When an old friend shows up on their door step, Rachel and Matt are unsure what to say to her. Hannah makes a wave and causes them all to be very uncomfortable. Switching back and forth from past to present it was a little hard to keep up. Due to reading this book over a period of time and not all at once I felt like a few details may have not came all together for me. All the characters were different and very interesting. They each had secrets from the past and when everything came together at the end it was different than I thought, but wasn't a super shock either. I gave the book 3/5 stars because I don't feel like I completely get all of the details of the story. I do believe if i had read it quicker I could have liked it more. I was given this ARC book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I found this book to be a little confusing. I wasn’t sure who I was rooting for or what side to take, which is some cases can be good, however this just made it hard for me to get through to finish. I did finish it but it was a struggle. Just an ok read for me.

Thank you so much for being able to read this advanced copy of The Broken Marriage by Elena Wilkes.

This was a twisting, turning, suspenseful book from the very beginning. Independently each of the main characters - Hannah, Rachel, Matt, Alison and Emily seemed plausible. As the plot unfolded though the reader began to take sides. Just when you thought you had it figured out another storyline was added. It wasn't confusing which kept my interest high.

Then the ending is near and all hell breaks loose with the plot! This really peaked and maintained my interest - a fast paced read which would lend itself easily to a book club pick.

The Broken Marriage by Elena Wilkes was good but honestly it was not my favorite book I have read. It was a story about broken friendships, lies, secrets, jealousy, and betrayal. To be honest it was kinda a slow read for me. It did get better for me as it got halfway in the book up until the end. It was kinda confusing to me too because it goes from the past and present with the Characters Matt, Rachel, and Hannah telling their story and looking back at their friendship when they met in College. This book is not really about a broken marriage but about how your past can break up,your relationships with your friends, family, etc. Overall, I liked the story because it does have some surprising and shocking twist at the end but I just wish it would have not been so slow paced for me as a reader leading up to the good stuff. Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for giving me the opportunity to receive a ARC of this book to read and review.

Are you ready for a book that will keep you guessing until the very end? Characters who come alive within the pages and will have you doubting everything you were once led to believe?

Rachel, Matt and Hannah, all have secrets they want to keep hidden but what happens when someone’s secrets explode and turn these lives upside down ?

As the secrets begin to reveal themselves you’ll be left with your jaw on the ground.

Your emotions won’t change anything…. They’ll just get in the way .

Let me leave you with this little teaser :

The perfect couple is hiding something deadly…

Rachel and Matt have it all. They are the beautiful couple - from their tastefully renovated house to their highly successful careers. But beneath the happy façade lies a relationship strained by secrets and lies. While Rachel grows increasingly restless, Matt can’t stop thinking about Hannah, Rachel’s former best friend, who they haven’t seen for seventeen years...

When Hannah suddenly arrives on their doorstep in the middle of a snowstorm, Rachel and Matt’s perfect marriage begins to crack dangerously. As tensions mount to a breaking point, Hannah reveals her own dark secret – one she's been afraid to face. But has Hannah brought that darkness with her? Has it followed her to this place of safety? Trapped together while the snow falls heavily outside, it becomes clear that everyone has something to hide…

Just why has Hannah reappeared in Rachel and Matt’s lives now, and what isn’t she telling them? And how far will this perfect couple go to keep the growing web of lies from destroying them all?

This is a book about relationships, good and bad. Relationships even when uncomplicated may be confusing and I found some confusion, particularly since the story moves about in time. There are unpredictable moments and in all an enjoyable read.

"The Broken Marriage" is a captivating exploration of fractured relationships and hidden truths, punctuated by shocking revelations that will leave readers speechless. From its gripping opening to its suspenseful conclusion, this novel delves into the complexities of past traumas and the tangled webs of deceit that bind its characters together.

The story begins with a chance reunion between college friends Rachel and Hannah, setting off a chain of events that unravels long-held secrets and exposes the fractures in Rachel's marriage to Matt. As tensions escalate and suspicions mount, readers are kept guessing as to who holds the most significant secret of all.

With its unreliable characters and intricate plot, "The Broken Marriage" keeps readers guessing until the very end. While the title may suggest a focus solely on marital discord, the heart of the story lies in Hannah's past trauma and the relationships she forged during her college years. As the narrative shifts between past and present, the pieces of the puzzle slowly fall into place, culminating in a shocking revelation that will leave readers reeling.

