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.

The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond looks at what lengths couples will go through to ensure that their marriage stays intact. In this book, newlyweds are introduced to a group that promises commitment to the idea of marriage. The group does whatever it has to to preserve marriages.

Predictably, at first, the newlyweds like the idea and see the group as a force that helps make their marriage stronger. For example, one of the rules is that couples have to give each other a gift every month. The gifts don’t have to be expensive, but they should mean something. Another rule is that couples have to plan a vacation together. When Alice starts working long hours after their marriage, the group stepped in to make her focus on her marriage. Alice wore a bracelet so the group could monitor her location. The group’s involvement varies from benign to extreme intervention. On the mild side, it involves counseling or coaching. Other times, it involves sending members off to a “prison.” Actions that are seen as infractions include things like gaining more than a certain number of pounds per year to flirting with someone other than your spouse to cheating on your spouse.

My favorite part of this book is the realistic look at marriages. No one ever gets married thinking that they are going to get divorced. Everyone wants their marriage to last. Yet, there are always those insecurities that we all feel – did I somehow trick this person into marrying me? Are they going to fall out of love with me? Especially in a new marriage, there’s a lull after the initial honeymoon period. You spend so much time planning and getting ready for the wedding and then have this great party and go on your honeymoon. When you return to “normal” life after all the adrenaline highs, it may be a bit of a letdown.

There’s always a suspension of belief when reading fiction, but some parts of the plot went beyond a reasonable suspension of belief (for me). I don’t want to spoil the book so I’ll leave it up to you to read the book for yourself.

This book was an easy, quick read and would be great for a summer day at the beach. There were some twists that made it interesting. The book will be published on July 25, 2017.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary electronic preview of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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!

The Marriage Pact is well-written and sure to creep out the majority of its readers. The idea that a marriage can best succeed if one belongs to a marriage cult is looked at in depth. The creepiness comes from the methods the cult uses to keep its members in line. The author take this so far that one finds it a strain to believe, and at that point it is read more as a cartoon than anything that might happen. It does serve a valuable task- the reader is invited to look into his or her own relationships and study motive, selfishness, and generosity. Even friends can be looked at differently, not to mention a spouse. Ultimately, despite some of its far-fetched ideas, the married reader is going to find it hard to resist taking a close up evaluation of that relationship.

"Alice grasps my hand, and in that moment I know. For better or worse, she is with me."

While a bit over the top....I thought this well written and a page turner.
A few quotes:
"I unwrap my sandwich-ham and swiss-and take a bite. Shit. My jaw hurts too much to chew. Someone must have punched me in the face after I hit the ground. Are we going home? I ask the pilot. Depends on what you call home. We're headed to Half Moon Bay."

"But you are a member, right? Sure, he says, his tone unreadable. Fidelity to the Spouse, Loyalty to The Pact. Till death do us part. He turns back just long enough to give me a look that warns me not to ask any more questions. I've never seen him before. "

Set in Cali in the Bay Area ,Alice and Jake are in love and get married. They are given a very special present as a wedding gift. If they choose to take advantage of the offering, they can join an exclusive community known as The Pact. Spouses that are part of the pact truly love and care for one another above all else. There are rules, but they seem reasonable and serve a purpose: which is to keep the marriage stable and faithful. At first, it seems too good to be true! The couple does decide to join and feel "the rules" will only be of great help in keeping their marriage happy and committed for the rest of their lives. They are deeply in love, so why wouldn't they want that??? Plus- it offers a great community to be a part of. Great "Friends" and parties and all good things to be had. Beautiful people, beautiful world. People call you "friend" and seem to want the best for you and your spouse. They will stop at nothing to help you to be faithful to the rules and The Pact.

Problems arise. The rules are not quite as easy to follow as they seem. Consequences are pretty severe. As with most cults...someone pays a price. A rather large one!

At some point in this evolving story, Jake and Alice have to decide if they can remain part of The Pact. But, can they really get out??? No one actually is allowed to leave the society. People may go missing. They may die (all with very good explanation); but no one just leaves because they want to.

It gets pretty intense in places. And there is some cruelty involved and some scenes involving torture that some readers may not care for.

I enjoyed this when I decided to just go with it and forget that it's pretty extreme and I don't know a single couple that would fit into the Jake and Alice mold. I had some issues with their characters. But, this was really inventive and suspenseful.

I do recommend it for those who like thrillers, with a caution to keep in mind it is likely an R rating for some graphic scenes that involve punishment if "The Rules" are not followed.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for an ARC to read in exchange for a review. Thank you Michelle Richmond, who is a native of Alabama's Gulf Coast. I am too!!!! I will absolutely check out more of your books to read!

