gender reveal party. A compulsive read that would be perfect for a beach read.

I usually love this author but I found The Perfect Hosts lacking her typical twists and turns. There was so much happening immediately and unfortunately, it was very predictable.

Thanks to @htp_hive and @netgalley for the gifted ARC!

An already over the top gender reveal for the richest couple in a small town goes horribly wrong when a second explosion leaves someone dead. Agent Jamie Saldano, who has a complicated history with this small town, is brought in to investigate and determine if this was an innocent mistake, or murder.

Once I read this premise I had to pick up this book immediately! I love any story of rich people behaving badly, small town secrets, and a great mystery! Gundenkauf delivers on all of the above in this fast faced thriller. Almost of of these characters were unlikable but that didn't take away from the fun of uncovering everyone's secrets and the lengths they will go to keep them buried. I really enjoyed this one!

This was far from what I was expecting. There was a lot going on from the beginning, and unfortunately I knew exactly how it would end from the beginning. I love this authors writing so even though this wasn’t my favorite, I’ll continue to read her books.