A review by jamesworth
The Guest by Emma Cline

2.0

Though generally well written with, interesting sentences do not an interesting story make. This isn't necessarily the author's fault but I'm getting pretty exhausted with stories so hyperfocused on class, particularly rich men vs. lower class women. The current era of popular fiction seems to be deeply obsessed with the divide and for good reason but it's getting difficult to find anything left worth saying. And with no original themes to prop itself up on, this novel quickly reveals itself to barely be about anything. There's a relatively good pace, it's got a page-turner aspect, but nothing of import seems to happen. There's hardly any arc. This works as more a collection of vignettes than a well plotted novel. Cool atmosphere, but nothing happens. A girl gets bored. NPJV.