This started off a bit slow, and i was dreading a really slow burn of a book, but by 25% the pace picked up and I found myself getting more intrigued and more gripped.
The more I read the less I knew who to trust, I was second guessing everyone's actions and I was desperate to keep reading to unravel the mystery.
As I got to the end there were a couple of twists that I didn't see coming but overall the big reveal fell a little flat and I ended the book feeling slightly disappointed and underwhelmed. If like me you love your thrillers with more twists and turns than a roller coaster this probably won't be one for you. It's very character driven and probably more suited to those who are new to the genre or don't read thrillers often.
An enjoyable read, but unfortunately not one that will stay with me.
3.5 ⭐️

⚠️ Fertility and IVF

For some reason I hated everyone in this book from the beginning, they rubbed me the wrong way. This is more of a family drama than a mystery thriller. Laila was most annoying and most of the decisions... ew.

Layla and James are the principle character in this story and I found them both yo be devoid of any soul and could not really understand either of them. The book was very slow and a lot of the events that happened were totally unbelievable. I could not go along with the description that it was a thriller but it was just more like a mystery. This the first book that I have read by this author and was very disappointed.

Laila and James have been having some trouble in their marriage, so James books a luxury holiday so they can spend time together. When a body is found, the holiday takes a turn for the worse and long buried secrets come to the fore. Does Laila really know her husband?

This book is billed as a taut thriller so I was looking forward to getting stuck in.

The Greek island setting is a nice escape from the current wintry weather, but I felt it could have been described more. Apart from the odd mention of Greece, the book could have been set anywhere.

I found all the characters to be two dimensional and I wasn’t invested in them. This was a real shame as it meant I wasn’t too fussed about what happened in the story.

The chapters are quite short, and the story is mainly told from the point of view of Laila, and another guest, Em.

I found the pace to be far too slow for me and for most of the book nothing really happens. There’s a lot of back and forth and questions over a few of the characters and their motives.

The ending was a total letdown for me and it made the whole book seem pretty pointless.

I was really disappointed with this book, I don’t think I would even recommend it as a holiday read as I didn’t find it gripping enough. I kept reading as I was waiting for the big twist but sadly it never came.

Thanks to Penguin Random House UK and NetGalley for a copy to review.

Quire slow and repetitive and a bit dull tbh,some interesting characters but need a bit more ooomph in a story to keep you hooked

I have just finished reading this and thought it an excellent read. The characters were interesting even though some were a little strange. The book contained several different strands of the story. not all of which were resolved. It was a surprise when I got to the end, and discovered that the main action - the death of a boy, was not explained.

It’s Heidi Perks so you know the writing is going to be good. It’s written in the first person for most of the book, with sections in between written in the third. A couple go on holiday, trying to reconnect after five years of failed IVF treatment but a body found in the pool throws everyone under suspicion. I enjoyed this book and absolutely raced through it. I liked the characters and thought the plot flowed well. I definitely recommend this book. Thank you #netgalley

📖BOOK REVIEW📖
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

#TheOthetGuest by #HeidiPerks

⏩for synopsis

I’m finding this one a little tricky to review… it definitely wasn’t a bad read for me. I enjoyed reading it, it kept me turning the pages and coming back for more. I loved the alternating perspectives and how the plot unraveled in different ways for the different characters. The location and the set up of the book was perfect with really good solid interesting characters.

The problem for me come from the plot… it had a really great build up, lots of red herrings to knock you off course but in the end it just fell flat and went for the obvious so it all felt kinda for nothing and a let down. I found myself a little bereft after investing myself in the read and being honest I expected / wanted something more from the ending.

Perhaps we expect too much? Anyway overall it’s definitely readable, entertaining and enjoyable in many ways and still worth a read in my opinion.

With thanks to the author, @netgalley and @penguinukbooks for allowing us to read this one early.

RELEASING: January 19th

-EMILY

@the_book_girls_1

I'm a big fan of Heidi Perks’ novels, and have been since reading Now You See Her in 2018. I was thrilled to be offered early access to her latest novel, The Other Guest, via Netgalley, although I have to admit that while I liked it, I didn’t love it as much as her earlier novels.

