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Une invitée particulière
Avec ses longs cheveux blonds et sa silhouette élancée, Tanya est l'invitée parfaite. Dans le cadre d'un programme d'échange, cette étudiante britannique vient d'emménager pour un an dans la luxueuse maison de la famille Merritt à Los Angeles. Pour Natalie, qui pleure toujours la mort d'Anabel, sa fille aînée, la présence de la jeune étudiante est une distraction qui semble bienvenue. Mais au fil des semaines, les choses deviennent vraiment étranges : Tanya se met à porter les vieux vêtements d'Anabel et leur ressemblance devient presque dérangeante. La nuit, alors qu'elle ne trouve pas le sommeil, hantée par ses propres secrets, Natalie s'interroge : qui est vraiment la jeune fille qui dort dans la chambre d'à côté ? Mais attention, poser trop de questions peut devenir un jeu bien dangereux...
447 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 21, 2023
1435 people are currently reading
11781 people want to read
About the author
Nelle Lamarr
7 books449 followersNelle Lamarr is the psychological suspense pen name for contemporary romance author Nelle L'Amour. Be it a thriller or romance, I love to write jaw-dropping , character-driven stories that will have you turning the pages and will stay in your heart forever. I live in Los Angeles with my Prince Charming-ish husband, twin daughters, and a bevy of royal pain-in-the-butt pets.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,293 reviews
September 4, 2023
I wasn't sure if this was a 2 or 3 for me so I'm landing on 2.5 stars. I feel like I have so many more dislikes than things I enjoyed BUT, I was intrigued throughout and I did finish so it earns some points there... it was very predictable though. I found toward the back end the characters were written better with a clear distinction and the adult POV more adult like (explained further below).
The Family Guest is about an exchange student from the U.K. residing with a U.S. family. The daughter of a diplomat, she's rich, stuck up and spoilt. There is some questionable behaviour and she's ultimately trying to ruin the daughter of the family who she's living with, Paige. Paige seems to be a sweet and smart teen, but with some messed up inner thoughts at times.
The family guest is multi POV, and we hear from Paige and her mum, Natalie. Although Natalie is an adult, early on in the book this gives very much YA vibes for each POV.
Now I know some people love catty, dramatic, rich people stuff but I find it a bit cringe and insufferable sometimes so there's a good chance if it's your jam this will work for you - I suggest checking other reviews.
I was constantly annoyed by the awful parents and parenting in this book. It was no doubt intended but ugh, I hate reading about such selfish, unloving, uncaring, neglectful and just s*** parents. Not enjoyable when one is the main POV.
I googled whether the author was male or female by chapter 9 - the phrasing used to describe opposite gender, sexual content etc. just seemed like books I've read from male authors and the reason I personally don't enjoy many male authors books (a me issue, not a male author issue). I think maybe it was aiming for a teenage language vibe but it didn't work. For example, Paige, the teenage daughter, says of the exchange student "for someone so skinny, she was incredibly stacked".
Paige seemed like a very sweet girl but then suddenly for chapters she had some insanely dark, twisted thoughts about murder, death and suffering of the exchange student. It didn't read well and didn't fit. Even if she thought it for a second, she didn't feel bad just kept persisting. This is from a person who's sister had died, she may be a teen, but she understands death. I really didn't like it when her and Will were the only likeable characters.
There were a lot of times where I found this book very similar to an ARC I read recently, She Says She's My Daughter. It's different in quite a few respects and that isn't a spoiler, but reading one book of the kind was enough for me.
Lastly, there were quite a few holes. Suspend disbelief is necessary but also, may be frustrated by quite a few things such as medical scripts being written in false names or without history or... I don't even understand how, and can't explain the issue without spoilers.
I wouldn't recommend this one widely, but to a few people I know who may enjoy it.
Anticipated publication date: 21 September 2023
Thank you to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.
***
***
** Spoilers below **
***
***
I am just so frustrated by two things and cannot comprehend it:
1. Natalie is cheated on by her husband, but when Lance cheats on her daughter with the exchange student living in her house she doesn't kick her out nor care too much. Seriously?! She sees it coming and just no fs given for her daughter.
2. At the end, Natalie is relying on her TWELVE year old to save her daughter and his quick thinking intelligence. For real? We're made to think she's smarter than that but then that happens. Ugh.
The Family Guest is about an exchange student from the U.K. residing with a U.S. family. The daughter of a diplomat, she's rich, stuck up and spoilt. There is some questionable behaviour and she's ultimately trying to ruin the daughter of the family who she's living with, Paige. Paige seems to be a sweet and smart teen, but with some messed up inner thoughts at times.
The family guest is multi POV, and we hear from Paige and her mum, Natalie. Although Natalie is an adult, early on in the book this gives very much YA vibes for each POV.
Now I know some people love catty, dramatic, rich people stuff but I find it a bit cringe and insufferable sometimes so there's a good chance if it's your jam this will work for you - I suggest checking other reviews.
I was constantly annoyed by the awful parents and parenting in this book. It was no doubt intended but ugh, I hate reading about such selfish, unloving, uncaring, neglectful and just s*** parents. Not enjoyable when one is the main POV.
I googled whether the author was male or female by chapter 9 - the phrasing used to describe opposite gender, sexual content etc. just seemed like books I've read from male authors and the reason I personally don't enjoy many male authors books (a me issue, not a male author issue). I think maybe it was aiming for a teenage language vibe but it didn't work. For example, Paige, the teenage daughter, says of the exchange student "for someone so skinny, she was incredibly stacked".
Paige seemed like a very sweet girl but then suddenly for chapters she had some insanely dark, twisted thoughts about murder, death and suffering of the exchange student. It didn't read well and didn't fit. Even if she thought it for a second, she didn't feel bad just kept persisting. This is from a person who's sister had died, she may be a teen, but she understands death. I really didn't like it when her and Will were the only likeable characters.
There were a lot of times where I found this book very similar to an ARC I read recently, She Says She's My Daughter. It's different in quite a few respects and that isn't a spoiler, but reading one book of the kind was enough for me.
Lastly, there were quite a few holes. Suspend disbelief is necessary but also, may be frustrated by quite a few things such as medical scripts being written in false names or without history or... I don't even understand how, and can't explain the issue without spoilers.
