If you think your family is dysfunctional, crack this book open and you may change your mind. Whoa this was a whole bunch of crazy! This family is built on lies, deceit and secrets. Lots and lots of secrets! I flew through this book in just one night as I could not put it down. I love every book Sheryl Browne has put out and she is a "must read" for me. I was so excited to see she had a new book out and I jumped at my chance to get my hands on a copy.


The Marriage Trap revolves around Karla's family. Her family with her husband Jason and her parents Robert and Diana. I could not for the life of me figure out why Karla's father hated Jason so much. He made it clear that he did not want them to marry and even tried to get her to go to extremes in the manner of their children they had together. Robert has even offered to pay him off to leave Karla. What???!! Of all the reasons that I could dream up that Robert had for hating their relationship, I never dreamed the real reason. It is so shocking and dark, it literally blew my mind.


The secrets in this book are so well hidden that the lies and secrets build upon each other year after year. As Karla's marriage begins to unravel I found myself wondering if some of these problems stemmed from her strained relationship with her father and the death of her sister at such a young age.


There are so many different underlying issues that you will never predict how they all come together at the end. The ending shocked me to the core! I never saw that very last twist coming, well okay I never saw any of the twists coming. Once again I was left in the dark until the very end. Thanks Sheryl Browne for yet another fantastic book!

I had high hopes for this one but unfortunately I got halfway through the book and I could just not finish it. At first, it seemed intriguing; clearly evident that Karla and Joshua were going through some issues but the more I read, the less substance the story had.
It felt like I was reading the same thing over and over and hearing endless amounts of detail that weren't needed. The entire time I just kept saying 'okay where's the big plot information?' There wasn't any and so by the time I was 50% through, I just couldn't keep reading it anymore; too boring.

Hopefully this is as good for others as I was hoping.

The Marriage Trap is a gripping psychological thriller. The plot is well written and has many twists and turns. Will keep you on the edge of your seat. Thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

I was hooked within the first chapter and it stayed on course for me until about 41% through and then I was just so disappointed with main characters, the direction of the plot and don't get my started on the ending. Not a book for me

The Marriage Trap to me seemed more of a domestic suspense novel rather than a psychological thriller. The prologue reveals that Jason is leaving his wife because he's in love with another woman. The book then goes back to reveal how the story gets to that point. The story started out a little slow for me but it gradually picked up. Overall this was a decent read - I liked the book and think it was a 3.5 star read!

Wow! I am completely floored by Sheryl Browne’s newest psychological thriller, The Marriage Trap! Browne first came on my radar after reading The Second Wife (which also totally blew me away). Browne just has this easy ability to draw you right into a story and hooks you right from the start.

Karla and jason have been happily married for twelve years, but suddenly cracks begin to show as their marriage slowly starts to unravel. The story begins with Jason packing up and leaving Karla. Sure, it seems like Jason might be cheating, but is this really the full story? What happened in their marriage that lead them down this path? The answer may surely surprise you!

I am addicted! Like totally addicted to this story. When those bombs start dropping my jaw dropped to the floor. I kid you not. I could not put this book down at all and wound up staying up till the sun came out just so I could reach the ending. Next time I know don’t start a Sheryl Browne book well into the evening!

Nothing in this story is as it seems. There are many secrets revolving around Karla and Jason as well as with Karla’s parents. Karla’s Father, a multimillionaire, was never happy with his daughter’s choice in marrying Jason. But, Karla loved Jason wholeheartedly. They had a great marriage for over a decade, but when the cracks begin to show they are quite the doozy. I am still shocked as I write this review!

The Marriage Trap, while being an easy read, manages to capture so much angst and vulnerability between its pages and while we start with Jason leaving, the story also then takes a look back as to what lead up to this event. Browne incorporated quite a few surprises that are very very shocking. A few times I was like “wait, what? What! OMG!” I am happy to say The Marriage Trap has landed on my very short top books of the year list.

The Marriage Trap surely delivered in the psychological thriller genre and is definitely a story you will definitely want to clear your calendar for. It is a MUST read!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story is told from the 3 perspectives of Karla, Jason and Diana. Karla knows that her husband keeps secrets from her but he isn't aware of this. This is one of those books where you think that you have figured everything out in a neat little package and then all the wrapping blows away because you were wrong.

A slow start in the beginning but then it keeps you up late at night because you want to know what will happen next.

