Cover Image: Every Vow You Break

Every Vow You Break

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Okay, for real though, what the heck did I just read?
This is the first book I’ve read by Peter Swanson and I’m just not sure what to make of it. I enjoyed his writing style and technique – I read this book in a single day and rarely found myself wanting to put it down, but the plot and the characters just make me question, well, everything.

Seriously: why do people suck? Why can’t we trust people in our lives? Why are there always secret motives? Why are there hidden identities? Why do people set one another up for disaster? Just… WHY‽

This book was interesting and captivating, but until the very end I wasn’t sure who I was rooting for. And the entire time, I just questioned why they chose to be together if they clearly weren’t truly happy together. I don’t know what to say, in all honesty. I couldn’t put it down, but it also left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth.

From infidelity to wealth to off-the-grid islands to honeymoons to cults… Yeah, there was a lot going on in this. But if you’re someone who puts it down halfway through reading it, you might never see the majority of the twists. Definitely finish reading – things take a major turn about 60% of the way through.

Was this review helpful?

This book was glued to my hands! I couldn’t put it down. This was one of my most anticipated books! I love Peter Swanson and I jumped into this one knowing nothing!

If you like books about weddings, an isolated island & creepy people then this book is for you!

I was really creeped out while reading this. The whole situation was terrifying!

This book was really fast paced but the ending dragged a bit for me and wasn’t my favourite. I did enjoy the storyline and writing so much and I find myself still thinking about the book days later!

Was this review helpful?

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by one of my favorites, Peter Swanson. 4 stars for a twisty good read!

Abigail was down on her luck and thinking about moving home to help out her parents when she met Bruce, a millionaire who quickly became madly in love with her. They were soon planning their wedding and Bruce insisted on Abigail taking her bridesmaids on a splashy bachelorette party to California on his dime. There, Abigail met a mysterious stranger and had a drunken one-night stand with him. She thinks she spots the same guy at her wedding but puts it out of her mind. Bruce takes her to a very remote island off the coast of Maine for their honeymoon and they mysterious stranger appears there as well, threatening to tell Bruce all about their night. But that's just the beginning.

Best to go into this one knowing as little as possible because you won't know who you can trust in this one. The setting adds to the creepiness of Abigail's situation. This was a quick read for me - I was anxious to know just how everything was going to end up. There aren't many likable characters in this book but I did feel for Abigail's situation. Another good read from Peter Swanson!

Was this review helpful?

WOW What a WILD ride! Peter Swanson did not disappoint with his newest thriller. This story gave me “The Most Dangerous Game” vibes and while I thought I knew what was happening, I did not guess the ending! What I love about Swanson is he always makes me believe I know the outcome but then takes it in a different direction and further than I thought it was going to go. This tale of husband and wife, lies and coverups, and a disgruntled one night stand really delivers in this excitingly twisty thriller. Swanson really kept me guessing with this one and I loved it so much, I read it in one afternoon. Recommend if you love twisty thrillers and/or are a Peter Swanson fan.

Was this review helpful?

Despite being a fast and compulsively readable book, Every Vow You Break was a let down in almost every way. I was disappointed by the lack of character depth, the odd start to the book, and ultimately the unnecessary and gratuitous violence against women. While I believe the author was trying to make a point about toxic masculinity, misogyny, sexism, and how men abuse power, the over the top nature of what transpires felt unnecessary given that women often feel very real fear about these things in much more mundane situations. The ending was abrupt and unbelievable; it seemed to go against the point the author was trying to make (that men in power can get away with anything). Abigail is less than a compelling protagonist; she makes some unbelievably stupid decisions and we know very little about who she is as a person. (We find out far more about the men she's slept with and her parents than we ever find out about her.) This was an unnecessary story with eye-rolling twists and an unbelievable ending; unfortunately, a disappointment.

Was this review helpful?

4.5 stars for me

Thank you to William Morrow and netgalley for this copy.

Just when I thought I knew what was going to happening BAM another twist drops. This book is so so good. The first half of the book was a bit slow paced but the other half just flew by I was so wrapped up that I finished the other half in one sitting.

He does it again!

Was this review helpful?

A slow burn domesticated thriller about a newlywed couple embarking on their dream honeymoon, only for a man from wife Abigail’s past to crash their getaway. Every character, even Abigail, was flawed and complicated, making it difficult to pinpoint who was the true antagonist. I felt as though I was holding my breath nearly the entire book, only for the major plot twist to knock the air out of me in one, terrified gasp. The same claustrophobia Abigail felt on her honeymoon island consumed me, and yet, unlike her, I never wanted to leave.

Was this review helpful?

Peter Swanson is an auto-read author for me. His thrillers always pull me in right away and keep me guessing. This latest book was a bit disappointing for me. The synopsis intrigued me for sure and I liked the setting of the second half of the book, but I found myself feeling underwhelmed as I read. I had a tough time suspending belief and I kept waiting for the shocking twist that never came.

While this one left me wanting more, I am looking forward to his next book! Swanson's backlist is great and I really love his style of writing.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review! Peter Swanson you have done it again. You have masterfully created a novel that I just couldn't put down, filled with characters you either loved, loathed or questioned! Then you took those great characters and placed them in a very intriguing setting that feels as alive and mysterious as the characters in the book! The final touch was weaving all these great elements into a fascinating novel! The best PS novel since the Kinds Worth Killing and that says a lot since I love all his books!! The only bad part....I now have to wait another year to enjoy your next creation!

Was this review helpful?

In a word, disappointing...
Let me start by saying Mr Swanson is and will continue to be a go-to author for me, that said, this one just missed the mark. Yes, it's entertaining even if predictable. The writing and style are tight and concise. With short chapters it's a fast read, easily read in one sitting. But on the downside the characters are unremarkable, underdeveloped and unlikeable. Abigale, the protagonist and narrator, is forgettable and the conclusion rushed and abrupt.
This review pained me to write...

