What do you think?
Rate this book
Death Do Us
Not yet published
Expected 25 Jun 26A skin-crawling debut that peels back the veil from the institution of marriage and exposes the rot underneath.
Bea has just got engaged. It should be the most exciting time of her life, but she can't shake the feeling that something is wrong. Her engagement ring doesn't fit well - her finger is swollen and painful. As she begins to look at dresses and venues, she notices her skin is flaking and her hair is beginning to thin.
Nor can she shake the memories of a previous proposal from her ex-boyfriend a decade earlier. Back then she was resistant to commitment, young, confident, with her whole life ahead of her. If she ever were to marry, she'd always imagined breaking with tradition - an elopement, a brightly-coloured outfit, an open marriage.
But as plans for the big day solidify, Bea begins to see the appeal of a big white dress, a huge reception, and a life with just one man. Yet the engagement ring is getting tighter and tighter. Something is crawling under her skin. Someone is watching them from the shadows.
DEATH DO US is a skin-crawling feminist horror story that explores what marriage means for women today.
Bea has just got engaged. It should be the most exciting time of her life, but she can't shake the feeling that something is wrong. Her engagement ring doesn't fit well - her finger is swollen and painful. As she begins to look at dresses and venues, she notices her skin is flaking and her hair is beginning to thin.
Nor can she shake the memories of a previous proposal from her ex-boyfriend a decade earlier. Back then she was resistant to commitment, young, confident, with her whole life ahead of her. If she ever were to marry, she'd always imagined breaking with tradition - an elopement, a brightly-coloured outfit, an open marriage.
But as plans for the big day solidify, Bea begins to see the appeal of a big white dress, a huge reception, and a life with just one man. Yet the engagement ring is getting tighter and tighter. Something is crawling under her skin. Someone is watching them from the shadows.
DEATH DO US is a skin-crawling feminist horror story that explores what marriage means for women today.
- GenresHorror
363 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication June 25, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
March 10, 2026
Death Do Us by Ruthy Mason is a well written and engaging thriller that kept me hooked from beginning to end. The story follows Bae as it shifts between her past with her ex-boyfriend and her present life with her fiancé, Jake.
The book begins with Bae getting engaged, but soon after, she starts noticing strange and unsettling things happening to her body. As the story unfolds, the tension builds and secrets from her past begin to surface, making the reader question what is really going on.
I really enjoyed how the author slowly revealed pieces of the story while moving between timelines. It kept me turning the pages and wanting to know what would happen next. Overall, this was a gripping and entertaining read that thriller fans will definitely enjoy.
The book begins with Bae getting engaged, but soon after, she starts noticing strange and unsettling things happening to her body. As the story unfolds, the tension builds and secrets from her past begin to surface, making the reader question what is really going on.
I really enjoyed how the author slowly revealed pieces of the story while moving between timelines. It kept me turning the pages and wanting to know what would happen next. Overall, this was a gripping and entertaining read that thriller fans will definitely enjoy.
January 5, 2026
3.25 ⭐️
I was gifted this arc by NetGalley and publishers.
Death do us explores societal pressures of marriage on women in a unique and, at times, unsettling way.
Bea has just got engaged, and messaging throughout her life has told her that she should now feel complete. Everything has led up to this moment and she should be grateful to take on the identity of “bride”.. but what if she doesn’t?
Bea’s journey takes places across multiple timelines, exploring past decisions and buried emotions. As planning for her big day continues Bea starts to relax, but she can’t shake that niggling feeling that all may not be as it seems.
I was gifted this arc by NetGalley and publishers.
Death do us explores societal pressures of marriage on women in a unique and, at times, unsettling way.
Bea has just got engaged, and messaging throughout her life has told her that she should now feel complete. Everything has led up to this moment and she should be grateful to take on the identity of “bride”.. but what if she doesn’t?
Bea’s journey takes places across multiple timelines, exploring past decisions and buried emotions. As planning for her big day continues Bea starts to relax, but she can’t shake that niggling feeling that all may not be as it seems.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thank you to netgalley and union square & co. for an arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
i've never read anything like this, and i'm the first person to increase my star rating for uniqueness. unfortunately, uniqueness can't be my sole litmus test for a book.
premise:
the main character Bea accepts a proposal from the man she is in love with, but almost immediately, her body starts exhibiting signs of decay and disease. she also is increasingly haunted by memories of her ex-boyfriend, making her second guess her acceptance of Jake's proposal.
themes:
i think at its core, this book is a biting and intellectual critique of the pressure that getting married, planning a wedding, and being a bride places on women. it also focuses on other very real, very human experiences such as mourning past love despite being in love with someone else, as well as the tangible effects stress can have on our bodies.
likes/dislikes:
i liked how Mason ties Bea's college studies of archeology into the lived experience she is having throughout the book. however, outside of chapter titles and brief explanations, it doesn't happen often. i was never sure whether Bea's experiences were real or imagined, if they were caused by stress or a curse or delusions entirely. normally not having that clarity wouldn't spoil a book for me if there are other things to focus on - such as the characters - but this book is majorly plot driven. what little page space that readers do get that are devoted entirely to the characters failed to connect with me. Bea's ex-boyfriend gets increasingly erratic and unlikeable as the book goes on, and so does she. the flashback chapters that focus on their relationship are told in alternating second or third person points of view where Bea's boyfriend is either referred to as "he" or "you" depending on the chapter, never really establishing whose perspective we are reading. i think if these chapters were told from his pov, we would've gotten to know him better and his and Bea's relationship better and overall the story would've improved.
tldr: i generally love weird girl lit and morally grey characters but maybe this book is the exception.
