2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
Without giving too much away, this was a story about a detective wife and psychiatrist husband who are keeping some “dark secrets” from each other and from the world.
I have previously read “Every Last Secret” by A.R. Torre and enjoyed it immensely, so I was excited to pick up this book. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as drawn in when I read this one, for a few reasons.

- I felt like this veered into more classic thriller territory than a domestic thriller, which would have been fine if it was done well, but I felt like the plot was almost too dramatic and that took away from the suspense.

- I liked how clear each character’s voice was when it was their chapter, it was always very clear who’s POV it is. That being said, I didn’t feel emotionally attached to any of the character and I certainly wasn’t rooting for any of them, because as readers we didn’t really get to know them. We learn almost nothing about the background of Joe, Dinah and Jessica, and I found myself putting down the book often, even in supposedly “action-packed” scenes because I just didn’t care what happened to them.

- There weren’t any big twists (at least not surprising ones). Around the halfway mark I understood the gist of the story and was so sure that there would be a different twist than the one I was expecting that I was disappointed that that’s what it was.

- There were way too many detailed descriptions of characters peeing, of urine” gushing” out of them, soaking their underwear, the relief of peeing. Urine, peeing, and pissing was mentioned in this book at least 16 times that I could count, which was a little gross and distracting.

Some questions I wish had been answered: SPOILERS AHEAD!!

- So what was the whole point of Joe’s project? What was the end goal? I didn’t care if he succeeded or failed at it because I was constantly waiting for it to be explained or revealed but it never was.
- Who is he ?? Why do we know nothing about him ?? I wish we would have gone more in depth with him, he could have been such an interesting character.
- Why have Joe and Dinah never had sex ? I don’t really understand that choice either. They sleep in separate beds but she is obviously attracted to him and it’s just another plot point the feels like it’s there to add drama but never really goes anywhere.
- Same for Jessica being Dinah’s daughter. Okay..? And..? Besides the fact that this was so obvious it was painful, why did Dinah want to kill her again ? To save her unbreakable marriage? How does that help? I was confused and bored. Why did she choose to kill Reese and kidnap Jessica in the first place? That question was also never answered or even addressed.
- What happened to Oley? Why did he turn against her ? Why did he fake his own death? Hello ?? This is a major plot point that was just thrown in and never mentioned again.

I wish the author had taken this story further. I just wasn’t convinced by any of it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for sending an ARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

AR Torre is a favorite author of mine. The latest, A Happy Marriage was a twisty turny thriller. I loved it.

Delighted to see a new AR Torre book! This one was crazy...an almost unbelievable tale about a detective and doctor couple that have some big secrets. Lots of twisties in this one and a satisfying conclusion.

Wow this was a rollercoaster ride! At no point could
I tell exactly where it was going to take me. The writing was really easy to read, and the three POV’s all had a distinct voice which I really liked, you could tell exactly how each of them work. Only Joe’s POV in the beginning left me a little confused because he says one thing and then at the end is blindsided by it even though he’s weary of it the whole way? But that’s really my only gripe with it. Otherwise I felt wholly immersed in this read and on edge waiting for the plot to twist! I loved how each of the smaller twists was shocking to me, even though I guessed the biggest plot twist early on, I still needed to keep reading to find out what happens. And reader, I could not have guessed the exact way that book ended. Another great read from A R Torre! I recommend for fans of fast paced thrillers like Freida McFadden, but with a thorough plot development and great execution.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first book I ever read by this author and I was hooked after the first chapter. Finished this book in 3 days, and struggled putting it down. This Psychological thriller had me on the edge of my seat. This book was a 5 star read for me and I look forward to reading more from this author!!

You can never go wrong with an A.R. Torre book! This one had me on the edge of my seat, Who can you trust? I really wasn't sure I was picking up the clues because I didn't want to believe it!! Very well done, as usual. A new fear unlocked.

Dinah and Joe have a happy marriage, albeit unique. Life got in the way, so it took me a few days to finish this story. I was so mad because all I wanted to do was devour it in one sitting. I absolutely love thrillers, but most times I can guess what is going to happen. A.R. Torres keeps you guessing, and on the edge of your seat the whole time. She is always an automatic read for me. Straight from the first sentence, you realize you are about to dive into something crazy. A Happy Marriage will make you a very happy reader!

