Thank you so much for this ARC!

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. Started out strong but it was all downhill from there. The pace was too slow, the struggling mom trope unappealing and I just did not like the main characted.

1 Star — Couldn’t Finish Due to Content

I was initially intrigued by the opening of The Marriage Rule, but the story quickly took a turn that made it hard to continue. The plot became unsettling, and I wasn’t expecting the level of disturbing content it contained.

Trigger warnings for alcoholism, sexual assault and abuse — I wish these had been more clearly stated upfront. These themes are woven deeply into the narrative in a way that felt gratuitous and uncomfortable. I ultimately had to DNF because it was just too much. Not the book for me.

Content warning: SA and domestic abuse

This was tough to read as many parts hit very close to home for me. HOWEVER, a well done and gripping psychological thriller with a very important message. Appreciated the author's note at the end and would love to read more from her.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC!

I received this e-book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book!

Helen Takhar kept me guessing and wondering which character was telling the truth the entirety of the book. Towards the end I didn't want to put it down.

Trigger warnings for SA and Addiction.

The Marriage Rule was a wild ride. The turns and bends were very well executed and the pacing was good. I enjoyed the suspense of not having any idea where the plot was going.

That being said, I feel like I had to read this book twice. Every other sentence I would have to go back and read again in order to comprehend. There was poor sentence structure throughout and odd choices in verbiage. It felt like a chore to get through some sections. Holy commas, Batman!

It was easy to empathize with the MC as a postpartum mother. I think she was portrayed authentically and realistically. In fact, all of the characters were believable. It was hard knowing who to trust as the story progressed and I love that in a novel. The vibes, setting, and themes were dark but I expect that out of a domestic thriller.

Overall, I enjoyed this read. I just wish it was easier for me to complete.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Trade Paperbacks for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The setup had me intrigued—a struggling new mom, a dead stranger, and a husband who might be her only way out. But the execution? Messy. Elle’s downward spiral is believable, but her choices are so reckless it’s hard to feel invested. The pacing drags early on, then suddenly crams in twists that feel more like last-minute shock value than real plot development.

The revelation of Dom’s past and the affair all seemed to come out of left field, like the author was throwing in drama just for the sake of it. And the so-called Marriage Rule? Built up as something profound but ended up feeling flimsy and underwhelming.

If you love domestic thrillers, this might be worth a shot, but for me, it was forgettable and frustrating—like a slow-burn that fizzles out instead of exploding.

This was such a fast paced read! Right from the start of the book, I was hooked and couldn’t put this story down. The intensity, the fear, the anxiety I felt through Elle that I completely identify with since becoming a new mom myself, and just how she’s struggling with all that comes with being postpartum, I truly felt like “this is real!” Seriously such a good thriller would definitely recommend to my booksta friends! Thanks so much for the early arc read, I throughly enjoyed this one! That ending tho, shook me to my core! 👏

Ps (would not recommend reading in the dark as I rock my baby to sleep, def creepy vibes!) 🤣🫣

This was such a good book!!!! The whole synopsis is so intriguing and the book really did capture my attention and keep me engaged from the very beginning. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I look forward to more works from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to receive this Arc in exchange for an honest review.

Perfect Marriage? Marriage Rules? This is a wild ride! From the first chapter to the last chapter! I was on the edge of my seat the entire novel. Nothing is what it seems! Who can you trust? Read to find out!

Throughout the novel darker themes are presented so please keep this in mind before reading!

I have to be honest and say that I did not finish this book. I was so hopeful for the way this book was going and then I just got bored with it. I will try to finish another time.

While it captured my attention at first, this book just wasn't for me. There are people that will enjoy this thriller, though. Check for trigger warnings!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Marriage Rule.

TW/CW: gaslighting, sexual abuse and violence, adultery, alcoholism

The premise read like a standard domestic thriller but then it got weird and strange fast.

I'm all for weird and strange but these elements didn't work in The Marriage Rule.

The author was incorporating the very real dangers women face in relationships and marriages but it came off as unfocused and messy.

First, let's take a look at Elle; she's your standard trope in these books; a mother struggling with her body and new baby and trying to get back on track at work.

She's also a serious alcoholic, dulling her psychological and mental pain with booze. And a new man at work. It's hard to like her.

I don't mind flawed or unlikable people. We're human. We have issues. We have problems. But Elle was just...not interesting.

One morning she wakes up from a boozy night unable to remember anything or what happened the night before. Okay, no problem. Except for the dead man in her bed. That's a problem.

Then readers are taken two weeks into the past to see how everything came to a head.

Second trope; Elle's husband Dom, who apparently looks like Thor. Or Chris Hemsworth. He's kind, caring, solicitous, a great dad, hands-on, and attentive to all of Elle's needs. Or is he too attentive?

The red flags are there but naturally Elle, being human, chooses to ignore them.

Then we come back to the present and are hit with an info dump of who Dom really is, his true nature, the reasons Elle's MIL is so mean and cold to her.

This style of writing and the novel's structure was confusing and disorganized; most of the revelations felt like it came out of left field.

And that ending...I don't know if the author's purpose was to create a twist to leave readers shocked and bewildered but it was too hard to suspend disbelief on top of everything we had just read.

Who doesn't like women helping women but in the story it felt forced and kind of not helpful either.

Amazing domestic thriller. Read this one in one sitting.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. This is my honest feedback.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

I was hooked pretty quick with this story, fluctuating between not liking the main character and then feeling sorry for her. The story kept me guessing, I liked the back and forth. I guessed the ending right before it was revealed but I still thought it was clever.

Okay WOW. This book had me on EDGE.
This book was not easily predictable which I LOOOVED. Elle is stuck in life not sure what she wants to do but knows she isn’t happy. She’s not sure who she can trust, herself included and that’s how her life truly begins to unravel… She’s been so out of touch with her emotions she doesn’t know what is what anymore. This book is truly a mindf^%k of a read! (In the best way possible)

Helen Monks Takhar’s The Marriage Rule starts off strong, immediately pulling me in with its gripping premise. The tension builds well in the beginning, keeping me hooked and eager to uncover the story’s secrets. However, as the novel progressed, my excitement faded.

While the book had the potential to be a compelling psychological thriller, it ultimately felt disjointed. The plot became increasingly scattered, with certain elements that seemed random and out of place. Additionally, the dark and disturbing themes added nothing of value to the plot. Instead of enhancing the suspense, these aspects felt unnecessary and even detracted from the overall experience, making the story feel more chaotic than impactful.

I wanted to love this book, and for a while, I did. But by the end, I was left feeling more disappointed than satisfied. If you enjoy thrillers with unpredictable twists, The Marriage Rule might still be worth a read—but for me, it fell short of its initial promise.

I wish I could read this again for the first time it was so good I love how the story came together and the characters were just something else husband and wife were a mess lol but very good story I would recommend

The Marriage Rule is a thriller that had me hooked from the very beginning. I enjoyed the storyline and thought it was perfectly paced. The story is told in the past and present. Check trigger warnings as there are a few sensitive topics.

I enjoy domestic thriller books. I just finished a good one. The Marriage Rule by Helen Monks Takhar comes out soon.