I wouldn't recommend this one widely, but to a few people I know who may enjoy it.
Anticipated publication date: 21 September 2023
Thank you to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.
***
***
** Spoilers below **
***
***
I am just so frustrated by two things and cannot comprehend it:
1. Natalie is cheated on by her husband, but when Lance cheats on her daughter with the exchange student living in her house she doesn't kick her out nor care too much. Seriously?! She sees it coming and just no fs given for her daughter.
2. At the end, Natalie is relying on her TWELVE year old to save her daughter and his quick thinking intelligence. For real? We're made to think she's smarter than that but then that happens. Ugh.
September 18, 2023
TW: One of the protagonists has a sexual addiction.
"The Family Guest" primarily focuses on the interplay between an exchange student Tanya and her host family's teen daughter.
As a result, the entire book had strong "YA" vibes.
Also, I was easily able to guess the major "twist" of this "gripping thriller" early on.
Since I am not a fan of the YA genre and I do not enjoy predictable books with protagonists with sexual addictions, this book was not for me.
I listened to the audiobook read by Lynn Norris and Cecily Bednar Schmidt.
Both narrators did a superb job with the narration.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 18, 2023
I’m torn on how to review without being mean. I did check the author bio with the idea that if The Family Guest was a debut novel, I could indeed be most kind and encourage the author to keep going. This one is apparently penned by a successful romance author, using a pseudonym for a new style domestic thriller book.
Romance isn’t my thing, and writing domestic novels may not be this author’s thing.
Midway through the audiobook I went to Netgalley to check genre because this did not read like an adult thriller. It felt 120% like a YA book. The predictability, the painfully awkward dialogue, the whole tone screamed young. For example, the “mystery” is being solved by teen siblings. It reminded me of Scooby Doo and The Mystery Machine. I regret I had the audio because I kept saying to myself - include that phrase in the review. And that one……and I recall none now because it’s all forgettable.
Romance isn’t my thing, and writing domestic novels may not be this author’s thing.
Midway through the audiobook I went to Netgalley to check genre because this did not read like an adult thriller. It felt 120% like a YA book. The predictability, the painfully awkward dialogue, the whole tone screamed young. For example, the “mystery” is being solved by teen siblings. It reminded me of Scooby Doo and The Mystery Machine. I regret I had the audio because I kept saying to myself - include that phrase in the review. And that one……and I recall none now because it’s all forgettable.
November 9, 2023
This thriller definitely had its edge of your seat moments. Many times though it reminded me of a lifetime movie. It was very soapy and somewhat predictable. Some of the characters’ actions were frustrating. Parts were over the top and were more enjoyable if you left common sense out of it. All in all, it was entertaining and kept me interested until the clever conclusion. Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy.
August 15, 2023
I’ve recently discovered that for me, great characters don’t have to be likeable. In fact, those who make my blood boil are often more memorable. The foreign exchange student in this story, Tanya, isn’t a typical evil character that we’ve grown up disliking, but rather an unashamedly flawed individual who seems to revel in manipulation. I was tempted to throw my Kindle across the room more than once and yet, there was something that kept me reading. Tanya was irksome and infuriating. She was definitely a young woman with a plan and laser-like focus in carrying it out.
The Merritt family of Los Angles had no idea what they were getting into when they welcomed Tanya into their home. My first response was to gasp and then commented aloud that it was going to be a long year ahead for everyone if they didn’t erect some boundaries immediately. I felt for Paige, the Merritt’s daughter, and could see myself in her. She was exasperated at every turn the moment Tanya walked into their home. I loved the multiple points of view and noted that each had a distinct voice that sounded extremely authentic.
Then the uneasy feeling started to settle in as I asked why the Merritts had requested an exchange student after suffering such loss. Was it a coping mechanism? Was it something more sinister? When the secrets started piling up, I was hooked.
There were fantastic twists I never saw coming and the epilogue was one of the best I’ve read.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
The Merritt family of Los Angles had no idea what they were getting into when they welcomed Tanya into their home. My first response was to gasp and then commented aloud that it was going to be a long year ahead for everyone if they didn’t erect some boundaries immediately. I felt for Paige, the Merritt’s daughter, and could see myself in her. She was exasperated at every turn the moment Tanya walked into their home. I loved the multiple points of view and noted that each had a distinct voice that sounded extremely authentic.
Then the uneasy feeling started to settle in as I asked why the Merritts had requested an exchange student after suffering such loss. Was it a coping mechanism? Was it something more sinister? When the secrets started piling up, I was hooked.
There were fantastic twists I never saw coming and the epilogue was one of the best I’ve read.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
September 12, 2023
this thriller, which is a duo-perspective novel, follows a foreign exchange student and her stay at her exchange families house, however, as the plot thickens, something about her just isn’t right!
initially, i didn’t really think that i’d love this thriller as much as i now do considering the fact that i’m not a huge fan of duo-perspectives as i always seem to prefer one and simply skim through the other, however, that just wasn’t the case here! both perspectives were equally as enthralling and it kept me turning pages until 3 in the morning, unaware of how much time had truly passed! also, the characters are really well-written which is obviously a positive because who wants to read a novel with unbearable characters?? certainly not me! luckily, i absolutely loved paige and will in this thriller as their relationship was just so precious :,)).
also, i absolutely loved the ending!! i truly never saw it coming yet it just made so much sense in the end. i also ESPECIALLY loved the final sentence as it’s such a minuscule detail -one most wouldn’t really pick up on or think twice about- yet it foreshadowed SO MUCH about the sketchy foreign exchange student?!!!
needless to say this thriller was a perfect 5 stars and thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
initially, i didn’t really think that i’d love this thriller as much as i now do considering the fact that i’m not a huge fan of duo-perspectives as i always seem to prefer one and simply skim through the other, however, that just wasn’t the case here! both perspectives were equally as enthralling and it kept me turning pages until 3 in the morning, unaware of how much time had truly passed! also, the characters are really well-written which is obviously a positive because who wants to read a novel with unbearable characters?? certainly not me! luckily, i absolutely loved paige and will in this thriller as their relationship was just so precious :,)).
also, i absolutely loved the ending!! i truly never saw it coming yet it just made so much sense in the end. i also ESPECIALLY loved the final sentence as it’s such a minuscule detail -one most wouldn’t really pick up on or think twice about- yet it foreshadowed SO MUCH about the sketchy foreign exchange student?!!!
needless to say this thriller was a perfect 5 stars and thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
September 1, 2023
3.5 stars ⭐️
“𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭.”
𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐛
The Family Guest follows the Merritt Family as they host a foreign exchange student. A perfect guest, Tanya, seems to be a great distraction to the family from their tragedy but soon they realise she’s not who she claims to be…
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
A fast-paced well-written page-turner that’ll keep you hooked! I enjoyed it as the writing was simple and captivating. With dual POVs and an intriguing plot, I couldn’t put it down.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝-𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭-𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞-𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚. It was infuriating how Tanya overpowered the Merritt Family with her manipulations. I disliked Tanya so much and hated the fact that they just let her get away with her uncalled actions😤
And then the plot turned into a dangerous psychological—thriller. Tanya showed her true colours and her actions became menacing. As Tanya threatened the Merritt Family, their demons and secrets were ready to come out as chaos engulfed them..
And I loved Paige and Will, both were more mature than their parents! And their bonding was incredibly sweet. Their Sherlock-Watson Duo will forever be my favourite🤩
𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, except for one thing at the end🤯 Everything else was “typical in teenage/adult thrillers”. Many twists and turns were so obvious even before they even came into sight.
Plus, the parents. They were absolutely clueless and ignored the crystal-clear red flags around them, and then acted surprised when things took a turn. Some reveals were used for “blackmail” even when they were out in the open👀
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
Overall, a captivating psychological thriller that’ll keep you hooked. With dual POVs and a frustrating guest, it oscillates between a spoiled-teenage-drama and a life-threatening thriller. But, some of the characters needed improvement and the twists and turns were relatively predictable.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲, 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞-𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.
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“𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭.”
𝐁𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐛
The Family Guest follows the Merritt Family as they host a foreign exchange student. A perfect guest, Tanya, seems to be a great distraction to the family from their tragedy but soon they realise she’s not who she claims to be…
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
A fast-paced well-written page-turner that’ll keep you hooked! I enjoyed it as the writing was simple and captivating. With dual POVs and an intriguing plot, I couldn’t put it down.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝-𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭-𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞-𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚. It was infuriating how Tanya overpowered the Merritt Family with her manipulations. I disliked Tanya so much and hated the fact that they just let her get away with her uncalled actions😤
And then the plot turned into a dangerous psychological—thriller. Tanya showed her true colours and her actions became menacing. As Tanya threatened the Merritt Family, their demons and secrets were ready to come out as chaos engulfed them..
And I loved Paige and Will, both were more mature than their parents! And their bonding was incredibly sweet. Their Sherlock-Watson Duo will forever be my favourite🤩
𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, except for one thing at the end🤯 Everything else was “typical in teenage/adult thrillers”. Many twists and turns were so obvious even before they even came into sight.
Plus, the parents. They were absolutely clueless and ignored the crystal-clear red flags around them, and then acted surprised when things took a turn. Some reveals were used for “blackmail” even when they were out in the open👀
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
Overall, a captivating psychological thriller that’ll keep you hooked. With dual POVs and a frustrating guest, it oscillates between a spoiled-teenage-drama and a life-threatening thriller. But, some of the characters needed improvement and the twists and turns were relatively predictable.
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲, 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞-𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰.
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September 27, 2023
Oh my gosh!!!! Absolute 5 stars, no hesitation! One of the best thrillers I've read recently, couldn't put it down, and it was also so well written and the story was genius, such a deep and fascinating mystery with lots of layers! It's so rare for me to find a thriller book that has both a brilliant story line and it's written well & it's also not cringey or predictable - there is usually something missing! But jackpot! 10/10 !!! 🙌🙌🙌
October 5, 2023
This book started off promising enough, but I read and read and was only at 20% and was already starting to get irritated.
That was my first clue.
The storyline could have worked, but the book was filled with vapid, one-dimensional characters and some of the cringiest dialogue I have ever read.
My favorite character was the dog. On to the next read.
That was my first clue.
The storyline could have worked, but the book was filled with vapid, one-dimensional characters and some of the cringiest dialogue I have ever read.
My favorite character was the dog. On to the next read.
September 20, 2023
╰┈➤the moment i pressed play and heard the audio narration, i was instantly captivated. it was like being transported to another world, where every word was brought to life with such skill and passion. without a second thought, i knew i had to pick this audiobook.
the storyline, oh, it sounded absolutely tantalizing! i could practically feel the excitement bubbling within me as i imagined the thrilling twists and turns that awaited. little did i know, however, that this tale was not meant for me.
as the chapters unfolded, i found myself struggling to connect with the characters and their journeys. the plot, though intriguing, failed to resonate with my own personal tastes.
here's the thing- i understand that there are some out there who absolutely adore all the dramatic and extravagant things that come with the world of the rich. but let me tell you, sometimes it just makes me cringe and feel utterly exasperated. now, if that's your cup of tea, then hey, this might just be the perfect fit for you!
·͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙ ·͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙
╰┈➤oh, let me tell you, the parents in this book were an absolute nightmare! i mean, seriously, they were like a never-ending source of irritation. it's clear that the author wanted to evoke these feelings, but oh boy, did they succeed! reading about these self-centred, unloving, and neglectful parents was like a rollercoaster of frustration. and to top it off, they were the main focus of the story! can you imagine? it's like being trapped in the shoes of the protagonist, forced to witness all the chaos caused by these terrible parents. let me tell you, it was far from an enjoyable experience.
╰┈➤ paige, at first glance, appeared to be an incredibly kind and gentle girl. however, as i delved deeper into the chapters, i was taken aback by the sudden emergence of her disturbingly dark and twisted thoughts. murder, death, and the suffering of the exchange student, tanya seemed to consume her mind, creating a stark contrast to her initial impression. it was disconcerting to read, as it felt out of place and didn't align with the overall tone of the story.
what troubled me even more was the fact that paige didn't seem to feel any remorse for these thoughts. instead, she persisted in her macabre musings, unbothered by the potential consequences. it was perplexing, especially considering that she had experienced the loss of her own sister. one would expect her to have a deeper understanding of death and its impact, even as a teenager.
although, in a narrative filled with characters that were difficult to connect with, paige and will (her brother) stand out as the only truly likable ones. their personalities and actions resonated with me, making it all the more disappointing to witness paige's unsettling transformation.
there was one thing that really irked me - tanya , the exchange student. i mean, seriously, who does she think she is? she waltzes into this household and starts running the show. if it were me, i wouldn't put up with half of her crap, especially when it comes to my beloved dog.
·͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙ ·͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙
FINAL THOUGHTS
╰┈➤i absolutely loved the thrill of unravelling tanya's mysterious plans and discovering the truth behind anabel's demise! however, i must admit, the epilogue was quite predictable, leaving me with no jaw-dropping surprises.
despite my occasional frustration, i found myself completely engrossed in the book. perhaps the author deliberately intended to keep me on edge? one thing's for sure, it had me flipping through the chapters at lightning speed!
Thank you Netgalley, Bookouture Audio and Nelle Lamarr for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
--------
pre-review
let's go 🫶🏻
the storyline, oh, it sounded absolutely tantalizing! i could practically feel the excitement bubbling within me as i imagined the thrilling twists and turns that awaited. little did i know, however, that this tale was not meant for me.
as the chapters unfolded, i found myself struggling to connect with the characters and their journeys. the plot, though intriguing, failed to resonate with my own personal tastes.
here's the thing- i understand that there are some out there who absolutely adore all the dramatic and extravagant things that come with the world of the rich. but let me tell you, sometimes it just makes me cringe and feel utterly exasperated. now, if that's your cup of tea, then hey, this might just be the perfect fit for you!
·͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙ ·͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙
╰┈➤oh, let me tell you, the parents in this book were an absolute nightmare! i mean, seriously, they were like a never-ending source of irritation. it's clear that the author wanted to evoke these feelings, but oh boy, did they succeed! reading about these self-centred, unloving, and neglectful parents was like a rollercoaster of frustration. and to top it off, they were the main focus of the story! can you imagine? it's like being trapped in the shoes of the protagonist, forced to witness all the chaos caused by these terrible parents. let me tell you, it was far from an enjoyable experience.
╰┈➤ paige, at first glance, appeared to be an incredibly kind and gentle girl. however, as i delved deeper into the chapters, i was taken aback by the sudden emergence of her disturbingly dark and twisted thoughts. murder, death, and the suffering of the exchange student, tanya seemed to consume her mind, creating a stark contrast to her initial impression. it was disconcerting to read, as it felt out of place and didn't align with the overall tone of the story.
what troubled me even more was the fact that paige didn't seem to feel any remorse for these thoughts. instead, she persisted in her macabre musings, unbothered by the potential consequences. it was perplexing, especially considering that she had experienced the loss of her own sister. one would expect her to have a deeper understanding of death and its impact, even as a teenager.
although, in a narrative filled with characters that were difficult to connect with, paige and will (her brother) stand out as the only truly likable ones. their personalities and actions resonated with me, making it all the more disappointing to witness paige's unsettling transformation.
there was one thing that really irked me - tanya , the exchange student. i mean, seriously, who does she think she is? she waltzes into this household and starts running the show. if it were me, i wouldn't put up with half of her crap, especially when it comes to my beloved dog.
·͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙ ·͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙⁺˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⁺‧͙
FINAL THOUGHTS
╰┈➤i absolutely loved the thrill of unravelling tanya's mysterious plans and discovering the truth behind anabel's demise! however, i must admit, the epilogue was quite predictable, leaving me with no jaw-dropping surprises.
despite my occasional frustration, i found myself completely engrossed in the book. perhaps the author deliberately intended to keep me on edge? one thing's for sure, it had me flipping through the chapters at lightning speed!
Thank you Netgalley, Bookouture Audio and Nelle Lamarr for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
--------
pre-review
let's go 🫶🏻
September 26, 2023
Listened to the audio version of this book, and both narrators did an absolutely amazing job! Loved the distinction between the characters, even when they were narrating for another character in the book.
So the Merritt family has taken on a foreign exchange student, Tonya, but how much of her story can they really believe? Younger sister Paige, and her little brother will do some serious investigative work and turns out Tonya is definitely not who she says she is—-But can they stop her before she does serious damage to their family?
So it’s kind of a new thing for me to love a book so much where most of the characters are very unlikable! But this book had me thinking about it when I wasn’t reading it, there were twists that I did not see coming, of course, some that I did, but was very surprised at how much I enjoyed listening to this book! Definitely would recommend, don’t want to give away any spoilers, though!
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
So the Merritt family has taken on a foreign exchange student, Tonya, but how much of her story can they really believe? Younger sister Paige, and her little brother will do some serious investigative work and turns out Tonya is definitely not who she says she is—-But can they stop her before she does serious damage to their family?
So it’s kind of a new thing for me to love a book so much where most of the characters are very unlikable! But this book had me thinking about it when I wasn’t reading it, there were twists that I did not see coming, of course, some that I did, but was very surprised at how much I enjoyed listening to this book! Definitely would recommend, don’t want to give away any spoilers, though!
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
February 18, 2024
Was für ein (entschuldigung) blöder, langweiliger, kindisch schlecht geschriebener und stumpfsinniger Quatsch war denn das?
Man kann nicht mal miträtseln, weil einem (Achtung Übertreibung) die Auflösung quasi mit dem ersten Wort ins Auge gedrückt wird.
Ich bin sogar wütend, weil ich nicht fassen kann, dass ich für das Buch 16€ ausgegeben habe! Ich fühl mich abgezockt.
Man kann nicht mal miträtseln, weil einem (Achtung Übertreibung) die Auflösung quasi mit dem ersten Wort ins Auge gedrückt wird.
Ich bin sogar wütend, weil ich nicht fassen kann, dass ich für das Buch 16€ ausgegeben habe! Ich fühl mich abgezockt.
May 5, 2024
THE FAMILY GUEST is a juicy domestic suspense with jaw-dropping twists of dark family secrets where the past and present collide. Author Nelle Lamarr cleverly weaves a labyrinth of deception, manipulation, and wicked family secrets for an utterly absorbing tale of revenge and obsession.
