The Guest

“My Monthly Read for January is the eerily beautiful The Guest by Emma Cline. Every page of this book raised so many questions for me! The story takes place over just one week, during which we learn almost nothing about the young protagonist Alex. We never leave a small affluent area of what we assume is Long Island. No one dies (or do they?), no major world events take place. And yet… the strange atmospheric pace of the novel doesn’t let up and I found myself literally on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.

“In Alex, Emma Cline has created a character who is so intriguing that she kept me guessing throughout. We never really find out who she is – is she a thief, an escort, or just a young girl figuring it out? She is such an enigma, but also like someone you feel you might have known. The kind of girl you meet on a crazy night out who is a little bit lost and whose story you never entirely understand.

“Just like the infinity pools and the crystal calm sea that serve as metaphors throughout, under the surface this book shimmers with tension, flirts with danger, and begs questions about class, privilege, excess and survival. I can’t wait to dive into this with you” – Dua Lipa

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