The story itself - Jake and Alice are newlyweds and they receive a gift from one of the wedding guests - the gift is an invitation to join ‘The Pact’ a Society where marriage is indeed an institution and divorce unheard of. Not taking it altogether seriously they sign up but before long they realise they are in too deep and there is no escape!!

I have awarded this a 3.5 rounded up to 4. This book started off kind of slow then quickly picked up pace, so much so I didn’t want to put it down but then the last section seemed like the author ran out of steam and just wanted to get to the end. I was really disappointed in the last section from Jake leaving for Ireland right through to the closing sentence - there was so much more potential for the story to have had a more satisfying ending - I hate being left feeling frustrated by a book’s ending, don’t you? Although I guess it is good for the author and provides a talking point - Friend!

Some of the characters were just too perfect to be true and the whole story was so far fetched to be believable.
Not for me.

*** NEW *** NEW *** NEW ***
From now on, in every book review, I will include the one single idea that stood out the most for me in that book. Every book has one. I’d love it if you shared yours with me from the same book.
I loved this while I was reading it; couldn’t put it down! But then afterwards, when I gave it some thought (and I suppose that is a plus: that I was still thinking about it for a while afterwards), I started thinking about how much of the story was so highly improbable. Yes, I know it’s fiction, but there does still need to be a certain measure of belief and sustainability to keep a story within the realms of possibility, especially when it’s meant to be happening in the here and now. If this had been set in the near future, I think it would definitely lend more plausibility.
So … the premise is that Jake and Alice are newly-weds. They’re not young or naïve. She is a lawyer, he’s a psychologist. They receive a mysterious wedding gift from one of Alice’s clients – actually he’s a client of the firm that Alice works for; a very prestigious client, and she was instrumental in winning his case. On a whim, she invited him to their wedding and was surprised when he accepted. In hindsight, it’s an invitation she wishes she never extended!
The strange gift turns out to be an offer to join a covert club known as ‘The Pact’. Members of this fellowship are couples who are extremely devout (to the point of fanaticism) about their marriages, and the marriages of all others who are part of this organisation with them. There are rules … oh so many rules! The main ones being that you do not mention The Pact to anyone outside it, and once you’re in, you can never, ever leave! It’s a bit odd that Alice, a lawyer doesn’t seem to grasp the ‘small print’, or even fully read it before agreeing to enter into The Pact.
The amount of time this couple takes of work throughout this book was one of the things that I found myself constantly shaking my head about! There’s a vague reference once or twice to Jake’s colleagues questioning his increasing absence, but other than that, everyone seems pretty accepting of these unaccountable lapses in being present at their places of work.
The concept of this ‘Marriage Pact’ is an interesting one, and I suppose that’s what makes the book highly readable. The execution of the actual idea itself is sometimes a little off kilter though. Clearly the membership is made up of an intricate network of friends in high places, well connected, and well versed in the art of manipulation. Just how are the powers that be so all-knowing and all-seeing?
This book really had me hooked, but my suspension of belief was stretched to its limits so I’m giving it a 3.5. You need to read this one for yourself and decide.
STAND-OUT IDEA: “Answer the phone when your spouse calls. Every time. No exceptions.” While this stood out for me like many other concepts in the book, and the overall notion of the Pact itself, I found myself questioning whether this is actually possible? Jake is a psychologist – surely he can’t answer the phone during a session with a client? Alice is a lawyer – if she’s in court, she wouldn’t be able to answer the phone, would she? Similarly in our everyday lives, while theoretically the idea might be a good one to try and implement wherever feasible, it’s not always going to be achievable. I guess we can try our best though, right?

this was a very different type of thriller novel for me to read.

the pact are a group of married couples who believe marriage should be worked on at all costs and strictly abide by a set of, sometime bizarre, rules in order to keep their marriages going. if the rules are not observed the guilty party is subject to punishment metered out by the other members. couples are told “nobody leaves the pact!”

the story follows a young professional couple who become involved with the pact. that’s where my only problem with the book lay - how did an intelligent couple get so involved with these bunch of weirdos!

this book is well worth a read as it is so different from the norm.

many thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This thriller took a newly wed couple into a cult about marriage. Some of the points the cult had would indeed help you keep a happy harmonious marriage but the punishments they dished out for breaking the rules were awful. Interesting read.

The Marriage Pact is a truly fascinating read. The plot was so unique and had me hooked from the very start.

Newlyweds Jake and Alice are intrigued by a mysterious box that they receive as a wedding present. An email enlightens them that a representative will explain to them the significance of the package. From their married life soon spirals out of control. Taken in by the mysterious group 'The Pact' they find that they now must live their life by very strict rules that involve draconian penalties if not adhered to.

Jake and Alice soon find that they are on the wrong side of the Pact and its leaders despite their best efforts to adhere to the rules. They start to question the motivation of the Pact. Have they joined a cult? Is Jake's old friend Joanne the key to helping him unlock secrets of the Pact? Why are they so hung up on punishing Alice?

The book is full of ups and downs and I found it a truly thrilling read. I was outraged at points at the horrendous means the Pact used to maintain the ideals of marriage. It is also the type of book that really gets you thinking. Imagine if something like this really existed! It is a complete rollercoaster of a book. I felt all the emotions that Jake and Alice felt. I was creeped out by the constant greeting 'friend' and the ending was something else!

I would absolutely recommend this book for others to read. I love a good psychological thriller but what really grabbed me was the uniqueness of the story. I seriously need to see this now as a movie because it would 100% work.

I really enjoyed this read. A little different to my normal reads. What would you give to ensure your marriage lasted! One to get you thinking and mess with your head. Would highly recommend. My thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for the advance reader copy.

Unfortunately I could not get into this book at all.

An enjoyable book that took me a little while to get into. I found the plot unique and interesting to read as we follow the lives of Alice and Jake through their newly married journey in the Pact. The ending was a little abrupt but fitting.

The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond is one of those books where you think what the hell am I reading. But in a good way! I screamed at the book, rolled my eyes, and to my horror found myself understanding why the pact might work. Then back to being horrified all over again.

FIRST LINE OF THE MARRIAGE PACT BY MICHELLE RICHMOND

“I come to on a Cessna, bumping through the air.”

MY THOUGHTS ON THE MARRIAGE PACT BY MICHELLE RICHMOND

It revolves around a newly married couple, and how they got sucked into a crazy marriage pact. When I say crazy, I mean fully fledged looney tunes. They agreed to all kinds of things like each partner only gaining x amount of weight, rules about presents, and the frequency of holidays. With consequences if they didn’t comply.

It sounds baffling as to why they might agree to join, but when you read the book, you understand. Marriage is complicated, and some of the rules might even be helpful. I found myself considering the validity of parts of the pact.

My tongue-in-cheek Goodreads status at 13% was –

“Undoubtedly things will take a sinister twist. But right now the pact sounds sweet. Taking time to buy meaningful presents for your partner every month, and compulsory holidays together every quarter? Sign me up!”

Until the crazy got out of hand, and then it became plain terrifying. I was all a jitter from the tension, and the danger I knew was lurking so close. Maybe it all got a little unrealistic, but I was thoroughly gripped and couldn’t devour the pages fast enough.

Overall I found the book twisty, creepy and very compelling. More please, Ms Redmond!

Rating Report
Characters four-half-stars
Setting four-half-stars
Pace five-stars
Did I feel it? four-half-stars
Overall: four-half-stars

WHY SHOULD READ THE MARRIAGE PACT BY MICHELLE RICHMOND

I’d highly recommend this if you like psychological thrillers in a domestic setting, a snappy pace, lots of chills, and some thought-provoking ideas. Also recommended to fans of Tina Seskis, Mary Kubica and Ruth Ware.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK for giving me a copy of this book for review consideration. As always, no matter what the source of the book, you get my honest, unbiased opinion.

When Alice and Jake are asked on the eve of their wedding whether they want their marriage to be forever they reply that they do. They receive a mysterious gift from one of Alice's clients, a box and a set of pens, shortly after their return from honeymoon they are contacted by a woman called Vivian who initiates them into 'The Pact', a social group whose aim is to ensure that marriages are lasting. However as time goes on, the rules of the Pact become harder and harder to follow and Alice and Jake realise they are into something that they can't escape from.

At first this book seemed quite interesting, the idea of a group which focuses on preserving marriages, but then it got weirder and weirder and I just stopped enjoying in.

Wow! This is one of those books you'll love it, hate it or a bit of both. For me it was most definitely both! The Pact is for all intents and purposes a cult with the ideology of what the perfect marriage should be. Their methods of ensuring lasting and happy marriages are suspect at best and down right scary at worst with horrific consequences if things don't go according to their behaviour modification techniques.

Jake, a marriage counsellor and therapist, and Alice, an attorney, are newly weds and without realising what they are getting themselves into join The Pact. At first all seems fine and The Pact ideology of a perfect marriage seems like a dream come true. Until they start breaking rules of The Pact without realising it and have to undergo behaviour modification at a facility in the desert.

The more they try and uncover the truth behind The Pact, the deeper they get themselves into a darker and more sinister side of The Pact. Things turn from bad to worse when Jake's ex-girlfriend from college days is suspected of having an affair with Jake. Jake and Alice are living in fear of unknowingly breaking rules and having to suffer the consequences thereof. They get to a point where they make a run for it with nothing but the clothes on their back.

This is a suspense filled novel with twists and turns along the way. A great read with a surprising outcome.

Very disturbing! I had to read this in two goes (I took a break in December and only read Christmas themed books) because it is very intense, suspenseful and makes you want to hide behind a cushion while reading.

Scary and dystopian!

I fully expect to see this made into a film. Superb fable of our times...

There's a great if somewhat ridiculous premise here: Newlyweds Jake and Alice are all loved up and intrigued when they are invited to join 'The Pact' - an invite-only exclusive club for the wedded. Its only goal: to keep that love pure and happy.

Of course people are not that simple. Nor is The Pact. Signing up means signing up to reams of regulations and if you forget to do something like buy a present for your spouse or spend too much time at work, there are consequences - serious ones.