Was this review helpful?

Every Vow You Break is a thriller that showcases Peter Swanson's talent for both characterization and plotting. It's an interesting read and I enjoyed it--fans of his will definitely enjoy this! (Frivolous note: the cover is fantastic!)

Was this review helpful?

I really have to give this author credit for leading me down the road of read psychological thrillers. My two favorites are "The Kind Worth Killing" and "All The Beautiful Lies." Those books have so many twists and turns in them, but this book is a little different. It is more straightforward, however, there is still so much suspense, uncertainty, and doubt.

A young woman meets a multimillionaire and gets engaged. They plan the perfect wedding and then go off on the perfect honeymoon. Does this sound a little too good to be true? Well it is. The young woman actually slept with a mysterious guy during her bachelorette weekend and guess who appears on her honeymoon?

Creepiness, terror, and mystery ensue. Just when I thought I had things figured out, something new would come up. Much of the story surrounds the young woman's moral infraction and did cause me to ask myself what I would have done in her position. I honestly don't know what I would have done, but I'd known the consequences beforehand, I know I wouldn't have done what she did on her bachelorette weekend.

Was this review helpful?

I love Peter Swanson's work. He has written some amazing psychological thrillers like The Kind Worth Killing and Before She Knew Him. I also enjoyed Eight Perfect Murders, which felt like a homage to the greatest mystery writers.

In this book, he writes about Abigail, who is engaged to a wealthy man. On her bachelorette party, she has a one night stand with a stranger. They didn't even share the real name. When the stranger shows up at her hometown, trying to get in touch with her, she freaks out. Later when she goes to a honeymoon on an island with her husband, the stranger shows up there too.What happens next forms the plot.

I could tell, he has changed his pattern on Every Vow You Break, this felt more like a fast paced survivor story than a phycological thriller. This book reminded me a bit of Mark Edwards in a lot of ways.

Though I was able to guess the suspense part in first few pages of the book, I should say I completely devoured the book in a single day. The book was so engaging although a bit predictable. Abigail was an interesting character, I loved the way her character is built up, inter twining her past and present.

The story reminded me of the movie " Get Out" , set in a private island. If you are a fan of horror/survial story with creepy vibes, you would like this book. However, its a bit different from Peter Swanson's other books.

3.5 stars, because it was truly un-putdown-able.

Was this review helpful?

I have read every Peter Swanson book prior to this one, and this one was a little lackluster compared to the others. It's a quick read, as all of his books are, I finished it in two days. Thanks, Netgalley, for my arc.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you so much publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review! Every Vow You Break was one of my 2021 most anticipated reads and it did not disappoint at all! Swanson has such a knack for story telling and creating characters. The lies, the suspense, the drama, IT WAS SO GOOD!! Abigail is about to get married and does not act like a good bride! Now her random hook up is stalking her and she doesn't know what to do. In true Swanson fashion...when you think you know...think again!

Was this review helpful?

Peter Swanson is back with a new domestic thriller.....

Just weeks before Abigail Baskin is set to say "I do" to her charming fiancé Bruce Lamb she has a drunken one night stand during her bachelorette getaway. Frantic about what to do Abigail decides to put the events of that weekend behind her and move forward with the wedding.

Then while on her honeymoon her mysterious lover suddenly emerges putting Abigail's future in jeopardy. He believes they are destined to be together and that Abigail is making a mistake by going through with the wedding.

Abigail is torn between coming clean and possibly ruining her marriage with Bruce or handling her psychopathic stalker on her own.

This was my third book to read by Swanson and I was excited to get it through Netgalley. I loved his other two books I read. Unfortunately, this one just didn't do it for me. I felt like the suspense of what was happening on the island was a bit dull. I also found myself not caring about the characters. If "Nine Perfect Strangers" and "The Guest List" had a baby it would be this book. If you loved those two books then you will probably love this one. Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Abigail Baskin is celebrating her upcoming nuptials at her bachelorette weekend when she has a one night stand. Knowing that her future husband, millionaire Bruce Lamb, hates a cheater, she is torn about telling him or not. When he then emails her three days before her wedding claiming to love her and appears on her idyllic, remote island honeymoon, she questions her decision to keep it a secret. Then Abigail starts to realize just how remote this island is, and that the lodge workers seem to be lurking everywhere, and she gets a funny feeling that things aren't what they seem. Who is this man she married? Who is the man she met on her honeymoon? Is there anyone she can trust?

Was this review helpful?

One of my FAVORITE authors. Unfortunately this one didn’t work for me. I will be purchasing multiple copies for the library because I think my patrons will like it. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

In this upcoming thriller by the amazing Peter Swanson we have Abigail, recently engaged to a billionaire. Abigail loves her fiancee but on her Bachelorette party getaway she gets a little carried away & has a one night stand.  Well she feels guilty but not enough to confess to her fiancee. They get married and go on their honeymoon. While there she runs into him. Her one night stand guy followed her there!!!!! Then strange things start happening at the Island resort they are all at. Very strange things that make Abigail wonder what in the world is going on??

This book is a mind twister for sure. The crazy things that start happening on this couples honeymoon make you definitely go "whoa" & " what the heck?"!!!!!!!  Peter Swanson did not disappoint with his new book. I couldn't put it down!!!!! I highly recommend this upcoming book.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me an opportunity to enjoy this book before publication. I enjoyed the book, "Every Vow You Break" by Peter Swanson; however I found this story lacking. He earlier books had a lot more suspense than this one did and it left me feeling underwhelmed.

Was this review helpful?