i've never read anything like this, and i'm the first person to increase my star rating for uniqueness. unfortunately, uniqueness can't be my sole litmus test for a book.
premise:
the main character Bea accepts a proposal from the man she is in love with, but almost immediately, her body starts exhibiting signs of decay and disease. she also is increasingly haunted by memories of her ex-boyfriend, making her second guess her acceptance of Jake's proposal.
themes:
i think at its core, this book is a biting and intellectual critique of the pressure that getting married, planning a wedding, and being a bride places on women. it also focuses on other very real, very human experiences such as mourning past love despite being in love with someone else, as well as the tangible effects stress can have on our bodies.
likes/dislikes:
i liked how Mason ties Bea's college studies of archeology into the lived experience she is having throughout the book. however, outside of chapter titles and brief explanations, it doesn't happen often. i was never sure whether Bea's experiences were real or imagined, if they were caused by stress or a curse or delusions entirely. normally not having that clarity wouldn't spoil a book for me if there are other things to focus on - such as the characters - but this book is majorly plot driven. what little page space that readers do get that are devoted entirely to the characters failed to connect with me. Bea's ex-boyfriend gets increasingly erratic and unlikeable as the book goes on, and so does she. the flashback chapters that focus on their relationship are told in alternating second or third person points of view where Bea's boyfriend is either referred to as "he" or "you" depending on the chapter, never really establishing whose perspective we are reading. i think if these chapters were told from his pov, we would've gotten to know him better and his and Bea's relationship better and overall the story would've improved.
tldr: i generally love weird girl lit and morally grey characters but maybe this book is the exception.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for this ARC.
Bea, a promising young archaeologist, has just gotten engaged. It should be the happiest time of her life, but she can’t shake the feeling that something is deeply wrong. As she begins planning her wedding, her body starts changing in disturbing ways: her skin flakes and sags, her hair falls out in clumps, and her engagement ring grows tighter by the day. Something is crawling beneath her skin, and someone seems to be watching from the shadows.
The premise immediately drew me in, and I was excited by the blend of body horror and psychological unease. Unfortunately, I found myself gradually disengaging as the story progressed and even considered setting it aside a couple of times. Much of the novel felt stagnant with very little forward momentum, and just as the tension finally began to build, the story came to an abrupt close.
What disappointed me most was the sense of unrealized potential. The novel raises compelling ideas surrounding identity, transformation, and the pressure to mold ourselves into the lives we believe we are supposed to want. Those themes were genuinely interesting, but many of them felt only lightly explored before the narrative shifted elsewhere.
I also found that a significant amount of page time was devoted to wedding planning details and flashbacks that, for me personally, slowed the pacing rather than deepening the tension. By the end, several plot threads and unanswered questions remained unresolved in a way that left the story feeling incomplete rather than intentionally ambiguous.
There is a strong foundation here, especially in its atmosphere and central concept, but I ultimately wished the novel had gone further with the darker and more psychologically unsettling elements it introduced.
Bea, a promising young archaeologist, has just gotten engaged. It should be the happiest time of her life, but she can’t shake the feeling that something is deeply wrong. As she begins planning her wedding, her body starts changing in disturbing ways: her skin flakes and sags, her hair falls out in clumps, and her engagement ring grows tighter by the day. Something is crawling beneath her skin, and someone seems to be watching from the shadows.
The premise immediately drew me in, and I was excited by the blend of body horror and psychological unease. Unfortunately, I found myself gradually disengaging as the story progressed and even considered setting it aside a couple of times. Much of the novel felt stagnant with very little forward momentum, and just as the tension finally began to build, the story came to an abrupt close.
What disappointed me most was the sense of unrealized potential. The novel raises compelling ideas surrounding identity, transformation, and the pressure to mold ourselves into the lives we believe we are supposed to want. Those themes were genuinely interesting, but many of them felt only lightly explored before the narrative shifted elsewhere.
I also found that a significant amount of page time was devoted to wedding planning details and flashbacks that, for me personally, slowed the pacing rather than deepening the tension. By the end, several plot threads and unanswered questions remained unresolved in a way that left the story feeling incomplete rather than intentionally ambiguous.
There is a strong foundation here, especially in its atmosphere and central concept, but I ultimately wished the novel had gone further with the darker and more psychologically unsettling elements it introduced.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Many thanks to Netgalley and publishers for the preview and opportunity to review this book.
I’d give this book four stars overall. The storyline was a really interesting concept, and I especially appreciated how ambiguous and vague it was at times. The mystery surrounding the character from Bea’s past—and the uncertainty about why her body was failing her—kept me intrigued throughout. I did find myself wishing for more detail about Bea’s past, and perhaps a bit more perspective from the ‘You’ character, but I also understand that the lack of clarity was likely intentional. It definitely leaves you wanting more.
The ending, for me, was both satisfying and frustrating. It was compelling and thought-provoking, leaving me with plenty of questions—but it also felt quite abrupt, almost as if it ended too quickly just as things were coming together.
The reason I knocked off one star is that, at times, the book felt overly detailed. The wedding planning sections, in particular, dragged a bit, and some of the extended descriptions of decay felt a little too drawn out. That said, it was still a fun and easy read that I enjoyed overall.
Bea is an interesting character, even if I didn’t always understand her thoughts or her decisions regarding the ‘You’ figure. However, the narrative does an excellent job of conveying her growing dread and panic as her body begins to fail her. The story—and Bea’s internal reflections—also prompted me to think more deeply about themes of decay, not just of the body through aging, but of life and the world more broadly.
Overall, an engaging and thought-provoking read, even if it occasionally lingers too long in certain details.
