4.5 stars.

The Woman in Cabin 10 meets Intensity in this terrifying thriller.

If you love those “I know what I saw” kind of thrillers, you guys are in for a treat with Every Vow You Break! This one actually made me feel the terror of what it’s like to be stuck in a secluded setting. Even though it doesn’t focus on being “twisty”, it really nails the edge-of-your-seat “what’s going to happen next?!” effect. Also, the main character was clever and a badass!!
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However, my one criticism is that the plot doesn’t actually start until about a 100 pages in; the first slow-paced chapters contain more or less of a romantic background that I thought could’ve been reduced to 5-10 pages. But when the suspense element kicks in later on, you won’t be able to put it down!
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I think this is the first time where I thought the author really knew how to use a locked room setting to create genuine terror, and I tremendously applaud Swanson for that!!

I like pretty much every Peter Swanson book I read, and Every Vow You Break was no exception. What a crazy, lowdown, exhilarating ride! Abigail and Bruce are due to get married, but before the wedding Abigail goes on a girl's weekend bachelorette party. She ends up cheating on her fiance, but does not tell him. Not long after, she begins seeing the guy she had a one-night stand with everywhere she goes, including on her honeymoon. Bruce made all the plans for the honeymoon on an island in the middle of nowhere, so how can the one-night stand even know where Abigail is? I whipped through this book in a day and a half and loved it!

Abigail is marrying a very rich man who insisted she go on a bachelorette weekend and pays for it all. When the man she met that weekend begins appearing she begins to panic but gets through the wedding without it coming out. Bruce surprises her with a honeymoon at an exclusive island off the coast of Maine, but the whole thing is giving Abigail the creeps. There is only one other woman there. When Jill tells her that a man from her past has shown up Abigail begins to panic because the man from the bachelorette weekend is on the island too. What is going on? How can Abigail get off the island? And will she make it out alive?

Pros: My favorite part was the strong sense of place of the honeymoon location.

Cons: This book feels like so many others in this oversaturated genre. It also felt like a lot of filler was added to get this book to over 300 pages.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3 on the Goodreads scale

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an ARC of this book!

This is the first time I’ve read anything by this author but between the reviews on his previous novels and the plot summary of this novel, I was excited to read it. Special thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow and Custom Publishers for a free electronic ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

After a whirlwind romance, Abigail Baskin agrees to marry millionaire Bruce Lamb whom she really doesn’t know much about. On the Bachelorette weekend (that her fiancé has arranged and paid for) she ends up having a one night stand with a complete stranger. Fast forward to the honeymoon on a very secluded island resort where the stranger “coincidentally “ shows up. Abigail is terrified to tell her new husband what she did and terrified that the stranger will blow her cover. While she is dealing with this issue she also starts to notice very strange things about the resort which her new husband seems to brush off. All of these things combine and lead to an explosive ending.

The book started off strong and pulled me in right away. I liked the author’s writing style - the characters were well developed and the plot had some good twists in it. However, I’m disappointed to say that this book was just OK in my opinion and it did not wow me as I hoped it would. I found the ending to be too unrealistic and many of Abigail’s reactions to be implausible. That being said, I still thought the book was enjoyable and I would read this author again.

Please do yourself a favor and go into this one blind. Like many of you Peter Swanson is an auto buy author for me, and this was one of my most anticipated books for 2021.

I started this one right after I got it, and I finished it in one afternoon. I absolutely adored this one, and it had been so long since I read a book in a day. This book was nothing like I expected it to be.

I read some reviews before I started and they weren’t as positive as I expected, while I will agree that I did guess this one early, and some parts especially towards the end are pretty far fetched. It was still a hell of a ride, and for me it worked.

I read to escape and I love how Peter Swanson writes, he was able to capture my attention from beginning to end. This book is unique and it’s one of my favorites from him!

Thank you @harpercollins for providing me with this ARC.

“The best sport in the world”
The Most Dangerous Game

Every Vow You Break was my most anticipated book of the new year and so I’m thankful to William Morrow for my ARC. This book asked many times, what movie would this moment be? To me, I couldn’t stop thinking about The Most Dangerous Game.

This book was about Abigail, a woman who has the perfect fiancé. He is doting, rich, charming, and thoughtful. During her bachelorette party, Abigail makes one mistake with a handsome stranger, but wants to put it in the past. She can’t though, because that stranger is popping up in her life. She spies him right before her wedding in New York, and when she’s whisked away for her honeymoon on a private retreat, he is there as well. Does she admit to the affair? Or try to deal with it in her own way?

Thoughts: This book was exactly how I thought it would be. The atmosphere was intriguing, the stalker was creepy, and the characters were dumb. I can’t help but yelling at a protagonist who cheats on her fiancé, but then doesn’t think anything bad will come from it. Of course Peter Swanson is a fantastic writer, and the imagery and location capture you from the very beginning. It is slow to set up, but gets more and more interesting as the book goes on.

