The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond

The Synopsis

How far is too far when it comes to protecting your marriage?

Newlyweds Alice and Jake are a picture-perfect couple. Alice, once a singer in a well-known rock band, is now a successful lawyer. Jake is a partner in an up-and-coming psychology practice. Their life together holds endless possibilities. After receiving an enticing wedding gift from one of Alice’s prominent clients, they decide to join an exclusive and mysterious group known only as The Pact.

The goal of The Pact seems simple: to keep marriages happy and intact. And most of its rules make sense. Always answer the phone when your spouse calls. Exchange thoughtful gifts monthly. Plan a trip together once per quarter. . . .

Never mention The Pact to anyone.

Alice and Jake are initially seduced by the glamorous parties, the sense of community, their widening social circle of like-minded couples.

And then one of them breaks the rules.

The young lovers are about to discover that for adherents to The Pact, membership, like marriage, is for life. And The Pact will go to any lengths to enforce that rule.

For Jake and Alice, the marriage of their dreams is about to become their worst nightmare.

My Review

As soon as I read the synopsis on Netgalley, I was extremely intrigued. I loved the idea for the plot because it seemed so unique and mysterious. After reading the book, I can indeed confirm that it was unique and mysterious, as well as dark, intense and very addictive!
The story was fast-paced and I really enjoyed hearing everything from Jake's point of view. While Jake was fairly straightforward to understand and connect with, Alice was much more guarded and it was difficult to understand what she was thinking and feeling. Since everything is from Jake's perspective, this is very appropriate because Alice tends to keep her past hidden from him and therefore he doesn't fully understand her either.
With every page turn, more and more tension built up and I was completely hooked.
My only negative is that I felt a little bit let down by the ending as it was too abrupt for me. There had been such a build up of tension throughout the book but then it just evaporated suddenly and that was it, the book had finished. I was full of questions and The Pact still felt shrouded in secrecy, although I suppose this was quite fitting for the type of mysterious group The Pact is.
Overall, I'm giving this book 4 out of 5. It was an addictive read full of secrets with a unique and memorable plot.


The Marriage Pact is published by Penguin Michael Joseph




This e-book was provided for free in exchange for an honest review.

About the Author

Michelle Richmond is the bestselling author of The Year of Fog, No One You Know, Hum: Stories, Golden State, Dream of the Blue Room, and the award-winning The Girl in the Fall-Away Dress. The Marriage Pact is her debut thriller. She lives with her husband and son in San Francisco.