‘OMG!! I absolutely INHALED this book!!!I was hooked!Wow never in my wildest dreams could I have guessed the secret!! I stayed up ALL NIGHT just to find out tapping away on my kindle like a woman possessed!! I’m shattered today but so worth it! I loved it SO much!! 5 MILLION STARS!!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My husband is a handsome and successful businessman. He charms everyone he meets; including me. I’m madly in love with him and I believe we will grow old together in our beautiful, renovated farmhouse in the countryside.
Until one rainy evening when I discover his I watch as he steps into the arms of another woman. The truth is like a punch to my gut.
But what comes next is even worse.
I notice the gold wedding band on her finger and I hear him say, ‘I missed you wifey.’
My heart shatters. He’s married to someone else, even though he’s still married to me.
Tears streak my face, mixing with the rain. He’s betrayed me. He thinks he can get away with it.
But he has no idea how far I’ll go to get my revenge…
This utterly gripping psychological thriller from bestselling author Mikayla Davids is a page-turner that will keep you reading way past your bedtime! Perfect for fans of Lucy Foley, Lisa Jewell and Ruth Ware.
What readers are saying about The Secret Marriage:
‘I wish I could give this ALL the stars… I think I might need to lay down after reading this!! I held my breath all the way through because this book had me totally gripped and there was no way I could put it down!!The ending had my heart hammering in my chest – I need to recover now!! I binge read this in less than half a day and I will be reading it again. LOVED, LOVED, LOVED!!!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I am SPEECHLESS!!! Seriously what a book!!! I was completely blown away. SO many twists. My jaw hit the floor more than once. And that ending had me on the edge of my seat. 5 stars!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Wow. I was up until 3am reading this brilliant book because I just couldn't put it down! Had me so gripped from the first page to the head spinning ending!!! I did not see so many twists coming!! My favorite read this year.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘LOVED IT!!! Totally hooked! Couldn’t stop reading! Forgot to eat my dinner as I was flipping the pages as I HAD to find out what happened next. Complex characters and a bucket load of secrets. Mikayla is my favourite author. ALL OF THE STARS!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I was on the edge of my seat throughout - Mikayla Davids kept the twists coming again and again! I was gripped from the first chapter to the very last page!! Time flew reading this, ten out of ten stars!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I’ve just flown through this book in two days, it’s been a long time since I was so engrossed I just couldn’t stay away from a book. Wonderful!!
It’s faced paced, with short chapters between two characters points of view, it was easy to keep track of the story and you were never left waiting too long before getting back to the others personally POV. Perfect!
There were plenty of twists to enjoy and even a couple of moments where I was rooting so badly for a character I was willing them to do what I wanted! It was great to get so immersed.
A fantastic book! Definitely recommend you give it a try.
I’m not sure where to start. Ok. Boy loves girl. Boy falls out of love with girl. Girl is crazy. Boy finds love with a new girl. Crazy girl says “hold my beer”. Not literally, but her crazy definitely comes out. It’s a tale of revenge and control. It was a good read. I gave a five star review in lieu of the four stars that I wanted to give. There’s a lot of back and forth between past and current events, like every other chapter. I personally don’t care much for that style of writing, but since this is a personal preference of mine, I didn’t think I should penalize the author by taking a star. Overall, it was well written and a good story. You won’t be disappointed if you read it.
Oh my gosh, Mikayla wrote another one that I couldn’t put down! I put on sunscreen, went outside to read, and still ended up sunburnt because I read it all in one sitting and forgot to reapply 🤪 this is a two POV, dual timeline with a lot of switching between characters and timelines with each chapter. But the way it was set up had you turning the page to see what happened and where it was going! Overall, a great read!
Eva and Nicholas have been together and married since before the business took off. They’ve had their rough patches: renovating a house causing them to live apart while the business is booming in London and he is away on work trips. But Eva thought they would be fine. That is, until she sees him with a woman in the renovated house with a wedding band on and he was calling her wifey. But Nicholas doesn’t seem to be the only one with secrets.