I felt like this book lacked the signature twists of Swanson, and you could tell where it was going fairly quickly. Regardless, I enjoyed the writing and story and read it in a few hours. I just wish the ending wasn’t so abrupt and the characters were more developed. Nothing can deter me from having Peter Swanson as a go-to author, however I did miss that earth shattering plot twist. 3.5-stars.

This was definitely a book that kept me guessing. Every time I thought I had it figured out, I didn’t. I wasn’t a huge fan of Abigail comparing her experiences to rape and I could imagine people that have been raped may feel the same way.

It was a great book. A little far fetched at times and I’m still curious about Bruce’s plans if things hadn’t gone awry with Jill. Like why bother getting married? It was good overall and I’ll still recommend it to others as a fast paced thriller but it wasn’t my favorite.

It took me a while to get into this book, but as usual, it was very well written by Swanson. I got swept up into the characters and was along for the ride. Some of the characters actions were a bit unbelievable (such as having doubts at your bachelorette party, but still going through with the wedding) in the beginning due to their actions, but nonetheless I was intrigued by them and invested in their journey. I highly recommend 8 Perfect Murders, his previous novel.

The novel definitely isn't perfect. It begins with our protagonist, Abigail Baskin meets a man and they shortly marry after meeting. They go to a secluded island after their wedding to their honeymoon, and she begins to feel that her husband is a stranger. A previous one night stand is also at their honeymoon destination and begs Abigail to return to him. Odd things begin to happen while on her honeymoon and makes Abigail question who she married and why.

However, scenes later on are fun and I found myself flipping through the pages and enjoying the plot. I agree with some other reviews I read that its best to go in blind, cause it is a ride. There's some disappointment in the plot for me with the climax of the novel that feels like Swanson did leave a part unfinished. It's a shame, cause I feel that if he had explained it more, it could have been a very intriguing plot.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review..

Full of suspense, this novel is sometimes unrealistic which never really works for me, however, just like in Field Of Dreams (totally different, but you get the idea), I found myself going along for the ride. Like the main character, it's hard to know who to trust in this book. Swanson does a wonderful job creating atmosphere and suspense. The characters were a bit unlikeable, hard to empathize with any of them. Still, I couldn't put this book down.

I ABSOLUTELY love Peter Swanson, so I was so thrilled to get my hands on an ARC of Every Vow You Break! It was so well written and immediately seized my attention. Thanks NetGalley!

The plot summary from Goodreads:

Abigail Baskin never thought she’d fall in love with a millionaire. Then she met Bruce Lamb. He’s a good guy, stable, level-headed, kind—a refreshing twist from her previous relationships. But right before the wedding, Abigail has a drunken one-night stand on her bachelorette weekend. She puts the incident—and the sexy guy who wouldn’t give her his real name—out of her mind, and now believes she wants to be with Bruce for the rest of her life. Then the mysterious stranger suddenly appears—and Abigail’s future life and happiness are turned upside down. He insists that their passionate night was the beginning of something much, much more. Something special. Something real—and he’s tracked her down to prove it. Does she tell Bruce and ruin their idyllic honeymoon—and possibly their marriage? Or should she handle this psychopathic stalker on her own? To make the situation worse, strange things begin to happen. She sees a terrified woman in the night shadows, and no one at the resort seems to believe anything is amiss… including her perfect new husband.

To give you an idea of how much I LOVED this book, I finished it in one sitting. I couldn’t wait to get to the end to find out what was going to happen. Peter Swanson is so good at what he does and Every Vow You Break is another brilliant read. My favorite of his books is “The Kind Worth Killing” but this is a very close second. I've read most of his books, and in my opinion, he's one of the best psychological thriller writers out there. His writing style is fast paced and has enough details and description that drop you right into the action and make you feel like you're a part of the story. The tension just kept getting tighter with each discovery Abigail that made about her husband and the island where they were honeymooning. I wanted to yell "Don't go in there!" or "Watch Out" so Abigail would know to be careful. This would make an excellent movie or mini-series. If you like slow burn psychological thrillers, you will love this one. This is a well-written yet incredibly disturbing look at relationships and how they can go wrong when built on secrets and deception. For fans of Shari LaPena, B.A. Paris and Liv Constantine. Swanson knows how to write a truly insane page turner.

This book was a real page turner for me. I have not read any books by this author before. I think I will have to go back and read some of his other books. I was drawn into Abigal's character. I will order this for the library and recommend it to my patrons who love thriller books.

This wasn't the best Peter Swanson novel but it had me intrigued as I flipped through the pages. At one point in the middle, I was wondering why I cared what happened to Abigail. She wasn't a sympathetic character; she wasn't that "into" her husband, they were essentially unknown to each other, she bargained with herself about the marriage and whether to be truthful or not. The book was exciting because I wasn't sure what was really going on at the island and I definitely wanted to find out, I just wasn't sure I would care either way. It was a quick read with suspense and it was an enjoyable read. I would recommend this book to those that are mystery fans or fans of Peter Swanson.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow and Custom House for the DRC.

