For Better, For Worse

by Lauren North

The perfect pre-wedding getaway. The perfect murder. The perfect trap…

Jake and I planned our romantic trip to the south of France to unwind from all the stress of organising our wedding and enjoy some blissful, sun-soaked days just the two of us.

But when we return to the villa after a day exploring the stunning countryside, our dream holiday is turned upside down. Because there, on the beautiful antique rug, is the body of the man everyone saw Jake arguing with in the town square just this morning…

I stop breathing as I take in the scene. The footprints in the same tread as Jake’s trainers. The knife I used at breakfast lying near the body, covered in my fingerprints.

I feel dizzy, reaching out for Jake as my knees tremble. He holds me upright, saying nothing. Is someone trying to frame us for this death? If they are, they’ve set us up flawlessly.

And now we have a choice to make. Call the police and risk everything – or get rid of the body and hope nobody ever finds out…

I’d give anything to go back to the stress of wedding planning, because now I feel nothing but terror.

Who would do something like this? Are we next to die? And why – as I look at my pale, sweating fiancé – do I wonder if he knows more than he’s letting on…?

An absolutely gripping psychological thriller that will have your heart pounding, your jaw dropping, and your fingers breathlessly turning the pages! Perfect for fans of addictive page-turners like The Housemaid , One of the Girls , and The Family Across the Street .

Readers love Lauren

‘Wow, wowsers, just wow!… My mind is blown… I could barely stop reading… I kept on gasping out loud… Just wow… I loved it… Addicted!’ Rachel’s Random Read, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow, just wow!… Brilliant… Kept me awake far later than planned… I devoured this gem in one sitting. I was hooked… Impossible to put down!’ littlemissbooklover87, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘OMG!!!… My mind is still trying to wrap my head around this story! SOO GOOD!!!… I was literally yelling at my e-reader!!… Suspenseful, thrilling… Intensely wicked twists that will blow your mind!! A must-read!!’ Heidi Lynn’s Book Reviews, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘I could not put this book down… Devoured it in one sitting… An absolutely unputdownable, addictive page-turner!!… Fantastic… Unputdownable!!… A heart-racing, action packed, page-turning must-read!’ Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow! I am at a loss for words… Incredible… Kept me on the edge of my seat… I could not look away from the pages for a second.

Genres: Thriller, Audiobook

302 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 20, 2025

About the author

Lauren writes psychological suspense novels that delve into the darker side of relationships and families. She has a lifelong passion for writing, reading, and all things books. Lauren’s love of psychological suspense has grown since childhood and her dark imagination of always wondering what’s the worst thing that could happen in every situation.

Lauren studied psychology before moving to London where she lived and worked for many years. She now lives with her family in the Suffolk countryside. Readers can follow Lauren on Twitter @Lauren_C_North and Facebook @LaurenNorthAuthor

Reviews

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

We're laughing as I push open the heavy farmhouse door and see the foot lying on the rug.” Wow! That’s a great opening sentence. It immediately hooked me. Hannah and Jake are counting down the days until their wedding. A romantic getaway to the south of France is something they both need before their big day. Unfortunately a dead body gets in the way of their idyllic trip. Making matters worse, it appears the soon to be newlyweds are being framed for the murder. This thriller is the perfect read during wedding season. It’s original, addictive and full of shocking twists and turns. The final twists were clever and very unpredictable. I was enthralled from start to finish. I highly recommend this twisted intriguing tale. Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy.

[Jayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

"FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE" was not one of Lauren North's BETTER books.

WHY?

Although the book's "young couple is framed for a murder right before their wedding" premise was compelling, the first 80% of the book was repetitive and painfully slow.

🥱🥱🥱

Action and twists happened in the last few chapters.

I listened to the 10-hour audiobook that easily could have been a 6-hour audiobook.

Narrator Caitlin Shannon's narration was good but not great.

Since the book unfolded from two POVs, the audiobook could have used another narrator.

My first 2-star Lauren North book.
😭😭😭

[Natalie M · Rating 3 out of 5]

All lost in the audio for me.

The story has some fantastic twists but the slog to get there was a little too much for me. Unfortunately, the breathy, weak protagonist narration had lost me and I was skipping sections due to repetitiveness (and not to hear the voice). I’m really glad I persevered as the reveal was so good. Maybe stick with the printed version.

Great author, just not the narration got me.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jake & Hannah definitely experienced some “for better” days and some “for worse” days! The couple experienced some insane moments in this emotionally charged domestic thriller. The author built a suspenseful tone that keeps you guessing until the end. It’s obvious that “something” is going on and working against this couple, but I didn’t expect this story to unfold the way that it did. The lines between truth and perception were constantly blurred, which is why I didn’t see the twist coming.

Overall a solid read that I think domestic thriller fans will enjoy. This was my first by Lauren North, but won’t be my last. Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

[EmG ReadsDaily · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wildly suspenseful thriller about a couple in love, counting down the days to their wedding, until they find a body in the hall of their pre-wedding getaway.

