
Member Reviews

Another fantastic novel by Dandy Smith. She is a brilliant writer of creepy, suspenseful domestic noir. Full of twits, turns and many suspects, this book has it all xx

A perfect wife, a husband murdered, and secrets unfolding. How did the perfect marriage go so far off track? And who is the 'Other Woman'? This is an intense read, fast paced and a book that will drag you into the drama within its pages. I couldn't put it down.
The author had written a book that keeps you guessing, throws in twists and turns and keeps you reading as you need to know what happened and who murdered Verity's husband Linden. Full of suspense, secrets, lies and so much more. It will get into your head until you find out the truth. Loved it.
Thank you NetGalley and Embla Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

#TheWeddingVow #NetGalley
Verity and Linden Lockwood had the kind of marriage others envied—until Linden was murdered in their perfect home. A year later, as Verity tries to move on, she uncovers a devastating truth: her husband was having an affair. Determined to uncover the mystery woman’s identity, Verity starts digging into Linden’s life. But the deeper she goes, the more unsettling the truth becomes. Friends, family, and neighbors—all are suspects. As dark secrets emerge, Verity realizes she never really knew the man she married. And worse, if she keeps searching, she might be the next to die.
Thanks to NetGalley and Embla Books for giving me an advance copy.

Dandy Smith never fails to surprise me and keep me hooked, such an intense and suspensful read overall.

The writing by this author is exceptional . The pace was fast, and I did not guess anything until right at the very end. Highly recommend this author and look forward to reading her other books.

WOW! Mind blown! The Wedding Vow by Dandy Smith is absolutely insane! It's written so uniquely. It's a dual POV and timeline between the wife and the other woman. The wife's POV is present day first person, and the other women is in the past and third person. Dandy made such an incredible decision in writing this book this way, and I loved every second of it. At no point did I know what was going to happen. Just as Verity, our boss lady FMC, is getting answers into her husband's affair, you get thrown for an even bigger loop and even more confused than you were before. The ending was absolutely insane, and I don't think I will ever be able to recover from this book. I loved every second of this book, and I can't wait for everyone to read it!

I loved this book. The chapters alternated between being told by The Wife and The Other Woman and you’re left guessing who each person is. I had so many guesses through the book as things kept changing. Such a great story about The Wife finding out her husband died and then following her story while at the same time finding out he wasn’t as perfect as she thought he was.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #EmblaBooks for the book #TheWeddingVow by #DandySmith. Holy crap! What did I just read? This is one of the books that stick with you, and I loved every minute of it! Verity is away on a business retreat when her husband is brutally murdered. After a year of not knowing who killed her husband, she finds hidden love letters from a mistress, her husband was having an affair. As she searches for this woman who she thinks is the killer, she discovers she really didn’t know her husband. Can she figure it all out before she is next?

Verity Lockwood’s husband, Linden, hasn’t responded to her calls since she left for a business trip the previous day. She needs him to pick her up at the train station. Flora, her friend and co-worker is with her. Verity’s business is thriving providing her and Linden with a good livelihood. Taking a taxi home, she finds Linden severely beaten to death.
One year later
Verity’s home, Windemere in Bath is a beautiful place that Linden loved so Verity has stayed in the home. But it’s time to clear out Linden’s belongings. In the closet under the floorboards, she finds a laptop, burner phone and lots of love letters showing he was having an affair. Now, she is trying to find out who he might have been seeing.
The story goes back and forth from The Wife and The Other Woman. Readers are left to try and figure out who The Other Woman is. There are lots (too many in fact) of characters that could be her. As the story progressed, it became repetitious and by the end was, quite frankly, confusing. Sorry. Not for me.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I’ve really enjoyed Smith’s previous titles and her newest was different.
Immediately upon chapter one I was hooked and didn't stop.
It was one wild thing after another. I soaked up every bit of it.
My heart has not pounded this hard for minute while reading a book. And this one did it!
Dandy's writing is brilliant and I will read anything this lady writes.
I really will. She has a life long reader in me!
Simply put.... Read this!
It's fun, exciting, unexpected.... Did I mention FUN?!

The Wedding Vow by Dandy Smith is a gripping psychological thriller that explores the complexities of marriage and betrayal.
Verity Lockwood is running a successful Internet business, she has a loving husband, and she has friends that love and care about her. She seems to have it all... right? When Verity returns home from a business trip she finds her husband Linden brutally beaten and murdered. After a year of grieving her world is rocked once again when she discovers love letters sent to Linden from another woman. Determined to find out who this woman is, Verity tries to seek out the truth. The other woman could be anyone, a neighbor, a friend, her assistant... Will Verity figure out who has shattered her idea of marriage?
With a gripping and suspenseful narrative, I was hooked right away with this novel!! I really liked the dual timeline and the dual POV going back and forth from Verity and the other woman. I thought that I had easily figured out what was going on until the ending left me with my jaw on the ground! Definitely highly recommend putting The Wedding Vow on your TBR list!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Dandy Smith, and Embla Books for this ARC. Expected release date is March 27th 2025.