Great book, this has me on the edge of my seat to the last page. Somewhere between a mystery and a psychological thriller, I was stunned by the ending. I highly recommend it

WOW - once again Peter Swanson blows me away! This book starts out as a "slow burner" but when it gets going - watch out! This one involves a gal about to marry a guy she really doesn't know that well, what happened on her bachelorette party. and then on her very, very strange "honeymoon... No one is "who" or "what" they seem & I really do NOT want to spoil it for anyone - JUST READ IT!! Can not recommend enough. I have read all of Mr. Swanson's books & each one continues to just amaze me! GREAT STORYTELLING! My thanks to the author, publisher & NetGalley for the ARC.

I love Peter Swanson. And this one...wow!
Very different than I anticipated, but then also not.
Grabbed me from the get-go and it was unputdownable.
It's hard to even talk about it without giving it away!!

Abigail finally met the right guy...or maybe the mostly right guy. Though she has a few apprehensions, she chalks it up to wedding jitters. She can live forever with him. It doesn't hurt that Bruce is a MILLIONAIRE.
But then coincidences start to feel like something much more sinister...and then the ride begins.

Great fast paced book.

I have read almost all of Peter Swanson's books (I just haven't read The Girl with a Clock for a Heart). Some are okay, but some are amazing. This is one of the amazing ones, even though it was so outrageous. Very different from his other books because the book eventually hit a point that didn't seem realistic. It reminded me of The Most Dangerous Game. So yes, even though it was outrageous and unrealistic, I couldn't put it down. I was super freaked out, and there were multiple twists. It was extremely well written. I'm still in awe, and I finished it last night. I mean, I guess you could say it's a bit realistic because if you have money... you can pretty much do what you want. But still. I just can't say enough about how entertaining and awesome this book was.

Abigail Baskin has found her true love when she met Bruce Lamb. They are engaged and the bachelorette party is in full swing. Abigail meets a stranger and things begin to change. A one night stand ensued and now Abigail must decide if she should tell Bruce. The man used a fake name as though he didn’t want to br found or so it seemed. He showed up one day and told Abigail that they should be together. Abigail is days away from her marriage and honeymoon. She must decide if she should come clean to Bruce. Just then things start to happen that will challenge the way she sees things, like the woman in the shadows that only she sees. Can she figure it out in time? I adore Peter Swansons writing style. His characters are descriptive and fluid. The plot is one that would be easily relatable and is a very fast paced read. I have read all of his books so far and this one is by far the best yet.


Thank you to netgalley as well as the author/publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of Every Vow You Break.

Imagine you're on your honeymoon, at a secluded woodland island resort, with no access to the internet or your cell phone. Sound like a nightmare? You have no idea. We meet Abigail and Bruce, newly married. Through flashbacks, we learn about Abigail's past, focusing on her relationships, and learn that she cheated on Bruce during her bachelorette weekend with a stranger, "Scott." Scott keeps popping up, even though he's from the other side of the country, and Abigail is horrified to find him at the resort during her honeymoon.

Full of suspense, this novel had great potential and is completely bonkers (mostly in a good way.) Abigail has no idea who to trust, and as the story progresses, I was imagining all these horrifying scenarios in my head. Unfortunately, Swanson goes with the most basic, obvious choice and I felt a little let down. Don't get me wrong- this whole honeymoon is a nightmare (starting with the location- an island that isn't tropical?!? hard pass) and he really does a good job of creating atmosphere and suspense, I just felt a little let down. I didn't particularly like any of the characters either, which never helps.

Every Vow You Break is a super easy, quick read, I finished it in a little over a day. I will definitely be checking out Peter Swanson's other novels, as I've heard good things.

I LOVE Peter Swanson. His book The Kind Worth Killing is in my top 5 favorite books. This book is a close second. 5 stars from me.
Abigail is engaged to Bruce, an extremely wealthy, yet awkward man. He is kind, loving, reliable and a good person all around. The beginning takes you through Abigail’s background, family, exes and then hops back to present day. While she is on her bachelorette party weekend, she makes a mistake after drinking too much and ditching her girlfriends.
The guy ends up showing up in NYC all the way from CA. He is basically a Stage 5 Clinger.
The book takes you through the perfect wedding and then a honeymoon some can only dream of.

I felt the book was a little slow t first but once they got to the honeymoon island - it really picked up fast.
If you like slow burn psychological thrillers, you will love this one.
The only thing I didn’t like - I read it too fast because I couldn’t put it down but also didn’t want it to end.

Great ending too - not one that leaves you wondering about a bunch of loose ends.

How long till his next book? I will be waiting impatiently!