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.

The Marriage Rule
This compelling domestic thriller takes a dark turn with its heavy themes and has plenty of twists and turns. The characters were very unlikable
3 stars

Elle is a struggling new mother who feels like she doesn’t quite measure up at anything lately. Her marriage, motherhood, and career all leave something to be desired. Frustrated and unfulfilled, Elle increasingly relies on alcohol to blur the rough edges of her life. When she wakes up in a hotel bed next to a naked dead man and no recollection of what happened, she knows her husband Dom is the only person who can help her.

Domestic suspense with an unreliable new mother narrator? Sign me up! This book gripped me right from the start with Elle in bed with a dead guy who is decidedly NOT her husband. How did she end up here? The narrative uses a dual timeline to take us back about three weeks and roll forward from there while also alternating with the fateful night. Everyone seems to have it out for our girl Elle, from her MIL from hell to her suddenly distant best friend, not to mention too-good-to-be-true Dom. The plot is twisty and intense, delivering multiple jaw-dropping reveals. Perfect for fans of The Other Woman by Sandie Jones.

** I don’t usually say this, but do check for trigger warnings before you read, because this one gets DARK. **

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing me an advance copy of this book.

really good mystery. Kept me on my toes and loved all of the characters and what they went through on this journey. Loved that they a happy ending happened.

It started slow so I was not sure I was going to make it. The scenes on the current timeline were most interesting. Everyone seemed like unreliable characters to me. There are multiple reveals towards the end. You may figure out some but I challenge if you saw the last one coming. Love how it ends

The Marriage Rule by Helen Monks Takhar is a dark domestic thriller that delivers twists, turns and suspense.

Elle is a new mom struggling with trying to balance the demands of motherhood, her career, and her marriage to Dom. Even with her husband's support, Elle often feels inadequate and overwhelmed and she typically resorts to alcohol to cope with everything. When after a work trip, Elle wakes up from a boozy night in a hotel room, she finds her life has taken a free fall into chaos. Because beside her in the bed is a dead man, and it's not Dom. With very little memory of what happened, Elle calls the only person she knows can help her, her husband.

This is definitely a book that takes a dark turn!! Some heavy themes are explored including; alcoholism, DV, SA and infidelity. The story develops through a dual timeline where we go back and witness Elle's descent into alcoholism, and then forward to the present where she is questioning everything. I really liked how raw and real Elle's character was even though I found her unlikable at first. And then that ending?!? I am definitely interested in reading more from this author!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Helen Monks Takhar, and Random House Publishing for this ARC!! Publication date is May 13th 2025.

I was excited to read this domestic thriller and found myself interested at the first page. The more I read from the main character, I found myself not liking or appreciating the way they are portrayed and it took away from my interest in the story. I was also able to figure out the way the story would unravel but it didn't ruin too much for me.

I am happy and grateful when books are written to highlight real issues facing women around the world and for that I enjoyed reading. There was a lot of great female camaraderie and support, There were a few storylines I wished were fleshed out more but I liked the ending a lot! Absolutely high stakes and important stories to tell.

Another twisty novel where I thought I knew where everything was going but had no idea. SO many twists and turns along the way and characters you love to hate. Really satisfying ending!

Elle is a new mother grappling with the competing demands of parenthood, her professional aspirations, and her marriage to Dom. Despite her deep affection for her child and the support of her husband, she frequently feels overwhelmed and alienated from her own body and intimacy with Dom. She resorts to alcohol as a coping strategy. This descent into self-alienation prompts her to reevaluate her life decisions.
Following a work trip, Elle awakens in a hotel room beside a deceased man, with fragmented memories of the preceding events. Realizing that Dom is her only avenue for assistance, she confronts the daunting prospect of seeking his help, while simultaneously fearing the potential repercussions for their marriage. The narrative intricately explores her inner turmoil as she reflects on the moments that led her to this juncture, particularly her adherence to the so-called "marriage rule," which dictates that a wife must always fulfill her husband's needs.

