I’d describe this book as realistic fiction. The author has done a fantastic job of creating imaginary characters and situations that depict the world and society. The characters focus on themes of growing, self-discovery and confronting personal and social problems. The language is clear, concise, and evocative, with descriptions that bring the setting and characters to life. Dialogue is natural and authentic, and the pacing is well-balanced, with enough tension and release to keep the reader engaged.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed, and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if it were in a bookshop.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

I will be thinking about this book for a long time!
I want to preface this by saying that this is a love story, not a romance book (due to this, I think I loved it more)
I devoured this book in one sitting and stayed up until 3am reading it because once I started, I just could not put it down!

The story follows Jack and Jessica, a married couple who have just published a book depicting seven rules the recommend all couples abide by in order to have a perfect marriage. They attend a retreat, as part of their book promotion, set up for struggling couples to try and help them by teaching them their seven rules.
However, privately, Jack and Jessica are having marriage troubles themselves (marriage in crisis is my favourite book trope) and decide to take part in the retreat themselves to help solve their issues.

It is written very cleverly with each chapter title named after one of the seven rules and is also written in a dual timeline with flashbacks to the couples happy beginning to their not so perfect present day. I really liked the contrast of the two timelines and found it made the characters more relatable and made me really root for their relationship.

The main characters in this story are flawed and messy and feel so genuine and real that you can’t help but fall in love with them. At points during the book I wanted to scream at them to communicate better but, ultimately this made them seem more realistic.

The book delves into really important topics such as infertility and money struggles alongside genuine relationship troubles.

Overall, I loved this book! I have no notes and will be recommending it to everyone who will listen when it’s published

This isn’t your typical romance—it’s a raw, realistic look at marriage behind the perfect Instagram posts 📸. Jessica and Jack seem to have it all, but behind the scenes, their relationship is falling apart. As they try to follow their own “perfect” rules, they realize love isn’t that simple.

While I prefer a more positive, uplifting narrative ❤️, I still found this an engaging and thought-provoking read. It’s more about struggles than happily-ever-afters, but if you enjoy deep, character-driven relationship drama, this one’s worth picking up!

I very much enjoyed this thoughtful exploration of social media, shared goals, long term relationships and what makes a perfect marriage. Jack and Jessica have been together forever - so long, in fact, that there's nothing they don't know and love about each other. They've written the book on having a perfect marriage - literally. But behind the scenes, all is not so rosy as it seems. Jack is fed up of being an influencer, misses his job, and wants to get back to writing the novel he's dreamed of. Jessica is desperate to make sure she's seen as something more than just a pretty face on Instagram. When their book tour brings them to breaking point, what better solution than to participate in the couples retreat they themselves have designed? Told in alternating perspectives from J&J, this book looks at some of the wrinkles that can come out of a long term relationship and whether you can really have the perfect marriage just by following these seven simple rules. Of course, it's never just that simple, and Jack and Jessica have some serious issues that they need to work through, but throughout this book I really felt like I was on their team and rooting for their perfect marriage. Not too deep or heartwrenching, this was a perfect read with enough depth to stop it from being pure froth, and a pair of very real leads who I felt I could've been friends with. I haven't read anything by Rebecca Reid before, but I'll definitely look up more from this author!

A brilliant premise for a book, giving us a look behind the lighting and makeup of the life of an influencer couple. I so enjoyed this book, I found it relatable and loved the characters,

This book is a refreshing take on the complexities of modern relationships, with a perfect balance of humor and emotional depth. The writing is witty and sharp, effortlessly blending satire and heartfelt moments as it dives into the pressures of perfection in the age of social media. Jessica and Jack are the epitome of a “perfect couple” on the surface, yet beneath their curated lives lies a story of struggle, growth, and the harsh realities of love. Their attempt to follow their own set of “rules” is both relatable and eye-opening, showing that no amount of glossy Instagram posts can substitute for true connection. The romance here isn’t about grand gestures or sweeping declarations, but rather the quiet, sometimes messy work of understanding and adapting to each other’s needs. This book is a clever, poignant reminder that perfection doesn’t exist, and maybe that’s exactly what makes love worth fighting for.

rounding up to 3.5

two married influencers release a self help book - the only issue is their marriage is in complete shambles.

as the story progresses through the couples marital journey it touches on very relatable and touching topics such as infertility and abortions.

i enjoyed how the story focuses on the prospect of the main characters fixing their marriage.

overall this a quick enjoyable story where we watch a couple progress through their journey of their marriage.

