This was quite suspenseful. Plenty of drama!! The intensity definitely increases the further into the story you go.

I found myself more drawn into Jamie’s story and his sisters missing case. I wanted to know more about that and him. I felt like his character was well developed and easily cared for him. But the other characters didn’t feel fully fleshed out.

I felt like in the start of the story, it just starts. I didn’t have any inclination of who these characters were. Their backstory, their feelings. Their relationships. What’s going on. I think I needed more in the beginning to get into the story. It was hard to get fully invested or to understand much because I didn’t know them. Even by the end I had no idea how far along the main character is. Seemed pretty far along but generally a gender reveal is done earlier in the pregnancy so it was kind of weird.

I think the plot was good. The twists were good. But the character development was lacking.

A gender reveal party turns deadly in this thriller by Heather Gudenkauf. When Wes and Cordelia Drake invite two hundred friends to their ranch for a gender reveal, no one expects the color canon to misfire and their midwife to die. Was it an accident? Is someone at fault? Agent Jamie Saldano finds a web of lies and deception when he arrives to investigate. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This book is jam packed full of secrets. From the beginning, you don’t know who to trust. There are two main mysteries that we are out to solve. They seem fairly distant and I kept waiting for them to intersect. Unfortunately, I saw the first big reveal coming and the second seemed sort of like a cop out even though it was shocking. The women definitely stole the show in this one (Sorry Jamie, I do still like you). I really appreciate how all of the loose ends got tied up and how there weren’t many unanswered questions. The Perfect Hosts is action from beginning to end and I loved the ranch setting

The Perfect Hosts promises Gudenkauf at her twistiest, cresting atmosphere with high-stakes drama and a killer secret at its core. Ideal for fans of tightly wound domestic suspense and southern gothic events—or anyone curious about a gender reveal gone catastrophically wrong. The early praise is strong; time will tell if the payoff lands across a broader reader base.

Let me know if you'd like a focused summary once real reader reviews roll in!

I loved this book so much! Madeline Drake and her husband Wes planned to have a huge gender reveal party when an unimaginable event happens. This requires the ATF to get involved and help solve a murder.

This book had a lot of twists that weren’t expected and a great outcome after what’s happened. There is some domestic violence in the book, so if that’s a trigger then I might skip it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advance readers cops. Publication date- Nov. 4th, 2025.

I enjoyed this book and it kept my interest. It had twists that I did not see coming. I debated between 3 and 4 stars- as I said it kept my interest and had good twists, yet there was just something missing for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars)

Heather Gudenkauf delivers an atmospheric thriller in The Perfect Hosts, blending eerie isolation with classic psychological suspense. The setup is intriguing - a couple offering sanctuary that slowly unravels into something far more sinister - and the tension builds steadily, until it doesn't.

I appreciated the moody setting and the subtle commentary on trust, trauma, and survival. Gudenkauf’s writing is sharp, and the pacing mostly held my interest. Some twists felt more convenient than chilling, and I found myself wishing for deeper character development in places.

That said, the ending took a turn I didn’t expect, and I have to give credit for a final twist that genuinely surprised me. It added a punch of shock that left me rethinking some earlier moments in the book.

I’d recommend it to those who enjoy a suspenseful story with secrets lurking just beneath the surface, and a payoff that sneaks up on you.

The Perfect Hosts follows Wes and Madeline Drake, whose extravagant gender reveal party goes horribly wrong when an explosion injures several and kills Madeline‘s best friend. As the investigation uncovers secrets from the past and present, it begins to seem that no one is safe.

This book tries to do a lot in a short period of time. It moves quickly and has some interesting twists and turns, but I did feel a little bit like too much was crammed within the pages. There were subplots that didn’t really get enough attention to be compelling, and I didn’t feel that I got the opportunity to really connect with many characters. Overall, it was a solid read, just not a favorite.

My thanks to the author, publishers, NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC!

Overall, this was a OK book. I did enjoy the fact that the characters are very crazy and a bit messy which helps and trying to figure out who the most craziest one is and who’s responsible for the incident. I do feel that the book has a lot of different storylines, which I know that at the end they do tie in together, but it did feel like there was a lot going on, and it was a little bit hard to focus on each of the storylines.. The other issue was did feel a bit rushed towards the end, but it did hold my interest so overall I’m glad that I have the opportunity to read it, and I will continue to read more books from the author..

A different mystery/thriller set on a ranch in Wyoming. This books focuses on the bond between siblings as well as other family dynamics. Overall a powerful reminder of what we will do to protect our loves and how far we will go for them.

