I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. I found the premise interesting and the characters relatable.

The Marriage Pact is a campy combination of The Stepford Wives (written by Ira Levin, who brought us the truly frightening Rosemary's Baby) and The Hunger Games (who knew marriage was a competitive sport!) The premise is interesting-what are the secrets to a happy marriage (and there are some nuggets of truth among the over the top mayhem)-but overall The Marriage Pact is a ringing endorsement for staying single! The plot feels like an amusement park fun house-the first part of the book does have the tingling suspense of not knowing what's around the corner-but you eventually realize it's all smoke and mirrors. What bothered me most about The Marriage Pact is you would think two intelligent people-rock star turned lawyer Alice and psychologist (yes, psychologist!) Jake would figure out fairly quickly what "The Pact" truly is-a dangerous cult-and go running in the opposite direction at the first opportunity (of course that would make for a very short story!) Although billed as a psychological thriller, it's better to think of The Marriage Pact as psychological satire-and definitely not for newlyweds!

Here is a review by Karlie: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1968133699
I really couldn't put this book down. It was relatively fast paced and I had no clue which way it was going at any given moment. A bit creepy, a bit voyeuristic, a bit mysterious and a bit of interesting psychology all in a good fiction tale. I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Marriage Pact is one of the most intriguing and intense books I have read in a long time. The characters are so real that I could easily picture the scenes rolling through my head as I was reading. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone and everyone..

The Marriage Pact is an emotional roller coaster, as marriage can be. The twist is painful, and the thoughtfulness inspired by the author brought me to pause... Would my own marriage survive the marriage pact?

I loved the journey, added it to my #unputdownable list for the summer. Love having it in my beach bag over spring break.

Wow! What a quick fast paced read - was hooked from the beginning - thank you!

My Review: 3/5

The premise of this book blew me away, a cross between Fight Club and Eyes Wide Shut. A secret society just for married couples, but with dire consequences. I just knew right off the bat that I was going to love this book. However, I didn’t. I wanted to so much, but it fell short for me.

First the good parts. The whole premise (like I stated above) was perfection. It is unique and unpredictable. As a wedding gift, Alice and Jake receive an inviation to join The Pact. It is an exclusive club where the main purpose is to keep couples’ marriage intact. With so many divorces ocurring, the intentions are great. But, along with the membership is a long list of rules, each with it’s own set of punshiments.

The list of rules to follow was interesting and made me even think about my own marriage. They’re quite simple actually: always pick up your spouse’s phone call, buy each other gifts, plan frequent trips together. Sounds great! In fact, I talked to my husband about it and said we should do some of the things mentioned. Again, I loved the storyline.

However, that’s about as far as I can go with the praise. The story fell short for me. I didn’t like Jake or Alice (or any of the other characters), and felt there was zero chemistry between them. Their relationship almost seemed shallow. It’s not a spoiler to say rules were broken. When the punishments took place, I really didn’t care. Part of me was even routing for them to split up. How wrong is that?!

As this is labeled suspenseful, I didn’t find any suspense (or romance or twists and turns). I found the book borderline boring, and it took me a lot longer to read than I thought it would. I finished it, but it was a struggle.

I hate that this one fell flat for me. As soon as it popped up in my Netgalley feed, I wanted to gobble it up. So upset it didn’t work for me.

'The Marriage Pact' was a fun read; it was twisty and turny and kept me guessing throughout the book. Yes, it was sometimes highly improbable and unbelievable, and but the mystery and the characters hooked me in and kept me reading. Ultimately it felt like a meditation on marriage: what is marriage, why does it persist, and why does it often fail? It was both an entertaining book and one that made me think.

please read this book i was told about it my friends and so glad she did, love it

This book was creepy and I love creepy especially when it sneaks up on you a little at a time. The tension just kept building with each chapter. Jake and Alice are newlyweds. They are invited to join an exclusive group, The Pact. The purpose of The Pact is to support the members in strengthening their marriages. They have rules but Jake and Alice are seduced by the grand parties and the exclusiveness of The Pact. But should they have known it was too good to be true?

