The Marriage Rule by Helen Monks Takhar is a twisty domestic thriller which deals with the pressures of juggling marriage, motherhood and work. Elle is struggling to do just that even though her husband, Dom, seems like the perfect partner. Elle finds herself increasingly drawn to her colleague Gabriel. One morning Elle finds herself lying next to a body, and it isn't her husband. Maybe everything would have been alright if she had stuck to the marriage rule.
The Marriage Rule had many satisfying twists that I genuinely didn't see coming and the story kept me engaged, The book explores the themes of relationships, guilt and the pressures modern women face well, however I struggled to connect with the characters and felt that although the title is The Marriage Rule this only formed a fairly insignificant part of the plot.
Readers should be aware that it also deals with issues around rape and may be triggering to some people.

A highly unenjoyable read, with really horrible characters and a very upsetting plot, it felt like a drag to read sadly and is overall quite triggering too. I really wanted to enjoy this but I absolutely did not.

This book was a bit iffy.

The story was drawn out far longer than it needed to be. Especially when a third of it was explanations.

Some thing(s) I liked:
✅The final twist

Some thing(s), not so much:
⭕The rape scenes were gratuitous and entirely unnecessary in such explicit detail. In fact, they felt like they were there for titillation more than anything else.

I found this an interesting read with its twists and turns but felt it was going clearly down the coercive route. I wanted more from it . The marriage rule itself failed to be a link throughout.

The Marriage Rule by Helen Monks Takhar is a gripping and suspenseful thriller that delves into the complexities of marriage, motherhood, and moral dilemmas. Nine months into motherhood, Elle is struggling with the pressures of balancing her career, her new role as a mother, and her evolving relationship with her husband, Dom. Despite Dom being a hands-on father and supportive partner, Elle feels increasingly disconnected and overwhelmed by the challenges of her new life.

Seeking solace in her charismatic colleague Gabriel and a few too many glasses of wine, Elle finds herself in an unthinkable situation. One morning, she wakes up in a hotel room to find herself next to a man who isn’t her husband—and he’s dead. This shocking twist forces Elle to turn to Dom for help, knowing that asking for his assistance could shatter their lives forever.

The book is filled with twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats. Takhar masterfully alternates between the present and the past, slowly revealing the events that led up to the deadly situation Elle finds herself in. The book explores deep themes of guilt, betrayal, and the complexities of relationships, while also tackling difficult topics such as rape and the pressures placed on women in society. These heavy themes are handled thoughtfully, though the book may be triggering for some readers.

With well-developed characters, a tense atmosphere, and a plot full of unexpected developments, The Marriage Rule is a must-read for fans of thrillers. Takhar’s writing keeps you guessing until the final page, leaving a lasting impact long after the book ends. If you enjoy a thriller that combines psychological depth with suspense, this book is sure to captivate you.

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A new author to me but sadly it wasn't for me. I found it hard to get into the storyline and even harder to engage with the characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ for this ARC but just wasn't for me.

A new author for me and sad to say I couldnt get into the story. It appears that I am in the minority and that others have loved it. Just not for me

A medium paced domestic noir with many reveals and twists.

Good for fans of both genres but not pace enough to be a thriller.

Great writing but I was expecting it all to lean heavily on “The Marriage Rule” and that was not as important as I thought.

THE MARRIAGE RULE BY HELEN MONKS TAKHAR.
5 STARS.
Release date set for the 8th of May 2025.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
It had me hooked from the very beginning.
I loved the story line and thought it was paced perfectly.
This story is told in the past and present.
Check your triggers as there are a few sensitive topics.
This is my first book by this author and I've seen she has another 3 out that i will check out.

A young mother, Elle is struggling, even though her husband, Dom, is the perfect father and husband. Gradually, Elle relies more and more on red wine to help her get through the day.
But when Elle wakes up in a hotel room next to her murdered colleague with no memory of the night before, she knows the only person who can help is her husband.

A compelling and suspenseful thriller that boldly tackles the ever-topical themes of the struggles of being a new mother, bullying in the workplace and, above all, the insidiousness of psychological abuse. This is also a story of female solidarity – women supporting women. In The Marriage Rule, Helen Monks Tahkar has created memorable characters and executed a clever twist!

I didn't know anything about this book prior to reading it, but it's a gripping and hard-hitting read, probably even more so when you have no idea what to expect.

Elle, a copywriter for a charity, is married to Dom and mother to a baby girl. She's lucky, it seems - Dom is successful, caring, a devoted dad. So why is Elle taking daily refuge in alcohol, detached from her own family and friends, and feeling disconnected from her daughter - referring to her for most of the narrative, tellingly, as "the baby" rather than by her name.

When a work awayday (and night) in a hotel ends shockingly, it's clear that Elle's world is about to come crashing down.

It's best not to say too much, but as we follow both the days leading up to and the immediate aftermath of the incident, the true, disturbing nature of life chez Elle and Dom becomes clearer.

"The marriage rule", as expressed by a character, itself isn't really that central to the plot, I don't think, unless I missed something - which is possible.

This was a rollercoaster reader which was genuinely hard to put down. I liked and sympathised with Elle, a once-independent woman who is losing herself. While the overall theme has certainly been done before, it's done powerfully and effectively here.

