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The Prenup
She signed the papers. And now her life is in danger…
I gaze at my new husband and smile. It’s our wedding day and I feel like the luckiest woman alive.
Lucas is perfect. He brings me coffee in the morning, flowers in the evening, and never leaves the room without a kiss.
So I try to ignore the niggling doubt in the back of my mind about the prenup he made me sign. Does he think I’m a gold digger?
I reassure myself that it doesn’t matter, because I know we’ll be together forever…
Three years in, Lucas has changed. I don’t feel safe in my own house, and when I look at my husband, I don’t recognize the man I married.
And now I’m trapped in this house with a man I’m beginning to realize I never really knew at all—and I’m terrified I might not make it out alive…
An absolutely gripping psychological thriller. Impossible to put down and packed with whiplash-inducing twists, perfect for fans of The Couple Next Door , The Silent Wife and The Marriage .
I gaze at my new husband and smile. It’s our wedding day and I feel like the luckiest woman alive.
Lucas is perfect. He brings me coffee in the morning, flowers in the evening, and never leaves the room without a kiss.
So I try to ignore the niggling doubt in the back of my mind about the prenup he made me sign. Does he think I’m a gold digger?
I reassure myself that it doesn’t matter, because I know we’ll be together forever…
Three years in, Lucas has changed. I don’t feel safe in my own house, and when I look at my husband, I don’t recognize the man I married.
And now I’m trapped in this house with a man I’m beginning to realize I never really knew at all—and I’m terrified I might not make it out alive…
An absolutely gripping psychological thriller. Impossible to put down and packed with whiplash-inducing twists, perfect for fans of The Couple Next Door , The Silent Wife and The Marriage .
324 pages, Paperback
First published July 27, 2023
3364 people are currently reading
1989 people want to read
About the author
Arianne Richmonde
29 books940 followersARIANNE RICHMONDE is the USA TODAY bestselling author of the psychological thrillers, THE WIFE'S HOUSE and THE NEWLYWEDS (published by Bookouture, Hachette UK), and suspense and romance.
Her Pearl series has sold more than half a million copies worldwide. Her stories are always character-driven and full of unexpected twists and turns.
Apart from writing about the passions and fragilities of human nature, she loves to spend time with her husband and their animals, including a femme fatale Husky with one blue eye and one golden eye. Arianne's a chocaholic and sometimes sneaks off to sunny, exotic locations, all in the name of research.
For updates on new releases, sales and giveaways please sign up for her Newsletter by going to: https://bit.ly/2ZoRQVx (copy and paste to your browser). Or join her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAriann... or send her an email ariannerichmonde@gmail.com - she loves hearing from readers and will always reply.
Her Pearl series has sold more than half a million copies worldwide. Her stories are always character-driven and full of unexpected twists and turns.
Apart from writing about the passions and fragilities of human nature, she loves to spend time with her husband and their animals, including a femme fatale Husky with one blue eye and one golden eye. Arianne's a chocaholic and sometimes sneaks off to sunny, exotic locations, all in the name of research.
For updates on new releases, sales and giveaways please sign up for her Newsletter by going to: https://bit.ly/2ZoRQVx (copy and paste to your browser). Or join her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAriann... or send her an email ariannerichmonde@gmail.com - she loves hearing from readers and will always reply.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 294 reviews
July 28, 2023
So. Much. Fun. Such a compelling story told through the eyes of three women. We see the situation from all three sides and put it all together for a satisfying ending. Some might call it poetic justice.
Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for providing a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for providing a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2023
What a gripping, twist filled, shocking book that kept me on my toes and turning the pages!!! Arianne Richmonde kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat the entire book. Just when I thought I knew where things were going, she turned the tables on me with twist after exciting twist!
Before Ava and Lucas married, she was presented with a prenup that his attorney father wrote. It's not in her favor, but she loves Lucas and plans to live happily ever after with him. But several years later, Lucas changed. There are little things at first that he easily explains away, but then there are things that just well...…
What is a wife to do?
Talk about a gripping psychological thriller which did not disappoint! I loved that I had no clue about what was going to happen next! This book kept me on my A game flipping those pages at breakneck speed. From the very beginning to the very last page, this was a thrilling page turner!
A shocking, well written, and twist filled page turner!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Before Ava and Lucas married, she was presented with a prenup that his attorney father wrote. It's not in her favor, but she loves Lucas and plans to live happily ever after with him. But several years later, Lucas changed. There are little things at first that he easily explains away, but then there are things that just well...…
What is a wife to do?
Talk about a gripping psychological thriller which did not disappoint! I loved that I had no clue about what was going to happen next! This book kept me on my A game flipping those pages at breakneck speed. From the very beginning to the very last page, this was a thrilling page turner!