Thank you to Love Books Tours for the copy, all thoughts are my own.
Kirsty and Eva appear to be married to the same man but what is the truth?
I really enjoy books by this author because I know that I'm in for a psychological thriller that's going to keep me on my toes. This one certainly did. This audiobook comes in at just under 8 hours but the time flew by. The storyline included mystery, intrigue and several red herrings. When I thought I knew where the story was going there was a plot twist and it took the story in a completely different direction.
The story is narrated by main characters Kirsty and Eva and is told in a dual timeline format moving between the past and the present. Through this dual timeline the reader is given an insight into how Kirsty and Eva met their husbands who happen to be the same person. To one he is Nick and to the other he is Nicholas.
One thing that struck me while listening to the audiobook is how unreliable Kirsty and Eva were as narrators. At times I found myself believing Kirsty, then this switched to Eva and then not knowing who to trust. Kirsty and Eva couldn’t be more different and it was only Nick\Nicholas that linked them. All the characters were keeping secrets from each other and had their own motives. As for Nick/Nicholas he was a big red flag, toxic and gave me bad vibes. Not only because of his attitude to Kirsty and Eva but also how he treated them. What became clear as the story progressed was that not only was he controlling but he was trying to manipulate them and mould them into the same person.
Talk about a psychological thriller! This is my second audiobook by Mikayla Davids, and once again she proves she knows exactly how to write a gripping, mind-twisting story. From the prologue alone, you know things are about to go very wrong, it’s just a matter of how.
At first glance, the premise seems simple: Eva is married to Nick. So is Kirsty. Only one of them knows about the other, and she’s determined to make sure everyone finds out. But what unfolds is far from simple. Twists pile on twists: people pretending to be someone they’re not, secrets Nick is desperately hiding, and neighbors who clearly know more than they let on.
Davids takes you on a wild ride that had me glued to my headphones. Every time I thought I had things figured out, I was completely wrong, and that’s exactly how I like my thrillers. I want to be shocked, second-guess everything, and never feel ahead of the story. A Secret Marriage delivered on all counts. I didn’t predict a single major moment, which made the experience even more satisfying.
And that ending? I immediately need the next book. The fallout, the consequences, the choices, especially when a scorned woman finally learns the truth, left me desperate to know what happens next.
The narration was phenomenal. Esther Mwane and Rachael Beresford brought incredible emotional depth to both POVs, perfectly capturing vulnerability, fury, and tension. Their performances made it impossible not to feel for these women, even as the story spiraled into chaos. This dual narration elevated the audiobook experience in every way.
If you love psychological thrillers packed with secrets, deception, and jaw-dropping twists and enjoy watching just how far a scorned woman might go, this one is absolutely for you.
💖 Thank you to @lovebooktours for this gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is written from the points of view of Kirsty and Eva.
Kirsty is currently married to Nick, and the couple lives in his big farmhouse situated in a small village. Nick is wealthy and successful, and his job requires him to travel the country a lot. When Kirsty married Nick, she became a housewife as per Nick’s wishes. She knew that Nick had a past and was married before, but nothing will prepare her for what is to come…
Eva is Nick’s ex-wife, although according to her, they are still legally married, and she is adamant that Nick is a bigamist. Feeling hurt by his betrayal, she had years to perfect her revenge…
I loved this audiobook! It was brilliantly narrated by Esther Wane and Rachael Beresford. I found myself listening to it as I was doing housework, driving the car, and doing many other activities.
It was clear from the beginning that everyone had a secret, and each character followed their own agenda. This became clearer as the book progressed, and I loved the gradual reveals. I felt for Eva, as Nick’s behavior towards her was appalling; however, that didn’t excuse her obsessive actions.
Halfway through the book there was a major twist, which I loved as it came totally unexpected. I also loved the epilogue.
Overall, this is a fast-paced psychological thriller, which I definitely recommend.
I’m back with another Mikayla David’s review, and as I’m coming to expect from this author, there are twists and turns and secrets a plenty!