I truly tried very hard to enjoy this book. After I was about 25% of the way through and still not feeling it, I gave it a break and read some other things, After I picked it back up I vowed to read with an open mind. However, I was still not interested in the characters after persevering to 38%. They seemed so obtuse and willing to be victimized. Furthermore, there was no real action to grab my interest. Yes, the Pact was insidious...but WHY? I would have loved to see some of the content in the rule book that neither of them read, despite her being a lawyer (another hard fact to believe).
The characters were very vanilla and I grew tired of his saying how she was out of his league, and I grew tired of her rushing off to work. They were content to let things happen to them and their ineffectual conversations with each other did nothing to further the plot. Unfortunately I felt no real suspense, even after there was a threat made about no one leaving the Pact alive.
The writing style was hard to describe. I'm not sure if the style itself was dull or if the characters and plot made the writing style poor. As I think back, the style was acceptable, the plotline was a good one; it was just not moving fast enough for me. As a reviewer, I never try to have a book go on my DNF list; but this was just too insipid and vague for me to take up any more of my time. Perhaps this would have made a better movie - with a little more action and a little less navel gazing.
I did not post a review on my blog as I generally like to provide a positive review for the author.

I did really enjoy this book. Even though the concept was a little out there, I couldn't put it down. I was curious to see where the story was going to go. I am not sure it was a book I would have ordinarily chose to read but I am glad I did. Enjoy the book !

OMG! Where do I begin with this book. What a great story. Can't wait to see who picks this up for the big screen (if they haven't already).

Jake and Alice, a young couple living together, getting ready for that next step in their relationship, blissful marriage. Only blissful, it is NOT. What seems too good to be true..............usually is.

Alice is a multi-talented successful woman currently working at a law firm. She's a part of the team that successfully wins their client much more $$ than he expected. Jake is a counselor who owns his own practice along with two other partners. They are tending to some family business for Alice when Jake pops the question. Shortly before their wedding, Alice meet's the client who learns of the upcoming nuptials and sends the happy couple a unique wedding gift called The Pact. This is where the story gets really, really good. Definitely a book you must read.

Wow! This book was engaging from beginning through to the end! I kept trying to swipe to the next page for more. It was a roller-coaster ride of emotions. I adored Jake and semi shaded Alice the first half of the book and then hit chapter 58 and just like that, I'm super pissed at Jake! There is so much thought that went into making the book. It has so many dimensions and really makes you question your own morals and ideas. So many what would you do situations. I've already approached my book group and requested/demanded that we have this book as one of our group club read! Also having my husband read it as well. Can't wait to see his reaction. Thanks for letting me be part of The Pact experience.

One word for this book, wow! Two words, must read!

Bad news, though- it won’t be out until July but do not despair because time is flying by and there are many good books to read until then. But seriously, this book.

The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond starts off with a bang and keeps you turning pages. Something I’ve learned as an avid reader is that many stories (and movies) tend to sag in places so when a book has you entertained from beginning to end, its a real treat.

Alice and Jake are newly married and madly in love. Alice is a former singer turned lawyer who is such a complicated woman that Jake is never tired of learning new things about his beloved. When the two receive a mysterious box with an invitation to join “The Pact” they are intrigued, especially upon learning that “The Pact” is a secret club, designed to keep members married specifically by abiding by a strict set of rules.

Jake and Alice sign the contract but soon learn there’s a sinister side to this group and that essentially, there’s no way out. The boundaries start to mess with Jake’s head, how well does he really know his wife? Are they really happy? What is happiness in a marriage? Jake’s experience as a therapist gives him an interesting point of view.

