This one was just okay for me. It held my attention throughout, but the storyline felt forced and the protagonist was underdeveloped. I will try Peter Swanson again, but this one just wasn't for me!

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was an okay book. But, I didn't find myself engaging too much with the characters. That is unusual for me. I don't know if I just didn't find them all that likeable or just the mood I was in while reading the book. The story was quick and flowed well. It was pretty well thought out. But, it just didn't leave a lasting impression.

Peter Swanson is really hit or miss for me. His last book Either Perfect Murders got me out of a several month long reading slump, but this one just didn't do it for me. I felt like the build up was way too long and I didn't care about the characters at all.

I didn't mind the first half of the book, but the second half came out of no where and not in a good way. It seemed implausible and ridiculous.
Abigail and Bruce (her tech billionaire fiancée) are getting married but she ends up cheating on him during her bachelorette weekend. They still get married, although they have absolutely zero chemistry together. He is very unlikable, even before he takes her to a secluded island for their honeymoon, where her weekend one night stand shows up. Creepy and weird, yes, but not as creepy and weird as what happens later. The whole island thing just didn't make sense.
Probably my least favorite Swanson book.

This was my first Peter Swanson novel, and it did not blow me away. His portrayal of the main character lacked development and agency, and the reveals of the resort were lackluster and too easily resolved.

I received this as an early review copy from NetGalley and William Morrow. All opinions are my own.

Peter Swanson is an amazing mystery and thriller writer, unfortunately this does not quite live up to some of his previous work. That said I did still enjoy this book. Readers looking for a basic and formula driven mystery will be satisfied. It doesn't fit the thriller category his fans are used to.

Peter Swanson usually delivers with captivating thrillers and this one is no exception, with its unsettling premise. The main twist was somewhat predictable, but the writing kept me interested in seeing how it all ended.

Every Vow You Break immediately brings you into the drama of a stalking situation after a one-night stand at a bachelorette party. Swanson is a popular author at our library so will be purchasing it for interested readers.

QUICK TAKE: as a fan of the author, sadly this one was ultimately not for me. A honeymoon weekend gone extremely wrong, I found this thriller to be a muddled mess and the twist just didn't land for me. Unfortunate, because I had high hopes. At your own risk.

WOW. I could not put this book down. If you want to be on the edge of your seat for an entire book, read this! It is about a couple on their honeymoon at a very remote island. And something is just. not. right! Ex boyfriends, an over abundance of men, phones mysteriously not working - who is in on it and who isn't?! You will actually feel like you are there at the remote island with them. The author does an excellent job of capturing the spooky, secluded nature of this honeymoon. Don't plan on getting anything else done until you devour this entire book.

This is my second Peter Swanson book. The plot sounded really interesting to me and despite just thinking his first book I read was mediocre I decided to give him another chance. I started out really liking the book and the characters but then the book got really strange and unrealistic and was filled with a bunch of stereotypes and cliches. It was also super anticlimactic. I think he tried to make it suspenseful but missed the mark. Regardless, it was a quick read and kept me occupied for a few hours so I guess it did its job.

First line: She first spotted him at Bobbie’s Coffee Shop on Twenty-Second Street.

Summary: Just days before her wedding to millionaire, Bruce Lamb, the one night stand from her bachelorette weekend shows up trying to convince her to not go through with the wedding. She tries to ignore his attempts but then he appears at her wedding too. But she thinks that his stalking is over until he appears at the secluded island on her honeymoon. Does she tell Bruce or try to solve the situation on her own?

My Thoughts: When I looked at the rating for this book I was kind of surprised that it was so low. I found the book to be rather enjoyable with lots of dark and twisted moments. I found it to be more like an eighties horror movie than psychological thriller. And part of that can be found that several reveals were rather predictable. But I had a lot of fun reading it nonetheless.

Even though the island is supposed to be secluded and good for getting away from technology it also seems rather scary. You are secluded. On an island. With little communication. What if something bad happens? Well this book answers that question. And it was thrilling and scary.

FYI: Language, death, infidelity.

Peter Swanson does it again with his latest mystery thriller.

A couple is preparing for their marriage when the bride to be has a fling at her Bachelorette party.

This fella shows up as the happy couple is on their honeymoon.

Twists and turns created a wonderfully rocky ride in this thriller.

I have read this author before and have always really liked his writing style, characters, and plot. This one kind of lacked in all of those. My biggest complaint was the main character, Abigail. I just didn't like her and with a storyline like this, it was hard at times to root for her. I did still enjoy the story and the read though, just not as much as I was expecting too.

