Do you believe in marriage? How far would you go to make sure it stayed intact? What started out as an interesting concept to newlyweds, Jack and Alice, soon turned into a nightmare. This book had had me enthralled and yet still questioning the sanity of this supposedly educated couple who opted into this mess. I mean did they really need big brother watching over them to make sure they did everything humanly possible to protect the sanctity of their marriage? Okay, so spending time with your spouse and and making them a priority sounds like sage advice, but once they don't follow the rules, all hell breaks loose. This book was absolutely fantastic...until the end. The ending was so lackluster it was like it didn't even belong with this book, and for that I rated this three instead on four stars.

I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The book had an interesting premise. A newlywed couple receives an interesting gift inviting them to an exclusive and elite group of married couples. They must abide by the rules of the group. If they join the group, he will have a happy marriage and friends for life. If they do not follow the rules, they will be punished. Alice and Jake eagerly join the group. They soon find out how many rules there are and how demeaning and painful the punishments can be for breaking the rules of the pact. The entire book is about them trying to escape from the marriage pact.

The book starts off strong and then dragged. It became a chore to read, but I felt invested and had to,finish it. It also has an open ended conclusion that was disappointing. I with this book and finished it and al, I got was a lame ending.

I would not recommend this book.

This was an interesting read! This book takes the reader through membership in The Marriage Pact. It makes you think of how far a person would go to save their marriage and what if something like this really existed. It kept my attention the whole time, but thought the ending might have been different.

I really just didn't connect with this one. I didn't feel any care for any of the characters and the story just really bored me, Just not for me.

The Marriage Pact is described as a psychological suspense novel centering on Alice and Jake, who are newlyweds that are approached from “friends” about joining a members-only group dedicated to the success of each member’s marriage. There are rules to follow, and you can never tell anyone else about The Pact.

I love thrillers. I love suspense novels. And I love books that make me keep turning the pages to find out what happens next. I flew through the first half of the book, and I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next or what kind of crazy challenge would come up within the next few pages.
It was also a very thought provoking novel, especially on the idea of conventional marriage. How far are you willing to go for your marriage to succeed? What kind of limitations do you set on this lasting agreement? It goes deep into ethics, judgment calls, and understanding yourself and your partner.

I really enjoyed this, but it was also very strange. I was expecting a thrilling, suspenseful ride. At the end, I was just left wondering “huh.” I think I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Jake was a wonderful narrator, but Alice felt like she was changing throughout the entire book. I never really got a good feel of who she was or if she was even real. I also wasn’t completely sold on the environment and world that they lived in. It wasn’t extremely relatable to me, and I had a hard time imagining it.

Another issue I had was that I was never really genuinely surprised in the novel. I actually was expecting a lot worse, and it was not nearly as psychological or suspenseful as I had originally thought it would be. I guessed the ending about halfway through, although I was wrong on Jake and Alice’s ultimate decision.

Overall, I thought this was an intriguing read. If you’re looking for a crazy, thrill ride of an adventure, this one will hit a couple of those sweet spots for you. I felt like it was more focused on the psychology behind marriage and ethics though. So if you love thought provoking reads, this one is for you. Not my favorite novel ever, but it was definitely interesting to read and it opened up a few discussion points for others who may read it.

I mostly enjoyed The Marriage Pact. It reminded me a lot of John Grisham's The Firm. A couple entering a pact that almost seems too good to be true. But the layers of ridiculousness that ensued made me kind of crazy. And the torture was sometimes too graphic. I can't say I would tell others to read this one.

THE MARRIAGE PACT by Michelle Richmond

Alice and Jake are newly married. Alice is a lawyer and invited her client to the wedding. The client gives them an odd wedding gift... an invitation to join The Pact. It includes things such as buy your partner a gift, don't cheat, don't lie, take vacations etc. But the thing is, you are trapped in this forever. You have mandatory meetings and rules to follow. If you break the rules, you're punished. It's a weird sort of cult. I thought the story was creepy and interesting. Alice was a bit annoying but it didn't keep me from enjoying the book. I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, fast-paced read!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with a copy - all opinions are my own.

I received an electronic copy of this book from NetGalley.

I really enjoyed reading this book although I have mixed feelings about the characters and the main messages here. It all boils down to how you feel about marriage and/or long term relationships. If there were rules to marriage similar to the ones required by this bizarre Marriage Pact in the book, I cannot imagine being happy in marriage. The punishments carried out by this sick and twisted cult are truly freaky. And yet, the book sucks you in and carries you along. Perhaps not for the faint of heart, I suppose. The tortures are horrible. But I would recommend reading it. It will make you think.

This review appeared on goodreads.

I couldn't finish this book. It seemed way too confusing and out there for me. Hopefully that is just me, and many others enjoyed it thoroughly..

The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond is unlike any book I've read recently. This tale is about a recently married couple who have been living a blissful life of couple-hood until they decide to sign the papers inviting them to become members of The Pact. The Pact quickly consumes their lives as they learn all of the rules being dictated to them in order to have the best possible marriage that they can. At first Alice and Jake are enjoying The Pact life but then they begin to suffer the effects of the wrath of The Pact when they are found to not be living up to expectations. They soon begin to wonder just how much they want to be members of The Pact. Read and enjoy this book right to the unexpected ending.

