I have enjoyed a few of this authors other books but struggled with this one. It was very repetitive and slow. This was well written but not her best although the ending was good.

This was a decent domestic thriller with some solid twists. I liked the premise and the tension throughout, but I found it a little repetitive at times, which slowed the pacing for me. Still, if you enjoy slow-burn suspense with messy relationships and hidden secrets, it’s worth a try.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Ooo this was a great read; just the perfect mix of everything… the author did a great job of building the suspense, keeping the fear high and the trust low - it easily became addictive, all consuming and I really enjoyed reading it.

My first by this author and certainly not my last; I really liked the relatable characters, the fast paced plot and the twist and turns that kept me guessing. A really emotionally charged domestic thriller.

With thanks to author #laurennorth and #bookouture for asking us to be on this #booktour 🤩

OUT NOW!

-EMILY
@the_book_girls_1

This is my first read by the author and it began with a bang. Hannah and Jake take a trip to France a couple of weeks before their wedding to chill after a break-in.
So far, so good. But when they arrive back at Hannah’s parents’ farmhouse, they’re horrified to discover the bloodied body of a neighbour on the floor - and all the evidence has been manipulated to point in one direction: they did it.
Thrown into a blind panic, they know they have two choices. Call the police and risk being convicted of a crime they didn’t commit, or hide the body?
Their decision and the events that follow make for a twisty ride where nothing – and no-one – is as they seem.
The book is written from a dual point of view, and I loved getting into both Hannah and Jake’s heads, even though it was apparent neither of them were particularly reliable narrators.
North painted an evocative picture of the Dordogne, a region of France I love, and her clever use of progressive complications builds the suspense like the heat on a sultry summer afternoon.
By the end of the book the rising tension kept me turning the pages in a rush to find out what really did happen and why. A well-written, tightly plotted domestic thriller in which I genuinely didn’t guess the ending. It’s an easy five stars from me!

Big thanks to Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
For Better, For Worse is the newest psychological thriller from wonderful author Lauren North.
A great book with multiple sharp twists.
Hannah and Jake are planning their wedding.
Just before the big day their decide to take a trip to the South of France.
Sun, fun and days of relaxation.
As they arrive back to the villa from a day out, they discover a dead body.
Everything leads to them being the culprits but they both have no idea who did it because it wasn’t them.
Now they have to make a choice…..
Call the police or dispose of the body.
Their decision will change everything.
Another winner from Lauren who has the gift of giving the reader a clever thriller with shades of domestic drama.
Get onto this book and get ready to be taken on a wild ride.

For Better, For Worse is a gripping psychological thriller that pulls you in from the very first page. Lauren North expertly weaves a tense, twist-filled narrative about marriage, secrets, and how far someone will go when trust is broken. With sharp pacing and unexpected turns, this is a truly unputdownable read that keeps you guessing until the shocking finale. A must-read for fans of domestic thrillers that deliver both emotion and suspense.

Thank you Netgalley for this amazing book. Truly enjoyed the ride! There was lots of twists that I wasn't expecting. It was so good that I didn't want it to end. Definitely be looking out for this author from now.

A brilliant character driven book that really weaves a mystery and has plenty of twists and turns along the way. The story has some real surprises and is fast paced enough to maintain full engagement throughout.

Lauren North’s For Better, For Worse is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that perfectly blends the glamour of a pre-wedding getaway with a chilling murder mystery. What begins as a romantic escape to the sun-soaked south of France swiftly spirals into a tense nightmare when the protagonist and her fiancé, Jake, find themselves entangled in a deadly crime scene—and possibly a sinister trap.

North expertly builds suspense, weaving a web of doubt and fear as the couple grapples with whether to trust each other or the mounting evidence that points to them. The vivid setting and tight pacing pull readers into a claustrophobic world where every choice feels like a high-stakes gamble.

With twists that keep you guessing and an undercurrent of paranoia and passion, For Better, For Worse is a thrilling page-turner for anyone who loves their mystery served with a side of romance and danger.

Hannah and Jake go on a last minute trip to the South of France to unwind before their upcoming wedding. Things quickly take a turn for the worse when the couple returns to their villa after a day out to discover a dead body on the floor. They realize the body is of a man that Jake was seen arguing with in the town earlier. Next to the body is a knife that Hannah used earlier in the day and bloody footprints from Jake's shoes. Who is trying to frame the couple for murder?

