Death Do Us

by Ruthy Mason

A 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.

Genres: Horror, Audiobook, Fiction, Horror Thriller

363 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 25, 2026

Reviews

[Caz (Underlined) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley



Death Do Us Part opens with absolute chaos.

Jake gets down on one knee in a restaurant and launches into this big romantic proposal speech… except everything goes completely wrong around him. He knocks into another table, a bowl of uneaten tiramisu ends up all over his chest, waiters are rushing around trying to clean up the mess, red wine is spilling across the tablecloth—and he just keeps going like nothing is happening. I genuinely wasn’t expecting to laugh, but I did. It’s so messy and awkward that it almost stops feeling like a romantic moment, and by the time the ring is on her finger it feels more like she’s been swept along by the chaos than anything else.

After that, the book takes a really interesting turn.

Once she’s engaged, things start to feel… off. Small but unsettling changes begin happening to her body, and the whole atmosphere shifts. It’s still a romance on the surface, but there’s something more uneasy building underneath it, like her decision has triggered something she doesn’t fully understand yet.

What stood out to me most is how the story moves between past and present. We see her life now with Jake, but also glimpses of her past with James, her ex-partner. These moments don’t feel like clean flashbacks—they kind of bleed into the present, which makes everything feel a bit disorientating in a really effective way. It gives you the sense that she hasn’t really left that part of her life behind, even if she’s trying to move forward.

James is a really interesting presence in the book. He doesn’t feel like a simple “old flame” trope—there’s something heavier and more complicated about him, like he represents a version of herself she hasn’t fully let go of yet. Then Jake, in contrast, feels like the present and the “safe” option, even though nothing about the situation ever really feels stable.

The shift between timelines is one of the strongest parts of the book for me. It keeps you slightly off balance in a way that really works with the story.

I also really liked the tone. It’s funny in such an unexpected way—especially that opening proposal scene—but there’s always this underlying tension too. You’ll be laughing one minute at tiramisu flying across a restaurant, and then suddenly you realise something much stranger is starting to build underneath everything.

Overall, it’s a really unusual mix of romance, psychological unease, and dark humour, and I found that blend really compelling.

Thank you NetGalley, Union Square & Co – A Sterling Publishing and author Ruthy Mason for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Phishing date: June 30th 2026

[Dutchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh wow! This book is the prime example of how going blind into a book should be. I had no expectations except the possibility of this being a bit strange. It definitely was strange, but it was a whole lot more. If you’re going to read this, the best way to do it is to go in blind.

As a quick synopsis, we start out meeting Bea and her boyfriend Jake at the exact moment he proposes to her. She accepts his proposal and gets started on all of the wedding planning. However, things begin taking a weird turn. Like very weird. Super weird.

I wouldn’t necessarily classify this one as a thriller, but more so a character study with bits of horror. It felt like I was living in Bea’s head, and it was unsettling as I was feeling the anxiety along with her. I also felt her frustrations when she tries to understand what is happening to her and it is dismissed as stress. Bea was such a complex character, and a lot of her fears were something many people can relate to. I think having her as an archaeologist was a good choice for her character and liked the undercurrent it provided.

There are timeline shifts in this, and it took me a minute to grab onto the past timeline’s narration. At times, I got myself confused, but once I got used to it, I was good. The ending was perfect!

I really liked this one, like a lot! The cover artwork fits the novel perfectly. Can’t wait to read future books by this author. 4.5 Stars✨

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Heidi Zuva]

DEATH DO US opens an interesting conversation about appropriate womanhood and how we define ourselves through our relationships with others, as well as lingering love and those we can't get over. It speaks to the wedding industrial complex and how consumption consumes, turning smart, sane women into overspending bridezillas.

This book has a lot of ambition and a lot to say, but it also has a quiet experimental literary structure (interesting use of 2nd person to place us inside the head of the protagonist's ex-lover, making us other to her, but also invested in her). The result is a very slow, introspective novel.

To me, the covers, both UK and US, promise a fun, commercial romp -- that is not what this is. This story is a worthwhile literary exploration, but I think a cover/story mismatch explains the mixed reviews.

[Christina C · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Aleena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this expecting a weird girl body horror read, and there is some of that, but it’s more of a character study mixed with a wedding industry critique.