I’d give this book four stars overall. The storyline was a really interesting concept, and I especially appreciated how ambiguous and vague it was at times. The mystery surrounding the character from Bea’s past—and the uncertainty about why her body was failing her—kept me intrigued throughout. I did find myself wishing for more detail about Bea’s past, and perhaps a bit more perspective from the ‘You’ character, but I also understand that the lack of clarity was likely intentional. It definitely leaves you wanting more.
The ending, for me, was both satisfying and frustrating. It was compelling and thought-provoking, leaving me with plenty of questions—but it also felt quite abrupt, almost as if it ended too quickly just as things were coming together.
The reason I knocked off one star is that, at times, the book felt overly detailed. The wedding planning sections, in particular, dragged a bit, and some of the extended descriptions of decay felt a little too drawn out. That said, it was still a fun and easy read that I enjoyed overall.
Bea is an interesting character, even if I didn’t always understand her thoughts or her decisions regarding the ‘You’ figure. However, the narrative does an excellent job of conveying her growing dread and panic as her body begins to fail her. The story—and Bea’s internal reflections—also prompted me to think more deeply about themes of decay, not just of the body through aging, but of life and the world more broadly.
Overall, an engaging and thought-provoking read, even if it occasionally lingers too long in certain details.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Death Do Us by Ruthy Mason is basically: what if becoming a bride… but make it decomposition?
This leans unapologetically into body horror, but underneath all the rot (literal and emotional), it’s really about identity—what we lose, what we shed, and what version of ourselves survives when we try to fit into the life we’re “supposed” to want. Bea’s transformation from chaotic uni girl to fiancée is not subtle… she is quite literally falling apart. And somehow it works so well.
I loved the structure too—the back-and-forth with her unnamed ex adds this quiet, haunting tension throughout. The fact that he’s never named makes it feel intentional, like he could be any past version of love or self you’ve had to leave behind.
What really elevates this is the bite (pun fully intended). It’s a sharp, unsettling critique of modern womanhood, marriage, and the eerie expectations wrapped up in becoming a “Bride.” There’s this constant question humming underneath everything: how much of yourself are you supposed to sacrifice to become someone else’s forever? The journey to the altar feels like its own kind of transformation… and maybe not a benign one.
However, in the background, smoldering, there are breadcrumbs to make the reader think perhaps this is decay is supernatural, or even a familial generational curse.
And the ending? It’s… happy? Technically? Emotionally? Existentially questionable? It lands in that perfect uncanny space where it feels right for the story, even if it’s not the kind of “happy” you can neatly define. It’s a comedy in the darkest of ways.
Weird, unsettling, a little gross, and surprisingly thoughtful— I’d absolutely recommend this to readers who enjoy horror with depth, unconventional storytelling, and stories that linger a little longer than expected.
Death Do Us by Ruthy Mason is basically: what if becoming a bride… but make it decomposition?
This leans unapologetically into body horror, but underneath all the rot (literal and emotional), it’s really about identity—what we lose, what we shed, and what version of ourselves survives when we try to fit into the life we’re “supposed” to want. Bea’s transformation from chaotic uni girl to fiancée is not subtle… she is quite literally falling apart. And somehow it works so well.
I loved the structure too—the back-and-forth with her unnamed ex adds this quiet, haunting tension throughout. The fact that he’s never named makes it feel intentional, like he could be any past version of love or self you’ve had to leave behind.
What really elevates this is the bite (pun fully intended). It’s a sharp, unsettling critique of modern womanhood, marriage, and the eerie expectations wrapped up in becoming a “Bride.” There’s this constant question humming underneath everything: how much of yourself are you supposed to sacrifice to become someone else’s forever? The journey to the altar feels like its own kind of transformation… and maybe not a benign one.
However, in the background, smoldering, there are breadcrumbs to make the reader think perhaps this is decay is supernatural, or even a familial generational curse.
And the ending? It’s… happy? Technically? Emotionally? Existentially questionable? It lands in that perfect uncanny space where it feels right for the story, even if it’s not the kind of “happy” you can neatly define. It’s a comedy in the darkest of ways.
Weird, unsettling, a little gross, and surprisingly thoughtful— I’d absolutely recommend this to readers who enjoy horror with depth, unconventional storytelling, and stories that linger a little longer than expected.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Bea, a once nontraditional archaeology student, gets engaged only to find her body is decomposing and the decay begins at the exact spot where her heirloom engagement ring rests. As her body literally crumbles, she struggles to hide the secret while balancing her upcoming marriage, PhD applications, and the painful memories of a college "situationship." Death Do Us is a fascinating exploration of the societal expectations and transformations women endure, as well as the confusion found in the "in-between." And it struck a personal chord with me as a study of how past trauma can derail future happiness.
I was captivated by the exploration of identity through Bea's experience; I quite literally couldn't put the book down. I loved that the narrative kept me guessing. I was never entirely sure if Bea’s condition was imagined, metaphorical, or literal. The story is fun and twisty, yet it still manages to tackle dark, heavy themes effectively. My only critique is that I wished we’d received more of Bea’s backstory during her college years, specifically from her own perspective. While I didn't mind the unnamed character’s POV, being inside Bea's head during that period would have helped me connect with her even more.
Overall, I loved this book and think it would be a perfect candidate for a TV or film adaptation!
Thank you to Netgalley, Union Square & Co and Ruthy Mason for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I was captivated by the exploration of identity through Bea's experience; I quite literally couldn't put the book down. I loved that the narrative kept me guessing. I was never entirely sure if Bea’s condition was imagined, metaphorical, or literal. The story is fun and twisty, yet it still manages to tackle dark, heavy themes effectively. My only critique is that I wished we’d received more of Bea’s backstory during her college years, specifically from her own perspective. While I didn't mind the unnamed character’s POV, being inside Bea's head during that period would have helped me connect with her even more.