The story unfolds through a combination of contemporary events and flashbacks, offering insights into Elle's declining mental health and her struggle with alcohol dependency. While the plot is rife with suspenseful developments, it also delves into darker themes such as domestic violence, infidelity, and betrayal. You will encounter a multifaceted portrayal of Elle, who, despite her imperfections, elicits both empathy and frustration as she grapples with the ramifications of her choices.

This book is intriguing, but at times, I felt it was disjointed. I appreciated that Elle’s character was authentic, but I found it difficult in the beginning to empathize with her. The narrative was slow in the beginning, but did pick up. Nevertheless, I was engaged until the very end- and was surprised at the ending. The Marriage Rule is a compelling domestic thriller, that delivers suspense and twists and turns. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, you will enjoy this one as well.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my review.

If you need a unput downable book, this is the book you need to immediately pick up and read. I read it twice back to back to go back and catch parts I hadn’t caught the first time around. You could hear me audibly laughing, gasping and wide eyes. This is one where you stay up all night because you can’t put it down! The writing is amazing and as my first introduction to this author, I will immediately be reading her books! Sooo soo good! MUST READ OF 2025

Bad decisions and twists make this implausible thriller compulsively readable. Elle is unhappy in general and then she wakes up next to a dead man who is not her husband Dom. Oops. Can he, will he help her out? This moves back and forth in time to tell the story. Know also that there's dark domestic issues here. Elle is, btw, annoying but I had to know what happened. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A popcorn read for travel or the beach.

Slow start to this book, but the twists & turns kept me reading.
I had a hard time getting into this book, as I couldn't relate to the characters. The idea of The Marriage Rule is pretty old fashioned and didn't make total sense with the story line. The second half of the book provided some surprising twists that I wasn't expecting though!

Thanks to NetGalley for the early read!

The Marriage Rule by Helen Monks Takhar is a domestic thriller that explores marriage, motherhood, and personal secrets. The story centers around Elle, a new mother who struggles to balance her career, parenting, and her relationship with her husband.

Elle's life takes a turn when she wakes up in a hotel room next to a dead man who isn't her husband Elle realizes that Dom is the only person who can help her escape without ruining their future. Throughout the novel, Elle has to manage the inadequacy and the pressures of motherhood, while also dealing with the dynamics in her marriage.

The novel switches between the present day and the events leading up to the murder. Throughout the story, Elle's character develops and it follows her journey of self- discovery and some abuse. She learns how to find her strength. The plot keeps you guessing until the end.

It was a good read.

Thanks to Netgally and Random House Publishing for the advanced copy.

Wait, WHAT?!

The first chapter started off really strong, sucking me in with so many questions. But after that it got slow for the next 30 or so percent. I actually thought about not finishing it but I am glad I did.

The second part of the book is where it really picked up for me and I couldn't stop until I knew what happened. The twists (Some way out there) just kept coming.

It has some hard subject matter so please check trigger warnings but it is fairly worth it.

I will say the ending, to me, left me a little "lost." Good book though and I will definitely check out more from this author. 3.5 Stars

*I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC!

I don’t know how to properly rate this book, if I’m being honest. While thrillers and suspense aren’t my everyday reads, I do usually really like them, just in smaller doses. I was really intrigued by the premise of this one, and I was enjoying the suspense in the murder mystery sense but it takes such a turn halfway through that all I could think was thank god I wasn’t reading it at night or it would have actually given me nightmares. It goes DARK. So dark that it absolutely should have had trigger warnings made extremely clear at the beginning. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to, but I did finish it. That being said, the content in it gets so disturbing at one point, that I had to skim through some parts.

I went into this book really liking it but towards the middle I started to have to push myself to get through the book. I do think others would really like this book, it just wasn’t my favorite. I do think others should give it a try and see if they like it.