The MC (and the rest of the chacters) are frankly, unlikeable, but I enjoyed watching her spiral. Her worsening health and bodily changes being dismissed as “wedding stress” or “aging” felt uncomfortably familiar.

The timeline shifts and switches between second and third person didn’t fully work for me and made it feel a bit disjointed.

Fun, quick read overall, but it lacked strong foundation, and the ending/twist felt pretty predictable.

[cursedb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel turned out to be very different from what I expected. I went into it thinking I was about to read a feminist horror novel or a psychological thriller, but it felt much more like literary women’s fiction with elements of metaphorical horror. Rather than relying on suspense or shocking twists, the story builds its impact through symbolism and its exploration of women’s experiences. Because of that, I think the marketing sets up the wrong expectations. The ending was fairly predictable, but I don’t see that as a flaw. It became clear where the story was heading quite early on, and I think that was intentional. The novel isn’t trying to surprise the reader as much as it is trying to make its message unavoidable. One of my favorite aspects was the writing style. It felt fresh and distinctive, especially the chapters written in the second person (“you”) when shifting into another character’s perspective. It was a clever narrative choice that made me feel more immersed in the story and gave the book a cinematic quality. Overall, I thought the novel communicated its themes very effectively. Its portrayal of society’s expectations of women and the pressures that come with them felt painfully recognizable, and I think many women will see parts of themselves in these pages. While it wasn’t the horror or thriller I expected, it ultimately succeeded on its own terms, and I appreciated it for what it was rather than what I had anticipated.

[Suki J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Little Brown Books/Corsair and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars.

A femgore, psychological thriller where a recently engaged woman finds herself literally rotting, while a shadowy presence from her past begins to make themselves known.
I was hoping for more of a weird girl read, instead this was a strange story of unhealthy relationships and societal pressures. I found every character to be deeply unlikeable and irritating, but unfortunately not in an interesting way.
There was one story thread that was told in second person, when the rest of the story is third person, and every time it came up it felt so weirdly jarring.
I like what I think the ending of the book was implying, but not enough groundwork was laid for me to be sure I was coming to the correct conclusion, so it wound up being more dissatisfying than anything.
My favourite parts of this book were the body horror moments, which were creepy and stomach-churningly effective. It's a shame the rest of the book didn't quite come together for me.

[Raisa (TBRaisaa) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/✨ for Death Do Us by Ruthy Mason.

I went into this book fairly blind, but with the expectation that it would be some kind of weird girl thriller. And honestly? I’m still not entirely sure if that’s the best way to describe it.

The story follows Bae, who is engaged, has an alternative style and suddenly finds herself thrown into the million dollar world of weddings. As she gets pulled deeper into that world, she slowly starts losing herself in it, literally. Alongside that, we also learn more about her past relationship with her ex.

The book feels like a critique of the wedding industry and the way people can lose their sense of self, but it also explores mental health and identity in a broader sense.

While the story is technically a thriller, the writing style reminded me much more of literary fiction. It’s less focused on constant suspense and more interested in exploring Bae’s inner world and the themes surrounding her.

I think this is a book that will appeal to a very specific niche audience. It’s definitely an interesting concept, but I can also see why it won’t work for everyone.

[Sarah Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't expect this book to take me so long to finish. For some reason, I kept setting it aside and only returning to it little by little. That said, once I finally connected with the story, it delivered an unsettling, uncomfortable atmosphere that I usually look for in this genre.

What intrigued me most was the use of second person narration. Much of the story is written as "you," directly addressing the reader and positioning us as the cause of what is happening to the protagonist. It was an interesting choice and one that initially drew me in. Unfortunately, by the end, it never felt fully justified or resolved, leaving me wondering why the story was framed that way in the first place.

As for the ending, I understand and often appreciate an open ending when it's done with purpose. Here, however, it felt less ambiguous and more incomplete, as though key pieces were simply missing.

Overall, this is a book with an intriguing premise and an effective atmosphere, but for me, it never quite delivered on its potential.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Misha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure what to make of this one. There is very light body horror (compared to books that go all-in on the body horror aspect) and a very odd second-person perspective that makes no sense to me and doesn't add anything to the overall story. This feels like it would have been a fun commentary (as the blurb suggested) on women losing parts of themselves when committing to a wedding, but the ending blows that, and the rest of the book did not engage me either. I was unimpressed, unfortunately, and worse, kind of bored through most of this.

