3.5 rounded up for audiobook narration

This was an interesting story. The premise was quite different, unusual. I didn’t particularly care for either main character (Daisy or Craig, though Craig more so) but as the story wore on I did start to root for them.

The story did take a while to unfold. The twist is revealed matter of fact and took me completely by surprise. Maybe because it’s so preposterous but it was also a bit clever too.

I enjoyed this story and loved the audiobook narrator, she did a wonderful job. I would recommend this book. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a copy in exchange for a review.

This is one of those stories that will linger. That will make you ask “what did I just read?” How far would or should a person go to save their marriage? Seven questions are posed exploring the very answers to that core premise. What the reader doesn’t expect are all the twists learned along the way! Characters are not really who they seem…no matter how big or little their role is. It all brings a new question to mind - how can you live with so many lies?

I am perplexed. Disturbed. A touch triggered.
TW: miscarriage, infidelity, stalking, murder

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and author Adam Sternbergh for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was differnt from a lot of thriller I have read lately a the plot kept building and moving forward instead of just stirring up the basic plot. Daisy signs up for the Eden Test as an attempt to save her marriage with her husband Craig, Their seven day getaway with a question a day for discussion is filled with hit and misses for them. Bar fights, snake in the bed, weird people in the wooeds and also romantic dinners and skinny dipping! But remember Daisy is an actress and a good one - how much is real and what is part of the script? Who is acting and who do we believe. I liked this one - it kept me thinking!!

This was a fun book with a unique premise. I couldn't stop listening and found the twists and turns to be entertaining and kept me interested until the very end. If you're looking for a fast thriller that allows you to suspend reality for a bit, this one is for you.

Despite the narrator being mildly annoying, and some of the plot points being completely ridiculous and not working at all, I found this thriller fresh and compulsively readable. I have very mixed feelings on it, but in the end, I find that I'm able to forgive the book its transgressions because the plot was unique, something that I find many thrillers these days lacking. I could not stop listening, and I finished in just 2 sittings.

I'm already thinking of several people I want to recommend this to...

This was one of those books I couldn't put down!
Just when I thought I had the plot and characters figured out, I was hit with another twist!
I haven't read a really good suspenseful novel in a while. I'm glad I decided on this one.

"The Eden Test" follows a once-happily-married couple, Daisy and Craig, as they work to repair the holes that have developed in their relationship over their brief three years together. On their anniversary night, Craig is prepared to walk out on Daisy and jet across the world with his mistress. Instead, he finds a note from Daisy, directing him to join her at a week-long retreat, called The Eden Test.

At this secluded resort where they are mostly left to fend for themselves, Daisy and Craig receive seven daily questions intended to help them explore the cracks in their foundation. As they begin to explore these questions, they find them getting increasingly obscure and far from what you'd usually expect in marriage counseling. They also begin to encounter a few hostile locals, and find themselves preparing to defend themselves to the death.

I found this book a pleasant surprise -- it sucked me in and delivered a solid domestic thriller. I appreciated that it had a fairly simple cast, and enjoyed the cat-and-mouse feel. I felt it was a bit of a stretch on just how much Craig transforms and how quickly, but that didn't detract from the fun. This book does need to carry some trigger warnings for those with past miscarriage and domestic violence trauma.

Seven days. Seven questions. Forever changed.

A domestic thriller about a wife who will stop at nothing to save her marriage to her adulterous husband. A week-long secluded, couples therapy, anniversary getaway in the woods with questions to uncover their true commitments to each other. What starts off as a serene, relaxing week soon takes a turn, pushing the boundaries of their relationship to a new level.

Special thanks to @macmillan.audio audio for the advance audiobook I wish I liked this one more. It had a lot of potential but the ending resolution is just not plausible or believable for me. Neither of the characters felt like they had many redeeming quality’s and in the end I wasn’t rooting for them to survive this trip.

While this may have been a pass for me, maybe it’s for you? The Eden Test became available everywhere Tuesday 4/25!