The book centers around four main people. The first two, Karla and Jason have been married for 12 years and have two children; a boy and a girl. Jason is self-employed in eCommerce but his business is failing and Karla is desperate to help. Karla begs Jason to borrow money from her father, Jason does not want anything to do with the man. Her father didn't even wanted Karla to marry him. Karla and Jason argue a lot about the state of their finances. Karla continues to beg Jason to put aside his pride and just ask his father in law for the money. Jason finally relents but his father in law puts in a stipulation in the loan; one that Jason can't agree to and leaves him in shock.

Enter Robert and Diana, Karla's father and mother respectively. Robert has made it through life being ruthless. He is a bully and feels the need to control everything. He tried to convince Karla not to marry Jason 12 years ago, but it was the one thing he could not control. When Jason finally comes graveling for a business loan, Robert finally sees a way to get Jason out of Karla's life. He agrees to the loan with one stipulation. A stipulation that will tear everyone apart in this family.

The book started off very slow for me. I was able to predict the stipulation of the loan before it was revealed. Afterwards, I felt that plot line began to repeat itself. The majority of the problems could have been resolved if Jason just told Karla about the stipulation. The ending however did include a few shocking twists from an unexpected character.

This starts off with Karla watching her husband pack his suitcase. He's fallen in love with someone else. To be honest I can't summarize this into something interesting because I did not like this book. I started skimming a third of the way through. Same things over and over and over. Karla wants Jason to borrow money from her father. Her father and Jason do not like each other. Jason develops feelings for someone else. But will not communicate with his wife at all! It was frustrating! You guys are married, communicate with each other. TALK. The twists were ridiculous. This was just a horrible read for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC.

Sheryl Browne has done it again. Another rollercoaster of a read. Karla watches as her husband packs his bags to leave her. Until recently they had a happy marriage. Whatever could have happened to make Jason leave her and the children Holly and Josh. The author takes you on a voyage of discovery which you will not be disappointed with.

The Marriage Trap by Sheryl Browne was an excellent read. You will find its a book you start and don't want to put it down!

Karla and her husband have been married for twelve years and have two children Holly who is eleven and Josh who is ten.
Their marriage is having problems and Jason's business is going bust! and he may go into bankruptcy!

Jason tells Karla ‘I’ve fallen in love with someone else," 😲 As he hurriedly packs his belongings into a suitcase. He takes the watch Karla bought him for his last birthday, his laptop and personal items that was on his bedside cabinet. However he leaves their wedding photo!
Karla is in Shock and is struggling to breathe as she watches Jason pack to leave their family home and their children.

Jason leaves home. 😲

Karla’s parents Diana and Robert are very wealthy and Robert is willing to give Jason a business loan.
But no good deed comes without a cost.

So what is Robert after?

This family is full of many lies and lots of secrets.

All the characters were great and worked well with each other in Sheryl's fourth book.

This book is Highly recommended and I will warn you not to start reading The Marriage Trap just before you go to bed! As you will not want to put it down.


5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you, NetGalley, Sheryl Browne and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. 

I loved it.

I was promised an “addicting psychological thriller,” but this would better be described as a Greek tragedy. As a thriller, it left much to be desired. There were no thrills, no mind games, no suspense. However, if you consider it a Greek tragedy, it’s far different. The cringe inducing behavior of our main characters makes more sense in the realm of Greek tragedy.
I’m still puzzled about why the description doesn’t seem to match at all

* I received a copy from netgalley in exchange for my review 1/5

The way that this intriguing book starts, readers see a dialogue where Jason tells Karla that there is someone else and that he is leaving her. As their past is relayed, we learn that Karla and Jason have been married for twelve years and have two young children. Currently Jason's business is failing and they are facing financial ruin. Their money problems could be over if Jason would only accept a business loan from Karla's father, Robert.

To add to this stress, Karla is hiding a painful secret from her past and she suffers a lot of sleepless nights as a result. Meanwhile, Jason must consider Robert’s proposal. The biggest problem in doing this appears to be Jason's pride and the history he has with Robert. From the very beginning of their relationship, he gave Jason problems. Despite Robert’s constant pressure, Karla loved Jason to distraction and they worked hard on their marriage. However, Jason begins to pull away from Karla, and even tells her that he is leaving.

Both Karla and Jason begin to act completely out of character, thus ruining any chance for a reconciliation. Bottom line is that Jason has very good reason for his actions. These reasons are a huge secret between him and his father-in-law.

This well-hidden and very painful secret is just one of the many twists and turns in this busy book by Sheryl Browne. The characters are multi-layered as they struggle to deal with the various situations. Admittedly, I struggle to write any more in this review because saying much more would deliver spoilers, and that would be unfair.

