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Death Do Us: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 30 Jun 26Bea, a promising young archaeologist, has just gotten engaged. It should be the most exciting time of her life, but she can't shake the feeling that something is wrong. She can’t stop thinking about a more daring version of herself who always imagined breaking with convention—an elopement, a brightly colored dress, an open marriage. However, as plans for the big day solidify, Bea begins to see the appeal of a big white dress, a huge reception, and a life with just one man. But as she begins to sort through bridesmaid dresses and look at venues, she notices her skin is flaking and sagging, and her hair is beginning to fall out in clumps. Her engagement ring, an unusual family heirloom from her fiancé, is getting tighter and tighter. Something is crawling under her skin. Someone is watching her from the shadows . . .
- GenresHorror
Audible Audio
Expected publication June 30, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
June 21, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Death Do Us Part opens with absolute chaos.
Jake gets down on one knee in a restaurant and launches into this big romantic proposal speech… except everything goes completely wrong around him. He knocks into another table, a bowl of uneaten tiramisu ends up all over his chest, waiters are rushing around trying to clean up the mess, red wine is spilling across the tablecloth—and he just keeps going like nothing is happening. I genuinely wasn’t expecting to laugh, but I did. It’s so messy and awkward that it almost stops feeling like a romantic moment, and by the time the ring is on her finger it feels more like she’s been swept along by the chaos than anything else.
After that, the book takes a really interesting turn.
Once she’s engaged, things start to feel… off. Small but unsettling changes begin happening to her body, and the whole atmosphere shifts. It’s still a romance on the surface, but there’s something more uneasy building underneath it, like her decision has triggered something she doesn’t fully understand yet.
What stood out to me most is how the story moves between past and present. We see her life now with Jake, but also glimpses of her past with James, her ex-partner. These moments don’t feel like clean flashbacks—they kind of bleed into the present, which makes everything feel a bit disorientating in a really effective way. It gives you the sense that she hasn’t really left that part of her life behind, even if she’s trying to move forward.
James is a really interesting presence in the book. He doesn’t feel like a simple “old flame” trope—there’s something heavier and more complicated about him, like he represents a version of herself she hasn’t fully let go of yet. Then Jake, in contrast, feels like the present and the “safe” option, even though nothing about the situation ever really feels stable.
The shift between timelines is one of the strongest parts of the book for me. It keeps you slightly off balance in a way that really works with the story.
I also really liked the tone. It’s funny in such an unexpected way—especially that opening proposal scene—but there’s always this underlying tension too. You’ll be laughing one minute at tiramisu flying across a restaurant, and then suddenly you realise something much stranger is starting to build underneath everything.
Overall, it’s a really unusual mix of romance, psychological unease, and dark humour, and I found that blend really compelling.
Thank you NetGalley, Union Square & Co – A Sterling Publishing and author Ruthy Mason for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Phishing date: June 30th 2026
Death Do Us Part opens with absolute chaos.
Jake gets down on one knee in a restaurant and launches into this big romantic proposal speech… except everything goes completely wrong around him. He knocks into another table, a bowl of uneaten tiramisu ends up all over his chest, waiters are rushing around trying to clean up the mess, red wine is spilling across the tablecloth—and he just keeps going like nothing is happening. I genuinely wasn’t expecting to laugh, but I did. It’s so messy and awkward that it almost stops feeling like a romantic moment, and by the time the ring is on her finger it feels more like she’s been swept along by the chaos than anything else.
After that, the book takes a really interesting turn.
Once she’s engaged, things start to feel… off. Small but unsettling changes begin happening to her body, and the whole atmosphere shifts. It’s still a romance on the surface, but there’s something more uneasy building underneath it, like her decision has triggered something she doesn’t fully understand yet.
What stood out to me most is how the story moves between past and present. We see her life now with Jake, but also glimpses of her past with James, her ex-partner. These moments don’t feel like clean flashbacks—they kind of bleed into the present, which makes everything feel a bit disorientating in a really effective way. It gives you the sense that she hasn’t really left that part of her life behind, even if she’s trying to move forward.
James is a really interesting presence in the book. He doesn’t feel like a simple “old flame” trope—there’s something heavier and more complicated about him, like he represents a version of herself she hasn’t fully let go of yet. Then Jake, in contrast, feels like the present and the “safe” option, even though nothing about the situation ever really feels stable.
The shift between timelines is one of the strongest parts of the book for me. It keeps you slightly off balance in a way that really works with the story.
I also really liked the tone. It’s funny in such an unexpected way—especially that opening proposal scene—but there’s always this underlying tension too. You’ll be laughing one minute at tiramisu flying across a restaurant, and then suddenly you realise something much stranger is starting to build underneath everything.
Overall, it’s a really unusual mix of romance, psychological unease, and dark humour, and I found that blend really compelling.
Thank you NetGalley, Union Square & Co – A Sterling Publishing and author Ruthy Mason for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Phishing date: June 30th 2026
March 10, 2026
Death Do Us by Ruthy Mason is a well written and engaging thriller that kept me hooked from beginning to end. The story follows Bae as it shifts between her past with her ex-boyfriend and her present life with her fiancé, Jake.
The book begins with Bae getting engaged, but soon after, she starts noticing strange and unsettling things happening to her body. As the story unfolds, the tension builds and secrets from her past begin to surface, making the reader question what is really going on.
I really enjoyed how the author slowly revealed pieces of the story while moving between timelines. It kept me turning the pages and wanting to know what would happen next. Overall, this was a gripping and entertaining read that thriller fans will definitely enjoy.
The book begins with Bae getting engaged, but soon after, she starts noticing strange and unsettling things happening to her body. As the story unfolds, the tension builds and secrets from her past begin to surface, making the reader question what is really going on.
I really enjoyed how the author slowly revealed pieces of the story while moving between timelines. It kept me turning the pages and wanting to know what would happen next. Overall, this was a gripping and entertaining read that thriller fans will definitely enjoy.