Great domestic stalker thriller!! Love Peter Swanson’s writing...kept me captivated for the whole book! His endings feel like there could be more to the story but it was a great book ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Well, I didn't see the ending coming. I've been recommending this to many people, while adding: It is SO screwed up, but in a good way! It was very interesting and kept me guessing throughout. I loved how you were led to believe one thing, only to have it end up as something else completely.

Spoilers
Every Vow You Break is confusing a story. Early references to Hitchcock’s movie Vertigo suggest there might be similarities between the movie and book.
The main character, Abigail, has had several relationships but none of them have been lasting including her fiancé Bruce. She is unfaithful with an unknown man she has named Scotty. The infidelity occurs during her bachelorette weekend that she describes as a “fling before the ring.”
Bruce is an equally flawed character. His previous relationship ended with his girlfriend leaving him for his partner. Bruce’s best attribute is that he is very wealthy. He offered to pay for Abigail’s college loans during their first date. He even suggests marriage.
It is difficult to believe that anyone with that kind of wealth would act in this way. This is almost as creepy as when Abigail sees that Scotty has followed her from California to NY and later to the island resort on her honeymoon.
Eventually Abigail discovers that Bruce and Scotty(really Eric) are part of a group of men that want to punish women for their infidelity.

Abigail's honeymoon at a secluded resort might not turn out to be as perfect as she'd hoped, especially when the man she slept with during her bachelorette getaway appears on the island. I'm beginning to realize that thrillers just might not be my thing. However, Every Vow You Break did keep my interest and I had a few late nights because I wanted to know what happened next. I appreciated that the plot was a bit more unique than your mainstream psychological suspense, and be aware that this one felt like it was moving in the direction of horror. If you're a thriller fan looking for something a little bit different, I would recommend trying this novel. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

Every Vow You Break – Peter Swanson

This was the first book I’ve ever read by Peter Swanson, and it won’t be my last! This was a wild ride, for sure!!

Abigail Baskin is engaged to be married to wealthy financier Bruce Lamb. Raised of hard-working parents of modest means, Abby tells herself that she’s not marrying ‘simple, in a good way’ Bruce Lamb for his money, but she acknowledges contentment with the life she’ll be able to lead going forward. As she’s discovered, Bruce is very generous, even financing her bachelorette party weekend at a vineyard in Northern California, where she happens to meet “Scottie”.

Scottie is attending his own party, a “still a bachelor” party that his friend has thrown, and he and Abigail meet by chance and make small talk late into the evening. While Scottie’s questions of Abby are quite pointed, she figures she’ll never see him again, and answers them, as she reminisces a bit, giving readers a glimpse into her past. With plenty of wine on board, she makes an ill-fated decision to sleep with Scottie, who terms it ‘one last fling, before the ring’. Ashamed of herself, and fearful Bruce will somehow know, she returns home to New England, determined to put it behind her, thankful that she’ll never see Scottie again.

Then with life back to normal, and wedding plans in their final stages, Abby sees Scottie in a local coffee shoppe. With her nerves on edge after the sighting, Bruce and Abby marry in a small ceremony, and after the reception, the pictures, and dinner, as they’re walking to their room for the night, Abby sees a shadow, and the flare of a cigarette...

The next day, they head for their honeymoon on a quaint island off the coast of Maine in Casco Bay. Chosen by Bruce for its quaintness, with no televisions, no internet, no phones, very little electricity, and only accessible by plane or boat, Heart Pond Island is a refreshing visit into the past. But shortly after they settle in, Scottie shows up at the resort as well. Then Abby meets another newlywed, Jill whom she bods with, only to have Jill confide in her a story similar to Abby’s own, and her ex is coincidentally also on the island….

To relate any more would be tossing up spoilers, but this book grabs you like a runaway train as it’s racing down the tracks, and even though you think you know what’s coming, you just can’t tear yourself away! I read it in its entirety in one sitting and am still sitting here a bit shell-shocked at the ending. While Abby wasn’t particularly likeable as a character at the books start, by books end, she kind of became my hero! Definitely well worth the read!!

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from #Netgalley & Aria & Aries Publishing in exchange for an objective review. Do you love to read?? Visit Netgalley.com and start reviewing books today!!

I find Peter Swanson’s writing to be unique because although his books are from the same genre, each own has a different style of writing. With that said, I definitely like some more than others. Unfortunately, this fell into the latter category. The first 70% or so was ok and held my interest. I liked the premise and the very creepy remote island setting with no electricity, access to the internet or cell phone service. I hadn’t a clue as to which direction the plot was headed so I wasn’t entirely invested in the outcome but I kept reading. I found the last 30% to be completely implausible to the point of being downright silly at times. It was definitely different but it just didn’t make any sense to me. Not my favorite.