ugh - I submitted feedback for the wrong book! Review coming ASAP (a few days - this one is officially at the top of my list) :)

ETA my sincere apologies for the delay. Life, man. Here lies my review: thank you to NetGalley and the publishing team for early access to this title in exchange for an honest review. all opinions are my own.

while the premise of this book was very enticing, the actual content was simply ✨ beyond ✨ girly, this needs the biggest, PHATTEST trigger warning: grape, emotional abuse, gaslighting, toxic relationships, cheating & more. I almost put this down because I'm not really in a state to be reading those themes rn, but I trudged thru bebe (pray for me at this time).

This book will get the alarm bells going on your mind. But at what cost? Despite the cold open, where we are introduced to Elle. she is actively in deep cheating on her husband. But I honestly .. did not hate her. and then, honestly, I didn't blame her. Dom (aka vin diesel in my brain) was insufferable. ew ew ew. the perfect man had me blind with white hot rage for 99 percent of this book. So, despite my complaints (below) this book had me feeling some things.

the rest of the characters were all grayscale for me. occasionally, I felt the story dragged a bit. I also found the non-linear timeline confusing and I didn't understand how that really served the story. the plot was okay, but I wish the author had either 1) gone a different direction or 2) issued rigger warnings.

if you're considering reading this, I would check some of the other reviews for trigger warnings I may have missed. if you like this one, I'd recommend Room for Rent by Noelle Ilhi and/or a flicker in the dark by Stacey Willmingham.

I love a book that grabs me and I just don’t want to put down.
Thrillers are definitely my favourite genre. But this book was just missing something for me.

This thriller is a gripping blend of suspense, intrigue, and emotional depth. From the first chapter, the tension builds steadily, pulling you into a world of secrets and danger. The protagonist’s voice is strong and compelling, making their journey all the more immersive. Twists hit at just the right moments, keeping the momentum high throughout. It’s a smart, satisfying read that’s hard to put down.

This one gave me mixed feelings. The plot had strong The Perfect Marriage vibes, which definitely kept me curious—but I struggled with the characters who were hard to connect with. While it had potential and an interesting premise, it just didn’t quite land for me in this genre.

I enjoyed this book! It definitely took off right from the beginning.

I enjoyed the alternations between the past and present. I think this definitely added to the twists and turns of the story.

This was my first read from this author and I will definitely be reading more!

This was a really disappointing read. I tried to like it but I just could not. This book really lacked any sort of thriller elements. The plot dragged on and I found my mind wandering. It was a bit of a chore to get through it all to be frank. Also very repetitive and cringy.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Random House Trade Paperbacks and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomHousePublishingGroup for the book #TheMarriageRule by #HelenMonksTakhar. Elle has a 9 month old and is married to a great man. But she isn’t happy. After waking up in a hotel next to her dead college, Gabriel, she knows the only person that can save her is her husband, Dom. There are a lot of trigger so keep this mind while reading this book.

Wow, this one hit close to home. I had a feeling it would, but it exceeded those expectations. From the moment I read the book's description, it just felt like my life. Things feeling like a lot, juggling everything, but this was better than I expected. The plot did get to be a lot at times, but we love a good psychological thriller. Would absolutely read more from this author in the future.

This was very well-written. I woukd recommensd for anyone who is married or considering. You will not regret buying this!

𝘼𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙖𝙮 "𝙄 𝙙𝙤," 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚'𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙤...

(cw: alcoholism, sexual assault, abuse)

That tagline and the prologue really hooked me—no lie. I went into this book completely blind and was immediately intrigued. A domestic thriller about the cracks in marriage, motherhood, temptation, and secrets? I was ready for a wild ride.

Unfortunately, after that gripping start, most of my excitement slowly fizzled out.

The writing style just didn’t click with me. I found it hard to stay engaged—it felt like it dragged in places, and not in a slow-burn, tension-building way. It was more of a disjointed slog through unnecessary detail that didn’t seem to add much to the story. The back-and-forth structure (particularly the chapters leading up to Day 21) didn’t help either. They felt repetitive, drawn out, and often lost focus.

That said, I did enjoy the “present-day” chapters—specifically those centered on Day 21 (Saturday). Those parts had a more urgent, suspenseful tone that worked. If the whole book had carried that same energy, this would’ve been a very different review.

As for the characters—honestly, the kids (Elle and Dom’s baby and their niece) were the only ones I found remotely likable. Everyone else was kind of insufferable, and by the end, I either strongly disliked them or didn’t care about them at all—no in between.

I understand what the author was trying to convey, and the themes were thoughtfully woven throughout the story, but I’ve read far stronger books exploring this kind of concept.

All in all, this wasn’t a hit for me. It took me multiple sittings over several days to get through it, and that’s usually a sign. While I can see how this might resonate more with other readers, it just didn’t land for me.

- 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦-𝘈𝘙𝘊. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.💐ᡣ𐭩

I have a love/hate relationship with this book. The plot is along the lines of The Perfect Marriage, but the characters were insufferable. I think it was a good try, but wasn't my favorite in this genre.