I actually really enjoyed this book. It was really easy to read and eye opening. Loved the characters and I think a lot of people will be able to relate to their story.

Bittersweet and heartfelt and something that I imagine most of us can relate to. This felt like a refreshing change to reading so much instant connections and instead focusing on when this wanes and how to rebuild a relationship.

This was a really interesting read - not typical of your usual romance but I enjoyed it because of that.

I enjoyed how this book was set out with a combination of viewpoints and time settings. I felt that we had a really good insight to each character's perspective and got a sense of their emotions on as the story (with all of its different situations) progresses.

I really liked the aspect of using social media the way it was used in this book. I know it can be a good thing, but acknowledging that it can also be harmful if it becomes centralised in a negative way was good to see: how it can make people into performative versions of themselves, how it's not used to tackle what may be seen as negative or more taboo subjects (like fertility struggles).. This was a really good portrayal of social media (in my opinion).

The content warnings gave me a minute to think about reading this, but I decided to go ahead and hoped I'd be ok. I thought the topics covered (that I have experienced) were done so in a way that was sensitive and compassionate. I appreciated that and felt it added a bit of depth to everything happening in Jack and Jessica's lives.

If you're looking for a romance where people meet, fall in love and have some sort of drama to overcome, this isn't it. This is more angsty than I'd usually choose to read because we spend a lot of time in the midst of a couple's 'difficulties' while they work on what's going on - both working out their own feelings but also the partners feelings - and how they're meant to fit the new environment evolving around them as they grow. But, as an old married lady (I've got double the time on Jack and Jessica) it was actually a bit refreshing to read this. I think it's a decent reflection on time and change and growth in marriage.

I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this. It was refreshing to read a romance that centered around an established couple growing, and I was fully engaged in the story from start to end!

Romance💐💘🤭
Okay, so this book is technically romance 💕, but honestly? It feels more like a deep dive⛷️ into relationships, with romance as a side dish 🍽️ rather than the main course. It’s not about falling in love—it’s about staying in love, which is harder 💔. Instead of cute, swoon-worthy moments, we get tension 😤, arguments 💥, and a real look at what happens when a relationship starts to break🌩️ down.

Plot 📖📝💭
The layout is so clever 🤯. The couple wrote a book called Seven Rules for a Perfect Marriage, and each chapter of that book 📖 is a chapter in this book 📚. In each chapter a past event where one of the rules📝 was implemented is recounted and same with a present event.

One thing, though—I wish😕 we got to see more of them actually trying to fix🛠️ their relationship 🔄. Most of the book is revolved around their falling outs⚔️, which makes sense, but I wanted to see more of the healing🤕 process too. The book isn’t long, so there wasn’t much room for that, but still, it would’ve made their journey🛳️ feel more complete.

Characters 👥💬🤯
The whole book is about their relationship, so if you don’t like drama🎭, this might be a bit much . They’re not the perfect couple💫 they are portrayed🎥 to be, and that’s the whole point. At times, I wanted to scream at them to just communicate☎️ properly, but at the same time, their struggles felt real 🎭. No one is perfect, and this book really drives that home.

Final Thoughts ⭐✨📚
This book isn’t your typical romance😘—it’s a deep, sometimes frustrating😤, but very real look🔎 at relationships. I just wish🔆 we got more of their actual journey toward fixing things instead of mostly just the breakdown 😩. Still, it’s a solid read if you like relationship drama and realistic portrayals of love🖤.

Thanks Netgalley and the author🤭💘💐

Loved loved loved this book. It was so refreshing to read about real people (or fictional people who felt real!) who aren’t in as perfect a marriage as the title suggests. Jessica and Jack are clearly made for each other, but Rebecca Reid shows us that not every happily ever after is plain sailing, tackling difficult issues in a sensitive but honest way. Although these marital issues are at the forefront of the story, their love for each is clear and I found myself rooting for them throughout.

I highly suggest adding this to your TBR as I’ve found a new “book couple” to adore.

I’m off to check out Rebecca Reid’s thrillers now!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

It seems as though many novels anymore just focus on fleeting love and it’s so nice to have a book that looks at what it’s like not necessarily after the e fairytale but after the fairytale lol. It’s a fun and humorous look at what it takes to maintain a happy relationship I love it