I was not expecting this book to be so character driven. To me, it read like a character study. The heart of the story got lost in the writing.

The description sounded incredibly intriguing. A couple on the brink of breaking up, seven days away in a secluded cabin, seven questions that can save their marriage....and they both have deep secrets that they are hiding from eachother. However, the execution was less engaging. The first two thirds was quite noneventful and bland. Not at all what I was expecting. The last third picked up but the ending was lacking the wow factor.

The best part about this book was its cryptic plot. I had absolutely no idea where it was going and I was keen to find out. The suspense definitely builds toward the end.

The audio narration was satisfactory. Good performances by both narrators.

Thank you Netgalley for an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

The Eden Test follows Daisy and Craig as they make one final attempt to save their crumbling marriage. Daisy signs them up for an immersive program called The Eden Test which involves the two of them moving to a distant cabin in a small town and answering one question per day (eg. “Would you change for me?” “Would you sacrifice for me?”). It’s a domestic thriller, so I’m sure you can guess what kind of things happen in this story. Daisy and Craig are hiding deep secrets from each other, and strange, frightening things happen to them during their stay in the woods. They learn how far they’re willing to go and what they’re willing to face to save their marriage.

I’ll start with a compliment: I received this as an audiobook, and I thought the narrator was fantastic. She was my favorite part of the reading experience. Let’s move on now…

There’s a reason I’m forgetting the plot and details of this book. It’s a forgettable book. I enjoyed the story while I read it (for the most part), but I don’t think there’s anything special about it. I never felt eager to pick it back up again, but I also didn’t dread it. But if I didn’t have to read it for NetGalley I would’ve DNFd it out of boredom. It felt like The Eden Test itself was unnecessary for the plot. I’m sure this sounds strange if you haven’t read the book, but most of the plot didn’t really depend on the 7 questions. It was mostly about the drama between Daisy and Craig that they themselves were causing without the influence of the questions. After a while I started to feel like there were too many twists and reveals, and most of them weren’t interesting to me. Daisy and Craig were fine characters. They’re unlikable characters (which is intentional), but they didn’t stir up any strong feelings for me. They were just standard unlikable main characters. The Eden Test has a slower pace than most thrillers do, and I didn’t really like that. I gave it three stars instead of two because it was a mildly entertaining book. I liked seeing what new secrets would be revealed next. But that’s all I can really say about it.

I try not to read other peoples reviews before writing my own, but in this case I have seen some reviews. Multiple people have said that the author misrepresents miscarriages and infortility. I didn’t know that at the time that I read it so it didn’t bother me, but I do think you should know that. Overall I can’t say I recommend this book. If you do decide to pick it up please be aware that there are detailed descriptions of domestic violence and a miscarriage.

This book has such a great premise, but for me it was ended up being a perfect example of what happens when men write about women but don't understand basic biology. I don't want to write a review full of spoilers but the "big secret" that we find out doesn't make biological sense at all. I couldn't see past it, because it was so central to the story overall.

I really wish I could recommend this one, but it just isn't for me.

I liked this book! I didn't know who to trust in this book and I love books like that because I want to keep reading! Both Daisy and Craig narrate and also there are flashbacks. It's easy to follow and well done. There are some side characters while they are at the cabin and I found them interesting too! A fun thriller and I recommend it!

*4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*
"As far as I know only two people got to live in paradise and they chose not to stay."

"What did they choose instead?"

"Each other"

Whew! Listening to the wild domestic suspense thriller The Eden Test by sneaky gotcha author Adam Sternbergh was a whiplash experience. The first few chapters I was I know where this is going; the next chapter I was like...well maybe that's not what's happening but near the end my head exploded and I couldn't help but smile and bow my head to my phone and say, "Good job Mr. Sternbergh. You got me!"

Daisy and Craig's marriage is hanging on by a thread so Daisy surprises him with a week away at the marriage saving Edenic Foundation where they promise: Seven Days. Seven Questions. Forever Changed. But when one of those questions is, "Would you kill for me?", do you want the marriage saved?