Overall, I loved this book and think it would be a perfect candidate for a TV or film adaptation!
Thank you to Netgalley, Union Square & Co and Ruthy Mason for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Death Do Us (arc) – Ruthy Mason
3 ⭐️
This was …. an interesting read. It was truly engaging the entire duration of the book which was surprising. I wouldn’t go as far as saying this was a thriller but it was something in the same neighbourhood.
This story follows Bea as she gets engaged to her wealthy (now fiancé). Soon after she gets engaged, bizarre things start occurring in her life, to her and to her appearance. I thought Bea’s character was okay – she wasn’t great but she wasn’t terrible … kind of just … there? I think there were a lot of plot points in the story that didn’t go anywhere like Joy sleeping with her older co-worker. I think there was a weird build up of Joy telling Bea this piece of news, just for nothing to happen. I feel like that and a number of other points were supposed to be unpacked more and fleshed out more (no pun intended).
The dual timelines were quite jarring at times as it wasn’t always clear who’s POV it was from and where things were at. I can appreciate the need for the dual timelines and at the end of the book, I do appreciate that these were used as it gave a layer of complexity to the characters.
I wanted to see more on the curse and the ring but I think that’s just my inner history nerd wanting that and no reflection on the book.
I think this had such an interesting concept and I was just expecting more.
Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for an advanced copy of this book!
3 ⭐️
This was …. an interesting read. It was truly engaging the entire duration of the book which was surprising. I wouldn’t go as far as saying this was a thriller but it was something in the same neighbourhood.
This story follows Bea as she gets engaged to her wealthy (now fiancé). Soon after she gets engaged, bizarre things start occurring in her life, to her and to her appearance. I thought Bea’s character was okay – she wasn’t great but she wasn’t terrible … kind of just … there? I think there were a lot of plot points in the story that didn’t go anywhere like Joy sleeping with her older co-worker. I think there was a weird build up of Joy telling Bea this piece of news, just for nothing to happen. I feel like that and a number of other points were supposed to be unpacked more and fleshed out more (no pun intended).
The dual timelines were quite jarring at times as it wasn’t always clear who’s POV it was from and where things were at. I can appreciate the need for the dual timelines and at the end of the book, I do appreciate that these were used as it gave a layer of complexity to the characters.
I wanted to see more on the curse and the ring but I think that’s just my inner history nerd wanting that and no reflection on the book.
I think this had such an interesting concept and I was just expecting more.
Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for an advanced copy of this book!
Review of advance copy
Skin crawling, uncomfortable, unsettling - there's a lot of words I could use to describe this book but for now I'll just go with unforgettable.
This is a warning wrapped in a rotting, haunted horror story about the dark underbelly of marriage and heteronormative relationships, of the control it can exert, of the disintegration of women's very identities within them. The very first lines set a visceral, biting tone before snapping into Bea's life with an easy, almost casual style that clashed against the moments of deep unease and tension, little warning signs that something horrific is waiting for us.
The narration is fly-on-the-wall style, watching over Bea and sometimes speaking directly to the reader, implying we're a part of the story now, giving us a personal stake in Bea's life. With the dual timeline, we follow us, or 'you' and Bea in the past, then the days and weeks following her engagement.
Bea was enchanting in an odd way; doing her masters studying burial rites and death with compelling detail. She meets in the in-laws, and the fear settles in. Everyone becomes suspicious and worrying, the house and the entire town feel ominous, every sentence weighed to potentially be threatening or meaningless depending on how you choose to take it.
It's subtle but impactful horror, one of nosebleeds, weird folk, loose teeth, blood and strange rashes.
This is a warning wrapped in a rotting, haunted horror story about the dark underbelly of marriage and heteronormative relationships, of the control it can exert, of the disintegration of women's very identities within them. The very first lines set a visceral, biting tone before snapping into Bea's life with an easy, almost casual style that clashed against the moments of deep unease and tension, little warning signs that something horrific is waiting for us.
The narration is fly-on-the-wall style, watching over Bea and sometimes speaking directly to the reader, implying we're a part of the story now, giving us a personal stake in Bea's life. With the dual timeline, we follow us, or 'you' and Bea in the past, then the days and weeks following her engagement.
Bea was enchanting in an odd way; doing her masters studying burial rites and death with compelling detail. She meets in the in-laws, and the fear settles in. Everyone becomes suspicious and worrying, the house and the entire town feel ominous, every sentence weighed to potentially be threatening or meaningless depending on how you choose to take it.
It's subtle but impactful horror, one of nosebleeds, weird folk, loose teeth, blood and strange rashes.
Read
May 31, 2026“She doesn’t know how her body has become such a paradoxical horror.”
I haven’t read a strong critique on the wedding/engagement hype that has consumed online discourse since *Piglet.* Ruthy Mason’s Death Do Us was on par with this, with the triller twist that made you want to know what was really the root cause of the decay and decline in our protagonist. My answer is tradition.
We find out narrator go from vibrant green hair to blonde and a grand traditional wedding as she drifts away from her friend and adopts a million step beauty routine. We witness the narrator lose her sense of identity.
The multi narrative structure is what kept the novel grounded for me, especially the addition of the narrator’s search history and text messages. Her determination to ignore what was happening to her and keep the ring on at times made her unreliable, however as we all know a google search can reveal our deepest fears and this is where the narrative felt most clear in what was going on.
