Back in June 2020, a debut author slid into my Dms and I am so glad she did. From there I feel I've gone on a wonderful journey, watching her flourish as an author. Going from strength to strength. She started off as an indie author, and is now with Bookoutre who have some amazing authors in their ranks.

She is a dab hand at writing psychological thrillers. Drawing in the reader from the start. And, taking us on a roller coaster through fhe storyline.

Four chapters in to The Perfect Marriage and I was hooked. So many questions going round in my mind.
[ ] Who's Roberta in the prologue?
[ ] How is she linked to the main characters?
[ ] Danny comes across as the boss in the relationship. Is he controlling Ashley?
[ ] Why haven't they seen Aunt Susie for a while?
[ ] Was there ever anything more between Danny and Lucy?
And then we get the ending of chapter 3 😮😱

Throughout the narrative of the story I kept flip flopping with my theories. Who did I think had done what? Who was involved in what? Ashley was a strong female character. Despite all the troubles that was going on in her life. She still kept the business going. Was strong for her little boy. And, she even managed to crack a few mysteries along the way. But, did she trust her husband? And will you as the reader trust him?

The Perfect Marriage is a perfect read for psychological thriller readers. It will keep you on your toes right to the bitter end.

Wow, I loved this book! Which is actually no surprise because I have loved AJ's books from Day 1! Her writing, characters, and plot twists have only gotten better with time, which is saying a lot because they started pretty darn good! This book, in particular, though really threw me for a loop in terms of twists. I did not see the ending coming at all! So many red herrings, plot twists, and delicious drama. Exactly what you want in a thriller! Thanks so much to the AJ, the publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC!

Have you ever worried about your significant other keeping deadly secrets from you? In this psychological thriller, you’ll read about Ashley’s fear of just that. Not wanting to believe her longtime love she’s built a family with could do anything like what he’s accused of, I was intrigued until the end to find out just how this would end!

Thank you, AJ Campbell, Bookouture, & netgalley for my early copy! All opinions are my own.

Excellent book! I believe I already reviewed it, under a different title. It very confusing when a title gets changed, sorry.
Thanks netgalley.

I have loved Campbell’s books from the beginning and this one was no exception. In fact… this one may just be my favourite yet!

The opening chapter had me utterly hooked and if I hadn’t been reading this in the school holidays with family staying over, I’d have inhaled it in 2 days. But alas…

Campbell is a solid thriller writer. The pace was spot on, with bucket loads of suspense - total on the edge of your seat stuff. The amount of times I changed my mind as to what was going on - Campbell had me completely dangling. Did I guess the twist…?! Of course I didn’t - that was a totally unexpected and mind blowing twist - talk about a nail biting ending!! And as always, her characterisation is masterfully done.

An easy 5 star from me and I can’t wait to read the next one.

Thank you @ajcampbellauthor and @bookouture for the opportunity to read and review an e-arc of #MyPerfectMarriage

This was my 5th book by AJ Campbell, and she never disappoints, a solid 4 star really enjoyable read!

Ashley and Danny are happy, they moved to Thyme End, a country village where Danny grew up, with their 9 year old son Elliot for a more peaceful lifestyle and it’s going reasonably well. Despite Ashley occasionally feeling home sick for their past life in London, their life, to outsiders, seems picture perfect. With a busy enough marketing company and close friends Lee and Lucy, of whom Lucy was childhood friends with Danny, their life feels good. They feel certain that they made the right decision moving out of the city to Thyme End. However, when attending Lee and Lucy’s daughter Grace’s very grand 9th birthday at the estate Lucy and Lee own, Ashleys’ whole world is turned upside down when she discovers Lucy bludgeoned to death in one of the estates garages and Danny standing next to her with a hammer in his hand covered in blood. Suddenly Danny is a murder suspect and the only thing that the village can talk about is Ashley and Danny and why he supposedly killed Lucy. Ashley tries her best to hold things together for Elliot with her sister, Susie, at her side but at the same time she is determined to prove Danny’s innocence, however at every turn it gets harder and harder as Ashley discovers secrets and lies piling up all over the place. Will Ashley manage to prove Danny’s innocence, or will her own investigating put her in peril too?!

Oh, this was another great page turner from the talented AJ Campbell! I was already hooked at just chapter 4 and once again, whilst reading I was getting annoyed at life getting in the way of my reading- always the sign of a good book. I really liked Ashley, I thought she was gutsy and conducted herself really well in the face of Danny’s arrest. I really had no idea who the murderer was but really enjoyed the ride and thought it was very clever how the whole story only actually spanned around 96 hours. You never get a straightforward whodunit murder story with AJ Campbell and I love all the different facets and layers she writes in all her stories.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this for any readers who enjoy psychological thrillers, you won’t be disappointed. I can’t wait to see what AJ Campbell comes up with next!

Thank you to NetGalley, AJ Campbell and Bookouture for my advanced reading copy. Out now.