Jake and Alice are newly weds with the world before them when they receive an unexpected gift. The gift, called The Marriage Pact, promises to strengthen their wedding vows even more, and seems like the perfect opportunity to solidify their union. Encouraged that that it was sent from a trusted friend of Alice's, they agree to sign on the dotted line. As they begin attending parties and social occasions with other couples who are also part of the Pact, they realize that something is definitely not right. No one who joins the Pact ever divorces, but some couples do disappear...

Most people start their marriage expecting it to last forever. That tends to be a given. We stand before God, or at least a state sanctioned judge and make our vows. We promise to love honor and cherish forsaking all others until the end of our days. What if there were consequences for not strictly adhering to the ideals set forth by such a union? Well there already are, divorce for one.. but what if there were actual punishments? prisons? torture tactics? Therein lies "The Pact"
Jake and Alice receive an invitation to join the pact as a wedding gift. It seems silly at first, and then it seems fun, so they decide to join, not realizing how serious the members take this way of life. When Jake begins to suspect this cheery façade of like minded happily married couples is actually something far more sinister it may already be too late!
I enjoyed this thriller, and found it straddled the fence between psychological suspense and horror quite well.

I'm thinking this may be another 'Gone Girl''. Really enjoyed the book!

This was a really interesting book. I definitely didn't expect the ending. It kept me really interested throughout and I didn't want to put it down.

Interspersed with marriage and counseling factoids, this is an interesting and twisting story of forced dedication to marriage and it's effects on the psychology of companionship. The plot is sinister throughout and doesn't disappoint with its secret society styling and unforeseeable consequences. Who would think having a happy marriage could be so dangerous? A page-turner with twists and turns that keep you wanting more.

This is a very intense novel about a newly married couple that gets invited to join a sort of marriage club called The Pact. The couple, Jake and Alice, thinks the premise and mission of the club is sound: to provide ways for a couple to enhance and built a marriage and be in community with like-minded others. The catch is the adherence and the consequences of the lack there of. The scary thing about the novel is not so much the telling consequences but the strange feeling that something like The Pact could be a reality somewhere.

I thought the synopsis was very intriguing and the first 100 or so pages were to be truthful. But at some point the characters become stupid. I fell out of love with this book as fast as I fell in love with it at the beginning.

I could nitpick a few things about this book but that's not really my style. What you should know is that despite the things that bothered me and the suspension of belief they required, I was glued to this and stayed up to finish it.

Honest review in exchange for an ARC from Netgalley.

This is the kind of book that you think about long after you've finished it. I kept rolling over the pact in my mind to decide what parts of the pact were good and what was too far. The line is not always clear.

Suspenseful, well written. Could not put it down. Will recommend to friends. Can see a movie in its future!

This book was so much more than what I was thinking it would be. Jake and Alice are two newlyweds who are invited to join a group of married couples committed to keeping their marriages intact no matter what. What starts out as a great idea turns into a very creepy, cultish group that they can't escape. It was a book I couldn't put down as it is fast paced and you are always wondering what other horrors lay ahead. But where it went a little astray was the far fetched-ness that the plot went into. It's just got too brutal and out there to be a full five star book. Great plot and it will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat, but it is very wild!

This book is a must read if you like thriller books. I still can't get Jake and Alice out of my mind after finishing this book. Yes FRIEND, this is how the group calls each other. A high society cult with no way out for these characters. Highly recommend it.

Seems like a good premise but quickly becomes tedious & unbelievable. Will not be purchasing this title.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

What a great book!! I literally couldn't put this book down once I'd started it. Although some parts may have seem a little far-fetched, I came to the conclusion that such a thing as "The Pact" and all it encompasses could actually exist in 2017, with all it's positives and negatives. I know everyone might not agree, but what a concept. Many of the positive ideas in The Pact would help any marriage. I wonder whether my husband and I would have signed "The Pact" at the beginning of our marriage, not really understanding what we were getting into.

The Marriage Pact is about Jake and Alice, a newly married couple who receive "The Pact" as a wedding present, complete with a book of rules and regulations. He's a therapist, she's a lawyer and it all sounds great in the beginning - give each gifts, make sure to take trips together, always answer the phone when your spouse calls. Then there are the sections on misbehavior and punishment, which sound a little ambiguous but turn out to be a lot less vague and more black and white than they could ever have imagined.

The characters were fascinating. I watched the changes that Jake and Alice went through, always seemingly committed to one another and their marriage, with real interest. I was very satisfied with the ending, although I would have been fine if it had ended with the other choice (you have to read the book!).

The characters who made up the other members of The Pact were so interesting, and I think Michelle Richmond did a great job introducing them and telling their stories. She also drew me in with the plot, which moved quickly and left me gasping in places, especially at the end.

I highly recommend this book, and I think it will be a summer hit! It would make great television!