The Newlywed

by Zia Rayyan

In Eden, love comes to you. But some matches are made in hell.
After a brutal breakup, librarian Morgan Sloane signs up for Eden—a secretive matchmaking service promising marriage at first sight, free from heartbreak.

Her new husband? Henry Langford. Wealthy, charming, and waiting at the altar of an exclusive private island resort. He’s everything Morgan ever dreamed of.

But paradise has a price.

A woman across the pool won't stop staring. The staff fall silent when Morgan walks past. And Henry disappears at night, returning with lies hidden behind his perfect smile.

Eden promised Morgan she'd never suffer another heartbreak. But heartbreak isn’t what Morgan should fear most.

Because by the time she discovers the truth, it’ll be too late. She’ll be trapped in paradise.

The Newlywed is an addictive psychological thriller full of jaw-dropping twists, perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Daniel Hurst, and Kiersten Modglin. Don’t read this on your honeymoon.

Genres: Thriller, Psychological Thriller

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2025

Reviews

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unique story line and I went through a series of emotions when it came to Morgan. Desperate for love and a wedding, Morgan wants to skip the dating & heartbreak, and get straight to the nuptials. I kept saying she would come to her senses but before I knew it, she was contacting Eden — an arranged marriage program where you are placed with someone & married at first site!

I enjoyed the alternating POVs for Morgan and Henry, and the narrators did especially well bringing life to these characters. Overall an enjoyable read and I will be continuing this series. Thank you RBmedia and NetGalley for an advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.

Publication 🗓️ : 01.06.26

[Emily Kubik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sat down and read this after seeing a self promo post in a book group. I was hooked and kept reading all afternoon. I enjoyed the fast pace, page turning story. I was engaged and excited the whole time. I’ll be reading her other books as well. I kind of hope there another story about Henry and Morgan in the future.

[Natalia Farnham · Rating 5 out of 5]

What! This was such a fun crazy read!!!!!! I definitely did not expect the twist and my goodness I wish there was a book two for this. and I don’t say that much about thrillers. This was perfectly paced and had me reading like crazy to find out what happened in the end! Definitely need to read more from this author for sure. Thanks NetGalley for a chance to read this it did not disappoint!!!!!

[Lu thrillskillsandchills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Married at First Sight, but make it the thriller edition and you’ll find this popcorn thriller, The Newlywed — the first in this series by Zia Rayyan.

I flew through this in less than a day. It’s fast-paced, chaotic in the best way, and ridiculously easy to binge — exactly what I want from a psychological thriller.

The audiobook narration was fantastic and really elevated the story. Genevieve is completely unhinged, and experiencing her POV on audio made everything feel even more tense and unsettling. The narrators did a great job of pulling me into the story and keeping the pace tight throughout.

This is pure popcorn thriller energy — entertaining, dramatic, and designed to be devoured quickly. I’m already keen to continue the series because I need to know more about Morgan and where her story goes next.

[Lindsay Nixon · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 24%

The dialogue is 🙄 and very painful.

Thanks netgalley

[Alexis Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure how I stumbled upon this book I think it was suggestion on my kindle. Anyways, it was so good! Kept me on my toes the whole time, and wasn’t your typical thriller plot. I hope there’s a second one 😊

[Brittan Culclasure · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do not understand all of these 5 star reviews. Or even 3 & 4 stars. This book was ridiculous. I can’t say much else without giving away some of the plot but my goodness this was disappointing.

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Initially this story seems far fetched, marriage at first sight seems wild, but actually, people do it to get on tv all the time now in real life! Once you settle in to the story it quickly becomes a really great read. It builds to a great ending. I love a sneaky b!tch & I love revenge so I recommend this.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Married at first sight turned sinister! This was a fun read with a twist on an already crazy concept. The audiobook was super entertaining with multiple narrators and POVs to keep you engaged and wondering what would happen next. Thank you netgalley for this arc!

[Karissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started reading this I thought this is so idiotic… and yet I kept reading. I finished it in one sitting, so I guess it deserves a 4⭐️ because I couldn’t put it down now matter how stupid/wildly out there the storyline was

[Emily Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book! I finished it within 2 days, I constantly was wanting to know what happens next. I want a sequel 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If Married At First Sight was a popcorn thriller, this is it! 💍🍿 And I was here for it! I came across it in a self-promo by the author in FB group and I'm glad I did! What a fast-paced, fun, and wild ride it was! Can't wait to read book 2 when it comes out in a few weeks!

[Lisa Cornetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book!! It came, it conquered, and it left me CHEERING for Morgan!! For a while there, even I wanted to go to Eden just to see who I would end up with!! Morgan found her strength while at Eden—first for her marriage, then for her fate, and she OWNED it like a BOSS!! And that’s the stuff I absolutely LOVE to read about. There were parts of Henry I liked, and parts I hated. Genevieve was the reason I hated him. She was a nasty, cruel human, and I was not sad to see her go. There was so much excitement and anticipation throughout this ENTIRE book with these characters. This banger might be my most favorite read of 2025!! Oh yeah, and fuck Dexter.

[Ally A · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was recommended this book by Amazon kindle app - ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE with this author. The feeling of being on the edge of seat while reading this book.

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun, fast paced, and unhinged popcorn thriller that I easily read in one sitting. The unique premise immediately pulled me in, and I flew through it in just a few hours because it was genuinely entertaining and hard to put down. I especially loved Genevieve’s delulu POV, and the narration was really well done and helped immerse me even more into the story.


Thank you to Tantor Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Lauren Pixtun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book so fast! The story was for sure a page turner. I say 4.5 only because I wish the ending wrapped up a little better. I want to know what happened to Morgan. If there is a book two, I’ll definitely reading it.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! So good! A quick thriller was just what I needed.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this! I couldn't wait to finish to see how it ended. This story is also unique. You won't find another book similar.
Zia is my new fave author, & I can't wait until another book come out!

[Liz McPherson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was a quick, jam packed thrill ride! Highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Jo Woodcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have now read all Zia books and I have to admit this one has been my favourite 😍 x I look forward to reading lots more 😊

[Bri Baran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I completely devoured this and didn't not want to put it down the twists kept you hooked and it was such a short quick read! excited to read the second one

[Lauren Schekorra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I read it in one day because I was hooked from the start! The idea of the story is so good yet different and it kept me interested throughout! Can’t wait to start the sequel!

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars!! Thanks to NetGalley for the ALC!! If you like a popcorn thriller that gives Married At First Sight vibes and is unrealistic but fast paced, then you’ll enjoy this book. And the ending…..I didn’t expect.

[Jaclyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ This book had my attention from the beginning, but I swear it’s something I’ve read/watched before but can’t remember. It was interesting to read about what wanting love so badly can make someone do. The ending was very much like I thought it would be - until the end end. But without any spoilers, there’s no way that could work out, right?

[Chelsei Houle · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

[Amy Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so good! Very twisty and had a very good story line. I will definitely be reading more books by this author!

[Paige Gunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Married at first sight meets thriller. What’s not to love? I was fortunate to be able to read an ARC of this book and I loved every minute of it! Definitely some Freida vibes with this author’s writing. I’ve read three of this author’s books so far and I’m itching for more.

I loved the multiple perspectives broken up by chapter, the twist, and the craziness behind the twist. Great, fast-paced writing style that keeps you going and makes you want more.

[Shawna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love The Newlywed by Zia Rayan. The premise had so much potential—married at first sight vibes with a dark twist? Count me in. I was intrigued by Morgan’s decision to join a mysterious matchmaking program after a brutal breakup, and the setup on the private island was giving serious "reality show gone wrong" energy.

But somewhere along the way, the tension fizzled. The pacing dragged when it should’ve been ramping up, and instead of feeling like a thrilling ride, it started to feel repetitive. The mysterious woman stalking Henry? Intriguing at first—but it never really paid off in a satisfying way. And Henry himself, who starts out dreamy and too good to be true, turns out to be...well, not much of anything. I kept waiting for a big reveal or a twist that would justify the buildup, but what I got just didn’t stick the landing.

It wasn’t terrible—there were moments that pulled me in—but overall, it felt like a missed opportunity. If you’re into the whole "stranger spouse with secrets" trope, this might scratch that itch. Just go in with tempered expectations.

[Mireya casuallyreadingx · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐
Domestic Thriller

Read if you like:
💍Kindle Unllimited
💍Popcorn Thrillers
💍Unreliable Narrators
💍Authors like Freida McFadden

What a dramatic and domestic thriller! 😯This is one of those books that you can read in one sitting. Very fast paced, short chapters, and unreliable narrators. I like when a book flows quickly with dramatic characters that have you questioning everything! Heavy on the romantic suspense as well. This also gave summer vibes! 🌴

Now, I will say that this might be more of a fan favorite for people looking to get into thrillers or reading in general. While I enjoyed some parts of the story, I just felt like the characters were frustrating and the writing was just okay. 🤷🏻Little to no depth for character development and insta love.

Overall, this was just very okay for me! This is available on KU!

EN ESPANOL:
¡Qué thriller dramático y doméstico! 😯 Este es uno de esos libros que puedes leer de una sola vez. Muy rápido, capítulos cortos y narradores poco fiables. Me gusta cuando un libro fluye rápidamente con personajes dramáticos que te hacen cuestionar todo. ¡También tiene un gran componente de suspense romántico! Esto también me dio vibras de verano. 🌴 Ahora, diré que esto podría ser más un favorito entre los fans para las personas que buscan incursionar en thrillers o en la lectura en general. Aunque disfruté algunas partes de la historia, simplemente sentí que los personajes eran frustrantes y la escritura era solo aceptable.🤷🏻 Muy poca o ninguna profundidad en el desarrollo de personajes y amor instantáneo.En general, esto fue solo muy aceptable para mí. ¡Está disponible en KU!

[Kelsey Messineo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't want to pick this up at all.