I want to start by saying how much I love Emma Cline's writing. I had been eagerly anticipating this book and I truly enjoyed it. While it didn't become an instant favorite, not every book can, but it was definitely a good read. It had a unique and unconventional quality that stood out.

In The Guest, we follow Summer, a twenty-two-year-old woman who relies on men to support herself in New York City. She goes from one relationship to another, often annoying the people she encounters along the way. She's being pursued by an ex who wants something from her, she's struggling to pay rent, stealing prescription drugs from her roommates, and her income from prostitution is decreasing. She's desperate.

Then she meets Simon, a fifty-year-old single and wealthy man, who invites her to stay at his summer home in Long Island. However, after a major social mistake at a dinner party, Simon gives her a train ticket back to the city. But she doesn't necessarily have to use it.

Summer, also known as Alex, is a person who deceives and drifts through life. She easily creates a persona that she knows men will desire. It's not just that she lacks morals; she doesn't seem to realize the harm or anger she may cause others. She's not a likable character, but she is intriguing. Emma Cline's writing is superb, making me feel as if I'm right there with Alex, witnessing her make one poor decision after another.

This book explores the world of the rich and the people who work for them to maintain their lifestyles. Cline vividly captures the setting of Long Island's lazy summer days and the wealth that surrounds it. The story moves at a slow pace, reflecting Alex's lack of direction and her stumbling through each day.

It's a fantastic book to read during the summer, offering suspense and some stress, while still being literary and engaging.