June 9, 2026
3/✨ for Death Do Us by Ruthy Mason.
I went into this book fairly blind, but with the expectation that it would be some kind of weird girl thriller. And honestly? I’m still not entirely sure if that’s the best way to describe it.
The story follows Bae, who is engaged, has an alternative style and suddenly finds herself thrown into the million dollar world of weddings. As she gets pulled deeper into that world, she slowly starts losing herself in it, literally. Alongside that, we also learn more about her past relationship with her ex.
The book feels like a critique of the wedding industry and the way people can lose their sense of self, but it also explores mental health and identity in a broader sense.
While the story is technically a thriller, the writing style reminded me much more of literary fiction. It’s less focused on constant suspense and more interested in exploring Bae’s inner world and the themes surrounding her.
I think this is a book that will appeal to a very specific niche audience. It’s definitely an interesting concept, but I can also see why it won’t work for everyone.
I went into this book fairly blind, but with the expectation that it would be some kind of weird girl thriller. And honestly? I’m still not entirely sure if that’s the best way to describe it.
The story follows Bae, who is engaged, has an alternative style and suddenly finds herself thrown into the million dollar world of weddings. As she gets pulled deeper into that world, she slowly starts losing herself in it, literally. Alongside that, we also learn more about her past relationship with her ex.
The book feels like a critique of the wedding industry and the way people can lose their sense of self, but it also explores mental health and identity in a broader sense.
While the story is technically a thriller, the writing style reminded me much more of literary fiction. It’s less focused on constant suspense and more interested in exploring Bae’s inner world and the themes surrounding her.
I think this is a book that will appeal to a very specific niche audience. It’s definitely an interesting concept, but I can also see why it won’t work for everyone.
June 20, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for this advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't expect this book to take me so long to finish. For some reason, I kept setting it aside and only returning to it little by little. That said, once I finally connected with the story, it delivered an unsettling, uncomfortable atmosphere that I usually look for in this genre.
What intrigued me most was the use of second person narration. Much of the story is written as "you," directly addressing the reader and positioning us as the cause of what is happening to the protagonist. It was an interesting choice and one that initially drew me in. Unfortunately, by the end, it never felt fully justified or resolved, leaving me wondering why the story was framed that way in the first place.
As for the ending, I understand and often appreciate an open ending when it's done with purpose. Here, however, it felt less ambiguous and more incomplete, as though key pieces were simply missing.
Overall, this is a book with an intriguing premise and an effective atmosphere, but for me, it never quite delivered on its potential.
I didn't expect this book to take me so long to finish. For some reason, I kept setting it aside and only returning to it little by little. That said, once I finally connected with the story, it delivered an unsettling, uncomfortable atmosphere that I usually look for in this genre.
What intrigued me most was the use of second person narration. Much of the story is written as "you," directly addressing the reader and positioning us as the cause of what is happening to the protagonist. It was an interesting choice and one that initially drew me in. Unfortunately, by the end, it never felt fully justified or resolved, leaving me wondering why the story was framed that way in the first place.
As for the ending, I understand and often appreciate an open ending when it's done with purpose. Here, however, it felt less ambiguous and more incomplete, as though key pieces were simply missing.
Overall, this is a book with an intriguing premise and an effective atmosphere, but for me, it never quite delivered on its potential.
January 5, 2026
3.25 ⭐️
I was gifted this arc by NetGalley and publishers.
Death do us explores societal pressures of marriage on women in a unique and, at times, unsettling way.
Bea has just got engaged, and messaging throughout her life has told her that she should now feel complete. Everything has led up to this moment and she should be grateful to take on the identity of “bride”.. but what if she doesn’t?
Bea’s journey takes places across multiple timelines, exploring past decisions and buried emotions. As planning for her big day continues Bea starts to relax, but she can’t shake that niggling feeling that all may not be as it seems.
I was gifted this arc by NetGalley and publishers.
Death do us explores societal pressures of marriage on women in a unique and, at times, unsettling way.
Bea has just got engaged, and messaging throughout her life has told her that she should now feel complete. Everything has led up to this moment and she should be grateful to take on the identity of “bride”.. but what if she doesn’t?
Bea’s journey takes places across multiple timelines, exploring past decisions and buried emotions. As planning for her big day continues Bea starts to relax, but she can’t shake that niggling feeling that all may not be as it seems.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Death Do Us is a story about identity and the liminal spaces when shifting from one identity label to the next. The main character (Bea) is an archaeology student who is in a transitional moment in her life, between her dead-end job and her PhD and her status as a girlfriend to that of a fiancé. The author does a great job of exploring these ideas using archaeological theory. We see how Bea contemplates archaeological material culture, pondering these artefacts and how we use them as signifiers to categorise and catalogue people into neat boxes. Grave goods that are gendered to inform whether remains are male or female are compared to similar markers we have today i.e., Bea’s engagement ring signifying her shift to fiancé. The book takes us through all the rituals associated with this transition including planning the wedding, the hen party, the wedding itself and all the material culture associated with these phases. There are also themes of permanence and what is left after death through the material remains you leave behind and the artefacts that define you.
I got the sense that Bea had a fear of ageing (through the body horror and the decay), and a fear of transitioning from one state to another (girlfriend to wife). The fear of transition from girlfriend to wife made sense when you take into account all the parts of yourself you can lose and how historically women have been diminished to merely an extension of their husbands. I struggled to understand however why Bea was so resistant to being assigned the ‘girlfriend’ label in the past timeline, almost to the point of it seeming pathological. I saw nothing to explain this, other than maybe the link between her love for archaeology and preservation, leading to her wanting to preserve her current state which during that time was carefree and unburdened. But to me this doesn’t make sense, when you take into account the life cycle of material culture, even remains. Nothing is static, everything undergoes changes in meaning and roles and if past Bea is averse to this then I felt I needed an explanation as to why this reaction was so severe. As a result I struggled to understand past Bea’s motives and felt a disconnect here.