I had no hope for this couple. Craig has a suitcase in his trunk ready to tell Daisy it's over and his leaving for Cabo with his mistress of four months. Then again Daisy has a hidden burner phone that she's been using to send and receive texts from only one person.

This is my second time listening to the fantastic carlotta Brentan and she performs these two unreliable narrators to perfection. As a thriller lover this was so much fun. Most of my guesses were wrong until the end and I admit my ending would have been more ruthless but well you all know my sick mind by now lol. Just remember Eden was paradise but Eve chose to leave. Did she fail or did Adam? Or did they win with each other?

I received a free copy of this audiobook from MacMillan Audio via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

*Trigger Warning: There is a very descriptive chapter about a devastating miscarriage so please proceed with caution if you listen to The Eden Test.

THE EDEN TEST is one of those books that gradually pulls you into a web of lies, duplicity, and dark twists so deep you don’t even realize you are completely consumed by the world the author created.

If I am being honest, Sternbergh hooked me from the opening scene with two bodies but no identification. I knew I would be finishing this book because who wound up dead? My mind went in a million different directions but never could have known the ending I read. The careful plotting and character development were only made better by the effortless flow of the writing.

As Daisy and Craig try to mend their broken marriage by taking the Eden Test, the reader gets glimpses of the secrets being held by both. With each reveal and new hurdle, the reader experiences their growth, the vast array of emotions, and how far they will go to save the other.

Simply stated. THE EDEN TEST is on tense, thrilling, and addictive read.

Daisy and Craig are on the rocks. Daisy decides to surprise her husband with a getaway in Upstate NY- just the two of them in an isolated cabin in the middle of the woods. Not only does Craig not know about this plan until the last minute when he had his bags packed to jet off with his mistress, he also doesn't know that Daisy has signed them up for the Eden Test- a program designed to rejuvenate relationships. Secrets, lies and baggage from the past will bring Craig face to face with the biggest test of his life- can their relationship survive?

I wasn't sure initially what I was getting into, but the premise, the writing and the ending were all enjoyable. For ME- the shock/thrill factor wasn't huge, but it's definitely a wild ride with some unexpected revelations. I liked having a glimpse into the minds of both Daisy and Craig - the way Craig evolves over the course of the book and faces everything thrown at him was refreshing and not at all what I'm used to.

Narration was equally as pleasant- clear, strong voice and I was able to discern between characters easily. No issues- would definitely seek out other books this narrator has done to listen to!

There are some scenes that may be uncomfortable for some- please do your research if you have triggers with DV & adultery.

Happy pub day to this one that I finished right on time! And thank you to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for the ALC. I had a great time with this domestic/psychological thriller. I especially loved the setting, the Eden Test takes place at a remote cabin outside a small wooded town, and the couple is both secluded and finding themselves tangling with the locals. Both of them have secrets, and they all come out. I think the blurb is perfect, you’ll be shocked to find yourself rooting for these people. And the audio narrator was fantastic, she did a great job capturing the tone of the book.

I thought this one was an entertaining domestic thriller. I was not thrilled about some of the medical misinformation regarding a topic that might be very hard for some people. I liked the narration and the overall story otherwise. Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this one.

I had a really difficult time with this one. I was intrigued by the synopsis and felt like the beginning was interesting but it went downhill from the there. The narrator did a fine job of telling the story and depicted the characters well. There were way too many things going on and I found the plot to be completely implausible on so many levels. And the characters were all seriously annoying. This just wasn’t for me.

The narrator was great. She was able to bring the book to life and really set the characters apart. The book itself is a fresh and new idea. It kept me guessing until the end. I would recommend this title to anyone who likes a good mystery!

The Eden Test by Adam Sternbergh was a thriller that I truly enjoyed. I loved the back story and could not figure out what was going on until the very end. This novel really took me out of my reading slump and I will be recommending it to all thriller lovers.

Well done!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this copy in exchange for an honest review.