[Emma Rival · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was a 3 star until the end

going into this book blind was the best way to read it

i didnt jive very well with the authors writing style and was very confused at times, but the ending really made this book for me

the mix of body horror, curses, and mortality was really well done and i found myself desperate to keep picking this book up and see what happens

[Paloma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bea and Jake are engaged. The proposal was a bit off and full of a series of unfortunate events, but they are officially engaged. As Bea navigates the shift from girlfriend to fiance, her body seems to start to unravel. We learn about Bea's past and present relationships and how they each compared to how she felt. She used to be very adverse to the world of brides and the traditions that come with marriage but now it seems like she is into it. However, it looks like her body is slowly decaying as she dives deeper into her role as a bride-to-be and how her autonomy begins to evaporate and she and Jake become one.

Absolutely loved the switch between timelines and how slowly each chapter makes revelations about Bea and the men that brought her to this present time. Though the topics were strong and tough, the tone of the story felt light and funny which made this whole experience so enjoyable.

Thank you Netgalley and Union Square & Co for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death Do Us is a story about identity and the liminal spaces when shifting from one identity label to the next. The main character (Bea) is an archaeology student who is in a transitional moment in her life, between her dead-end job and her PhD and her status as a girlfriend to that of a fiancé. The author does a great job of exploring these ideas using archaeological theory. We see how Bea contemplates archaeological material culture, pondering these artefacts and how we use them as signifiers to categorise and catalogue people into neat boxes. Grave goods that are gendered to inform whether remains are male or female are compared to similar markers we have today i.e., Bea’s engagement ring signifying her shift to fiancé. The book takes us through all the rituals associated with this transition including planning the wedding, the hen party, the wedding itself and all the material culture associated with these phases. There are also themes of permanence and what is left after death through the material remains you leave behind and the artefacts that define you.

I got the sense that Bea had a fear of ageing (through the body horror and the decay), and a fear of transitioning from one state to another (girlfriend to wife). The fear of transition from girlfriend to wife made sense when you take into account all the parts of yourself you can lose and how historically women have been diminished to merely an extension of their husbands. I struggled to understand however why Bea was so resistant to being assigned the ‘girlfriend’ label in the past timeline, almost to the point of it seeming pathological. I saw nothing to explain this, other than maybe the link between her love for archaeology and preservation, leading to her wanting to preserve her current state which during that time was carefree and unburdened. But to me this doesn’t make sense, when you take into account the life cycle of material culture, even remains. Nothing is static, everything undergoes changes in meaning and roles and if past Bea is averse to this then I felt I needed an explanation as to why this reaction was so severe. As a result I struggled to understand past Bea’s motives and felt a disconnect here.

Overall I felt the author used archaeology to explore this transitional moment for Bea in an innovative way. I’ve not seen this done before and as a former archaeology student myself I loved the subject’s inclusion. I did feel though that the nods to curses weren’t needed at all. This inclusion was underdeveloped and I felt it detracted from the rest of the messaging.

Other things I noted were that this book explores extensively the disproportionate demands placed on women during wedding planning and how this can cause physiological stress responses. I also noted that Bea’s mother was never referred to by her name. She was always ‘Bea’s mum’, which reduces her to the role of mother, something that feels like the antithesis of the message of the novel.

I found myself wanting more body horror, more decay and I personally do not like second person perspectives so I found that confusing. But, I loved what the author did here with the archaeology references and how they were integrated thematically into the story.

I received an eARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving this review.

[meglikesbooksx · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.75 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley, Union Square & C0. and the author for the chance to read early for an honest review.

Death Do Us was one of the most unnerving reads of the year for me. It follows Bea, a recently engaged archaeologist, who is slowly unravelling mentally, whilst appearing to be decaying and rotting from the inside out. I have a lot of thoughts, and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about Death Do Us, but nonetheless I did enjoy it. Parts of it work excellently as a metaphor for the physical and mental toll of being a woman, of planning a wedding and of the expectations of femininity, but I do think it could have been explored much further if certain elements of the story were left out.

I thought the writing was great, and although I didn't really understand why 2nd person narration was used during some some chapters, it did make it feel much more personal. I found the entire story very unnerving, and I felt incredibly unneasy reading it, which is exactly what I want from a horror novel. The tension slowly built and built, until I felt like I couldn't take it anymore and I was flying through reading the last 20% or so to find out what on earth was going to happen. I also really enjoyed the inclusion of the search history, text messages, emails etc at the end of certain chapters as it really gave an insight into the character's and how Bea was feeling.

The only real reason I haven't scored any higher is because of the dual timelines which I think really let the story down. I think it was useful to get a different perspective on Bea and what she was like before Jake, and it gave us an insight into her beliefs and thoughts and feelings regarding realationships ands marriage before meeting him. However, I just didn't really see the point of the inclusion of the ex boyfriend and would have much preferred for the body horror and the engagement ring to have taken centre stage. I did think it may have been a cursed jewel etc, which was briefly hinted at early on when Jake discusses where the ring has come from, but it was then never explored further. I was disappointed about it, as it would have linked perfectly to her career.

The body horror itself was great, and, again, Mason has managed to create something incredibly unnerving, I'm just not sure if the inclusion of the dual timelines let the main plotline shine properly. A great debut though, and I would love to read more of Mason's work in the future!

[Deanna Loves to Read!!:) · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHEW!
I do not even know how to describe this book! It is a thriller/horror/drama/exploration of self... and more!

Bae has recently become engaged to Jake. She finds herself examining their relationship, while also thinking back to a previous relationship she had years ago. After putting the engagement ring on her finger, all these thoughts escalate until she begins to fall apart- literally!

The story is told through two POV's: Bae and anonymous third voice. It is a weird yet effective juxtaposition as the third voice tells the story of her past from a "looking down on them" type of view. There is a sense of tension as we see Bae compare her two lives and lovers from the past/present landscape. And Bae seems distant and not connected to either of the men in each timeline.

Adding to this dread is the horror of Bae's body slowly falling apart. As her thoughts become more hectic and her detachment from those around her increases, her body seems to symbolize the lack of belonging that she feels. I found as I read that I felt both revulsion and fascination at the comparison of the two.

I was also very interested in the chapters noted "Bae's notes". She is working on her masters in archaeology, and plans to pursue her PhD. Her area of focus is ancient burial rites. The notes she writes follow the decomposition process, and also add a subtle commentary on what she is experiencing both physically and mentally.

And the ending- PERFECT!

In the end, I was left with questions, and found that I went back to read some chapters. James, the boyfriend from the past, was used to show us another side of Bae so that we could see her different sides. And yet, he added so much more to the story! And although I had questions, I could not stop reading! I think that Ruthy Mason did a fantastic job writing an ethereal, creepy commentary on the inner fears that many women face.

Is this book for everyone? I don't know! Although it is written more as a slow burn, I was turning pages as fast as I could. And although I was a bit confused, I just could not stop! I do not think I would have picked this up, except I read an amazing review from my GR friend, Caz. I will link that here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

It intrigued me, and I don't know what else to say!

Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Jazmyn Hartman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bea is a determined, career driven young woman with big goals of archeological digs, and getting that PhD! When she gets engaged, the wedding takes over everything. Her life. Her mind. Her body. She wanted a fun wedding, non-traditional, maybe even a little silly. The more time she spends planning, making decisions on flowers, bridesmaids dresses, food, centerpieces, oh, and sneaking conversations with you; the more she wants that white dress, a grand reception, a more traditional day. Bea is losing herself, the more her engagement rings tightens around her finger, like it's stealing her life away.

I wanted to like this book so much, but I almost found myself reading it out of spite. I didn't like a single character, except maybe for Bea's friend Joy. But Bea as a main character is insufferable, she's rude, she's entitled, she's manipulative. Stringing people along for her convenience. Maybe I just have some trauma from people like this, but I found myself really not caring about Bea at all. And for some reason the constant mention of her green hair was annoying, I got it after the first 10 times. (Coming from someone who consistently dyed their hair fun colors for decades)
I also had trouble getting into the idea of being addressed as the reader. Throughout the book "you" are referenced a lot. "You" are an old friend of Bea's, well friend with benefits. And "you" are desperately in love with Bea, but she doesn't want to be tied down in a relationship with labels. I really liked this idea, but it just fell flat for me, and ended up taking me out of the story.