Overall I felt the author used archaeology to explore this transitional moment for Bea in an innovative way. I’ve not seen this done before and as a former archaeology student myself I loved the subject’s inclusion. I did feel though that the nods to curses weren’t needed at all. This inclusion was underdeveloped and I felt it detracted from the rest of the messaging.
Other things I noted were that this book explores extensively the disproportionate demands placed on women during wedding planning and how this can cause physiological stress responses. I also noted that Bea’s mother was never referred to by her name. She was always ‘Bea’s mum’, which reduces her to the role of mother, something that feels like the antithesis of the message of the novel.
I found myself wanting more body horror, more decay and I personally do not like second person perspectives so I found that confusing. But, I loved what the author did here with the archaeology references and how they were integrated thematically into the story.
I received an eARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
I got the sense that Bea had a fear of ageing (through the body horror and the decay), and a fear of transitioning from one state to another (girlfriend to wife). The fear of transition from girlfriend to wife made sense when you take into account all the parts of yourself you can lose and how historically women have been diminished to merely an extension of their husbands. I struggled to understand however why Bea was so resistant to being assigned the ‘girlfriend’ label in the past timeline, almost to the point of it seeming pathological. I saw nothing to explain this, other than maybe the link between her love for archaeology and preservation, leading to her wanting to preserve her current state which during that time was carefree and unburdened. But to me this doesn’t make sense, when you take into account the life cycle of material culture, even remains. Nothing is static, everything undergoes changes in meaning and roles and if past Bea is averse to this then I felt I needed an explanation as to why this reaction was so severe. As a result I struggled to understand past Bea’s motives and felt a disconnect here.
Overall I felt the author used archaeology to explore this transitional moment for Bea in an innovative way. I’ve not seen this done before and as a former archaeology student myself I loved the subject’s inclusion. I did feel though that the nods to curses weren’t needed at all. This inclusion was underdeveloped and I felt it detracted from the rest of the messaging.
Other things I noted were that this book explores extensively the disproportionate demands placed on women during wedding planning and how this can cause physiological stress responses. I also noted that Bea’s mother was never referred to by her name. She was always ‘Bea’s mum’, which reduces her to the role of mother, something that feels like the antithesis of the message of the novel.
I found myself wanting more body horror, more decay and I personally do not like second person perspectives so I found that confusing. But, I loved what the author did here with the archaeology references and how they were integrated thematically into the story.
I received an eARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️ 3.75 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley, Union Square & C0. and the author for the chance to read early for an honest review.
Death Do Us was one of the most unnerving reads of the year for me. It follows Bea, a recently engaged archaeologist, who is slowly unravelling mentally, whilst appearing to be decaying and rotting from the inside out. I have a lot of thoughts, and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about Death Do Us, but nonetheless I did enjoy it. Parts of it work excellently as a metaphor for the physical and mental toll of being a woman, of planning a wedding and of the expectations of femininity, but I do think it could have been explored much further if certain elements of the story were left out.
I thought the writing was great, and although I didn't really understand why 2nd person narration was used during some some chapters, it did make it feel much more personal. I found the entire story very unnerving, and I felt incredibly unneasy reading it, which is exactly what I want from a horror novel. The tension slowly built and built, until I felt like I couldn't take it anymore and I was flying through reading the last 20% or so to find out what on earth was going to happen. I also really enjoyed the inclusion of the search history, text messages, emails etc at the end of certain chapters as it really gave an insight into the character's and how Bea was feeling.
The only real reason I haven't scored any higher is because of the dual timelines which I think really let the story down. I think it was useful to get a different perspective on Bea and what she was like before Jake, and it gave us an insight into her beliefs and thoughts and feelings regarding realationships ands marriage before meeting him. However, I just didn't really see the point of the inclusion of the ex boyfriend and would have much preferred for the body horror and the engagement ring to have taken centre stage. I did think it may have been a cursed jewel etc, which was briefly hinted at early on when Jake discusses where the ring has come from, but it was then never explored further. I was disappointed about it, as it would have linked perfectly to her career.
The body horror itself was great, and, again, Mason has managed to create something incredibly unnerving, I'm just not sure if the inclusion of the dual timelines let the main plotline shine properly. A great debut though, and I would love to read more of Mason's work in the future!
Thank you NetGalley, Union Square & C0. and the author for the chance to read early for an honest review.
Death Do Us was one of the most unnerving reads of the year for me. It follows Bea, a recently engaged archaeologist, who is slowly unravelling mentally, whilst appearing to be decaying and rotting from the inside out. I have a lot of thoughts, and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about Death Do Us, but nonetheless I did enjoy it. Parts of it work excellently as a metaphor for the physical and mental toll of being a woman, of planning a wedding and of the expectations of femininity, but I do think it could have been explored much further if certain elements of the story were left out.
I thought the writing was great, and although I didn't really understand why 2nd person narration was used during some some chapters, it did make it feel much more personal. I found the entire story very unnerving, and I felt incredibly unneasy reading it, which is exactly what I want from a horror novel. The tension slowly built and built, until I felt like I couldn't take it anymore and I was flying through reading the last 20% or so to find out what on earth was going to happen. I also really enjoyed the inclusion of the search history, text messages, emails etc at the end of certain chapters as it really gave an insight into the character's and how Bea was feeling.
The only real reason I haven't scored any higher is because of the dual timelines which I think really let the story down. I think it was useful to get a different perspective on Bea and what she was like before Jake, and it gave us an insight into her beliefs and thoughts and feelings regarding realationships ands marriage before meeting him. However, I just didn't really see the point of the inclusion of the ex boyfriend and would have much preferred for the body horror and the engagement ring to have taken centre stage. I did think it may have been a cursed jewel etc, which was briefly hinted at early on when Jake discusses where the ring has come from, but it was then never explored further. I was disappointed about it, as it would have linked perfectly to her career.