This one starts off strong, is slow in the middle, and then picks up again at the very end. A lot more could have been done after the prologue to keep the pace up and offer more thrills. I did enjoy the final couple of twists - very clever and did not see them coming at all. It is a quick and easy read, especially if you skim some of the repetitive dialogue in the middle. Overall, an okay read!

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was an excellent read!! The twists are truly shocking. Some parts were a little slow but the feeling of impending doom never wavered. The twists kept getting more and more wild. I loved every second of the ending. I love when an author has me frantically turning pages to see what’s found to happen next. 4.5 stars!

A quick and easy gripping thriller read! A real page turner that I didn’t see the amazing twist at the end.
I really enjoyed reading the book!

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher Bookouture for the ARC.

A gripping, twist-filled read that begins as a sweet love story between Hannah and Jake but quickly veers into unexpected territory. Just when you think you understand what’s happening, the plot shifts again; like navigating a house of mirrors. Told from multiple perspectives, the story keeps you guessing and adds depth to each character. Hannah and Jake seem like victims, Neve is easy to dislike, but everyone’s role evolves, leaving you unsure of who to trust. Fast-paced and compelling, it’s a story where nothing is quite as it seems.

Wow! Thrilling with lots of twists and turns. Started out as a ‘nice’ story about two lovers on the road to getting married, Hannah and Jake. About halfway through the book, you start questioning everything you think you know. Down a different road you go. Once you get comfortable on that road, there’s another twist down another road.

At the ‘end’ you think North is wrapping up the storyline and she hits you again. It’s like a house of mirrors, nothing is as it seems! I liked the book a lot. It was a fast read and the storyline was thoroughly enjoyable.

The story is told by the two main characters so you get different points of view. I liked this style of writing and it helped to keep track of the action and thought processes. Hannah and Jake are likeable and appear to be the victims. You want to hate Neve. Her storyline changes but I still dislike her. Hannah and Jake’s storyline also changes. You feel bad for all of them at different points in the story. Who’s the bad guy/gal here? Read it to figure it out. Even then, you might never really know as point of view is variable.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of For Better Gor Worse by Lauren North
This was an awesome psychological thriller, author did a great job weaving believable characters and a gripping story with some brilliant twists at the end. I didn't want to put this book down. The story is told present day and by the two main characters viewpoints.
This was my first novel by  Lauren North, but not the last. Love her writing style, the story never dragged.

Lauren North has a lovely, easy flowing style of writing that makes her books so great to read.
There were some shocking twists in this book, just when you thought you had the plot worked out it went off on another tangent.
Very enjoyable read.

Thank you to Netgalley, Lauren North and Bookouture for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This thriller definitely took me on a journey I didn't expect. The dual POV aspect added a great layer to the story and it was fascinating to get into the heads of Hannah and Jake as they prepared to say their vows whilst being faced with the dramatic, life altering events that occurred on their mini jaunt before the big day.

There was a very slight predictability but at the same time, not. The story arc took you in so many directions (in a good way!) that when you thought you had sussed it you started to have doubts.

There was an incredible tension throughout that kept me hooked. As threats got more intense and the risk of discovery increased it really was a case of everything being at stake. I genuinely couldn't see a way out of the predicament whilst reading however, I felt the events at the end and how everything was tied up in a very satisfying way.

For Better, For Worse
This gripping story follows two nearly-weds on a pre wedding getaway who find a dead body and find themselves framed for the murder.

Super fast paced and bordering on popcorn thriller this is absolutely superb. I read it in a single sitting and can’t recommend highly enough

Whoa! I so did not see that ‘oh boy, oh my’ twist! What a great, fast read. Quick, fast paced chapters alternating between Hannah and Jake -the two main characters with secrets. I’ve enjoyed Lauren North’s previous titles; this one does not disappoint! The end just kept twisting. I highly recommend it!
Thank You to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Lauren North for the opportunity to read and enjoy this ARC.

"For Better, For Worse" by Lauren North is an emotional 4-star read! Hannah and Jake need a getaway after a break-in brings an unwanted visitor into their lives, on top of the stress of planning a wedding. They decide to take a long weekend in the south of France to unwind. But things don’t go as planned, and they return home with more trouble than they ever could have imagined.

The prologue hooks you right from the start with a chilling discovery. The story is told through alternating perspectives of Hannah and Jake as they navigate the days leading up to their wedding. We get a deep look into their inner thoughts and turmoil as they struggle with the aftermath of what happened.

The twists are shocking and completely unexpected, though it might have pushed the boundaries a bit too far. Some parts of the story moved slowly and felt a bit repetitive, but overall, I really enjoyed it!

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