The Guest

by Emma Cline · 2023

In the sweltering heat of an endless August, Alex finds herself drawn to the sea, where the water grows warmer each day and the horizon seems to promise escape. When a mysterious guest arrives at the remote coastal town, the rhythm of her life—marked by daily swims, quiet evenings, and the ever‑present hum of the ocean—shifts in subtle, unsettling ways. As Alex navigates the delicate balance between hospitality and intrusion, she discovers that the stranger carries secrets that ripple through the community, forcing her to confront hidden desires, lingering regrets, and the thin line between belonging and isolation. Emma Cline weaves a lyrical, atmospheric tale of longing and the unexpected currents that shape our identities when the familiar shore is breached by an unfamiliar presence.