This is the first book I have read from this author. It had the flavor of a Bentley Little storyline. My problem in reading this book was that I was looking for some of the intensity and suspense of a Little story, but it never came. Still a decent read. A complaint is the amount of attention given to Victor's clients. I was waiting for a good subplot related to his practice, but nothing developed. Guess those parts were just meant to be 'page fillers'. Like I said I have not read any of her previous works. This felt like a first book from an author rather than from a seasoned writer.
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Terribly written and unbelievable story about a married couple who find themselves in an insane cult.

I received the opportunity to read The Marriage Pact by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of the book.

The Marriage Pact is quite a compelling novel that keeps you guessing and offers a few surprises along the way as you read towards its dynamic conclusion.

In the story, Alice and Jake are newlyweds in rapturous love. As described in the “jacket”, Alice, had once been a singer in a well-known rock band. She gave it up for law school and is now part of a successful law practice and working long hours. Husband Jake is a partner in an up-and-coming psychology practice. Prior to their wedding, Alice offhandedly invites a client to the wedding when he gushes about how much he loves weddings. His gift is a mysterious box that entices the couple to join an exclusive group known only as The Pact.

At first, the goals of The Pact appear symbiotic with the goals of any good marriage: keep your marriage happy and intact. Its rules, on the surface, make sense...give gifts, take trips, always answer your spouse’s calls…and then there’s the one that says, “Never mention The Pact to anyone.” The Pact comes with a manual – which they are encouraged to study and memorize -- bigger than a breadbasket that denotes all sorts of penalties for rule infractions. While Alice and Jake are initially attracted by the people they meet, the common goals of the group, they are whipsawed into shock when one of them accidentally breaks the rules and has to answer for it. Unlike “Hotel California,” you can’t check out any time you like, and you definitely can never leave, as Alice and Jake soon find out.

What I really liked about this book: The pace was great, it was fast moving and kept me guessing. I liked how Alice and Jake’s characters developed and how the seemingly innocent and honest mistakes that they made (and we all make in our lives and relationships) became huge hurdles for the couple as part of The Pact. It really made you think. The book was very visual. The author’s ability to convey the fear, the intensity and the handling of Alice and Jake when they got themselves into trouble, was riveting. I really liked the end and how it built up to it.

What I didn’t like as much about the book: I know it was a novel, however, for me, the premise was a bit far-fetched and it was hard to believe law enforcement was never involved or couldn’t be involved. It might have added to the book to include how the legal system was skirted.

Wow, what a ride! I am not a huge thriller-genre reader. I knew nothing about this book when I began to read. I thought it would be some sort of chic-lit type of read about marriages. Wrong. This was a thriller, bordering a bit on horror, at least by my tastes. However, I couldn't stop reading and found myself picking up the book to read when I awoke in the middle of the night! Much of it seemed totally unbelievable but it held me rapt nonetheless. I found it interesting how the author juxtaposed a thriller story with some statistical facts about which marriages, probability-wise, will work and which will fail. The story was quite imaginative, even if you had to suspend belief to get drawn in. I predict this book will be a huge hit, a la GONE GIRL or THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN.

It is challenging to find a book with a completely new premise, but if you want something original, here it is. In this story, a couple just getting married are given a wedding gift, called "The Pact." Strange to get a gift with a name, but there it is... and this gift comes with strings attached. It comes with a new set of people attached who will be a part of your world, like it or not. It comes with rules, and consequences if you do not abide by the rules. How do they know if you follow the rules? They have eyes everywhere.... and you will be interested from the very beginning to the very end. My only complaint with this book... the end is uncertain. That is all I will say, as I do not want to give it all away before you get to read it.

Outstanding! Fast-paced, page turning action until the last page. The author cleverly measures out suspense, interspersed with snippets of totally believable reverie. This one has to be headed to the silver screen!

I found the story to be somewhat slow at the beginning, but it picked up around the middle. The overall concept was interesting and at times disturbing, but I enjoyed the story.

Fantastic!! Unique topic. The story unfolded in such a way that it kept me reading just to see what would happen next. Loved it! I will definitely read more by this author.

Wow!! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a thriller, this book had me on the edge of my seat for most of the story. "The Pact"...whoa! Run, run while you can!!

I truly enjoyed reading Marriage Pact. Jake and Alice are newlyweds who are invited to join the Pact, an exclusive club for married couples. While the Pact makes some demands on the relationship that are healthy- such as monthly gifts and quarterly trips, the consequences for not adhering to the demands are rather harsh. Jake's old college friend is a Pact member who's sharing potentially deadly Pact secrets with him, further fueling his discontent . I must say the end was unexpected.

Genre: Psychological Thriller
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hello Friend
The Marriage Pact held my attention to very very last word! I felt like I was stuck between two rolling sheets of plexiglass and could not stop until I finished this insanely good book. (You will understand this more after you read the damn book) A pleasant break from the trend of multiple points of view, told by the husband also another pleasant break. I loved this book!! The storyline is one that sticks with and also leaves me wondering what kind of person thinks this stuff up?? Thank you!!
I will post this review on Amazon once it is available.

I see a movie in the The Marriage Pacts future and many bookclubbers all trying to talk at once!! I only have one thing left to say, clear your day and read this book. Wow!!!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read for a fair review!!

THE MARRIAGE PACT
MICHELLE RICHMOND


MY RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▫️
PUBLISHER Bantam
PUBLISHED July 25, 2017


SUMMARY
Alice and Jake are getting married. Alice is an attorney and they received an unusual gift from one of Alice's rich and powerful client's. The gift was a elegant wooden box and contained two engraved writing pens and a second box. The second box was labeled "The Pact". The box was locked.

The client emails Alice after the wedding and asks her a few questions:
"Would you like your marriage to last forever?
Do you believe that a long marriage will go through periods of happiness and sadness, light and darkness?
Are both of you willing to work to make you marriage last forever?
Do either of you give up easily?
Are you willing to try new things?
Are you willing to accept help from friends if they have your success and happiness in mind"

It all sounded great. Vivian, another member of the group came by their house to explain the Marriage Pact further. She unlocked the box which contained a contract and two gold leather rule books. If Jake and Alice signed the marriage pack they'll be a part of the exclusive group that values marriage above all else. It was created in 1992 and has worldwide membership. And their marriage will last forever.

Some of the rules include always answering the phone when your spouse calls, exchanging gifts monthly, and taking a trip once per quarter. It all sounds like a great idea. There's a rule book to guide Jake and Alice on their way. And a community to help you if you falter.

Of course they thought it would be fun to be apart of this exclusive and elite group. Just what a marriage needs. They signed the contract without even reading it. That was their first mistake.

And then when one of them breaks a rule and they find out how'd the community enforces rule violations. They also learn The Pact is forever just like marriage.

How far Will Jake and Alice go to protect their marriage and each other?



REVIEW
Wouldn't it be great to have guidance to a blissful and secure marriage? Wouldn't it be nice to have a rule book telling us what to do? What a concept! The thought is captivating! But how does it work? Make sure you know the rules.

This book is inventive and different. It's a page turning thriller and it's crazy scary.

There were some slow parts. Jake who is the book's narrator, provides us with facts and statistics about marriage. It's all great information, but the story doesn't really need it. It's great without it. Sometimes Jake's thoughts and asides get in the way of the story itself.

This is my first Michelle Richmond book, and I'll be looking for more. Her writing is clear and flowing and easy to read. I loved the book and think all married couples should read it! I've been telling my husband all about it!

Thanks to Netgalley, Bantam and Michelle Richmond for a advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Newlyweds looking forward to future - get a choice/decision for their new life.

By joining "the Pact", they have "requirements" or there are "punishments"
The Pact is to become closer spouses.

I enjoyed that they were watching Golden State Warriors!!
This is my 4th Michelle Richmond book. I truly enjoyed the others, this one was a stretch for me.

The Marriage Pact is an agreement that is made with between spouses. It’s a membership within a group of like-minded individuals to support and enforce the agreement. The Pact was created for three reasons: 1) “to establish a clear set of definitions that can be used to understand and discuss the contract of marriage”; 2)”to establish rules and regulations for the marriage participants to adhere to, designed to strengthen the marriage contract and ensure success”; and 3) “to establish a community of individuals who share a common goal and desire to help each other achieve their individual goal” (a successful marriage) “which in turn strengthens the group”.