The body horror itself was great, and, again, Mason has managed to create something incredibly unnerving, I'm just not sure if the inclusion of the dual timelines let the main plotline shine properly. A great debut though, and I would love to read more of Mason's work in the future!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Bea is a determined, career driven young woman with big goals of archeological digs, and getting that PhD! When she gets engaged, the wedding takes over everything. Her life. Her mind. Her body. She wanted a fun wedding, non-traditional, maybe even a little silly. The more time she spends planning, making decisions on flowers, bridesmaids dresses, food, centerpieces, oh, and sneaking conversations with you; the more she wants that white dress, a grand reception, a more traditional day. Bea is losing herself, the more her engagement rings tightens around her finger, like it's stealing her life away.
I wanted to like this book so much, but I almost found myself reading it out of spite. I didn't like a single character, except maybe for Bea's friend Joy. But Bea as a main character is insufferable, she's rude, she's entitled, she's manipulative. Stringing people along for her convenience. Maybe I just have some trauma from people like this, but I found myself really not caring about Bea at all. And for some reason the constant mention of her green hair was annoying, I got it after the first 10 times. (Coming from someone who consistently dyed their hair fun colors for decades)
I also had trouble getting into the idea of being addressed as the reader. Throughout the book "you" are referenced a lot. "You" are an old friend of Bea's, well friend with benefits. And "you" are desperately in love with Bea, but she doesn't want to be tied down in a relationship with labels. I really liked this idea, but it just fell flat for me, and ended up taking me out of the story.
Redeemable qualities that might draw in other people? Decent body horror! Not at the level I'm used to, but it's great for anyone that wants to dip their toes in the body horror genre. The author did a great job detailing such unsettling bodily functions and anomalies, I did really enjoy those parts of the book! Also, a halfway decent mystery element. I wish I didn't always try to guess the plots, cause I ended up guessing this one easily. But if you shut your brain off and just let the story take you, I think it would be a fun, twisted story!
Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me, but I absolutely think there will be elements of this book that others will enjoy! The idea of losing yourself in/to a marriage is terrifying!
I wanted to like this book so much, but I almost found myself reading it out of spite. I didn't like a single character, except maybe for Bea's friend Joy. But Bea as a main character is insufferable, she's rude, she's entitled, she's manipulative. Stringing people along for her convenience. Maybe I just have some trauma from people like this, but I found myself really not caring about Bea at all. And for some reason the constant mention of her green hair was annoying, I got it after the first 10 times. (Coming from someone who consistently dyed their hair fun colors for decades)
I also had trouble getting into the idea of being addressed as the reader. Throughout the book "you" are referenced a lot. "You" are an old friend of Bea's, well friend with benefits. And "you" are desperately in love with Bea, but she doesn't want to be tied down in a relationship with labels. I really liked this idea, but it just fell flat for me, and ended up taking me out of the story.
Redeemable qualities that might draw in other people? Decent body horror! Not at the level I'm used to, but it's great for anyone that wants to dip their toes in the body horror genre. The author did a great job detailing such unsettling bodily functions and anomalies, I did really enjoy those parts of the book! Also, a halfway decent mystery element. I wish I didn't always try to guess the plots, cause I ended up guessing this one easily. But if you shut your brain off and just let the story take you, I think it would be a fun, twisted story!
Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me, but I absolutely think there will be elements of this book that others will enjoy! The idea of losing yourself in/to a marriage is terrifying!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
thank you to netgalley and union square & co. for an arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
i've never read anything like this, and i'm the first person to increase my star rating for uniqueness. unfortunately, uniqueness can't be my sole litmus test for a book.
premise:
the main character Bea accepts a proposal from the man she is in love with, but almost immediately, her body starts exhibiting signs of decay and disease. she also is increasingly haunted by memories of her ex-boyfriend, making her second guess her acceptance of Jake's proposal.
themes:
i think at its core, this book is a biting and intellectual critique of the pressure that getting married, planning a wedding, and being a bride places on women. it also focuses on other very real, very human experiences such as mourning past love despite being in love with someone else, as well as the tangible effects stress can have on our bodies.
likes/dislikes:
i liked how Mason ties Bea's college studies of archeology into the lived experience she is having throughout the book. however, outside of chapter titles and brief explanations, it doesn't happen often. i was never sure whether Bea's experiences were real or imagined, if they were caused by stress or a curse or delusions entirely. normally not having that clarity wouldn't spoil a book for me if there are other things to focus on - such as the characters - but this book is majorly plot driven. what little page space that readers do get that are devoted entirely to the characters failed to connect with me. Bea's ex-boyfriend gets increasingly erratic and unlikeable as the book goes on, and so does she. the flashback chapters that focus on their relationship are told in alternating second or third person points of view where Bea's boyfriend is either referred to as "he" or "you" depending on the chapter, never really establishing whose perspective we are reading. i think if these chapters were told from his pov, we would've gotten to know him better and his and Bea's relationship better and overall the story would've improved.
tldr: i generally love weird girl lit and morally grey characters but maybe this book is the exception.
i've never read anything like this, and i'm the first person to increase my star rating for uniqueness. unfortunately, uniqueness can't be my sole litmus test for a book.
premise:
the main character Bea accepts a proposal from the man she is in love with, but almost immediately, her body starts exhibiting signs of decay and disease. she also is increasingly haunted by memories of her ex-boyfriend, making her second guess her acceptance of Jake's proposal.
themes:
i think at its core, this book is a biting and intellectual critique of the pressure that getting married, planning a wedding, and being a bride places on women. it also focuses on other very real, very human experiences such as mourning past love despite being in love with someone else, as well as the tangible effects stress can have on our bodies.
