The Perfect Marriage
Ratings186
Average rating3.5
A Slower Burn
The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose had all the right elements to be a gripping psychological thriller, but ultimately, it didn't quite deliver in the way I hoped. I was expecting something similar in terms of intensity to Home is Where the Bodies Are, which I enjoyed for its fast pace and unexpected twists. Unfortunately, The Perfect Marriage unfolds at a slower pace, and while there are some twists along the way, they don't hit with the same force or urgency.
The story centers around a seemingly perfect couple whose lives are upended by a shocking crime. The premise is strong, and the potential for suspense is evident. However, the pacing feels deliberate, which may not appeal to readers who prefer a faster-paced thriller. While I appreciate the author's attempt to develop the characters and their motivations, I found myself wishing for more momentum as the story progressed.
That said, The Perfect Marriage is still an engaging read with enough intrigue to keep me interested. The character development, especially of the central figures, is well-done, and I enjoyed the exploration of moral complexities. The ending, with its surprising twist, was a welcome change of pace. However, by that point, I had already started to anticipate a twist, which slightly diminished its impact.
In conclusion, while The Perfect Marriage has its strengths and will likely appeal to those who enjoy slower, character-driven thrillers, it didn't quite meet my expectations in terms of pacing and excitement. I'm giving it 3 stars—it was good, but not great. I wanted more of the heart-pounding suspense that I found in Home is Where the Bodies Are, but this book, while satisfying in some ways, didn't quite deliver on that front.
to the people who have given this 4 or 5 stars please tell me what were u on to give this such high rating?
this felt to me something i would pick up on wattpad on a school night at the age of 12. the writing was terrible, it felt like a beginner trying to write a story. the plot was predictable and the dialogues were downright cringey. this was the most insufferable book i have ever read, and i am just simply wondering what were the publishers thinking when they put this out there? not only did that but the editor did this author very extremely dirty.
I absolutely enjoyed this book. This was my second book of the year and it will be hard for another one to top it. I loved the suspense, the detailed descriptions, the plot twists, and most of the characters. I said most because Adam and his mother were extremely annoying. But that's what makes the book so good. None of the characters sounds the same. They have their own voice. Outstanding! I can't wait for “The Perfect Divorce”. Beautifully written
Jeneva! Jeneva! Jeneva! I absolutely love this book. 10/10 this will be one of my top recommendation!
A VERY SLOW BURN book. Almost DNF'd the book but I really wanted to know the ending so I chucked along. The legal system in this book was very childish 😒 the only good part was I never would have guessed the ending. The twist/big reveal at the end was the only good part.
I see a lot of reviews hating on the book, but I knew what I was getting in to when I bought it. It’s an easy read that keeps you engaged. I was excited to come home and read. Overall I like it! Classic psychological thriller gets 3.5 ⭐️ from me!
Didn't like this one, I struggled to read it both because of the writing and also because the characters were all so unlikable or relatable it just annoyed me. I literally did not care about anyone, and guessed who the murderer was within 18% of the book.
Was my september bookclub book so I am sad I did not like it, but I just didn't.
I started off thinking that this was another of those books that I couldn't possibly read in a cafe, crowded train etc... thanks to a lot of explicit scene descriptions. But then the actual story started and I must admit it was riveting. It was quite unputdownable. At some point, I had begun to suspect and yet, I found the ending upsetting. It was a pity. But the story is good, very good.
Okay good news is that although I thought I predicted everything a quarter of the way in, I didn't. Bad news is I actually hated the twist and I thought it cheapened the whole thing because it was too easy.
What happens when you find out your husband is having an affair and is being arrested for murder at the same time? Would you represent him as a lawyer to help defend his case? This book was great and finding out what really happened was worth the wait!
Know what you're getting, going in.
This is not mainstream literature. It's brain candy and that's okay! It's pulpy and it moves and the characters (plus their interactions) are not supposed to be hyper-realistic.
The 2nd half of book turns into a Comedy Circus, but wait til you read the ending!
5 Great Books for me, I'm on a roll! David N.
Contains spoilers
Honestly one of the worst books I've ever read. I only finished it out of sheer spite. All the characters are dumb as rocks, the author knows nothing about the legal system, also the random ghost sex???? Don't waste your time horrible read
Wow, just wow! “The Perfect Marriage” catapulted me into the thrilling world of psychological suspense in a way I haven't experienced since starting this genre. From the very beginning, I convinced myself it was one character based on statistics, but oh, that was before i picked up the book and started reading.
This rollercoaster of a psychological thriller had me pointing fingers at not one, but three characters. The story unfolded in ways I never anticipated. It's a testament to the author's genius that my first suspicion wasn't even a fleeting thought as I delved deeper into the narrative.
This book deserves a resounding five stars across the board. The suspense, the unexpected twists, and the constant guessing game kept me hooked until the very end. And can we talk about the upcoming movie? I can't wait to see this enthralling story brought to life on the big screen. “The Perfect Marriage” is a must-read for any fan of psychological thrillers!
This book was hilarious! The queen of twists doesn't again!! I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book.
I read a lot of literary fiction, but try to take in a diversity of content. Sometimes you just need to read something that is going to pull you in and entertain you, especially if you tend to gravitate to books that continuously bum you out for the sake of intellectual stimulation. Jeneva's TikTok intrigued me, because her personality and sense of humor seem fantastic. So I embarked on what I anticipated to be either a cynical snark read or, at best, a delightfully surprising romp through a smut-adjacent beach read.
This isn't literary fiction, and that's okay. It's easy to read and contains the twists and intrigue it promises. If you don't take yourself or your reading so seriously, this is a great book to just enjoy and not over analyze. Could I offer critique of the plot, characters, and general concept? Yeah. Is that fucking stupid to do considering this book has done just fine as it is? Yep.
If I'm being a snobby bitch, this book is not great. But if I'm being someone who enjoys taking in a story and seeing how it goes, this is book is perfect.
This book grates on my nerve. Tests my patience like no other. The whole time I was thinking to just shelf it, put it in the DNF list, put it in the shit list or something. But of course, I just love to torment myself.
The characters. Oh my god, the characters. Where do I even begin?? They're all so dumb and colorless. The dialogues... it's a cringe-fest. I really could not understand how a book can be this bad.
I would like a refund to my time, please.
usually domestic thrillers aren't my favorite but this one was probably the most fun i've had in a while in a book. i was always trying to figure it out and i semi did but the twist shocked me. i am a jeneva rose stan this has been the second book by her i've given 5 stars. i found it so fun and each perspective was equally good, this is definitely a favorite of mine!
Not bad for a debut novel, the characters need more development and the story has too much exposition at the end for my taste. Still not as bad as Scott said, I look forward to read newer books of the author
Truly finally out of my reading slump & of course it's a thriller book that gets me back into it!! Husband has an affair. Husband becomes #1 suspect and his wife of 10 yrs defends him?!?!!!! There's so many twist and turns. I wouldn't have thought of the ending
I like that the chapters were short so I felt the story was moving along. I liked the POVs between Sarah and Adam. Adam is a douche 100% but also Sarah is a mastermind