Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Twisty read that had me sympathising with all the wrong people! I did guess some of the story but not all. Very cleverly done

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this eCopy to review

Reading The Marriage Rules was an intense and thrilling experience. The story revolves around Fiona Fisher, a former nurse who seems to have it all—a loving husband, Jason, two stepdaughters, and a cosy village home. But their seemingly perfect life is governed by strict rules: everyone in bed by eight, no social media, and absolutely no talking about the past. These rules are meant to keep their family safe, but when someone starts breaking them, the cracks in their idyllic life begin to show.

As I delved deeper into the story, I found myself questioning every character's motives. Fiona's growing unease and the mysterious events that unfold kept me hooked. The tension builds masterfully, and the twists and turns left me gasping. Without giving too much away, the ending was jaw-dropping and left me reflecting on the fragility of trust and the lengths people go to protect their secrets. The suspense and psychological depth were captivating

A compelling tale that fans of thrillers will thoroughly enjoy.

Fiona, a former nurse has recently married Jason, a psychiatric doctor she met when they both worked at Radmoor Hospital and, following the death of his estranged wife Erika, his children Tilly and Ivy are now living with them in a new house in a quiet village, but things aren't quite what they seem and Jason has drawn up some very strange marriage rules that they must all adhere to; no leaving the house unless it's necessary, no phones after a certain time, family confessionals at 6pm, no talking about the past and grief time for one hour but only on a Sunday. All these rules, he says, are to keep them safe, but from what or who? They all seem to go along with them, until someone doesn't...

The Marriage Rules is the latest thriller by Hayes, with it's multi layered plot spread across three parts, told from the perspectives of the two main characters, Fiona and Jason and a dual timeline of before and after, this one will definitely mess with your head. Personally, i wondered what Fiona was thinking, agreeing to all these over the top rules when she just kept breaking them but, as the story progressed and the pieces of the jigsaw began to slot into place, everything started to make sense. There are so many twists in this story, my head was in constant spin mode and the ending was totally unexpected. Another fantastic tale by this author, where nothing is as it first seems, I highly recommend.

I'd like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for the book #TheMarriageRules by #SamanthaHayes. This book stopped me in my tracks with this crazy plot twist! Fiona, a previous nurse met and married Jason, a doctor at her hospital. She immediately became a Kim to his two children. Jason has put some rules in place that cannot be broken. But as usual, rules are mad to be broken. You will not believe what happens and what is true and what has been broken.

I didn’t think Samantha Hayes could get any twistier with her plot lines but The Marriage Rules managed to prove me wrong! What the hell did I just read?! As soon as I thought I’d got the twist (and there had to be one because something was very VERY wrong in this marriage!) I was proved not only wrong but so far off the beaten track I was never going to find it again! And the twists just kept on coming!

The Marriage Rules are a set of family rules that Jason and Fiona live by and these rules are rather “unusual” in a modern marriage between two professional people! Why is Jason controlling his family so tightly but also why are they happy to go along with these bizarre rules? It’s obvious that something very disturbing has happened in the past and that this seems to be a way of moving on but some secrets can never stay hidden for long and sure enough their lives start to unravel bit by bit…

I adore Samantha Hayes as an author and I’ve been a fan for a very long time now. I can always rely on her to surprise me and once again she has. There’s some brilliant characters here who have been carefully crafted to keep the reader on their toes throughout the shocking storyline. I never knew who to trust as everyone seemed to have something to hide but was that something murder? As all the threads come together to reveal the truth, the shocks just keep on coming! I read this in an afternoon as it was that addictive and I just had to find out what was behind The Marriage Rules.

Highly recommended by me!

I have read some of this authors previous books so when I saw she had a new release out, I was excited to read it. And I am so happy to say that I really enjoyed this one!
I got into this book straight away and I was thoroughly invested and interested in the story throughout.
I liked the writing style, which flowed so well and this was such an easy read, I flew through it in one day.
It has a fast paced plot which kept me wanting to turn the page.
I found the relationship between the two main characters Fiona and Jason interesting and I also liked them as individual characters. I liked how we got both of their POVs in the story, however I would have preferred that it was written in the first person and not the third.
Also the twist really surprised me and I loved it! I did figure some of it out but not the whole thing, so well played Samantha Hayes!
This was such an enjoyable, binge able, easy to read psychological thriller and I highly recommend you check it out as I had such a great time reading it.

