I unfortunately had to DNF this book. TW: Possible rape. I didn’t make it very far because I got uncomfortable quick. I wish I could have read the rest of the book and finished it but unfortunately that’s a topic I’m not comfortable reading about. Thank you NetGalley, Elena and Storm Publishing for the ARC.

Actually ended up quite enjoying this one.
Thank you Net galley & Elena Wiles for an advanced copy of a good twisty novel with an actual twist.

A complicated marriage, strange friendships, teenage secrets, spiteful and manipulative young women, devious and cruel young men, this book has it all, though not necessarily in a good way. A story of deeply damaged and troubled characters, with unlikely and unbelievable events.

Did not grab my attention at all. Not one for me, sorry.

2.5*

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing.

as an avid thriller reader, this was def one of my favorites yet this year!!!! lots of twists and turns, nonstop page turning. hard to put down!!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advance e-copy of The Broken Marriage by Elena Wilkes, in exchange of an honest review.

Hannah's decision to revisit her past and confront the events that transpired more than a decade ago sets the stage for a captivating and intense narrative. Her arrival at the doorstep of her former best friend, Rachel, now married to Matt, and Alison, the third member of their youthful quartet, stirs up a hornet's nest of unresolved conflicts and brings to light the simmering tensions that have plagued their relationships. As the story unfolds, Hannah's presence unearths the buried secrets and betrayals that have haunted the group, creating an atmosphere of unease and discomfort. The plot weaves a web of intrigue, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they piece together the fragmented events of the past. Despite the occasional irritation that some of the characters may evoke, they are skillfully crafted to elicit a range of emotions from the reader. Their flaws and complexities make them relatable and add depth to the narrative. The story delves into the treacherous terrain of human relationships, exploring the fragility of trust, the weight of secrets, and the devastating consequences of betrayal. With its intriguing twists and turns, "After Seventeen Years" proves to be a highly entertaining and suspenseful read. It is a compelling psychological thriller that will appeal to those who enjoy exploring the dark and twisted recesses of the human psyche. The author's ability to create an atmosphere of tension and suspense keeps readers enthralled from beginning to end.4.3 Stars!

This is a good, solid thriller but I was confused at times!! You really need to concentrate! It’s tightly woven plot, full of deceit and intrigue, a thrilling read.

This psychological thriller is a read head spinner!
A story about Hanna as she visits or old college roommates to figure out the gruesome tale that happened 17 years ago.
It is face paced, at times I found it a bit confusing.
It was like a knotted necklace that needs to be untangled! So many twists and turns I didn’t know who to believe or who was the craziest of them all!!? I wish that the ending gave more closure, but all in all it held my attention.

The Broken Marriage by Elena Wilkes is a compelling and emotionally resonant novel that explores the complexities of relationships, trust, and resilience. Through vivid characters and poignant storytelling, Wilkes delves into the aftermath of a shattered marriage, capturing the raw emotions and internal conflicts of her protagonists. A thoroughly thrilling, and gripping read!

I liked this book because it was very addictive! You can't tell who the hell is telling the truth!
The final plot twist was unexpected and I wasn't seeing turning it that way! I enjoyed the final part of the book though I thought it was a bit confusing and it ended too fast. The ending was very sudden.

Triggers: Possible rape and loss of a child.

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and author, Elena Wilkes for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for April 18, 2024.

I was also lucky enough to be paired to buddy read this with the beautiful Cara. One of the great things about reading with a friend is that you get to consider the book from a whole different perspective. Thank you Cara for reading along with me, and for your intelligent insights into the book - you were sailing where I was flailing!

The dictionary lists one of the definitions of 'relationship' as 'a connection, association, or involvement'. And really, that must be the most simplistic version of a relationship I've ever heard of. Let's face it, relationships are never 'simple' - as much as we wish they were. Relationships are ever changing and always evolving, because at its heart a relationship is between two people, and you will never have control over someone else's thoughts, feelings, and actions.

The Broken Marriage is a story about relationships. The complexities involved in having them and the secrets and lies which people hide from one another. Like an iceberg - what you see above the water is a beautifully smooth, glittering surface with no abnormalities. But look under the surface - and that's another thing altogether.

On the surface, married couple Rachel and Matt appear to be the perfect couple living the perfect lifestyle, but, as the narrative unfolds, cracks begin to appear and soon, these cracks turn into something which could swallow their relationship whole.

When Hannah turns up at couple, Rachel and Matt's door, seventeen years after they last saw each other, no-one had any idea this would be the catalyst for what would amount to a major unravelling of lies and betrayals.

The Broken Marriage is my first Elena Wilkes read and I'm going to have to go back and peruse her back catalogue of works. This story shoots out of the gate at breakneck speed and I'm having to hold on tight! The writing is compelling and stark, and at times my eyebrows were meeting my hairline my eyes were open that wide. It most definitely sits in the psychological suspense category - full of tension and suspense (most of the characters were messing with my head!). As a reader, the author blessed us with multiple POVs and this shift in perspective from character to character just added to the element of suspense.

