The Marriage Vendetta gave a voice to women in society that needed their feelings validated. Throughout the book, I felt my insecurities about my own marriage brought to light and sometimes it made me uncomfortable. The story is written like a mystery, with snippets of comedy and thought-provoking instances that mad me feel seen. I felt like I was not alone in feeling under-appreciated, that I was not alone in feeling like I lost myself after becoming a wife and mother. Eliza was not alone because I felt like Eliza often. Everything around her seems to be falling apart, but unlike me, she finally does something about it. With the help of a "marriage adviser", Eliza follows the tips and "activities" Ms. Ellen Early provides to her to help her fix her marriage. At first, things go okay. She follows the suggestions and there is some progress, but then things get worse. The suggestions seem to do more harm than good. There were twists in the story I did not see coming and had me turning pages nonstop. Does the story have a happy ending? Yes. Is it the ideal ending? Some may say no, but I was happy with the ending! Women will help women when they need it, and Eliza got that help from the women around her, even if one of those women seem like a myth.

A fun debut with a unique premise unlike anything I've ever read! Lots of personal growth and working through inner pain. Entertaining, great characters, loved the therapist element! Hallmark vibes but make it snarky and clever.

As this is a type of novel I typically do not read, I’ve realized my error and need to read more of these books! Eliza, former concert pianist and mother to Mara is convinced her playwright husband, Richard, is having an affair. Also the Mean Girl moms at Mara’s posh private school are driving her crazy and she does cultivate a friendship with George, a working mom. In order to save her marriage, Eliza enlists the help of Ellen Realy, whose card is dropped on her table, Thinking Ellen is a therapist, Eliza goes to her for some unconventional sessions. What ensues is a crazy story that I loved! Madden’s writing style left me wanting more! Thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend!

I was given an advanced copy through NetGalley.

The best way to describe this book is if Mean Girls was about moms in Ireland. Mom cliques instead of school cliques.

Eliza is the new mom in town after moving with her husband and daughter for a new project her husband is working on. She encounters the mom clique nicknamed The Chicakadees while in a cafe across from her daughters school. Mother Hen aka Gina is the leader of The Chickadees. Eliza receives a text with a picture of her husband and another woman entering a hotel causing a small outburst that catches the attention of Mother Hen. While in the restroom collecting her thoughts a business card for a marriage therapist is left under her coffee cup.

The marriage therapist has an unconventional treatment plan. Is it what Eliza really needs? Possibly.

I found many of the characters unlikable unfortunately. Eliza came across as a helicopter mom, almost constant internal dialogue of her daughters safety( tree climbing accidents, shoulder injuries by being picked up wrong, etc).

George is probably the most likable person in this book but isn’t featured much throughout the story. She is used by Eliza (not invited to an outing Eliza organizes, but drops everything to sit in a bar to help Eliza catch her husband).

loved that this woman gets help from a therapist about her marriage . She also finds out things aren't so right in her marriage and tries to change herself and him. she also hears a story about a selkie. Good story