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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
I like recurring character Sarah Keller and her husband is literally the best. But beyond that, hmph. A lot of leads that don't pan out, which I'm sure is closer to police with than most books but created a book about stuff that didn't really tie into the plot. I think there were too many characters (5 kids, parents, fbi agent and family, other police agents).
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Alex Finlay’s books have been hit or miss for me and unfortunately, Parent’s Weekend was a miss.
There were several things I did enjoy about this book- with the short chapters, I flew through it. I also enjoyed seeing what the character Keller was up to after really loving The Night Shift. Another aspect I liked was the different pov for different chapters- I love this in thrillers!
However, too many things didn’t work. The ending was predictable, the characters were surface level and didn’t feel real, and the plot wasn’t all that interesting. Honestly this is my least fave of his of the ones I have read.
In my opinion, skip this one!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Parents Weekend is a binge-worthy thriller centered on the disappearance of five first-year college students during Parents Weekend. I devoured it in just 24 hours! The ultra-short chapters made it totally addictive (always a win in thrillers).
I’m a huge fan of dark academia!! I thoroughly enjoyed the campus vibes, tangled family secrets, and solid twists. The story follows five families. With such a large cast, the story leans more plot-driven, but it was easy to follow thanks to clearly labeled POVs, especially helpful in audio.
I guessed the culprit early - which is rare for me. So, that made me feel clever. 😂 However, it didn’t take away from the suspense or the fun. I have to shout out my favorite character: Annie, the intern. Smart, determined, and a total standout. Maybe Agent Sarah Feller can hire her after graduation - just a thought, Mr Finlay. 👀
🎧 Narration Note: Brittany Pressley delivers (as always!), giving each character a distinct voice. I was glad to have the eBook for quick POV references, but the audio alone is excellent.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
I have listened to other Alex Finlay books and really liked them. I am also a big fan of Brittany Pressley as a narrator. But this story wasn't holding my interest at times and I found my mind wandering a good amount. I wish the college students had more backstory at the beginning, because I honestly was not invested in their lives and did not emotionally care what happened to any of them by halfway through the book. I think other readers will enjoy the book, and it wasn't a bad story, so this is why I gave it an average three stars rating.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio Influencer Program and SMP Early Readers for allowing me access to both the audiobook and the eBook (complimentary copies). All opinions here are my own.
#MacAudio2025
Thank you to MacMillan Audio Influencer Program and SMP Early Readers for allowing me access to both the audiobook and the eBook (complimentary copies). All opinions here are my own.
#MacAudio2025
Not my favorite by this author, was pretty lackluster and the "reveal" .... eye roll. 🙄
This was my first Alex Finlay book and unfortunately, I see why I haven't pushed myself to pick up his books before. While I feel like the author had big plans for this novel, the concepts fell flat for me. It felt like there were these big reveals with nothing in between. I also didn't feel attached to any of the characters and there were times I had a hard time differentiating who was who because none of them had huge personalities, just different job descriptions. There were just so many characters that it was hard to keep track of who was who thoughout this novel. The only saving grace for me was that this book was super fast paced and an easy read. I would recommend this more for someone who is getting into thrillers over someone who is a well-seasoned reader of them. Overall, it was fine and I don't think I'll be rushing to read more from this author.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for providing me with an eBook copy to review on NetGalley.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for providing me with an eBook copy to review on NetGalley.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
This was such a fast, addictive read! The Parents Weekend starts off with a fun college tradition and quickly turns into a parent's worst nightmare when five freshmen suddenly go missing. I loved how the story was told from different parents' perspectives—it added so much drama and tension, and made it easy to get pulled into each family's secrets. The mystery unfolds in a really compelling way, with twists that kept me guessing (even if a couple felt a little over the top). It also brings back FBI Agent Sarah Keller, which was a nice surprise for fans of Finlay’s earlier books. Perfect if you’re in the mood for a smart, twisty thriller that’s hard to put down.
* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books in exchange for my honest review
* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books in exchange for my honest review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes