The Perfect Marriage

Love the plot twists that this book has. Definitely kept me engaged and interested. Is a really good thriller. Definitely a good read if your into drama/murder mystery.

—— Edit: In addition to all I say below, & despite it… After writing my review I had the sudden realization that The Perfect Marriage would make ….. ** A FABULOUS BOOK CLUB TITLE! ** There’s A LOT which can be discussed, picked apart, have differing opinions regarding, etc., etc. My sort of slight “negatives,” gone over in detail below, would be perfect talking/debate points. —— Ok! Now on to my review! :) ….. I think The Perfect Marriage was a fairly enjoyable read, start to finish - the beginning & very end being the best parts. The middle, well- there were many times I asked myself if I really wanted to keep reading? If this story was truly entertaining me enough? I realized after completing the book that you can have too many ongoing (& continually cropping up, new) questions & mysteries in a story - without ANY resolution going on whatsoever. It gets a bit mentally/emotionally tiring … chapter after a chapter. And tiring leads to a feeling that’s akin to boredom. No matter how invested you are in the storyline or characters. Or how exciting the mystery started out being, or where it looks like it all may go in the end. Like, perhaps, throw in a couple resolutions here & there. A few solutions to mini-mysteries would be a relief & refresher (even if they wind up being red herrings in the end lol!). Having to hang in there throughout an entire twisty-turny type murder mystery - from beginning all the way until the end, with zero relief in between, begins to feel like a too long clothesline. How it begins to droop from the weight of all the clothes (or “story details/loose ends”) toward the center. In a heavy, distinct shape & color blurring, pace slowing, manner. And just like looking at that over-burdened clothesline, when a story is feeling like that, your motivation to read dips & comes into question. No matter how great the overall plot is. I’m not often, & I mean hardly EVER, taken out of the story to then have to consciously, forcibly suspend disbelief. This happened more than a few times when reading this book. (And my primary genre(s) include a lot of SciFi, apocalyptic topics, etc. And I hang in there just fine. Happily 100% immersed, disbelief easily & naturally suspended for the duration….) But here, within The Perfect Marriage, I encountered THE MOST unrealistic situations & occurrences. Which yanked me firmly from the immersion I had been enjoying, to question the author’s decision to include such a turn of events. There are also a couple of “implied situations” in the story, which are fairly significant events. I guess we are supposed to be able to read between the lines, or ~in some other manner~ know what the heck she meant in those occurrences. (Jeneva Rose truly offers no hints for us, her readers.) In truth, nothing would have been lost- & the story would have been improved actually, from a bit more detail in these situations. I’ve since completed the book & I now *think* I understand what happened. ….Maybe? But I’ll never truly know if what I’m supposing matches up with what the author meant for those scenes. So, overall, it’s an ok book. This is my 1st experience with Jeneva Rose’s work. I MIGHT read something by her again, but with so many greats out there, unfortunately Rose’s stories won’t be the ones I immediately gravitate toward in the future when I swing over to this genre for a read. (Give Freida McFadden or Susi Holliday a try! Amazing!!) Anyway…. The Perfect Marriage might be a perfect book for diehard fans of this author, Jeneva Rose. For the rest of us … It may be worth a read. But if you find that part way through you’re really not feeling it — & are asking yourself if the end is worth hanging in there? Well. This is my experience…. I’m glad I did finish the book, despite my middle of the story self-reflection, as I know I would wonder what happened, how it all turned out eventually. And it would drive me a little crazy! Lol But with that said, the conclusion feels sort of rushed. Isn’t really satisfying (to me). And is a bit of a stretch; or contrived. Perhaps lengthening the ending just a bit would have helped? I don’t know. It just doesn’t ~connect~ well to the whole of the rest of the story in general. Like, there were many private moments between the characters throughout the entirety of the story. Yet between then … & the end … the relationships are 1000% different, & the author is asking us to believe it. Sure. Maybe. If we the readers hadn’t been fly’s on the walls / privy to so many PRIVATE moments throughout. Anyway - more I could say on that, but I don’t believe in spoilers! No one likes a spoiler! Lol So, it’s up to you, my fellow reading lover! To give this one a whirl … or a pass!? …..