likes/dislikes:
i liked how Mason ties Bea's college studies of archeology into the lived experience she is having throughout the book. however, outside of chapter titles and brief explanations, it doesn't happen often. i was never sure whether Bea's experiences were real or imagined, if they were caused by stress or a curse or delusions entirely. normally not having that clarity wouldn't spoil a book for me if there are other things to focus on - such as the characters - but this book is majorly plot driven. what little page space that readers do get that are devoted entirely to the characters failed to connect with me. Bea's ex-boyfriend gets increasingly erratic and unlikeable as the book goes on, and so does she. the flashback chapters that focus on their relationship are told in alternating second or third person points of view where Bea's boyfriend is either referred to as "he" or "you" depending on the chapter, never really establishing whose perspective we are reading. i think if these chapters were told from his pov, we would've gotten to know him better and his and Bea's relationship better and overall the story would've improved.
tldr: i generally love weird girl lit and morally grey characters but maybe this book is the exception.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for this ARC.
Bea, a promising young archaeologist, has just gotten engaged. It should be the happiest time of her life, but she can’t shake the feeling that something is deeply wrong. As she begins planning her wedding, her body starts changing in disturbing ways: her skin flakes and sags, her hair falls out in clumps, and her engagement ring grows tighter by the day. Something is crawling beneath her skin, and someone seems to be watching from the shadows.
The premise immediately drew me in, and I was excited by the blend of body horror and psychological unease. Unfortunately, I found myself gradually disengaging as the story progressed and even considered setting it aside a couple of times. Much of the novel felt stagnant with very little forward momentum, and just as the tension finally began to build, the story came to an abrupt close.
What disappointed me most was the sense of unrealized potential. The novel raises compelling ideas surrounding identity, transformation, and the pressure to mold ourselves into the lives we believe we are supposed to want. Those themes were genuinely interesting, but many of them felt only lightly explored before the narrative shifted elsewhere.
I also found that a significant amount of page time was devoted to wedding planning details and flashbacks that, for me personally, slowed the pacing rather than deepening the tension. By the end, several plot threads and unanswered questions remained unresolved in a way that left the story feeling incomplete rather than intentionally ambiguous.
There is a strong foundation here, especially in its atmosphere and central concept, but I ultimately wished the novel had gone further with the darker and more psychologically unsettling elements it introduced.
Bea, a promising young archaeologist, has just gotten engaged. It should be the happiest time of her life, but she can’t shake the feeling that something is deeply wrong. As she begins planning her wedding, her body starts changing in disturbing ways: her skin flakes and sags, her hair falls out in clumps, and her engagement ring grows tighter by the day. Something is crawling beneath her skin, and someone seems to be watching from the shadows.
The premise immediately drew me in, and I was excited by the blend of body horror and psychological unease. Unfortunately, I found myself gradually disengaging as the story progressed and even considered setting it aside a couple of times. Much of the novel felt stagnant with very little forward momentum, and just as the tension finally began to build, the story came to an abrupt close.
What disappointed me most was the sense of unrealized potential. The novel raises compelling ideas surrounding identity, transformation, and the pressure to mold ourselves into the lives we believe we are supposed to want. Those themes were genuinely interesting, but many of them felt only lightly explored before the narrative shifted elsewhere.
I also found that a significant amount of page time was devoted to wedding planning details and flashbacks that, for me personally, slowed the pacing rather than deepening the tension. By the end, several plot threads and unanswered questions remained unresolved in a way that left the story feeling incomplete rather than intentionally ambiguous.
There is a strong foundation here, especially in its atmosphere and central concept, but I ultimately wished the novel had gone further with the darker and more psychologically unsettling elements it introduced.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.
3.25⭐
So, this was fine. I think I went in expecting something different than what I got and that's not exactly bad; it's just different.
First, I'll start with what I liked. I liked the archeological/curse talk and honestly would've loved if we got even more of it. Maybe this is a hot take but I liked the second person narrator interspersed with the third person; it spiced the narration style and kept me on my toes. I looooved the body horror!! That's probably my favorite part of the book, and I loved the ending. I love a full-circle moment and an open ending.
Now onto the worst of the book... I truly hated almost all characters; they were completely insufferable. And it's obvious that they were meant to be unlikeable but it really pissed me off. Especially Millie and Bea's relationship!! Oh, it really got on my nerves and not in a good way, because I don't think it was that essential for the plot, except at the end, obviously, which, again, I loved. The story was also too slow for the payoff we got. Some parts were a bit repetitive and maybe a little edit here and there would've helped the book.
Finally, I liked the commentary about marriage and how women lose their sense of self and individuality when they become brides/wives, but it didn't have that big an impact on me because my reality is so different from that! I'm surrounded by women who don't change their last name when they marry; not even my grandma got rid of her maiden name! Also, I am aware of the dark side of the wedding-planning industry, but, once again, that's not the reality I'm used to. Nobody that I know of goes that hard when planning a wedding; it's just a piece of paper. The ring would never crush our fingers.
3.25⭐
So, this was fine. I think I went in expecting something different than what I got and that's not exactly bad; it's just different.
First, I'll start with what I liked. I liked the archeological/curse talk and honestly would've loved if we got even more of it. Maybe this is a hot take but I liked the second person narrator interspersed with the third person; it spiced the narration style and kept me on my toes. I looooved the body horror!! That's probably my favorite part of the book, and I loved the ending. I love a full-circle moment and an open ending.
Now onto the worst of the book... I truly hated almost all characters; they were completely insufferable. And it's obvious that they were meant to be unlikeable but it really pissed me off. Especially Millie and Bea's relationship!! Oh, it really got on my nerves and not in a good way, because I don't think it was that essential for the plot, except at the end, obviously, which, again, I loved. The story was also too slow for the payoff we got. Some parts were a bit repetitive and maybe a little edit here and there would've helped the book.
