61 pages • 2 hours read
Sarah WatersThe Paying Guests
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2014A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
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.
Reviews & Readership
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 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.