Thank you NetGalley for the Arc, I could not put it down!
Great thriller! It managed to create an unsettledness from the start and as you dig deeper into the story you begin uncovering reasons to all those feelings.
It keeps a lot of plates spinning at all times and it does so really well!
The characters are well developed and they all have a raison d’être, they all come to fruition in the end when you connect all the dots and I have to say, it surprised me!
No spoilers but once you know how they all connect it makes perfect sense but until then I wasn’t sure and I liked that, it kept me guessing!
Over all, this was a fantastic read!

The Guest by B.A. Paris
Pub Date: February 20, 2024

WOW that twist 🤯🤯🤯🤯 Most shocking Epilogue I've ever read.
This book starts off pretty slow, but stick with it. A lot of lies, a lot of unlikeable characters and a lot of deaths! Perfect combo for a psycho thriller/drama! Loved the short chapters.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was not my favourite book by B.A. Paris I don't think anything can top behind closed doors, but I enjoyed and look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

I received this ARC from @NetGalley to read and review. Thankyou for the opportunity ❤

#TheGuest #NetGalley

Thank you Netgalley and B A Paris for the ARC of The Guest.

I devoured this in one day! One of the first books I've read of B A Paris but have often seen readers rave about her books, I really liked the way the books laid out. A snippet of the story as a prologue, a bit of drama and a cliff hanger to pique your interest. The narrative was well paced from one main character, Iris in 3rd person POV. Ive not come across a book with a longish prologue ( not sure if this is BA Paris' usual style ) and I really liked it as a good wrap up to the story itself. The Guest had a good number of twists and turns and come good foreshadowing. So if you listen and pick them up, you will figure out the sinister character.

I'll be looking out for more of Paris' books

3.75 stars rounded to 4

I’ve read a few books by this author and found them to be twisty and exciting reads. This one did not disappoint.

Iris and Gabriel return home from holiday to find they have a house guest - their friend Laure from Paris. When questioned as to why she is there, Laure explains that her husband Pierre had confessed to having fathered a child many years before. She has now left him and fled to England.

And so begins a story of these two couples, as well as new friends they make in the village. The start of the book occurs much later in the story and I confess, caught me out at first, but in context is an exciting part of the story.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review.

Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for the ARC. I devoured this book within a few days it was so twisty and had lots of suspense that kept me on the edge of the seat! A tale of many secrets and lies!

My favourite character was Laurie as the book progressed I was wondering what would happen for her as a character. I’ve loved all of B.A Paris books and this one was no different

Overall, a fantastic slow burner of a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat! 😊

A slow read. But with an amazing twist I didn't see coming at the end. I enjoyed the story even though I found it rather slow

I enjoyed this book, its not the best read of 2023, but its an easy story to follow with enough in the way of twists to keep you going.

I didn't see the twist at the end, which is always great! I could see this would be a good book to be adapted to the small screen.

Ever since Behind Closed Doors, a classic of the genre, B.A. Paris has been a must-read author.

Iris and Gabriel are happily married and settled, until one of their dearest friends Laure turns up, needing space from the sudden turmoil of her marriage. Laure needs space, time and sympathy, with little regards for the lives she's disrupting. Gabriel is already facing his own personal struggles after recently comforting a dying injured young man at a local beauty spot.

Starting off as a classic domestic drama, tensions build as Laure's husband refuses to make contact. The tension gradually ramps up. The scene is well set, the characters are well written and nicely balanced. There are some very unexpected twists and turns, and big reveals. Undeniably tightly plotted, I was really quite into it.

There's a point in the second half where I felt it flattened out, before 'Whoosh!' - a very strong finish.

Not quite a must, but it's my favourite B.A. Paris book in a while.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton

Book Review 📚
The Guest by B.A Paris - 5/5 ⭐

I'm naughty. I'm really naughty. I read this book as soon as I was approved to read it, which meant bumping it up past 17 books I've still got to read! So so naughty, but come on! It's B.A PARIS!!!

Right. Paris was the very first author who took my thriller reading virginty and the very first author I became obsessed with. I LOVE her writing, her style, her creativity! She's phenomenal. I'm like a teenager with a crush when it comes to reading her books. Behind closed doors messed me up for days! She has such a talent.

Anyway, back to the book. AMAZING! The characters have this way of making you like them, even though you know what Paris is like, and you'll end up turning at some point. But they're written so well it's hard not to like them all. It's easy to have this book in your hands and completely forget about sleep and work and children! Paris CONSUMES me with her work.

As always, the plot! My goodness. You think your a genius and you have it all figured it. Oh no no, it's never that easy I'm afraid. You will be second guessing everything you read. Is it truth? Is it lies? Dive into this one head first and don't come up for air until your done.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder and Stoughton and B.A Paris for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

A slow burn psychological thriller about two couples who met on holiday many years ago and remain friends.
A story about secrets and lies that change these peoples lives forever and a plot that keeps you guessing to what is really happening.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

B A Paris has done it again, another fantastic read. I just love how she creates mystery after mystery with no clues as to what is really going on! I was so excited to make a start on this book, saving it for ‘best’ so I wouldn’t be disturbed! It was everything I hoped and more!

