This one was pretty bonkers! Farfetched, not always completely believable characters, but a lot of fun. I definitely felt like this was a change of pace from a lot of "domestic thrillers" out there, and the author built up a genuine sense of tension.

What is real and what is not?!?!
I enjoyed peeling the layers of this onion of a story with every chapter!
A troubled marriage, a retreat in the woods, 7 questions. A test!
Tho I have questions left and wish more was revealed, I would recommend this thriller. I liked the descriptive but notnover baring writing style and the character development. I will definitely pick up more reads from Adam Sternburgh.
Thank you, Netgalley, publisher, and author for the ARC.

While I loved the premise, I did feel like this one could have been shorter. It took me a few tries to get through it and I wanted more action to keep my attention on the book. I think the story is still solid, but gets a bit lost in the details.

Adam Sternbergh knows how to write a suspenseful thriller. I loved The Blinds and this domestic mystery did not disappoint. The story starts off with a bang.

Daisy and Craig have their share of difficulties and secrets. Daisy leaves a note for her cheating husband, Craig on their anniversary to meet her a couple of hours away from the city to a remote cabin in upstate New York in the guise of celebrating.

When Craig arrives he finds out that they will be staying for the week involved in a kind of marriage-fixing boot camp called The Eden test.

Each day they receive an envelope with a new question to answer as a couple. These questions make them look at their life together and examine their relationship. What would you do for your husband or wife? What is true love? Can anyone escape their past?

Daisy and Craig soon find themselves in danger and figure out if they’re strong enough to pass the test and save their marriage on the brink.

A little unbelievable, but full of twists and uneasy moments. Fully entertaining. Triggers for abuse and domestic violence.

I actually DNF this at 36%! The pacing was sooo slooowww for me. I also felt like the book was super repetitive. I was hoping this would be a quick binge-worthy thriller. It, unfortunately, wasn’t it. I didn’t find Craig or daisy likable. The plot was the reason why I picked up the book quick but unfortunately it was a dud for me.

This was an enjoyable read, however far-fetched the story. The characters didn't resonate with me very much, but I kept reading hoping for a connection that never happened. 2.5 rounded up. w Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Wow! Sternbergh knocks it out of the park again. This is a relationship drama with lots of twists. The less you know about going into it, the better!

We were pleased to share this title at our live Spring Book Preview event for the Modern Mrs Darcy and What Should I Read Next communities on January 10, 2023, when 1200 readers attended live and twice that many watched the replay in the following week. The PDF from that event is attached. Long story short: why is it so much fun to read about terrible people behaving badly? This book delivers that juicy kind of enjoyment in spades! I loved the twists and turns, and slowly coming to understand just how much this couple is hiding from each other. For fans of The Plot and The Last Thing He Told Me.

I received this from Netgalley.com.

"The Eden Test, a week-long getaway, advertises itself for couples in trouble. And that’s what Daisy, a talented actress, has signed up for, in the hopes of saving her marriage."

A very twisty, readable character driven story. I look forward to reading more from this author.

3.75☆

Exactly the thriller I needed to start the year! I couldn't put this down.
The concept of the Eden Test (being stowed away with your spouse in a secluded cabin for the week while answering some deep questions) is brilliant. And the twists were even more brilliant. I almost wish I had read this as a part of book club to be able to discuss with others - both the plot points and the themes that arose.

Are you looking for a thriller with multiple plot twists and characters with secrets all set during a marriage retreat? The Eden Test and its main characters, Daisy and Craig will take you on a journey down winding back roads and into their pasts, all while answering the Eden Test: Seven Days. Seven Questions. Forever Changed.
What I enjoyed most about this book was how my first impressions of the characters usually ended up being incorrect. The plot line moved quickly and there were many unexpected twists. I read this book over two days and it was hard to put down. I have been reading a lot of Rom Coms lately and forgot how much I missed a good mystery-thriller.

As a huge fan of THE BLINDS, I couldn't wait to dive into THE EDEN TEST. I found this very readable, even with the length, I blew through it, because the paragraphs and sentences are quick and short. Readers of domestic thrillers will love this one!

“The Eden Test” follows the troubled marriage of Daisy and Craig, a couple on the brink of breaking up forever. In a last-ditch effort to save their marriage, Daisy books a couples retreat in the woods of northern New York. Craig, perpetually unfaithful, is annoyed by the idea at first, but as the week progresses, things change. However, all is not as it seems—hostile locals, a mysterious security guard, and the therapy questions the couple is posed each day of the retreat point to something much more sinister going on.

The plot has a lot of promise and the premise is intriguing, but the ratio of exposition to action was way too high. It was far too easy to put the book down and not come back to it for a few days, simply because there was way too much telling and not enough showing. The endless flashbacks and the choppy writing style grew tiresome and leached the story of any real punch, making this a 3-star read for me.

A wife and serial cheater husband go on a retreat with the promise of being forever changed after seven days.

This was a sneaky, unusual tale that did not go where I thought it would. This started off a touch slow while characters were developed, but quickly picked up after the first few chapters. I thought the retreat hosts may be up to something nefarious, but it turned out they were just bystanders. I didn't see the twist until right at the end where it was presented to the reader. I knocked off a half star because I found Daisy's recap at the end a bit tedious, but it was a fun read overall.

4.5 stars. This book invites you in and then you learn with everyone else. The past is explained as necessary but we also get insight into Daisy and who she is, was, and wants to be. The Eden Test will test their marriage, that's without a doubt, but it will also test if they make it out alive.
Loved t!

Closing out the year with a bang with this thriller! This one had me hooked from start to finish!. I found this to be one of the most unique concepts for a suspense that I’ve read in a long time… well thought out, twists in the right places without having them just for the sake of doing so, and such compelling characters! One of my favorite suspense reads of the year!

Daisy and Craig are a mess. They truly are. She has a hugely troubled past and he just can't be happy settled down with one woman; even the one he is married to. Daisy knows her marriage of only two years is on its last leg. She decides to contact The Edenic Foundation. They have a program for troubled marriages called The Eden Test. The foundation sent Daisy and Craig to a cabin in a remote mountain area to spend one week answering one question per day for seven days which will either make or break their marriage.

However, Craig doesn't even want to go but he does and unbeknownst to him she has her own plans in addition to The Eden Test. Sounds sinister, right? Most of the story is creepy. Creepy characters, strange things happening and the foundation founders and employees are just plain strange. One thing after the next happens to them and it is definitely NOT a vacation.

I thought the characters were interesting enough and a fair amount of background is given for Daisy but not as much for Craig. There were plenty of times I thought I would get a glimpse into what was actually happening but its not until the last chapters that I began to understand the plot. A few more answers to the suspense throughout would have been nice but all in all I can say that this is a great book with a great story. I put it right up there in my top 20 books for 2022. Looking forward to the next book by Adam Sternbergh. Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC of this book.

Fairly entertaining until you understand what's really going on late in the book. Unfortunately, the reveal makes the main character seem so manipulative that I for one hated her. Her husband is no great shakes either but at least he's honest compared to her. I wouldn't waste my time with this one.

A very interesting setup, for fans of domestic thrillers and Gone Girl. I wasn’t quite sure about the twists and turns in the middle but found the ending very clever and satisfying

This was a wild ride of a story, I really enjoyed the writing style. It was a slow burn with no major plot twist. My main issue was the characters. They were extremely unlikeable to me. It was a pretty good thriller and an easy read.