AJ Campbell delivers yet another great psychological thriller!

This book was picked up on a lazy Sunday afternoon and didn’t take me too long to devour. The pages of the book just pulled me in and I escaped into the world of twists and turns. As is key with thrillers, the suspense element was held throughout and the author kept me guessing throughout.
Looking forward to reading more by the author

The book is out now and available on kindle unlimited and is a high recommendation from me

I frequently turn to thrillers for distraction. I’m quite particular in what I like - domestic, credible, compelling but not too violent are some of my requirements. A J Campbell always delivers for me.

Ashley, husband Danny and son Elliott live in their dreamhouse in the countryside running their own business. Things should be good; they aren’t and they get signiificantly worse when Ashley stumbles across a bloody scene with her best friend murdered and her husband holding the weapon. He swears he didn’t do it, but can she believe him?

I wasn’t sure how I would get along with this couple. I took an instant dislike to Danny, but then I wasn’t sure of Ashley either. Both seemed rather tied up in their business…Lucy’s death was a shock to the system. A bloody crime scene, a vibrant life ended and Danny caught up in the middle of it. At the heart of this novel is the relationship between Ashley and Danny and in particular what happens to trust in such situations..Although I pinned the blame on various characters on different points, my opinion was less important than Ashley’s as she desperately searches out the truth, swayed backwards and forwards, wanting to believe in her husband’s innocence.

A J Campbell creates great female characters. They are gutsy, intuitive, persistant, brave. Her females dig deep, search out clues, follow dangerous leads whilst cooking dinner, looking after a child, doing the school run and picking up the shopping! On top of that Ashley is creating videos for her company and she is dodging the village gossips and the media. I loved the domesticity - I loved watching Ashley trying to work out passwords and hack into his phone.. What on earth would you do if you found yourself in this situation?!!

If you enjoy domestic thrillers with plenty of twists and turns, a compelling and credible plot, then this is for you.

with many thanks to Bookoutre and Netgalley for my digital copy.

But is it?….

Trust is paramount to Ashley and Dan’s marriage…at least Ashley thought it was…then when a horrific incident at a friends child’s party leaves the friend dead and Dan holding a hammer she wonders just how much she knows her husband

The story then evolves part Whodunit, part family crisis drama ( have I created a new genre 😎 ) plus a healthy smattering of psychological thriller which turn this authors ( who has previously self published 6 books and now publishes her 7th via Bookouture ) writing into a smooth, exciting and fast paced read with a tense ending

The references to village life including the old fashioned village shop owner and the many gossips were spot on, also really laughed at the toothbrush email, am sure many of us have had this same email!🤗

An addictive read that HAD to keep reading to see what was going to happen next

A trail of secrets. Unbound betrayal. Confusion over whether to trust or suspect. All three just barely scratch the surface for My Perfect Marriage. A.J. Campbell’s newest thriller, I was utterly floored by the brilliance held within these pages. After all, from the moment I read the attention-grabbing start, my eyes were fixed to the pages as this twisted tale took me on the ride of my life. Well-plotted and nuanced, the treacherous lies, stomach-curdling events and shocking revelations will keep you spellbound for sure.

The characters felt wholly realistic and well-developed. From the gossipy townspeople to the blindsided wife, each and every one drew me in deep. Ashley, in fact, was portrayed in a clever, even-handed way and managed to never come across as melodramatic or over-the-top. In many plots such as this, that would’ve been a guarantee, but thanks to the sharp writing of Ms. Campbell, I needn’t have worried.

It was the storyline, however, that made this book a hole in one. From the steady pacing that meant I lost track of time to the explosive climax which had my adrenaline pumping, I was constantly on the edge of my seat. But it was the unguessable twist that truly took the cake. Coming out of left field but also fitting perfectly into place, it made the whole plot fit together seamlessly, in my humble opinion. So much so in fact, that multiple subplots were nailed in just one go.

There were a few teeny, tiny bits and bobs that irked me just a tad. Namely the unexplored epilogue. While it did answer all of the unresolved questions, there could’ve been so much more given the shocking conclusion. been so much more given the shocking conclusion. Additionally, I would’ve loved to hear from Danny some more. But then, you can’t have everything that you want, can you? Although I do have to say that I just so nearly did.

All said and done, this book was Campbell at her best. The fourth that I’ve read by her, I was captivated from the very first page as the storyline unfurled before me naturally in a show of true genius. Perfect for fans of Shari Lapena and Lisa Jewell, it held all of the necessary ingredients for an addictive, unputdownable tale. So, obviously, I strongly recommend that you go out and grab this one today. After all, this one will win you over hook, line and sinker just as it did for me. Rating of 5 stars.