I was hooked from the opening sentence - ‘We’re laughing as I push open the heavy farmhouse door and see the foot lying on the rug.’

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping and emotional thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. Lauren North does a great job building suspense while weaving in the complexities of grief and trust. A few plot points felt a bit predictable, but overall, a compelling read with strong characters and a satisfying twist.

[Holly Bowden · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

First of all, I would just like to thank Lauren North, Bookouture and Netgalley for an ARC of “For Better, For Worse” in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve loved some of Lauren’s other thrillers, but unfortunately, this one didn’t hit the spot for me.

Twists are great, when they’re done correctly- they can truly elevate the book to another level. But you can’t compromise the existing narrative of the book for the sake of a shocking twist at the end. Did it shock me? Yes. But not necessarily because I didn’t expect it- because it just didn’t make sense. I, as the reader, have read the story from a first person narrative, as such, I have access to that character’s thoughts and feelings. Their unfiltered inner monologue. You can’t then, for the sake of a twist at the end, change the narrative of what I have already read and claim for it to be something else entirely. It doesn’t work. It’s like the whole book is separate to the conclusion; they don’t slot together.

As well as that, I found the whole thing to be very repetitive and quite slow-moving. Not a lot actually happens.

However, the writing was gripping, and I did want to know what happened next. I still recommend to other thriller readers- this just wasn’t a hit for me.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Better, For Worse by Laura North, when the book starts Jake and Hannah are arriving in France at her family’s villa she needs a break from London especially after his ex-girlfriend fled from Ohio to Britain and trash their loft. it’s not until they visit the French little village when they meet Hannah‘s neighbor John and it seems he and she are in a heated discussion when Jake walks up and she introduces them this immediately turns John’s fury onto Jake and after an unfortunate incident they go home and try to forget about it only to go for an outing the next day and arrive home finding John dead on the living room floor of the villa. Hannah‘s family is well to do and Jake is on the verge of selling a very useful financial software it will make lots of money. So when someone emails them a video of them burying John’s body and continues to send threatening notes the more pressure Jake feels but when everything is said and done it seems someone has been lying but who and why. Jake’s girlfriend tried to warn Hannah but is Jake the bad guy, is Hannah or someone else stalking the couple for their own ends? This is a very twisty book and although the ending was clever it wasn’t my favorite by this author. I still enjoyed it and totally recommended because more than once as the story went along I couldn’t figure out who was guilty nor why.#NetGalley,#Bookoutrs, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyReview, #LauraNorth, #ForBetterForWorse,

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big thanks to Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
For Better, For Worse is the newest psychological thriller from wonderful author Lauren North.
A great book with multiple sharp twists.
Hannah and Jake are planning their wedding.
Just before the big day their decide to take a trip to the South of France.
Sun, fun and days of relaxation.
As they arrive back to the villa from a day out, they discover a dead body.
Everything leads to them being the culprits but they both have no idea who did it because it wasn’t them.
Now they have to make a choice…..
Call the police or dispose of the body.
Their decision will change everything.
Another winner from Lauren who has the gift of giving the reader a clever thriller with shades of domestic drama.
Get onto this book and get ready to be taken on a wild ride.

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 5 out of 5]

FOR Better, FOR Worse, FOR MURDER!!!!

This story starts out with a BANG!

As the countdown to their wedding begins there are many secrets held by both Jake and Hannah.

A fight, a death and a cover up all in the first few paragraphs. Someone knows what happened but who? Jake had a public fight with the man who was murdered, but is he being framed?

Doubt and trust are now in question!!! The past does not always stay in the past…

HOLY CRAP! That ending! What a crazy twist. Never saw this plot coming, but it WORKED!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. Full of suspense and couldn't work out where it was going. Great twist at the end.

[Annemarie O'Donovan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing.

I tried so hard to like this but it just wasn't possible. The first half of the book felt like the same chapter was repeating itself over and over and over. The second half was pretty predictable.

I have enjoyed books from this author before but this misses the mark.

Thanks to Net Galley for the advance copy

[Trina Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pre wedding weekend away in France to Hannah's parents luxury holiday home should be nice and romantic for her and her fiance Jake before the big day. But the weekend starts on a bad note when a local man Claude argues with Jake about the wedding. Apparently Hannahs parents don't approve of their upcoming nuptials. Trying to forget everything the couple go for a walk but on their return, they are confronted with Claudes dead body and all the evidence points to the couple murdering him. Their lives just go into freefall from this moment on due to some of the decisions they make.
This is a great novel full of intruige and distrust. I couldn't decide which of the couple to believe, both of them had secrets and the book was written in such way that I was blindsided by many of the twists. It's sure to be another success for the talented Lauren North

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping! For Better For Worse was immersive. This was the second book I’ve read by Lauren North and I loved it just as much as first book I read by her, The Perfect Son. Some twists were coincidental and some threw me off and therefore left me in shock. Overall, I was entertained by this fast paced, engaging, and suspenseful mystery-thriller. (Audio)

[Jennifer Bendel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an excellent read!! The twists are truly shocking. Some parts were a little slow but the feeling of impending doom never wavered. The twists kept getting more and more wild. I loved every second of the ending. I love when an author has me frantically turning pages to see what’s found to happen next. 4.5 stars!