A shocking, well written, and twist filled page turner!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
September 14, 2023
Several others loved The Pre-Nup which is why I ordered it from Kindle Unlited.
Unfortunately, eyerolls were induced early with the pinnacle being a woman binding herself to an unsavory husband. She stupidly signed a pre-nup without an attorney being fully aware of his character. Yet she gave him all the power.
What is it with supposedly smart females justifying repeatedly why they put themselves in this postition and then need to stay there? Not an entertaining theme to me and I should have probably quit then.
Thankfully, the story moved into the points of view of two other women and I soldiered on. I felt the mid section to the end was interesting with several twists. Set in scenic Malibu, the the asides regarding the entertainment industry drew me in when I wasn't engaged elsewhere.
The finale felt rushed and not congruous considering previous repetition. Did I mention all of the overlap? A two part ending with one sement I'd figured out and the other coming out of left field.
2.5 rounded up.
Unfortunately, eyerolls were induced early with the pinnacle being a woman binding herself to an unsavory husband. She stupidly signed a pre-nup without an attorney being fully aware of his character. Yet she gave him all the power.
What is it with supposedly smart females justifying repeatedly why they put themselves in this postition and then need to stay there? Not an entertaining theme to me and I should have probably quit then.
Thankfully, the story moved into the points of view of two other women and I soldiered on. I felt the mid section to the end was interesting with several twists. Set in scenic Malibu, the the asides regarding the entertainment industry drew me in when I wasn't engaged elsewhere.
The finale felt rushed and not congruous considering previous repetition. Did I mention all of the overlap? A two part ending with one sement I'd figured out and the other coming out of left field.
2.5 rounded up.
July 22, 2023
Firstly got to say the main character Ava’s job as a Script Supervisor’ was amazing to read about, basically her role makes sure if in one scene in a film the clock says 3pm then the clock continues to tell the correct time throughout the rest of filming, continuity we would say, on that point you could tell the author has been an actress with her ( rather jaded ) view of Hollywood and all that goes on there, men do not come out of it well at all, whilst we all know some men are liars, cheats and misogynists not all of us are and it wrankled to read the ever present ‘all men’ narrative, especially as the women in the book were equally as hideous as the men in their actions!
The story is at times entertaining, others dark and tbh a bit dismal with a slew of truly banal characters that most of us woukd reject and stay clear of, however they made good reading although you couldn’t root for any of them as they were all so basic in their personalities, 2 of the main ones Cristal and Claudia being very similar in name and in a relationship did cause a bit of confusion
I finished it but at times it seemed a long read and I think 6 days for me is a record in recent years
Some things I didn’t like, some I did but most importantly a story that will come to mind whenever you next sign any kind of contract and in that regard the book did its job
The story is at times entertaining, others dark and tbh a bit dismal with a slew of truly banal characters that most of us woukd reject and stay clear of, however they made good reading although you couldn’t root for any of them as they were all so basic in their personalities, 2 of the main ones Cristal and Claudia being very similar in name and in a relationship did cause a bit of confusion
I finished it but at times it seemed a long read and I think 6 days for me is a record in recent years
Some things I didn’t like, some I did but most importantly a story that will come to mind whenever you next sign any kind of contract and in that regard the book did its job
July 4, 2023
This book has to top all twists at the end! Ava and Lucas got married and he insisted she sign a pre-nup and what takes place till the end is a thriller to say the least. Oh I was cheering at the end !!! Yes I was. Karma gets you every time is what I say! Ha! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this new release which comes out July 2023. It’s a doozy!!!
July 16, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
We are all liars aren't we? At least that's the case for all the characters in this books. An intriguing read about a fated marriage with no trust on either side and what happens when you cross the line too many times.
The first half of the book is purely told from Ava's perspective a wife trapped in a marriage to a compulsive and manipulate husband. The 2nd half is told through the perspective of Ava and a couple of other women going back and forth filling in the blanks until the twisty although not unsurprising conclusion.
An thoroughly enjoyable read!
We are all liars aren't we? At least that's the case for all the characters in this books. An intriguing read about a fated marriage with no trust on either side and what happens when you cross the line too many times.
The first half of the book is purely told from Ava's perspective a wife trapped in a marriage to a compulsive and manipulate husband. The 2nd half is told through the perspective of Ava and a couple of other women going back and forth filling in the blanks until the twisty although not unsurprising conclusion.
An thoroughly enjoyable read!
January 8, 2025
El final de este libro ha sido lo mejor, tal vez las últimas cincuenta páginas, donde la autora juega con la astucia del lector y hace malabarismos con sus predicciones. Increíble.
Sin embargo, las primeras 150-200 páginas se me hicieron densas. Si Arianne hubiera usado la maestría que demostró escribiendo el final de esta novela, hubiese sido una obra maestra. Aun así, me ha encandilado. Leeré más de ella.
Sin embargo, las primeras 150-200 páginas se me hicieron densas. Si Arianne hubiera usado la maestría que demostró escribiendo el final de esta novela, hubiese sido una obra maestra. Aun así, me ha encandilado. Leeré más de ella.
July 31, 2023
When Ava married Lucas, she signed a pre-nup. This would protect his inheritance. As she was madly in love, she readily agreed. Ava felt Lucas was as committed to her as she was to him but a few doubts soon began weaving in. Suspicions grew. More than that, Ava was the victim of gaslighting. This continual process by Lucas was further complicated by the fact that Ava was now pregnant.
Discovering the fact that Lucas is having an affair, Ava struggles with her desire to leave him. With no job and a baby on the way, knowing she will be left with nothing plagues Ava. Can she create a plan to balance the tables?
Lucas’s deceit knew no bounds and with the twists and turns in this story as Ava struggled to change things kept me riveted page after page. In some ways this book by Arianne Richmonde reminded me of the movie Gaslight with Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman. So much, in fact, that I rewatched the classic thriller immediately upon completing this book. I loved comparing this thrilling book to the movie and I will say that I was thoroughly entertained.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Discovering the fact that Lucas is having an affair, Ava struggles with her desire to leave him. With no job and a baby on the way, knowing she will be left with nothing plagues Ava. Can she create a plan to balance the tables?
Lucas’s deceit knew no bounds and with the twists and turns in this story as Ava struggled to change things kept me riveted page after page. In some ways this book by Arianne Richmonde reminded me of the movie Gaslight with Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman. So much, in fact, that I rewatched the classic thriller immediately upon completing this book. I loved comparing this thrilling book to the movie and I will say that I was thoroughly entertained.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
April 25, 2024
This book gave me anxiety and made me feel gaslit but not in a bad way - she executed the reader feeling the way the characters excellently. Kept me on my toes the entire time.
June 17, 2023
Umm, that twist?! A suspenseful, gripping psychological thriller that keeps you guessing throughout.
'It's fight or flight. When your only option is fight'.
Synopsis
Ava and Lucas seem like the perfect couple, but underneath the surface, not all is as it seems.
Ava didn't care about signing a pre-nup when they got married, not when in love and not thinking about divorce. But now, three years in, Lucas has changed - he's an expert manipulator and gaslighter, making Ava question her sanity.
'The ultimate gaslighting technique. Of which he is a master'.
Lucas goes out of town a lot and works late, but Ava trusts him.. its his job. But when Ava finds an earring that isn't hers, she begins to question what he's actually up to... setting up a suspenseful motion of events that leads to a massive twist.
Thoughts
I was captivated throughout, wondering how the story would play out. But that twist had me shocked, such a gripping turn of events!
'Will karma get him in the end?'
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC. This review is voluntary.
'It's fight or flight. When your only option is fight'.
Synopsis
Ava and Lucas seem like the perfect couple, but underneath the surface, not all is as it seems.
Ava didn't care about signing a pre-nup when they got married, not when in love and not thinking about divorce. But now, three years in, Lucas has changed - he's an expert manipulator and gaslighter, making Ava question her sanity.
'The ultimate gaslighting technique. Of which he is a master'.
Lucas goes out of town a lot and works late, but Ava trusts him.. its his job. But when Ava finds an earring that isn't hers, she begins to question what he's actually up to... setting up a suspenseful motion of events that leads to a massive twist.
Thoughts
I was captivated throughout, wondering how the story would play out. But that twist had me shocked, such a gripping turn of events!
'Will karma get him in the end?'
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC. This review is voluntary.
August 3, 2023
Page turner had me from.the first few pages. I devoured this book in one sitting
Twist I loved!! The ending was just awesome and not what I saw coming at all. Perfectly executed. Pulled it off for real!!!
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.
Twist I loved!! The ending was just awesome and not what I saw coming at all. Perfectly executed. Pulled it off for real!!!
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.
July 31, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up.
I gaze at my new husband and smile. It's our wedding day and I feel like the luckiest woman alive. Lucas is perfect. He brings me coffee in the morning, flowers in the evening, and never leaves the room without a kiss. So I try to ignore the niggling doubt in the back of my mind about the prenup he made me sign. Does he think I'm a gold digger? I reassure myself that it doesn't matter, because I know we will be together forever....