Firstly, I listened to the audio version. I was so pleased when I heard the familiar narrator voices I have come to enjoy listening to in other Mikayla titles. The voices are clear and the script read with emotion.
Of course there are lots of secrets throughout the book and you never quite know who to trust, however I did really like the main character Kirsty. Despite the possibility that all wasn’t as it seemed with her, I did really want things to end well for her.
As you discover other characters you will be shocked, you will be rooting for them, then you might just not trust them or like them very much! It really is a rollercoaster of emotions. As ever, the author will keep you guessing throughout, dropping little nuggets of truth as you read, but misdirecting you too!
Another twist thriller from Mikayla Davids. The story follows two women who are both married to the same man... but instead of being united against the serial cheater, these women have secrets of their own and someone will have to pay a very high price.
I liked that we got both points of view, with short punchy chapters that had me wanting more. This was full of twists and turns. The writing pulled me in and I needed to see what was coming next.
The setting worked well and the author really sets the scene of the house and village. I liked how things are gradually revealed about both women as the tension ramps up!
I think a lot of thriller fans will love this one!
Huge thanks to the author and Love Books Tours for providing a copy of the book to review
Another great story from Davids. Fast paced with enough twists to keep you guessing right till the end!
Mikayla Davids latest, The Secret Marriage, in this gripping psychological thriller, a devoted wife’s idyllic life in the countryside is shattered when she discovers her husband in the arms of another woman—who also wears a wedding ring. What begins as heartbreak quickly spirals into a chilling tale of deception, double lives, and revenge.
Also spotted another release – The New Boyfriend – due 2026, added to my TBR!
How does she do it?! Davids delivers another dark, twisty thriller with her signature tense and atmospheric storytelling. Perfect if you love a read that keeps you guessing right up to the very end!
Another great book from Mikayla Davids. As with previous books, it was very difficult to not keep reading and reading! It has an interesting premise, and plenty of twists and turns to keep you hooked. Looking forward to the next one!
Thoroughly gripping from the first page to the last. There was suspense, secrets, and complex characters. Every chapter kept you guessing until the finale. A must read.
The Secret Marriage is a griping psychological thriller that perfectly exemplifies the term “threes company”. I really appreciated this unique storyline and how Davids was able to keep the reader entertained with short and succinct chapters. The pacing felt appropriate and Davids did a great job of connecting the reader to the characters. I was easily engaged and interested in each character’s motive throughout the novel. My biggest qualm with the novel was that I expected some heavier twists and more of an intense climax in the storyline, but that never fully matriculated for me in the way I was hoping. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and one I would recommend.
🔪😱 Thrills and Chills Factor: 1/5 ✔️🚫 Would Recommend: Yes
“Fast-paced, addictive, and full of red flags you can’t ignore…”
The Secret Marriage by Mikayla Davids is my seventh read from this author – and she’s firmly cemented herself as my auto-buy thriller writer. Every single book so far has delivered, and this one was no different. I went in with high expectations, and I’m pleased to say I wasn’t disappointed.
Told from the perspectives of Kirsty and Eva, with both past and present timelines, this story dives into marriages where the warning signs are impossible to miss. Nicolas (or Nick – yes, the same character!) is the ultimate red flag husband: controlling, gaslighting, offensive and downright vile. I disliked him intensely, and that’s exactly the kind of character who makes a thriller so absorbing.
Eva’s storyline in particular struck a chord with me. I hated the way she was treated and how easily she was manipulated into looking like she was suffering a breakdown. At times, her intentions were difficult to judge and I’m still not sure her arc was the strongest choice, but she remained sympathetic and fascinating to follow.
Kirsty, on the other hand, I really warmed to. Naive at times, yes, but she had that friend/sister quality that made me root for her from the beginning. Jean was another standout side character who I would love to see more of in future. Some of the others – like Tiggy and Jane – added a layer of mystery, though I’m hoping a sequel might dig deeper into their stories.
The big reveal was unexpected, though I felt it could have been more intense. If Eva is being portrayed as “unhinged”, I would have liked the reveal to lean harder into that chaos. The ending itself was intriguing and left a few loose ends dangling, which has me wondering if Mikayla is setting us up for a continuation.