THE PERFECT MARRIAGE IS THE PERFECT ILLUSION.
Meet the Merritt family. Natalie and Matt with children, Paige and Will with dog Bear. They are wealthy, and Matt comes from old money. Natalie married into money with a secret past. She likes the lifestyle, but how long will she put up with her husband's behavior? There is more she does not know yet. The older sister (15 months older than Paige), Anabel, died from a mysterious accident two years earlier, and Natalie had a breakdown. Anabel was the mom's favorite.
Set in Los Angeles, as the book opens, the family is at the airport to pick up Tanya, their new foreign exchange student, staying with them. She is tall and blonde, looks like a supermodel, and resembles Anabel. Is Natalie looking for a replacement daughter?
As they settle in, Natalie and Tanya bond. Tanya slowly turns out to be a nightmare to Paige and Will. She is manipulative and creepy and begins gaslighting Paige. They think something is off, and Paige and her brother (love these two- the dynamic duo) begin sleuthing and discover Tanya is not who she appears. They must gather more information. What does she want with their family?
Tanya has snowed her mom and dad but not the grandmother (Matt's mom).
We slowly learn of Natalie and Matt's relationship and what happened with Annabel. What about Natalie's past?
Paige and Will are in danger as they get closer to the truth. Tanya is a character that you will despise! Told from alternating POVs: Paige, Natalie, and epilogue from Tiffany. Red herrings and many twists keep you glued to the pages to discover how this mystery suspense will turn out.
Diabolical, delightfully wicked fun! A chilling glimpse behind the façade of the perfect family.
AUDIOBOOK: I enjoyed the e-book and the audiobook, narrated by Lynn Norris and Cecily Bednar, which were exceptional for all the voices. Engaging! I highly recommend audio!
I adored Paige, Will, and the grandmother, Marjorie (the pearls)—my favorite characters. I enjoyed the author's writing, which was crisp, fast-moving, a psychological thriller blended with dark humor, making you laugh out loud.
Not sure which character was more evil: Matt, Natalie, or Tanya. I'm not sure how Pagie and Will turned out to be so normal and smart! Tanya is a character readers will love to hate with her teen drama and manipulation. For fans of authors Freida McFadden, Miranda Rijks, Emily Shiner, Kimberly Belle, and Kaira Rouda. My first book by the author, and I look forward to reading more.
Thanks to Bookouture, Hachette UK, and NetGalley for a gifted e-ARC and ALC for an honest opinion.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Sept 21, 2023
My Rating: 5 Stars
Sept 2023 MustReadBooks
Sept 2023 Newsletter
THE PERFECT MARRIAGE IS THE PERFECT ILLUSION.
Meet the Merritt family. Natalie and Matt with children, Paige and Will with dog Bear. They are wealthy, and Matt comes from old money. Natalie married into money with a secret past. She likes the lifestyle, but how long will she put up with her husband's behavior? There is more she does not know yet. The older sister (15 months older than Paige), Anabel, died from a mysterious accident two years earlier, and Natalie had a breakdown. Anabel was the mom's favorite.
Set in Los Angeles, as the book opens, the family is at the airport to pick up Tanya, their new foreign exchange student, staying with them. She is tall and blonde, looks like a supermodel, and resembles Anabel. Is Natalie looking for a replacement daughter?
As they settle in, Natalie and Tanya bond. Tanya slowly turns out to be a nightmare to Paige and Will. She is manipulative and creepy and begins gaslighting Paige. They think something is off, and Paige and her brother (love these two- the dynamic duo) begin sleuthing and discover Tanya is not who she appears. They must gather more information. What does she want with their family?
Tanya has snowed her mom and dad but not the grandmother (Matt's mom).
We slowly learn of Natalie and Matt's relationship and what happened with Annabel. What about Natalie's past?
Paige and Will are in danger as they get closer to the truth. Tanya is a character that you will despise! Told from alternating POVs: Paige, Natalie, and epilogue from Tiffany. Red herrings and many twists keep you glued to the pages to discover how this mystery suspense will turn out.
Diabolical, delightfully wicked fun! A chilling glimpse behind the façade of the perfect family.
AUDIOBOOK: I enjoyed the e-book and the audiobook, narrated by Lynn Norris and Cecily Bednar, which were exceptional for all the voices. Engaging! I highly recommend audio!
I adored Paige, Will, and the grandmother, Marjorie (the pearls)—my favorite characters. I enjoyed the author's writing, which was crisp, fast-moving, a psychological thriller blended with dark humor, making you laugh out loud.
Not sure which character was more evil: Matt, Natalie, or Tanya. I'm not sure how Pagie and Will turned out to be so normal and smart! Tanya is a character readers will love to hate with her teen drama and manipulation. For fans of authors Freida McFadden, Miranda Rijks, Emily Shiner, Kimberly Belle, and Kaira Rouda. My first book by the author, and I look forward to reading more.
Thanks to Bookouture, Hachette UK, and NetGalley for a gifted e-ARC and ALC for an honest opinion.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Sept 21, 2023
My Rating: 5 Stars
Sept 2023 MustReadBooks
Sept 2023 Newsletter
September 13, 2023
Cuckoo alert, if you love books based on one entering a family then this is for you
Beware this one is insidious, wicked, nasty and intends to get what she wants, by whichever way suits her….
Centering around a rich Beverley Hills family where money is no object and intelligence high it is therefore with some surprise this is such an easy thing for this person to achieve but well if you get past that then it’s a fine thriller with every element in to make you detest the main character and embrace the ride, which lets face it if we love these books we do, gladly 🤗🤗
There are quite a few red herrings and backfiring red herrings in the book and it keeps pace the whole way through, right up to the predictably good twisty end
The book has the word ‘highfalutin’ in which is a bonus too
It’s 100% on point for doing as it says it will, perfect for those of us who want it be that way,a very good thriller debut indeed
Beware this one is insidious, wicked, nasty and intends to get what she wants, by whichever way suits her….