[Amber Rothermel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an easy quick thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed! Of course I fell for every red herring, while having the twist in the back of my head. When the final reveal came it wasn’t all that shocking like I said, but the lead up to the reveal was a wild ride.

I really enjoyed Hannah and Jake’s characters. I love how everyone had secrets and we learn them bit by bit.

This would be a perfect beach read as it was easy to get through and kept your attention throughout.

A true thriller. A true 5 star book.

[Damien Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

I definitely didn't see the twist coming, and after a light reread, I still couldn't see the twist coming. I felt there wasn't enough foreshadowing for the final reveal, and that made it fall a little flat for me. I did really enjoy the epilogue though. That particular ending was certainly deserved.

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received this ARC from Bookouture Books via NetGalley.
Prologue starts off intense, making you want to keep reading. But then it repeats a lot between the characters, not adding much more to the plot and becoming slow. Clever twists towards the end and leaves a bit of a cliffhanger with potential to continue to story or leave us all wondering.

[Sandie McCormack · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so disappointed in this book as I have enjoyed her other books it was too repetitive and I found it boring and very slow it was well written but not for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoutre for an ARC

[Curt Dunnam · Rating 4 out of 5]

"For Better, For Worse" by Lauren North is an emotional 4-star read! Hannah and Jake need a getaway after a break-in brings an unwanted visitor into their lives, on top of the stress of planning a wedding. They decide to take a long weekend in the south of France to unwind. But things don’t go as planned, and they return home with more trouble than they ever could have imagined.

The prologue hooks you right from the start with a chilling discovery. The story is told through alternating perspectives of Hannah and Jake as they navigate the days leading up to their wedding. We get a deep look into their inner thoughts and turmoil as they struggle with the aftermath of what happened.

The twists are shocking and completely unexpected, though it might have pushed the boundaries a bit too far. Some parts of the story moved slowly and felt a bit repetitive, but overall, I really enjoyed it!

Thanks to Bookouture, Lauren North, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

[Donna Mallery · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun who-done-it! There’s good twists and turns, plus it’s an easy read. Imagine finding a dead body in a vacation villa where you are staying two weeks before your wedding! And, the clues seem to point to you and your fiancé as the culprits! It begins here and slowly unravels. Now, if only these writers knew the difference between “farther “ and “further “!

[Kayl_may · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. What a rollercoaster of a book this was! I listened to this on audio and found it easy to follow. I thought it was going to be a bog standard “who dunnit” mystery but it was so much more!

[Janna (Bibliophile Mom) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly enjoyable thriller with heaps of "what?!" And "You did not!". I had so much fun diving into the alternate narrative between Jake and Hannah and the challenges they faced as their wedding day approaches. Talk about whodunits, hiding bodies, and what not. ✨

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

So thankful to have been able to read this prior to the publication date. This book is a constant page turner! Just when I thought I knew what was going on.. BOOM, another twist. Such a good read!

[Laura Johnstone]

I can often pick up the twist coming at the end of books, I didn’t with this. It made me wanna go back to the start and read it again, knowing what I did at the end.

[Becca Wheeler · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, quick easy read. I did however see some of the plot twists coming - not all but some.

[Mickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oof this one packed a punch. From the moment the couple find the body to the very last page, the tension didn't let up, the twists didn't stop coming and I couldn't stop reading.
I didn't guess what was going to happen at any point during this one and I always love when that happens. I will definitely be looking for the rest of this authors books.

[Racquel · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5/5 ⭐️💫: Oy! I should have DNF’d. This was real, real bad. Poorly written. And if had to hear the main couple were soulmates ONE. MORE. TIME. Honestly, this is my fault I forced my way through it and should have just given up. The twists were ridiculous and played out.

[Alison Lockley · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF - thankfully on audio, so little lost. Pretty awful, unless you enjoy stereotyped descriptions of women - especially their clothes and hair etc. And stereotyped relationships.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Hannah and Jake are getting married in England. He is American and she is British. Her parents don't approve of their fast romance, so they aren't attending the wedding. In fact, they have never managed to find time to meet Jake. And Jake left his past behind in Ohio, so he and Hannah are starting a new life together. But when they take off to France for a quick getaway days before the wedding, Jake gets into a verbal disagreeement with a friend of Hannah's parents, who is later found dead in the house where Jake and Hannah are staying. Thinking they will be blamed for the murder, they hide the body and return to England, but it turns out someone knows what they did.

This book was slow with not much going on after the initial events. It was just a lot of someone is watching Jake and Hannah and who could it be? Who set them up? It wasn't that entertaining for me until it came to the end and at that point things went way off the rails, contrary to everything we thought we knew. It was an ok read at best. I have enjoyed some of this author's novels and been so so on others. This was definitely in the so so category.