Well, this book started off as a bit of a conundrum. It seems that all is not right in Vivien and Ashton’s marriage. She tries very hard to please him, and he seems to love her, but she appears with random bruises and I thought perhaps this might be a tale of domestic violence, or coercive control. Then suddenly, bam! along comes the twist, and I would never have guessed or seen it coming. It’s a brilliant and clever plot twist.

It’s such a page-turner, I just kept reading late into the night as the pace ramped up and the tension became unbearable.

I guarantee that you will suspect none of what happens, it’s so twisty and clever. Make sure you cancel everything if you’re reading this book, you will not want to put it down!

The ending builds up to a very dramatic climax. It’s an absolute rollercoaster ride of a book, highly recommended for anyone who loves a good psychological thriller.

Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC. I'm so glad I didn't have to spend money to be disappointed. Just wasted my time. With false rape accusations, schizophrenia, murder, and sharks this is something to hate-read if you still watch Riverdale.

This book is SO good! The Newlyweds has so many twists and turns that my head was spinning by the time I finished it, and wow, what an ending! The second-to-last chapter gave me serious anxiety, and I doubt I'll ever forget it. This book wasn't what I expected, and I highly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review The Newlyweds and for introducing me to an author I definitely want to read more of. : )

The Newlyweds by Arianne Richmonde is a demonically twisted tale of domestic suspense! It all starts off benignly enough although one gets the sense something is off. As the story progresses more twisty layers are revealed. The ending is a real shocker!

I really enjoyed Arianne Richmonde’s last thriller, THE WIFE’S HOUSE. Unfortunately, her latest, THE NEWLYWEDS, was not as enjoyable for me. This book is definitely more domestic than thriller.

Richmond is a lovely writer with a better command of language than many of her thriller contemporaries. However, I just couldn’t get engaged in the setup of this book, which features a woman bent on being a perfect housewife, cook, and domestic goddess to her high society surgeon husband, who may have a dark side. Then she begins getting mysterious messages.

With a setup this focused on traditional gender roles and norms, I need a trace of evil, cunning, or SOMETHING interesting from one of the characters (preferably the wife) to keep me interested. Unfortunately that didn’t surface early enough here, and I spent a longer amount of time than I would have liked reading about a housewife who frets over making the perfect meals and home for her husband. I found it hard to care about the nose job she had in her twenties or her mounting feelings of insecurity. She lacked the two scoops of unusual and crazy that were so endearingly featured in the heroine of this author’s previous book.

I really appreciated the point the author was trying to get across here, but the story overall was too slow-moving and cliched to really hold my interest. When the action finally came, it did not really satisfy. Since I did love this author’s last book I’ll definitely continue to read her new books, but this one was a miss for me.

Thanks to Bookouture, the author and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Holy cow! This was not the read I was expecting at all. It starts off perfectly nice at the wedding of Ashton and Vivien. He’s a prominent neurosurgeon from the South and she is a self professed Yankee trying to fit in but not quite knowing the society rules.

However over the course of their marriage things aren’t as blissful as they seem. With her friend Lindy noticing what looks like pinch marks could the perfect Ashton not be quite so perfect after all. This is where I thought I knew how the story was going to go. This is not your typical domestic thriller though so be prepared for some shockers.

Told only from Vivien’s perspective I wasn’t entirely sure I wasn’t being played for a fool. With very few characters I soon jumped to a certain conclusion only to be proven completely wrong. So I shifted tactics and carried on reading, however this author wasn’t just leading me down the garden path she was bringing a picnic and expecting me to stay for the day.

Something mentioned fairly early didn’t quite resonate with me and I had a sneaking suspicion it would come to fruition at some point. So look for clues as they are there if you pay attention.

This tale of secrets and revenge will sink its teeth in and not let go until that outrageously perfect last sentence.

It’s my third book by the author and while the first one was steamy and engaging, the second was like dipping your toes in hot water or better said wtf is going on here, this third book was so good in many moments but also a bit different from what I was expecting in other scenes.
Full of predictable secrets but some very interesting and intriguing turns of events as well.
There are so many twists and turns that I couldn’t stop reading even if I wanted because I needed to know what is actually happening? Who are these characters? Why are they playing this psychological game so twisted and how will everything unfold because it definitely was a rollercoaster ride.

