Four couples head to a remote island where they will participate in a reality TV show. Cameras follow their every move and broadcast it to millions of viewers. Each couple have an issue that they think therapy, and this show will help them fix. But when producers are behind the scenes pulling strings, can they all leave the island unscathed?
Told through the perspective of 4 of the contestants (one from each couple), with Detective interviews scattered throughout, we follow the process of the show from day one when everyone arrives all the way to when they leave. For the most part, the first half of the book, the half where the show is being filmed, was a little boring. It was mostly just a whole lot of drama, and flirting. Honestly, the only reason I kept reading was because of the interviews in between. I was a little worried when the show wrapped up at 51%. I couldn't see how there was any story left. But then one of the characters is killed. The second half of the book is much the same as the first, just with the added tension of knowing they're trapped on the island with a killer.
This was a story filled with unlikeable characters, who spent their time lying, cheating and just being all out twats.
Despite the fact there wasn't a single likeable character, I did actually end up enjoying this one.

A fast paced quick read with an interesting storyline. While I didn't care for a couple characters or their endings, the author did a good job giving all the characters a backstory and tying up all the subplots. Told from multiple point of views, it was easy to follow along. I enjoyed the authors writing style and look forward to her other works.

4 couples are chosen for a reality tv show set on a secluded island and they soon realize none of their relationships are perfect. While each couple has their own reasons for appearing on the show, they also all have secrets that come out one by one. When a murder happens on the island, is someone’s secret worth killing for?

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

WOW! What a great book! This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Had me guessing! That plot twist got me! lol what a great read!

There's nothing like a reality TV show to divulge everyone's dirty little secrets to everyone watching. Though this game show is set on a beautiful tropical island, it doesn't cushion the blow when the secrets come spilling out.

Four couples come together to "work" on their relationships but unbeknownst to them someone has other ideas. Someone has a secret they will do anything to protect, even murder someone to do so.

I loved the premise of this story and the way it played out. It was an easy read and well written. It was told through multiple POV'S and had enough twists to keep you turning the pages.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy of this book

For those who want their taste of reality tv with a shadowy touch of thriller, this is the book for you! It's full of drama, and focuses on slowly revealing secrets of four couples that are trapped on an island as they deal with their relationship issues under the scrunity of the camera, before ending in a climatic ending. The chapters are relatively short, so it's a good book to pick up and read in short little bursts.

The only hinderance is (for me at least) was that it is told over multiple point of views, which I'm not a fan of - I find it limits character development of individuals, and I struggled to engage. The characters also weren't particularly likeable. However, that said, it suits the style of novel - namely a reality show esq one - and if multiple pov is your thing, it could easily be a 4/5 star for you.

I received this book on Netgalley, so I would like to foremost thank the publishers for allowing me to read it.
The premise of the book is very interesting, combining a reality TV show with a murder mystery. I found it hard to connect with the characters, because every single one of them is unlikeable as well as the beginning being quite slow paced, but i'm pretty sure that is the point. The plot twist at the end was actually blindsided me, I did not expect it at all, and for that I'm grateful. I will be honest, I do not like books that contain excessive amounts of infidelity, but it does serve its purpose in this book.
Overall this book was super enjoyable, and I'm excited to read more from this author.

The Marriage Test is a fast-paced, gripping, edge-of-your-seat locked-room thriller. Four couples are selected for season 3 of a popular reality tv series. While the first two seasons focused on happily-ever-afters for all of the couples, the show producer decided that, unknown to the contestants, season 3 would have a villain and a devastating breakup. As the couples get to know each other, secrets are revealed and betrayals come to light. Soon, no one knows who they can trust, including their loved ones. Then, when the drama seems to be at the max, one of the contestants is discovered dead on the beach. As the investigation remains ongoing, the contestants are forced to remain on the private island. With the cameras still rolling and social media obsessed with these game players, no one knows what will happen next.

The Marriage Test is told through multiple POVs, which adds to the fast-paced and exiting plot. The chapters are reasonably short and always end with a good cliff-hanger. None of the characters are overly likable; however, they are all well-developed and oddly interesting. Like I said, I didn't really like any of them but I wanted to know more about them. I definitely appreciated that the ending wasn't a nice, neat conclusion where everyone gets justice and the good guys win. It was somewhat open-ended and up for interpretation. This was my first book by Ellie Monago and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will definitely be reading more. This was an easy 5 stars!

This was an entertaining read! The idea of a reality show in a book was unique to me, and the premise had me seriously intrigued.

I like the fact that the dead bodies and the murderer was a mystery from the beginning. You don’t know who will end up dying or who killed them and why. This makes for a thrilling ride. A page turner! Not to mention, I’m currently watching Love Island, so the reality TV aspect was entertaining.

The ending felt a little bit rushed to me. Otherwise, this would have been a 5 star book. The killer’s reasons didn’t really jive. It seemed a bit thrown together.

All in all, I would highly recommend this book.

