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Tuesday 23 March 2021

Book Review: The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond

The Marriage Pact by Michelle Richmond book cover

AD* | 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.

The Marriage Pact is a psychological thriller novel with a difference. It is original and interesting - yet is also flawed and difficult to figure out. 

The premise is intriguing and the story instantly hooks you in. It's a unique concept - a mysterious cult created with the sole aim of keeping couples together and marriages intact. However, there is a darker side to both the Pact and the plot. Things start to go downhill once Alice and Jake break the strict rules of the Pact - and it only gets worse from there. 

Alice and Jake are an ambitious, career-focused pair of newlyweds who suddenly find their everyday lives turned upside down. Once initiated into the mysterious Pact, they find themselves doubting everyone and everything - even each other. Despite this, they are a likeable pair and you can't help willing them to escape the Pact's far-reaching influence! 

The first half of the book starts strongly, introducing the key players and the Pact idea. However, once it passed the midway point, it sadly got more and more far-fetched and unbelievable. Although this helped to demonstrate just how difficult it is to get out of the Pact, it also made me feel disconnected from the story. 

This got worse as the book went on, and despite plenty of unexpected twists and turns, the ending felt weak and unsatisfactory. What really happened at the end of the book? What happened to Alice and Jake next? There are so many unanswered questions that it leaves the whole story feeling unfinished.

The Marriage Pact has a unique concept and strong characters, but unfortunately, it ended up feeling rather flat.

Rating: 3 stars 

The Marriage Pact is available to buy now. 

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* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review 

Will you be reading the book? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 

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