Often novels like this can go too hard on hating men but Mason does not do this. She keep the fiance two dimensional and instead this becomes both an internal but also societal examination on wedding culture on women.
I haven’t read a strong critique on the wedding/engagement hype that has consumed online discourse since *Piglet.* Ruthy Mason’s Death Do Us was on par with this, with the triller twist that made you want to know what was really the root cause of the decay and decline in our protagonist. My answer is tradition.
We find out narrator go from vibrant green hair to blonde and a grand traditional wedding as she drifts away from her friend and adopts a million step beauty routine. We witness the narrator lose her sense of identity.
The multi narrative structure is what kept the novel grounded for me, especially the addition of the narrator’s search history and text messages. Her determination to ignore what was happening to her and keep the ring on at times made her unreliable, however as we all know a google search can reveal our deepest fears and this is where the narrative felt most clear in what was going on.
Often novels like this can go too hard on hating men but Mason does not do this. She keep the fiance two dimensional and instead this becomes both an internal but also societal examination on wedding culture on women.
November 18, 2025
Death Do Us is a deliciously unsettling debut that peels back the glossy surface of modern love and leaves something raw and crawling underneath. Ruthy Mason takes the classic engagement story and twists it into a slow-burning feminist horror that lingers like a bruise.
Bea’s journey from newly engaged to deeply unnerved is both surreal and disturbingly relatable. The flaking skin, the too-tight ring, the creeping dread—it’s all metaphor and menace, wrapped in bridal lace. Mason’s writing is sharp and stylish, with just enough body horror to make you squirm, and just enough emotional truth to make you stay.
This is a story about the weight of tradition, the ghosts of past selves, and the quiet terror of becoming someone you no longer recognize. It’s weird, it’s bold, and it’s absolutely not your typical wedding tale.
Perfect for fans of Bodies Bodies Bodies and I’m Thinking of Ending Things, Death Do Us is a haunting little gem that asks: what if the real horror isn’t the monster in the shadows—but the life you thought you wanted?
With thanks to Ruthy Mason, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.
Bea’s journey from newly engaged to deeply unnerved is both surreal and disturbingly relatable. The flaking skin, the too-tight ring, the creeping dread—it’s all metaphor and menace, wrapped in bridal lace. Mason’s writing is sharp and stylish, with just enough body horror to make you squirm, and just enough emotional truth to make you stay.
This is a story about the weight of tradition, the ghosts of past selves, and the quiet terror of becoming someone you no longer recognize. It’s weird, it’s bold, and it’s absolutely not your typical wedding tale.
Perfect for fans of Bodies Bodies Bodies and I’m Thinking of Ending Things, Death Do Us is a haunting little gem that asks: what if the real horror isn’t the monster in the shadows—but the life you thought you wanted?
With thanks to Ruthy Mason, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really like this story. Bea is having a visceral reaction, seemingly to her engagement & impending marriage. It’s like a lit fic novel about when Carrie Bradshaw threw up after seeing Aiden’s engagement ring, and broke out in hives when trying on a wedding dress. A complex layer is added by including flashbacks of an earlier love that ended badly. There’s also body horror and suspense, and since Bea is an archeologist, there’s often mention of bodies in varying states of decay, burials, and curses.
The bones are amazing, pun intended. The way it’s written just didn’t work for me. I felt like I was held at a distance. The pacing is slow, and there’s a lot of unnecessary description and elaboration. The flashbacks are written in second person point of view, which was jarring because I was trying to figure out who was speaking and why I was taking the place of a character in the book. Other readers might love the way it’s written though!
I do recommend reading this book for the story.
(Oh and I really wanted to see the pink diamond ring!!)
Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co for the eARC! Pub date June 30, 2026
The bones are amazing, pun intended. The way it’s written just didn’t work for me. I felt like I was held at a distance. The pacing is slow, and there’s a lot of unnecessary description and elaboration. The flashbacks are written in second person point of view, which was jarring because I was trying to figure out who was speaking and why I was taking the place of a character in the book. Other readers might love the way it’s written though!
I do recommend reading this book for the story.
(Oh and I really wanted to see the pink diamond ring!!)
Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co for the eARC! Pub date June 30, 2026
February 8, 2026
Death Do Us is not simply horror centered around upcoming nuptials but more the story of a character (Bea) being forced to confront her past and her future. I can’t speak to how real the wedding planning stress is but I do the way it can seem to take over - not just in pushing Bea to physically look like hit “ideal bride” (i.e., changing her hair) but how people treat her engagement as a sign she’s no longer going to follow her dreams of a PhD and following her dreams.
I appreciate that Mason avoided the common tropes of an evil MIL-top-be or a fiancé that clearly hates his soon-to-be bride and instead they seem like steadying forces as Bea spirals. Normally I dislike dual timelines and second person but here I think it worked and I was very engaged even though I guessed much of the conclusion. The body horror was there but not overly so I think it’s about what you’d expect off the summary. Very much looking forward to whatever Ruthy Mason has next!
Thank you to Union Square & Co and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I appreciate that Mason avoided the common tropes of an evil MIL-top-be or a fiancé that clearly hates his soon-to-be bride and instead they seem like steadying forces as Bea spirals. Normally I dislike dual timelines and second person but here I think it worked and I was very engaged even though I guessed much of the conclusion. The body horror was there but not overly so I think it’s about what you’d expect off the summary. Very much looking forward to whatever Ruthy Mason has next!
Thank you to Union Square & Co and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Bea loves her archeological future and her upcoming fiance, Jake, in that order. When the nuptials are upcoming to be completed, Bea experiences horrible sensations such as her skin sloughing off, her ring tightening onto her finger, and hearing sounds/ experiencing other hallucinations. While intending to come off as a slow paced feminist study of marriage by societal standards, I raced through this as if it were the most taut and heart pounding action or thriller novel. I couldn't wait to see what Bea thought next, or what she experienced at the hands of Millie next. I loved the satirical spin on some of the relationships displayed, and felt rage baited by the way Jake treated certain friendships in their lives. I just couldn't get enough- Death Do Us was so beyond what I initially expected, and I raced through it for answers. Despite a somewhat quick ending, I think it was pretty near perfect for a debut. Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
•┈๑⋅⋯ Death Do Us by Ruthy Mason ⋯⋅๑┈•✦
➝ • 4/5 ☆ •
☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦..◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆
This was a genuinely fun read. The story feels fresh and unpredictable in a way that kept me paying attention, and I enjoyed the writing style. It has that quality where you think about the book even when you aren't reading and you look forward to getting back to it. I NEEDED to see how everything would end.
I can't justify a full five stars, but not for any dramatic reason. It's more of a feeling than a flaw. I enjoyed the ride and I liked the characters, but it didn't quite reach that top tier for me. Still, it's entertaining, clever, and very easy to sink into.
A solid pick for readers who want something fun, a little chaotic, and full of surprises.
☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦..◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ dark humor
✔️ relationship driven tension
✔️ fast paced reads
✔️ unpredictable twists
✔️ light horror elements
✔️ compulsive reading energy
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
📅 Pub Day: June 30, 2026 📚
💌 ARC provided via NetGalley from Union Square & CO. All opinions are my own.
➝ • 4/5 ☆ •
☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦..◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆
This was a genuinely fun read. The story feels fresh and unpredictable in a way that kept me paying attention, and I enjoyed the writing style. It has that quality where you think about the book even when you aren't reading and you look forward to getting back to it. I NEEDED to see how everything would end.
I can't justify a full five stars, but not for any dramatic reason. It's more of a feeling than a flaw. I enjoyed the ride and I liked the characters, but it didn't quite reach that top tier for me. Still, it's entertaining, clever, and very easy to sink into.
A solid pick for readers who want something fun, a little chaotic, and full of surprises.
☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦..◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ dark humor
✔️ relationship driven tension
✔️ fast paced reads
✔️ unpredictable twists
✔️ light horror elements
✔️ compulsive reading energy
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
📅 Pub Day: June 30, 2026 📚
💌 ARC provided via NetGalley from Union Square & CO. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It took me a while to get through this one, and I really don’t know how I feel about it. It wasn’t so bad that I couldn’t finish, but it didn’t have me excited to read more either. I like the idea of the premise, but it maybe didn’t play out the way I had hoped, and there were a lot of things that I found to be unnecessary or irritating. For example, the flashbacks to the ex-boyfriend—referring to him as “you” and “he” without giving him a name annoyed me and took me out of the story. At times, I wondered if he was a figment of her imagination because it was unclear what the point of these flashbacks was. I’m not sure it added anything to the story, quite honestly, and I would have rather had the focus be on the seemingly cursed engagement ring. I still don’t even really understand what happened, and it didn’t feel like things were wrapped up to my liking.
Thank you NetGalley and Union Square & Co for this eARC in exchange for my review.
Thank you NetGalley and Union Square & Co for this eARC in exchange for my review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4 stars. Thank you to Union Square & Co and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This book has a lot of things that interest me: a tattooed FMC with colourful hair, bits of archaeological info interspersed throughout, and a rather biting critique on the expectations society puts in women and the marriage industry. I really liked Bea and understood her character. I felt so frustrated with her as she changed everything about herself for this idea of a marriage that I knew wasn't hers at all. I thought the other timeline was a bit interesting but I did guess the plot twist long before it was revealed. I wish there had been more focus on the archaeology aspect, as I think the idea behind its inclusion tied in really well to the overarching theme of the book, and could have been used a lot more. This book was also somewhat slow, which I expected. Unfortunately the ending didn't quite work for me, but I am glad with how it ended. I would read this author again!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Death Do Us by Ruthy Mason
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Thriller
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: June 30, 2026
📚 368 pages
❓️ Unreliable Narrator
🕙 Alternating Timelines/POVs
🧠 Psychological Decay
Perfect for fans of Monika Kim and Marcus Kliewer, of if you love psychological thrillers with horror elements, Death Do Us is a must-read!
This was such an incredible read! I absolutely loved how the author utilized multiple POVs and alternating timelines to flesh out the characters while masterfully building and maintaining suspense.
Bea’s spiral was fascinating to witness, and Mason used such visceral descriptions to convey her slow decay.
The addition of internet searches and reddit threads made me feel even more immersed in the read. I found the inclusion of the steps of decay particularly fascinating, and they added to the overall feeling of dread we feel with Bea. The twist left me speechless, and the ending was... interesting.
Thank you so much Union Square & Co and NetGalley for the digital review copy!
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Thriller
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: June 30, 2026
📚 368 pages
❓️ Unreliable Narrator
🕙 Alternating Timelines/POVs
🧠 Psychological Decay
Perfect for fans of Monika Kim and Marcus Kliewer, of if you love psychological thrillers with horror elements, Death Do Us is a must-read!
This was such an incredible read! I absolutely loved how the author utilized multiple POVs and alternating timelines to flesh out the characters while masterfully building and maintaining suspense.
Bea’s spiral was fascinating to witness, and Mason used such visceral descriptions to convey her slow decay.
