The Family Guest
Nelle Lamarr
374 pages
Bookouture
published September 21, 2023
About the book
I’ve never met her before, but I know who she is. Because our new guest is the spitting image of the daughter I lost. Long blonde hair. Sparkling dark eyes. Perfect pearly-white teeth. And that’s exactly why I invited her into our home.
From the moment our exchange student Tanya arrives, I feel like my daughter has come back to life. With her brown eyes and slender frame, she looks so much like Anabel that sometimes I can almost pretend she didn’t die in that tragic accident.
Tanya really is the perfect guest – kind, polite, and always happy to help me in the kitchen. At last, a member of the family who compliments my beautiful house and enjoys my homemade dinners. And when she asks questions about my life, I feel I’ve finally found someone I can confide in.
My younger teenage daughter, Paige, isn’t so happy about our guest. She thinks it’s strange that Tanya looks like Anabel, and she hates it when she wears her sister’s old clothes. And now she’s convinced herself that Tanya isn’t who she says she is.
But I learnt a long time ago that it’s best not to ask questions you don’t want to know the answer to.
And while I’m growing suspicious that our new guest has a secret, I’m certain that it’s nothing in comparison to mine…
The absolutely unputdownable, page-turning and twisty psychological thriller that will have you guessing until the very last page. Perfect for readers who love gripping suspense and fans of Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid, The Girl on the Train and Colleen Hoover’s Verity.
My Review
What an interesting read. There were moments of this read that reminded me a little of the real housewives. This one got a little wild at times and maybe a little over the top, but I never wanted to stop reading as I had to know what would happen. It also gave me a little nostalgia as I had friends who housed foreign exchange students.
I did not like any of the characters, but that isn’t a requirement for me. Especially in a thriller. And at times it was like a car wreck that I could not look away. I never knew where it was going. Ever. And just went along for the ride. Everyone had a secret or ten and they trickled out slowly. And that ending. I won’t soon forget it.
This is one I both listened and read. I liked that there was dual narration by Cecily Bednar Schmidt and Lynn Norris for the mostly dual POVs. The voice of the mother was over the top and so spot on. It added a layer to the story.
If you are itching for a wild, at times, domestic thriller, this one should be on your list.
About the author
Nelle Lamarr is the pen name for Nelle L’Amour, a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, who has sold over 350,000 books worldwide. Her books feature flawed, complex characters and nail-biting twists you won’t see coming. A former executive in the entertainment industry, she lives in Los Angeles with her Prince Charming-ish husband, beautiful twin princesses, and a bevy of royal pain-in-the-butt pets. When she isn’t writing, you can find her reading gripping thrillers by her favorite authors with a cup of coffee or glass of wine.
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