My Perfect Marriage is one of those stories with lots of mystery that keep on leading to more questions than answers and the more the wife finds about her "perfect marriage and outstanding husband" she finds that she knows very little. Everything has a fitting explanation, her husband is estemeed by all in the village, but who is telling the truth and why so many secrets involving these so called friends? A good story line, well-written, providing good entertainment for a few hours.
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

What a thriller! Kept me guessing right till the end. I was so frightened at times, especially the ending. My goodness it blew me away, I definitely didn't see those twists coming.
This author sure knows how to capture your attention and draw you into their book and keep you there till you reach the last page.. even then you want more! Will definitely be recommending this book.

Loved this book!!! It has all the elements of a good thriller: keeps you guessing, lies, secrets, high stakes, and so much more. The title changed from How Can I Trust you? to My Perfect Marriage so if you see both titles, they are the same book.

As always with A.J. Campbells work, I was completely captivated with this story.

My Perfect Marriage is well paced with lots of red herrings to keep you guessing (and second guessing) the motives of the characters. I really appreciate Ashley's thought processes and her determination to find the truth and the answers that she desperately needs.
Family is always a huge part of Campbells work, so I was rooting for Ashley, who just wanted to protect her son Elliot and live happily as a family. I also enjoyed reading about her close relationship with her sister, Susie.

Secrets and lies continue to unfold throughout the book, right until the end, and the plot gets thicker and thicker. I think it's great that all characters, no matter how small, have a significant part to play in the story. From the gossiping moms, setting the scene for the small village vibes, to the extended family adding more motives and spilling more secrets.

Overall My Perfect Marriage is an intense and enjoyable read that will definitely have you hooked.

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up. This is hard to review without spoilers. The feelings I had about certain characters I feel would give things away if I were to voice them. So this review will be on the shorter side. I really enjoyed this thriller. When I was not reading it, I was wishing I was. The secrets, suspense, and shorter chapters made it hard to put down. I liked Ashley and how she became a sort of amateur sleuth. She was really good at putting the pieces together and trusting her gut. Even though I had my suspicions it still kept me guessing and I was not expecting that ending. With all the secrets that came to light I was always switching what I thought actually happened to Lucy. I have read AJ Campbell's books from the beginning and she keeps outdoing herself every time.

Thank you @ajcampbellauthor @bookouture and @netgalley for the gifted copy.

At a birthday party for her best friend Lucy’s daughter, Ashley Morgan feels uncomfortable when Lucy all but ignores her and focuses all of her attention on Ashley’s husband Danny instead. She tries to tell herself it means nothing. After all, Lucy and Danny grew up together and are lifelong friends. Plus, Lucy and her husband’s company works closely with Blue Banana Studios, Ashley and Danny’s marketing firm. They’re discussing business, she’s almost sure of it. But when Lucy is found bludgeoned to death with a hammer and Danny’s caught holding the murder weapon, Ashley starts to wonder what was really going on between them. The police do too.

Initially, Ashley believes in her husband’s innocence as strongly as she does their marriage. It breaks her heart to see him hauled off for questioning. But as she sits in their office that night to handle some work, she stumbles upon a note on his desk from a flirtatious woman dubbed “L”, as well as an appointment with a divorce lawyer. Suspecting that he’s having an affair, Ashley digs deeper to uncover even more that he’s been hiding about his life — and their business. She can’t believe her eyes. The man who she believed was a loving, trustworthy husband is nothing but a liar. It makes her doubt his innocence as well as his fidelity. Yet, Danny swears he didn’t kill Lucy, and his explanations actually make sense. But if he didn’t, who did? Ashley thinks she knows… and worries that she’s next.

Uber intense, pulse-pounding, and completely engrossing, “My Perfect Marriage” by A.J. Campbell tops the list of the books you must read in 2024. There aren’t enough glowing adjectives, OMG‘s, or swear words in existence to emphasize how gripping, suspense-filled, enthralling, and completely amazing it is. There aren’t many books I dub one-sitting reads, but this is one of them!

“My Perfect Marriage” has everything that makes good books… well… good. It has likeable characters such as Ashley and her sister Susie, as well as unlikeable characters such as Danny. It also has those characters you can’t help but suspect of something nefarious like Danny’s brother Tom or Lucy’s husband Lee. In addition, it also has the ominous prologue that grabs your attention and leaves you a little confused, trying to figure out what’s going on. It’s the perfect hook to get you to keep reading.

But where there are some novels in this genre that are a little formulaic (small twists, rising tension, big twist, shocking reveal), “My Perfect Marriage” is anything but. In fact, this book blows any such formula to smithereens. It doesn’t wait until the end of the book to blow your mind. Not at all. In fact, the first big, startling twist happens early — by the fourth chapter — and launches you on an adrenaline-filled rollercoaster ride through the rest of the book. It has your heart-racing and your mind spinning as you zip through the pages and all the twists that follow, leading you to a phenomenal, explosive ending.

