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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
dark
tense
fast-paced
A gripping, character-rich suspense novel — Parents Weekend keeps you on edge from start to finish.
With a large ensemble cast, including both students and parents, the story weaves together multiple perspectives, creating a layered and dynamic narrative. The audiobook version was especially helpful in keeping track of the many characters, thanks to the excellent narration and distinct voice work — each character truly came to life.
One standout for me was Keller — a compelling and well-drawn character with clear potential for further development. I’d love to see them return in future installments or even a spin-off.
Overall, Parents Weekend is a suspenseful, well-paced read with a strong cast and an engaging plot. Highly recommended, especially in audio format.
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillian audio for this ALC. This is my honest review.
With a large ensemble cast, including both students and parents, the story weaves together multiple perspectives, creating a layered and dynamic narrative. The audiobook version was especially helpful in keeping track of the many characters, thanks to the excellent narration and distinct voice work — each character truly came to life.
One standout for me was Keller — a compelling and well-drawn character with clear potential for further development. I’d love to see them return in future installments or even a spin-off.
Overall, Parents Weekend is a suspenseful, well-paced read with a strong cast and an engaging plot. Highly recommended, especially in audio format.
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillian audio for this ALC. This is my honest review.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Book 31 of 2025 - ☑️! Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and Alex Finlay for an ARC of Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay, in exchange for my honest review.
Amidst reading (almost exclusively) romance each summer, I decided to change things up a little and go with a mystery/thriller in Alex Finlay’s Parents Weekend. The cover was intriguing, and with back-to-school season just around the corner, this felt like the book to go with.
Parents Weekend at Santa Clara University takes a dark turn when 5 students don’t show up to dinner with their families. While some folks chalk it up to college students just being coeds, FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller is on the case. Why didn’t the students show up to dinner, what happened that day and in the days leading up to their disappearing? The book explores the story from each family’s POV, which felt right for the book, and for those who have ready Finlay’s other books, it sounds like Agent Keller is established as a character in a couple of other novels.
I have a dear friend who, along with my parents, are my go-to consultants when it comes to mysteries and thrillers, and I should have checked with any of them first to get their thoughts on the author. This was a quick read, and while the book was fast-paced, and I enjoyed the fact that it took place on a college campus with students, I felt like I didn’t get to know all of the characters like I wanted to. It also felt a bit difficult to remember all of the different players involved.
3/5 ⭐️ overall, and a 🌶️ rating is not relevant here. #NetGalley #ParentsWeekend 🎒🎓🍽️
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dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is a solid 3 for me.
There were way too many characters but I was able to keep track of all of them. I didn't have a strong connection to the characters and felt that I wasn’t wasn't on the edge of my seat which I like to feel during thrillers/suspense books.
I enjoyed the first half but I thought that the second half was too slow, which I gravitate towards it being the opposite if not fast passed through the story. Another thing that caught me off guard was that the story was told through multiple points of view as well as multiple timelines.
All in all, solid 3 read.
There were way too many characters but I was able to keep track of all of them. I didn't have a strong connection to the characters and felt that I wasn’t wasn't on the edge of my seat which I like to feel during thrillers/suspense books.
I enjoyed the first half but I thought that the second half was too slow, which I gravitate towards it being the opposite if not fast passed through the story. Another thing that caught me off guard was that the story was told through multiple points of view as well as multiple timelines.
All in all, solid 3 read.