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The Last House Guest
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January 2025 FBR - Main Buddy Read: The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda
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I am around 40 % and think that Avery being a younger person in charge of all the home rentals is very cool. That would involve the best customer service and very organized.
I have this one on hold at library but I'm up next, so I'm hoping it gets here within next few days.
40-48% and I am like WHAAAATTT. Ok it is getting interesting and I have no idea where we are going with this huge revelation and WHAAAT?
Ok I am done and don't want to spoil anything, but I will leave my review if you want to know my thoughts.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This will be my next read.
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I will come back and chat so feel free to make comments once you start 😁
Yes, my hold is still close but not here. Checked this morning. Argh.
I really liked this one! But I'm not usually a mystery reader, so maybe that helped. I love books which center female friendships and I really enjoyed the tenseness of Miranda's writing. It was easy to get lost in it.My review is here. It's not very spoilery, but still, better safe than sorry and all.
I just got my copy and plan to start today and pause my other reads for now. I expect that it will be good as so many people have mentioned it.
Starting the book today. This will be a re-read for me, actually a first read since I listened to it the first time and this time, I have the real book😉
I'm listening to it now -- I spent about a decade of childhood summers at a similar place in Maine. My experience was more on the Avery side of things - my college professor Dad worked at the local deli and my teacher Mom at the candle store for the summer - but my brother and I, as summer regulars on the beach, got to know all the other regulars year after year, some of whom were from crazy wealthy families, not that that really mattered to any of us at the time. The real question was: do you play cribbage?
Of course my copy from the library is still not ready. I check a few times a day. I've been "next up" about 5 days.
Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* wrote: "Of course my copy from the library is still not ready. I check a few times a day. I've been "next up" about 5 days."Hopefully the people return right after finishing the book
Through Chapter 5 (about 20%)We learn background about Avery, Sadie & Parker. You can definitely feel that there is an us/them dynamic at play between the "summer" people and the year-round residents. Sadie is found dead one night after not showing up to an annual party and her death is ruled a suicide.
Something seems off whenever Connor is mentioned, Avery doesn't like him even though they are both townies.
A memorial is being planned for Sadie.
Looks like something interesting will begin to happen (view spoiler)...more will be revealed.
@Teddie, that must have been a fun way to spend summers.
Through Chapter 15 (about 50%)I don't think this has been a very thrilling book so far, probably why I only gave it three ⭐s on my first read/listen several years ago. I don't remember everything from the first read. There have been a few twists & turns though.
Avery has still been working for the Loman's since Avery's death and living in the guest house. There have been break-ins at some of the rental properties and Avery feels she is being followed, and potentially up for disaster.
One of the summer people called Avery "Sadie's Monster" - was she really viewed as her friend?
Another interesting end to this chapter though (view spoiler)
Library copy finally borrowed.
Mod
Finished!All is perfect in Avery's world until the summer Sadie dies. The story is told in alternating timelines from the past and present lead to secrets being unearthed.
There's not really anything wrong with this book but I found it lacking in tension, suspense and drama,
I don't regret reading it again as I found it got better towards the end.
Read today and now am 60% in.So far it's good but not fascinating if that makes sense. It seems to be a theme in a lot of stories like this the past few years - night of a party or something a close friend dies, and the person years later is dealing with the mystery of it with back and forth scenes. I read the excellent Listen for the Lie last year with my book club, and it was similar in ways but much better.
I haven't read all of this one yet, of course, and not sure what the rating will be. I have a suspicious person in mind perhaps but the suspect pool isn't actually large in the first place, so I would't be surprised by anyone being unmasked. I feel there's still plenty of twists to go before the end at this point. I just finished the part where
(view spoiler)
Catherine wrote: "I am around 40 % and think that Avery being a younger person in charge of all the home rentals is very cool. That would involve the best customer service and very organized."Yes. Her job confuses me a bit on what she does at times but it would be a pretty sweet gig.
Teddie wrote: "I'm listening to it now -- I spent about a decade of childhood summers at a similar place in Maine. My experience was more on the Avery side of things - my college professor Dad worked at the local..."I've always wanted to visit Maine. I think a lot of it is because of all the Stephen King stories :D
I finished it last night and wrote a small review here - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...Went with three stars. Good book but to me nothing special that I'll remember much as standing out. I was disappointed in the reveal of who the killer was for some reason, think something more interesting could have been arranged. I liked the end wrap up showing what the main character has been working on.
