Based upon the title, I was expecting something a bit more risqué and scandalous but, in this instance, the open marriage was actually much more tame. The story involves a couple married for quite some time and they become convinced that getting involved with another couple will add a bit of spice to their marriage and rekindle their spirit of closeness and romance. I'm always puzzled by this sort of idea. If two people are having problems in a relationship, how would adding more people help? I'm thinking it would just complicate things and invite even more problems. Still, this couple decide to go through with the plan and it quickly becomes apparent that nobody is what they seem and no one can be trusted. This was a really great book with a lot of suspense and tension and I finished it very quickly because I was so eager to find out what was going to happen to Louise and her husband. The surprise twist at the end was totally unexpected and it gave the book a very satisfying conclusion.
Thank you, NetGalley, Bookouture, and Victoria Jenkins for a wonderful time with this ARC.

There's been a severe lack of housework done in my home this last few days, and I entirely blame this book! I was sucked in right from the beginning, and had no idea where is was going to go after the disappearance of the new friend. Unpredictable and very enjoyable!

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Open Marriage by Victoria Jenkins due to be published June 21, 2024.
Marcus and Louise used to be in love. Instead of divorcing, they want to rekindle their marriage. When Louise meets Erin, she tells Louise about her wonderful marriage to Kieran and reveals the reason – they have an open marriage. When Marcus and Louise agree to try this lifestyle, Louise realizes she likes Kiernan. When Erin goes missing will the police be after Louise?
Oh, what a tangled web, but what do you expect to happen? I could just see all the problems arising from this – what if one spouse loved it, and the other one didn’t? What if it didn’t strengthen their marriage, but dissolved it? The Open Marriage had me hooked from the beginning. Like a house of cards, when the lies start building up, everything collapses. Just when you think you know what’s going to happen, there is another great twist that you didn’t see coming. I loved this book and highly recommend it!
#NetGalley #VictoriaJenkins #Bookouture #TheOpenMarriage

I love Victoria Jenkins books ap had high hopes for this.

This didn't disappoint at all. What a read. Was hooked from the first to the last page. Another great read from this awesome author

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to review

5 stars

This isn’t nearly as salacious and delicious as you might expect.

Based on the title and plot, I expected a popcorn munch of a tale, full of people behaving badly and all sorts of scandal.

It’s…tepid. This open marriage is very, very…restrained.

This is your basic domestic suspense in which you wonder if our MC has a brain, you want to throw the husband in the trash, and so much is just so obvious that it hurts.

It’s entertaining enough and a super quick read.

Largely enjoyable and not at all scandalous.

• ARC via Publisher

This is not like the usual books I read. It is more a domestic thriller than psychological suspense. The main character is very paranoid. Looking forward to more by this author.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"The Open Marriage" by Victoria Jenkins is a gripping psychological thriller that explores the complexities of love, trust, and betrayal. The story follows the protagonist as she navigates the tumultuous waters of her marriage after considering the possibility of an open relationship.

What initially appears to be a solution to the couple's marital problems quickly spirals into a web of deceit and danger. The introduction of Erin and Kieran, a couple in an open marriage, sets off a chain of events that tests the boundaries of love and loyalty. As secrets unravel and tensions rise, the protagonist finds herself caught in a dangerous game with devastating consequences.

One of the strengths of the novel is its fast-paced narrative, filled with unexpected twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats. The characters are well-developed and multi-dimensional, each grappling with their own desires and motivations. The tension builds steadily throughout the story, culminating in a jaw-dropping climax that will leave readers reeling.

I particularly enjoyed the way the author explores themes of trust and honesty within relationships, and how the pursuit of happiness can sometimes lead to unexpected consequences. The short chapters and immersive writing style make it difficult to put the book down, and I found myself devouring it in only a matter of time.

Overall, "The Open Marriage" is a gripping thriller that will appeal to fans of Lisa Jewell and Gone Girl. With its unpredictable plot and compelling characters, it's a must-read for anyone craving a suspenseful and thought-provoking story. I highly recommend it and give it a well-deserved 5-star rating.

Thank you Victoria Jenkins, Bookouture and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy.

This is a riveting domestic thriller that I just couldn’t put down!! I read this on holiday in 6 hours, it was SO good!! A brilliant read.

I couldn’t put this book down when I started it and finished it in almost one sitting.
I was engrossed with the plot and loved all the twists.
It’s the perfect domestic thriller and one that I would definitely recommend.

This was an enjoyable read but I did have to suspend my disbelief at the way in which these people act. (To be fair that's the case in most books of this genre.)