Prepare to be drawn into the unsettling reality of modern motherhood and the dangerous consequences of breaking unspoken rules with Helen Monks Takhar's "The Marriage Rule." This thrilling and exciting novel delves into the struggles of Elle, a new mother battling work pressures, body image issues, and the strain on her intimacy with her seemingly perfect husband, Dom.

As Elle grapples with the overwhelming demands of her new life, she finds solace in the charismatic presence of her new colleague, Gabriel, and the temporary escape offered by red wine. But these distractions take a terrifying turn when she wakes up in a hotel room, bleary-eyed, next to a dead man who is not her husband.

In a moment of sheer panic, Elle realizes that Dom, the adoring husband she's been struggling to connect with, is the only person who can help her navigate this horrifying predicament and protect her future. She also understands, with chilling clarity, that this nightmare scenario could have been avoided if she had only followed "The Marriage Rule"—the unspoken guideline she was told was essential to keeping her marriage alive.

Helen Monks Takhar masterfully crafts a narrative that is both relatable in its portrayal of the challenges of motherhood and utterly gripping in its suspense. "The Marriage Rule" is a thrilling exploration of the pressures faced by modern women, the secrets that can unravel even the most stable lives, and the terrifying lengths one might go to in order to survive. With a plot that twists and turns with exhilarating speed and a central mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this is a book that is as thought-provoking as it is exciting.

If you're looking for a thriller that delves into the complexities of marriage and motherhood while delivering heart-pounding suspense, "The Marriage Rule" is a must-read.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book! This isn't my typical genre but I decided to give this one a shot and I'm glad I did. It kept me guessing and wondering who I could and couldn't trust throughout the entirety of the book.

Some of the verbiage was odd for me, but that may have just been personal preference. Towards the end I didn't want to put it down.

I wanted to love this book because I normally love these type of thrillers. I liked the domestic part of the book but I really was kind of bored.

Reading this novel proved to be a curious experience—technically well-crafted, structurally sound, and filled with unexpected plot turns, yet emotionally distancing. I found myself unable to connect with any of the characters on a personal or emotional level. In fact, I often felt actively disengaged from them, which made the reading experience feel more observational than immersive. My attention became less about rooting for the characters and more about seeking narrative justification, hoping that the story would reveal something to challenge my initial detachment.

The structure of the book itself is compelling: it opens with a gripping pace, drawing readers in like the first climb of a roller coaster. However, the middle section shifts into a slower, more introspective burn that, while thematically intentional, may test the reader’s patience. That said, the final act delivers a series of impactful twists that force a reevaluation of earlier plot points, recontextualizing much of what came before. The narrative reveals its layers deliberately, and for many readers, this may result in a rewarding, if delayed, emotional payoff.

It’s worth noting that while the lack of personal resonance left me feeling like an outlier, I couldn't fault the book’s literary quality or its thematic ambition. In fact, I found myself questioning whether my inability to connect was more a matter of personal taste than a flaw in the writing itself. Readers should also be aware that this book contains several difficult and potentially distressing themes, including domestic violence, sexual assault (including graphic depictions of rape), and violence against women, including spousal abuse. These elements are woven into the story in a way that is unflinching and may be upsetting for some. Overall, while this book did not emotionally land for me, it remains a thought-provoking and intricately plotted work that others may find more resonant. I would give this 3.5 stars!

Thank you Netgalley and the publishing team for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly I did not expect what I read, while I was not necessarily triggered I feel like for some a trigger warning of domestic abuse (multiple ways) would be a nice addition. While reading you are compelled to feel a certain way about certain characters, I never liked Dom although it was hard to pin point why in the beginning because his actions were more subtle and seemed reasonable. As you get further in the book you obviously learn why you had that gut feeling about him. Patience seems like a MIL from hell and while that is the persona she plays well it is not how she means to come off, which I appreciate. Ol seems like the sweet innocent widowed, single dad brother in law and for a bit you like him until you don’t because you just want to shake him.
I did not like the twist of footage being watched at the end, I was hoping for maybe something with Gabriel after everything as well, even just a discussion to clear the air but he was never mentioned again. I found myself bored, during the past days, and I still don’t trust Sal. Idk what I expected from this book since I went in blind (when I requested it I read the description and was intrigued but when I actually read it forgot what I was getting into.

I was glad that I stuck with this one after initially being frustrated that it seemed like a copy/paste of The Flight Attendant. This is a disturbing book, moreso when readers get to the authors note and realize how rooted in reality it may be.

This is a DARK psychological thriller so keep that in mind when going into read this one. It's a good, fast paced twisty mess of a story in the good way. But the characters are thoroughly unlikeable every single one. I needed a rom-com refresher because this one sent me into a tail spin! I genuinely think it's a great read but maybe some warnings beforehand 😂 Maybe I am just a little wimpy with psychological thrillers now.
3.5 Stars Out of 5!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy.

It took me about a month to finish this book. Not because it was bad but because of a reading slump.

Elle seems to have it all. A decent job. A lovely daughter. And her husband, Don, who loves and worships her. But she has a drinking problem. And one morning she wakes up next to a major disaster. Can things ever be the same?

I hated all the characters in this story. Not sure if we were supposed to or not. Dom, the husband, just didn’t sit well with me at all. The story bounces between time lines. Overall I liked the book. I wanted a slightly different ending but it was pretty good.