SYNOPSIS
- Los Angeles homicide detective Dinah Marino has always struggled with her family, but in her psychiatrist husband, Joe, she’s found unwavering love, trust, and security. For ten years, their marriage has been her safe haven—despite the secret she’s vowed to take to the grave.
- Dr. Joe Marino adores his wife, but he’s no stranger to keeping things to himself.
- When a missing woman connected to Dinah’s latest case is admitted to his hospital, doctor-patient confidentiality places them on treacherous ground. As Dinah delves deeper into the investigation, the tension between them seeps into their once-perfect home. Now, the lies they’ve carefully constructed don’t just threaten their marriage—they could be deadly.

MY THOUGHTS
- Uhhh… what did I just read?
- The characters were super unlikeable and felt so flat—no depth at all.
- Honestly, this didn’t even feel like a thriller. There was zero suspense, and the plot? Way over the top. You’d have to suspend all belief to get through it. Not for me.

TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️ Flat characters, no suspense, and an over-the-top plot. Not a thriller, not for me.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchanges for an honest review. This book will be published on June 24, 2025.

A Happy Marriage is a dark, twisty thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story follows Dinah, a homicide detective, and her psychiatrist husband, Joe—both harboring secrets that threaten to unravel their seemingly perfect marriage. When a missing woman tied to one of Dinah’s cases ends up in Joe’s care, their carefully constructed lies begin to collide, putting their trust—and lives—on the line.

This book is a bit wild and crazy, but it’s impossible to put down. A.R. Torre masterfully weaves psychological suspense with marital drama, creating a tense and gripping read. While the story is quite dark, the writing is sharp and engaging, making it another solid addition to Torre’s collection.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

A Happy Marriage
By A.R. Torre
Release Date: 06/24/2025

Mrs Torre, I must know where you came up with these plots. Are you walking one day and say to yourself I’m going to write a book about a married couple who outcraziss each other? I’d love to pick your brain 🖤🧠

My Review-
Prepare yourself for a rollercoaster of emotions that will keep you on the edge of your seat. From the beginning, an exhilarating sense of anticipation builds, hinting that something wild and unexpected is about to unfold, and trust me, it does.

Once you reach the halfway mark, be prepared for a jaw-dropping experience that will leave you in a constant state of shock and disbelief. Your expression will likely resemble a mix of astonishment and confusion as the plot thickens.

The narrative is skillfully woven through the eyes of Dinah Mariano, a seasoned detective with a decade of experience at the LAPD. Dinah navigates her complex life with her husband, Joe, a dedicated doctor whose understanding of their marriage is built on a foundation of hidden truths. Dinah is shrouded in a veil of secrecy, a labyrinth of mysteries that she has carefully crafted. Although Joe believes he knows everything there is to know about his wife, there are crucial facets of her life that remain concealed, leading to revelations that could change everything.

And then we have Jessica, who's on a 5150 HOLD(a 72-hour psychiatric hospitalization, voluntary or involuntarily). How does this girl fit into the narrative 😳🤯🌪️ prepare yourself!!
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️S̤̈T̤̈Ä̤R̤̈S̤̈

#thomasandmercer #artorre #whatdidijustread #thrillmemore #suspensebooks #netgalleyreviewer #arcbook #pageturner #readmorebooks #addthistoyourTBR #bookstagrammer #readitonesitting
#bookrecommendations #bookreview

L.A. Detective Dinah Marino’s psychiatrist husband, Dr. Joe Marino, is a kind and loving man who provides her with a safe and secure home. For ten years, he has provided her with a loving home and has always given her constant support as she went about her duties as a police detective. But it wasn’t what it seemed on the surface. Throughout their ten-year marriage, Dinah kept a secret from Joe that could end their marriage if he found out.
When Joe admitted a young woman to his clinic that was tied to one of his wife's cases due to confidentiality issues, he failed to let her know. As tension begins to build in their marriage, the hidden lies they are keeping from each other could lead to death.

Thanks NetGalley for the free ARC! This was an entertaining story filled with dark humor. There were a few surprises and twists I wasn’t expecting. I thought it was a nice novel and I enjoyed the author’s writing style. I will be reading more books by this author. I received this ARC for free; and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

Such a good story. Kind of a crazy ride with a nutty professor, I'd say. I highly recommend! Another great one from Torre.