The twists kept coming in this domestic thriller. There's so much going on in this book and it's told from multiple points of view. It did take me a little while to get into the book as the pace is slow at first. Three years after Ava married Lucas, things have changed. Strange occurrences take place and Ava thinks that Lucas is cheating on her. Lucas is a lawyer, liar and gaslighter. I was a little intrigued by Ava's story. I didn't really care for any of the characters. The timeline jumped around a bit too much for my liking. It was also quite repetitive.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #ArianneRichmonde for my ARC of #Prenup in exchange for an honest review.
I gaze at my new husband and smile. It's our wedding day and I feel like the luckiest woman alive. Lucas is perfect. He brings me coffee in the morning, flowers in the evening, and never leaves the room without a kiss. So I try to ignore the niggling doubt in the back of my mind about the prenup he made me sign. Does he think I'm a gold digger? I reassure myself that it doesn't matter, because I know we will be together forever....
The twists kept coming in this domestic thriller. There's so much going on in this book and it's told from multiple points of view. It did take me a little while to get into the book as the pace is slow at first. Three years after Ava married Lucas, things have changed. Strange occurrences take place and Ava thinks that Lucas is cheating on her. Lucas is a lawyer, liar and gaslighter. I was a little intrigued by Ava's story. I didn't really care for any of the characters. The timeline jumped around a bit too much for my liking. It was also quite repetitive.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #ArianneRichmonde for my ARC of #Prenup in exchange for an honest review.
June 30, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Being a big thriller girlie and quite hard to please when it comes to the genre, I must say I did really enjoy this. I liked the main character Ava and I liked the dogs but I do think their names were rather pretentious and added nothing to the story. The book kept me interested throughout and I finished it in two sittings. I didn’t guess the twist and enjoyed it. However, I did find the jump in timelines quite poorly executed and confusing at times. My only other critique would be the writing style when it came to Minnie was too immature considering she was supposed to be 22, not 12.
Over all, an easy fun read and not too deep or difficult to understand. Nice writing style and would read from this author again.
Being a big thriller girlie and quite hard to please when it comes to the genre, I must say I did really enjoy this. I liked the main character Ava and I liked the dogs but I do think their names were rather pretentious and added nothing to the story. The book kept me interested throughout and I finished it in two sittings. I didn’t guess the twist and enjoyed it. However, I did find the jump in timelines quite poorly executed and confusing at times. My only other critique would be the writing style when it came to Minnie was too immature considering she was supposed to be 22, not 12.
Over all, an easy fun read and not too deep or difficult to understand. Nice writing style and would read from this author again.
March 10, 2024
Always love a scorned wife FMC, but this one was SO slow through the first half of the book, I almost quit reading. 😅 I will say the ending was really satisfying and I liked the twist, although it was predictable. 2.5⭐️
June 20, 2023
Ava, Lucas, Claudia: this is a love triangle like no other! When Ava and Lucas married she signed the prenup as both he and his father were attorneys and it seemed like a logical step. But when she begins noticing strange things that she can't remember happening (like passing out in bed, finding an unusual earring under the bed), she believes Lucas is gaslighting her. Enter Claudia, an A-list star with whom her husband seems to be spending time with, and you have all the markings of a marriage gone bad. But you have no idea what's going on behind the scenes! And it's crazy-good! So dive in head (and heart) first and enjoy this nutty romp into revenge served cold and deadly!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
March 17, 2025
No sé muy bien qué decir. Bueno, sí, que engancha mucho y es cortito, pero es tramposo hasta decir basta. No me gusta que me tomen por tonta.
February 19, 2024
this book a good buildup but the end was rushed. her husband getting hit by a bus just felt like too much? jasmine’s character’s motivation also felt really surface level. ava and claudia’s friendship escalating to commit this crime in a matter of a few hours was also kinda silly. i really enjoyed the beginning but it just didn’t finish strong for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2024
Besviken. Trodde boken skulle vara bättre..
August 2, 2023
Would you sign a pre-nup before your wedding? Whilst I know they're becoming more common in the UK now, I still wouldn't sign one. Shouldn't wedding vows be enough?
This is my first read by Richmonde and it certainly didn't disappoint. Fast paced from the first page we're taken straight into the married life of Ava and her husband Lucas. Ava is pregnant with their first child and Lucas is embroiled in an affair with Claudia.
Karma's a bitch and gets you right when you're least expecting it and Lucas deserved every thing that landed in his lap. I took an immediate dislike to both him, his father and their manipulative ways.
The storyline is addictive, suspenseful and quite sadly realistic. So many men nowadays think that narcissism and gaslighting are the way to go.
I definitely look forward to reading more from Richmonde in the future.
This is my first read by Richmonde and it certainly didn't disappoint. Fast paced from the first page we're taken straight into the married life of Ava and her husband Lucas. Ava is pregnant with their first child and Lucas is embroiled in an affair with Claudia.
Karma's a bitch and gets you right when you're least expecting it and Lucas deserved every thing that landed in his lap. I took an immediate dislike to both him, his father and their manipulative ways.
The storyline is addictive, suspenseful and quite sadly realistic. So many men nowadays think that narcissism and gaslighting are the way to go.
I definitely look forward to reading more from Richmonde in the future.
July 24, 2023
Thank you NetGalley & Bookouture for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger warning: Miscarriage
I picked this one solely based on the cover & title but let me tell you… it did not disappoint! Once I started reading it I was expecting the story to be extremely predictable & while some of it was slightly predictable other parts had me saying “whoa! what the heck just happened?”
I liked that the author had multiple POVs. It made it easy to like some of the characters while hating others (for obvious reasons), while also helping with character development.
This is a first for me with reading the author & it won’t be the last. The twists were well thought out & executed well. Just when I thought I had it figured out, I was definitely mistaken. If you like books that have twists til LITERALLY the last page… this one is for you!
Trigger warning: Miscarriage
I picked this one solely based on the cover & title but let me tell you… it did not disappoint! Once I started reading it I was expecting the story to be extremely predictable & while some of it was slightly predictable other parts had me saying “whoa! what the heck just happened?”
I liked that the author had multiple POVs. It made it easy to like some of the characters while hating others (for obvious reasons), while also helping with character development.
This is a first for me with reading the author & it won’t be the last. The twists were well thought out & executed well. Just when I thought I had it figured out, I was definitely mistaken. If you like books that have twists til LITERALLY the last page… this one is for you!
July 27, 2023
Ava and Lucas are newly weds. Expecting their first baby, living with their two dogs in their Malibu beach house, life should be wonderful. Unfortunately for Ava, Lucas is a master manipulator and gaslighter extraordinaire.
When Ava discovers he’s been having an affair with the gorgeous actress, Claudia Spector, her world falls apart. If she leaves Lucas, her prenup means she gets nothing. How will she support her baby?
Can Ava handle swimming with Hollywood sharks and hatch a plan that means she leaves with something?
What a gripping psychological thriller this was! I hated Lucas and eye rolled my way through all his lies and deceit. There were so many twists and turns with this book, I was thoroughly hooked!
I would definitely read more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley & the publishers for giving me a chance to read this book early.
When Ava discovers he’s been having an affair with the gorgeous actress, Claudia Spector, her world falls apart. If she leaves Lucas, her prenup means she gets nothing. How will she support her baby?
Can Ava handle swimming with Hollywood sharks and hatch a plan that means she leaves with something?
What a gripping psychological thriller this was! I hated Lucas and eye rolled my way through all his lies and deceit. There were so many twists and turns with this book, I was thoroughly hooked!
I would definitely read more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley & the publishers for giving me a chance to read this book early.
October 14, 2024
I LOVED THIS.
WOW! I was not expecting to like this as much as I did, but I was blown away. I’m absolutely watching out for more of Arianne Richmonde’s books.
I didn’t exactly go into the book blindly, but I definitely got more than what I thought, in all the right ways. At first, you think this is just one more book about a wife trapped in a marriage to a compulsive and manipulative husband, but quickly, this becomes more than that. Told in three POV’s, the author does an amazing job at making the characters each stand out by themselves and be different from each other. #GirlPower?
I loved that the author included little snippets and details of what Ava's job entailed as a script supervisor; this is the first time I see some of my work setting in a book with such an organic and accurate feeling. The Prenup read really, really fast and was so much FUN! + Of course, I love the cover. A new favourite.
WOW! I was not expecting to like this as much as I did, but I was blown away. I’m absolutely watching out for more of Arianne Richmonde’s books.
I didn’t exactly go into the book blindly, but I definitely got more than what I thought, in all the right ways. At first, you think this is just one more book about a wife trapped in a marriage to a compulsive and manipulative husband, but quickly, this becomes more than that. Told in three POV’s, the author does an amazing job at making the characters each stand out by themselves and be different from each other. #GirlPower?
I loved that the author included little snippets and details of what Ava's job entailed as a script supervisor; this is the first time I see some of my work setting in a book with such an organic and accurate feeling. The Prenup read really, really fast and was so much FUN! + Of course, I love the cover. A new favourite.
July 8, 2023
3-3.5 stars.
Unlike many of the reviews I've seen, this book did not draw me into the story from the beginning. Divided into 3 parts, I found Part I tedious to get through. I didn't love how the character, Ava, was written and found her internal monologue to be quite repetitive. Having finished the book, I understand why the author wrote her that way, but honestly if this wasn't a book I got from Netgalley I probably would have put it down and started something else.
Part II did pick up thankfully and that's when the story started to take a turn. There is a lot of misdirection, mostly because the narrators (author) are withholding info (not quite unreliable, just omitting things in the timeline.) Speaking of timeline, it jumps around quite a bit which adds to confusion for the reader. I would have preferred something more linear, but again, the author is using this tactic to help create the twists and turns of the story.
The story was average, I didn't love the ending as it seemed kitschy, and didn't love the writing style as a whole. I think a lot of this is my personal preference so many will be probably enjoy this one quite a bit but it was just average for me.
Domestic thriller compared to Gone Girl but in Gone Girl the twists seemed to happen organically this seemed to be trying too hard to be a Gone Girl.
Unlike many of the reviews I've seen, this book did not draw me into the story from the beginning. Divided into 3 parts, I found Part I tedious to get through. I didn't love how the character, Ava, was written and found her internal monologue to be quite repetitive. Having finished the book, I understand why the author wrote her that way, but honestly if this wasn't a book I got from Netgalley I probably would have put it down and started something else.
Part II did pick up thankfully and that's when the story started to take a turn. There is a lot of misdirection, mostly because the narrators (author) are withholding info (not quite unreliable, just omitting things in the timeline.) Speaking of timeline, it jumps around quite a bit which adds to confusion for the reader. I would have preferred something more linear, but again, the author is using this tactic to help create the twists and turns of the story.
The story was average, I didn't love the ending as it seemed kitschy, and didn't love the writing style as a whole. I think a lot of this is my personal preference so many will be probably enjoy this one quite a bit but it was just average for me.
Domestic thriller compared to Gone Girl but in Gone Girl the twists seemed to happen organically this seemed to be trying too hard to be a Gone Girl.
July 21, 2023
Just awful, did not finish and feel like I’ve been mis-sold.
I chose this book because it was ‘reader recommended’ at an average 4 stars from over one hundred reviewers.
I don’t know what those reader read but this was just awful! Endless, tedious, monologues that stretch on the pages and pages, and then repeat themselves in the following chapters.
Throughout the half of the book, I did manage to read. I really struggled to connect with the main character. Her endless whingeing, and references to ‘flight or fight‘ didn’t match up to her actions. She was very much a ‘let’s decide not to decide today’ kind of person. In particular, I found it very very irritating to read.
We do get an insight into her background which wasn’t as pleasant as you’d have hoped, but that should’ve made her more determined to want better and achieve better with other peoples rubbish. Pre-nup or no pre-nup if you’re husband is cheating on you, gaslighting you, disrespecting you and you feel trapped. You should just leave.
Don’t stay for the baby, it doesn’t make any sense. The pre-nup as stated does not include the child and has nothing to do with the situation. There was no tension, no twists, no anything to keep a reader wanting to read. In fact, the only times the author seemed engaged in her narrative, was when she was talking about anything other than the main storyline!
As always, thank you to NetGalley for my advance, copy and exchange for my honest review, but unfortunately I feel completely let down by the ratings this book achieved.
I chose this book because it was ‘reader recommended’ at an average 4 stars from over one hundred reviewers.
I don’t know what those reader read but this was just awful! Endless, tedious, monologues that stretch on the pages and pages, and then repeat themselves in the following chapters.
Throughout the half of the book, I did manage to read. I really struggled to connect with the main character. Her endless whingeing, and references to ‘flight or fight‘ didn’t match up to her actions. She was very much a ‘let’s decide not to decide today’ kind of person. In particular, I found it very very irritating to read.
We do get an insight into her background which wasn’t as pleasant as you’d have hoped, but that should’ve made her more determined to want better and achieve better with other peoples rubbish. Pre-nup or no pre-nup if you’re husband is cheating on you, gaslighting you, disrespecting you and you feel trapped. You should just leave.
Don’t stay for the baby, it doesn’t make any sense. The pre-nup as stated does not include the child and has nothing to do with the situation. There was no tension, no twists, no anything to keep a reader wanting to read. In fact, the only times the author seemed engaged in her narrative, was when she was talking about anything other than the main storyline!
As always, thank you to NetGalley for my advance, copy and exchange for my honest review, but unfortunately I feel completely let down by the ratings this book achieved.
July 23, 2023
★★★ 3.5 stars
She signed the papers…Now she must pay the price…
I've enjoyed two previous thrillers by Richmonde - "The Guilty Sister" and "The Breakdown" - so I was keen to dive into this one after reading its intriguing premise. Ava, Lucas and Claudia in a love triangle like no other!
Ava met Lucas and it was lust at first sight. They were at it like rabbits for days until reality set in and Ava had to actually go to work. And then she discovers she's pregnant. Well, for well-to-do Lucas' conservative parents, a baby out of wedlock just won't do. So a wedding for three weeks hence by pulling a few strings and voila! Ava and Lucas have walked up and down the aisle, thus married.
