The idea of this book sounds great! But heres my honest review.

I wanted to love this book so bad! I did. I trudged on and found myself struggling to finish.. it took me to long to finish this one . This is my first book by this author and you can imagine my disappointment when I had friends telling me how awesome k.L slater books are. Don't get me wrong, I will definitely try another title at some point. But unfortunately my introduction to k.L slater, and I was definitely let down.

I enjoyed the idea of this story. But the writing style was not for me. Maybe it was the feeling I was reading someone's diary? Maybe it was because the story ws not quite what you imagined it to be?
I found myself skimming alot. Just to be able to get through it. By all means , read it! And form your own opinion! But I didn't love it.

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Marriage’ by K L Slater in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Whilst serving prison sentence Tom Billinghurst marries Bridget the mother of his best friend Jesse who he killed ten years ago. Tom’s mother Jill thinks that Bridget has a hidden agenda and has married her son to get her revenge for his part in Jesse’s death, but has she?

‘The Marriage’ is a story of lies, deceit and confusion and tells of what happened between Tom and Jesse that fateful evening ten years ago and what’s happening now when Tom’s released from prison after marrying Bridget. It has a complex plot that’s had me caught in its spell from page one, growing ever more tense as the story progresses. The characters are interesting and with the drama, intrigue and twists and turns I’ve been unable to stop reading until I’ve reached the final and superb twist, a fitting conclusion to this thoroughly enjoyable thriller. This is another superb novel from a very talented writer who has the ability to weave excitement and suspense into each novel.

I loved this book and totally recommend it to everyone who loves the domestic noir genre.

It is well written with a great cast of characters and a unique and believable plot.

Nothing else to add but just buy it!!!

I have always enjoyed a KL Slater book

This caught my attention because whoever would marry their son’s killer?! It just didn’t sit right with me so I had to know more of course!

This of course does not go down well with either family and unites Bridget and Tom deeper into their relationship.

Tom and Jesse were best friends from childhood and an altercation lead to Jesse’s death which Tom is sent to prison for.

The story follows the new found love between Tom and Bridget and uncovers some hidden stories of the past that led to Jesse’s death.

A pretty good read

Wow, I need more K. L. Slater in my life!
This was my first one and no need to say I've already added a couple to my TBR pile. This is exactly the kind of psychological thriller that I like.
This book was nothing like I would have expected from the blurb, so I kept reading it with one idea in mind and constantly trying to guess what was really going on, and then suddenly it surprises you completely. Never a dull moment, really great characters, superb plot: I would definitely, definitely recommend this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! A truly great thriller. I thought I had it all figured out but was super wrong! A great beach read and I look forward to more by slater! She gives just the right amount of details!

Another twisted masterpiece by K.L. Slater! The Marriage did not disappoint. When it comes to psychological thrillers, I need to be wowed and have no clue the ending until the ending is here. This was one of those books! I had no idea what to expect until around 85% into the book and then I started to piece it together. Great writing and wonderful plot. Would definitely recommend this book and author!

Thank NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

“Ten years ago he killed my son. Today I married him...”

This is the line that hooked me and made me click request! I had to know what was going to happen in this book. I've never read anything by KL Slater but I will be looking for more of her books.
A true fantastic thriller with twists and turns that had me guessing throughout the entire book. I loved the characters and the author brought them out in such a way that I could really relate to all of them.
The story is told in a past and present timeline which I always enjoy and this one worked flawlessly. If you love thrillers this is one you don't want to miss.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advanced ebook copy!

📚 BOOK REVIEW 📚 The Marriage by KL Slater.... Publication Date - 20th May 2021 - Tom & Jesse have been best friends since nursery days, their mums becoming best friends as well. All that changes on night, when the boys have a fight outside a nightclub!! Many years later, Jesse’s mum is getting married to the person who killed her son.... the question is .... why would someone do that? 📚 I loved this book. I’ve tried not to give much away, not to spoil your read! This book has lots of twists and turns which I love. I found myself trying to figure out who was a good guy in this book. I love a book that keeps me guessing. Definitely worth a read!! 📚

#themarriage #netgalley #KLslater #bookstagramshaz

https://www.instagram.com/Bookstagramshaz

Based on the synopsis, I thought I knew what to expect in this book but boy, was I ever wrong! I was captivated from the first page and found it to be a quick, easy read while still being very entertaining. There are some twists and turns along the way and overall a really good book!

Such a shocking premise that I had to read it. Bridget marries Tom , her son’s childhood friend who kills him outside a nightclub with one punch.
Bridget meets Tom again in prison as part of a Restorative Justice programme and they fall in love - Or do they?
They marry in prison without telling their families or friends who understandbly upset when they find out - particularly Tom’s mother who had been a good friend of Bridget’s.
Even up to the end I wasn’t sure which way it would go.
Pacy, a bit outrageous but suspend your belief and enjoy.
4 🌟
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for a fair review.

Kim Slater is rapidly becoming my favourite author,once again again she has written a blinding phschological thriller which i couldn't put down.Tom and Jesse were best friends but one night things went wrong and Tom punched Jesse and he died resulting in a ten year prison sentence for Tom,fast forward ten years and Tom is married to Jesse's mum Bridget much to the disgust of Tom's mum Jill who used to be close friends with Bridget until Tom was sent down,and with everyone holding secrets including Audrey, Jill's best friend who she has known for years it all boils up to a gripping climax ! I can't praise Kim Slater enough she is up there at the top when it comes writing this genre of books.A 5 star winner without a doubt.