Finally, I liked the commentary about marriage and how women lose their sense of self and individuality when they become brides/wives, but it didn't have that big an impact on me because my reality is so different from that! I'm surrounded by women who don't change their last name when they marry; not even my grandma got rid of her maiden name! Also, I am aware of the dark side of the wedding-planning industry, but, once again, that's not the reality I'm used to. Nobody that I know of goes that hard when planning a wedding; it's just a piece of paper. The ring would never crush our fingers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Many thanks to Netgalley and publishers for the preview and opportunity to review this book.
I’d give this book four stars overall. The storyline was a really interesting concept, and I especially appreciated how ambiguous and vague it was at times. The mystery surrounding the character from Bea’s past—and the uncertainty about why her body was failing her—kept me intrigued throughout. I did find myself wishing for more detail about Bea’s past, and perhaps a bit more perspective from the ‘You’ character, but I also understand that the lack of clarity was likely intentional. It definitely leaves you wanting more.
The ending, for me, was both satisfying and frustrating. It was compelling and thought-provoking, leaving me with plenty of questions—but it also felt quite abrupt, almost as if it ended too quickly just as things were coming together.
The reason I knocked off one star is that, at times, the book felt overly detailed. The wedding planning sections, in particular, dragged a bit, and some of the extended descriptions of decay felt a little too drawn out. That said, it was still a fun and easy read that I enjoyed overall.
Bea is an interesting character, even if I didn’t always understand her thoughts or her decisions regarding the ‘You’ figure. However, the narrative does an excellent job of conveying her growing dread and panic as her body begins to fail her. The story—and Bea’s internal reflections—also prompted me to think more deeply about themes of decay, not just of the body through aging, but of life and the world more broadly.
Overall, an engaging and thought-provoking read, even if it occasionally lingers too long in certain details.
I’d give this book four stars overall. The storyline was a really interesting concept, and I especially appreciated how ambiguous and vague it was at times. The mystery surrounding the character from Bea’s past—and the uncertainty about why her body was failing her—kept me intrigued throughout. I did find myself wishing for more detail about Bea’s past, and perhaps a bit more perspective from the ‘You’ character, but I also understand that the lack of clarity was likely intentional. It definitely leaves you wanting more.
The ending, for me, was both satisfying and frustrating. It was compelling and thought-provoking, leaving me with plenty of questions—but it also felt quite abrupt, almost as if it ended too quickly just as things were coming together.
The reason I knocked off one star is that, at times, the book felt overly detailed. The wedding planning sections, in particular, dragged a bit, and some of the extended descriptions of decay felt a little too drawn out. That said, it was still a fun and easy read that I enjoyed overall.
Bea is an interesting character, even if I didn’t always understand her thoughts or her decisions regarding the ‘You’ figure. However, the narrative does an excellent job of conveying her growing dread and panic as her body begins to fail her. The story—and Bea’s internal reflections—also prompted me to think more deeply about themes of decay, not just of the body through aging, but of life and the world more broadly.
Overall, an engaging and thought-provoking read, even if it occasionally lingers too long in certain details.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
Death Do Us by Ruthy Mason is basically: what if becoming a bride… but make it decomposition?
This leans unapologetically into body horror, but underneath all the rot (literal and emotional), it’s really about identity—what we lose, what we shed, and what version of ourselves survives when we try to fit into the life we’re “supposed” to want. Bea’s transformation from chaotic uni girl to fiancée is not subtle… she is quite literally falling apart. And somehow it works so well.
I loved the structure too—the back-and-forth with her unnamed ex adds this quiet, haunting tension throughout. The fact that he’s never named makes it feel intentional, like he could be any past version of love or self you’ve had to leave behind.
What really elevates this is the bite (pun fully intended). It’s a sharp, unsettling critique of modern womanhood, marriage, and the eerie expectations wrapped up in becoming a “Bride.” There’s this constant question humming underneath everything: how much of yourself are you supposed to sacrifice to become someone else’s forever? The journey to the altar feels like its own kind of transformation… and maybe not a benign one.
However, in the background, smoldering, there are breadcrumbs to make the reader think perhaps this is decay is supernatural, or even a familial generational curse.
And the ending? It’s… happy? Technically? Emotionally? Existentially questionable? It lands in that perfect uncanny space where it feels right for the story, even if it’s not the kind of “happy” you can neatly define. It’s a comedy in the darkest of ways.
Weird, unsettling, a little gross, and surprisingly thoughtful— I’d absolutely recommend this to readers who enjoy horror with depth, unconventional storytelling, and stories that linger a little longer than expected.
Death Do Us by Ruthy Mason is basically: what if becoming a bride… but make it decomposition?
This leans unapologetically into body horror, but underneath all the rot (literal and emotional), it’s really about identity—what we lose, what we shed, and what version of ourselves survives when we try to fit into the life we’re “supposed” to want. Bea’s transformation from chaotic uni girl to fiancée is not subtle… she is quite literally falling apart. And somehow it works so well.
I loved the structure too—the back-and-forth with her unnamed ex adds this quiet, haunting tension throughout. The fact that he’s never named makes it feel intentional, like he could be any past version of love or self you’ve had to leave behind.
What really elevates this is the bite (pun fully intended). It’s a sharp, unsettling critique of modern womanhood, marriage, and the eerie expectations wrapped up in becoming a “Bride.” There’s this constant question humming underneath everything: how much of yourself are you supposed to sacrifice to become someone else’s forever? The journey to the altar feels like its own kind of transformation… and maybe not a benign one.
However, in the background, smoldering, there are breadcrumbs to make the reader think perhaps this is decay is supernatural, or even a familial generational curse.
And the ending? It’s… happy? Technically? Emotionally? Existentially questionable? It lands in that perfect uncanny space where it feels right for the story, even if it’s not the kind of “happy” you can neatly define. It’s a comedy in the darkest of ways.
Weird, unsettling, a little gross, and surprisingly thoughtful— I’d absolutely recommend this to readers who enjoy horror with depth, unconventional storytelling, and stories that linger a little longer than expected.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Bea, a once nontraditional archaeology student, gets engaged only to find her body is decomposing and the decay begins at the exact spot where her heirloom engagement ring rests. As her body literally crumbles, she struggles to hide the secret while balancing her upcoming marriage, PhD applications, and the painful memories of a college "situationship." Death Do Us is a fascinating exploration of the societal expectations and transformations women endure, as well as the confusion found in the "in-between." And it struck a personal chord with me as a study of how past trauma can derail future happiness.
I was captivated by the exploration of identity through Bea's experience; I quite literally couldn't put the book down. I loved that the narrative kept me guessing. I was never entirely sure if Bea’s condition was imagined, metaphorical, or literal. The story is fun and twisty, yet it still manages to tackle dark, heavy themes effectively. My only critique is that I wished we’d received more of Bea’s backstory during her college years, specifically from her own perspective. While I didn't mind the unnamed character’s POV, being inside Bea's head during that period would have helped me connect with her even more.
Overall, I loved this book and think it would be a perfect candidate for a TV or film adaptation!
Thank you to Netgalley, Union Square & Co and Ruthy Mason for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I was captivated by the exploration of identity through Bea's experience; I quite literally couldn't put the book down. I loved that the narrative kept me guessing. I was never entirely sure if Bea’s condition was imagined, metaphorical, or literal. The story is fun and twisty, yet it still manages to tackle dark, heavy themes effectively. My only critique is that I wished we’d received more of Bea’s backstory during her college years, specifically from her own perspective. While I didn't mind the unnamed character’s POV, being inside Bea's head during that period would have helped me connect with her even more.
Overall, I loved this book and think it would be a perfect candidate for a TV or film adaptation!
Thank you to Netgalley, Union Square & Co and Ruthy Mason for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Death Do Us (arc) – Ruthy Mason
3 ⭐️
This was …. an interesting read. It was truly engaging the entire duration of the book which was surprising. I wouldn’t go as far as saying this was a thriller but it was something in the same neighbourhood.
This story follows Bea as she gets engaged to her wealthy (now fiancé). Soon after she gets engaged, bizarre things start occurring in her life, to her and to her appearance. I thought Bea’s character was okay – she wasn’t great but she wasn’t terrible … kind of just … there? I think there were a lot of plot points in the story that didn’t go anywhere like Joy sleeping with her older co-worker. I think there was a weird build up of Joy telling Bea this piece of news, just for nothing to happen. I feel like that and a number of other points were supposed to be unpacked more and fleshed out more (no pun intended).
The dual timelines were quite jarring at times as it wasn’t always clear who’s POV it was from and where things were at. I can appreciate the need for the dual timelines and at the end of the book, I do appreciate that these were used as it gave a layer of complexity to the characters.
I wanted to see more on the curse and the ring but I think that’s just my inner history nerd wanting that and no reflection on the book.
I think this had such an interesting concept and I was just expecting more.
Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for an advanced copy of this book!
3 ⭐️
This was …. an interesting read. It was truly engaging the entire duration of the book which was surprising. I wouldn’t go as far as saying this was a thriller but it was something in the same neighbourhood.
This story follows Bea as she gets engaged to her wealthy (now fiancé). Soon after she gets engaged, bizarre things start occurring in her life, to her and to her appearance. I thought Bea’s character was okay – she wasn’t great but she wasn’t terrible … kind of just … there? I think there were a lot of plot points in the story that didn’t go anywhere like Joy sleeping with her older co-worker. I think there was a weird build up of Joy telling Bea this piece of news, just for nothing to happen. I feel like that and a number of other points were supposed to be unpacked more and fleshed out more (no pun intended).
The dual timelines were quite jarring at times as it wasn’t always clear who’s POV it was from and where things were at. I can appreciate the need for the dual timelines and at the end of the book, I do appreciate that these were used as it gave a layer of complexity to the characters.
I wanted to see more on the curse and the ring but I think that’s just my inner history nerd wanting that and no reflection on the book.
I think this had such an interesting concept and I was just expecting more.
Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for an advanced copy of this book!
Review of advance copy
Skin crawling, uncomfortable, unsettling - there's a lot of words I could use to describe this book but for now I'll just go with unforgettable.
This is a warning wrapped in a rotting, haunted horror story about the dark underbelly of marriage and heteronormative relationships, of the control it can exert, of the disintegration of women's very identities within them. The very first lines set a visceral, biting tone before snapping into Bea's life with an easy, almost casual style that clashed against the moments of deep unease and tension, little warning signs that something horrific is waiting for us.
The narration is fly-on-the-wall style, watching over Bea and sometimes speaking directly to the reader, implying we're a part of the story now, giving us a personal stake in Bea's life. With the dual timeline, we follow us, or 'you' and Bea in the past, then the days and weeks following her engagement.
Bea was enchanting in an odd way; doing her masters studying burial rites and death with compelling detail. She meets in the in-laws, and the fear settles in. Everyone becomes suspicious and worrying, the house and the entire town feel ominous, every sentence weighed to potentially be threatening or meaningless depending on how you choose to take it.
It's subtle but impactful horror, one of nosebleeds, weird folk, loose teeth, blood and strange rashes.
This is a warning wrapped in a rotting, haunted horror story about the dark underbelly of marriage and heteronormative relationships, of the control it can exert, of the disintegration of women's very identities within them. The very first lines set a visceral, biting tone before snapping into Bea's life with an easy, almost casual style that clashed against the moments of deep unease and tension, little warning signs that something horrific is waiting for us.
The narration is fly-on-the-wall style, watching over Bea and sometimes speaking directly to the reader, implying we're a part of the story now, giving us a personal stake in Bea's life. With the dual timeline, we follow us, or 'you' and Bea in the past, then the days and weeks following her engagement.