📖 ARC Review

PUB Date: Jun 23rd 2025

My Rating : I Freaking Loved it !!

🍿🍿🍿🍿

Ok this is for all my popcorn lovers out there , this is a book for you 👉

💫 Was this book wild ? YES
💫 Was this book full of unreliable narrators? YES
💫 Were these characters unhinged ? YES
💫 Was this book nonsensical? Absolutely YES !!
💫 Did it entertain me ? 💯 YES !

If you know me by now I love my unhinged characters and this book delivered along with it’s extremely short chapters ( Bonus points ) 🙌🏼 this book was one of the most bingeable books I’ve read in awhile !! Joe and Dinah are both delusional and perfect 🤩 for each other .

Without giving too much away , we start off with a young woman confined and unsure where she is with no memory of how she got there , meanwhile the handsome Joe is watching over her .

Dinah is a detective married to Joe .
Joe thinks he knows everything about his wife .
He does not .
Dinah has secrets and she is willing to do whatever it takes to keep it that to save their perfect marriage.
Will these secrets be revealed? If they do will someone end up 6 feet under or will they make it out alive ??

I could NOT put this one down and the last 20% I was yelling at my kindle RUN, and laughing out loud 🤣 it was so crazy and twisted and I loved every minute of it!

You need to read this one for yourself to find out what I’m talking about !! 👀

Thank you NetGalley , Thomas & Mercer and A.R. Torre for this gifted ARC !

The first chapter hooked me; I seriously didn’t want to put it down. The characters really came together.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author and Thomas & Mercer for this audio ARC.

#AHappyMarriage #NetGalley.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review!

First off, this is my first time reading a book from this author. I really enjoyed her writing style, and she kept the story captivating.
This book was hard to put down! From the first page on, it had me hooked and wanting more. Full of shocking twists, secrets & lies. A great fast paced read for all thriller lovers! This one will have you questioning everything you think you know about your spouse.

Having loved every single one of Torre's dark and crazy thrillers, my expectations and excitement were high going into this one. Sadly, it totally missed the mark for me. The premise of the story was interesting but felt a little forced and contrived. It was also on the lighter side of the thriller genre. I didn't experience that gnawing sense of the creepy-crawlies nor any kind of fear or suspense like I usually do when I read her books. I did like that the author chose to use an unreliable narrator. It added some mystery that kept me guessing, but not enough to make me love the book. I didn't like any of the characters either. They were too one-dimensional, and I had trouble connecting with any of them. Overall, this story was just ok. It's definitely my least favorite by this author. It seems like this book has been a hit or miss so far based on the reviews I've read, so I would still recommend just to form your own opinions.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for granting me a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

I just sat and read this whole book in one sitting. that was seriously so addicting!! I thought I kinda knew what was going on but I just kept getting surprised?? Such a unique concept and I loved the different POVs we got. The characters were so well thought out and I loveeeee that the chapters were short and ended on a twist. One of the most bingeable books I’ve read in a while, I love AR Torre she writes some of my favorite thrillers and this one was no different! I feel so lucky to have gotten this early thank you netgalley!!!

A.R. Torre really knows how to write great suspenseful psychological thrillers! There were so many twists and turns throughout the whole story.

Dinah and Joe seem to really love each other and have a good marriage. But they both hold onto some lies and secrets. Could these lies and secrets kill both of them?

I found myself on the edge of my seat the entire time. I had no idea what lie Dinah was keeping from joe. I was shocked!! Didn’t see that coming at all. The ending was wild! Dinah and Joe didn’t care where they were, as long as they were together..

I can’t believe how good this book was!

Thank you so much NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and A.R. Torre for the E-ARC!

Review : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: June 24 2025

#NetGalley #AHappyMarriage

I liked that the book has a plot that keeps on giving.

Just when you’re processing a piece of information that completely changes your perspective on the characters, another revelation comes along.

However, I felt there was a lack of a more detailed explanation as to why she was being investigated: was it solely due to the number of unsolved cases? Was it something related to the psychological evaluations? Did Oley, by frequenting the house, see or discover something?

In the end, I also felt that, given their financial situation, the punishment was somewhat lenient (although I understand that mental health issues could prevent them from being imprisoned in a regular penitentiary).

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC.