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.

Thank you to Michelle Richmond, NetGalley, and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy of The Marriage Pact. Here is my honest and unbiased review.

I started this book because I thought the premise was intriguing: what if married couples were legally bound to a set of rules and guidelines, and, if they failed to meet them, were held accountable by a community of people and court of law committed to overseeing the success of their marriage? Of course that premise probably sounds appealing to young newlyweds who don't want anything and anyone to come in between their vows and each other. And that is precisely what happens with the two characters in this story, Jerry and Alice.

Jerry is a psychologist and professional counselor, while his wife, Alice, is a well known musician turned work-driven lawyer for a prominent law firm. Jerry is the narrator of the story, which at first honestly felt a bit jarring because I read so many psychological thrillers about women or from the perspective of a woman. There are some really bizarre twists and turns in this plot that will likely keep you reading. It's like watching a trainwreck unfold right in front of your eyes, or better yet, a UFO landing in your backyard because some of the plot and the characters' actions make you wonder if you are living in an alternative dimension where the characters' logic and reason are temporarily suspended.

I gave the book 3.5 stars because the narrator didn't quite feel like a "real" living and breathing person. I won't spoil the plot, but I'll say that if my spouse was threatened with harm I would not sit idly and let it happen out of fear of a "marriage pact." Jerry finally does step up to the plate when things really get out of hand with the people enforcing the "marriage pact" and all of its ridiculous rules, but it took him too long to do so. Jerry also creaped me out at times; in some parts of the book, it seemed to me that he might be getting a thrill out of the sadomasochistic behavior carried out by members of the marriage pact. Alice also seemed to have a darker side that made me question her motivations for allowing herself to be physically and emotionally humiliated by members of the pact. It really shocked and disappointed me that Alice would tolerate this draconian treatment as someone who was portrayed as a strong, educated woman and talented singer. The only reason given for her submission to these rules was because she was afraid of having a successful marriage as a women who was successful in all other endeavors.

As someone who teaches the social sciences, I was familiar with several of the psychological studies referenced in this book. I appreciated the author's attempt to bring this literature into the book, and her attempt to try to think about what keeps people endeared to one another. However, the book fell short because the characters seemed so incredibly unpredictable, and not in a good, mysterious way. Their actions did not align with the way in which they were depicted. I did like the plot, scenery, and ideas behind the book, though, and that made up for what lacked in the character development department.

Synopsis- Jake and Alice are a recently married couple, living the good life in scenic San Fran. When they are approached by an unexpected wedding guest and offered the gift of a lifetime, they eagerly accept. Jake and Alice become members of The Pact, an elite group of married couples around the world. The Pact's sole purpose is to provide support for the married couples in the group. They do so with an extensive list of rules, mandates, and regulations. At first, Jake and Alice are able to adhere to the rules, strange though they might be. They soon come to the realization, however, that innocent trip-ups or simple mistakes are not taken to kindly by this group. Jake and Alice soon begin a fight not only for their marriage, but for their lives. Who can they trust? More importantly, can they escape this dangerous and lethal cult before it has fatal consequences?
Incredible book! I literally could not put it down. Whenever I was not working or sleeping, I was engrossed in this book. The novel allows the reader a look into the world of organized groups/cults. Interestingly enough, we also gain a deeper understanding of why these groups can hold appeal for some. On the flip side, we see the extremes that cults can use to keep its members silent. I was completely riveted throughout the whole novel, and can't wait to see read some of the author's other material.

I received an ARC of The Marriage Pact through NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you to Random House and Bantam Books for the opportunity.

The Pact is a wild ride – don’t miss it!

Usually people involved in happy marriages chose to do thoughtful, loving, kind, and romantic things for their spouse. But what if these actions were forced upon you? What if you had to behave in a certain way toward your spouse or suffer physical and emotional punishment consequently? Would you feel like doing these things if you had to?

The Pact is an ideological way that binds an individual to fully committing to their spouse. It reads like bylaws and prescribes a way of life that ensures a happy and lasting marriage. Violate a bylaw and you might be charged with a “crime” and sentenced to prison-like confinement where you might be placed in solitary confinement, receive shock therapy, or forced to sit naked in a cell for days on end to contemplate your actions. This ensures that members will do anything to avoid the dire consequences of not following the Pact.

What I liked about this book:
1. I loved the reading about the Pact, which was uncovered slowly as the plot progressed. I thought the physical and emotional consequences of violating the Pact bylaws were inconceivable and morbidly fascinating. Why wasn't the Pact around when my cheating husband walked out on me shortly after the birth of our second child? I needed a real life version of this book back then!
2. The book had a lot of interesting insights, facts, and background stories about the concept of marriage.
3. It’s based in Northern California and has a lot of references to cities, streets, and landmarks in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have been to a lot of these places referenced in the book and they are just as the author describes.
4. It’s written from the husband’s perspective yet the author is a woman.
5. The Pact is the opposite of a lot of books out there about cheating spouses. A refreshing change to the normal boring infidelity plot.

What I didn’t like:
1. There were a lot of typos in the uncorrected proof. I think that these will be resolved with the official released version.

I definitely recommend this book!