I am not much on thrillers, (all Gone Girled out) but the premise of this book sounded interesting. “What would you do to save your marriage?
As improbable as the developments in the story turn out to be, it was still compulsively readable, an actual page turner (or swiper, as the case may be) as the reader watches this charming, “has it all” newlywed couple becomes more and more involved with a cultish “marriage club” with membership demanding that its members put their marriages above all else….or else.
Fun reading and perhaps a good palate cleanser if you have been overdosing on a plethora of literary fiction.
Recommended: “Thinner” by Stephen King, writing as Richard Bachman and “Quitters” by Stephen King, writing as Stephen King

This was a novel that caught my attention by its description, but left me apprehensive about whether or not I wanted to start it and if it would live up to its cover. The second I read the first page, I was hooked. The plot unfolded in a way that made sense without losing the suspense and mystery. The couple at the center of the book were "real" with their flaws, fights and their relationship. Nothing is perfect and I loved the way the author weaved the desire to be perfect with the reality of human nature.

Terrific premise and excellent execution, also a thought provoking meditation on marriage. Lots of great visuals, very cinematic storytelling without sacrificing character and prose quality.

Well this one is definitely "out there" as far as weird and strange. The characters almost seem like they don't even know their own profession...like a lawyer who doesn't read "the pact" before signing it. When things get going out off hand, both Alice and Jake seem to ignore things, like they are in a fairy tale world. Having said all that, it did keep my interest, just wondering what else was going to happen. I received a copy of this book from Net Galley. The review is of my own choosing and opinions.

This book had be intrigued, riveted, annoyed, and baffled. I thought the premise was implausible. Maybe. For the last year, I've been following the most recent documentary on Scientology and have learned so much about cults that I'm no longer incredulous that it can exist. The writing was superb. The story was chilling. The narrator was sympathetic--to a degree. Interspersed with the ongoing tale were flashbacks and scientific/sociological/psychological anecdotes on marriage. While the beginning was slow going for me, I felt the latter part kept me turning pages. I couldn't put it down after 60%. But then the ending fell just a bit flat for me. I'm going to be thinking about it for a while because it wasn't quite a happy ending nor a tragic conclusion. It's left up to the reader to decide what happens to the protagonists. All in all, it was a great read. I will definitely read more from this author.

I'm appreciative of Netgalley, and the publishers for providing me with this copy for an honest review.

I really wanted to love this one. I find the idea of being sucked into a cult as fascinating. I found it hard to believe that the main characters could be so easily swayed. The writing was good until the ending. There were so many unanswered questions. I ended the book frustrated.

I was unable to finish this book. I tried really hard to read it but stopped at 70%. I was interested by the concept of the marriage pact but found the plot to drag along. Also, the husband and wife are completely unlikeable, I really didn't care what happened to them. This book just wasn't for me.

The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond Book Review

You & your spouse are about to embark on your newly married life. Rainbows & glitter are everywhere because you're crazy in love with each other. You're stoked when you receive an invite to a "members only" club. This is no Sam's Club either. The invite is from a celebrity (fancy!) & both you & your spouse are adventurous & up for a challenge. If you join, you'll have a vast & powerful network at your disposal. All it takes is a commitment & you've got to be able to keep it a secret. Are you in?

The Rule Book

Alice & Jake take the plunge & commit to The Pact. Jake is a marriage/relationship therapist & Alice is an old rock star of sorts turned attorney. They are an interesting couple, but they are genuinely in love & looking forward to the future.

Jake & Alice procrastinate reading the Rule Book & this proves to be a mistake. Immediately, Pact Leaders descend on the couple with added attention & pressure. There's some scary stuff in this book. There is no way I would go forward with The Pact's crazy requirements, but Jake & Alice decide to forge ahead. Can they make The Marriage Pact work? If not, can they ever get out it? Will their marriage survive? Better yet, will they survive?

Thrilling, Unique & Unforgettable

Reading the description, I thought The Marriage Pact might be a hokey, dystopian type novel, but it was an enjoyable & suspenseful read. Michelle Richmond creates a world of wealth, corruption, good intentions & secrecy. The Pact has a Big Brother type presence over the couple & the book gave me some serious stalker vibes reminiscent of one of faves I See You by Clare Mackintosh.

THE VERDICT

I was Really Into This book. The Marriage Pact was satisfying, memorable & would make a really good TV show.

Special thanks to Michelle Richmond, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Bantam & NetGalley for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

Wow! What a fast-paced, suspenseful read this is! It had me flipping pages just about as fast as I possibly could. The concept of the Marriage Pact seems logical, but it becomes a marriage controlled by Big Brother, a dystopia related to marriage...Yikes!
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of the book.

I was all in on this book. The premise is unusual and I was interested to see the resolution. That said, it got a bit too philisophical toward the end. And I don't think the ending was nailed. I would recommend it though.