The addition of internet searches and reddit threads made me feel even more immersed in the read. I found the inclusion of the steps of decay particularly fascinating, and they added to the overall feeling of dread we feel with Bea. The twist left me speechless, and the ending was... interesting.
Thank you so much Union Square & Co and NetGalley for the digital review copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was expecting to enjoy this a lot more. I think it's another case of a book being marketed ever so slightly incorrectly. My expectations were a bit off.
I was under the impression that this was going to be a thriller. And I don't think that's super accurate. There is a touch of body horror, but not enough where I would consider it a part of that genre. This is more so following our main character's feelings on the situation.
I think the writing style also played a role in me not being as obsessed with this as I wanted to be. It read a bit flat. I just wanted more. More personality, more going on.
This is still entertaining, but in a more lowkey kind of way. So if you're into that (and oh so much wedding drama and paranoia), you should check this out.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
I was under the impression that this was going to be a thriller. And I don't think that's super accurate. There is a touch of body horror, but not enough where I would consider it a part of that genre. This is more so following our main character's feelings on the situation.
I think the writing style also played a role in me not being as obsessed with this as I wanted to be. It read a bit flat. I just wanted more. More personality, more going on.
This is still entertaining, but in a more lowkey kind of way. So if you're into that (and oh so much wedding drama and paranoia), you should check this out.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Although I feel this had a chance to be such an excellent book, I wish it was more of a thriller then the body horror it turned out to be. Although there's nothing wrong with the body horror aspect, I expected there to be more of a thriller feeling to this.
Although I got used to the writing style fairly quickly, I feel that this could be confusing for people who aren't necessarily adapted to reading this type of style.
This book does highlight some aspects of marriage and honestly, kind of makes marriage seem heavy and almost burdersome on woman? It represents the wedding planning as horrible and stressful and sucking the life out of Bea, which I mean... yeah wedding planning does seem to do that to ya.
Thank you to Netgalley and Union Square & Co. - A subsidiary of Sterling Publishing | Union Square & Co.
Although I got used to the writing style fairly quickly, I feel that this could be confusing for people who aren't necessarily adapted to reading this type of style.
This book does highlight some aspects of marriage and honestly, kind of makes marriage seem heavy and almost burdersome on woman? It represents the wedding planning as horrible and stressful and sucking the life out of Bea, which I mean... yeah wedding planning does seem to do that to ya.
Thank you to Netgalley and Union Square & Co. - A subsidiary of Sterling Publishing | Union Square & Co.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is weird girl/body horror all the way through. None of the characters are likable, but I do wish things had been pushed a bit more. I felt like the author didn't take anything to any extremes; the suspense was alright, the characters were unlikeable ish, but it all felt middle of the road. The story is about a woman literally falling apart upon getting engaged and planning her wedding. This is reflected in the body horror and is a thinly veiled reference to a lot of people's real life experience trying to balance everything. I do think it's important to talk about, but I wish it had felt more suspenseful or we got more insight into the characters and their flaws. Overall, I thought this was alright. It could definitely work for people that enjoy literary fiction like Boy Parts, but wanted more body horror/haunting!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
January 14, 2026
"Too strange to be likeable, too plain to be loved."
Bea is navigating the pressures of commitment and marriage, wrestling with what she truly wants versus what others believe she should want. This novel explores rites of passage with a sharp, unsettling lens. It kept me on my toes—I found it hard to put down. At times, the story felt like a feminist horror, slightly disorienting but in a compelling way, and the ending tied everything together in a way I did not see coming. As a reader, I related to Bea’s sense of being caught between childhood and adulthood. An excellent, thought-provoking read—I’m excited to see what Ruthy Mason does next.
Thank you, NetGalley and Union Square & Co for this read.
Bea is navigating the pressures of commitment and marriage, wrestling with what she truly wants versus what others believe she should want. This novel explores rites of passage with a sharp, unsettling lens. It kept me on my toes—I found it hard to put down. At times, the story felt like a feminist horror, slightly disorienting but in a compelling way, and the ending tied everything together in a way I did not see coming. As a reader, I related to Bea’s sense of being caught between childhood and adulthood. An excellent, thought-provoking read—I’m excited to see what Ruthy Mason does next.
Thank you, NetGalley and Union Square & Co for this read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is like Wuthering Heights but with a sprinkle of decay! Okay fine, *loosely* but all the same sentiment.
When I saw this book being released, I immediately added this to my TBR list - so I'm grateful to Netgalley, Union Square & Co, and Ruthy Mason for this advanced copy.
I'm a lover of weird girl fic, a bit of horror, and the gradual demise of a relationship. Bleak, right?
After recently being engaged to her now-fiancé, Bea starts to feel different. Perhaps, feeling ill? Her tooth gets chipped, her skin starts to lose its lustre, and something doesn't feel quite right. Is it something to do with Jake's heirloom ring or perhaps is it someone lurking behind the shadows?
This was the perfect amount of entertaining, bleak, and thrilling all at the same time!
When I saw this book being released, I immediately added this to my TBR list - so I'm grateful to Netgalley, Union Square & Co, and Ruthy Mason for this advanced copy.
I'm a lover of weird girl fic, a bit of horror, and the gradual demise of a relationship. Bleak, right?
After recently being engaged to her now-fiancé, Bea starts to feel different. Perhaps, feeling ill? Her tooth gets chipped, her skin starts to lose its lustre, and something doesn't feel quite right. Is it something to do with Jake's heirloom ring or perhaps is it someone lurking behind the shadows?
This was the perfect amount of entertaining, bleak, and thrilling all at the same time!
March 20, 2026
ank you to NetGalley for this Advance copy!