**"My Perfect Marriage"** (formerly know as “How Can I Trust You”) by A.J. Campbell is an unputdownable thriller that will keep you reading all night long, at least it did for me, lol! The gripping storyline unfolds as Ashley grapples with the shocking accusation that her husband has killed her best friend. The tension escalates as she tries to reconcile her love for him with the mounting evidence against him.

The book delves into the complexities of trust, betrayal, and the unraveling of secrets.

AJ Campbell weaves a web of suspense, which had me totally questioning the truth and the depths of human deception. The emotional turmoil faced by Ashley is evident, and the twists and turns kept me guessing until the final pages!

If you enjoy domestic psych thrillers with intricate character dynamics, **"My Perfect Marriage"** is a must-read. It is a book that had me finding myself totally engrossed in this dark and compelling tale of love, betrayal, and the search for truth.

Another great read from AJ Campbell! I was looking forward to reading this one, it was full of secrets and mystery and intrigue.

Ashley and Danny seem to have the perfect marriage but in the space of a few hours their world is turned upside down. The story is told from the POV of Ashley. I really felt for Ashley she seemed to be uncovering more and more about Dan. I was so unsure how I felt about him, one minute I trusted him the next I didn’t.

I couldn’t figure out how things were going to go. Once things started unraveling they did at a quick pace.

I really liked Ashley’s sister and Danny’s brother too, although I was wary of him too. 🤣

I highly recommend this one if you love a fast paced psychological thriller.

Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me on the tour and for my gifted copy of the book.

It’s hard to give a review without a spoiler. The books leaves you questioning and on edge, the whole way through. It’s worth the read !!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was so excited to see a new thriller by AJ Campbell! Her books are so addictive!! This book was such a wild ride. Who can you trust in this book?? Could Dan really kill Lucy? So many secrets, so much distrust..it was crazy!! I was so glued to this book, trying to figure out what was going to happen next. This book is a must read!

Well well well, what a rollercoaster of a read. I loved every single word I read. Hooked from the start and completely action packed, what more could you want from a thriller?

Ashley is round her best friend Lucy’s house with her family to celebrate her daughter’s birthday. It really is the perfect day so far, that is until Lucy is found brutally murdered and Ashley’s husband Danny is arrested for her murder.

Ashley doesn’t see how this is possible Danny is no murderer and besides he’s known Lucy for years. Determined to prove her husband is innocent Ash does some digging of her own, however it turns out her marriage isn’t a perfect as all would seem. Danny has been keeping secrets from her secrets that make Ash doubt how well she knows her husband.

With no one but her sister to turn to Ash feels lost and begins to struggle, she can’t focus, she can’t eat nor can she sleep. Ash wants and needs answers from Danny but with her being allowed no contact with him this is looking less and less likely by the minute.

Then comes a twist as Ash comes face to face with Danny, the truth comes out and things turn even more darker and dangerous than anyone could have imagined.

I really enjoyed my perfect marriage and it took me a while to write the review as I couldn’t think of what to write without giving the game away. I’ll definitely be looking out for more books by AJ Campbell.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review.

First, I want to thank AJ Campbell, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.

WOW!! I can’t imagine all the emotions that I would feel finding my best friend was just killed supposedly by my husband! This is what happened in My Perfect Marriage by AJ Campbell. This was a very heartbreaking, suspenseful, shocking read that you must put on your tbr list.

Originally My Perfect Marriage was going to be called How Can I Trust You along with the covers. I think it was smart to change the name of the book as well as the cover. Both covers were good in my opinion but the newer one fit the book better.

I try to put myself into the character’s shoes in every book that I read. This way I can feel all the emotions that they are going through, good or bad. This one I was heartbroken over the best friend getting killed. However, I was shocked that everyone thought the husband did it. All of her emotions I felt right along with her.

There were so many deep dark hidden secrets, lots of questions, and shocking moments. This is one book that keeps you on your toes.

My Perfect Marriage is a completely addictive thriller, with so many twists and turns. This might be her best one yet.

As a fan of psychological thrillers, I am always drawn to AJ Campbell's works. Her unique creativity and ability to create relatable characters always hold my attention, and I find myself reading her storylines until the end.

‘My Perfect Marriage’ is no exception to her excellent work. The plot kept me engaged throughout, with its twists and turns leading to a satisfying conclusion that left me wanting more. Fans of this genre will appreciate the storyline and its structure.

Ashley and Danny, the story's leading characters, are well-developed and ideally suited for their roles. I found myself thinking I knew how they would react in certain situations, only to be surprised by their unpredictable behaviours.

The audiobook version of the novel is also exceptionally narrated, bringing the characters to life. I was particularly impressed with this format, as it enhanced my experience of the book even further.

Overall, ‘My Perfect Marriage’ is an entertaining and engaging read for fans of psychological thrillers. It is an excellent introduction to AJ Campbell's work and a must-read for anyone looking for a thrilling and thought-provoking story.