So what happens if you decide your marriage might be better off outside The Pact? Well, you'll never know, because no one ever leaves - or so Jake and Alice are told.

The book follows the newlyweds as they try to adhere to the code because they can see the good things it is trying to do (such as make a rule of going on a trip together every three months, to make sure you treasure each other). Then they start to make little mistakes that don't necessarily matter to each other, but do to The Pact. Soon there are visits by officials, punishments that can't be escaped, and maybe even the real risk of death...

As mentioned this is totally and utterly ridiculous. However it's so ridiculous that once begun you have to follow it through to the end. Fortunately, it's also quite fun along the way.

The Marriage Pact revolves around Alice, a lawyer, and Jake, a therapist. Three days before the couple is to be married, Alice meets Liam Finnegan. She is working as an associate on his case and, when he tells her how much he loves weddings, she invites him to attend her upcoming wedding. The day before the nuptials, Liam sends the couple a gift: a locked wooden box labeled “The Pact.” This present brings them into the fold of The Pact where the members are determined to do whatever it takes to make their marriages succeed. Members are to adhere to The Manual which outlines the rules and regulations of this secret group. Rules like always answer the phone when your spouse calls, give your spouse a gift each month and plan a trip together each quarter seem like nice gestures that can be easily achieved. The fact that there is a section labeled Arbitration, however, raised red flags for me but apparently not for Jake and Alice.

Jake and Alice decide to accept the invitation to join The Pact. At first, nothing seems untoward and they go about their days as a newly married couple. When Jake runs into an old college friend at a party hosted by another Pact couple, he is a little unnerved because she indicates there is something sinister about this group. The cult-like nature of The Pact further intensifies when Alice begins to get overwhelmed at work and doesn’t come home many nights until very late. The Pact deems this a violation and she is whisked away from home to a secret facility in the desert to face the consequences of putting her job first. When she returns, she is determined to follow the rules whereas Jake is getting more and more concerned, especially after having secret meetings with his old college friend to discuss The Pact.

Just how far will The Pact go to ensure its members follow the rules to making their marriages work? Quite far, it turns out.

The book is told from Jake’s first person POV. I liked Jake for the most part but I did not really care for Alice. Having her presented to us only through Jake’s eyes could be part of the issue. Her character is painted with Jake’s insecurity and she comes across as kind of empty and also a bit untrustworthy. Another downside of Jake’s POV is the intrusion of his practice and patients into the story. I didn’t give a fig about his patients and his little blurbs on marriage got my nerves quickly.

At first I enjoyed The Marriage Pact. There is a bit of a big brother thing going on where The Pact seems to know everything the couple does. It’s creepy but also intriguing. Unfortunately, as the story progresses, I realized how stupid Jake and Alice are for joining what is an essentially a cult that threatens disciplinary action if they do not follow the rules. Expecting them to blow off their jobs for The Pact is ridiculous, especially for Alice who is in the middle of preparing for a trial. It becomes even more absurd with the type of discipline that is meted out. Not only that, the way over long passages detailing the discipline are just too much. It comes across as shock value.

It’s definitely not a win for me. I did like the beginning but found the more The Pact interfered in Jake and Alice’s lives, the less I liked the book. I think if it had stuck to the creepy big brother is watching them vibe, it would have been far more interesting but when it became more about shock value, I started to lose interest. There are some good ideas and good writing but I just feel it missed the mark for me.

This book reminded me a little of John Grisham's The Firm, and I must say, I thought it just as good. The premise was certainly an interesting one, and the build up of tension was done really well. The ending was a surprise and not what I expected at all!

Waiting for the other shoe to drop...unputdownable horror, definitely not a feel-good book!
Extremely captivating plot, mostly weird, manipulative, very disturbed characters, actually gave me nightmares!
What starts out as an interesting supposedly harmless experiment for the newlyweds soon turns into an absolute nightmare, terror and sadistic control freakery. The ending is an anticlimax and rather wishy-washy.
Thanks to Penguin UK - Michael Joseph, and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you expect your average run of the mill domestic psychological thriller you might be disappointed. The Marriage Pact is a lot more complex, creepier and slightly dystopian. But a satisfying read nevertheless.
Alice was a musician who is now a lawyer and has married Jack who is a marriage therapist. They are happy and comfortable and in their thirties and both want a marriage for life.

As a wedding present they receive a box as a gift and an invitation to join The Pact a club supposed to help couple to stay in happy marriages. They are both interested in joining a sign a contract without giving it to much thought.

But things are not what they seemed. I can't say much more without spoiling the plot.

Overall I would give it a 4.5. Although different from many psychological thriller a lot deeper than most, it is captivating and entertaining. The main characters are interesting, complex and three dimensional and we hear the story from Jack's point of view, if we don't know what Alice is really thinking it is because he does not know him himself.

A word of advice, don't start reading this book expecting something totally realistic, it won't be at least if we think of our daily reality. There are a few things that are maybe not really plausible, but it is a book of fiction so go with the story without worrying if it can happen or not. .

I found the premise of this book interesting however, I also found the methods of torture used quite disturbing and very graphic.