Main character Louise is clearly no idiot - she's a successful head teacher, but paranoid that her husband has or is about to have an affair. Fair enough, that could happen to anybody. However, to immediately decide the solution, after meeting a woman, Erin, at yoga class (who's quite clearly targeted her for some reason), is to jump into an "open marriage" involving said woman and her husband, is a bit of a stretch. It might be more believable if Louise's motivations were more along the lines of sexual curiosity, but it's made clear that although she does find Erin's husband Kieran attractive (these "open marriages" are firmly along heterosexual lines), her only real interest is in saving her marriage. It's a really funny way of going about it. Despite the theme, there's nothing graphic here - whatever sex there is (not much) is kept off the page.

All that said, I didn't entirely guess where the story was going, and though it was clear there were ulterior motives right, left and centre, there were one or two possible red herrings along the way.

Ultimately an okay read but undermined for me by what seemed like a staggering level of naivety/poor decision making from the main character.

I really enjoyed this book. Domestic thrillers are my jam and this one didn't disappoint. The single POV worked really well as you felt that you were right there with Louise going through what she was dealing with.
A stale marriage. The malaise of middle age with nothing exciting to look forward to. Knotty family dynamics. Grief or losing a parent. A new friendship. These are all situations so many of us can identify with.
The book is quite slow in the beginning. It takes about 40% of the way in for things to start to happen. But I understand why. The author was trying to set the stage and give us some back story. Despite the pace, I was never bored. Always wanted to keep reading.
The twists weren't terribly difficult to guess. There was definitely some foreshadowing there. I did find it unbelievable that a spouse would never show the photo of a signifiant ex to their current partner. Or that the current partner wouldn't look them up on social media.
But that's a small complaint in an otherwise great read.
PS I just hate the stupid morality clauses for educators. What they do when off the clock shouldn't be anyone's business. And I say that as a mother.

What. A. Read!!! I couldn’t put it down! The story of Louise and her new found friendship with Erin had me gripped right from the start when Louise’s marriage is on the rocks and Erin tells her all about her own open marriage with her husband Kieran. From the moment their lives intertwined, I was desperate to know what was going to happen! And then Erin is reported missing! This book is definitely in my list of best reads this year! With an epic twist and a couple of “what on earth just happened”, keep me on the edge of my seat moments - I would highly recommend this book!!

This book definitely had me guessing and the twists / turns surprised me, a very thrilling read overall.

Though this was a quick entertaining read. Hate that it was closed door romance lol but I enjoyed the suspense surrounding Erin and Kieran. The end felt a little too rushed and overanalyzed but it was a nice bow on all the crimes and high stakes.

It's a good but not a great book. Held your attention just enough you didn't need to stay focused to know what was going on and could pay attention your surroundings. If you need a book that doesn't have a lot of depth or character development, this is it. Great when you have small kids or a baseball game to worry about but still want a book to read.

Louise meets Erin at at a yoga class. That's where it all starts to go wrong for our main character, Louise....

What a whirlwind this book proved to be! I didn't know where the storyline was going to go and it wasn't what I expected at all...in a good way!

Fans of Frieda McFadden should lap this book up asap a3s Victora Jenkins proves to be a stellar thriller novelist and her other works will be added to my TBR before you finish reading this review.

Thank you to @netgalley, @bookouture and @VictoriaJenkins for the opportunity of reading this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Holy smokes this book is terrific. From that first chapter you will be hooked and unable to put it down.
Absolutely full of twists and turns, each shocking and unexpected. Loved this book!

OMG! This was a page turner from chapter one all the way through. I literally finished The Open Marriage in less than one day.
This one had it all, secrets, lies, and betrayal. You will not know who to trust. My heart was racing the entire time. You will not want to put this book down once you begin so get that schedule clear!!!!

This is the first book that I have read by this author and it most definitely won't be my last.

Thank you net galley and publisher for this ARC. The book had lots of twists and turns and kept me guessing. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this genre.

Sometimes you can meet someone and feel like you could become firm friends. They have a way of making you feel at ease and before you know it you have confided in them, told them some things you would never tell someone you only just met.

When you feel like the offer you a solution that could be the answer to solve your problem, you take them up on it. The question is though was this really the answer to your question, the magic trick to make it all disappear or did it have the opposite effect and made everything even more cloudy...

The author has created a few characters who mastered the art of lying and manipulation, resulting in murder and creating upheaval in quite a few people's lives. 

Money is the key word and can drive people to crated the craziest schemes without any empathy for those who stand in their way.

Maybe not the most suspenseful thriller, but a very interesting and intriguing story nonetheless. I read it in one sitting and I loved the gesture Louise did at the end. 5 stars

Thank you