“My Perfect Marriage” is one of those books I wish I could erase from my memory, so I could read it again for the first time. It’s one heck of a great book.

When A J Campbell comes with a new book, I make sure I read it
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I absolutely love all her books and My Perfect Marriage is no exception.
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I have to warn you that this is an unputdownable thriller that kept me up all night. I could not stop reading it. I needed to know what was going on
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This book took me from one scenario to another, second guessing myself every time I tried to even think of how this entire story will end
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It is filled with so many plots and twists and fast paced. My heart was racing a few times as the tension grew with every page
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The characters are so real that you can totally picture them as your next door neighbour and the story itself is one that can easily be shown on TV as breaking news
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If you fancy a heart pounding psychological thriller to binge, MY PERFECT MARRIAGE is just what you are looking for and it is out today so go grab it and start reading

I have enjoyed every book l've read by Campbell, and this was no exception.

Ashley finds her husband Danny standing over her best friend Lucy's body. Lucy is dead and Danny is covered in blood, holding a weapon.

Danny is taken in for questioning while Ashley goes home and starts to uncover and unravel clues as to what the truth might be. She can't believe Danny could have done this and is stuck between her loyalty to him and her suspicions about him that seem to be slowly growing.

This book was addictive and clever... a popcorn thriller style but not heaps on edge the whole time as there was some time spent where Ashley was slowly working things through- a nice balance.

For lovers of domestic thrillers, don't miss this one!

Thank you to #NetGalley, #Bookouture and A.J. Campbell for the opportunity to read My Perfect Marriage, to be published 8 April 2024. 5/5 Stars for this tense psychological thriller that kept me turning pages into the night. This novel had a different and unique trope unlike its predecessors. The bottom line is “Can you really know anyone?” As lives evolve through time, people tend to change and so do their values over periods of living in today’s world. This is a great, fast-paced read that keeps you moving from chapter to chapter. #NetGalley. #Bookouture. #A.J.Campbell #MyPerfectMarriage

Ashley, Danny, and their son Elliot reside in a quaint rural village. They both left London, and Ashley still yearns for the lively streets of the city. Furthermore, they both share a business partnership in a growing enterprise. Lucy, who is Danny’s childhood friend, invite them to her daughter's birthday party.

When the party is in full swing. Lee, Lucy’s husband, starts screaming and Ashley witnesses the commotion. See her husband Danny covered in blood, standing over the body of Lucy with a hammer in his hand. Danny is being accused by Lee of killing her. The Police is notified, and even though Danny maintains his innocence, they still handcuff him and escort him away.

Ashley questions whether her husband is truly innocent. Did he actually kill Lucy? Do you really know someone that you are married to? As Ashely further investigates. Her knowledge of Danny is expanding as she uncovers new things about him. Can he really trust him? Prepare yourself for a tense and twisty thriller involving secrets, murder, blackmail, and lies. Do we ever know fully the persons so close to us?

The author did a great job of developing the characters and the plot’s momentum made it a compelling read. The story had unexpected surprises and a shocking ending. This is another riveting read with a surprising twist at the end.

Note: Note: When I started reading, the book was titled “Can I trust You” and the cover was completely different. I couldn’t believe it when I learned about the title and cover change. The author’s newsletter states that the publisher made a last-minute alteration. Personally, I favor the earlier choices, but luckily the narrative remains unchanged.

Many thanks to @AuthorAJC @bookouture & @Netgalley for a review copy.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'My Perfect Marriage' by AJ. Campbell.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for AJ Campbell, Bookouture publishers, Bookouture Audio, Hachette UK, Eilidh Beaton, Rakkit Studios Ltd and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 8th April 2024

HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY A.J CAMPBELL!!
This may be the first book I have read by this author but I am definitely looking forward to reading more!
This novel consists of a prologue, 58 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!!

