Some dates you never forget. This one… you may not survive.
Jack Bennett has it all—a loving wife, three beautiful kids, a successful engineering career, and a home in the suburbs. But everything changes the day he finds a strange card in his mailbox.
Save the Date No sender. No stamp. No return address. Just a single line of April 21st.
Jack brushes it off as a mistake—until another card appears. Then another. And with each arrival, the cracks in his perfect life begin to widen.
What begins as a curiosity soon spirals into obsession. The cards keep coming. Mistakes pile up at work. Jack’s sterling reputation begins to crumble. Friends grow distant. Paranoia sets in. Someone is watching... lying, manipulating him. Plotting something far worse than he could ever imagine.
April 21st isn’t a coincidence. It’s a deadline.
As Jack searches for answers, he uncovers a chilling plot of deception, manipulation, and betrayal that runs deeper than he ever feared. He’ll have to fight to protect his job, his family, and his sanity—before time runs out.
Because someone doesn’t just want to ruin Jack’s life.
They want to erase it.
Tick, tock.
A gripping psychological thriller for fans of Gone Girl, The Silent Patient, Behind Closed Doors, and You, Save the Date is a razor-sharp, twisted tale of paranoia, sabotage, and the terrifying realization that the greatest threat may be the person you trust most.
PLOT PEEK: Jack Bennett had everything— a stable engineering career, a warm home with his wife Molly and their three children, and a best friend in Frank, who was not only like a brother but also the godfather to his kids. Frank’s partner, Lauren, made their circle feel complete. But that illusion shattered the day Jack received an anonymous yellow envelope in the mail. Inside was a cryptic message: “𝑺𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒆 – 𝑨𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒍 21𝒔𝒕.” What began as confusion turned into paranoia— missed deadlines, strange behaviors, shadows creeping into his once predictable life. And through it all, the four remained tightly knit—always present, always supportive, their lives woven together in ways that seemed comforting… until they weren’t. As the date drew near, Jack couldn’t shake the feeling that he was part of a plan he hadn’t agreed to. Because April 21st wasn’t a warning. It was a countdown.
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HONEST OPINION: I absolutely loved this story. Just a few pages in, you already know who’s behind it all—and that genuinely surprised me. It’s not your classic whodunit, but a howdunit mystery -where the reals suspense lies in watching how the crime unfolds, and that’s where it truly shines. The planning, the subtle manipulation, the way one person orchestrates everything without raising suspicion… absolutely chilling.
At first, I thought knowing the villain so early would kill the tension. But it didn’t. In fact, it made it even more compelling. The writing is clean and simple, the logic tight, and the short chapters make it so bingeable. What really stood out to me was the use of multiple timelines and how the story slowly unraveled through carefully planned situations. It wasn’t about deep character unraveling—it was about watching the setup unfold, one calculated move at a time. So layered, so smartly done.
I started reading this at 2pm and finished it in hours! I could not put it down.
The pace was fantastic, and the tension was written perfectly, enough to keep you hooked and guessing. Even I was starting to feel paranoid and nervous about the 21st of April!
So many parts had me audibly gasping and I was really impressed with how well the characters were written - immediately disliking the antagonist.
The twists kept twisting and I had to keep reading to see if the twist would untwist or twist more!
Overall a fab read and would definitely recommend!
At just over 230 pages, it was not a long read but it is an addictive read! Even though we know the bad guy from the beginning, there were so many twists and turns and, without giving anything away, I really could not predict what was going to happen next! I wouldn't say psychological thrillers are my favourite genre but this is a five * read for me. Really gripping and the writing was superb, really had you in the scene.
Save the Date by Henry Rodes is an absolutely gripping read—I was hooked from the very first page. If you enjoy psychological thrillers packed with twists and tension, you’ll love this one.
This is Henry Rodes’ debut novel, and honestly, it’s fantastic. His writing is sharp, the pacing is spot-on, and the suspense builds beautifully throughout. I can’t wait to see what he writes next.
I don’t want to give too much away (no spoilers here!), but trust me when I say this story keeps you guessing right up until the final page. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you on edge.
The characters are well developed—Frank, in particular, is written to perfection. You’ll find yourself disliking him intensely, which is exactly the point.
A big thank you to Henry Rodes for the copy of your book. I genuinely enjoyed it, and I’m already looking forward to reading more from you.
This is a fast paced psychological thriller that delves into the lives of two couples. The characters are well written and easy to imagine. And I loved the style of writing! I finished this book in a day!
Starting at the beginning of how they all met and seeing the changes that happen as they grow and start to pull apart. You watch how something as fleeting as envy can turn into jealousy… and eventually into resentment…possibly turning into something even darker. Turning the pages as these emotions twist someone’s mind.
I love how fast paced this book is, constantly throwing little twists at you. It was great fun trying to guess where it was going to go.
They always say it’s the people closest to us you have to keep an eye on, but this was a shocker!! The mind games in this are subtle but effective.
This is Henry Rode’s debut novel and WOW. What a way to kick things off. If you enjoy a gripping psychological thriller with twists that hit out of nowhere - this is the book for you!
I will be waiting patiently for Henry’s next release!
Save the Date by Henry Rhodes, a Debut Novel, wow. This psychological thriller was a fast read as it wouldn’t let you go. This was a fast read with lots of twists, the characters were written amazingly, and the plot was a mind game that kept you guessing the next step. Book about paranoia, sabotage, and the terrifying realization that the greatest threat may be the person you trust the most.
“One card, One date, One shot to stop a killer.”
This book is a little different from other thrillers as you find out who’s behind it pretty quick in the book, and some might think that would take away from this book, that would be a no, it just added to it as you read, you get to watch the person’s plan unfold, anticipating the next twist. Jack Bennet his wife is Molly, has it all. The loving wife, 3 kids, a fantastic career as an engineer, they have a home in the suburbs. Then one day he checked the mail and there was a strange card, no return address, no stamp, with just a single line of text!
“April 21St “That’s it.
Jack does what most would do, brush it off, then another card shows up, then another, with each card his life as he knows it starts to crumble around him. He should have taken it a little more serious, there is someone out there that just doesn’t want to ruin his life, they want to “ERASE HIM.”
Why would someone decide his life isn’t worth living anymore? His best friend Frank. The godfather to his kids and a brother to Jack by heart? Or Frank’s partner Lauren, who just seemed so perfect. Or is it his own loving wife! But remember you already know, but have you figured out the why?
Fabulous read, I am a thriller girl, can’t wait to read another by Henry Rhodes. Thank you for the opportunity to be an Arc Reader of your new book.
Jack Bennett is living his best life. He has an amazing and loving wife, three wonderful children, his dream career as an engineer, and a perfect suburban house. But his world is turned upside down when a Save the Date card is found tucked into his mailbox. Only one line is written on the card, April 21st. At first, Jack dismisses the card. But when they keep arriving, Jack soon gets pulled into the mystery and becomes obsessed. With his sole focus on the mysterious messages, Jack begins to fall apart and the rest of his life starts to suffer. Now missing deadlines at work, his odd behavior evident and his once tight knit group of friends now distant, Jack starts looking for answers. Is this the last countdown of Jack's life?
Wow! This was a solid debut novel!! I knew just by reading the description that I would be interested, but Save The Date exceeded my expectations! The writing is clean and sharp and the short, punchy chapters keep you flipping pages. I really liked the way Rodes introduced us to the antagonists so early. At first I thought that it would bring down that element of suspense, but I felt that by knowing the villian early, I was even more compelled to figure out the why and how of the story. With fully fleshed out characters, a steady pace, and a gripping plot. Save The Date is sure to be a hit with psychological thriller lovers!!
Thank you so much to Henry Rodes for allowing me an eARC of this great debut! Can't wait to see what you come up with next!!
Jack (an engineer) and his wife Molly lead a normal, happy marriage, simple and calm family life which many people can be envious of. That is until they receive an unmarked card. One after the other. What do they mean? Who arw they from? Why would anyone want to hurt him and his family?
+ intriguing + hooks you in + fast paced
The book begins with an introduction to each person close to Jack (the main character), his colleagues and the love of his life - Molly. As readers, we straight away get the sense that family is Jack's priority - his wife and three children. For this reason, I loved the main character from the start. The envelope with the date arrives in the second chapter and guess what - I couldn't put down the ebook! I had to know if the card was a warning, a threat or a misunderstanding. As we continue reading, we find out that a person close to Jack is not as genuine and trustworthy as they seem. They are full of jealousy and hatred. They want Jack to suffer. Why? The author keeps his steady details within chapters and hints along the way. The book doesn't hide the villain, the author even gives us the insight of his dark thought process. That makes it original, as we usually get told who the bad character is at the end. However, that doesn't spoil the story line - it definitely made me want to know more. And the ending?! What just happened?! Wow! I was not expecting that! I need time to recover after this book. I honestly recommend this one!
When Jack Bennett gets his first “save the date” card in his mailbox, he thinks nothing of it. There’s only a single line of text (a specific date months in the future), no additional information, no return address, no postmark and nothing else inside the envelope. After talking to his wife, they both decide it must be either a mistake or a prank, and it’s quickly forgotten.
When another card shows up in his mailbox a few weeks later, they both realize that this is no accident. Jack is rattled enough that these cards begin to slowly affect other aspects of his life, including his very detail-oriented job as an engineer. The suspense continues when the identity of card’s author is revealed to the reader. From then on, the story is told from two POVs, Jack’s (as he gets more and more freaked out) and the card’s author (as their plotted plans more forward).
This novel is very well crafted, and I can’t believe this is a debut novel. The plot is complex (but not too complicated to follow). There are enough characters to keep the story very interesting, and each is well developed. The plan crafted by the “bad guy” is ingenious and I was on the edge of my seat as it unfolded – waiting to see if it would succeed or somehow fall apart before “the date”. I read the entire book in two evenings because it was so gripping. This book reminded me a lot of a really good thriller movie that leaves you saying “what just happened” as you leave the theater.
📬 Jack has the perfect life. Loving wife and happy marriage, kids, a job doing what he loves and friends that turned into family. Everything in his life was splendid until he got a save the date card in his mailbox. With no other info on it beside the date April 21st. What at first was thought of as a prank turned sinister and his perfect life slowly unravels. What will happen on April 21st? 📬
🎭 It was a captivating thriller that I finished in 2 days! Instead of guessing whodunit, it was refreshing to get inside not only the mind of Jack, but even getting to experience the pov from every pivatol character in the story including the master-manipulator! 🎭
I was intrigued to see how the ending would be since we know who the mastermind is early on. And the ending? I didn’t see it coming!
Makes you think that even though you may think you know someone really well, you may not really know them at all.
🐍 How far will you go to get the life you’ve always wanted?
Some dates you never forget. This one… you may not survive.
Jack Bennett has it all – a beautiful wife, three perfect kids, and is highly thought of in his thriving engineering career. Upon checking his mailbox at his home in the suburbs he happens to find a strange yellow envelope – no sign of a sender, stamp, or return address – just the words ‘save the date’ and a single line of April 21st. As more envelopes keep appearing, the more Jack thinks this can’t be coincidence, and that April 21st isn’t just a date, it’s a deadline.
I’d 100% recommend going into this one blind. I’ve tried to keep my synopsis as discreet as I could as I didn’t want to drop any spoilers in there for those that haven’t read this book.
This isn’t a classic whodunnit/murder mystery - from a few pages in we have a well-established opinion of who is behind everything, but this adds to the ever-lingering tension that slowly builds throughout this short book. The way Rodes writes about manipulation in the multi-layered narrative is addictive, and I found myself flying through this in order to get to that satisfying conclusion.
Short and snappy chapters that are told from multiple POVs are welcomed with open arms throughout this book, each one adding more and more suspense and malevolence. The character development is spot on, you know I love to hate our antagonists, and I found myself doing just that.
Save the Date is Rodes’ debut novel and one I’d definitely recommend for its fast-pacing and twisty element. Thank you to @henry_rodes_author for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review. It’s available on Kindle Unlimited or to buy now!
Do I know the author? Yes. Does that influence this review? No.
I'm an avid reader of multiple genres, and I pride myself in my opinions. I can honestly say this is an absolutely great read. I loved the intricate details and twists in the book. I loved that there isn't all that filler that a lot of books have; it is just enough. I loved that I was surprised with all the twists. Although I'm a huge Hallmark movies fan, I don't want to figure out the ending when it comes to reading. I WANT the suspense and the twists, and that's exactly what Henry provided. I'd say more, but I don't want to give away too much like movie previews. You'll have to find out for yourself.
I challenge you to read the first three chapters to see if you get hooked.
Let me know what you think.
Oh, and he told me he already started writing his next book, and I can't wait!!
Jack and Frank have been friends through college and young adult life. They marry and get jobs together as HVAC engineers. Jack had three children soon. Frank and his wife are childless but content and like an aunt and uncle to Jack’s children. When Jack gets a card with the date April 21 on it and nothing else, the lives of the inseparable foursome starts to unravel. More cards show up. All with that date. Paranoia and suspicion creep in. Jack is desperate to find out who is leaving the notes even though Frank tries to convince him it’s nothing. We also see the story from Frank’s viewpoint. The story picks up speed as we see the effect this “date” has on the foursome. When all seems lost and evil seems to have one there are still surprises.
A really great story of the play between envy and obsession and how it can destroy lives. My only issue was the uncompromising nature of the villain.
This is a solid psychological thriller with a great pace and strong character development.
Unlike a traditional whodunnit, you actually find out who is behind it fairly early on. The tension comes from exploring the why—digging into the backstory and psychology of the characters, which I found really refreshing. It felt less about solving a puzzle and more about peeling back layers of motivation and obsession.
The writing flows easily, making it a quick read without losing any of its intensity. The atmosphere is unsettling in just the right way.
There are some fantastic twists that completely blindsided me. That unpredictability kept me hooked until the very last page.
Jack has the perfect life--his loving wife Molly, three beautiful young children, and a successful career at a prominent engineering firm. It's something any man would envy, including his best friend, Frank. Frank has most of what Jack does, but there's an important part missing and nothing will stop Frank from getting what he rightfully deserves.
Save the Date is a debut novel from Henry Rodes. With it's short chapters, you'll find yourself racing through the pages of this gripping novel. Recommended!
A few chapters in, and you already know who the villain is—you might feel like that takes away all the fun. But trust me, it doesn’t. This is a true psychological thriller that digs deep into the human psyche. It shows just how easily someone can manipulate and control another, and it’s chilling. The writing is fast-paced and gripping—it keeps you turning pages, needing to know how it all ends. If you’re stuck in a reading slump or overwhelmed by long, overly detailed books, this one’s a perfect pick to get back on track.
Book: Save The Date By: Henry Rodes Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✨Blurb✨
Jack Bennett is living his best life. He has an amazing wife, three wonderful kids, a dream job as an engineer, and the perfect suburban home. But everything changes when a mysterious Save the Date card appears in his mailbox with just one line: April 21st. At first, Jack ignores it, but when more cards keep showing up, he can’t resist the pull of the mystery. Soon, his obsession with the cryptic messages takes over, causing him to unravel. Deadlines slip, friendships fade, and his once-stable world begins to collapse. Jack is desperate for answers. Is this countdown leading to the end of his life?
✨Review✨
The writing is sharp and engaging, with short, punchy chapters that kept me turning the pages. The pacing, fully fleshed-out characters, and psychological twists made this a gripping read. One thing that confused me from time to time was the fact that the book is written in third person.
If you love psychological thrillers with a strong hook and relentless suspense, give Save The Date a try.
A brilliant debut novel! I picked this up on Kindle Unlimited, drawn in by the title and the intriguing blurb-and it absolutely delivered. This one stands out from the typical thriller... the "villain" is revealed early on, but that doesn't make it any less gripping. Instead, it dives deep into betrayal, envy, and the complexities of friendships. was totally invested in the characters-rooting hard for the good ones and seriously disliking the bad. It kept me hooked from start to finish. Who can you really trust? Here's hoping there's more to come from this talented author.
I'm split with this book, I loved the concept of it - receiving a mysterious cryptic 'save the date' card - fab idea! I also loved the first half of the book but to me the second half seemed a bit rushed. The book is only 289 pages so I suppose I should balance that out with it being a quick and easy read. *Spoiler warning* I did struggle with Molly and Frank's relationship at the end albeit was short lived and a means to an end. I'm not sure Molly would do that, but that's just my opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was a fast-paced and gripping thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. The plot was full of unexpected twists and suspenseful moments that kept me turning the pages. The characters were well-developed, and the tension built steadily throughout. A great read for fans of thrillers who enjoy a mix of mystery, danger, and psychological drama. Highly recommend!
I found this book in a post in Facebook group and it was a new author and a brand new book. This book was well written and exciting. I found the ending a little rushed and thought it would go differently however great first novel and storyline it was captivating. Good luck with future novels
A short but addictive read. This isn't a type of thriller im used to, as we knew who the villain is from the first few chapters. But the unravelling of how, and why everything happened was compelling. I surprisingly enjoyed this a lot
The pace of this story was brilliant, it never slowed down and it just kept the tension building and building. The twists were perfect and the writing great. The betrayal, plotting, backstabbing, a great read.
Oh boy! What a twisted, diabolical mind Henry Rodes created for us to experience. Jealousy and entitlement can be very ugly and damaging. Well done, sir, well done.
Don’t remember much about this one 🙈 The PDF arc I read had tiny writing too which didn’t help! It was a short read but not super fast paced. For a debut author though I thought it wasn’t a bad book! I enjoyed the writing style and storyline, there was just something missing for me to rate it any higher.