Hold on while I pick my jaw up off the floor and wait for my heart rate to slow—because this book really did a NUMBER on me in the BEST possible way!!! Reading this book was like watching someone else’s nightmare unfold and being unable to wake them up! With each twist and turn the tension cranked up a notch until I couldn’t have put the book down if I wanted to—I HAD to know what was going to happen next! I actually don’t think I’d have been able to sleep without finishing it! What a ride!
Where do I even begin when talking about this book? It is truly unputdownable, for starters. Once it gets going, it is on a one-way train that exits at a shocking finale. I’m still buzzing with how exciting this book was, and I finished it over 24 hours ago!!!
The moral dilemma here is one that really gave me pause.What is someone to do when a loved one is hurt, and they know that the criminal justice system will likely favor the perpetrator, while tearing their loved one apart? If the justice system doesn’t do it’s job, is it ever okay to make your own justice? I must admit, I am an extreme rule follower. The type of person that makes a full stop in the dead of night with not a soul around, just because of the sign. The type of person who actually struggles to jaywalk, even when everyone else is. But this book actually made me empathize with taking a vigilante approach to justice! Something I didn’t think I’d support ever.Credit due to Margot Hunt, who really opens our mind to the dilemma faced by these parents. And what made it even more compelling is that this type of failing of the justice system happens all of the time, all over this country.
In terms of the story itself, what a wild ride! When I say it was like being able to watch a nightmare unfold and not be able to wake the person up, I mean it! I did not expect how much suspense and terror could be built into what starts as a horrible but realistic scenario. I found myself cheering on people I’d usually condemn, and that is quite a testament to what Hunt was able to craft here. The experience of reading this book completely immersed me in the story. I am still shaking my head in awe of what I experienced! In a way, the book shows us that our own minds can be our worst enemy of all. Humans are flawed. We make biased risk that doesn’t always payoff. The key is, learning to live with the fallout…

Favorite Quotes:

She was a delicious, fizzing secret that had transformed my boring, colorless life into something exciting.

He was an affable guy in his late forties, with the sort of annoyingly boyish good looks that women always went for. My main impression of him, after being law partners for a number of years, was that while he led a charmed life, he was about as deep as a puddle. He had a pretty, vapid wife and a couple of good-looking, vapid children who all excelled at sports.

He lifted the corners of his mouth up in a sly smile. He suddenly, vividly reminded me of the crocodile exhibit at the Palm Beach Zoo.

When I was a kid, my dad used to tell me, ‘Some people just need killing.’ I always thought that he was being overly harsh. After all, my dad also made me go to Sunday school, where they talked about turning the other cheek and forgiving your neighbor. But if you live the life I’ve lived, seen the things I’ve seen…” He shrugged, as if trying to push away a whole history of bad memories. “I can’t say that my father was wrong.”

She thought that sometimes she loved Will, and sometimes she hated him. Sometimes she couldn’t tell the difference between the two.

My Review:

Margot Hunt has mastered the art of building and maintaining tension and suspense in her artful and brilliant arrangements of words. This wasn’t a thriller or a “who done it” murder mystery as we witness the murder being committed and I will confess, I even wanted to help and felt a bit complicit. I was taut with tension, nibbling on my cuticles, and largely unsettled while reading Ms. Hunt’s compelling and well-crafted storylines. If ever there were a case for justifiable homicide, this would fit most anyone’s criteria. The premise was ingenious; the writing was superb and maddeningly paced; the characters were intriguingly nuanced, and the ending left me smirking. Sequel, Ms. Hunt?

I’m going to preface this review by saying my expectations may have been a little off for this book. I was expecting a fun, twisty story of a husband and wife team doing some very bad things, in the vein of (the far superior) My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing. However, For Better and Worse was neither fun nor twisty. It was a heavy, somber, and agonizingly slow paced tale of two unlikable people trying to get away with something and at the end of the day I really didn’t care if they managed it or not.

The story starts with Natalie and Will in law school on a date where the topic of how to get away with a murder comes up. Flash forward seventeen years and they’re married with a kid. When their son’s principal – and family friend – is put on leave due to accusations of abuse, Natalie decides it may be time to put their idea for the perfect murder into action. Will doesn’t exactly agree, but that’s not going to stop Nat, or keep him from getting involved.

Nat and Will were both really unlikable. Natalie was the too-smart-for-her-own-good control freak and Will was the put upon husband that looks for validation elsewhere. At no point in this whole book did I find myself rooting for either of them. They were bad spouses, parents, and people in general. I also expected a lot more from them in the “perfect murder” department. Natalie acts like she’s so smart and has covered all the angles, but she barely makes any plans and the plans she does make are anything but fool-proof. They honestly deserved to be caught.