When I read the synopsis of the marriage test I was very intrigued on how it was going to be and wow I am so glad I read it. It was a very unique thriller with very interesting characters. There was many twists and turns most of them I did not guess. I will definitely be recommending this and looking out for more books from this very talented author. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this excellent thriller.

This is a quick read where the story follows the path of four couples who enter a reality TV show named ‘Relationship Rescue’ which focuses on strengthening relationship bonds between couples. The book moves between the different POV’s of the characters and as the book progresses, we learn more about them and what has brought them to become a part of this. The filming of the show is quite short, only a week. There are two ‘relationship experts’ whose job is to interrogate the contestants, calling them out for bad behavior’s whilst supposedly assisting them in bolstering their unions. But do they cause more harm than good? of course they do, this is a TV show, and they want all the drama they can administer to increase ratings.

As we know in all reality shows, the cameras are always on, and microphones capture every word. The producer is hoping that secrets, betrayals, and the constant pressure in this environment will make for riveting TV and further her career. But for this to occur people will suffer, emotions are high and just when we think we know the ones we love sometimes we are in for a surprise. Then a murder occurs and soon mistrust will lead to several twists that affect the relationships of all involved.

Even though the concept of the book is different and engaging, it is not possible to really care for any of the characters and I think this did bring the book down. I was also disappointed in the end as I felt the way it resolved was in a rushed manner and the ‘culprit’ and their reasons for committing this crime to me seemed superficial.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy.

Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for this ARC. The publication date is the 3rd Sept. I found the concept of this book fascinating! The plot is four couples participating in a reality TV show called ‘Relationship Rescue’, set on a tropical island in a bid to save their relationships. This would make a great tv adaptation!

At times I did get confused as there were so many characters but it was an enjoyable read! It created suspense tension, and encouraged the reader to expect the unexpected!

I liked three of the contestants Lauren, Cain and Tatiana as the dynamics of these characters within their couples was interesting and each couple had their own issues.


If you like reality tv shows this book is for you! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars!

“The marriage test” revolves around four different couples who have entered a reality tv show in the hopes of saving their relationship.

It is unclear in the beginning whether the show producer has good intentions and whether we can trust her. The story begins in format of a series of interviews conducted after the events took place, and then we go back to see how everything came to begin.

The chapters alternate POV between the different characters, each playing a part in the game, each with secrets and plans of their own.

It is clear from the beginning that something bad is going to happen, likely resulting in fatalities and the reader gets to figure out what exactly happens and the who, why, where and how of it all as the story goes on.

I enjoy the setting of a reality tv gone to hell within the thriller genre, the murder mystery of it all would make for much better viewing in my opinion 😂

Thank you to Bookouture, Ellie Monago and NetGalley for the EARC!

Publish date: September 3rd 2024

We are introduced to four very different couples, all of whom are desperate to save their relationships, so desperate that they willingly go on a reality TV show produced by a conniving, ruthless woman .
Each chapter is told through the POV of each character. We begin to realize that no one is who they seem to be. Deep, dark secrets are slowly revealed and we discover that many of the characters lives were intertwined into a web of lies prior to going on the show. By the end of the book there are two dead bodies and a shocking reveal of the killer.
This book kept my attention throughout its entirety. The author did an outstanding job describing each character in detail and slowly revealed clues about their pasts.
I would recommend this book to anyone who indulges in trashy reality tv every once in a while and loves a good murder mystery (think Clue, but a much more modern version) . ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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

"The Marriage Test" by Ellie Monago is an exciting psychological thriller that will have you pouring over the pages from start to finish.

The concept is very interesting. Four couples participate in a reality TV show, “Relationship Rescue,” set on a tropical island in the Caribbean to save their relationships. Each couple has their own issues, secrets, and agenda: Pregnant Lauren and Tristan, Tatiana and Zarine (a gay couple), Cain and his wife Naomi (a Christian couple), and Blanche and Joshua (a suburban couple). The plot thickens when a murder occurs on the last day of the program, and they are stuck on the island with a murderer.

The author has concocted an intriguing concept, and her writing style is captivating and absorbing. I flew through the pages. The book is written in the first person from multiple perspectives and combines the police interviews of the cast and contestants. While I will never participate in a reality show or am a fan of it, I love reading about it. While the first half of the book focuses on the process, the second half focuses on the murder investigation while continuing with the show. After all, the show must go on...

The author does a great job bringing you into the characters' lives. I loved that each chapter was headed with the character’s name, as it made it easier to differentiate between them. As the plot unfolded, their voices became clearer. We got to know more about the characters who narrated the story than the others. They were more well-fleshed out. Each character has a secret or surprise that slowly unfolds as the story progresses. It is these secrets and surprises that keep the reader on their toes and encourage you to read the next chapter to find out more.

I didn't like most of the contestants (they were all self-centered and unlikable). To be accurate, I liked one or two of the contestants (Lauren, Cain, Tatiana), but my fondness fizzled out the more I got to know them. I found the process and the dynamics of the couples very interesting. I also liked how each couple had a different set of issues.

