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The Paying Guests

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2014

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Book Brief

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Sarah Waters

The Paying Guests

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2014
Book Details
Pages

592

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

London, England • 1920s

Publication Year

2014

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters is set in 1920s London and follows Frances Wray and her mother, who take in lodgers Lilian and Leonard Barber to make ends meet. Frances and Lilian develop a close friendship that leads to a secret love affair, ultimately resulting in a tragic crime that changes their lives. Topics include domestic violence and abortion.

Suspenseful

Mysterious

Emotional

Dark

Melancholic

Reviews & Readership

3.5

100,297 ratings

53%

Loved it

30%

Mixed feelings

17%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Sarah Waters' The Paying Guests explores intense emotions and complex relationships set in post-WWI London. Critics praise its intricate plot, well-developed characters, and vivid historical setting. Some feel the pacing lags in the middle sections, and the tone can become oppressive. Overall, it's lauded for its rich, immersive storytelling and psychological depth.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Paying Guests?

Fans of The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters typically enjoy historical fiction infused with intricate psychological drama and forbidden romance. Readers who appreciated Fingersmith or The Night Watch, also by Waters, or E.M. Forster's Howards End and Ian McEwan's Atonement, will find this novel captivating.

3.5

100,297 ratings

53%

Loved it

30%

Mixed feelings

17%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

592

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

London, England • 1920s

Publication Year

2014

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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