Redeemable qualities that might draw in other people? Decent body horror! Not at the level I'm used to, but it's great for anyone that wants to dip their toes in the body horror genre. The author did a great job detailing such unsettling bodily functions and anomalies, I did really enjoy those parts of the book! Also, a halfway decent mystery element. I wish I didn't always try to guess the plots, cause I ended up guessing this one easily. But if you shut your brain off and just let the story take you, I think it would be a fun, twisted story!

Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me, but I absolutely think there will be elements of this book that others will enjoy! The idea of losing yourself in/to a marriage is terrifying!

[Sydney Scarbrough · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

Sometimes I think we can let a book’s assigned genre shape our expectations of the story/experience and that definitely happened to me with this book.

I went into Death Do Us with an understanding that it was a Horror story of a bride-to-be slowly rotting from the inside the closer and closer she got to her big day. What I got instead was a psychological literary expression of the darker side of the conventions of marriage and specifically what it does to women.

Bea is not a traditional bride. She has green hair, visions of glitter jumpsuits, disco balls, and the need to express her individuality and independence alongside her excitement for the life ahead with her future husband. Immediately though, her body seems to be rejecting all of that, starting with her engagement ring that makes her finger swell.

Perhaps all of Bea’s negative physical reactions (and hallucinations) could be enough to be considered a horror story - think scaling skin, rotting teeth, loss of hair, etc. - but it left me wanting and expecting more.

The story was interestingly told in the second person, mentioning “you”, which is classically hard to pull off, but for the most part, I think it worked.

Bea is talking to an ex boyfriend and the story goes back and forth between her time with him in college and her present day preparations for her wedding. This back and forth provides a good background to understand Bea’s personality and nature, as well as throwing some breadcrumbs for what might actually be happening to her. I kept waiting for those crumbs to materialize into a traditional horror story and it never really happened. That’s not to say it wasn’t a good read, I was just hoping (perhaps fell) for something else, and got a bit of a twist instead.

This is definitely a creepy, unsettling read and I would recommend it to those who enjoy that, but I wouldn’t describe it as a true horror story.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC and opportunity to review!

[Maricruz Ramirez · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Nídia Macedo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

3.25⭐

So, this was fine. I think I went in expecting something different than what I got and that's not exactly bad; it's just different.

First, I'll start with what I liked. I liked the archeological/curse talk and honestly would've loved if we got even more of it. Maybe this is a hot take but I liked the second person narrator interspersed with the third person; it spiced the narration style and kept me on my toes. I looooved the body horror!! That's probably my favorite part of the book, and I loved the ending. I love a full-circle moment and an open ending.

Now onto the worst of the book... I truly hated almost all characters; they were completely insufferable. And it's obvious that they were meant to be unlikeable but it really pissed me off. Especially Millie and Bea's relationship!! Oh, it really got on my nerves and not in a good way, because I don't think it was that essential for the plot, except at the end, obviously, which, again, I loved. The story was also too slow for the payoff we got. Some parts were a bit repetitive and maybe a little edit here and there would've helped the book.

Finally, I liked the commentary about marriage and how women lose their sense of self and individuality when they become brides/wives, but it didn't have that big an impact on me because my reality is so different from that! I'm surrounded by women who don't change their last name when they marry; not even my grandma got rid of her maiden name! Also, I am aware of the dark side of the wedding-planning industry, but, once again, that's not the reality I'm used to. Nobody that I know of goes that hard when planning a wedding; it's just a piece of paper. The ring would never crush our fingers.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into Death Do Us Part almost completely blind, expecting a horror novel that would leave me feeling unsettled or genuinely creeped out. Instead, I spent much of the book feeling confused about what it was trying to be. There are a lot of ideas packed into the story like body image issues, mystery, relationships, identity, obsession, and marriage. But somehow it still felt like not enough was happening in the areas I wanted developed most.

The concept itself is intriguing, and there were moments where the author created some genuinely disturbing imagery. The body horror elements were easily the strongest part of the novel for me, and I appreciated how unsettling and uncomfortable those scenes could be. There was also a mystery threaded throughout the story that kept me turning the pages, even when I wasn't fully invested in the characters.

Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with most of the cast. I found it difficult to care about what happened to them, which made the emotional stakes feel lower than they probably should have. The narrative style also took some getting used to. While I can appreciate what the author was attempting, it never fully clicked for me and often pulled me out of the story rather than drawing me deeper into it.