I loved the previous book I read by this author so was excited for this one but unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me. Overall it was fine but I I didn’t find it very exciting nor did I care much for any of the main characters. I will however look out for more by this author

I enjoy a domestic thriller that really shows the inner workings of a marriage and family life. Especially ones that look perfect but we all know aren’t……

With a great opening prologue I was instantly grabbed and wondered where this would fit with the story that I knew was coming. It was clever to take a back road rather than the faster main route and allowed you to take in the scenery of the story. It’s also more important than you think.

Ashley was a difficult main character as I found her to be whiny and her constant harking back to city life made me question if I could root for her. Then I met Miss perfection and murder victim herself Lucy and I quickly changed my mind.

The author really knows how to put you in the characters shoes and question what you would do in the circumstances. Would you stand by your husband even though the more you look into things the guiltier he looks? How strong is your trust compared to your gut instinct?

Danny made me want to go out and buy bunting covered in red flags to decorate Ashley’s home office but then his brother Tom was looking pretty iffy too. With every piece of suspect information that is revealed, along came a new person to add to my whodunnit list.

Fast paced and packed full of mistrust this is a book you will race through to try and work out who and why. Perfect for fellow armchair detectives that enjoy sorting red herrings from the clues that are there, if you know where to look.

Review of My Perfect Marriage by AJ Campbell

I have really enjoyed every book I have read by this author and I think this one may be my favorite. Or at least my second favorite. 😉 This one grabbed me from the first chapter. And it was an extremely quick read that was that was fast paced and a wild ride the entire time. The ending was somewhat shocking, which I always appreciate in a book. I also really liked the main character. This one was out yesterday so definitely go grab your copy now.

Synopsis:

My husband is accused of killing my best friend. Can I trust anything he says?

It feels like all the air has been knocked out of me. My best friend is dead, killed at her own daughter’s birthday party. All I want to do is run into my husband’s loving arms. But he’s in handcuffs, covered in her blood. His voice quivers, almost sobbing as officers put him in the police car. ‘You don’t think I did this, do you? I was trying to save her.’

At first, I’m sure he couldn’t have done it. The man I love wouldn’t hurt anyone. But as I try to prove that he didn’t murder Lucy, secrets begin unravelling…

It starts with the messages between the two of them. Initially, they seem innocent enough. But the more I look, the more I become convinced they were having an affair. Then I find out about his divorce lawyer…

Suddenly my whole life feels like a lie. If he was hiding his plan to leave me for Lucy, can I believe his protests that he is innocent? And if he really did murder his lover, what else is he capable of?

My Perfect Marriage is wild ride that’s told in 3rd person. AJ starts this one off with a bang right from the prologue. It had me quickly reading the pages and I didn’t know if I should trust Ashley, Danny or neither of them 😂 there was a lot of betrayal and twists and I loved the pacing of this book. The last 15-20% had me absolutely shocked. Highly recommend if you enjoy domestic thrillers that will keep you guessing!

Ashley moves with her family to Thyme End for a new chapter. Except it should be called End Thyme because many things will change for Ashley.
I suspected who was guiltily of killing Lucy but couldn’t discern the motive until it was revealed in the book.
Ashley gets very paranoid with so many unanswered questions.
The plot kept me guessing, incorrectly, throughout the book.
I liked Susie the sister because she showed up and seemed unflappable.
The ending is a good example of having a wish come true but then seeing a dream die at the same time.

5⭐️

BOOK TOUR

A brilliant domestic psychological thriller crammed with twists, turns and an inundation of secrets! 😍

Imagine suffocating on the cocktail of secrets and deceit you uncover about your husband. They are swirling around and reverberating right through you. This was the case with protagonist Ashley and it made a fantastic read!

Ashley’s husband Danny has been accused of killing her best friend at her own daughter’s birthday party. He’s in handcuffs and covered in blood, but you’re certain he wouldn’t hurt anyone. Then the secrets start to unravel and you start to wonder what is your husband capable of?

Campbell has never failed to deliver in any of her books and this read sure does continue this streak. From the intriguing opening, to the short chapters, red herrings and a likeable main character, this book really captured my attention and its addictiveness made it very difficult to put down.

The first quarter was on the slower side, but I loved the little tangents Ashley went on. They really helped build the picture of Ashley’s marriage to her charming and charismatic husband Danny. As the book progressed, the pace fastened and the tsunami of secrets were unearthed. I felt like I blinked and I was already over halfway through. I loved it! I felt so sorry for Ashley’s son Elliot too.

I didn’t predict what happened or what was yet to come and I was definitely kept at the edge of my seat. The final ten percent was Tense with a capital T!

A huge thank you to @bookouture and @ajcampbellauthor for having me on the Book Tour and to @netgalley for the copy of My Perfect Marriage which was published yesterday. Congrats to Campbell on your first book with Bookouture! ❤️

I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller and recommend you check it out. It left me with the message, how well do you truly know somebody? 😍

💬: ‘It’s astonishing how people can twist history to suit their repulsive thirst for gossip.’

⚠️ Please check out the trigger warnings!