Was I shocked by some of the wicked acts?
Definitely
Have I predicted the resolution?
Nope
Am I recommending this story?
Yes
Go in blind but don’t trust anything.


3.5 stars

This domestic psychological thriller is told through the female protagonist, Vivien's point of view. A seemingly refined lady who is married to charming neurosurgeon, Ashton her life seems perfect but her character is shrouded in secrets. The story of Ashton and Vivien's married life looks perfect from the outside but there is a lot going on in that house.

The author weaves subterfuge and mystery in this couple's life and there were times when my sympathies swung like a pendulum between this pair. Who is really the bad guy? Halfway through the book and we find out Vivien's back story and explains her actions.

This fast-paced drama is well written but there are some chapters in the book when it gets bogged down with Vivien's indecisiveness and made me want to skim through some pages. All in all the secondary characters, Cady, Lily and Georgia-May make this novel a complicated web of lies. Who gets to win in the end? Read and find out for yourself. (Thanks to NetGalley for sending me the arc in exchange for an honest review).

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest,opinion of it. This one is a difficult one for me to rate. The first half of the book was just the typical woman from poor part of town marries wealthy man. So it just seemed like the typical type of book I have been reading. Then it had twists and turns and was really turning into a great book. And then the ending was just a little too far fetched for me.

Oh what a tangled web we weave... this was one twisted book. Vivian and Ashton are newly married and appear to be the perfect couple. But as any seasoned thriller reader knows never ever trust anything that appears to be too perfect. Soon cracks start showing in this perfect marriage, and even though Vivian is denying everything people are beginning to become suspicious. But again, things are never quite as they seem. In this wild game of cat and mouse you never quite know, who is the cat? And who’s the mouse?

The story is told solely from the perspective of Vivian and so it becomes a matter of trust. Can you trust Vivian? Is she the victim? Or is she the predator? I really had no idea and boy oh boy did my opinion bounce all over the place throughout the story. None of these characters were tremendously likable. They had their southern charm porn but it seemed so insincere. On the surface Vivian seemed sweet and naïve, while Ashton seemed like a perfect southern gentleman. But underneath all that charm there was definitely something much more sinister. I do wish there was more tension throughout the story more of a sense of urgency. One of the twists was revealed very early and while I did want to see how it all played out I lost a little bit of interest at that point. However, the ending to this book, Holy smokes I was so tense I wanted to cover my eyes. It was so surprising there is just no way you could’ve predicted it. Not even sure it fit into the story, but it was extremely nerve-racking! And that epilogue.... well played! Just for the ending of this book I’m rounding my 3.5 up.

This book in emojis 💍 🍾 🚤 🍕 🦈 📱 🩺

*** Big thank you to Bookouture for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

Cliche and trope-ridden domestic drama full of nasty characters that did not deliver any unpredictable twists or suspense. I had this figured out early, hoped for a surprise, was disappointed, but did manage to finish in a couple of hours.

Vivien and Ashton marry and live in a lovely old mansion in South Carolina. Their marriage is not what it appears to be, however, as Vivien has plans for her husband. Best laid plans often go awry and that's what happens here. NO SPOILERS.

Hard to give a more detailed review without giving away what is meant to be a surprising and shocking reveal so I'll leave it. I can't tell you how much I detested all the characters in this book and couldn't relate to a single one of them. Suffice to say it's not one of those "abused wife" books as it is essentially cold revenge. But who wins? I felt let down that none of them really seemed to get what they deserved.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. Though it certainly wasn't the right book for me, I have no doubt it will have its fans.

The Newlyweds wasn't at all what I expected. While the story setting was intriguing, I found it really difficult to get through after about 30% into the book. Vivien's character wasn't consistent and there was a lack of depth that was just not helping the story. Just when I thought I had finally reached the ending (can't go into details without revealing spoliers), the book dragged on for another unnecessary 20-30 pages. Sorry, I don't give too many bad review, but this was definitely not my cup of tea.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Two major twists I did not see coming! Just when you think you know what's going to happen in the book, author Arianne Richmonde changes it up. Everything you assumed or thought about each characters. A great read that made me do whip-lash toward the end when I discovered what was going on!