An intriguing book that I listened to on Audiobook. The storyline is filled with shocks, suspense, secrets, drama, lies, family, tension, mystery, deceit, murder and drama. In this book we meet Ashley who has moved with her husband Danny and their son Elliot from London to the countryside. Ashley misses the business of London and when they are invited to the birthday party of Danny's childhood best friend Lucy's daughter Grace they are looking forward to it. The party is going well and Ashley is having fun with Elliot on the bouncy castle when all of a sudden there's a scream. Lucy's husband Lee is found starting over the bludgeoned body of his wife holding a hammer. It seems an open and shut case of a husband killing his wife but as Ashley starts trying to work out what happened she starts finding out her husband has been hiding secrets from her. Who can Ashley trust? Why has Danny been keeping secrets? Who really did kill Lucy? Well, grab your copy now and find out!!! This book captivates the reader straight away starting with an explosive car crash then it becomes slower paced and picks up towards the end. I would definitely liken it to being on a rollercoaster ride but one where you start at the top of the drop, shoot straight down then go along the tracks calmly until you start speeding up hitting twists and turns along the way. While I did enjoy the storyline at times I did struggle to keep up with some of the secrets being discovered as there seemed to be quite a lot going on at once. When I had worked out what secret went where it became less confusing but it did take a while. There was a mix of characters in this book and I felt differently about them all. They all had their own unique personalities and were all well developed. I liked Ashley and found her to be quite a strong character who stood up and questioned her husband and was determined to get to the truth. I must say though that I wasn't a fan of their son Elliot and did find him to be a spoilt brat at times and I felt like shouting at him through the pages. Eilidh did a fantastic job creating different voices for each of the characters and it felt like there were different narrators as she did it so well. This is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Eilidh Beaton who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Eilidh Beaton did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Amanda but also to listening to more books narrated by Eilidh! I must say that the cover and synopsis was a bit deceiving as it states that it is Ashley's best friend that was killed when it was actually Danny's childhood best friend but it didn't alter my feelings on the storyline I just found it a bit strange. This is an intriguing book which kept me trying to work out if Danny really was the killer and if not who it could be with AJ constantly taking the reader on roundabouts and twists trying to work out what really happened. I enjoyed the mystery and trying to solve it with Ashley. AJ's excellent writing skills and descriptions really brought the storyline, surroundings and characters to life and I felt as if I was with Ashley throughout. With AJ's evocative writing skills and Eilidh's brilliant narration I was walking around with my earphones constantly in while I was doing the washing, cleaning the house and driving around. I ended up reading this book in two sittings and am looking forward to seeing what AJ has next up her sleeve!

Overall an intriguing mystery that will keep you guessing throughout.

326 pages/ 9 hours 42 minutes

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, £9.99 in paperback and £16 for the audiobook via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 4/5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Could not put this down! Gripped from start to finish. So many twists and turns - right to the end. My favourite AJ Campbell book yet!

AJ Campbell has become one of my auto-buy and favorite thriller authors! Her books are always solid, with likeable characters, short chapters, and twists and turns! I love her writing style. And…she seems like a good human! Yay 🥰

This book draws you in immediately with a bone chilling scene. Then bam, another storyline begins. Ashley is at a birthday party for one of her close friend’s daughter. Her life is going perfect, she has the perfect family. Until her friend turns up murdered at the party and her husband is found with her blood and the murder weapon! Ashley doesn’t know who to trust or where to go as she uncovers secret after secret. This book will bring you on an emotional roller coaster.

This book brings small town gossip to the next level. I live on a small town and can relate. I felt Ashley’s stress and anxiety. I highly recommend if you are looking for a fast paced thriller! You will not be disappointed!

My Perfect Marriage by AJ Campbell

What did I just read!!! Oh my goodness if you are looking for an intense, explosive, edge of your seat psychological thriller then look no further. My Perfect Marriage (formerly titled How Can I Trust You?) by A.J. Campbell is just the book for you. It was absolutely brilliant and kept me up way past my bedtime. A.J. Campbell is one of my favourite authors and I’ve read all but one of her books and all were 5 star reads. But oh my goodness, My Perfect Marriage is definitely above and beyond 5 ⭐️. So far, this book is my favourite read of 2024 and perhaps one of my all time favourite thrillers.

From the moment the story began my mind was whirling with whodunnit? Everyone was a suspect, but I definitely didn’t figure it out. In fact, I was rather blind sided by the plot twist at the end and still can’t quite wrap my head around it. It was all rather shocking. But of course in a good way.

Ashley’s husband Danny is accused of the gruesome murder of his beloved childhood best friend Lucy. He’s covered in her blood and holding the murder weapon but vehemently denies he had anything to do with it. Ashley doesn’t know who or what to believe. Were Danny and Lucy having an affair and did Lucy’s husband find out and murder her in a fit of jealous rage? Or was it Danny’s brother who used to date Lucy? The possibilities are endless and everyone was a suspect to me. Even the local town gossip.

Thank you A.J. Campbell for having me on your book tour and @bookouture for my e-arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Pub Date: April 8th 2024
Rating: 5💫/5⭐️

After reading I'm slightly confused by the blurb - as the victim was the best friend of the husband, not the wife. I also think the original title of how can I trust you suited the book more than my perfect marriage.
The story itself is fine, I just think that because I've read some truly brilliant and very dark books lately this one doesn't quite measure up. I found the characters unlikeable, and felt the ending rather rushed.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc ebook. 2.5 rounded up to 3.

Loved the premise but this book ultimately failed to hold my interest.

If this is your first encounter with thrillers, you’ll probably enjoy it. If you’re a seasoned thrillers reader, you might find it quite predictable and not all that thrilling.

This was just ok, nothing impressive nor memorable.