But first, a pre-nup. One which states that everything Lucas has, or doesn't have but will have or may have, Ava will have no claim on should they divorce. She's no gold digger but she is in love with Lucas so she signs the papers without a second thought.
And now here we are.
Three years on and Lucas has changed. At first it was little things. Late home from work; a lipstick in his pocket; an earring that wasn't hers. All these things added up to one thing - Lucas was having an affair. Oh no, work has been busy; I must have picked it up by mistake; I bought you those earrings and here you are wearing them! Ava is pretty sure nothing could be further from the truth and that her husband is an expert manipulator is gaslighting her with smoke and mirrors.
And then she meets Claudia. Star of her favourite show and her husband's mistress. A recipe for disaster? Or a perfect storm? What could possibly go wrong?
There isn't a lot I can say about this book without giving too much away. It does start off a little on the slow side and it was almost depressing. Why, if she knew what he was like, was she staying with him? Pre-nup or no pre-nup, no man is worth risking your sanity or your self worth for. She loved him, more fool her, because it is clear from the outset that Lucas suffered from "Tom Cruise syndrome" in that the only person Lucas loved was himself. He took risks and didn't care if he was caught because he just manipulated the picture with a sleight of hand move that left Ava questioning what was real and what wasn't. And Lucas just went about life as if everything was his God-given right. The man was a snake and I hated him from the first moment he opened his mouth.
By the time the story hit Part 2, things were ramped up a notch and began to get interesting. By Part 3, I could see where this was going, was wholly invested and couldn't wait to see it play out. And although I knew it was coming, that ending was just superb. I wasn't hoodwinked by any means and saw it coming from a mile off but it was pure perfection. While the book as a whole was average, it was that ending that was its saving grace. Just brilliant.
Overall, an entertaining read that dipped in parts but stick around because the ending is worth the wait.
I would like to thank #ArianneRichmonde, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #ThePreNup in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
She signed the papers…Now she must pay the price…
I've enjoyed two previous thrillers by Richmonde - "The Guilty Sister" and "The Breakdown" - so I was keen to dive into this one after reading its intriguing premise. Ava, Lucas and Claudia in a love triangle like no other!
Ava met Lucas and it was lust at first sight. They were at it like rabbits for days until reality set in and Ava had to actually go to work. And then she discovers she's pregnant. Well, for well-to-do Lucas' conservative parents, a baby out of wedlock just won't do. So a wedding for three weeks hence by pulling a few strings and voila! Ava and Lucas have walked up and down the aisle, thus married.
But first, a pre-nup. One which states that everything Lucas has, or doesn't have but will have or may have, Ava will have no claim on should they divorce. She's no gold digger but she is in love with Lucas so she signs the papers without a second thought.
And now here we are.
Three years on and Lucas has changed. At first it was little things. Late home from work; a lipstick in his pocket; an earring that wasn't hers. All these things added up to one thing - Lucas was having an affair. Oh no, work has been busy; I must have picked it up by mistake; I bought you those earrings and here you are wearing them! Ava is pretty sure nothing could be further from the truth and that her husband is an expert manipulator is gaslighting her with smoke and mirrors.
And then she meets Claudia. Star of her favourite show and her husband's mistress. A recipe for disaster? Or a perfect storm? What could possibly go wrong?
There isn't a lot I can say about this book without giving too much away. It does start off a little on the slow side and it was almost depressing. Why, if she knew what he was like, was she staying with him? Pre-nup or no pre-nup, no man is worth risking your sanity or your self worth for. She loved him, more fool her, because it is clear from the outset that Lucas suffered from "Tom Cruise syndrome" in that the only person Lucas loved was himself. He took risks and didn't care if he was caught because he just manipulated the picture with a sleight of hand move that left Ava questioning what was real and what wasn't. And Lucas just went about life as if everything was his God-given right. The man was a snake and I hated him from the first moment he opened his mouth.
By the time the story hit Part 2, things were ramped up a notch and began to get interesting. By Part 3, I could see where this was going, was wholly invested and couldn't wait to see it play out. And although I knew it was coming, that ending was just superb. I wasn't hoodwinked by any means and saw it coming from a mile off but it was pure perfection. While the book as a whole was average, it was that ending that was its saving grace. Just brilliant.
Overall, an entertaining read that dipped in parts but stick around because the ending is worth the wait.
