Promise Me Never

by Liv Constantine

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Next Mrs. Parrish comes an unmissable thriller about a woman who becomes embroiled in the mystery of her husband’s deceased first wife—and after moving to his remote house in the woods, uncovers terrifying secrets.

Aspiring writer Savannah’s scheme to meet superstar horror novelist Bennett Bryson turns out better than she ever imagined: not only does her charming and handsome literary idol offer to read her work, he is instantly smitten with her. After a whirlwind romance, Savannah says "yes" to marriage, and the two settle into Bennett's secluded upstate home.

But just as Savannah thinks she has it made, cracks appear in her perfect new life. Bennett's behavior becomes dark and controlling: he criticizes Savannah’s writing, dictates her permitted activities, and spends most of his time locked in his office, forbidding her from entering. And everywhere, Savannah cannot escape the shadow of Bennett's first wife, the free-spirited and passionate artist Poppy, who died in a tragic accident, but who seems still to be Savannah’s rival for Bennett's affection.

Then comes an enigmatic warning: Bennett is not who he seems. The women that came before Savannah have disappeared. And Savannah could be next.

Isolated and unsure whom to trust, Savannah tries to piece together the mystery of the man she married, and the woman he married first. But Savannah has no idea what her husband is really hiding. And someone out there knows Savannah has secrets of her own. As these two writers will learn the hard way—past really is prologue.

With memorably complicated characters, deliciously devious betrayals, and truly shocking twists, this edge-of-your-seat novel from one of today's most original writers will keep you guessing until the last page.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Fiction, Mystery

288 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication August 18, 2026

About the author

Liv Constantine is the pen name of sisters Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine. Lynne and Valerie are New York Times and international bestselling authors with millions of copies sold worldwide. Winners of the 2025 Silver Falchion awards for Best Book and Best Suspense, their books have been translated into 29 languages, are available in 34 countries, and are in development for both television and film. Their books have been praised by The Washington Post, USA Today, The Sunday Times, People Magazine, and Good Morning America, among many others. Their debut novel, THE LAST MRS. PARRISH, is a Reese Witherspoon Book Club selection. Visit Liv at www.livconstantine.com

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always enjoy the he said/she said drama in a marriage, where the possibility of murder is lurking under the surface. What secret is the wife holding? Why so many former fianceés for the husband? Someone is lying, and as it all goes together, quite the explosion. I picked an entirely different conclusion so it was a happy surprise to find an unexpected one. Will definitely keep reading this author's work.

[Casey Reads 🌸]

This one sounds promising!

Thank you to Netgalley for the free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

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

Promise Me Never
By: Liv Constantine
Pub Date: August 18, 2026
Publisher: Bantam

This sister author team is back with a suspenseful thriller and I am here for it.

We find Savannah who is wanting to be an author. She makes it her mission to meet novelist Bennett Bryson, who writes horror. Bennett is charming and pulls Savannah into his web with a quick romance that leads to marriage.

Bennett has a dark side and soon Savannah will discover who “he” really is. She is living in his home and is haunted by his first wife Poppy. She died in an accident.

Without any spoilers, get ready to put life on hold and buckle up for one crazy ride. Be careful what you wish for!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look no further, I have found the cure to your book slump! Promise Me Never is a fast-paced, cannot put it down, one sitting read! Short chapters, shocking twists, and an alternating POV (don’t worry it’s a small cast) makes this one of the best books I’ve read this year.

Savannah knows what and who she wants and that’s to be a published author and to be with Bennett Bryson but Bennett is not who he seems and there are mysterious circumstances surrounding his wife’s death. Hang on tight, you might get whiplash from this one.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[Amanda Zanzano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
4.5 stars rounded up. I was so excited to read a new book from this author and it did not disappoint. I read it in 24 hours - I loved how fast paced this book was. The short chapters hooked me in and motivated me to pick up this book whenever I got the chance. This book is told from 3 different point of views (the husband, the new wife and the ex-wife) and it was hard to know who to trust. The author definitely leads us to believe one way but I knew there would be a twist or two at the end - and it didn’t disappoint!

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Promise Me Never by Liv Constantine
Publishing date - 08/18/26
Rating (5/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine publishing for this eARC! Loved it! One my new favorites by Liv Constantine. Short chapters, shocking twists, and alternating POVs make this fast-paced thriller unputdownable. Highly recommend this one when it releases later this year.

[Msz Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy from NetGalley

Amazing read! If you need a book that will have you guessing who’s telling the truth ?
The kind of story that will have you on the edge of your seat!

Savannah wanted to be an author. She never got support from her parents but one lesson that stood with Savannah since she was a child: “ no one handed you anything” Your future was in your own hands. Choose a goal. Make a plan. Do the work. It was a creed she lived by. She will always remember this - She walked away because she was determined to search for her dream

When Savannah met Bennett didn’t known they had so much in common. He didn’t had no support from his parents either, the only person he has is Felicia and the only one who supported his dreams to become an author., until he met Savannah who was searching for her dream too, to become an author.

Thank you NetGalley and Liv Constantine for the opportunity to this Advanced Copy !

[Jennifer Jessup · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always Liv Constantine sucked me right in! Finished this in one sitting and as usual never saw the ending coming.

Thank you @netgalley for advanced copy!

[Simone (mysterypageturners) Ketchum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Ballantine Books for providing me this gifted ARC! Thank you to NetGalley and author Liv Constantine!


📖ARC BOOK REVIEW 📖


📚Book: Promise Me Never
✍🏻Author: Liv Constantine
🌀Genre: Psychological Thriller
📃Pages: 288


Promise Me Never by Liv Constantine is a psychological thriller novel.

Promise Me Never is about an aspiring writer, Savannah, who marries her idol, horror novelist Bennett Bryson, only to find herself isolated in his remote home, controlled by him, and haunted by the memory of his deceased first wife, Poppy, leading her to uncover dark secrets about her new husband.


💜What I Loved:
👀Multiple POV’s
🌪️Big Twists
📕Unputdownable
💨Fast paced


💔What Didn’t Work For Me:
🧐Slightly predictable


📖 Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

👩🏼‍⚖️Final Word:

I really liked this book! It hooked me immediately and I binged it in less than 1 day. It was full of twists and turns and had me mostly fooled. Some aspects were slightly predictable but didn’t take away from the really big surprise, that I never saw coming. If you like fast paced thrillers and big twists, this book is for you!

[Delaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of this authors work and this book was such a great read! Very fast and constantly on the move, the mystery kept me hooked. Loved the POV switches, it gave a really well rounded view of the characters while still maintaining the suspense. I very much appreciated the way the twist was done as well, but that’s all I will say without spoiling anything. Definitely recommend!

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted arc

[VenneD · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this quite excited, the premise immediately caught my attention, and the novel opens with enough intrigue to make you feel that you’re stepping into a story filled with secrets waiting to unravel.

However, as the narrative progressed, I found myself losing a bit of footing in the middle section. The story begins with promise, but for a considerable stretch not much of consequence seemed to occur until well over twenty chapters in, which slowed the momentum more than I expected and by the time the twists arrived toward the end, they appeared rather suddenly. A few of the reveals felt rushed and quite honestly, slightly less impactful than they might have been with more space to develop.

Character-wise, I struggled to form a strong connection with the characters though Savannah stood out as the perspective I found the most engaging.

All that being said, I did appreciate the structural choices in the storytelling. The use of multiple POVs and dual timelines is a creative approach that gradually pieces things together and helps to build tension.

Overall, the concept behind this story is genuinely interesting and clearly has strong potential. For me, the execution felt somewhat uneven, though I can certainly see how the premise and layered narrative style may appeal to many readers. Perhaps I’m simply the outlier here, but this one didn’t quite land for me in the way I had hoped.

Huge thanks to Ballantine Books and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Cheryl Marks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It certainly is a page turner. I love the way the author writes. It really kept me turning the pages.

The story focuses on two writers. One who is established and one who is just starting out and is looking for her big break. They meet each other at a conference where he is a speaker and she works for his publisher and is helping with the book signing part. They fall for each other and the book takes off from there.

Savannah is hiding something from her past and so is he. He has a string of past loves who have disappeared or died. He invites her into his home and life and says she can have the run of the house but must stay out of his office, which he keeps locked. What is he hiding in there? What really happened to his last wife? Was her death really an accident?

This book kept me guessing with a twist at the end that really surprised me! Loved it! I will be recommending this one for sure. Great read!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The twists and turns in this book were incredible. I couldn’t put it down. Liv Constantine never disappoints. Savannah meets Bennett at a book party. She’s had her eye on him for so long. He just lost his eye in a drowning accident. They meet and have a very fast courtship. The twists after are just magnificent.
You won’t be disappointed by this one.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mind was blown by the ending of this book. Not to say the rest wasn’t great - well-paced, thrilling, all that good stuff - but the twist I never saw coming and I think that’s really rare these days.

Thanks to NetGalley for this arc. I loved it!

[Jessica Milliner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reveals the significance of being secretive and concealing something from others. It also reveals a mysterious aspect beyond the individual.

Savannah is an aspiring writer. She met Bennett, who is a novelist. Savannah married him and moved into Bennett's home, where he shares with his late wife, Poppy. During those moments inside the home, Savannah discovered Bennett's dark behavior. His office was locked and she wasn't allowed to enter it. She will eventually know the truth.

There are numerous things that come to mind while reading this book. Things that can bring some shocking moments. It's possible that knowing that someone who's well-known for their writing has a very secret.

[Meg🪩 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley

Promise Me Never by Liv Constantine is a gripping thriller about Savannah Brooks, an aspiring writer who becomes entangled in the mystery surrounding her husband’s deceased first wife.

Savannah sets out with a plan to meet Bennett Bryson, a superstar horror writer. When she finally meets him and he offers to read her work, his charm quickly draws her in—and it’s clear the feeling is mutual. After a whirlwind romance, Savannah agrees to marry him and moves into his secluded estate. But it doesn’t take long before she realizes she can’t escape the shadow of Bennett’s first wife, Poppy. When she receives a warning that Bennett may not be who he claims to be, Savannah must piece together the truth about what really happened to Poppy—all while navigating an unfamiliar and increasingly unsettling environment.

This book was so good! I gave it four stars since I read an unedited copy and noticed a few typos, but it could easily be a five-star read once finalized. I also don’t typically prefer third-person narration, though that’s just personal taste. I loved how fast-paced it was, especially with the shorter chapters that kept things moving. There were definitely a few twists I didn’t see coming at all. I’d absolutely recommend it!

[Liz Chardon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. Definitely for twisted tears from the beginning to the very end. Liv Constantine does it again with this amazing read. I definitely plan to pick up more of these books. The story follows Savannah, and aspiring writer marries a famous her author. After their marriage, she realizes that there are secrets. He is hiding, especially your secrets about his ex dead wife. She continues to unravel the secrets, she may find out it is too late. This is definitely worth the pre-order and I would read it again without hesitation. Thank you, NetGalley for this amazing read.

https://www.tiktok.com/@bellagia7742?...

[ChiQuito · Rating 3 out of 5]

Promise Me Never-Liv Constantine

The twists and turns gave me whiplash. Savannah, an inspiring author, falls in love with Bennett a current bestselling author. Their romance takes off and married in one month.

They are both harboring secrets about their past.

I love the way the story is told from multiple characters and events past and present.

I did feel the author was repetitive in certain parts. In addition, closet to the end when the story came together, it felt slightly far fetched.

I’m usually good and figuring the story out before the last page…Not this one.

I thought this was a solid read. I encourage other readers to give this one a try.

Quick read!!!

[Amy Lanham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Bantam Books for an ebook advanced reader copy.

This is a binge worthy read! I read it in under 24 hours. Short chapters, lots of secrets and missing people; it’s so hard to put down.

Savannah Brooks, an aspiring author has her eyes set on Bennet Bryson, a New York Times and award winning horror book author. The story comes from three points of view. Savannah (Bennett’s current wife), Poppy (Bennett’s first wife), and Bennett himself. From the first page I was thinking “oh, Savannah is bat 💩 crazy” but then I get to Bennett’s first POV chapter and thought “oh he’s crazy too!” Bennett and Savannah both are holding back secrets about their past. As Savannah starts to learn about people from Bennett’s past going missing, she has to decide who to trust.

As unhinged as characters may or may not seem, I knew this would be a thrilling story. A classic case of trust no one, and family secrets. It will have you asking yourself what would you do to obtain your “dream life” or your “dream job”. And will it be worth it in the end?

[Ashley Flippin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley and Ballantine for the ARC of this title.
I was super excited to receive this ARC. I’m a huge fan of Liv Constantine. This book caught my attention from the very beginning. I was completely hooked. But this book didn’t go where I thought it was. It actually went way off. I enjoyed the first half but the twists in the end fell a little flat for me. I’m anxious to see what others think about this one. 3.5 stars.

[Mary Jane Braham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Bantam Books and NetGalley for the e‑book ARC! I’ve consistently enjoyed Liv Constantine’s work, so I was thrilled to receive this one. While the story started a bit slowly for me, I found myself increasingly invested in both Savannah’s and Poppy’s storylines as the plot unfolded. The twists toward the end were well executed and genuinely unexpected.

[Celeste • Likely All Booked · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley and Random House Publishing for this ARC! In true Liv Constantine style, this book will hook you immediately and take you on a crazy ride! At first the main characters’ relationship is a bit unbelievable because they get together so quickly. After reading the book, you realize that’s kind of necessary to the plot. The ending was so great with two major twists that I did not see coming!

[Olga Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I swallowed this book in about 6 hours. It was a great read and the ending was unpredictable. I enjoyed spending my Sunday with this book. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

[Jessica (Books Party of Three) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast-paced, captivating thriller that has plenty of shocking twists and alternating POVs. I managed to finish this one in just a few days, so it’s the perfect book to get anyone out of a reading slump! Savannah, an aspiring author has her sites set on Bennett Bryson, a best selling author. They quickly “fall in love”, but both have demands of each other. Their trust in each other is also short lived (as it should be). The POVs include the husband, the current wife, and the dead wife. Oddly, none of the characters were very likeable, but I found myself wanting to read in every free moment. There were a couple of twists at the end that caught me in complete surprise. Liv Constantine continues to deliver!
Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine, and the author for the ARC of Promise Me Never in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Publication Date: 8.18.26
Genre: Fiction, Thriller

[Sydney Darwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a story where both main characters are so obviously up to something or hiding the past. Promise Me Never gives you a little bit of both.

Even better when they outwardly voice their seediness, and right from the jump both Savannah and Bennett are forthright with the fact that something isn’t quite right.

Liv Constantine has done it again. This was completely addicting. I read this in one sitting. Seriously, I attempted to put this down multiple times and just couldn’t. I had to know how this was going to play out.

The unease was just the right level to keep me on my toes. And the twist at the end… I didn’t see that coming!

Savannah is a literary assistant with dreams of finally publishing a novel. She meets Bennett, a best seller and client of the agent she assists, and immediately sets her sights on him.

The two hit it off quickly and decide to marry after a month. Savannah moves into his sprawling rural home and they settle into a routine.

The only problem? He spends a littlleeee too much time in his office writing. Which he keeps locked. And gets ridiculously upset when Savannah tries to enter.

Oh, and also? Two of his ex fiancés have gone missing. And his previous wife drowned.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for sharing this advance copy with me for my fair and honest opinion 🫶🏻

[Cheryl Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Promise Me Never by Liv Constantine is a fast-paced, unputdownable read. I flew through it in a single afternoon. Told from dual perspectives, the story follows Savannah, a newlywed who believes she’s found her dream life with bestselling horror author Bennett Bryson, and Poppy, Bennett’s first wife, who supposedly died after falling overboard, though her body was never found.

As both women’s stories unfold, it becomes clear that Bennett is hiding far more than a few secrets. His personality shifts dramatically once the vows are exchanged and Savannah finds herself isolated in a small rural town, raising unsettling questions about what really happened to Poppy—and what might happen next.

Packed with twists and a creeping sense of unease, this thriller kept me fully engaged from start to finish. I loved every page.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hold on tight, when you pick this book up you’re in for a wild ride full of twists, drama, surprises, suspense and much more! I really don’t think Liv Constantine can write a bad book. These two are the queens of incomprehensible twists, in the best way. This book was true to this duo’s writing style. While it did take me a bit to get into it, I truly did not see that twist coming. I thought I had it figured out, but boy was I wrong! It was medium paced for the first 75% then picked up to fast pace at the last 25%. It ended really well and came full circle. I actually found myself rooting for several of the characters, which doesn’t happen often for me in thrillers. If you’ve enjoyed other Liv Constantine books or you’re looking for a quick thriller, you don’t want to miss this. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Melissa Newhauser · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC!

Liv Constantine is an author for me where if they write it, I’m reading it.
Savannah, an aspiring writer who knows that if she has a plan and does the work, she will meet her goals. Her goal is to meet author Bennett Bryson, have him fall in love with her and marry her. Mission accomplished. But what happens after the marriage is not what Savannah anticipated. Bennett’s last wife, Poppy, still lingers in Bennett’s life, much to Savannah’s dismay. But then Savannah starts to find out about other women in Bennett’s life who have gone missing.
Very fast paced to the point where I felt like the characters weren’t as well developed as they could have been.
I enjoyed this book but I wouldn’t say it’s one of my favorites of the authors.

[booked.with.julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Savannah is an aspiring who somehow marries her literary idol, bestselling author Bennett Bryson. But after moving into his secluded home, things start to shift. His behavior becomes more controlling, his past feels off, and the shadow of his wife who passed raises some very unsettling questions…

This one had me flipping the pages. I was really curious about Bennett and what he was hiding. 👀
It’s the kind of story where you’re constantly questioning everything… and everyone.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. At first I had a hard time getting into the story and found the characters pretty insufferable.

Once the story picked up some, my opinions of the characters changed. I found myself rooting for Savannah, hoping she would put the pieces together quickly enough. I wasn’t expecting the twists near the end of the book, but it wrapped up nicely and answered some of my lingering questions.