Sound all good, right? I mean, who wouldn’t want all the tools needed in order to make a marriage work? And to have a huge support group involved that will help achieve the goal of blissful marriage? Most people would say ‘sign me up’, which is the case of Jake and Alice. Newly married and madly in love, they have been selected to join this exclusive ‘club’ and when presented with the expertly phrased sales pitch, they are beyond excited to use these new tools in order for their marriage to grow and survive. But all does not go well as The Pact uses surveillance, threats, and interrogation to get their members to abide by the rules set forth in the Manual that each member is given upon signing up – and most of the members are okay with this type of treatment! Jake however is not, and even though he goes along with the group, he will do everything in his power to get him and Alice out….alive.

For all intents and purposes, The Marriage Pact has some sound ideas on how to make a marriage work, most are common sense, and if put to use will guarantee a solid marriage. The problem with this ‘club’ is the extreme measure they use in order for the couples to comply. If any rule is broken, members are sent to ‘prison’, sent before a judge and sentenced for their ‘crime’. Punishments are brutally harsh and beyond comprehension and include, but not limited to electrocution, and stripped naked and place between two pieces of plexi-glass and then placed for all other ‘inmates’ to see. I’m not going to lie – some parts of this book were difficult to read. Once you become a part of this club, the members really never have a life of their own. It is expected to drop everything and be at the beckon call of the leaders. Forget about wanting to leave the Pact as the only way out is death.

I really was enjoying this book in the beginning, but as the story progressed, it just became too unbelievable and bizarre. The members were expected to drop everything in their life (like their job) to be, for lack of a better word, get reconditioned. Most of the members were okay with how they were treated and acted like it was all normal. Things just got weird the further I got into the story. The punishments were beyond extreme, and quite frankly, unbelievable. I mean, what sane person would put up with that crap? Don’t get me wrong, the writing was good, there was just a certain creepy factor that I just could not get past. The author is an excellent story-teller and the writing is solid but the story itself was a little to gruesome for my tastes. However, just like a train wreck, I just could not stop myself from witnessing the horror that was unfolding before my eyes. I believe this book will appeal to a wide range of readers, just not this one due to the violent nature of the story.

The Marriage Pact is one of the most original novels I have read in a long time. Imagine receiving as a wedding present the opportunity to join a group that promises to enhance your marriage and ensure that your relationship thrives. The rules seem simple enough: always answer the phone when your spouse calls, give at least one gift a month to each other for no special reason, plan four vacations each year for just the two of you, and so on. What happens when you learn there are consequences for forgetting to follow through on these things? Read this and I promise you will view your own relationships in a whole new light.

*sigh*. I'm not married. Nowhere near. But if I were, this book would scare me off. This book to me, should be in the horror or even sci-fi category. A lot of the things that happened in the book were downright scary & unbelievable, too much so. I finished, because that's who I am as a person. Given the choice, I wouldn't read this book again.

THE MARRIAGE PACT. By Michelle Richmond, published by Random House, released on July 25. A perfect wedding for Jake and Alice with 200 plus friends and family. Receiving an enticing gift from a prominent client of Alice's,( she is a lawyer ) followed by an invite, they decide to accept. They were young, curious, the glamor, like minded people. Member's oath "fidelity to spouse", loyalty to the pact" till death do us part". Sounds simple to ensure a happy, long lasting marriage. Her hours, due to cases working on, they couldn't follow the rules. Rules could not be broken, The Pact, made sure of that. The wedding gift has now turned into a nightmare. Can they survive and get out, or what will happen. Unusual plot, doesn't seem plausible, yet, it keeps one turning the pages. New author for me, her other books maybe different. Readers will find this as an usual theme, and well written. Given ARC by Net Galley for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.

This was an intriguing story. I was somewhat put out with the ridiculous events that were forced on this couple but felt I needed to keep reading to find out what happens to them. Good insights into what makes a good marriage.