I would like to thank #ArianneRichmonde, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #ThePreNup in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
August 1, 2023
Ava and Lucas had a whirlwind relationship they totally connected and were so in love he was perfect she was so in love she even signed a prenup saying if they should divorce she doesn’t expect a thing but three years in it seems Lucas cannot keep his pants on and for the most part Ava tries to ignore it it doesn’t help that she is also questioning her sanity looking on Instagram at pictures of them on vacation that she has no recollection of The straw that will start crippling the camel is going to come from her neighbor Jill who asked Ava if Luke’s is representing The actress Claudia Spectre and when Ava due to embarrassment says he is, Jill goes even further by saying they must be really close because I saw them having dinner with their heads very close together. Let me just say I was so glad when Eva stop taking things at face value and started looking into things for herself. I really started loving this book then and was rooting for Eva by the end and totally didn’t see what happened at the end coming at all! I thought because the book was called prenup it was going to go a totally different way but OMG if Ariana Richmond didn’t deliver with a twisty thriller! This was a great book and one I highly recommend. I want to thank Net Galley Ann Bookoucher for my free Arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
August 20, 2023
I love a good domestic suspense/thriller and I love a good unreliable narrator, AND I love books told in alternating POVs - The Prenup checked every single one of those boxes.
Told in the perspective of 3 women - one scorned but loving wife, one relatable girl-next-door-type Hollywood starlet become mistress, and one young impressionable assistant - this story unfolds in a twisty and fun way. Just when you think you have it figured out, the plot zags and gives you a totally new little nugget. This was a quick paced and wildly entertaining ride.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-ARC.
Told in the perspective of 3 women - one scorned but loving wife, one relatable girl-next-door-type Hollywood starlet become mistress, and one young impressionable assistant - this story unfolds in a twisty and fun way. Just when you think you have it figured out, the plot zags and gives you a totally new little nugget. This was a quick paced and wildly entertaining ride.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-ARC.
June 29, 2023
LOVED this story! It had me gripped from the prologue - such a strong way to start the book. I liked that it was told from different perspectives and that alot of the main themes in this book were super relatable. In alot of thrillers, you can see twists coming, even if you can't predict what they may be, whereas with this book I found that the twists were coming out of nowhere (in a good way!) Was fast paced and very hard to put down. Such a great ending also! Big fan 🩷
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC
October 13, 2023
I saw a review fir this on Booksta and seen as it was available on Kindle Unlimited I thought I’d give it a go.
I’m not gonna lie, I was about ready to DNF this at about 40% - it felt a bit repetitive and confused as Ava’s story unfolded. In one moment she seemed aware of the gas lighting in her marriage, then in the next breath was the devoting wife… but you’ve got to stick with it!
After the half way point we’re introduced to two other narrators and you start to understand the initial confusion of Ava’s story. The second half redeemed this for me with some really good twists, one or two red herrings and female solidarity! Turned out to be a 4⭐️ read in the end!
Read up on trigger warning for this as there are a few!
I’m not gonna lie, I was about ready to DNF this at about 40% - it felt a bit repetitive and confused as Ava’s story unfolded. In one moment she seemed aware of the gas lighting in her marriage, then in the next breath was the devoting wife… but you’ve got to stick with it!
After the half way point we’re introduced to two other narrators and you start to understand the initial confusion of Ava’s story. The second half redeemed this for me with some really good twists, one or two red herrings and female solidarity! Turned out to be a 4⭐️ read in the end!
Read up on trigger warning for this as there are a few!
June 26, 2023
I did not see that coming!!🤯 Best psychological thriller I’ve read in a long time! 🔥🔥 My mind is spinning and I still have one question at the end of the book. Wow, so many twists and turns. The Part 1 was insane, Part 2 had me on the edge and then a month before, I was ready to see what really happens.
“And my husband is the perpetrator”. The book starts out with Ava, the wife, being questioned by her husband if she remembers anything at all and he is happy that she doesn’t. Like what the actual fuck!
“Will karma get him in the end?”
Lucas is an attorney that believes he can do whatever he wants even though he’s married.
Part 2 when reading Claudia’s side of the story made everything add up. I still couldn’t predict what was going to happen in the end. Usually I’m good at guessing half way through but my head was spinning until the very last sentence of the book.
So many twists that I did not even see coming! This book is perfect and I recommend you read it!
Thank you to NetGalley for the EARC! As always, my review is my opinion and thoughts.
“And my husband is the perpetrator”. The book starts out with Ava, the wife, being questioned by her husband if she remembers anything at all and he is happy that she doesn’t. Like what the actual fuck!
“Will karma get him in the end?”
Lucas is an attorney that believes he can do whatever he wants even though he’s married.
Part 2 when reading Claudia’s side of the story made everything add up. I still couldn’t predict what was going to happen in the end. Usually I’m good at guessing half way through but my head was spinning until the very last sentence of the book.
So many twists that I did not even see coming! This book is perfect and I recommend you read it!
Thank you to NetGalley for the EARC! As always, my review is my opinion and thoughts.
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