By the end, I wasn't scared so much as puzzled. The book had plenty happening on the page, yet it somehow felt underdeveloped at the same time. There are definitely readers who will enjoy the strange blend of horror and relationship drama, especially those looking for a unique premise. For me, though, it never quite came together in a satisfying way.

Overall, this was an average read, interesting enough to finish, but not one that left a lasting impression.

A special thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

[Lena Reads Everything · Rating 2 out of 5]

Newly engaged Bea should be celebrating, but she can't escape the feeling that something is terribly wrong. Haunted by memories of a proposal she once rejected and the unconventional future she imagined for herself, she finds herself drawn instead toward the very traditions she never wanted. As the wedding plans gather momentum, an unsettling presence lurks in the shadows, forcing Bea to question whether the greatest threat is the life she's choosing or something far more sinister.

As much as the premise pulled me in, and I was excited by the potential for an unhinged woman story, this ultimately didn't live up to my expectations. My biggest hurdle was the second-person narration. It's a style that rarely works for me, although I could appreciate why it was used here, placing the reader in the perspective of someone important from Bea's past, which becomes clear fairly early on.

The story moves between past and present, as well as multiple perspectives, and I found it more confusing than compelling. That said, the disjointed structure did mirror Bea's own uncertainty as she wrestled with the tension between the traditional life she was choosing and the person she might otherwise have become. There were moments where it felt like the novel was leaning into something much darker, with flashes of body horror and psychological unease that I really enjoyed, but it never fully committed to that direction, instead settling back into a more conventional plot.

Unfortunately, this just wasn't the book for me. While I can see what the author was trying to achieve, the second-person narration made it difficult to fully connect with the story. 2/5

Thanks to Union Square & Co. and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Now available from the 30th June 2026.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Victoria Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Julianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Messy. Unsettling. Heck, I got cold feet!

With endless red flags, Bea's body is literally telling her to RUN from this marriage. The scary part is physical responses to chronic stress and anxiety has absolutely been reported by trauma survivors! What is Bea's body trying to tell her?! Will she listen?? Death Do Us is a psychological thriller and great appetite suppressant. Who's on first? What's going on? This is really happening to her, right? You'll be kept on the edge of your seat, unsure of any next step! My face was permanently stuck in the "ick" lip quirk/forehead scrunch while reading. Death Do Us is unnerving, frustrating, and entirely realistic.

While I question why Bea would want to get married if she wanted an "open marriage" in her previous relationship, this new engagement bodes better for their lasting union... For a day or two! Bea send to have changed her perspective, but why is her body freaking out? And chapter 74 🤢 oh my...

Emotionally and mentally deeper than it originally seems, that ending was soooo fitting!!

Readers, I hope you don't have someone you still wonder about 💔 You deserve closer and fullness of love.

Troupes: wedding planning stress and struggles, cold feet, unreliable narrator
Spice: 2/5 🌶️
Gore: 3/5 🩸
Language: 2/5 👀
Triggers: psychological eruptions, ex-trauma

Thank you to Sterling Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC!

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an early copy from Netgalley

I DNF'd this book very early on. I love body horror, and I really wanted to love this too. However, there's something off in the way it's written. The sentence structure is repetitive, and relies far too heavily on comparison and analogy for basic ideas that require no further explanation. I understand using the technique for poetic or poignant purposes, but not multiple times within a page turn of each other.

The MC was also just unlikable. Which can be totally fine, if you're interesting, funny, witty...anything. Instead, right out the gate we're internally mocking little old ladies who are just trying to congratulate her on her engagement, supposedly being completely unable to rationalize the existence of the elderly at all. Girl, for real? You never had a grandma, a mom, an aunt, a coworker...? And that's literally how the story opens; we're not given even a single moment to generate some kind of interest in this character before she's starts being nasty. A couple pages later she's sitting on the toilet fantazing about posting a photo of her ring online, hoping it'll "hurt" all the people who had the gall to exist within her sphere of influence.

"She wants her friends jealous, her high-school bullies regretting, her unrequited crushes questioning. She wants it to hurt. This is Bea’s vengeance to those who called her too strange to be likeable, too plain to be loved."

Strange and plain? Maybe you're just a bitch 🤷‍♀️

[Bee Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.