Rules, rules, rules! You must obey the rules! Whew! Talk about being taken on a whirlwind roller coaster of a ride! Samantha Hayes had me reeling with one shocker after another in The Marriage Rules! Just when I thought I knew what was happening, Samantha Hayes pulled the rug out from under my feet and hit me with another twist that left me with my jaw hanging open with the twist filled page turner! I had a hard time putting this book down when life came calling as I was instantly gripped and glued to the pages!

Fiona and Jason are a recently married couple who have moved with Jason's two daughters to a lovely village home. Jason has a set of rules for the entire family to abide by. They are strict rules, but Jason made them to keep them safe! Not everyone is a fan of the rules and soon the rules begin to be broken.

Holy Moly! This book had me on edge the entire time with its feeling of dread which was dripping from the pages. With all those rules, I couldn't help but wonder what was behind all the strict rules! I began to come up with my own theories and was so far off base that it wasn't even funny! I love when an author can shock me, and Samantha Hayes did that many times during this book. There are some OTT moments but that just made the book more enjoyable and fun for me.

Gripping, shocking, well thought out, twist filled, and hard to put down, The Marriage Rules was a hit with this reader. This is the 7th book that I have read by Samantha Hayes, and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future!

What a mental mess! Great domestic thriller with some unpredictable twists. Just when you think you know what's going on, another revelation sneaks up on you. You won't know what to believe by the end of it.

This book had me gripped right away, it was one that I couldn't put down as I needed to know the truth, especially with the fantastic twists,

I love Samantha Hayes' books, and this one did not disappoint. I did not see the ending coming, even through thinking back, I can see where the hints were that would lead to this conclusion.

Very shocking ending that I did not see coming! This book will have you yelling at the FMC only to conclude with “oh” when you realize what is truly taking place! This story will draw you in from the prologue.

Fiona & Jason married quickly after meeting. Jason has a dozen of insane rules that Fiona & their 2 daughters must follow at all times. With severe punishments in store, they tend to follow these carefully or at least try their very best to ensure Jason doesn’t find out if they break 1, as the consequences are not pretty.

Overall, a highly enjoyed read that I would recommend for domestic thriller fans! Twists that you won’t see coming, with jaw dropping & shaking your head moments. Well paced overall, there was a bit it in the middle that was not as engaging, however the ending came with a bang & explained while all of it was necessary. Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Fiona Fisher lives a quiet and contented existence. A former nurse who married Jason, the doctor of her dreams, she is now mother to his two daughters and living in the sort of cosy village home she's always wished for, Life is pretty much perfect in every way. As long as they stick to their rules:- Everyone in bed by 8 pm sharp. No loud music, no news on the TV, no social media. The house phone is for emergency use only. Locks on every door. No leaving the house. And absolutely no talking about the past. But one day, someone starts breaking the rules....

Jason and his new wide Fiona, live by strict rules. The story is told from Jason and Fiona's perspectives. It also has a dual timeline. This is one twisted read and I never saw the big twist coming. I was pulled in before the end of the first chapter. The story builds gradually, giving us just enough intrigue to keep us reading. There was something throughout this book that had an uneasy feel about it. I loved it.

Published 9th April 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #SamanthaHayes for my ARC of #TheMarriageRules in exchange for an honest review.

Wow!! I was hooked from the very start of this book. Very twisty! I didnt see the ending coming at all. What a shock. Absolutely love books like this. Will definitely be reading more by this author. Very well done! Thanks Netgalley and Bookouture for letting me read this book for my honest review.

This book is one of those that just when you think you have a handle on everything that’s going on completely ripped the rug out from under you and makes you realize that you know nothing, to semi-quote Game of Thrones.

I mean, just when I thought I had everything figured out and knew the direction the book was going to go in, the author threw in a new twist that completely changed the direction of the book. My jaw seriously dropped open about three or four times as I was reading this one. But in a way it all made sense, and there were no major contradictions with each of the twists, which was nice because I’ve read books where authors create twists that don’t make sense when you look back at how the plot has developed. This was not like that at all. The twists definitely made sense, when you looked back at them in context.

That also made the book creepier, because it made you think about all the signs that you missed throughout the book. It was one of those, “Man I really should’ve seen that coming,” moments because honestly, everything was there, you just don’t see it until the author wants you to. It’s really the sign of good writing.