SYNOPSIS
* Verity and Linden Lockwood were the golden couple—until Linden was brutally murdered in their picture-perfect home.
* A year later, Verity is trying to rebuild her life when she learns Linden was having an affair.
* Determined to uncover the identity of the other woman, Verity digs into his life and begins to suspect everyone around her.
* As secrets unravel, Verity realizes she may not have known her husband at all—and the truth could be even more dangerous than she imagined.
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MY THOUGHTS
- This book grabs you immediately. It’s layered, tense, and full of that slow-burn suspense that keeps you turning pages.
- I loved the multiple POVs—especially how we get chapters from both Verity and the mysterious “other woman.” It’s a clever structure that keeps the tension high.
- The identity of the other woman stays hidden for most of the book, and it’s handled so well. The clues, the red herrings, the pacing—it all worked.
- Every character felt like a suspect. I didn’t trust a single person, which made the whodunit aspect super engaging.
- There are a lot of twists. Some I guessed, but a few genuinely surprised me, which is rare.
- The ending? Extremely satisfying. Everything ties together in a way that makes you go, “Oh wow, of course,” but also, “Wait, what?!” in the best possible way.
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TL;DR:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️A gripping, twisty murder mystery with dual POVs, a perfectly executed “other woman” twist, and a seriously satisfying ending. If you love domestic thrillers that make you question everyone, this one delivers.
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Thanks to Embla Books and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is available now.

My first time reading this author who I’ve seen highly recommended.
It’s a twisty and unpredictable ride, Verity and Linden are happily married. Verity’s world is shattered by his m*rder and then again in discovering he was having an affair. Determined to get to the truth and find out about the other woman, Verity may be putting herself in danger.
This is a pretty wild thriller with a lots of twists and unexpected turns. I can see why people are getting excited about Dandy Smith’s books.
Thanks to Netgalley and Embla Books

The Wedding Vow by Dandy Smith is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of marriage, betrayal, and the pursuit of truth. The narrative centers on Verity Lockwood, who, a year after the unsolved murder of her husband Linden, uncovers evidence of his infidelity. This revelation propels her into a relentless quest to identify “the other woman,” casting suspicion on those closest to her, including her neighbor, best friend, assistant, and cousin.
Smith masterfully employs dual perspectives, alternating between Verity and the enigmatic “other woman,” which adds depth and intrigue to the unfolding mystery. The plot is meticulously crafted, with layers of deception and unexpected twists that keep readers engaged. As Verity delves deeper into her husband’s secrets, she confronts unsettling truths that challenge her understanding of their relationship and her own reality.
The novel has garnered acclaim for its suspenseful narrative and compelling character development. Readers have praised its ability to maintain tension and deliver shocking revelations. One reviewer noted, “So brilliantly done and full of jaw-dropping twists. It had me gripped from the first page and I stayed up until 4am to finish it. The ending blew my mind.”
However, some readers have expressed mixed feelings. While many found the book unputdownable, others felt the pacing varied, with certain sections dragging before the narrative regained momentum. Despite these differing opinions, the novel’s intricate plot and unexpected twists have left a lasting impression on its audience.
In summary, The Wedding Vow is a captivating exploration of love, deceit, and the lengths one will go to uncover the truth. Dandy Smith’s storytelling prowess ensures that readers remain on the edge of their seats, making this novel a compelling addition to the psychological thriller genre.

Another great story from this author who has a lovely way of writing. Twists and turns galore . Well worth a read .
Thanks to Netgalley for an early ARC in return for an honest review

Huge thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Embla books for the ARC for my review!
Dandy doesn’t disappoint!!!
There is just something about her writing style that is absolute *chefs kiss* because it just absorbs you. The perfect dual timeline/multiple POV. Every chapter gives you just enough of the story to keep you going and give more hints, but leaves you on a cliffhanger that just drives you to get back to that side of that story. Truly the definition of un-put-down-able.
I normally resonate with the characters and generally have some sort of affection or care for them. But man were these people hard to love. So many lies. So much drama. So much deceit. So many bad decisions. The character builds were so great, and added to the potential clues, which made every plot thicken that much more.
I promise you I even said out loud HA I had it figured out. I was wrong in a couple places but the ending I was all set. Then here comes the final like 8% of the book like gotcha girl. I did noottttttt see that coming. Not one bit.
10/10 must read for me and would totally recommend. Can’t wait to see what she comes out with next! Definitely an auto-read author!

I loved this book! The suspense, the betrayal, the revenge, THE EVERYTHING!!! OMG!! I wish I could read it again for the first time! Great job to the author!! I am definitely buying this book and adding it to my library!

My first Dandy Smith book and let me tell you that by the first quarter of this I’d added all of her other books to my wish list because OH MY GOD! Loved it, nice punchy chapters that kept you wanting more, a multiple POV between Verity, the wife and The Other Wife. It’s hard to say much without giving anything away, but please read this, it’s worth it! The minus half a star is simply because I guessed a part of the twist quite early on but now that I’m finished I think I was meant to 👀 I did not see that ending!

Dandy Smith is always a great read. This one was no different and a wild ride with twists and turns. The dual POV is one of my favorite styles and really made the suspense in this book even better. I stayed up into the early morning so I could finish this.

Verity Lockwood thinks she has it all - a loving husband, a successful internet business and many good friends - until she returns home after a brief business trip and finds her husband Linden beaten to death in their study. Then, after a year of grieving, Verity is devastated when she discovers a cache of love letters sent to Linden by another woman. Who was she? Thee are so many suspects. Her neighbor? Her assistant? Her accountant? A friend? We won’t find out until the shocking and totally unexpected conclusion.
The Wedding Vow is an absolutely unputdownable thriller. Told in alternating chapters by Verity and the other woman, you see both Verity’s desperate anger and the other woman’s hope for a future. You’ll feel sorry for both these women, the victims of Linden’s manipulations. Put this one on the top of your TBR pile! I cant wait to read whatever Dandy Smith writes next! 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Embla Books and Dandy Smith for this ARC.