Super Short Summary

Emma Cline's The Guest follows a 22-year-old woman named Alex who is spending the summer in the Hamptons with her older, wealthy boyfriend Simon, but her precarious lifestyle leads to a series of mistakes that cause Simon to send her away. Alex tries to find ways to stay in the Hamptons, maneuvering through various social situations and encountering new characters, all while avoiding the dangerous Dom from the city. The novel delves into themes of survival, self-sabotage, resilience, and manipulation. This guide contains references to substance-use disorder, suicidal ideation, and self-harm.