Elena Wilkes crafts a tense and atmospheric tale, brimming with suspense and overflowing with secrets. For fans of psychological thrillers and gripping mysteries, "The Broken Marriage" is a must-read that promises to keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Broken Marriage by Elena Wilkes.
I really wanted to love this book, the last book by this author I did enjoy and was excited for a new one to delve into. Once I saw the cover I knew it would be something I just needed to read, but, after reading I think the title and cover are EXTREMELY misleading. This really has nothing to do with a broken marriage as the married couple aren't even really main characters in this story. This book, the dialogue and the story felt ALL OVER THE PLACE, honestly, when I got a few chapters in I felt like giving up, but, persevered, and I am sad I did. These characters are adults and yet the whole book made me feel like they were 8 year-olds from the dialogue and the stupid story line. There were so many random, stupid twists and stupid additional unneeded side stories and characters it was wholly unbelievable. All up, I just would not recommend this read.

wow!

I went into this book kind of blind. Obviously with the title being The Broken Marriage you have a general understanding, but I was on the edge of my seat.

I love when a book can keep me guessing. I had so many theories floating around as I continued reading but was actually shocked by one of the twists! I feel like I made so many guess at least one had to be true so I did guess a certain part. Obviously no spoilers so I won’t elaborate too much on that but I can say the twist had my jaw on the floor.

This is definitely one of those books where it is so easy to binge it all in one sitting. I was dying to find up what ultimately happened. And the ending???? SCREAMING!!!

Okay I did enjoy this one, but boy did I struggle bus to get through. (Hence the 2⭐️’s). It just wasn’t as captivating as the previous reviews I read that were spoil free. I did enjoy Hannah’s POV the most as she kept the mystery for me till I was getting irritated to find out answers. I think for me it was a tad drawn out. Especially the second half of the book.🤷🏼‍♀️😫

Overall, it was an entertaining psychological thriller that scratches that itch.

*Triggers: r*pe

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and to the author for this digital ARC copy! #TheBrokenMarriage #NetGalley

I just finished The Broken Marriage by Elena Wilkes and here is my review.

Hannah arrives at Rachel’s house in the middle of a snowstorm. The house of a friend she hasn’t seen in seventeen years… Not since that night.

Rachel married Matt, the man that lived with both Hannah and Rachel when they were in Uni. A man Hannah had one night with all those years ago. They have it all but the cracks are evident in their marriage and while Rachel invites Hannah to come in and catch up, she feels like she is in the middle of a nightmare.

She was there for a reason, she needs to talk about the past. They are all hiding something and the darkness within the house would be deadly.

This book had me whipped up like a kitchenaid mixer. The three main characters Rachel, Hannah and Matt all come across as the aggrieved party and then the problem and back again all the way through the book. You literally have no idea who is innocent and who is the bad guy and it was epic. I thought I had it all figured out several times and then the book threw me back through the loop and I was back to square one. I love books like that. I was wrong footed the whole time and it left me eager to get to the end.
The ending was a massive surprise too. I loved every single minute of this brilliant thriller. It was fast paced and dark. It was set over two lines… Present day and the events leading up to Hannah leaving university. This book taught me to trust no one!
5 stars. I literally couldn’t find anything wrong with this book.


Thank you to @netgalley and @stormbooks_co for my gifted copy
Brilliant book
#thebrokenmarriage #elenawilkes #stormpublishing #bookreview #bookblogging #thrillerreader #fictionlover #fictionaddiction #readingallday #weekendreader #FiveStarReview! #netgalley #ebooklover #kindle #digitalreader

A good thriller makes you question everything and makes you feel unsure of what's going on. This is what the book successfully achieved. The book starts out setting the suspense well and immediately piqued my interest. I was unsure of what to think and who was good and who wasn't worth rooting for.

Set in 2 timelines it makes you think what this is all about and if everything is what it looks like. What is it that happened in the past and how does it impact of he present. A well written mystery that hooks the reader!

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

This was a lot! It has the secrets and lies and shady characters that I enjoy but I struggled woth such a slow burn since I really didn't care about any of them. They all seemed a bit rubbish as people lol. It's a lot of back and forth and a lot of plot threads all intertwining which made it a bit unrealistic and confusing. I did still enjoy it but it may have been better had some of the character had more redeeming qualities and had there been a touch less twists and turns

Oh boy, I wish I could say I liked this more than I did, but it felt like time was dragging. It starts off very slow, and then became bogged down in this toxic friendship where you’re never sure who the antagonist is.
I’m sure there are people who will love this book, the story just wasn’t for me.

