How far is too far when it comes to protecting your marriage? Find out in this relentlessly paced novel of psychological suspense for anyone who loved The Couple Next Door.“Ranks with The Stepford Wives and Gone Girl as a terrifying look at what it really means to say ‘I do.’”—Joseph Finder, New York Times bestselling author of The Switch Newlyweds Alice and Jake are a picture-perfect couple. … Switch
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.
Praise for The Marriage Pact
“This fast-paced nail-biter goes in unpredictable directions. . . . It also raises thoughtful questions about individual agency and marital commitment. With strong writing, intriguing characters, and a compelling conceit, this psychological thriller seems destined for the top of summer reading lists. Recommended as a fresh voice for readers of Gillian Flynn or Ruth Ware.”—Library Journal (starred review)
“Creepy and engrossing . . . [The Marriage Pact takes] readers deep into the heart of a marriage and exposes some of the darker drives, such as possession and control, that can lurk within even the most harmonious of unions.”—Booklist
“Gripping, thought-provoking, and irresistible.”—Dean Koontz
“Riveting psychological suspense! This book will keep you up all night, while making you second-guess everything you know and everyone you’ve ever loved.”—Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Right Behind You
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INtriguing subject. Gets you right away because you want to know that the Pact really is. Pretty bizarre.
I was expecting something more like chick-lit, but instead The Marriage Pact was a chilling and super creepy thriller. Uncomfortable doesn’t even begin to describe how it left me. But if you look at the reviews, you’ll see that’s exactly what is keeping everyone talking. This story sticks with you, and days after you’ve finished the novel, you’re still thinking back to it and its eeriness.
I’ve always held a strange fascination for cult-like behavior and beliefs, so it’s easy to see why I found compelling the Scientology-styled pact the couple enters in this novel. This is a well-constructed example of why smart people do stupid, misguided or desperate things in the name of loyalty, personal growth, or honoring a vow. Do you want to stay together and eternally happy in your marriage? No problem! We can make sure you do. No one leaves, ever. Never mind all those red flags waving in your face.
I received this book from NetGalley. Thank you to the author, Michelle Richmond, and the publisher, Random House, for the opportunity to read and review
Can’t wait for the movie!
First 2/3 of the book was great – a combination of cults and commentary on social mores with a great pacing and a thriller plot line; last 1/3 de-generated into an ending that was totally unbelievable and ridiculous
I began the book and it was just unreadable. I read multiple books a week and rarely don’t finish one. This one was just “I don’t care what happens!” I closed out from it, and have never had a moment’s curiosity about what happened next!
Fast read, entertaining but ultimately just too unbelievable.
A good page-turning and high tech horror treat.
Was exciting and kept you guessing until the end, however I had to re-read the end a couple of times to understand it. It was anti-climatic.
loved it! definitely a page turner
Really good read. Keeps you guessing till the end with lots of twists along the way.
definitely not what I was expecting, but it was a good read
I couldn’t put it down!
Rated just ok,but I do recommend it. For as drawn out as it seems to get, theended seems rushed, but even with that said, I wasn’t about to quit reading without knowing how it would end. Very “ the firm” like
A very bizarre read, but I was unable to put it down. I let my daughter borrow it and she read it in one day as well. You just can’t walk away until you know what happens next…
Outstanding premise, well-developed characters and twisty, addictive storyline. Oh, and takes place in my backyard. A must read that gives you plenty to think about.
This book really gets you thinking about marriages and what makes them work, and “The Marriage Pact” is absolutely scary!
I loved the original plot. This is an unusual book, and I really enjoyed it.
Stayed up till 3 am to finish this book. Very quirky.
You meet the perfect person, your soul mate, the person you wish to marry and be together with for the rest of your life. You finally get up the nerve to ask her and she accepts but still there are self-doubts and what ifs. Does it end there? Not in this book because happily ever after meets the answer to the perfect marriage and it is named “The Pact”. This is the story of Alice and Jake who meet and marry and even with doubts clouding judgement accept a gift on their wedding day which will change the course of their marriage. Or will it? The Marriage Pact is a blockbuster of a story that swirls around you clouding your judgment and causing you to mistakenly guess wrong at every turn. This is a can not be missed suspense novel that will have you guessing even to the bitter end.
“When you asked me to marry you, what did you expect? Did you think it was going to be all happy times, flowers and rainbows? Did you think it was going to be all Planet Waves and no Blood on the Tracks? Is that what you thought?”
No, but I sure didn’t think it would end up like the plot in this book. While engaging, thrilling, and mysterious, The Marriage Pact ended up being just too outrageous for me. To be fair, it captured me from the very beginning and I was genuinely enjoying the strange structure of this exclusive pact that married couples are invited to join…but then I was continually reminded of that funny Will Ferrell meme about how things have escalated a bit too quickly.
As you can see, these factors didn’t prevent me from finishing the book. I mean, I had to see how far Michelle Richmond was going to take this situation. This book is certainly unpredictable, I’ll give it that. On a more positive note, Ms. Richmond incorporated a lot of insight into marriage in general and paints it in a realistic light: Marriage takes a lot of work. You can never stop trying, even when you’re on top of the world. Marriage requires conscious effort on the part of both parties daily. This reminder was worth the read. Check it out!
My favorite quote:
“I expected marriage to be a door that we went through. Like a new house, you step into it, expecting it to be an unchanging space to inhabit. But, of course, I was wrong. Marriage is a living, changing thing that you must tend to both alone and together. It grows in all sorts of ways, both ordinary and unexpected. …it is a living thing of contradictions – simultaneously predictable and baffling, good and bad – growing more complicated each day.”