Vivien and Ashton seem to have a picture perfect marriage. He is a top neurosurgeon and she spends her days as the perfect southern wife, taking care of her husband while volunteering for charity work. On the outside, everyone can see how happy they appear to be. But, sometimes looks can be deceiving and when Vivien starts showing bruises and a black eye, people begin to wonder what goes on behind closed doors and is Ashton the perfect man he appears to be. Is there more to Vivien and Ashton’s story? Oh you betcha!

This story is very wild! There are many twists and turns and believe me when I say this, you will never figure this story out until Arianne Richmonde starts hitting you with twist after explosive twist and just when you think you have read the last twist, hold your hats for the final twist of all. Boy is it a doozy! I do love a good twisty story and this one will have you turning the pages so fast trying to get down to the bottom of Vivien and Ashton’s marriage.

I do love a story with an unreliable narrator and Vivien takes the cake on that one. Is she telling the truth about her husband, Ashton? With Vivien being the sole narrator of this story, can she be trusted enough and believable enough in showing what happens behind closed doors while still proclaiming to her friends how much Ashton loves her and would never hurt her?

If you enjoy a good domestic thriller much in the likes of B.A. Paris “Behind Closed Doors,” Then you will definitely want to give The Newlyweds by Arianne Richmonde a read. You will be thoroughly engrossed in this crazy story wondering who you can trust and who you should not trust at all.

It's hard to talk about this book without giving away spoilers, but what I can say is that it took until about 40% in for it to take off. The first half of the book is about all of the ways in which Vivienne has educated herself in all the ways to be a "good wife" to her neurosurgeon husband. She talks about how much she loves him....until she doesn't. And that happens so much throughout the book that even though I knew it was setting us up for what happens later, I still couldn't keep track. When the twist comes, I thought , "whoa, I didn't see that coming". There were some very twisty moments leading to the crazy ending, but so much of it was so fantastical it was just hard to suspend belief.

I do appreciate the opportunity from Netgalley and Bookouture to read an advanced reader's copy for review.

Flawlessly written with brilliant character development.
The best way to enjoy this book is by going in blindly!
To say this thriller was twisted is an understatement.
Vivien and Ashton are the ultimate anti heros and of course they’re newlyweds! From their initial meeting to how their love story evolved and developed, this story was raw and emotionally charged!
Things are NOT what they appear and this wicked and haunting story had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what would happen next.
Fast paced, intense, suspenseful and at time’s chilling, I didn’t see where this story was heading.
Go blindly and enjoy this wicked story of the trials and tribulations of marital bliss!
Vivien took the old adage “don’t get mad get even” to a whole new level and I loved it.

As it is described in the blurb, this book is very much about false pretences, hiding behind perceived perfections and the plot twists are completely unpredictable! I audibly gasped a number of times as the author took the book to unexpected, dark places!

My favourite aspect of Arianne’s books are the way she writes and creates female characters. There is a tendency by some authors and within some genres to portray women in two ways – pretty little victims or pretty little heroines. Despite being asked on a number of occasions to “please be a good girl and keep your pretty little mouth shut”, it is clear that these are not the types of female characters Arianne wants us to encounter! The female characters within this book play a leading role, showing cunning and intelligence. It doesn’t make them very likeable characters, but you can definitely relate to their plights and emotions on some level.

There was a point, just over half way, where there was a huge revelation and I wondered where this book would go, and how it could reach the next level in terms of suspense and thrills.

Of course, this wonderful writer did not disappoint! There are more twists, and we are thrown into a dark abyss of domestic disharmony!

The ending takes us away from the traditional domestic setting, making for an original, dramatic and just jaw-droppingly brilliant ending! I love that it is left on a cliff hanger, and leaves you wondering what is to come!

I absolutely recommend this book and author to fans of domestic thrillers or psychological fiction, especially if you like seeing strong, creepy female characters making an appearance. While you’re there, check out Arianne’s previous book – The Wife’s House – as this is also incredible!

Vivien and Dr. Ashton Buchanan have just had a perfect wedding held at his family’s magnificent mansion, Distant Sands, in South Carolina. However, even before saying I Do, Vivien knew it was all a mistake.

Ashton is an extraordinary neurosurgeon, well-known, and well-respected. His mother, Georgia-May, suffering from Alzheimer’s, attended the wedding but was confused by much of it. Ashton’s father passed away in a boating accident.