The outcome of the investigation is anti-climatic and unbelievable. It kind of irritated me, to be honest. The very ending has something that I guess is supposed to be kind of a twist, but I found it predictable and lackluster.

Overall, I just didn’t care for For Better and Worse. Perhaps if I had different expectations going in I would have felt differently, but I don’t think so. With the slow pace, unlikable characters, and all too convenient ending, I think this book just failed to live up to it’s potential. However, I have read some really great reviews on this one, so it might just be me.

Overall Rating (out of 5): 2 Stars

Have you ever wondered how far you would go when someone you love is irreparably hurt by another? What would you do as your anger and rage grows and you realize that you need and must do something. In the book, For Better And Worse, we are introduced to a set of parents who push the limits to protect their son.

Natalie and Will Clarke are a lawyer couple. They met in law school and as a lark once discussed the fact that it might be possible to get away with murder. Interesting topic of conversation, but one that they never realized they might consider following through with someday.

Natalie and Will marry and the years go by as Natalie, a criminal defense attorney, and Will, an estate attorney, have married and have a son. They find themselves drawn into a crime that is both heinous and awful, a parent's nightmare really, and as Natalie well knows the criminal justice system, she is convinced that the system is not always fair to those who have been harmed.

Natalie, devises a plan and in following this plan to its conclusion, she draws Will into its clutches. Will eventually comes to the realization that he really doesn't know his wife as well as he thought, but now that his family has been hurt, he finds he doesn't really know himself either. Then again, Will has a secret and his drinking is starting to take its toll on him. They struggle with knowledge, they struggle with hurt and anger, and then they go ahead and set themselves on a course that will change their lives.

This book make one think of the lengths parents will go to to protect their child. When you know that the one you love, the child of your heart is hurt and probably damaged you might just be the one to go to the furthest ends to seek your revenge.

Thank you to Margot Hunt, Harlequin-Mira Publishing, and NetGalley for a copy of this intriguing book.

For Better and Worse is so much more than a thriller as it poses some thought-provoking questions for the reader to ruminate on - How far should you go to protect your family? Can murder ever be justified? What is self-defence and can you ever defend against possible future attacks? This book certainly muddies the water and makes the usual clear-cut choices not so clear-cut after all. Being a law graduate these are questions that very much interest and intrigue me. Of course, given my degree, I know the legal answers to these questions, but what about moral considerations?

As always with Ms Hunt's novels the writing is immersive and the characters well-rounded. However, while most of us will agree that the abuser in the story is reprehensible for his cruel, selfish and compassionless actions, I reckon that Nat and Will and their actions could well prove divisive amongst readers depending on each person's moral stance. I found this a compelling read that was full of suspense, and despite the difficult subject matter I thoroughly enjoyed it. I felt it was portrayed realistically and illustrated the trauma both the victim and their family experience when these events take place in the real world. Overall, this is a fast-moving, eminently readable and engrossing book that is well worth your time.

Many thanks to MIRA for an ARC.

I liked the premise of this book, but felt like it could have been fleshed out more. The wrap-up and ending seemed a bit abrupt. In addition, both the parents were wholly unlikable. Their actions still make sense to anyone with kids, but it would be nice if they were more sympathetic. Anyway, worth a read for anyone who likes this genre.

I was unable to get around to reading this book and probably won't have the time to. The premise initially sounded intriguing, but I've been pulling away from this type of book lately. I'm sorry.

Entertaining but forgettable

For Better and For Worse is a psychological thriller with an intriguing premise that, unfortunately, falls flat.

When Natalie, a criminal defense attorney, discovers that her 11-year-old son has been sexually abused by his school principal she decides to take matters into her own hands and plans for revenge. She believes she’s smart enough to pull off the impossible: commit the perfect murder.

However, things don’t go as planned and Natalie is forced to reach out to her husband, Will, to help her cover up the crime. Not only are Natalie and Will in danger of being caught, but also their marriage is about to implode.

I love the idea of For Better and For Worse. While it serves as a good mindless reading, it’s lacking some elements that make it a memorable thriller. Natalie and Will’s characters embody cliche after cliche; they lack nuance and intelligence. I was hoping to be intrigued by their characters and the plot, but it was not so. It gets old rather quickly.

I was drawn into the story in the beginning--especially during their first date when they discuss how to commit the perfect crime. But we never find out the details and when Natalie executes her plan to take out the abuser it was a bit of a letdown. I found the ending to be anticlimactic, even though it's meant to be much more.

This isn’t a bad a read. It’s enjoyable, but lacking in execution.

I received an ARC of this book from Harlequin-MIRA and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin/Mira Books, and Margo Hunt for the opportunity to read and review this book. I totally enjoyed it! Due to the subject matter (child molestation and murder), you'd never think it would tend towards the light side of reading but it does, so much that it's comical in certain instances.

