This one is a little bit of a slow burn, but picks up some as it progresses. It’s a little bit twisty and based on an interesting premise. I didn’t really like any of the characters, especially the main character, but I was interested in where this it was going. It’s based on secrets, lies and trust, which is what any good domestic thriller is about, am I right? This one is more of a psychological thriller than a pulse pounding thriller.

If you are a fan of slow burn psychological thrillers with unlikable characters, you should check this one out.

The Marriage Retreat

I liked Lorraine, but it took a bit for me to get there. You feel her shock and betrayal at her husband’s presumed lies before his death, and you root for her to unravel the mystery.

It took a bit of development to get into it fully, though it does oscillate between past and present.

I wish there was a bit more setup at the onset to make us care more about the characters before the first plot moves, but if you can get past that, you can go along on the ride for all of the twists.

3.5 (rounded to 4, of course).

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for my honest review...

I was anticipating this title for a while when I had been approved, the premise sounded something that would be perfect to read in one sitting and the tag line and cover had me hooked....
This book didnt disappoint.. I managed to read it in one sitting and it was absolutely fantastic, short snappy chapters and enough intrigue to keep me reading unti I finished the book.

I will be sure to look out for more titles from this author and enjoyed the title thoroughly.

4 stars

I love a good mystery thriller with a twist and really enjoyed this one. I recommend sticking with this story and pacing yourself to get to the end, if only to find out who the mystery woman is. This a story that I didn't read in one sitting, but rather picked it up in a couple of sittings where i was able to digest the story. The story could easily have fit into the Hitchcock movie genre.

Thank you to the Author, Publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and give an unbiased review of an advanced reader copy of the story.

Well this really hits the ground running and you get sucked in to the story. I just had to keep reading and finding out how it ended. I liked the 'light relief' with the couples it gave a break from the intensity although even that served a purpose and drove the plot forward.
Off to investigate more by thus author.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own

I quite liked the upto date part of this book, the flashbacks I was not to so keen on. But the story itself is good, it is so sad to think that the husband was hiding so much and pretending to be something he definitely was not. Its devastating for Lorraine and its crazy how her life unravels after all the hard work she put into Serenity Falls. A good read, ok for a rainy day. I loved the writing style and how the Irish landscape is described, very well done.

Imagine your husband fatally involved in a car crash with a woman in his passenger seat that you don't know. Wouldn't you wonder for a moment who she is and how she knew your husband. Oh, I know you would completely trust him and know that there must be an innocent explanation. But still, you might need some answers.
That is what happens to Lorraine when her husband Victor is involved.
She begins to question their life together and wonders did she really know the man she was married to at all.
She knows overall they have had a happy marriage but she starts to question who this woman is and how she knew her husband.
The story unfolds at a quite, slowly pace.
I enjoyed her character Lorraine, a little naive at times I felt and very trusting of her husband but nice nonetheless albeit with a few secrets of her own.
I felt image was quite important to Lorraine in this story and the need for people to see the good side of her husband even if she struggled to find it herself towards the end.
An enjoyable read, one that you will keep you entertained...

"My husband saved other people’s marriages…But his secret will destroy ours…"

A fatal car accident and a mistress who survives when my husband doesn't? can you say DRAMA!

I was super excited to read this book, it seemed like something I would love as a big fan of thrillers and domestic suspense but this book was way too slow for me. This book just didn't pull me in unfortunately and I felt rather bored throughout.

One of the main issues I had was the beginning is so hard to get into and not only that I had to re-read multiple chapters from being confused.

2/5 stars for me!

Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC!

The Marriage Retreat
By: Laura Elliot
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Imagine getting a call that your husband was killed in a car accident with an unnamed women! He is not where he told you! Victor is dead and his passenger is in a coma.

Lorraine and Victor Gordon have been married for 26 years and have built a reputation at marriage retreat that has helped so many work on their relationships. Lorraine thinks her marriage is solid.

This novel is so full of so many twists! Lorraine needs to find out who the younger woman is! This novel had me engaged until the final reveal!

Thank you Bookouture, Netgalley and author Laura Elliot for this advanced copy. Available August 17.
#themarriageretreat, #lauraelliot, #bookstagram, #booksconnectus, #bookreview, #stamperlady50

Absolutely love this author’s books and this latest offering is fantastic. A fast paced psychological thriller with so many twists and turns - an absolute must read

The burb tells a lot of the essence io the story which is told from the pov of the main women characters. The pace of the book is spot on you are thrown straight into tge action and the back history of dead victor and the marriage reconnect is told in drips. I loved the way Lorraine pov was so raw and realistic but was also written ti show she was a complicated character. The mysterious wonen writing kept me hooked. I found myself willing her to remember caring what happened to her. Some of the suplementary characters i didn't see the point of they were just there. . The fact that the reader discovered tge truth about naomu so early on did make it a nore gripping read. I found some of Lorraine's actions towards the end too convenient . The final act seemed to be iver a bit too quickly. I did love tge twists and turns. Thus is a good solid read . Could maybe have done with a but more pov of make characters as they were only mentioned in dialogue or from pov of someone else. .4 stars. Thanks to bet galkwry and tge publisher for my arc

This was a little too slow burn for me, I ended up DNFing this one which is very very rare for me. I couldn’t connect to the characters and the plot was not very unique

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this one!