The Other Guest focusses on Laila, on holiday with her husband, James, at a luxurious Greek resort. Their holiday is a chance to get away and relax, but also an opportunity to rekindle their relationship after several failed rounds of IVF has left them feeling strained and at odds with each other. Laila – desperate for a child at any cost – wants to keep trying, while James thinks that they’ve been through enough, both physically and emotionally, and is ready to accept that it’s just not going to happen for them.

"I have been watching the other guests. Not obsessively as my husband, James, accused me of last night, just peoplewatching around the pool since we arrived on Saturday."

The reader soon learns that Laila likes nothing more than observing those around her, and these opening lines of the novel immediately raise the question of just how intently she’s been watching them. Is it the harmless observation that so many of us are guilty of from time to time, or is it, as her husband complains, obsessive behaviour on her part? I have to admit that while it’s an amusing and usually harmless trait, Laila does seem to take it to extremes, using her observations to infer information and to judge those around her, eager to immerse herself in the lives of strangers. It is perhaps a way of escaping from her own situation, but I have to admit that it doesn’t paint her in a good light, particularly as the question of what's she's seen comes to the fore.

While this holiday should provide Laila and James with the perfect opportunity to relax and reconnect, their relationship remains strained. While they seem to be a golden couple, Laila is starting to become suspicious of James’s behaviour, believing that he’s keeping secrets from her and acting oddly although he denies it when challenged. He’s also been drinking more than usual. We know that they argue, although the reason for this isn’t immediately revealed, and it does raise suspicions as to what’s going on between them and what James might be hiding, particularly as other revelations are made.

The novel moves back and forth in time, and so the reader knows early on that tragedy strikes the resort, although the details don’t become apparent until later in the novel as the information is drip-fed to the reader. It works to increase the tension as various questions are raised, although I did also find it to be a little repetitive at times. We hear multiple times about their relationship and James’s inconsistent behaviour, Laila’s desire for a child, and her jealousy of those around her without these elements moving the plot along significantly until later in the novel. It made the first section a little drawn out for me, although the pace picks up later in the novel.

I think that The Other Guest is an easy read that contains a few surprises as the novel progresses. It would make an excellent holiday read, although you might start to wonder whether anyone is paying you more attention than they should be! While it started a little slowly for me, I did find myself intrigued as the novel got underway and as things started to happen, and I liked the ending that was – to me – quite unexpected.

The Other Guest Heidi Perks


5 stars

I absolutely loved this book, so much so that I finished it in two days. The story flowed so well and the style of writing is just the sort of thing I like.

James and Laila have been together for 10 years and have a strong, loving marriage. The only thing missing is a child and as we start the book they have just had a fifth unsuccessful IVF treatment. James has bought an expensive luxurious holiday for them both on the Greek Island of Ixos, he hopes that they can rekindle their marriage and move on.

Laila is still wanting to carry on trying to have a child and is particularly drawn to a couple with 2 teenage boys, Isaac and Theo. However she notices that Em, the mother, lavishes most of her attention on her eldest son, Isaac and seems to ignore Theo. However for Laila this woman has everything she desires most a loving husband and two lovely children and all she can think about is why is she so unlucky. When her watch is stolen Laila suspects the younger son Theo who seems withdrawn and unhappy by his mother’s lack of attention to him. Laila decides to try and search their room and whilst she is there she overhears an argument between the two boys. The next morning Isaac is found dead in the swimming pool, could it have been Theo?

The story moves between the feelings of all the main characters and we slowly but surely begin to find out the secrets of them all. I found myself rushing through the book desperate to know the truth and even though I found it slightly underwhelming the portrayal of the unravelling of some of the characters was powerfully written. This was the first book that I have read by Heidi Perks but it certainly won’t be the last!

Karen Deborah
Reviewer for Net galley

Another Heidi Perks on the edge of your seat thriller, beautifully written, leaving you unsure of what is true and what is false. The ending comes with few surprises but that doesn’t devalue what is a great story.
All the characters are flawed in many ways and you’re left asking yourself what you would have done in the circumstances, particularly if you were a mother?