The Perfect Host by Heather Gudenkauf is a gripping, tightly wound thriller that plays expertly on isolation and unease. Set mostly within the confines of a seemingly idyllic guest house, the story slowly unspools with mounting dread, and I couldn’t look away. Gudenkauf masterfully uses a minimalist cast and setting to her advantage, making every glance, every line of dialogue feel suspect. The dual timelines are well balanced and add depth to the unfolding mystery without ever feeling disorienting. It’s one of those reads where you know something is off, but you’re never quite sure what—or who—to trust until it all clicks into place.

What I appreciated most was how Gudenkauf captured the subtle, creeping fear of not being safe where you’re supposed to feel at home. The characters were layered and unpredictable, and I found myself second-guessing everyone’s motives, including the narrator’s. While the plot doesn’t rely on shock value or overly dramatic twists, the slow-burn suspense made for a satisfying and unsettling ride. If you enjoy domestic thrillers with claustrophobic tension and a simmering sense of paranoia, The Perfect Host delivers.

People should look for this book when it’s available in bookstores. This book was terrific and I hope there is a sequel. Highly recommend..

Thank you to NetGalley, Park Row Publishers, and the author Heather Gudenkauf for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The wealthy Madeline and Wes Drake seem to have it all. They are young, wealthy, and expecting their first baby. Their party planner organizes a gender reveal at their "ranch" with the theme or pistols or pearls. Wes wants to do something large scale so they decide to blow up an old truck for the reveal. Things don't go as planned and chaos ensues.

Told from multiple POVs including Madeline, Mellie (a waitress working the party), Lucy (Madeline's scheming step sister), and Jamie an ATF agent and former resident of the small town. Jamie's sister Juneau disappeared from the town many years ago and has never been found. He anxiously returns to not only investigate the party gone wrong, but also to try and find out what happened to his sister.

For the most part, I liked the book. I did feel like not everything was tied up at the end and I did not really care for the ending,

3 1/2 stars rounded up

Gudenkauf's writing is both compelling and atmospheric, drawing readers into the small-town setting where everyone seems to have something to hide. The pacing is relentless, with each chapter revealing new twists and turns that keep the suspense building. The characters are richly developed, each harboring their own secrets and motivations, making it difficult to discern who the true culprits are until the final, shocking conclusion.

The Perfect Hosts is a standout in the genre of domestic thrillers, offering a gripping narrative that explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the masks people wear to conceal their true selves. It's a must-read for fans of psychological suspense and anyone who enjoys a story that keeps them guessing until the very end.

Another expert level thriller from Heather Gudenkauf. Took me a bit to get into, but once it started, I couldn't put it down. So sad I have to wait for the next book even when this hasn't been published yet, but such is the life of an avid reader.

4.5 stars rounded up. You know those books you are anxious to pick up and keep reading? This is one of those books. Each suspenseful storyline kept me absorbed.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this advance copy.

Thank you, NetGalley for giving me access to this book for my honest review. This book had me hooked from page 1. I loved the theme of this book and how the story unfolded. I didn’t expect any of the twists or turns in this book. I was trying to figure out where the book was going but, was completely wrong. I love when a book has my jaw on the floor because I’m ultimately surprised by it.

My only complaint is the ending was left on a cliffhanger but, other than that and a few grammar mistakes it was GREAT!

I can’t wait for people to read this when it releases in November! 🧡

Yes – I do judge a book by its cover! As soon as I saw the cover on this book, I knew I had to read it. A gender reveal party for Ranchers – loved the theme “Pistols and Pearls” . Loved the glamour and simplicity of the reveal and then the big boom – literally! The twists and turns and secrets that had been hidden and then coming out – just kept on coming. Then the ending – whew! I can’t wait to see where that one takes us. Maybe a sequel?? @heathergudenkauf Thank you NetGalley for the ARC #HeatherGudenkauf #ThePerfectHosts

Loved it! Started strong with a gender reveal gone wrong, then lots of twists from there. Two whodunits in one, with the ATF agent involved in both cases. I missed the Iowa setting for which Gudenkauf is known, but there were sure mentions along the way. Good thriller!

I was pretty pumped to see a new Heather Gudenkauf title pop into my feed - I've loved everything I've read by her. This one was good, but not my favorite. The twist was pretty massive, and I definitely didn't see it coming. Two sisters, working together to bring down the bad guy, with some unfortunate collateral damage along the way.