I absolutely loved this book from beginning to end from the amazing plot to the characters that capture you and enough twists and turns to make you dizzy. There was no taking this book away from.me until I was done. You would have had to pry it from my cold dead fingers. Happy reading!

I gave this a solid three. I'm a big fan of characters flashing back to things they did as teens, but this was just a tad slow for me. I skimmed over some parts. I was wanting more thrills, I guess. It was still a good read, just not a great one. Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC.

Beth, Sally, and Carol met as teenagers and soon became the best of friends at boarding school, until something awful happened and Carol began to sever ties with them. Now, years later, Beth and Sally are on a mission to find Carol before a secret they promised to keep is revealed. Although this book is represented as a psychological thriller I think it would be better categorized as women's fiction. There really is no heart pounding suspense or shocking twists that one would expect from a psychological thriller. It is more an exploration of the relationship between the three girls and how the past shaped their future relationships with each other and their husbands.
3.5 stars

I did enjoy this book. I liked getting to know the characters and finding out what the secret these 14 year old girls had kept for so long. I did wonder at Beth's character and how she became depressed but then suddenly seemed to be well again. It was a fairly sad story in a way which shows how secrets can be so punishing and affect your life. It's much better to share with a trusted friend! I did like the ending even though it was a bit fairy tale!

Worth a read!

Thanks to NetGalley for my free copy.

A promise made that must be taken to the grave. Beth, Sally, and Carol have a dark secret. What risks are they willing to take to keep their promise?
This book follows characters on a winding trip that is sure to keep the readers guessing. I gave this 3 stars, the beginning was very slow for me. Once I got a little bit in it picked up and I couldn’t put the book down.

Thank you Netgalley for an eARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer for the free arc. I found this book anti climatic. The dark secrets did not pay off for me as I found them to not be that big of a deal. I also did not care for the character of Beth and how she acted towards her friends.

The Promise really got to me. It is a mystery- what is the promise, who got hurt, why has it affected these 3 girls so much? But it also a life lesson- why secrets can tear you up inside, why sharing with friends and family is beneficial. I loved all of the girls- Beth, Sally and Carol. Each one had their trials and tribulations in life but managed to be lovable human beings. Their moms always came through when they were needed. A beautiful mystery.

I will read just about any genre of novel and will give my straightforward opinion of any novel I read. That said, I really did not like The Promise. I had read a novel with this same basic storyline before and wish I could remember the name of it. This book was just boring. I pretty basically had the ending worked out halfway through the book. There was really no peak of the story, just a series of this happened, then this happened, then this happened. And the book goes on that was for several hundred more pages than it needs. Also, the book is written in first person and third person and I wish the author would have made up her mind which person in which to write. I do not recommend this book.

I love books about boarding schools, secrets, nuns and teenage girls but this fell a little flat for me. The writing just wasn't good enough to make it really stand out. A shame because it had promise.

This book drew me in masterfully, nice and slowly with alternating chapters of time periods, making me curious and eager to hear WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN! And then when it starts to come out, I wanted it to slow down so I could enjoy it that much longer.

This story sounded really good, but maybe I went in with too high expectations because it started out great, but fell flat for me. I would not consider it a psychological thriller., but more mystery/drama. The beginning had me eagerly turning pages but later slowed down that I struggled to finish chapters that no longer kept my interest. There are many books out there with this same storyline that are much more thrilling.

How can three fourteen year old girls make a promise never to reveal a secret and not suffer the consequences?
This story looks at the after effects of the promise and how it has taken a toll on Beth, Sal and Carol and their families.
I do not want to say too much because the clues to the secret are cleverly woven throughout the story. I enjoyed this very much soI have now downloaded another Teresa Driscoll book, I am watching you,

I really enjoyed this book. I was totally surprised when it was revealed what the promise was cause I thought it was going in a whole different direction. I couldn't put this done until I read the last page. This is an excellent read and I highly recommend it!

At age 11, Beth, Carol, and Sally started boarding school at the Convent of St. Colman. They shared a room and became very close friends for their time at the school. Now years later, the area where the boarders were housed is being sold for redevelopment. Even when the girls were boarders, the Convent was old and filled with damp, so tearing it down is not unexpected.

Beth and Sally have stayed good friends over the years but Carol moved to France and contacting her has been difficult, if not impossible. Beth is married to Adam and is the mother of two sons. Sally has not be able to carry a baby to term which has resulted in her divorcing her husband. Carol lives with Ned in the south of France. Beth and Sally feel they really need to contact Carol so they hire Matthew, a private investigator to find her.

The girls share a deep, dark secret that remains at the Convent and if there is any digging done during the redevelopment, their secret could be revealed. It has tormented them all these years. So, they must do all they can to keep the secret quiet.

This is a good thriller but would have been better has it not been so slow to get going. This is why I only gave it 4 stars. However, once it got there, it was stunning. I think readers will really like this story of true friendship. (Note: I am using the English, not the French, spelling of Carol in my review.)

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Review THE PROMISE by Teresa Driscoll. Three girls make a promise to keep a terrible secret during their teen years in boarding school but years later it comes back to haunt them.This is the author's first book and had a good storyline though a bit slow until near the end. ⭐⭐⭐Three stars.

I really enjoyed this story. Another great book by Teresa Driscoll! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.

This was my first Teresa Driscoll book and I liked it. The story wasn't the big thrilling suspense that I expected but instead it was a slow burn of a story about 3 girls dealing with something that happened back when they were school girls. I did find it interesting that of the four main characters, the story was only presented from three points of view. I kept thinking that missing point of view was a clue. It kept me a bit distracted from the story. I won't tell you whether it was a clue or not so I don't spoil anything. And while I won't be going out and binge reading everything Ms. Driscoll has ever written, I did enjoy her writing style and character development and will be reading more of her works.

I really enjoyed this book even though it was a bit slow in places as I got near the end it got more exciting the characters were very likeable it’s the first book I’ve read of this author I will definitely read more

I do not usually include any plot information in a review, however, it seems necessary in this instance. The subject of the book is unusual. While it is not uncommon to write about the life impact of an unfortunate childhood event: teen pregnancy and the shameful circumstances that usually underpin it. The author tries to present the emotional and psychological perspective of the girls involved in the story. The derailed girl who gave birth and her inability to develop healthy relationships; the negative mental health effects, and the two friends who kept the secret for so long; the impact of the life event and the secret. This is not a subject commonly written about, and while pregnancy and women's rights issues are, the perspective of those involved in the situation presented here would be very much less known, let alone understood.
It is an admirable presentation of a largely ignored issue.

I really enjoyed this book! Such a great storyline with rich characters. The love and burden of their secrets will forever bind them yet pull them apart. The story tugged at my heart. Lots of surprises, twists and turns.
Very well done!