Iris and Gabriel return home after a holiday away to find their best friend Laure has moved in after leaving her husband, Pierre after he confesses to having a secret child. Laurie is always there, getting in the way as Iris and Gabriel try to fix their marriage after a devastating death.

B A Paris creates loveable characters with layers of depth. Just when you think you know everything about them, more is revealed. I raced through the pages trying to figure out how all the characters were connected! Just as I thought I had worked it out, all was revealed. Just who is telling the truth and what are the secrets that ties everyone together?

If you have enjoyed just one of this authors other books then you should definitely read this one (and everything else she has ever written), you will not be disappointed. If you are looking for a new author to get into then B A Paris is one to make a start on!

Thank you to NetGalley, B A Paris and Hodder books for this advanced digital copy, it was amazing!

‘The Guest’ by B. A. Paris tells the story of married couple Iris and Gabriel, who return home to find that their friend Laure has fled her home in Paris - and her husband Pierre - and moved in to their house. When they gave her and Pierre their key while they were away, Iris and Gabriel imagined the honeymooners they met twenty years ago having a romantic getaway, not a lone, distraught guest who shows no sign of moving out…

There are lots of characters and seemingly separate storylines in this novel - there were honestly times in the first half where I wondered about giving up on the book because of how disparate things seemed to be - but in true B.A. Paris fashion, everything weaves together in the end into a very satisfying read. For me, the epilogue had a lot of heavy lifting to do in this book… but it definitely delivered!

I want to keep this spoiler free so won’t say any more, just that I wholeheartedly recommend this book to fans of the author’s other works! I am giving this four stars (which is an impressive overall score for something that almost got a “dnf” from me)!

I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest feedback. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

I'm still stunned after reading this book. I absolutely loved it!

Not many books give me the feeling where i close the book and i'm speechless for a good few hours after i finish it but this one did!! 5 Stars from me!!

This was such a rollercoaster of a read. Which had plenty of twists and turns. I have loved all of B. A. Paris so was so excited to see this one which did not disappoint. It was a dark compulsive read which I could not put down once I started. The chapters are quite short which I think helped build the tension within the story. I highly recommend this to anyone who likes a dark addictive read. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy.

I love reading anything by B. A. Paris so I knew this one would be a great read. It kept me hooked and had me asking lots of questions throughout.

I have read so many amazing books by this author but unfortunately this one is the worst. It is just really weak and disjointed. I tried to stick with it but it didn’t grip me enough.

This book is a slow burn, with a couple returning from holiday to find one of their friends has moved in...and stays for months with no sign of ever leaving!

I spent a lot of the book wondering how it was all going to come together and had to wait right until the epilogue to get the answer! But what a ending it was, I have to admit I did not see it coming.

I've enjoyed all of this author's books and although this was not one of her best I still enjoyed it and read it within 2 days.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and B A Paris for my ARC of ‘The Guest’ in return for an honest review.

All of this author’s novels have been a ‘must read’ and this was no different. A brilliant read.

Laure (a close friend) has moved in to Iris and Gabriel’s house whilst they have been on holiday. She has left her husband after he told her he has a child by another woman from a one-night stand. Iris and Gabriel are going through a tough time in their relationship due to Gabriel having been through a traumatic experience..

Gradually the story unfolds and then hammers you between the eyes.

Highly recommended

Let me start with the positives: this was very readable; I finished it in a couple of days.

It started strongly and the first few chapters were excellent.

Unfortunately, that’s all the positives I have for it :(

Thank you for the advance, and apologies I don’t have a better review! I was sure I was going to love this based on the author (The Dilemma remains one of my favourite novels) but sadly this story didn’t work for me; it all felt rushed and dare I say a bit… Desperate Housewives-y towards the middle and end.

When Gabriel and Iris return from a last-ditch holiday that has profound implications for their relationship, they find that they have little time to process their situation. Because their friend Laure has quite literally set up house in their home.

If her unanticipated arrival were not bad enough, Laure has also been sleeping in their bed and wearing Iris's clothes. But perhaps it is natural enough that she is behaving oddly. After all, she has just found out that her husband Pierre - who is also a friend of Iris and Gabriel's - has had the child that he claimed he never wanted with another person, someone with whom he has been having an affair.

This is a twisty story of unreliable and dishonest characters. The disadvantage was the first part moved very slowly. Halfway through, things picked up, and the epilogue provided lots of bang for your buck.

So in the end, it was worth it, but some ruthless editing in the first half would have done wonders for the overall reading experience. Not my favourite B. A. Paris story, but ultimately quite an interesting read. It gets 3.5 stars.