I really wanted to like this book but found the plot completely far fetched and hard to keep track of at times. The audio version was helped by a fantastic narrator but unfortunately overall the book itself is not great.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for an audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

Adele is a successful marriage counselor off the work of her famous parents who were television therapists until their tragic deaths. One day there is a knock on her door and a policeman, Cameron (her ex-boyfriend), is there to do a welfare check on her husband who has not shown up to work for a few days. That is when her world begins to turn upside down. She discovers her husband never told his work colleagues about him, he has multiple mistresses who he has probably ran off with and they are in massive debt. Her career is about to implode as news of her parents manipulating and hurting their guests for tv ratings begin to pop up. As Adele and Cameron investigate they are finding the bodies piling up but who is the killer?

I was hooked by the premise and description of the book about a marriage counselor who's husband has disappeared... that was not this book. I mean yes he disappears but that really isn't the focus of this novel, the plot is all over the place with too many holes and filler side storylines. None of the characters were likable especially Adele who was a user and fill flopped emotions so fast I got whiplash. The story is told from her POV but she leaves out key details hiding things that she knows from the audience in an attempt to do a big reveal at the end. It was not a twist and left feeling manipulated. The worst character is Emma, Adele's assistant, why on earth she would ever keep such a vile person as her assistant is beyond me, their roles were reversed as Emma made all of the demands and Adele jumped when she snapped her fingers. I felt like the parents storyline was unnecessary and distracting. This was not the great thriller I was hoping for.
I had the audio version read by Stephanie Cannon who does a good job, she has an easy pace that kept me listening.

Adele's husband, Patrick, had randomly disappeared one day. While scrambling to find his whereabouts, Adele discovered he has been lying to her for years! He was secretly living a double life and she didn't have a clue. Did he disappear and run off with his mistress? Or was it foul play?
It was certainly entertaining and dramatic, filled with twists, but not one of my favorite thrillers!
*Thanks to the author, Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

Interesting read with some good twists, even if I was able to predict most of them. Good pacing and the narrator did well with this one.

I didn't really enjoy this book the way I had hoped. I one word I would unfortunately describe it as forgetable.

To qualify that I will say that I found the characters unlikable and the story forgetable

A lot to think about, I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style so I'm not sure I would recommend this. I'm very appreciative of the ARC, sadly wished I liked it more.

I enjoyed this audiobook. The plot kept e guessing with its twists and turns until the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Adele, who is a marriage counsellor wonders where she has gone wrong herself when her husband goes missing, and after a police investigationshe finds out that he has been living a secret life but so it seems does Adele
A good few twists right up to the end

Thanks @deapoirierbooks @bookouture @netgalley for the eARC

I received this audio book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity.

Dea Poirier's protagonist is Adele, a marriage counselor. Her husband, Patrick, disappeared and the police search for him throughout the story. The narrator does a good job of conveying the various characters. The story maintains suspense, and unexpected twists add to the overall ominous feeling.

I had difficulty relating to the characters, but the quality of the writing kept me listening. I rated the book 4 stars because of it.

I was left guessing throughout this #psychologicalthriller with a jaw-dropping twist about halfway through I didn’t see coming!
I ‘m so glad I was provided the audiobook that’s narrated by #StephanieCannon to listen to!

Thank you, Dea Poirier, Bookouture, Bookouture Audio & Netgalley for my ecopy & #audiobook! All opinions are my own.

Well daaamn. I loved this book. This book is one of those page turners you never want to end. So many twists and turns and when you think you know something, you’re wrong.

Following Adele weave through her marriage woes as her life begins to crumble, is truly something people can reasonate with (not necessarily the same events that happened to her but the pain). Once one problem starts it always feels like the walls of everything else start to fall too.

On top of the chaos of her marriage falling apart and her husband disappearing, the news is out to get her after recent news is uncovered regarding her parents prior careers and wait for it…. Oh right dead bodies have started piling up making Adele look guilty as ever.

Can she weave her way out of this tangled web and figure out whats going on?

The only thing I wish was that all those loose ends were tied at the end for better resolve. I'm missing answers on one death in the story in particular. (No specific spoilers).

Special thank you to Netgalley & Bookouture Audio for providing a copy of the audiobook for eager readers like myself in exchange for a honest review.

This book will keep you guessing with its many twists and turns. I loved the narrator as she brought the book to life.

The Marriage Counselor was a super twisty novel! I enjoyed Adele's point of view. The idea of a marriage counselor also having marriage problems grabbed me from the beginning, but Adele's story kept me wrapped up in the story until the end.
Although I did end up hating Adele, I didn't hate the book! I love a book that I can hate the main character but appreciate the thrill of the book, and this book did just that.
As far as the audio goes, I felt like the narrator made an intense book feel lighter than it should have. The voice just didn't fit the novel.
Overall, I'd give The Marriage Counselor 4/5 stars!

