I love Heather Gudenkauf’s books, and this one was pretty good in my opinion. Madeline and Wes are expecting a baby, and at their gender reveal, the unthinkable happens and tragedy strikes. Secrets and lies from Wes’ past come into play, along with the ATF officer in charge of the case. 3/5 stars.

As usual, I love everything Heather writes! This was really good! I enjoyed it! Thanks to NetGalley, HTP, and Heather for letting me read before its release. I love her books!

I was given an ARC copy of this book in return for a review.

Another great from Ms. Gudenkauf! So suspenseful, kept me turning the pages wanted to know what happened next!

Wes and Madeline Drake's gender reveal party goes horribly wrong. Many are injured and one person is killed. How could this happen? As the investigation into the event continues Agent Jamie Saldano comes to town. Jamie lived in town for a short time and his sister went missing while they were living there. It quickly becomes evident that the second explosion was intentional. Who planted the IED? Who was the intended target? Read this new suspenseful thriller to find out all the answers in November 2025.

The setup? A sex reveal party (because it’s 2025 and we have words for things) hosted by rich ranch-owning influencers with a theme called “pistols and pearls.” So, you know. Subtle. Things immediately go boomxa (literally), and the first few chapters had me hooked in the best way.

But then... it kept going. And going. There were so many mysteries—unsolved cases from two decades ago, affairs, the explosion itself—and instead of building intrigue, it started to feel like a plot salad. Every single character is suspicious. Like, I was about five pages from accusing the family dog.

Also, no one was especially likable. Which is fine! I love a messy cast. But there’s a difference between flawed and flat, and this teetered toward the latter. And the ending? Way too rushed. After all that buildup, certain plotlines (especially Juneau’s) got wrapped up like an afterthought.

Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an ARC of Heather Gudenkauf’s latest book in exchange for an honest review.
I love this author and was so excited to be one of the first to read her newest title.
The story starts off with an elaborate gender reveal party that quickly takes a turn. As the story continues, we learn the histories of the characters through multiple POV’s and there are twists right up until the very end.
While some elements of this book were a bit far-fetched, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and it kept me guessing to the end!

All I need to see is Heather Gudenkauf's name on a cover and I know I'll be buying the book! She is an amazing author and The Perfect Hosts is an excellent read. After years of marriage, Melanie and Wes are expecting their first child. They've planned a larger than life gender reveal and it comes at a far higher cost than expected. Someone with a grudge has decided that their party is the perfect place to get revenge. It May take a blast from the past in the form of Special Agent Jamie Saldano, to help right things. When Lucy, Melanie's sister, unexpectedly arrives, she brings even more trouble with her. With dynamic characters, excellent story telling, and great pacing, The Perfect Hosts is the perfect read for anyone with a penchant for family drama, revenge plots, and mystery.

An episode of "Yellowstone" in book form is what Heather Gudenkauf has created! A gender reveal party gone horribly wrong in the pristine wilderness. Was this a freak accident or murder?

Madeline and Wes Drake throw a lavish gender reveal party—but things go terribly wrong. Secrets explode, tensions rise, and nothing is as it seems.

Told through multiple points of view (maybe too many at times), the story is full of twists, drama, and characters you love to hate. Fast-paced and full of tension, it keeps you guessing until the end.

Quick Take:
Twisty, dramatic, and addictive. A wild ride through family secrets and lies.

Many thanks to Park Row Publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Perfect Hosts.

The Perfect Hosts is a western esque thriller centered around a gender reveal that goes horribly wrong.

There are so many plot twists and threads to follow, it makes for a fun read. The Drakes host a magnificent gender reveal where the unthinkable happens and it’s a race to figure out who has it out for them. With an estranged sister, a police officer with a past that connects him to the town in a mysterious way, and a touch of domestic violence; you won’t want to put this one down.

Overall The Perfect Hosts kept my interest, and was a very quick read. It got a little jumbled near the end, and I had a bit of a moment when I didn't really care who was to blame for the explosion. I think the side stories were a little clunky and didn't really come together so great. But this author keeps me coming back. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

I really enjoyed The Perfect Hosts! From the very beginning, the story pulled me in and kept me curious. The suspense was steady and gripping — never over the top, but always enough to keep me on edge. I found myself flying through chapters, totally wrapped up in wanting to know what was really going on.

Heather Gudenkauf does such a great job of making you question everyone and everything. Just when I thought I had it figured out... I didn’t. 😂 The pacing, the twists, the psychological layers — all so good. This one definitely kept me thinking even after I put it down.

Thank you for the chance to read it early. I had a great time with this one!

The Perfect Host
If you’re in the mood for a twisty thriller that starts with a seemingly innocent gender reveal party and spirals into absolute chaos, The Perfect Host delivers. What begins as a celebration quickly unravels into secrets, lies, and more than one shocking revelation. The story weaves through multiple characters’ perspectives, each adding a new layer to the mystery, and it’s the kind of book that keeps you flipping pages late into the night. Think Big Little Lies meets Gone Girl, with a suburban backdrop and plenty of suspense. A fun, fast-paced read for anyone who loves domestic thrillers with a dark edge.

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.