Centering around a rich Beverley Hills family where money is no object and intelligence high it is therefore with some surprise this is such an easy thing for this person to achieve but well if you get past that then it’s a fine thriller with every element in to make you detest the main character and embrace the ride, which lets face it if we love these books we do, gladly 🤗🤗
There are quite a few red herrings and backfiring red herrings in the book and it keeps pace the whole way through, right up to the predictably good twisty end
The book has the word ‘highfalutin’ in which is a bonus too
It’s 100% on point for doing as it says it will, perfect for those of us who want it be that way,a very good thriller debut indeed
September 6, 2023
No. Just don't.
November 11, 2023
Sneaky sneaky sneaky! Oh Nelle Lamarr, you know how to write suspense!
The Family Guest is a really entertaining book with some batsh*t crazy characters that kept me reading until the middle of the night. I couldn’t wait to find out what secrets they were keeping behind their magazine-photo-perfect facades.
A Los Angeles family with wealth and privilege takes in a high school exchange student from London. A year before, the family’s teenage daughter Anabel had died, and the family is hoping that the exchange student Tanya will bring some joy back into their home. Bubbly beautiful Tanya and her outgoing host mother Natalie hit it off right away, leaving the other teenage daughter in the family, a sullen loner named Paige, feeling jealous and excluded.
What happens next is unpredictable and unsettling. Little inconsistencies in Tanya’s behavior point to her being a fraud, but Natalie is willing to turn a blind eye both because she has quickly come to love Tanya and because she has hidden sins of her own past away and doesn’t want anyone exposing it. Things get worse and worse and the ending is explosive, dramatic, and perfect.
I think anyone who enjoys a quick moving plot and over the top characters would enjoy this book like I did! I’m rating it 4.5 stars and I always round up.
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me a free advance audiobook for review consideration. Both narrators did an excellent job.
The Family Guest is a really entertaining book with some batsh*t crazy characters that kept me reading until the middle of the night. I couldn’t wait to find out what secrets they were keeping behind their magazine-photo-perfect facades.
A Los Angeles family with wealth and privilege takes in a high school exchange student from London. A year before, the family’s teenage daughter Anabel had died, and the family is hoping that the exchange student Tanya will bring some joy back into their home. Bubbly beautiful Tanya and her outgoing host mother Natalie hit it off right away, leaving the other teenage daughter in the family, a sullen loner named Paige, feeling jealous and excluded.
What happens next is unpredictable and unsettling. Little inconsistencies in Tanya’s behavior point to her being a fraud, but Natalie is willing to turn a blind eye both because she has quickly come to love Tanya and because she has hidden sins of her own past away and doesn’t want anyone exposing it. Things get worse and worse and the ending is explosive, dramatic, and perfect.
I think anyone who enjoys a quick moving plot and over the top characters would enjoy this book like I did! I’m rating it 4.5 stars and I always round up.
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me a free advance audiobook for review consideration. Both narrators did an excellent job.
September 12, 2023
I’ve been on a fantasy/romance kick and this thriller was just what I needed! The build up was great paced and easily followed. I did not guess that ending! I definitely suggest if you are a thriller reader to pick this up.
I received this ARC for an honest review, all thoughts/opinions above are my own!
I received this ARC for an honest review, all thoughts/opinions above are my own!
January 15, 2024
Een fijne thriller waarbij je van iedereen zn geheim wilt weten.
De spanning had wat meer verdeeld mogen worden, maar verder een topthriller.
De spanning had wat meer verdeeld mogen worden, maar verder een topthriller.
September 29, 2024
4 estrelas!
Se querem um livro de rápido consumo, porque simplesmente não conseguem parar de o ler até perceberem tudo o que se está a passar, este é uma excelente escolha!
Sabem aqueles thrillers que não se limitam a ter um mistério envolvente e um plot twist final surpreendente, mas que também conseguem despertar-nos emoções fortes e porem-nos os nervos em franja? Ora pois bem, é o que este livro faz.
É uma montanha russa de emoções que vão da raiva à comicidade, que nos faz ficar revoltados e angustiados tão facilmente, como nos faz ficar intrigados e fascinados com a história imprevisível que a autora aqui criou.
À primeira vista poderá parecer uma história simples, mas à medida que nos vamos adensando dentro do livro, vamos percebendo que existe muito mais para além daquilo que o olho consegue captar.
Foi uma leitura que me entreteve imenso, que me fez vibrar com a história e com as suas personagens, tendo uma trama muito sui generis com um ritmo eletrizante!
Se querem um livro de rápido consumo, porque simplesmente não conseguem parar de o ler até perceberem tudo o que se está a passar, este é uma excelente escolha!
Sabem aqueles thrillers que não se limitam a ter um mistério envolvente e um plot twist final surpreendente, mas que também conseguem despertar-nos emoções fortes e porem-nos os nervos em franja? Ora pois bem, é o que este livro faz.
É uma montanha russa de emoções que vão da raiva à comicidade, que nos faz ficar revoltados e angustiados tão facilmente, como nos faz ficar intrigados e fascinados com a história imprevisível que a autora aqui criou.
À primeira vista poderá parecer uma história simples, mas à medida que nos vamos adensando dentro do livro, vamos percebendo que existe muito mais para além daquilo que o olho consegue captar.
Foi uma leitura que me entreteve imenso, que me fez vibrar com a história e com as suas personagens, tendo uma trama muito sui generis com um ritmo eletrizante!
November 1, 2024
Beklemediğim kadar iyi bir gerilimdi sağ gösterip sol vurdu uzun zamandır bu kadar keyif alarak okuduğum bir kitap olmamıştı.
April 11, 2024
A quick and easy thriller. Although the book and the characters were mainly frustrating for 80%. The plot itself unravels at the far end, unfortunately the rest of the book wasn't that thrilling. I sat the plot twists coming too, however I think one of them was a little bit too much for my liking. Besides all that, I just wanted to hit Tanya with a shovel in her face throughout the entire book. But oh well. A fun read it was.
October 13, 2023
ONE OF MY TOP READS FOR 2023! This thriller kept me on the edge of my seat from the very first page. It came highly recommended by Freida McFadden who is my fave author so I knew it had to be good! I could not put it down and I was up late reading it! Loved it! A fave for me!
September 18, 2023
ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.
Theo two narrators did a wonderful job on this book! They made it very easy to listen to and I really enjoyed the range for their characters! The story is about a family that gets a British exchange student for the year while having two other children in their house and trying to come to grips with losing their oldest daughter two years earlier. There are parts that were fairly predictable to me and others that completely blew me out of the water! I really liked the way it came to a conclusion and wrapped up nicely. If you like psychological thrillers with unreliable narrators, check this book out!
