The Paying Guest is a satirical novella by George Gissing, first published in 1895 by Cassell, as part of their Pocket Library series.

Written in an unusually comic tone compared with Gissing's earlier works,[1] The Paying Guest was generally received well by critics.

To supplement their income they respond to the advertisement and meet the prospective tenant, named Louise Derrick, who is in need of a place to live due to disagreements with her immediate family.

[6] A reviewer in the Daily News described the work as exemplifying "many of his [Gissing's] finest qualities", being "so finely observed, so admirably well executed".

[7] Percy Addleshaw was impressed by the humour, realism and emotive power of the work, describing it as "a subtly study of human nature, an excellent bit of writing and composition".