I just finished The Broken Marriage by Elena Wilkes and here is my review.

Hannah arrives at Rachel’s house in the middle of a snowstorm. The house of a friend she hasn’t seen in seventeen years… Not since that night.

Rachel married Matt, the man that lived with both Hannah and Rachel when they were in Uni. A man Hannah had one night with all those years ago. They have it all but the cracks are evident in their marriage and while Rachel invites Hannah to come in and catch up, she feels like she is in the middle of a nightmare.

She was there for a reason, she needs to talk about the past. They are all hiding something and the darkness within the house would be deadly.

This book had me whipped up like a kitchenaid mixer. The three main characters Rachel, Hannah and Matt all come across as the aggrieved party and then the problem and back again all the way through the book. You literally have no idea who is innocent and who is the bad guy and it was epic. I thought I had it all figured out several times and then the book threw me back through the loop and I was back to square one. I love books like that. I was wrong footed the whole time and it left me eager to get to the end.
The ending was a massive surprise too. I loved every single minute of this brilliant thriller. It was fast paced and dark. It was set over two lines… Present day and the events leading up to Hannah leaving university. This book taught me to trust no one!
5 stars. I literally couldn’t find anything wrong with this book.


Thank you to @netgalley and @stormbooks_co for my gifted copy
Brilliant book
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A good thriller makes you question everything and makes you feel unsure of what's going on. This is what the book successfully achieved. The book starts out setting the suspense well and immediately piqued my interest. I was unsure of what to think and who was good and who wasn't worth rooting for.

Set in 2 timelines it makes you think what this is all about and if everything is what it looks like. What is it that happened in the past and how does it impact of he present. A well written mystery that hooks the reader!

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

This was a lot! It has the secrets and lies and shady characters that I enjoy but I struggled woth such a slow burn since I really didn't care about any of them. They all seemed a bit rubbish as people lol. It's a lot of back and forth and a lot of plot threads all intertwining which made it a bit unrealistic and confusing. I did still enjoy it but it may have been better had some of the character had more redeeming qualities and had there been a touch less twists and turns

Oh boy, I wish I could say I liked this more than I did, but it felt like time was dragging. It starts off very slow, and then became bogged down in this toxic friendship where you’re never sure who the antagonist is.
I’m sure there are people who will love this book, the story just wasn’t for me.

There is plenty of drama, loads of secrets, and lies galore in this book. I didn't really like any of these characters, but it did not take away from me being entertained. This book kept my interest, and there were twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. I enjoyed the dual timelines, and the buildup to the ending. The action started right from the beginning, but there was a lull in the middle of the book. The ending picked back up, and that was the part that had me the most entertained. Overall it was a quick and easy read. 3.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

There is plenty of drama, loads of secrets, and lies galore in this book. I didn't really like any of these characters, but it did not take away from me being entertained. This book kept my interest, and there were twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. I enjoyed the dual timelines, and the buildup to the ending. The action started right from the beginning, but there was a lull in the middle of the book. The ending picked back up, and that was the part that had me the most entertained. Overall it was a quick and easy read. 3.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

There is plenty of drama, loads of secrets, and lies galore in this book. I didn't really like any of these characters, but it did not take away from me being entertained. This book kept my interest, and there were twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. I enjoyed the dual timelines, and the buildup to the ending. The action started right from the beginning, but there was a lull in the middle of the book. The ending picked back up, and that was the part that had me the most entertained. Overall it was a quick and easy read. 3.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rachel and Matt portray an image of a perfect couple with successful careers and a beautifully renovated house. However, beneath this facade lies a tumultuous relationship plagued by hidden truths. The arrival of Hannah, Rachel's long-lost friend after seventeen years, amidst a snowstorm, sets off a chain of events that unravel the perfect marriage of Rachel and Matt. As secrets are unveiled, tensions escalate, and the true complexities of their relationships come to light. Hannah's reappearance brings forth a dark secret that she has carried for years, adding more complexity to the already strained dynamics between the characters. The narrative delves into the intricate web of lies and hidden truths that each character harbors, leading to a crescendo of suspense and tension towards the climax of the story.
In Elena Wilkes' "The Broken Marriage," the characters are intricately crafted with unreliable narratives that keep readers guessing. The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, adding layers of complexity to the narrative. While the title may not fully encapsulate the essence of the book, the focus shifts towards Hannah's past trauma and her relationships with the characters, particularly during her college years. The narrative is punctuated with moments of tension and suspense, keeping readers engaged as the plot oscillates between past and present, gradually revealing the characters' hidden motives and connections. The ending delivers unexpected twists, leaving readers astounded by the revelations that tie the story together.