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Well that was one hell of a ride, I stayed up late and got up early to finish reading this book, a really great storyline with twists and turns until the end, loved it as I love all Heidis book, another brilliant book

I thought the premise of the book sounded good- couples, families, Greece, murder- but the main character Laila and her husband James weren't particularly likeable and this put me off. I found there was a lot of repetitive introspection from Laila and I started to skim read some parts because there was nothing moving the story on. I liked Em and was intrigued by her relationship with Isaac but again, I found it petered out somewhat. A good holiday read but a little to drawn out for me.

A very enjoyable read, which kept me engaged throughout. I enjoyed the flashback version and slow reveal.

For me this is a nice easy holiday Murder read. Sun, sea and secrets in a nutshell.

The book flits between two characters, as the plot unravels, we find out more and more - drip fed.

Laila - the character and the writing at the start of this book nearly made this a DNF for me. She’s incredibly incredibly annoying- the text in this opening section is repetitive - the way she is obsessed with changing to a career in counseling, constantly referring to it and basically stalking everyone to feed this obsession. This is never mentioned again through the entire book. Then there was a repetitive description of a character’s frown really got on my nerves. As I said, I was about to DNF when the chapter and character changed and this saved it for me, though I did continue to be annoyed with Laila.

Overall, it’s ok, a nice read, but I was hoping for more. It fell a bit flat for me.

My thanks to Netgalley. My review is based on an advance copy that I received from the publisher.

I enjoyed this story in the main but it wasn't anything out of the ordinary. I liked the alternative points of view and the people watching.

Having read everything Heidi Perks has published i was thrilled to be given the opportunity to read an early copy of The Other Guest, thanks to netgalley and the publisher.
Firstly i enjoyed the fact this was something different to the usual drama's/thrillers i have been reading of late.
Great descriptive writing i could easily visualize the resort and the characters.
My only small criticism was the ending which seemed rather abrupt.
Overall an enjoyable read which kept me engrossed and believing i knew who did what.....when i didn't.

This latest book of Heidi's had some intriguing characters and plots which kept me gripped until the end.
I don't like including spoilers but let's just say if you were on holiday and you experienced a family like this and one member suddenly disappeared what would you do?
Great book to read anytime but a great holiday read!
Thank you to Netgalley and Century for supplying a copy in exchange for an honest review.

So this had me gripped right from the beginning. There are little hooks at the end of each chapter to keep you wanting to turn the page, and I loved the build-up to the death.
However, despite how amazing the book was, it fell completely flat at the end. It went from a five-star read right down to three very fast (and it is only because I enjoyed 98% of the book that it didn’t go down to two!). It was just so disappointing and really not worth reading for that ending. I’m sorry to be so brutal, but that was one of the worst endings I’ve read in a long time.
This is the first book I have read by this author, so I’m not sure if this is normal for her to have such a disappointing ending to what could have otherwise been a stellar read. It hasn’t made me want to try any of her others!
My problem as well is that once I’m left disappointed with a book like this, I start to go back over it in my mind and pick holes with things that hadn’t really annoyed me whilst reading, like Laila’s husband’s actions. Thinking back on them, his taking Laila to that island for a holiday was just a recipe for disaster.
The reactions of most of the guests to the death at the hotel were a bit lacklustre, and even the bereaved weren’t as distraught as I was expecting. They were still functioning and coherent, making the death seem less real and monumental.
I’ll stop there before I end up really hating how I have spent my last four evenings reading this. The ending could have been twisty and turny, but it wasn’t. It was boring and dull. There was no excitement to the big reveal; it was just “oh, is that all it was after all that?!” I walked away from this book feeling let down by the author by how uninspired it was.

Heading to an exclusive resort in Greece, Laila hopes to reconnect with her husband James following failed IVF treatments. However a few days into the holiday a body is recovered from the pool and suspicion falls amongst the guests.
I expected to like this book much more than I did from the synopsis. Sadly I didn't really find it much of a thriller, more a drama.
Thanks to Netgalley and publishers though for the opportunity to read the advanced copy