My only criticism, and it's minor, is that I felt a shift in pace about a third of the way through the book. So much slower than what I'd previously read, and I was becoming bored. However, at about a little over halfway through and again the pace picked up and I rocketed through to the end.

Overall, a solid read with a compelling atmospheric setting, and the ending? Well, I wasn't expecting that!

#TheBrokenMarriage #NetGalley

The Broken Marriage is a book about so much more than a broken marriage. This one has a lot of excellent qualities: betrayal from friends, secrets from the past, and a thrilling plot. I really enjoyed reading it. The characters are well written, the storyline kept me wanting more and the ending was unexpected. A lot of good twists to keep you interested and great storytelling. Definitely add this one to your TBR.

"The Broken Marriage" delves into the complexities of relationships, unraveling a web of secrets and lies hidden beneath the surface of a seemingly perfect couple, Rachel and Matt. As the narrative unfolds, author intricately explores the dynamics between the characters, gradually building tension and suspense. The sudden reappearance of Hannah, Rachel's long-lost best friend, serves as a catalyst for the unraveling of the couple's facade, leading to a series of shocking revelations and twists. The atmospheric setting of a snowstorm adds to the sense of claustrophobia and isolation, heightening the psychological suspense.

The characters in "The Broken Marriage" are well-developed and compelling, each harboring their own motivations and secrets. Rachel and Matt's strained relationship is portrayed with depth and authenticity, while Hannah's enigmatic presence adds an air of mystery to the narrative. The shifting perspectives allow readers to gain insight into each character's perspective, further enhancing the intrigue and suspense.

One of the strengths of the novel lies in its exploration of themes such as trust, betrayal, and the consequences of keeping secrets. The author deftly navigates the intricacies of human relationships, delving into the darker aspects of human nature with nuance and sensitivity. As the tension mounts and the stakes escalate, readers are kept on the edge of their seats, eager to uncover the truth behind the characters' tangled pasts.

Overall, "The Broken Marriage" is a gripping and immersive psychological thriller that will appeal to fans of Daniel Hurst, Ruth Ware, and Clare Douglas. With its intricate plot, well-drawn characters, and atmospheric setting, the novel keeps readers guessing until the very end, making it difficult to put down.
Fantastically Written!

To start this book was filled with a lot of secrets and and betrayal. Like most thrillers it has teist and turns that keep you wanting to read more. Without ruining the book and stating the plot the main character Hannah visits old friends to talk about something that happen years ago and it's been weighing on her lately. From there tension beginings and more starts to come out and unravel. Decent read.

If you like thrillers and suspense this is for you! Full of twists and turns, couldn’t put it down! Highly recommend

Hannah, Matt and Rachel were housemates at college.
And then Hannah was attacked. She dropped out and disappeared for Seventeen years.

Rachel and Matt are married, and Hannah has reappeared in their lives. She is determined to find out who raped her. She was best friends with Rachel, and wants to rekindle that friendship.

While she is staying with Matt and Rachel, strange things happen, and she also realises that her friends are not happily married.

Every single one of the characters in this novel are damaged. You don't realise how damaged until close to the end, when many questions are answered and secrets and lies revealed.

Every relationship is complicated, and Hannah seems to be the most needy of the characters.

Twisty, dark and disturbing, this psychological thriller will grip the reader. It is a story of obsession, secrets and lies.


Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

Wow, if you love suspense and super intense twists and turns you will devour this book. Thank you Elena Wilkes, NetGalley and Storm publiahing for the chance to read and review the ARC of this ebook.

After seventeen years Hannah decides to confront what happened back then and to do so she visits her best friend Rachel, now married to Matt, who together with Alison formed the group of friends of her youth. Hannah's appearance stirs up things from the past that create more tension in a situation that was already untenable.
From the distressing beginning it is clear that there are unresolved conflicts in the group and during the reading we discover part of what happened with a plot that keeps you intrigued.
Although the characters sometimes irritated me, they also kept me involved in a story where secrets and betrayals are commonplace.
It is a very entertaining book with some interesting twists and turns. Perfect for those looking for an easy to read psychological thriller.

Rachel and Matt have it all. They are the beautiful couple, from their tastefully renovated house to their highly successful careers. But beneath the happy façade lies a relationship strained by secrets and lies. While Rachel grows increasingly restless, Matt can’t stop thinking about Hannah, Rachel’s former best friend, who they haven’t seen for seventeen years! When Hannah suddenly arrives at their door in the middle of a snow storm, their perfect marriage starts to crack at the seems! This book was definitely a decent read! I would recommend it, it was worth reading it just wasn't one of my all time favorite! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Hmmm. This just didn't do it for me. I honestly don't understand the title -- sure the married couple were in it but the story really wasn't about them. The twists were....ok. To be fair, I enjoyed reading this. It wasn't a waste of time, and it was written pretty well. I had higher expectations. Would I read another by the author? Yea, I would give another shot.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

What did I just read!? 😳 This. Was. Intense! Twists, turns, and suspense with every chapter. I enjoyed reading this and didn’t see some of it coming. My heart pounded several times throughout. I highly recommend this. Thank you NetGalley and stormpubliahing for the ARC.