Holy plot twists, Batman! The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose left me completely mind-blown in the best way possible. I went into this thriller/mystery expecting suspense, but what I got was a masterclass in misdirection and a finale that had me sitting there, mouth open, questioning everything I thought I knew. I read this book in less than 24 hours, and now I’m desperately counting down until The Perfect Divorce comes out in April. The story follows Sarah Morgan, a badass defense attorney whose life takes a wild turn when her husband, Adam, is arrested for the murder of his mistress. What follows is a tangled web of secrets, lies, and manipulation that kept me guessing until the very end. I was so sure I knew who was behind the murder—multiple times—and every single time, I was wrong. The way Jeneva weaves the word perfect throughout the story is so clever; it ties everything together in ways you don’t even realize until you’re done. The characters were complex and super well-developed. Sarah was a total powerhouse—she plays life like a chess game, always thinking a few steps ahead. Adam, on the other hand, started off as someone I thought I might like, but the more I got to know him, the more I realized how pathetic and whiny he really was. And don’t even get me started on his mom. She reminded me way too much of my ex-mother-in-law, and Jeneva wrote her narcissistic personality perfectly. I really appreciated how authentic Sarah’s emotions felt throughout the story. Her reactions to the events unfolding around her were incredibly relatable, especially when she was balancing the chaos with her usual calm, calculated approach. I found myself connecting with her on a personal level, cheering her on through the mess because I just needed to see her get some kind of redemption by the end. The dialogue throughout the book was sharp, realistic, and at times, absolutely brutal. One moment that stood out to me was in Chapter 46, when Adam’s mother, Eleanor, picks yet another fight with Sarah. Sarah absolutely obliterates her by saying something along the lines of how her son is a liar, a cheater, and possibly a murderer—and that Eleanor’s constant coddling and over-the-top mothering likely played a huge part in the situation they were all in. It was a harsh statement, but honestly, it felt like the truth, and from a real-life perspective, I couldn’t agree more. The pacing was spot-on. Some chapters were longer, but the shorter ones really packed a punch—they were loaded with important details that moved the story forward and kept me glued to the page. Every twist felt natural, not forced, and the ending? Absolutely diabolical. I didn’t see it coming at all, and yet, looking back, all the clues were there. The themes throughout the book added even more layers to the story. Manipulation, betrayal, and broken trust were everywhere—not just between Sarah and Adam but across multiple relationships. Justice and revenge were also big driving forces behind so many of the characters’ decisions, even when they weren’t obvious at first. The psychological manipulation, the secrets, the lies…it all added to the tension, especially with one character who’s clearly living in survival mode as a result of past trauma. I listened to the audiobook while following along on Kindle Unlimited, and the narration was fantastic. I streamed it on Spotify Premium and have already recommended it to three friends—one of whom is already hooked and the other two downloaded it and plan to start after work today. The narrators brought the characters to life, and you could really feel the shifts in tone when the plot intensified. It was a perfect companion to the book itself. If you’re looking for a thriller that keeps you guessing, makes you question everyone, and leaves you desperate for the sequel, The Perfect Marriage is the one to pick up. Good luck figuring it out before the end—you won’t.

Uh, the ending was surprising but the writing was average. Not sure how it made it to ny times best seller list. Plot was average, writing was decent, was missing emotion, was missing a bit of thrill

Such a great read!! Definitely has you hooked within the first few sentences! Tons of surprise, twists and turns! You must add this to your list!

This book had me hooked from start to finish. I usually pride myself on figuring out “whodunit” early in mysteries—whether it’s books or movies, I’m almost always right. But Jeneva Rose completely got me on this one. I had several guesses along the way, but the real twist didn’t click until the very end, and by then it was too late to claim I’d solved it. That’s how well it was written—the suspense and misdirection were spot-on. I’ll be honest, I didn’t really connect with either of the main characters at first. I didn’t like them much, but that turned out to be exactly the point. The way the story unfolded made me realize why that distance was necessary. The plot, pacing, and writing kept me invested anyway, and in the end, it all came together in a way that left me impressed. Definitely a great read. Highly recommend if you love thrillers with sharp twists that will keep you guessing until the very last pages.

Jeneva Rose's debut novel, "The Perfect Marriage," is an absolute five-star thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. With its engaging storytelling and well-crafted characters, this book delivers an unputdownable experience that will leave you guessing until the shocking and unpredictable ending. The story is told from dual perspectives, alternating between the husband and wife, which adds an exciting layer of complexity to the narrative. Sarah, a defense attorney, is taken aback when she learns that her husband, Adam, has been arrested for the murder of his mistress. Faced with a difficult decision, she takes on the role of his defense attorney, only to discover a web of secrets and betrayals he had hidden from her. The pacing of "The Perfect Marriage" is nothing short of remarkable; it pulls you in right from the start and keeps the momentum going until the very last page. The author skillfully weaves together domestic, psychological, and legal elements to create a seamless thriller that will keep you engrossed for hours. One of the standout features of Jeneva's writing is her ability to bring the characters to life. Each character in the book feels fleshed out and real, making them all potential suspects in the thrilling whodunit. As a reader, you will find yourself constantly questioning their motives and actions, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the story. While some readers might have mentioned plot holes and questionable character actions, the overall storytelling prowess and engaging plot overshadow these minor concerns. The book will keep you second-guessing yourself throughout, making it a true page-turner. Jeneva Rose masterfully keeps you in the dark, skillfully leading you down multiple paths and theories. Just when you think you have it all figured out, she throws a curveball, leaving you stunned by the unexpected twist at the end. "The Perfect Marriage" is a thrilling rollercoaster of a read, perfect for anyone craving a fast-paced and gripping thriller. So, clear your schedule, settle in with a book, and prepare for an exhilarating ride. Highly recommended!

"The Perfect Marriage" by Jeneva Rose totally deserves an OMG! I devoured it in just two days. It’s an outstanding, dark psychological read that hooks you from the very first paragraph. A shocking betrayal unfolds, leaving you wondering—will justice be served or not? You won’t find out until the very end. Wow!