The characters in this one feel almost surreal and a little detached to me other than the main character.
Now - since this is apparently a popular borrow - returning early to the library for the next person
I was disappointed in the reveal of who the killer was for some reason, think something more interesting could have been arranged. This!! While I apparently liked it more than most here, I still felt the ending/the reveal quite disappointing.
Mod
I agree - what a high responsibility job!
I'm about 30% done now, and I'm... confused. We've found (view spoiler), and things are NOT ADDING UP!
I finished this book earlier today and was also wanting more with the reveal of the killer. I needed a little more thrill and suspense to this one. I also feel this book is a lot like some of the others that have came out recently. It's a typical pattern. My favorite character was Avery but felt she could've been developed a little more. I'm going to make sure all my challenges are up to date and return this one because my library has the dreaded wait list for it also.
Sounds like we're all pretty much in agreement so far.This is my first time reading this author, she seems pretty popular. I have two others on my shelf to borrow later to try, so I'll give her another shot or so.
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I pretty much agree with everyone else. It was just alright.
Just read your review, Ashley - you are correct I just did not feel the special bond at all with Sadie.Or the strange Connor....
Mod
Or the strange Connor...."
Yeah, I just felt like the relationship between Sadie and Avery could have been better handled. I was frustrated that we used their problematic friendship to further the plot of her murder. I hate when we pit women against each other.
Really she didn't come across to me as a good person once you found out some of her background, the comments to her brother and getting glee from them, pretty dysfunctional in pretty much every way. The main character is fine to me, but not someone who stands out if this makes sense
Mod
Also agree!
I like Avery enough, but I agree with you Anna - this book followed too typical of a pattern to keep me really engrossed. I agree with your review Erin - I think the author concentrated on characters as plot devices rather than fleshing them out past their roles, if that makes sense. (I also agree with your assessment of Listen for the Lie :) )
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Ashley wrote: "Listen for the Lie was fantastic!"Agree!
Yes, I never would have read Listen for the Lie if it were not for my book club as I had not heard of it, we all loved that one
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Agree!"
I agree too!! It was my first 5 star read of the year! (And I'm stingy with those!!)
I will be reading The Last House Guest this weekend. :-)
I'm interested to see if you think the same about this one and I just went and put Listen for the Lie on hold because that wait list is long and if all of y'all like it then I'm going to like it too.
message 42:
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Erin *Proud Book Hoarder*
(last edited Jan 22, 2025 10:08AM)
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rated it 3 stars
bamaace83 wrote: "I'm interested to see if you think the same about this one and I just went and put Listen for the Lie on hold because that wait list is long and if all of y'all like it then I'm going to like it too."Be sure to drop by here and let us know what you think of it once you've read it
I finished it and I would give it about 3 stars, it was an interesting read and very slow at first with a lot of morally grey characters (which always make the best stories). I did not see the ending coming, but looking back there were a lot of clues that pointed to the ending. I am curious if anyone had a similar reading experience?
I didn't anticipate the "killer" until closer to the end - had other suspects.
Mod
My comments are going to probably be in reverse order or even a little jumbled! LOL
I agree with everyone. This was just an average book. I *may* have thought differently if I had read it before Listen for the Lie, because the storylines were too similar.
I feel a little different about Sadie. (view spoiler)
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Conner was an odd one. I think were were meant to dislike him but when all was done, (view spoiler)
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You're right on the payoff seeming a crappy low amount, Angie.
I ended up at 3 stars for this one. It was not until the final forty pages that I began to be interested in reading more. Until then I was just going through the motions as it was very slow going and rather dull. As it all started to fall into place, it became more compelling as of course you want to find out the truth. Even then it still felt somewhat anticlimactic. Not a favourite thriller by any means.
The setting was the best part as a small beach town offers the opportunity for a definite 'us and them' scenario.
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Books mentioned in this topic
Listen for the Lie (other topics)Listen for the Lie (other topics)
Listen for the Lie (other topics)
The Last House Guest (other topics)
Welcome to the January "Main" Buddy Read!
starts 1-Jan-2025, ends 31-Jan-2025
As we step into the new year, we invite you to explore the intriguing theme of "Unraveled Beginnings." This month, our theme is inspired by the spirit of New Year's Day, a time for reflection and new starts, making it the perfect backdrop for thrilling reads that delve into hidden truths and personal transformations.
The Last House Guest by Megan Miranda
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