Honestly I couldn’t even beginning to guess what was going to happen in this book! I can tell you I was very surprised by the twists at the end! I really liked how it was written and though the way it was played out was really unique. I’m now really curious to see what will happen next and if there will be a second book to this!!
I can’t even honestly guess what’s next - I think the storyline with the ring and the different characters and the things happening that only Bea could see was so interesting.
Definitely would recommend it! It’s not at all what I expected and was the first time I’ve read a thriller like this. So interesting and unique!
Honestly I couldn’t even beginning to guess what was going to happen in this book! I can tell you I was very surprised by the twists at the end! I really liked how it was written and though the way it was played out was really unique. I’m now really curious to see what will happen next and if there will be a second book to this!!
I can’t even honestly guess what’s next - I think the storyline with the ring and the different characters and the things happening that only Bea could see was so interesting.
Definitely would recommend it! It’s not at all what I expected and was the first time I’ve read a thriller like this. So interesting and unique!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As a bride to be this novel was a startling body horror / thriller! 👰♀️💍
Is the bride’s decay due to a family curse? A personal condition? An ex-lover’s hex? A symbolic exploration of the chains of marriage?
Structurally, I felt the menacing presence of Bea’s past partner was a brilliant parallel narrative to that of her looming future husband.
This novel had me questioning beauty standards, relationship ideals and societal expectations of marriage.
Whilst some elements were hard to believe (who agrees to let their fiancé’s ex be their bridesmaid?), I felt the pacing of this novel was excellent.
Thank you to #netgalley and #unionsquareandco for the ARC 👏
Is the bride’s decay due to a family curse? A personal condition? An ex-lover’s hex? A symbolic exploration of the chains of marriage?
Structurally, I felt the menacing presence of Bea’s past partner was a brilliant parallel narrative to that of her looming future husband.
This novel had me questioning beauty standards, relationship ideals and societal expectations of marriage.
Whilst some elements were hard to believe (who agrees to let their fiancé’s ex be their bridesmaid?), I felt the pacing of this novel was excellent.
Thank you to #netgalley and #unionsquareandco for the ARC 👏
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley and Union Square & Co for the advance copy.
Really enjoyed this story and was engaged from the first page. Most of the characters especially Bea were likeable and the writing was well paced and easy to read with different POVs. The way the author portrayed wedding planning and the absolute hell it can be was so accurate. The twists were thrilling to me and I thought about this book while reading another and that's a good sign. The body horror and feminine insights were a highlight, an excellent debut. Everyone is haunted by the love stories that could've been is an absolute banger of a line.
Really enjoyed this story and was engaged from the first page. Most of the characters especially Bea were likeable and the writing was well paced and easy to read with different POVs. The way the author portrayed wedding planning and the absolute hell it can be was so accurate. The twists were thrilling to me and I thought about this book while reading another and that's a good sign. The body horror and feminine insights were a highlight, an excellent debut. Everyone is haunted by the love stories that could've been is an absolute banger of a line.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you @unionnsqandco for my copy! I was so curious about this one as the premise sounded amazing. Unfortunately, it fell flat. I think that it needed to be edited down quite a bit. The length really deterred from the story, and it ended up being very redundant. The flip-flopping timeline also made things muddled. I understand why Mason did this (for one of the twists which was glaringly obvious from the beginning)
I think the message is a good one and I appreciated the wrap around, poetic justice type of ending I just feel the execution could have been better. I did enjoy the first half of the novel and the body horror.
I think the message is a good one and I appreciated the wrap around, poetic justice type of ending I just feel the execution could have been better. I did enjoy the first half of the novel and the body horror.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Union Square & Co. for an ARC of Death Do Us via NetGalley.
I was absolutely hooked on this book right away. I loved the strange, anonymous way the chapters set in the past were written. Although there were a lot of past chapters without much action, I just KNEW it was going to pay off with a mind-blowing ending. Then it ended, and my mind is sadly still in one complete piece. Excellent dread-inducing writing style, but the predictable conclusion made it fall a bit flat for me.
3.5 stars
I was absolutely hooked on this book right away. I loved the strange, anonymous way the chapters set in the past were written. Although there were a lot of past chapters without much action, I just KNEW it was going to pay off with a mind-blowing ending. Then it ended, and my mind is sadly still in one complete piece. Excellent dread-inducing writing style, but the predictable conclusion made it fall a bit flat for me.
3.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.00 / 5
this book was interesting to start off. using beta, mason really shows the pressure and expectations of marriage and the big day aka the wedding. the pressure is so well written, and i almost feel like i am tasting and feeling that pressure and restlessness if i am making sense as i pass by each page. i just wanted more clarity on some parts of bea’s experiences, as i did get confused at times, and that confusion took me out of the immersion that i had as a reader. but other than that, i enjoyed this.
thanks to netgalley and union square & co. for the ARC!!
this book was interesting to start off. using beta, mason really shows the pressure and expectations of marriage and the big day aka the wedding. the pressure is so well written, and i almost feel like i am tasting and feeling that pressure and restlessness if i am making sense as i pass by each page. i just wanted more clarity on some parts of bea’s experiences, as i did get confused at times, and that confusion took me out of the immersion that i had as a reader. but other than that, i enjoyed this.
thanks to netgalley and union square & co. for the ARC!!
Read
March 11, 2026Truly excellent- 5 out of 5 stars. I inhaled this book, and found it to be an absolute page-turner. I thoroughly enjoyed the story following a bride-to-be (Bea), and did not expect the twist in the end. I thought the final chapter was especially satisfying. I am very excited to read any future book from this author and with them all the success with their writing career. Thank you for the early ARC.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews