The Newlywed's Lie

by Zia Rayyan

Men always have another secret...

Morgan thought she'd escaped. Her nightmare marriage is over, her husband Henry is dead, and she's finally free.

Or so she believed.

Because Henry isn't dead. He's searching for his missing wife, and he knows exactly where to find her.

Desperate and homeless in Portugal, Morgan takes a job as live-in maid for a wealthy woman and her daughter. But something's wrong. She's wearing the same perfume Henry gave to both Morgan and Genevieve.

And there's one last secret Henry the woman who hired Morgan has been waiting seven years for him to come home.

This secret might kill them both.

The Newlywed's Lie is a sequel to The Newlywed, an addictive domestic thriller full of jaw-dropping twists, perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Daniel Hurst, and Kiersten Modglin.

Genres: Thriller

228 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 15, 2025

Reviews

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zia Rayyan’s The Newlywed’s Lie is a pulse-pounding psychological thriller that hooked me from the first page and kept me guessing until the very end. As my first dive into Rayyan’s work, I was blown away by the twists and turns that made it impossible to put down. The story follows Morgan Sloane, a librarian who finds herself trapped in a paradise laced with lies and danger. The lies just kept coming! I raced through this one since it was a fast read.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read - glad I gave this new author a try. Zia serves up another twist with the conclusion to Morgan & Henry's story and it had me turning pages late into the night! Also, I chuckled at the shameless plug for Mother, Mother. I was going to read Miss Murder next, but...here I go reading Mother, Mother instead. 😆 Miss Murder will have to hit the TBR.

[Sabrina Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional

More than I expected, and everything I didn't know I wanted in this sequel. Zia did something amazing here, and it is definitely a book you need to read. Twist and turns you cannot expect, and an ending that will leave you on the edge of your seat and smiling.

[Jordan White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great sequel! The characters stayed true to who they became at the end of The Newlyweds and developed even more. It had me turning pages faster than ever to find out just how it was going to end.

[Jo Woodcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW as mentioned before I have only recently discovered Zia Rayyan books and was very lucky to be able to read an ARC copy of this new one and it absolutely didn't disappoint! as soon as you start turning the pages it became addictive and kept you gripped. The storyline was interesting and it kept you on your toes trying to guess but as Ive discovered with Zia books the twists are brilliant 👏 x highly recommend this book when it comes out in August x thank you for letting me read an early copy 😀 again this book is fantastic

[Alexis Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

For not planning on writing this book Zia didn’t disappoint!! Elena? What a crazy lady!! The twist and turns this one had made it such an easy, binge worthy read! Well done 👏🏼👏🏼

[Jessica L Burdin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal!

Zia Rayyan does it again! Every single one of his books has been a 5 star read for me. No one creates a twist quite like Rayyan!

This was the perfect sequel to The Newlywed. The characters stayed true to the first book, and the twists kept coming - right up until the end.

Do yourself a favor - read through this author's catalog. You'll thank me later.

[Sue Fedash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Zia Rayyan. This sequel flowed flawlessly from the first book in this 2 book series. The newly added characters added depth to the story. Both gripping and suspenseful with a twist that had me picking my jaw up from the floor.
Can’t wait for more from this author.

[Paige Gunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by Zia Rayyan! I actually enjoyed this sequel more than the first — great twist, kept me intrigued, and enjoyed the continuation of characters.

[Emilie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another hit out of the ballpark for Zia Rayyan! This was a fantastic follow up to The Newlyweds that I had the chance to read as an ARC read. Absolutely loved this book. Is a quick read with a great story line. The continuation and growth of the main characters is seamless from The Newlyweds. The new characters added to the story give it a new depth. And that twist! Didn’t see that one coming! Definitely recommend reading The Newlywed’s Lie after reading The Newlywed!

[Hooked on books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I snatched this one up on release day and was not disappointed. I stumbled across this author about a few weeks ago and have read all his books. Looking forward to more.

[iris muller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got to read this book as an ARC read and it was amazing!!! The ending was so good !!! I loved it!!! I can’t wait for another book by this author!! Always worth the wait!!

[Shoni Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐ **Rating: 2.5 stars (rounded up to a generous 3)**

After really enjoying the first book in this series, I went into *The Newlywed’s Lie* with high expectations. Unfortunately, this installment just didn’t deliver the same impact for me.

Overall, the story felt like it was constantly reaching, dragging on for much of the book, only to rush through the ending with an outcome that felt random rather than earned. What was meant to be a slow burn ended up feeling uneven, with too much buildup and not enough payoff.

And, don't get me started on the main character, Morgan. I found it difficult to empathize with her because so much of the conflict stemmed from her constant assumptions about everyone around her. It was frustrating to watch her avoid asking simple questions that could have cleared up most of the drama and her internal turmoil much earlier. That lack of communication made the tension feel forced rather than organic.

The plot itself also felt far-fetched, arguably even more so than the first book, which made it harder to stay fully invested. While it wasn’t a terrible read, it was ultimately just okay and nothing particularly memorable or standout.

That said, this is very much a sequel, and you do need to read the first book to understand what’s happening here. While I appreciated revisiting the world and characters, *The Newlywed’s Lie* didn’t quite live up to the promise of its predecessor.

[Judi Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this one after reading The Newlywed to find out more about Morgan.

Morgan lived in Idaho, was a librarian and wanting to find love, marriage and a family. When she signed up for Eden matchmaking and they guaranteed a wedding with the perfect man, she signed up, got approved and was on her way to a paradise island, Eden.

Now she is on the run after losing everything on the island including the man she thought would finally be the one, until she found out he was already married. Now, in a desperate attempt to get off of the island, she is headed for the one place that she might be safe in Portugal, where Henry had said he loved it there.

But when she arrives in Portugal, with no money, she must find a job. How could she know where she would become a maid? But, finding the job wasn't the only secret Morgan will uncover and she will be running for her life again!

[Brandi Winfrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve yet to meet a Zia book I didn’t absolutely love…until “The Newlywed’s Lie.” Don’t get me wrong, it’s got all the things that make this author’s books great to read…but the storytelling was just a tad off in this one. I usually applaud Zia’s ability to pace novels just right, but this one felt a little rushed and all over the place. Characters like Elena and Catarina lacked the normal development I’ve come to appreciate. And as a thriller lover, you have to be willing to suspend feelings towards belief and plausibility, but the plot points in this one may be relying a little too heavily on the reader’s ability to successfully carry that out with “The Newlywed’s Lie.” All in all, this quick return to Henry and Morgan’s world is worth it if you were a fan of “The Newlywed.”

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so I was excited to pick up The Newlyweds Lie. Unfortunately, this one just didn't hit the same way for me.
The pacing felt very slow for the majority of the story. It seemed like not a lot happened until the last 20% of the book, which made the middle feel boring and a bit of a slog to get through.
My biggest struggle was with the main character, Morgan. I found it really hard to empathize with her because she spent so much of the book making assumptions about everything and everyone around her. It was frustrating that she never simply asked anyone any questions, which would have cleared up a lot of the drama (and her own internal conflict) much sooner.
While the ending did pick up the pace, the slow build and my frustration with the main character ultimately made this a bit of a disappointing read compared to the first installment.

Want to see spoilers or trigger warnings? Check out: https://www.spoiltheplot.com/books/th...

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5✨ loved this book. the twist of him having 2 other wives not including morgan was like what the fuck. lowkey hated him up until the last chapter but it’s fineeee, i liked him in the end and that’s all that matters. love morgan, i do think throughout these two books, she was a bit too obsessed with the happily ever after but i suppose she got it and got an adorable little daughter out of it. ALSO SHE STOPE SOFIAA??? fuck that crazy ass wife bro, absolutely bonkers. loved the book tho, slay

[Jennifer Sweeney · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I reviewed book one, I mentioned I didn’t like the ending because it was a cliffhanger and if there’s not a sequel, it sucked. The author said she had not planned a second book, but I guess lots of other readers felt the same way. This is a quick, easy read that is entertaining enough. I liked Morgan in this book and I couldn’t stand her in the first book- I guess making an even more unlikable female character make her seem better.

[Lianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now I thought the first book was doing too much, but I rated it high because it was a definite plot twist you didn’t expect. This entire book felt like reaching. It felt like it dragged on just to give us a random outcome. I also have to mention, in chapter 28, when Morgan opens the window she says “the night air…”, but once she jumps out of said window, she’s talking about the blue sky & warm sun. Make it make sense.

[Linda Disharoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not stop reading......

Both of the novels were great fun to read, I am glad that Zia decided to write a sequel. I really love a happy (if bizarre) ending!
The improbable situation in both books was what kept me reading, finished them both in 48 hours.( I can sleep another day)
Highly recommended!

[Breanne McFall · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up! This was a quick listen, and though I don’t think it was altogether necessary following The Newlywed, it did provide a bit of closure/more answers for us as readers and had a few twists I wasn’t expecting. Stayed on brand with the “popcorn thriller” vibe of the first book, so nothing too deep but decently enjoyable nonetheless!

[Betty Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! This book was a heart-pounding twisty thrill ride from beginning to end. It kept me guess and furiously turning pages late into the night. I will definitely be reading more of this author's work. A definite must read for anyone who is a fan of psychological suspense.

[Patricia Fuentes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unusual story

I enjoyed this follow up to the newlyweds. Although both books are seemingly unrealistic ....isn't most fiction? I could see this being made into one of the limited series I watch and yell at the tv.

[Barb Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

🥰 Loved it

This was my third book by Zia. I loved every one of them & looking now for more. Always happy to find an author that keeps the pages turning and the story keeps you guessing. Thank You Excited for more .

[Mariam · Rating 2 out of 5]

How is this book so highly rated, with the level amatuerish writing?

Reeks of Chat GPT. The kind of wealth that builds monuments to itself...the kind of pain that does whatever...the kind of this...the kind of that...

Repetitive sentences and dialogues. INSUFFERABLE!

[Janae’ Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was honestly a great sequel to finish it out. It still had some twists you didn’t see coming, but I’m glad to finally get some closure for Morgan and Henry!!

[Beth Stromberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW! Hung on every word. couldn't put it down! Surprises!

[Vickie Whitaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed it very much! Never a boring minute. Could not put it down.

[Diane Wanamaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Lots of twists. Kept me on my toes.

[Beverly De Vivo · Rating 4 out of 5]

great read

Loved both books. This is not books I usually read but I so enjoyed. Now to read Mother Mother. I have found a new author.