On their first date, Will and Nat had a discussion about how to get away with murder. Just classic bantering from two law school students. Fast forward in time and we find Will and Nat married with an 11-year-old son. Both are attorneys and Nat is a criminal defense attorney. The knowledge of what happens to young victims on the stand comes to play when things turn personal. Can they really get away with murder? Will their marriage survive?

Lots going on here but this was a really good read for me and the ending was quite interesting.

All I had heard about this book was exactly what I posted above. I was thrown for a loop when I read the book and found out what the story was really about. I really struggled through the content of the story although it was well written. I did read through to the end because I wanted to know the outcome but I really had a hard time “enjoying” this book because of the subject matter.

I do not want to tell you what it was about because it seems that the publishers are keeping the content a secret but it is a difficult topic to read about.

I am struggling to rate this book because of the mix of emotions about the content and the actual writing. I am going to hesitantly give this book 3 crowns.

For Better and Worse by Margot Hunt is a thriller that asks the questions just how far will you go for your family? What would you do to protect your child? And a warning is in order with this one as it may not be for everyone with child molestation involved.

Natalie and Will Clarke are both lawyers now and have been together since their days in law school. Back on their first date the couple had had a strange but fascinating conversation about being able to commit the perfect murder. Neither had thought at the time the day would come when that conversation would come up again.

Natalie has been working as a criminal defense attorney all these years so she has come across the worst of the worst in her profession. Never did Natalie think that one day she would find out that her son had been in danger from a predator or that she would need to do something to stop that predator from ever harming another child.

For Better and Worse is the second book I’ve read by Margot Hunt and much like the first I found this one simply captivating once sitting down with it and beginning to read. Taking a mother’s love of her child to the absolute limit the story is one that is an emotional one and keeps the pages turning to see how it would all work out in the end. Definitely would recommend checking this one out for the thriller fans.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This is a very fast paced book.

Natalie is a criminal lawyer with a husband, who also shares POV during the book, and a son. One day the principal of her son's school is arrested for molestation of a minor. Natalie finds out that her son is also a victim. With her knowledge with what happens to children survivors, she decides to just kill the guy. Her husband reluctantly helps and isn't much help. The POV with him is me keep on thinking 'you're an idiot.'

I was disappointed with how the ending felt like they learned nothing from this experience.

Natalie and Will Clarke meet in law school and on their first date have a conversation as to how best to get away with murder. Will thinks that they definitely have the intelligence and ability to pull it off and not get caught. Natalie enjoys Will's confidence, the verbal sparring, and then reasoning it out together as to how it could be done. Odd beginning, but hey, we all know of stranger ways that people have gotten together!

Fast forward a few years and they are married, with a fifth grade son, Charlie. Both work as lawyers; Will in corporate law, Natalie as a criminal defense attorney. They live in the small seaside town of Shoreham, Florida. Will's been lulled into boredom by the sameness of married life, and is frustrated with the type-A controlling personality of Natalie. He's emotionally detached from his wife and is finding freshness in the arms of a coworker. Natalie feels and resents the distance growing between them, but isn't motivated to make it better. Both find themselves living for their son, whom they adore.

The town is soon rocked to its core, when Robert Gibbons, the principal of the local school is taken into custody for allegedly sexually molesting a minor. The victim, 7th grader Tate Mason, is a foster child to neighbors Jennifer and Peter Swain, who hope to adopt him. When Natalie is discussing the matter with Charlie, she learns to her horror that he has been molested by Gibbons as well.

With their world turned upside down, Will wants to immediately go to the police, strengthen the case against Gibbons, and have him put away. Natalie knows all too well what victims of such crimes go through in seeking justice in a broken system, and doesn't want that for her son. She doesn't want everyone in town remembering him as one of the boys that was molested. She thinks they should murder Gibbons. Will is definitely not on board with that!

Natalie then decides to go ahead with it on her own. When things don't go as planned, she finds she must call Will for help, unknowingly pulling him, drunk and confused, from a date with his mistress.

Can the two actually commit a murder and get away with it? Will they be able save their marriage with the new views of each other that they are forced to reckon with? Do the victims of Robert Gibbons get their justice?

For Better and Worse by Margot Hunt gets a 3.75 stars from me. Quite entertaining and a speedy read, it deserves more than 3 stars, but I don't think it will be as memorable as the 4 star books I've read recently.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Mira Books for allowing me to read an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Thank you MIRA for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Natalie and Will had a cute first date back in law school - talking dreams over drinks. They got into silly conversations, even joking about how they would be able to get away with murder with all their knowledge from law school. Little do they realize that it would bite them in the back later on in life. Flash forward 17+ years where Will and Nat are married with a son named Charlie. They soon learn of a horrible incident that happens to their son at his school with someone they thought they knew pretty well. What lengths will Will and Natalie go to protect their son?