From beginning to end, this was a captivating story. It was a bit frustrating to witness the apparent lack of communication, therefore, resulting actions were a bit shocking. I would like to state that this is not what I know a psychological thriller to be. Yes, a family drama, but certainly not a thriller. The conclusion, however, tied everything together and I simply could not turn the pages fast enough. I love this author and will definitely be back for more.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Excellent psychological thriller! It moved at a fast pace with twists and turns throughout! Well-developed characters and plot. Highly recommend!

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for this advanced copy for an exchange for my honest review.
Karla is a daughter of a powerful businessman and has married a man that her father disapproves of and has done all he can to tear the marriage apart. As Karlas husbands business is struggling and she encourages him to borrow money from her father , things go from bad to worse and spiral out of control.
This is a fast summer read. Have fun reading it.

The Marriage Trap by Sheryl Browne is an exciting psychological thriller. Karla and Jason are a happily married couple, until they are not. I don't want to give too much away. There are so many twists and turns in this book, I just had to keep reading. How this couple can cope with everything they learn during this book, is beyond me. I highly recommend this book, for people who enjoy this genre. I look forward to reading more books by Ms. Browne.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you.

If you are looking for a domestic thriller with plenty of deception and secrets, you will absolutely love this.

Jason and Karla are married with two children. Everything seems to be fine with their marriage but there is one major problem, Karla’s father doesn’t approve of Jason. He never has and went as far as to try to get Karla to abort their first child. Jason’s company is in trouble and Karla tries to get Jason to accept help from her father, which is the beginning of a downward spiral in their marriage. Will their marriage survive ? and how far will Karla’s father go to try and split them up ?

This book will have you questioning everything. Just as you think you have everything worked out something else will come along and changes everything. A brilliant tense psychological thriller that will have you wondering what on earth is happening in this family !!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

I tore through over 65% of this book in one day. Sadly, this was not because it was an unputdownable thrill ride but because I was simply determined to finish it before it's publication date (tomorrow).
Karla and Jason are married with two children. Jason owns his own business which is struggling. Karla's dad, Robert, hates Jason but will back him financially if Jason will swallow his pride and submit to one condition: to finally leave Karla, as Robert has been pressing him to do since day one. Oh, and Robert has a secret to tell him that may convince him to do just that and boy, is it a doozy! At least, it's meant to be.
The first half of this book is just the same song on repeat, and every line of that song mentions a failing marriage The second half is a chronicle of a half-hearted online relationship between Jason and an Irish nurse named Jessie, whom he got talking to after he was accused of cheating on Karla with women he met online (yep, I know...) and Karla's self-destruction through drinking, clubbing and one-night stands. Oh and there's Karla's inner voice, which is actually her dead sister, Sarah, who's death is another family secret. Karla's mum also has a secret or two. And Robert has a couple more, just in case it wasn't already complicated or ridiculous enough. And they all unravel in one soggy anti-climax. This story could've been told with at least 100 less pages but it would still have been lacking. Disappointing.

Karla and Jason are going through a rough patch in their marriage, and it doesn't help that Karla's controlling father, Robert, is always wanting to save the day with his checkbook. The couple have a lot of resentment toward one another because of her father, and when Karla finds some evidence that Jason may be visiting dating websites, Robert jumps on the opportunity to split them apart. Jason finally decides to go to Robert for help, but when he does, Robert delivers a bombshell that Jason never saw coming that rocks his life to the core. The twist was one that I didn't not see coming and left me with much to think about long after I finished the novel.

OMFG what a book, from the very first page I was well and truly hooked. When the author draws us into one hell of a first chapter. Then takes us on a pause racing journey. Where we meet Karla and her husband Jason and follow a story that alternates between him.

By 32% of this story I was like this book is the bollocks then by 44% I was screaming WHAT at my kindle,the author had blown my mind….so you can imagine how I was fore the rest of the story!

I honestly couldn’t read this story fast enough the more I read the more I wanted to know, trying to piece a puzzle together that I didn’t know what the missing piece was. OMG…..LOVE IT!

This is the best psychological thriller that I have read in a while. Like I have said before….For me Sheryl is the queen of psychological thrillers and she certainly lives up to this with The Marriage Trap which is her best book to date. Sheryl has totally nailed it.

With only a hand full of characters in this story, they well and truly got in my head. I could actually hear their voices talking to me and feel all the emotions they went through. Then without giving to much away a couple more characters are thrown into the mix and the author makes you question who you can trust while the story unfolds.

Not forgetting the ending at the moment my jaw is hanging off the floor! This one very well written and incredible story that I cannot recommend enough giving it all the stars.