How?! How can someone marry the person responsible for killing their only child? There’s gotta be a sinister reason, right? There’s just no way someone in their right mind could overlook something like that. Is there a grand revenge scheme going on?

That’s what drew me to this book. I wanted to find out how and why someone would do such a thing. So with every chapter, I’m reading into every action and word the mother, Bridget, does and says. Or perhaps, Tom, the husband is a stone cold killer and wants to kill her too.

But that’s not even what this book is really about. Yes, it’s was drives the story but the ending wasn’t what I expected... at first. But as you get deeper and deeper into the it, you find a shift happening. And then it all comes together.

I wouldn’t call this a mind blowing reading but it was still pretty good. It was quick read. I was able to finish it in a couple of days. I didn’t find any slow points, which I appreciate. Overall, an enjoyable book.

Another creative winner by this author! I love books about family drama and revenge. Bridget and Jill were best friends as were their sons Tom and Jesse. Ten years ago, Tom killed Jesse in a fight and was sent to jail. Now Tom is out of jail and married to Bridget, Jesse’s mother. Is Bridget setting up Tom in an act of revenge? Did Tom kill Jesse on purpose? These and many other questions come to light during this very creative and jaw dropping story.

What an amazing book, I read this within a day it was such an addictive read, absolutely loved the twist, such an enjoyable read

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC of this book for an honest review. Also thank you Bookouture for approving this book. This was a book that really intrigued me I couldn’t wrap my head around the thought that a Mother could marry her son”s killer !! There are twists and turns and a different ending than I expected. It started out a little slow to me for several chapters but I wanted to keep reading to see how it all would turn out. Good book and worth the read.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture, and K.L. Slater for an ARC of this book!**

Could the man who haunts your nightmares become the man of your dreams?

Bridget is about to find out. 10 years ago, her son Jesse was killed by an unusually powerful punch from his best friend Tom after a rowdy night out at a local nightclub. Tom was imprisoned for his misstep and has spent the past decade paying for his crime...and forming an unusually close bond with the mother of his childhood best friend through a rehabilitation course offered as part of his sentence. Fearing the obvious recrimination from both families, they take the leap and get married at the prison prior to Tom's release. Once that day hits, however, not only does this pair have that issue to contend with, but all of the secondary players in both of their lives have something to say about the match...not to mention a trove of secrets and a tangle of mysteries that lead back to the night of Jesse's murder. Has Bridget found the perfect way to move on...or has she set herself in a carefully- laid trap to become an unwitting victim herself?

I always look for certain boxes to be checked when I read K.L Slater: fast read, enjoyable characters, interesting premises, and a fun twist or two. The Marriage hits all of these points, and although some people might find the setup a bit TOO unbelievable, Slater did draw her inspiration from reality, once again proving that truth can be stranger than fiction! This was a bit of an up and down read for me, but once I was about 65% of the way through, the pace picked up and I was buckled in and ready for the ride! Slater's characters were solid as always, and one in particular packs a significant punch (no pun intended) in the final twist! I did miss the presence of younger children in this book, only because Slater writes really adorable child characters and they are a joy to read, but they wouldn't have served this plot at all, so I'll just have to wait for her next book! Honestly, for me, this is one example of a book where the last chapter takes it up a notch and the twist makes EVERYTHING worth it, in the best possible way.

This was a marked step up from the last Slater book I read, Little Whispers, and reminded me why she quickly became a must-read author for me after my first read. This is perfect pool-side entertainment to go with your favorite summer beverage of choice! 4 stars

This book was a ride!

I was hooked right away from the premise and knew I absolutely had to read it!

I will say that the first half of the book is very slow. We are introduced to all these characters and it's told from several of their POV's but we don't really get a whole lot of information either. It's mostly their thoughts and feelings rather than anything that truly moves the story forward. However, once it got to halfway through it hits the ground and never stops running! It became true page-turning material.

I will give some advice and say pay attention to every. single. character. No character here is here unnecessarily. Every story is important and it becomes more clear towards the last few chapters of the tale. I was really intrigued by Bridget...what were her motives? Was she really genuine in her feelings for Tom or was something more sinister at play? Jill played the typical protective mother and I found her very frustrating throughout but also could understand how this would be an extremely odd situation to be in.

I do wish that we had seen the book from Jesse's perspective also. I wanted to know more about his own thoughts. Yes, he is the deceased character in the book but it goes to the past several times with other characters so I would have liked him to have been a part of that also. Ellis, Robert and Coral were very interesting characters also.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I would say just give it a little time to really kick-off. It may seem slow in the beginning but all of these scenes are important and come together in a very fast-paced way later on.

(Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC. All opinions are honest and my own.)

A domestic thriller with a different storyline. With few characters and not much of a story in the initial part, the author keeps the plot moving with her talented narrative. The twist is quite predictable with a satisfying conclusion.

What a book. awesome. So many twists and turns to bring a jaw dropping ending. Bridget and Jill are great characters. You definitely do not want to put it down.