The Pact goes much deeper than you’d think and this thriller will keep you guessing. What an interesting and unique idea…the marriage pact. I’m glad the author didn’t rush the ending or give an ending that felt contrived. Now I am eager to check out Michelle Richmond’s other books!

Thank you to NetGalley, writer and publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. The Marriage Pact kept me riveted. What an original and frightening plot!! Jake and Alice; newlyweds didn't see it coming. Motivated to keep their young marriage alive and happy, they find themselves a member of a pact, promising to do just that. The story is told in first person by Jake (the husband). His character and unique story telling makes even some of the more "out there"' moments believable. The characters are fleshed-out and likable. Clearly, the message of what happens when we give up our freedom is a compelling one. Read this one for great suspense and for mighty good writing.

All I can say is Wow! It's like George Orwell meets...well, Michelle Richmond! In this chilling, eerie tale of suburban relationships, the novel begs the question, what would you do to safeguard your marriage? When upwardly-mobile couple,Jake and Alice get married it appears to be the proverbial match made in Heaven. Delighted with a wedding gift from Alice's new client promising to strengthen and solidify their marriage, the couple is committed to making each other happy and following the seemingly simple rules of "The Pact" like giving each other gifts and planning trips together. But what lurks beneath the surface of this elite membership is disturbing and macabre as there are penalties and punishments for the slightest infraction. This left me gasping and literally kept me up half the night. It will keep you guessing until the final page and even then may make you rethink what you believe about committed relationships. A must-read!

I read the prologue and almost did not continue as this is not the type of book I usually read at all. Went back after a week or two and was HOOKED. Amazing story. Fast-paced, suspenseful. Great characters. It's the type of book you finish and then hope this becomes a movie. Can't wait to read more of her books!

Wow, just wow! This book was not what I expected - but in a good way. The Marriage Pact was suspenseful, intriguing, and psychologically provoking. When I started to read, I was expecting a story about a young couple who got involved in a group that demanded certain things. That part was true - but the twist was in what was expected. The behavior, the control, the rewards and punishments went way beyond my imagination. And I loved the twists and turns. The twists at the end blew me away!

As I read about the rules of the pact, and Jake's insights and thoughts around marriage, as he related to The Pact and the couples he counseled for work, I thought about my own marriage. I thought about how some of the "rules" would be beneficial - to keep the fun and surprise in marriage. I thought about my husband's and my relationship and it would be viewed within The Pact. And I thought about those around me - and whether some might have benefited from the rules. As I read about the consequences, I realized that while some may work and improve the relationships, they also introduced a level of fear that should not be present in a successful marriage.

Overall, though, I loved that the story kept me engaged, questioning, and surprised throughout. Well Done!!

"The Marriage Pact" is awesome, the best thriller/suspense novel I have read this year. The story is a page-turner and keeps the reader enthralled. Told from Jake's point-of-view, the reader gets an intimate look into his and Alice's lives.
Alice, a lawyer, and Jake, a therapist, are getting married, they have been dating for a few years and live in San Francisco. At her practice, Alice meets a relatively famous folk singer, Finnegan, and on a whim invites him to her upcoming wedding. She is surprised when he accepts and really doesn't expect him to actually show up. Not only does he attend the wedding, he sends a lovely gift - this is when Alice and Jake are introduced to The Pact.
At first, it seems like good fun. The Pact has parties, and its members have connections. Its members also want what Jake, and presumably Alice, want - a good, strong, long-lasting marriage. The Pact also has good ideas, always answer a call from your spouse, come home on time, give gifts to each other, and more. But The Pact has its negatives too - punishment, torture and maybe murder.
Reading this book, I was completely engrossed, did not want to put it down. Michelle Richmond does a fantastic job of keeping you on the edge of your seat and keeping the surprises coming. I enjoyed this look into Jake's private thoughts and insecurities - it was easy to see how both Alice and Jake got trapped into The Pact.
Highly recommended, really loved it, and I look forward to reading more from Michelle Richmond.