Theo two narrators did a wonderful job on this book! They made it very easy to listen to and I really enjoyed the range for their characters! The story is about a family that gets a British exchange student for the year while having two other children in their house and trying to come to grips with losing their oldest daughter two years earlier. There are parts that were fairly predictable to me and others that completely blew me out of the water! I really liked the way it came to a conclusion and wrapped up nicely. If you like psychological thrillers with unreliable narrators, check this book out!
November 11, 2023
Tanya, een Britse exchange student, komt een jaar lang in het gezin van Natalie en Matt wonen in hun luxe huis in Los Angeles.
Voor Natalie, die nog steeds rouwt om de dood van haar oudste dochter, Anabel, is Tanya een welkome afleiding én de kans om haar gezin weer dichter bij elkaar te brengen. De zeventienjarige Paige zit echter niet te wachten op de knappe Tanya die nu in de kamer verblijft die ooit van Anabel was.
Naarmate Tanya zich dieper in het gezin nestelt, wordt haar gelijkenis met Anabel met de dag griezeliger. Tanya lijkt niet alleen op Anabel, iets wat Natalie toeschrijft aan toeval, maar Tanya begint ook echt als Anabel te klinken…
Terwijl Natalie elke nacht wordt wakker gehouden door haar eigen geheimen en een verleden dat haar achtervolgt, vraagt ze zich in toenemende mate af wie ze nou wérkelijk in haar huis heeft verwelkomd. Tanya is overduidelijk slecht nieuws… De vraag is echter: hoe slecht?
Dit zal een onpopulaire mening worden maar: Pfff... Ik heb mij nog nooit eerder zo erg geïrriteerd aan personages in een boek.
Tanya komt bij Natalie en Matt wonen. Samen hebben ze een dochter Paige. Hun oudste dochter, Annabel, is overleden en Natalie heeft hier nog steeds heel veel verdriet van.
Al gauw wordt duidelijk dat Tanya niet echt goede bedoelingen heeft. Ze probeert zich helemaal binnen het gezin te dringen, ten koste van Paige. Er gebeuren dan een heleboel dingen en de reacties van Matt en Natalie vond ik echt onbegrijpelijk. Ik kan hier helaas niet al teveel over verraden, maar voor mij was dit niet te begrijpen.
De dingen worden steeds extremer en lopen dus ook gigantisch uit de hand. Op het einde komt er dan nog wel een verrassing, maar ik zat echt vol onbegrip naar dit verhaal te luisteren op @storytel.
'De logé' was voor mij dus niet helemaal een succes. Misschien dat het begin wel oké was, maar daarna wordt het echt absurd.
Gelukkig denkt iedereen er natuurlijk anders over, dus ik zeg: lees/luister het boek zelf en trek je eigen conclusies. ;-)
Beoordeling: 2,5/3,0 ⭐️
Voor Natalie, die nog steeds rouwt om de dood van haar oudste dochter, Anabel, is Tanya een welkome afleiding én de kans om haar gezin weer dichter bij elkaar te brengen. De zeventienjarige Paige zit echter niet te wachten op de knappe Tanya die nu in de kamer verblijft die ooit van Anabel was.
Naarmate Tanya zich dieper in het gezin nestelt, wordt haar gelijkenis met Anabel met de dag griezeliger. Tanya lijkt niet alleen op Anabel, iets wat Natalie toeschrijft aan toeval, maar Tanya begint ook echt als Anabel te klinken…
Terwijl Natalie elke nacht wordt wakker gehouden door haar eigen geheimen en een verleden dat haar achtervolgt, vraagt ze zich in toenemende mate af wie ze nou wérkelijk in haar huis heeft verwelkomd. Tanya is overduidelijk slecht nieuws… De vraag is echter: hoe slecht?
Dit zal een onpopulaire mening worden maar: Pfff... Ik heb mij nog nooit eerder zo erg geïrriteerd aan personages in een boek.
Tanya komt bij Natalie en Matt wonen. Samen hebben ze een dochter Paige. Hun oudste dochter, Annabel, is overleden en Natalie heeft hier nog steeds heel veel verdriet van.
Al gauw wordt duidelijk dat Tanya niet echt goede bedoelingen heeft. Ze probeert zich helemaal binnen het gezin te dringen, ten koste van Paige. Er gebeuren dan een heleboel dingen en de reacties van Matt en Natalie vond ik echt onbegrijpelijk. Ik kan hier helaas niet al teveel over verraden, maar voor mij was dit niet te begrijpen.
De dingen worden steeds extremer en lopen dus ook gigantisch uit de hand. Op het einde komt er dan nog wel een verrassing, maar ik zat echt vol onbegrip naar dit verhaal te luisteren op @storytel.
'De logé' was voor mij dus niet helemaal een succes. Misschien dat het begin wel oké was, maar daarna wordt het echt absurd.
Gelukkig denkt iedereen er natuurlijk anders over, dus ik zeg: lees/luister het boek zelf en trek je eigen conclusies. ;-)
Beoordeling: 2,5/3,0 ⭐️
September 15, 2023
The Family Guest
by Nelle Lamarr
Pub Date: 21 Sep 2023
3.75⭐ rounded up
If you love twisty psychological thrillers, this one will be sure to keep you guessing. I am a sucker for these kind of books, but this is the first one I've read about a foreign exchange student. And will definitely make you think twice before bringing a stranger into your home.
Natalie lost one of her daughters to a terrible accident, it has taken them a while to be able to move past such a tragic loss. But when she sees a foreign exchange student who is almost the spitting image of her Anabel she believes it is quite possibly her second chance. Tonya is a beautiful girl, who quickly charms her way into Natalie and Matt's heart. But Paige and her brother aren't as easily swayed. She resembles their older sister in more ways than her looks, she is self-centered, manipulative and conniving. But Tonya isn't the only one in this house keeping secret's, and things are about to hit the fan.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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by Nelle Lamarr
Pub Date: 21 Sep 2023
3.75⭐ rounded up
If you love twisty psychological thrillers, this one will be sure to keep you guessing. I am a sucker for these kind of books, but this is the first one I've read about a foreign exchange student. And will definitely make you think twice before bringing a stranger into your home.