There is plenty of drama, loads of secrets, and lies galore in this book. I didn't really like any of these characters, but it did not take away from me being entertained. This book kept my interest, and there were twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. I enjoyed the dual timelines, and the buildup to the ending. The action started right from the beginning, but there was a lull in the middle of the book. The ending picked back up, and that was the part that had me the most entertained. Overall it was a quick and easy read. 3.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

There is plenty of drama, loads of secrets, and lies galore in this book. I didn't really like any of these characters, but it did not take away from me being entertained. This book kept my interest, and there were twists and turns that I wasn't expecting. I enjoyed the dual timelines, and the buildup to the ending. The action started right from the beginning, but there was a lull in the middle of the book. The ending picked back up, and that was the part that had me the most entertained. Overall it was a quick and easy read. 3.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rachel and Matt portray an image of a perfect couple with successful careers and a beautifully renovated house. However, beneath this facade lies a tumultuous relationship plagued by hidden truths. The arrival of Hannah, Rachel's long-lost friend after seventeen years, amidst a snowstorm, sets off a chain of events that unravel the perfect marriage of Rachel and Matt. As secrets are unveiled, tensions escalate, and the true complexities of their relationships come to light. Hannah's reappearance brings forth a dark secret that she has carried for years, adding more complexity to the already strained dynamics between the characters. The narrative delves into the intricate web of lies and hidden truths that each character harbors, leading to a crescendo of suspense and tension towards the climax of the story.
In Elena Wilkes' "The Broken Marriage," the characters are intricately crafted with unreliable narratives that keep readers guessing. The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, adding layers of complexity to the narrative. While the title may not fully encapsulate the essence of the book, the focus shifts towards Hannah's past trauma and her relationships with the characters, particularly during her college years. The narrative is punctuated with moments of tension and suspense, keeping readers engaged as the plot oscillates between past and present, gradually revealing the characters' hidden motives and connections. The ending delivers unexpected twists, leaving readers astounded by the revelations that tie the story together.

Elena Wilkes' adept storytelling weaves a tale of suspense and psychological intrigue that captivates readers. The atmospheric setting adds to the ominous tone of the narrative, heightening the sense of suspense throughout the book. While the pacing may falter at times, the gripping nature of the story ensures that readers are compelled to uncover the mysteries that shroud the characters' lives. The characterization, though authentic, lacks substantial growth in some instances, impacting the overall depth of the narrative. The emotional impact of the story varies, with moments of disconnect interspersed with jaw-dropping revelations that drive the story towards a twisted resolution.

Overall, "The Broken Marriage" is a compelling read that navigates complex relationships and hidden truths with a deft hand. The distinctive narrative style and unexpected twists make for an engaging exploration of deceit and secrets within seemingly perfect relationships. Readers seeking a gripping psychological suspense novel will find Elena Wilkes' work a worthy addition to their reading list. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review. I recommend this book and this author.

The Broken Marriage was a roller coaster of a read! Rachel and Matt, a typical married couple on the outside, have major secrets! I enjoyed reading this book and was rooting for things to work out for the sake of their children. The author delivered twist after twist, making things unrealistic, but entertaining. It did seem like a long read, but was still interesting throughout. Thank you to Elena Wilkes, Storm Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book prior to publishing.

The Broken Marriage was a fairly good novel but a bit slow, but it did keep me wanting more.

The story is based on Rachel, Matt, who are a couple that is going through a rough patch, when suddenly and old friend Hannah, reappears on their doorstep. Hannah gets snowed in, and has full intentions of telling Rachel some information about Matt that she has waited far too long to tell her but feels she needs to know. There are some troubling things that happened in the past between the friends, that Hannah is still trying to work through. While she's in process of that, there are some surprises that come about.

I do feel this book could be made far better by adding in some additional twists and turns throughout the book vs having so much happen at the end. Leave readers trying to figure out whats happening throughout the book vs more at the end. For example, sprinkling in additional things happening via Matt with Hannah staying with them, additional little things besides just the snowman. And in regards to Emily, making her a more questionable person throughout the book, making folks wonder about her true identity.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I found the concept of this book to start really interesting. It definitely took an interesting turn as it got further into it. I did think that there was a bit of a break between some of the stories. There was so much going on in this book that it almost feels like a few different stories that got a little bit jumbled. It was like three different novels packed into one, with a bit much on the complexities and all of the bad packed into it.

One of the biggest issues for me in this book is that I did not genuinely like the characters. I just found them all irritating, frustrating, and ridiculous in some of their responses. I didn't connect with the main characters at all. I was a bit bothered by the abject toxicity that laced the whole novel, and sadly this one was not really for me.