This was a really fast-paced novel that I enjoyed in one night. I stayed up a little too late to finish it, but I'm not complaining! I felt like the author spent a lot of time hyping up the marriage struggles between the two, forgot about it during the big reveal of the major incident, and rushed to come back to it in the end. Otherwise, the book was well written and it had me engaged the entire time.

4/5 Stars

This twisted tale seriously had this mom stressed out! A morally grey book with delicious twists and turns, I didn't know who to trust!

Natalie and Will Clarke fell in love in law school, but after years of careers, marriage, and a child, their marriage is starting to wain. But when they find out something has happened to their son Charlie, Natalie is willing to do anything, and I mean ANYTHING, to protect her sweet boy. Her husband Will gets stuck in her plans, and a few of his own secrets are at risk of being found out too. What does this mean for Charlie? What will happen if Natalie and Will are caught?

I loved this book. It was seriously fantastic, and I can't thank MIRA publishing enough for the opportunity to read this Advanced Copy. The characters were morally grey, suspicious, and deliciously devious. I was sucked in almost immediately, and I can't wait to find more Margot Hunt books!

How far would you go to help your significant other get away with murder? When Nat takes the law into her own hands to protect her family she knows she is crossing some lines. She is not going to allow a system that has many faults and cracks put her family in harms way. When her husband finds out what she has been doing he has no choice but to stick it out with her and get his hands in it as well. But the real question is, will they get away with it? review: If you’re looking for a quick, fast-paced read then be sure to pick up this book ASAP! This story is one that had me asking “what would I do if I were them?!” Sure, there are some moments that made me roll my eyes and think “there’s NO WAY they could get away with that!!!” so just know a bit of suspended belief is in order. Other than that, a great suspense novel that will keep you turning the page! rating: 4 out of 5 ⭐️

It’s been a while since a book made me want to stay home on the couch and read in the middle of the day. I’m not saying this is great literature, it’s not but it’s a good easy read that I connected with. I didn’t like Margot Hunt’s first novel Best Friends Forever but the synopsis for this one grabbed my attention so I gave this author a second chance. I’m glad I did! It could be my cold-blooded heart that made me completely ok with everything Nat did, or maybe that’s just what great mothering. I gave this 5 stars strictly on how captivated I was throughout the book. I’m not saying it’s perfect but if you want a good easy read pick this one up!!

For Better and Worse by Margot Hunt

Brief Summary: Nat and Will have a fascinating discussion in law school: could they commit the perfect murder and get away with it? Years later, married, with a son molested by his principle; this discussion comes to fruition.

Highlights: Is murder always wrong? If you could, would you take the law into your own hands to protect innocent children? Is there a perfect way to commit a murder? This is a schedule clearing read that I finished in a matter of 48 hours. I found myself sympathizing and cheering for people who had acted wrongly. I know I’m not going to forget this plot for a long time.

What makes this book unique?: This book presented real people caught in unfortunate circumstances. This book brought out surprising reactions in me as a reader. I was tense and anxious about the ending but I couldn’t stop turning the pages. I also respected Nat’s cunningness and wanted to see how she would get herself and Will out of various scrapes throughout the novel. I admit though I did question whether the ending was realistic; it was ultimately satisfying. Sometimes the ends justify the means.

Explanation of Rating: 4.5/5: This was a page turning thriller that I couldn’t stop thinking about with an unexpected and satisfying ending. At the end of the day; the law is not black and white; it’s gray.

Psychology Factors: the impact of child molestation on both the victim and family was realistic. Of course, I loved that the parents brought Charlie to a child therapist and felt that she played a positive role in his healing process. The powerlessness and helplessness parents feel that they should have been able to protect their child.

This is one of my favorite books I have read all year. This would be a great pick for book clubs, parents, and others who work with kids.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin-Mira for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review

Though the dialogue felt a little stiff, the perfect pacing won us over. Highly suggest giving it a read!

I finished reading For Better and Worse by Margot Hunt a couple weeks ago, and even after thinking about this story for all these days, I am still unsure of what to say in this review. I enjoyed the wife Natalie, but husband Will made me mad. I didn’t enjoy the switch between the two narrators, which I realize was supposed to let the reader see each side of the marriage from the other spouse’s point of view, but since I disliked Will so much, I did not like having him as a narrator.

Here’s the real cause for my indecisiveness: I wasn’t ready for the dark event that sets the present-day part of the story in motion. Going into the book, I knew Natalie & Will would have a conversation early in their relationship about hypothetically getting away with murder. Of course, I figured something would happen along the way to cause the couple to “have to” test out their plan, but I just wonder if the author couldn’t have made some other event be the impetus… or if no other event would have been sufficient to set things in motion.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin, and Ms. Hunt for sharing an advanced reader copy of For Better and Worse in exchange for my honest review.