This was difficult for me to get through. Convoluted, the characters weren’t likeable or relatable, and it wasn’t very thrilling.

This book started off with a bang and kept the momentum going throughout. It was very well written and the ending was really good.

I was initially drawn to this book by the description and was so hoping to love it! It didn't quite hit the mark for me though. I struggled feeling connected to any of the characters. There were also a lot of different names and I found myself losing track of who was who and who was related. The book was slow for the first half and I had a hard time staying focused. I did really like the point of view from the "No Name Girl." I thought she was the most developed character and the most intriguing! The unexpected turns the story took are what raised the rating for me. While it wasn't necessarily a hit for me, I think other people might enjoy this book!

Thank you Netgalley for providing the ARC ebook! All opinions are my own and are given voluntarily.

This book was very entertaining from start to finish. The story starts off with Lorraine finding out her husband had been killed in a car accident with an unknown female passenger. Lorraine and her husband run a rekindling marriage company together and they have always promised to never lie to each other. After his death Lorraine discovers lie after lie. Thank you net galley for this ARc!

First off, excited to review my first eARC!

That being said, this being categorized as a thriller seemed a bit of a stretch. Most of the twists ended up being rather predictable to me. There were quite a few characters mentioned with some importance, but then never get fully fleshed out.

I did enjoy reading from the perspective of No Name Girl. But honey, that is so wrong and you know it, move on from him quickly. RUN!

The Marriage Retreat
By Laura Elliot
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to @NetGalley and @bookouture for an advance copy of THE MARRIAGE RETREAT in return for my honest review.

Victor Gordon has saved countless marriages.

But a devastating car accident will lead his wife Lorraine on a mission to uncover his secrets…only to bury them again to save the reputation of their successful marriage retreat.

💭 I love a book that lets me play detective, giving me enough clues to feel like the smartest person in the room… until BOOM I’m totally wrong! 🙌

The Marriage Retreat is the perfect combination of a slow burn domestic thriller with a twisty-turny edge-of-your-seat ending.

A lot of reviewers thought that the first half of this book was too slow… so just don’t go into it expecting a fast-paced thrill. I thought that the slower pacing at the beginning allowed for deeper characterization and smouldering suspense!

You won’t know who to trust.
Your moral code will be tested.
Your bones will be chilled.


Read this book if you like…
👨‍👩‍👦 Domestic thrillers
🔥 Slow burn mysteries
🇮🇪 Atmospheric Irish towns
🏨 Magnificent resort settings
🌪️ Unexpected twists and turns
🔍 Playing detective
🫣 Suspense and tension
➕ Multiple POVs

The Marriage Retreat by Laura Elliott blends two closely related thriller subgenres, domestic and psychological, to tell how Victor and Lorraine turned her family hotel at Serenity Falls into a couples retreat many years ago. When Victor dies in a car accident with a young mystery woman, all the lies and secrets that define their lives and relationship are at risk of coming to light in the worst possible way.

As with many domestic thrillers, The Marriage Retreat is slow initially but picks up from the mid-point until the end. This is not my favorite pacing, as it causes my mind to wander too much. I prefer a tightly focused, fast-paced, from-start-to-finish style of thriller. Disclaimer aside, there are many aspects of The Marriage Retreat that I did enjoy.

Three POVs tell this story in 1st person narration: Lorraine, Gail, and the car crash survivor. My favorite POV is that of the mystery woman. Her story and struggle to remember her past held me riveted. It had those components I mentioned that I love: it’s tightly focused and enigmatic in all the best ways. I instinctually liked her even though I didn’t know her, whereas I didn’t particularly care for Lorraine or Gail. Still, their stories work together in a tightly woven fabric of a tragic tale that needs to be told.

Once the pace picked up, I enjoyed the story as the secrets slowly were revealed and spread like breadcrumbs that I followed to the tragic conclusion. There are shocking twists and one central mystery to unravel. And watching everything unravel brought joy to my thriller-loving heart.

This had a good plot and great potential but just was too slow for me. I think this would be a good book for someone to read who is new to thrillers .

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review .