Natalie lost one of her daughters to a terrible accident, it has taken them a while to be able to move past such a tragic loss. But when she sees a foreign exchange student who is almost the spitting image of her Anabel she believes it is quite possibly her second chance. Tonya is a beautiful girl, who quickly charms her way into Natalie and Matt's heart. But Paige and her brother aren't as easily swayed. She resembles their older sister in more ways than her looks, she is self-centered, manipulative and conniving. But Tonya isn't the only one in this house keeping secret's, and things are about to hit the fan.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Post review to Goodreads
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Rate this book
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January 27, 2024
Leuk boek over een uitwisselingsstudent uit Engeland die bij een schatrijk Amerikaans gezin komt te wonen.
Voor mij in het begin frustrerend omdat ik niet tegen onrecht kan, dit komt later in het boek gelukkig niet meer voor. Ieder hoofdstuk heeft de naam van het personage in wiens hoofd je op dat moment kruipt.
Leuk geschreven, leuke personages (al vind ik de moeder met vlagen super irritant) en zo opgeschreven dat een ieder die het leest een hekel gaat krijgen aan de uitwisselingsstudent.
Voor mij in het begin frustrerend omdat ik niet tegen onrecht kan, dit komt later in het boek gelukkig niet meer voor. Ieder hoofdstuk heeft de naam van het personage in wiens hoofd je op dat moment kruipt.
Leuk geschreven, leuke personages (al vind ik de moeder met vlagen super irritant) en zo opgeschreven dat een ieder die het leest een hekel gaat krijgen aan de uitwisselingsstudent.
August 17, 2023
The Family Guest by Nelle Lamarr follows a family hosting an exchange student from England in a duo perspective. For Natalie, Tanya is like a daughter- someone she feels she can connect with. For Paige, Tanya is a nuisance- someone who isn't who they say to be.
This very well may be one of my favorite thriller/mysteries I've read so far this year. From the first few chapters I was captivated, continuously turning the pages to read more- to keep finding out what happens next. I really enjoyed the plot, it was fast paced and easy to follow.
I loved Paige and her little brother Will and their mission to uncover the truth. "Where there's a Will there's a way". Tanya was clearly meant to be seen as a suspicious person from the beginning and it played out perfectly, I hated her with a passion throughout the whole book.
I have to say I actually loved the ending, although it does leave you on a cliffhanger- it was the final twist that I wasn't expecting. It keeps me wanting to know more, which shows just how captivating this read really is.
I definitely recommend reading this if you're in the mood for a good suspenseful novel. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date: 21 September 2023
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This very well may be one of my favorite thriller/mysteries I've read so far this year. From the first few chapters I was captivated, continuously turning the pages to read more- to keep finding out what happens next. I really enjoyed the plot, it was fast paced and easy to follow.
I loved Paige and her little brother Will and their mission to uncover the truth. "Where there's a Will there's a way". Tanya was clearly meant to be seen as a suspicious person from the beginning and it played out perfectly, I hated her with a passion throughout the whole book.
I have to say I actually loved the ending, although it does leave you on a cliffhanger- it was the final twist that I wasn't expecting. It keeps me wanting to know more, which shows just how captivating this read really is.
I definitely recommend reading this if you're in the mood for a good suspenseful novel. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date: 21 September 2023
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October 27, 2023
This is a Young Adult psychological thriller, which is about a young girl called Tanya who goes to live with an American family for a while. The American family consist of Natalie, Paige, Matt and Will, and there was also a daughter called Anabel, but she passed away previously. Tanya starts to use Anabel's things, and this upsets some of the family, especially daughter Paige, who gets jealous.
Is Tanya an honest person, or is she hiding something? Can she be trusted, or should the family be suspicious of her? There are so many secrets and lies in this book that it is hard to work out who we can trust, but by the end of the book, all things are revealed, and everything makes sense.
I really loved the audiobook narrators of this story, and they worked well together to do the different accents, and bring the book to life.
I really enjoyed this book a lot, and I listened to it while I was doing some gardening, so it kept me entertained while I was cutting my grass and doing other jobs. I recommend this book highly, as it was really great, and I liked everything about it!
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
Is Tanya an honest person, or is she hiding something? Can she be trusted, or should the family be suspicious of her? There are so many secrets and lies in this book that it is hard to work out who we can trust, but by the end of the book, all things are revealed, and everything makes sense.
I really loved the audiobook narrators of this story, and they worked well together to do the different accents, and bring the book to life.
I really enjoyed this book a lot, and I listened to it while I was doing some gardening, so it kept me entertained while I was cutting my grass and doing other jobs. I recommend this book highly, as it was really great, and I liked everything about it!
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
September 17, 2023
Tanya really is the perfect guest – kind, polite, and always happy to help in the kitchen, finds a common ground with the father of the family and Natalie loves her, growing specially fond of her after a tragic accident claimed her oldest daughter’s life, Anabel.
Paige , isn’t so happy about their guest though. She thinks it’s weird that Tanya looks like Anabel, she hates it when she wears her sister’s old clothes, and Bear the dog doesn’t seem thrilled with her either.After some incidents, Paige insists Natalie checks Tanya’s records. She’s become convinced Tanya isn’t who she says she is, but Nat learnt a long time ago that sometimes it’s best not ask questions you don’t want to know the answer to.
3.5 rounded down solely because I only liked 1 character in this!
Listen, I love me some generally unlikable characters or downright villains but everyone here was annoying, especially one of the main characters that we were supposed to be rooting for.
Paige , isn’t so happy about their guest though. She thinks it’s weird that Tanya looks like Anabel, she hates it when she wears her sister’s old clothes, and Bear the dog doesn’t seem thrilled with her either.After some incidents, Paige insists Natalie checks Tanya’s records. She’s become convinced Tanya isn’t who she says she is, but Nat learnt a long time ago that sometimes it’s best not ask questions you don’t want to know the answer to.
3.5 rounded down solely because I only liked 1 character in this!
Listen, I love me some generally unlikable characters or downright villains but everyone here was annoying, especially one of the main characters that we were supposed to be rooting for.
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