I was not very engaged while reading this book. The twists and surprises were pretty predictable. I wish the ending had packed more of a punch.

Firstly, I would like to thank Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for my Audiobook copy of this book. Dea Poirier's "The Marriage Counselor" is a fast-paced psychological thriller that follows the story of Adele, a marriage counselor who discovers her husband's double life after he disappears. As Adele struggles to unravel the secrets behind her husband's disappearance, she finds herself surrounded by dead bodies, leading her to the realization that her husband may have done more than just leave her.

While the novel packs a lot of mysteries, including the deaths of Adele's parents, Patrick's infidelity and lies, and the drama with friends and colleagues, the storytelling is plagued by inconsistencies, and the twists feel inauthentic and forced. The first-person perspective may not have been the best choice, and Adele's inner monologue can become repetitive and frustrating at times.

Moreover, the emotions in the book often feel "told" rather than "shown," which makes it difficult to connect with the protagonist. Additionally, the offhand comments made about counseling were not ideal and could have been better executed.

Despite these flaws, "The Marriage Counselor" is an entertaining and engaging read, made even more enjoyable by the decent performance of the audiobook's narrator. Overall, while the novel has its shortcomings, it is worth a read if you are looking for a fast-paced and dramatic psychological thriller.

THE MARRIAGE COUNSELOR
Dea Poirier

Adele has a problem, a few actually. Her husband, Patrick is missing, and she has no idea where he is. She has a few secrets she’s trying to keep hidden while uncovering all that Patrick has kept from her. And a crisis at work that needs her full attention.

Can she use her superhuman skills as a marriage counselor to find her husband? And can she solve the crisis at work?

THE MARRIAGE COUNSELOR takes a stab at domestic suspense using the therapist trope and the overall effect is inconsistent and confusing. There is an overall low level of quality to the audiobook from the writing and narration to the story and plot. It feels rushed and quick, with no depth and flimsy characters.

Adele is who we spend our time with, and it is not where anyone wants to be. Adele’s character arc goes from bad to worse. I did not enjoy her character. The other characters in the book were slightly less annoying than Adele but in no way saved the book.


Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the advanced copy!

THE MARRIAGE COUNSELOR…⭐️⭐️

This was the first audiobook that I’ve gotten from NetGalley! I was impressed with the narration, unfortunately the book fell a little short for me. Being a primarily suspense/thriller reader - this story was just “okay”.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of the Marriage Counselor.

REVIEW: To have the word “counselor” in the title, this book damn sure didn’t focus on a bit of counseling. I mean, other than the MC stating she was a therapist, in no way was it part of the storyline, which made absolutely no sense to me.

Are you a fan of having the killer revealed right in front of your eyes at the beginning of the story?! Because they basically wore a tshirt, hat, pants and shoes that said “TELL ADELE, I WANT HER TO KNOW IT WAS ME” like Lady Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones with her glass of wine. It could NOT have been more obvious. When they finally reveal themselves in the end, we’re like “duh, we been done known heifer.”

There was literally no suspense. Plot holes abound. Warning, spoiler next: their best friend is brutally murdered right in front of them, and they’re like “ok, let me start worrying over the most mundane things like nothing happened!” It just made no sense.

POSITIVES: It was an interesting plot. I liked the narrator.

👩🏼‍⚕️VERDICT: 2 STARS ⭐️⭐️

🎶SONG REC: “Stupid Girl” - Garbage.. because that’s what the MC was

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

I was excited to listen to this book. It was interesting enough, but also predictable. I would recommend for others to read. Narration was good.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this ARC in exchange for my opinion.

This is a wild ride. I would definitely put it into the popcorn thriller genre along with Freida McFadden and Daniel Hurst. What goes along as so very normal for a while and turns into a twisty mess. You know the good kind. A trainwreck kind that you just can’t look away.

It moves along at a nice even pace, lulling you in. I had a hard time deciding what I thought about the characters. Peter, Adele’s husband, is missing at the start of the book. Then we have Adele and her circle of friends, coworkers and patients. There is quite the complicated storyline. There is some concern of Adele’s dead parents’ practice. Adele’s missing husband. Cameron an old lover who is part of the police presence investigating Peter’s disappearance. And patients and family of patients making claims into Adele’s practice. It seems less complicated than it is as you’re reading and I never had any trouble following along or keeping track of things.

Honestly, just go in blind. Sit back and enjoy the ride. I did suspend disbelief a little as I am not sure Adele was believable as a counselor, but it is fiction and I was entertained. I wanted to know what happened to Peter and ultimately what was going on.

I flipped back and forth between reading and listening to this one and found both entertaining. I didn’t have a preference and let my schedule dictate the version for that moment.

If you are fans of that quick entertaining, twisty novel, you will be entertained.