The author weaves together an excellent, unique book, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader hooked. Interwoven within this exciting tale are themes of family, loyalty, infidelity, toxic relationships, daddy issues, and hate speech on social media. I didn't guess the identity of the culprit(s), and the plot kept me guessing right up until the end.

While I loved the book, I didn't like the ending and found it abrupt. Because of that and because I am tired of culprits getting away with things they did, I rate the book 4 out of 5 stars. It was an excellent book, but the ending did not leave me fully satisfied; I wanted a bit more closure and justice. I still recommend the book, as I really enjoyed the way it was written and the way the author expertly built the tension and atmosphere throughout the book.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book! It captured and held my attention straight away. I loved the plot, which was a bit different to other thriller/murder mystery books, centred around a reality TV show for rescuing couple's relationships. The chapters are told from multiple different POVs of the different contestants, and I felt this was done really well with the different characters personalities really shining through in their chapters. I hated almost every single character (in a good way) and was desperate to find out what was really going on. That being said, I found the ending quite disappointing. I couldn't believe it ended where it did, I thought surely there was more to it. That would be my only criticism of this book - loved the plot and the way it was written, a really good murder mystery, with an unfortunately disappointing ending. Would love to read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The Marriage Test was a take on reality tv in a thriller, which I always love. Following four couples who join a show by the same name as the book, we quickly learn that some may know each other and all have secrets that show them to be different than what they appear to be.

With murder happening alongside some shady therapy the suspense in this book is off the charts and I felt like I was racing through to find out who the culprit(s) was/were and where all the secrets amongst the couples were going to take me! This was at times a little harder to follow early on due to all the characters (more than just the couples are the focus here) but once I got into the swing of things I couldn’t disengage!

Name of Book: The Marriage Test
Author: Ellie Monago
Genre: Domestic Psychological/Thriller
Publisher: Bookouture
Pub Date: September 3, 2024
My Rating: 3 Stars
Pages: 380

Four couples are participants on the TV show “Relationship Rescue” which talks place on a tropical island. The purpose of the show is - to save their marriages.
But the people behind the cameras know all their secrets so it appears all the marriages need to be rescued.

Who will pass this marriage test? Actually who will survive?
The Couples are:
• A surgeon and partner
• High school sweethearts
• A husband and wife running a successful business together.
• Lauren and Tristan a young couple who are expecting their first child and thrilled at become parents. However, Lauren make a comment sunder her breath – ‘What we aren’t – is in love!’.
(Although only four couples there are a lot of characters in this story but I was especially curious about these two.)


I have read several stories with this similar plot and was hoping for something ‘way’ different.
Although it kept me curious – it wasn’t ‘way different.

This is my third Ellie Monago novel. I look forward to her next story!

Thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 3, 2024

For me, “The Marriage Test,” by Ellie Monago, is yet another reminder of why I don’t ever want to be on a reality TV program - and also why “reality TV” is really a huge misnomer. That being said, “The Marriage Test” is about four couples technically with marital or relationship issues. They all agree to “air it all” on a (heavily edited) TV show. The beginning opens with a bang that hooks one in. Then the backstory and introduction to the characters begins (including some of the production staff). It took me a while to keep the characters separate, although the chapters were headed with the character’s name I do wish that the “voice” had been slightly different for each character [maybe this is a time when an audio book would’ve helped!]. Once the murder happens, I felt like the book dragged on a bit too long with explanations, twists, and “who done it”s galore. I cannot even say I was satisfied by the ending - which was kinda sad because I was rather hoping for a more solid ending. I think if you like reality TV shows gone wrong (though some of the behind the scenes things seemed to be plausible), this might be a book you’d enjoy reading. It was a quick read.

I loved the reality tv show cover concept - it was very different and more exciting to read. I definitely couldn't guess any of the twists and turns because it was so well written and not as predictable as one would think.

This reality tv show is going to be different. Different from the past two seasons. Different because some of the participants may know each other. Different because there are very dark, dangerous secrets hidden. Different because this year, some of the contestants refuse to play the producer’s games. And very different because this year, losers will leave the island… in a body bag.

The are four couples here to play the marriage counseling challenge, hoping to win prizes and have a better marriage. They are Cain (The Major) and Naomi, Tatiana and Zarine, Blanche and Joshua, and Lauren and Tristan. At first the couples follow the semi scripted instructions. These instructions seem planned to cause cheating among the couples and to force the secrets mentioned earlier to be aired. Couples are built up (Tristan and Lauren) to be fan favorites then pulled down (Lauren). Some secrets are too difficult to deal with and those lead to murder. Being trapped on an island, knowing there is a killer among you, could not possibly be part of the producers’ plan. Could It?

The Marriage Test is a quick read that looks at the underbelly of reality TV and how far people will go to be favorites and become influencers, possibly with their own shows. The isolated island location and the silently spying cameramen ad to the suspense. This is a fun, five star read.

Thank yo to NetGalley, Bookouture and Ellie Monago for this ARC.