Wow this book is one that will have your head spinning. It’s so hard to describe without spoiling it but this is a great mystery of a thriller that will keep catching you out. We meet our main characters Jason and Fiona who are a doctor and nurse in a secure mental health unit. There is an instant attraction and they fall for each other the only issue is he’s married but not that that problem has gone away they can finally start a new life with their two children as long as everyone follows the marriage rules to the letter. A great read I could not put down!

I was hooked from the start of this twisty thriller. At first I assumed it would be a story about a controlling husband and submissive wife but the plot turned out to be a lot darker and more intense. The lines between real and unreal blur as the story unfolds leading up to a jaw-dropping ending. Highly recommended for fans of psychological thrillers.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Fiona Fisher lives a quiet and contented existence. A former nurse who married Jason, the doctor of her dreams, she is now a mother to his two daughters and living in the sort of cosy village home she’d always wished for.

Life is pretty much perfect in every way…… or is it!
This is an engrossing page turner with striking imagery and breakneck twists. The author has a crisp writing style which guides readers through this layered and innovative thriller. It was a treat to read.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The storyline is something a little different to what i have read of late.
Interesting and fast paced with well written characters.
I wouldn't say i was engrossed but overall a decent read.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

The Marriage Rules follows Fiona's unique marriage to Jason, a widower. He's set a list of rules which their family must obey, or else! They live a cosy life in a small village together with Jason's daughters. One day, Fiona starts breaking the rules after she receives anonymous notes, which Jason then discovers. Why didn't Fiona tell Jason someone's threatening her? And why is their neighbour Sacha always trying to insert herself into their dynamics?

This book is very different to what's out there. It starts with the peculiar set of rules Jason has imposed on Fiona and his family. Fiona and Jason officially met in the hospital where they both worked, although in reality they'd previously met in their local pub. Jason had told Fiona about his marriage rules at the pub, and not only was Fiona totally fine with that but it also made him seem more alluring. A few months later, they're already married and living as a happy family with his daughters who aren't allowed to grieve and even have to call Fiona mum. Fiona's teenage step-daughter isn't happy about that and even tells Fiona what we're all thinking.

The Story is told from various POVs. Fiona from 3rd POV, Jason from 3rd POV, and Fiona's 1st POV as she remembers how they met and eloped, and Jason's 1st POV as he reminisces about it, too.

The setting of the book was great and I loved playing the guessing game. Is Jason who he claims he is? Why does he have all these weird rules? What happened to his deceased wife? Why was Fiona dismissed from her previous job? Actually, is Fiona who she claims she is?

This was an absolute page-turner and the end was great!

Wow, just wow. After finishing this brilliant novel I'm still processing the plot. It's not often I'm blindsided by a book but this one had plenty of "what the heck" moments.
The marriage rules seemed bizarre, I constantly wondered why Fiona was allowing Jason to control her and their daughters in this way. His actions appeared sinister and creepy.
The novel is fast paced, and littered with red herrings. I was taken aback many times. It's my favourite Samantha Hayes novel to date.

I struggled at times but was engaged in the plot. The twists were good but predictable but that wasn’t the cause for a 3 star rating. I just didn’t find the book engaging enough or the characters interesting. I loved the writing style and would read another by the author.

This is a cannot put down novel. Suspenseful and mysterious. This talented author has written a page turner. Red herrings kept me guessing. The ending was not easily discerned. Do not miss this book. Curl up in front of a fire with a warm blanket, and become lost in this story of intrigue. Warning: one surprise after another…innovative story… Thanks Netgalley.

This book had me at the prologue, I knew it was going to be good when I read the list of ridiculous rules that I certainly couldn’t stick too! I loved this book, great writing, lots of suspense, twists and a great plot. I would highly recommend it. I can’t wait to read more by this author. Thanks !

Oh, my, word! I was absolutely blown away with that twistIt’s not often a book leaves me speechless, but this one did just that! Seriously once you’ve read that ending you will have to go back to the start and look at the book with fresh new eyes. Wow! Samantha‘s best book yet in my opinion.

In every aspect of the society, rules are needed. It makes everything crystal clear from the beginning for everyone and it avoids discussions whether it's about playing a game, participating in a competition or starting a marriage.

The big question that arises when you are talking about rules between husband and wife is whether it's about protecting yourself and your spouse or is it rather about controlling your other half...

The book starts with a prologue where the author gives us the list of marriage rules and I can assure you I would not accept them at all.

Little by little we get the answers to what we all are wondering about. Why are these rules necessary? Are there any consequences when they are broken? 

The characters are well developed and the plot is filled to the brim with twists and revelations. I was totally shocked by them in the most positive sense of the word. I never ever saw this coming. The book is intriguing until the very last page.

In my opinion it's not a fast paced story in the beginning. It's rather a soft breeze that turns into a typhoon along the way. I liked it very, very much. 5 stars

Thank you

Many thanks to netgalley, the author and the publisher for approving my request to read this book.

Wow, wow, wow! I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down.

Dark, fast paced and with twists that just keep on coming this book had me on the edge of my seat throughout-this is one not to be missed!!

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

This was wow.... pretty dark - at least in my opinion - and very twisted. Like, I am not sure how Fiona and her daughters are doing it. How they manage to follow all those rules Jason had put up for them. And I kept questioning myself why someone would get into this at the first place. Like, I could never. But, to each their own, I do guess.

The story is told from the POV of both Fiona and Jason and also jumps from present to past and as always, I did enjoy the rather short chapters while reading. I did not really like Jason, though. But that did not keep me from continuing to read, thankfully.

Samantha Hayes, you did it again. Looking forward to your next one!

This book was dark and disturbing in a good way! One to really get your pulse racing and a story you won't forget! I was hooked it left me with shivers down my spine and chills in my your heart.

Some of the twists in this book left my jaw on the floor. I found the concept of the plot intriguing and interesting… so many rules! I don’t think I’ve ever read anything like it before it was really thought- provoking!

The plot was twisty and fast- paced. As I read through this book the concept of each character changed one minute I loved them the next I despised them!


A huge 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars from me! Another fantastic book by Samantha Hayes!

Fiona meets Jason while she is a nurse at the hospital. He is married at the time. but an affair suddenly starts. Most of this book takes place after Fiona and Jason get married, move, and are raising his two daughters. Jason has a list of rules in which he expects everyone to follow. If they don't, they will be punished. Jason goes as far as following them, waiting to see what they do, and watching them on camera. His oldest daughter starts to fight back. Their neighbor goes missing after she comments on Jason's behavior. This book is really slow in the beginning. Once Part two starts, it picks up a little bit. I was going to say this book isn't the greatest, but then the ending comes and changed my mind!

Samantha Hayes has done it again. Would you stay in a marriage filled full of rules? What happens when someone breaks the rules? This book is filled full of twists and turns.

THE MARRIAGE RULES BY SAMANTHA HAYES.
Release date set for the 9th of April 2025.
5 STARS.
As soon as i read the blurb i was instantly desperate to read it.
As soon as it landed on my kindle yesterday i was off reading straight away.
A blurb is everything to me and this one sold it for me.
The prologue is brilliant as it sets out the rules within the marriage.
It jumps from past to present and is very easy to follow along.
I found the story suspenseful and i loved every single thing about it.