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review.

The Marriage Rule by Helen Monks Takhar
☆☆☆Publication date 8th May 2025☆☆☆
What’s the one thing you need to do to stay married?
Elle would never have ended up in danger if she’d followed the Marriage Rule, the one thing she’s been told a wife needs to do, even if it breaks her. A twisty domestic thriller, I raced through this book in two nights. Compulsive and intelligently written, a huge five stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

I’m a big fan of Helen Monks Takhar, so was excited to find out what ‘the marriage rule’ would entail, knowing it would likely be something dark! As it happens I felt the ‘rule’ itself wasn’t as central to the plot as i’d assumed from the blurb.

The book explores themes such as motherhood, gender roles and coercive control. I struggled to warm to Elle, despite her predicament - she made some frustrating decisions and I didn’t ever fully connect with her character. The true nature of the ‘villain’ also took a while to emerge - whilst this could be an effective method of highlighting the insidious nature of coercive control/abuse, in fact it felt like his character did an unexpected 180 and out of the blue was suddenly depicted as a throughly unpleasant and abusive man. It felt a little clunky to me, but I might be in a minority there!

Overall it kept me turning the pages, and the author does manage to sustain a feeling of tension and foreboding throughout, which is no mean feat.

4 stars from me!

I enjoyed this one. I liked the structure of the story - the way we flipped back and forth from the present day to weeks earlier made sure that I kept turning the pages as often the present day bits were left on cliffhangers and I was desperate to get back to them. The plot held my interest and covered some interesting and important themes. I was really intrigued as to how everything would come together at the end.

The only thing that stopped me from really loving this is that the writing style didn't quite connect with me. This is obviously personal preference and others may really like it.

Overall I thought this was a good book and I would recommend it.

An excellent thriller full of twists and with some great character interactions, touching on friendship and how fragile it can be, dominating bosses, misconduct, gaslighting and a plethora of other events that leave Elle reeling and ricocheting through the worse wake up of her life. So well written that by half way through I trusted noone and questioned all motives- even those of the police!

#TheMarraigeRule #NetGalley
Highly recommended.
The Marriage Rule is a gripping, complex exploration of motherhood, marriage, and the secrets we keep from those we love. A mix of personal struggle, suspense, and deep emotional conflict, this novel challenges the boundaries of relationships and the choices we make when life takes unexpected turns.
Nine months into motherhood, Elle finds herself overwhelmed and disconnected. The early joys of motherhood have given way to fatigue, self-doubt, and a sense of being lost in her new identity. Her work life has taken a backseat, her body feels foreign, and the pressure to rekindle intimacy with her adoring but seemingly perfect husband, Dom, only adds to her anxiety.
In an effort to cope, Elle turns to her charismatic new colleague, Gabriel, and the temporary comfort of wine. But when a night of drunken distraction leads Elle to wake up next to a dead man in a hotel room — someone who isn’t her husband — Elle’s life is thrown into chaos. Suddenly, she’s faced with a haunting decision: How can she escape the situation with her marriage and future intact? And what role does The Marriage Rule—a piece of advice she’s been told will save her relationship—play in all of this?
Elle is a relatable protagonist, whose internal struggles with her identity, marriage, and motherhood are painfully real. Her conflicting feelings—of love for her husband, guilt for her actions, and a desire for something more—are portrayed with depth and nuance.
The Marriage Rule is a compelling and emotionally charged novel that offers both suspense and deep emotional insights. Helen Monks Takhar expertly navigates complex themes of self-identity, motherhood, and the fragile nature of relationships, all while keeping the reader on edge with a suspenseful, twist-laden plot. This book will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled with finding balance in life or questioned the expectations placed on them within a relationship.
An intelligent, suspense-filled exploration of marriage, motherhood, and the secrets we hide. Highly recommended for fans of psychological drama and emotional thrillers.
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for giving me an advance copy.

Elle has the perfect life with Dom,, but she is struggling with the demands that this life brings.

Dom seems like the perfect husband and Elle can't belive that he chose her.

When she meets Gabrial, life for Elle changes and she begins to see just how things are for her..

This is a good read and covers the theme of coersive behavior. Dom is a demanding man and wants things done his way.

I loved this read. It is a pacy and twisty novel and Seeing how life is through Elles eyes was a bit shocking at times.

Highly recommended

This book was excellent full of twists and turns, as soon as l thought I had it all figured out, off it went in a different direction everything you could want in a thriller and it's an easy 5 stars!

It explored a theme which is quite current today which was violence against women with the element of coercive control the author did this a diligent and thought provoking way.

To say this plot was a wild rollercoaster journey does not even come close, it was heart-stopping!

Finally, I’d highly recommend this book a must read when it comes out in May 2025!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars

Elle is struggling with being a mum and also failing at work,
Things are hard for her but she mustn't break the marriage rule.
A well written storyline which sucked me in straight away.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

I literally stayed up all night to read this as I couldn’t put it down. I was scared, frightened and absolutely terrified for Elle and what was going to happen. My heart was pondering and I was in shock so many times. The twists are insane.