Elena Wilkes' adept storytelling weaves a tale of suspense and psychological intrigue that captivates readers. The atmospheric setting adds to the ominous tone of the narrative, heightening the sense of suspense throughout the book. While the pacing may falter at times, the gripping nature of the story ensures that readers are compelled to uncover the mysteries that shroud the characters' lives. The characterization, though authentic, lacks substantial growth in some instances, impacting the overall depth of the narrative. The emotional impact of the story varies, with moments of disconnect interspersed with jaw-dropping revelations that drive the story towards a twisted resolution.

Overall, "The Broken Marriage" is a compelling read that navigates complex relationships and hidden truths with a deft hand. The distinctive narrative style and unexpected twists make for an engaging exploration of deceit and secrets within seemingly perfect relationships. Readers seeking a gripping psychological suspense novel will find Elena Wilkes' work a worthy addition to their reading list. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review. I recommend this book and this author.

The Broken Marriage was a roller coaster of a read! Rachel and Matt, a typical married couple on the outside, have major secrets! I enjoyed reading this book and was rooting for things to work out for the sake of their children. The author delivered twist after twist, making things unrealistic, but entertaining. It did seem like a long read, but was still interesting throughout. Thank you to Elena Wilkes, Storm Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book prior to publishing.

The Broken Marriage was a fairly good novel but a bit slow, but it did keep me wanting more.

The story is based on Rachel, Matt, who are a couple that is going through a rough patch, when suddenly and old friend Hannah, reappears on their doorstep. Hannah gets snowed in, and has full intentions of telling Rachel some information about Matt that she has waited far too long to tell her but feels she needs to know. There are some troubling things that happened in the past between the friends, that Hannah is still trying to work through. While she's in process of that, there are some surprises that come about.

I do feel this book could be made far better by adding in some additional twists and turns throughout the book vs having so much happen at the end. Leave readers trying to figure out whats happening throughout the book vs more at the end. For example, sprinkling in additional things happening via Matt with Hannah staying with them, additional little things besides just the snowman. And in regards to Emily, making her a more questionable person throughout the book, making folks wonder about her true identity.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I found the concept of this book to start really interesting. It definitely took an interesting turn as it got further into it. I did think that there was a bit of a break between some of the stories. There was so much going on in this book that it almost feels like a few different stories that got a little bit jumbled. It was like three different novels packed into one, with a bit much on the complexities and all of the bad packed into it.

One of the biggest issues for me in this book is that I did not genuinely like the characters. I just found them all irritating, frustrating, and ridiculous in some of their responses. I didn't connect with the main characters at all. I was a bit bothered by the abject toxicity that laced the whole novel, and sadly this one was not really for me.

I found this book a slow burn and the back and forth style was confusing and difficult to read.
The way the writing is going back and forth was so confusing and sometimes I wasnt sure whose POV it was. There was a lot going on and I felt that sometimes it didnt keep my attention and wasn't the best i have read. I was looking forward to reading this but i still don't understand what i read.

At times felt rushed and i was so looking forward to this book. It was just ok for me but i would give the author another try with another novel.

Hannah, Rachel, Allison, and Matt - college roommates, best friends. That is until jealousy starts unraveling their friendships. Then a traumatic experience truly derails things. Years later, the foursome lives apart but are still bound by that trauma. When their lives intersect a second time, things will be forever changed for all. A wild ride!

Mercifully short, this book consists of the thoughts of Hannah, a woman who turns up at the door of university flatmates from 17 years ago. As the book progresses, we come to understand that Hannah is obsessed by Rachel. Hannah had left after a year and after being raped there had been no contact since. It all stretches the bounds of credibility a little too far, especially the scenes set in the prison.
Hannah is at best, introspective and obsessed, at worst just strange. The other characters are seen from her point of view, so also coloured by her thoughts. I did finish, but cannot say I enjoyed this book and the plot was not interesting or believable enough for me. The friendships are immature and circumstances far fetched.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

This book was really good. It could be slow at times. The ending was simply amazing. Unexpected and very well executed. I would read more from this author.

I am sorry to say but this book bored me!!! I lost interest not even mid way through!!! I don’t know if it was because they were trapped in one place or how fake everyone seemed to be!!!

This book was a good psychological thriller. The plot moved quickly and kept my attention. Sometimes, it seemed a bit scattered, but it eventually fell into place. However, I genuinely enjoyed the unexpected turns in the plot. It was a solid read!

not the best psychological thriller I have read mainly because I didnt like any of the characters! I found them quite unpleasant, manipulative with no redeeming features but the author's story was good and I liked the pace x

This book had all the fixings for a great psychological thriller — complicated marriage, manipulative relationships, strange friendships, and secrets from the past — but it did not deliver. Unfortunately, this storyline was not captivating enough. It was a bit of a struggle trying to finish it.

Thank you to net galley for the eARC!

Thank you Storm Publishing and Netgalley for this arc. This is my honest review and opinion.

This one just didn't do it for me. I couldn't get into it, the characters are all not likeable and the title is completely miss leading.