The book also has two main narrators, at least one of which would be considered an unreliable narrator, which throws another wrench into things, so the whole time we’re wondering if what she’s seeing and thinking is true or if she’s being manipulated or if she’s not quite seeing the whole picture. like I said, it’s just creating a really creepy atmosphere that is really amazing.

If you’re looking for a creepy edge of your seat thriller, don’t hesitate to pick this one up. It’s a great book for anyone looking for a super twisty nailbiting psychological thriller that will leave you reading late into the night!

"The Marriage Rules" by Samantha Hayes is a twisted 4-star read! Fiona and Jason are newlyweds who have both given up their careers in the medical field to start a new life together with Jason’s two daughters. To help ensure their happiness, they agree on a set of marriage rules designed to keep their relationship on track. But when those rules are broken, the consequences can be serious.

The story is told from both Fiona and Jason’s perspectives, shifting between the past and the present. It starts off at a great pace that had me hooked from the beginning. The middle does slow down a bit, but if you stick with it, the tension builds and things pick up toward the end.

While the twists weren’t entirely shocking—since the author drops hints along the way—the final twist completely caught me off guard! That one really took me by surprise.

Thanks to Bookouture, Samantha Hayes, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

From the moment I read the prologue in The Marriage Rules, I knew I was in for something seriously gripping. Samantha Hayes sets the stage with a list of eerie, rigid rules that instantly gave me a creeping sense of unease—and that tension only built from there.

Told through a dual timeline, the narrative moves seamlessly between past and present, making it easy to follow yet impossible to predict. I went in expecting a domestic thriller, but what I got was something far darker and more psychologically disturbing. The author has a real gift for creating atmosphere, and the unsettling dynamic at the heart of this story had me second-guessing everything.

The suspense builds gradually, pulling you deeper into the mystery with each chapter, and then—bam!—the twist in the middle completely blew the story apart. I didn’t see it coming at all, and I love when a thriller can still surprise me like that. Just as I was starting to process that twist, the ending delivered even more shocks that left me reeling.

Fast-paced and packed with twists, this was a wild, spiralling read that kept me turning the pages late into the night. If you're looking for a psychological thriller that keeps you on edge and plays with your expectations, this one’s well worth picking up.

This is a really clever book with an unusual plot. There is plot twist mid way through that took me completely by surprise. This is one of Samantha Haye’s best books and I would definitely recommend it.

I love this book, it is entertaining and SO clever!!

The plot is beautiful revealed (with parts tantalising hidden between smoke and mirrors!). The skill that has gone into writing this book is mind blowing!

We are introduced to main characters, a newly married husband (Jason), and wife (Fiona) who is also step mum to his 2 teen/preteen daughters. We are immediately confronted with some very tight marriage ‘rules’ that Jason has set for his family to live by - to say these are somewhat controlling is an understatement as Fiona and the girls are not allowed to leave the house while Jason is at work, and the girls are only allowed to grieve for their mother for one hour allowed hour every week!

As the novel progressed the family become embroiled in a police investigation and where it all leads is dramatic to say these least!

I can’t say much more on the plot as this book is definitely going to be best enjoyed without spoilers but I will say it is a really, really good read!!

My thanks to author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

Fiona and Jason lead a strange life, but to them it is a normal healthy marriage, Jason lives by a set of ‘rules’, he thinks they are life enhancing…Fiona tends to agree, his 2 daughters reluctantly follow them, the eldest getting more and more annoyed as time goes on

Now I have to admit at first I was fuming with Fiona, I kept thinking ‘it’s 2025 do not do as he says’…..but kept reading and am glad did as nothing is quite as seems in this book

Its dark, chilling, claustrophobic and although I thought had figured out the big ending very early on I only a third had and the true true ending was cleverness itself

To say anymore would give too mmch away but bare with Fiona’s cloying obedience and let the book unfold and you will see why

More than happy to be tricked by a book and when its a good book then even more so

I really enjoyed this thriller! Things get crazy when Fiona and Jason fall in love. Jason, a doctor on a psych ward, is unhappily married and falls for Fiona. When they move to start their new life together, they establish a set of rules that must be followed within the new marriage. Jason’s daughters are along for the ride and are not happy! In the middle of the story, there’s a huge twist, followed by the biggest whammy toward the end. I was NOT expecting it!