When Vivien was small, she and her parents lived in Paris. Sadly, it was while there, that her parents were killed in a car crash.

When Ashton inherited Distant Sands, it was in disrepair but he lovingly restored it to its original beauty of 200 years ago. However, Since Vivien was raised in the north, she does not fully understand the ways of the south even though she is trying to fit in.

Vivien enjoys working at Community Promise, an organization that provides help to those in need. Even though she doesn’t get paid, it provides her with a feeing of accomplishment. There, she meets a young girl named Cady who has no parents helping her and she takes her under her wing.

Things seem to be going well with Vivien and Ashton until Vivien appears with a black eye and another time with other bruises. What is happening here? Is Ashton abusing her? Will she stay with him or get away from him?

Enough clues here. It was at this point that I was becoming a little bored with this book as the story seemed stilted even though the descriptions written by the author were outstanding. However, this is the real turning point in the book and we really learn what is going on which is quite an eye-opener. I’m glad the book turned out to be better than I was thinking. Marriages aren’t always as they seem. There can be lots of secrets and there are a lot here. Well done! I enjoyed this book.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Newlyweds is a stand-alone domestic thriller from the bestselling writer Arianne Richmonde, and boy is it a wickedly woven tale of mystery and intrigue. The story starts at the lavish wedding of Ashton Buchanan and Vivien DuBois. They go on to appear to have the ideal marriage; the type of wedded bliss that everyone wants. Ashton is a handsome and prominent neurosurgeon so makes plenty of money to give them a luxurious and want-for-nothing lifestyle and Vivien works with underprivileged children and is stylish and elegant. Everyone believes them to be completely infatuated with one another but soon the cracks begin to show. Vivien has given up a lot in order to tailor her lifestyle to fit Ashton's but was she wrong to rush into the marriage before really knowing him and what sort of person he really is? People begin to notice that the dynamic between the couple has changed drastically and not for the better as you would expect as they sink slowly into the bliss of wedded life. But then much more obvious signs of things being very wrong in the Buchanan household arise. Vivien keeps been seen with injuries, for instance a black eye, and of course everyone begins to gossip that's she's become the victim of domestic abuse but is that really the case or is something even more strange and sinister going on?

This is a compelling, chilling and addictive read from start to finish and in many ways sounds a lot like a whole plethora of other domestic-based thrillers where a married couple is at the centre of the plot, but I thought it was written in such a way that it captures your attention from the outset, holds onto it throughout and spins a yarn filled with exciting developments and unpredictable, twisty surprises better than some similar books. You soon learn that you should take everything the entire cast utters with a rather large pinch of salt in a story simply overflowing with secrets, lies, betrayal and duplicity, and although the role-call of characters is quite limited this allows the author to give plenty of attention to detail creating an engaging if mostly detestable cast in the process. It's a pacy, compulsive and difficult to put down and there are some great, shocking developments and surprises throughout. It deals with love, loss, obsession, revenge, karma and so much more. Told solely from Vivien's perspective, we only get one side to the story and you will, in time, see exactly how much she can be trusted and exactly who the manipulator is within the marriage but it gets even juicier than that as the plot progresses. If unrelenting and unreliable narrators are something you enjoy in your thrillers then this is not an opportunity to be passed up. Highly recommended.

First, I want to thank Arianne Richmonde, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book with this review.

Arianne Richmonde reminded me why I am divorced in The Newlyweds! If you are looking for a sappy love story about a recently married couple-you won’t find that here. Oh no! You will find lots of drama, tons of secrets, lots of twists and turns, and a totally shocking ending.

Arianne dedicates this book to her mother. She taught her all about creation, taking things into my own hands, and being brave.

At first I couldn’t stand Vivian as she annoyed me. She just went on and on how she had to be perfect with her diet, drive the right kind of car, etc. This was all to be a perfect wife for Ashton. No woman should change for any man!

This book hit on some very important topics like Alzheimer’s, Domestic Abuse, Mental Health issues and DNA testing.

Arianne painted a beautiful picture into our heads as I could visualize the mansion. I would have loved to jump into the scene and see the bottlenose dolphins swim across the water.

I loved that Vivian volunteered her time at Community Promise that provided a safe, temporary shelter and meals for those in need. She specifically worked with women and youngsters. It really was a great organization she was working at.