With short, snappy chapters and a fast pace, this is one of those books you can easily lose hours to without realising. For me, it’s another strong 4-star read. It didn’t quite have the same level of angst and tension I adored in The Family Secret or Her Daughter’s Lies, but it’s still a fantastic thriller I’d highly recommend.
And I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on The New Boyfriend – I’m already wondering if it could be connected.
Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Scorned! That saying certainly rings loud and clear in this nailbiting, fast paced and twisty trailer.
Eva and Nick have been married for years and have been going through a rough patch. Eva was convinced they could turn things around now that she has finished decorating their new home but when she finds out that Nick is seeing another woman Kirsty and has in fact married her too, all hell breaks loose. Eva knows about Kirsty, but Kirsty has no clue who Eva is or that she will be coming for her. But Kirsty has her own agenda when it comes to Nick as she is determined to undercover the dark secret he is hiding.
As Kirsty and Nick’s new life together doesn’t unfold into wedded bliss, Kirsty starts to second guess her decision to marry him. However, both Kirsty and Eva are determined to keep their man but only one of them is willing to kill to do it.
This story had plenty of twists and turns that kept you guessing. Just when you think you have the story straight in your head, another crazy plot switch occurs leaving you reeling, desperate to know where the story is going.
The narration was brilliantly performed by two different women voicing the separate POVs of Eva and Kirsty. This added to the conflicting background stories for the two characters, helped keep the storylines clear but also added personality and depth to the main female leads which allowed you delve into their relationships and understand their feelings/motivations. The changing POVs as the story unfolds also helped ramp up the tension and jeopardy as you are aware of what they are both thinking and planning but never sure which woman you should choose to come out on top.
Overall, another addictively compelling read from Mikayla Davids which is left open for a possible sequel, which I eagerly await.
I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook, though I found it a little difficult to follow at times. The back-and-forth between Kirsty and Eva was manageable, but there were quite a few additional characters who didn’t seem to serve much purpose in the story. Trying to keep track of everyone and everything became a bit overwhelming.
When a devoted wife discovers her husband in the arms of another woman, her world shatters but the ultimate shock comes when she realises the other woman is also his wife. Caught in a web of lies and secrets, she vows to uncover the truth and make him pay. But in this twisted triangle, survival is anything but guaranteed.
At first glance, the premise seems straightforward: Eva is married to Nick, and Kirsty is married to Nicholas... Only one of them knows about the other and she’s determined to make sure the truth comes out. But what follows is anything but simple. Layer upon layer of deception unfolds and identities aren’t always what they seem.
The storyline itself was fascinating, I loved the twists and turns, the unreliable narrators, and the gradual unravelling of secrets, lies, and history. It’s a great read for anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers with strong female protagonists.
Now, lets talk about the husband – Nicholas, Nick…? Wow. You’ve got to hate a controlling, arrogant bigamist. There wasn’t much to like about him and that made it even more satisfying.
The audiobook narration was excellent, with clear distinction between the two main characters. The voice actors brought suspense and atmosphere to every chapter, enhancing the tension beautifully. There was a slightly cringeworthy attempt at a Scottish accent, but it didn’t detract too much from the overall experience.
When I see Mikayla Davids' name, it's an automatic buy now! Her books are frequently available on KU, so technically, it's an autodownload, but you know what I mean. I can never wait to dig into the next amazing thriller that she has cooked up! She is one of those writers who strikes up a bit of professional envy in me, because I am amazed at how she cooks up such deliciously devious plots so frequently and knocks every single one out of the park! I have not been disappointed by a single one of her books! Every single one has been five stars from me, including this one!
It's full of her fabulous character building, absolutely wild twists and turns, and fast-paced storytelling. Once I start one of her books, it is impossible to put it down! From the first chapter, it's like what is going on!! Who is this lady? Why is she spying on these people? Who is this dude (ie, @$$hole big time in this one from the get go, I could feel it!!) Even with the big-time spoilers in the blurb, you might think you know what's going on - but you will find yourself slap dab in the middle of a class Mikayla Davids twisty plot before you know it.
And, the best advice I can give you is to snap this book up as soon as you can if you like a good thriller! If you haven't had the joy of reading Davids' books, she is phenomenal, and this latest installment only shows growth! I had only dipped my toes in thriller reading when I read my first Davids, and she quickly became my favorite! The way she can craft a paranoid mind right alongside a devious one is just *chef's kiss.*
3.75⭐️💫 There are three people in this marriage, will they all survive it? Eva’s husband is a handsome and successful businessman, charming everyone he meets. She is madly in love with him and believes they will grow old together in their beautiful, renovated farmhouse in the countryside. One evening she discovers his secret, as she watches him step into the arms of another woman, a woman who he addresses as his wife…
Right from the offset this was a fast paced journey through a cast of characters that, at first, you’re not sure just how they will all end up connecting.
It took me a while to get used to the differing character POV’s and switching timelines, but ultimately everything flowed well together to give the full picture overall. Some unexpected twists were nicely inserted when you least expected, adding additional elements to the storyline that were not anticipated.
A very cleverly written epilogue (no spoilers!) also added a clever element to bring an element of unfinished business, again, the author has executed these hidden and unexpected elements superbly. Seeing things from both sides of the story was very prominent in this title, providing the element of just who was telling the truth.
My first title by this author and it was a pleasure to have discovered her writing!
‘The Secret Marriage’ is another amazing thriller from Mikayla Davies! I think I have read everything she has written so far, and I was super excited to listen to this one as an audiobook on Spotify. It was capably narrated by Esther Wane and Rachael Beresford, and it was extremely entertaining to consume the story in this way.
Mikayla is an automatic read for me, as she manages to create such exciting thrillers, with messed-up families and nuanced characters. They are also full of misdirections, red herrings, and nothing is as it seems. It was no different for ‘The Secret Marriage’. Devoured is not a good enough adjective for how I consumed this book, and I finished it in one day! The use of different viewpoints from two wives and the short, punchy chapters meant it was highly addictive, and I was engrossed from the get-go.
What I love about Mikayla’s characters is that you can always see why people do the things they do. They are always written with empathy, and both the wives have their reasons for their actions. Those intentions may get misconstrued along the way, but you understand the initial motivations. Plus, you have a character to hate as well in the husband! Such a douchebag.
I flew through this book and loved the audio version of it. Let me know if you pick this up!
Kirsty thinks she’s found her happily-ever-after with Nicholas in their dream farmhouse. But everything shatters when she discovers him with another woman and hears him call her “wifey.” The realization that Nicholas has been living a double life sends Kirsty into a spiral of anger and obsession. As deception and revenge take hold, Kirsty is forced to confront just how dangerous love and lies can become.
Mikayla Davids does it again! While this wasn't my favorite book of hers, it was still good and had enough curiosity that had me glued to the book. I read a good chunk of this one at the nail salon. David's writing style closely resembles Freida McFadden's in the way that it's quick, thrilly, and straight to the point. So if you like Freida, you might want to give Mikayla David's a try.
Two women love and find out they are married to the same man. Nick is a deceptive, controlling, manipulative man. Both Kirsty and Eva have secrets of their own. They are trying to uncover what happened and who Nick really is. This story is one of secrets, betrayal, vendettas, suspense, and mystery.
The build of the suspense over the course of the novel creates anticipation. Layers and layers of secrets unfold, keeping the readers enthralled with the story. It has twists and turns that, while surprising and unexpected, flow seamlessly.
The pace of chapters is well-done and gives readers insight into the characters’ feelings both from the past and present. The flow between past and present was well done.
Esther Wane and Rachel Beresford do excellent narrations of Kirsty and Eva. They deliver great performances and elevate the emotional journey and development of the characters.
This story is one of who to trust and who to believe when everything Kirsty and Eva thought they knew was all a lie. Readers who enjoy thrillers will like this book.
Thank you to Love Books Tours and Mikayla Davids for the gifted audiobook and opportunity to read and review the book! I was provided a copy of this book for free and am leaving an honest review.
I love thriller books but audio versions are fast becoming a firm favourite of mine. The only difficulty is where I get myself confused about a character or event - in a physical or ebook, I can quite easily find what I need to carry on with greater understanding. With an audiobook it’s not quite as easy to do so. I admit I found the dual timelines and people a bit of a challenge sometimes but it all became much clearer towards the end.
Do I think someone would go to the lengths that the key women in the novel did? No, but that’s the beauty of fiction - it can be whatever the author wants their version of the world to be, and I was here for it!
The tension increased throughout the book and the ending made me stop chopping vegetables, knife paused mid-cut, with my mouth open!
The characters are going to be like marmite for some readers I think, where you may really like a character that others dislike, and vice versa, but I love when an author can do that.
This is the perfect book for fans of Frieda McFadden and those who enjoy plot-driven thrillers. It’s ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.
The Secret Marriage was a thrilling and entertaining read. I really enjoyed reading this book and I found myself wanting to read more and more. It is very fast paced and the short chapters make the book feel like a quick read.
The book follows the journey of a newly married couple, the husband is a successful business owner and the wife is young and has a new cake making business. As the story deepens, we see some secrets between the pair which is told through many twists. I found myself rooting for the main character, Kirsty, and especially at the ending. I thought the characters were developed well.
The book is told from different perspectives and in the past and present, so it gives the story some depth and definitely loads of cliffhangers. This made the book such a page turner as I couldn’t put it down. At some points, I could predict some elements, but there were more twists which shocked me.
This is now my sixth read by this author and oh my, they've all been 5* reads for me and Mikayla is most definitely an auto-buy author now.
I absolutely loved the connected thrillers which I read first, but I've also since loved the standalone reads too and this one was no exception!
In true style, we are carried along by the fast-paced writing style and short chapters, which inevitably make me need to just squeeze one of two more chapters in each sitting - but to be honest, I really devour these over 2 or 3 sittings anyway.
We follow this story over a multi pov and dual timeline format and I absolutely love this because it really creates a great atmosphere and tension as the story gradually unfolds through the book and often keeps us hanging on for answers between the different pov's and timelines.
We also get a good insight into each of the characters and their thoughts and feelings over each of the events.
I really felt sorry for Kirsty throughout and was definitely rooting for her to get a happy outcome - however that might look!
As ever, I was totally immersed in this and raced through it.
Another great read and again, I'm excited for the next release.
I’ve been a huge fan of Mikayla and her books for a while now! So the anticipation before starting this was intense! And I was not disappointed!
Firstly I’m going to point out the fact that this was super fast paced to the point where it’s hard to stop reading. You keep getting drawn in to the story by reveal after reveal and it makes for incredible reading. Add in the dual POV between the 2 main characters and that Eva’s timeline is split between the past and present it all adds up to being a thrilling read.
I loved both Kirsty and Eva in their own ways. I feel like I wanted to know just a tiny bit more about Eva but the suspense kept me going and by the end I was shocked! I also loved that Kirsty has secrets of her own too and that added an extra level of intrigue and suspense!
I’m really hoping the ending means there is another book to finish off. I’d be picking it up in a heartbeat if that’s the case. A thrilling fabulous twisty read!
My husband is a handsome and successful businessman. He charms everyone he meets; including me. I’m madly in love with him and I believe we will grow old together in our beautiful, renovated farmhouse in the countryside.
Until one rainy evening when I discover his secret: I watch as he steps into the arms of another woman. The truth is like a punch to my gut.
But what comes next is even worse.
My thoughts …
I’m quite new to audiobooks and sometimes struggle to follow the storyline however I didn’t with this one and I absolutely loved this audiobook, it was great the different POV’s and the story was 😱 so many twists and turns I wanted to speed it up so I could find out what happened! I’d highly recommend it
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A huge thank you to @mikayladavidsbooks and @lovebookstours for the #gifted audiobook