Bea was enchanting in an odd way; doing her masters studying burial rites and death with compelling detail. She meets in the in-laws, and the fear settles in. Everyone becomes suspicious and worrying, the house and the entire town feel ominous, every sentence weighed to potentially be threatening or meaningless depending on how you choose to take it.
It's subtle but impactful horror, one of nosebleeds, weird folk, loose teeth, blood and strange rashes.
Read
May 31, 2026“She doesn’t know how her body has become such a paradoxical horror.”
I haven’t read a strong critique on the wedding/engagement hype that has consumed online discourse since *Piglet.* Ruthy Mason’s Death Do Us was on par with this, with the triller twist that made you want to know what was really the root cause of the decay and decline in our protagonist. My answer is tradition.
We find out narrator go from vibrant green hair to blonde and a grand traditional wedding as she drifts away from her friend and adopts a million step beauty routine. We witness the narrator lose her sense of identity.
The multi narrative structure is what kept the novel grounded for me, especially the addition of the narrator’s search history and text messages. Her determination to ignore what was happening to her and keep the ring on at times made her unreliable, however as we all know a google search can reveal our deepest fears and this is where the narrative felt most clear in what was going on.
Often novels like this can go too hard on hating men but Mason does not do this. She keep the fiance two dimensional and instead this becomes both an internal but also societal examination on wedding culture on women.
I haven’t read a strong critique on the wedding/engagement hype that has consumed online discourse since *Piglet.* Ruthy Mason’s Death Do Us was on par with this, with the triller twist that made you want to know what was really the root cause of the decay and decline in our protagonist. My answer is tradition.
We find out narrator go from vibrant green hair to blonde and a grand traditional wedding as she drifts away from her friend and adopts a million step beauty routine. We witness the narrator lose her sense of identity.
The multi narrative structure is what kept the novel grounded for me, especially the addition of the narrator’s search history and text messages. Her determination to ignore what was happening to her and keep the ring on at times made her unreliable, however as we all know a google search can reveal our deepest fears and this is where the narrative felt most clear in what was going on.
Often novels like this can go too hard on hating men but Mason does not do this. She keep the fiance two dimensional and instead this becomes both an internal but also societal examination on wedding culture on women.
June 21, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the author, Ruthy Mason, for the eARC. I loved this one!
Bea is engaged and ready to marry her long-time boyfriend, but as soon as the ring hits her finger, she feels like she's losing a piece of herself. Literally. Her skin, hair, teeth, and nails start falling apart on her and she loses her appetite, as she sees maggots and other creepy crawlies in everything around her. Her best friend, her mom, future mother-in-law, her fiancé, and even her doctor barely seem to notice any changes in her, though, so Bea is unsure if this is really all in her head or not.
The story is told through two timelines: One in the past, when Bea was in a toxic relationship with her college boyfriend (told directly in second person POV) and the one in the present, when Bea is engaged and rotting away with the memories of her ex (also told in second person POV, but more subtle).
I really enjoyed this feminist horror take on wedding planning and marriage. At times, Bea is unlikeable because she seems really selfish and ornery, but she is also fiercely independent and alternative in her life choices. The twist at the end also felt satisfying as a reader! I look forward to buying a physical copy of the book on pub day - definitely want it on my shelf!
Bea is engaged and ready to marry her long-time boyfriend, but as soon as the ring hits her finger, she feels like she's losing a piece of herself. Literally. Her skin, hair, teeth, and nails start falling apart on her and she loses her appetite, as she sees maggots and other creepy crawlies in everything around her. Her best friend, her mom, future mother-in-law, her fiancé, and even her doctor barely seem to notice any changes in her, though, so Bea is unsure if this is really all in her head or not.
The story is told through two timelines: One in the past, when Bea was in a toxic relationship with her college boyfriend (told directly in second person POV) and the one in the present, when Bea is engaged and rotting away with the memories of her ex (also told in second person POV, but more subtle).
I really enjoyed this feminist horror take on wedding planning and marriage. At times, Bea is unlikeable because she seems really selfish and ornery, but she is also fiercely independent and alternative in her life choices. The twist at the end also felt satisfying as a reader! I look forward to buying a physical copy of the book on pub day - definitely want it on my shelf!
June 21, 2026
A dread inducing read that I thoroughly enjoyed, even though i’m left confused in the end.
I actually really enjoyed this book, it was fantastic for a debut novel. The terror crept through the story so slowly, that by the time you were 80% in it was like sitting on the edge of your seat waiting to fall off.
The bridal party I think was the scariest bit, and the hens do felt like an actual nightmare - I have no idea how bea made it through that, I would’ve left so quickly lmao.
I kept flicking back and forth on theories about what I thought might be happening, and Ruthy Mason was fantastic with her writing skills cause I was STILL surprised in the end. The let down was that even with all the hints and different explanations you get… you still have no idea what the actual cause is and are left in a sort of limbo. You get an idea, but not a full explanation or a true, full answer. Of course, thrillers tend to do this a lot but it was kinda disappointing that it wasn’t explained a bit more, and we were left to guess who or what was at fault. A familial curse (that isn’t fully explained)? A hex from an ex? Both? Who knows… not us!
Great body horror book regardless and I’d definitely read it again.
Thank you NetGalley and Union Square & Co for the ARC!
I actually really enjoyed this book, it was fantastic for a debut novel. The terror crept through the story so slowly, that by the time you were 80% in it was like sitting on the edge of your seat waiting to fall off.
The bridal party I think was the scariest bit, and the hens do felt like an actual nightmare - I have no idea how bea made it through that, I would’ve left so quickly lmao.
I kept flicking back and forth on theories about what I thought might be happening, and Ruthy Mason was fantastic with her writing skills cause I was STILL surprised in the end. The let down was that even with all the hints and different explanations you get… you still have no idea what the actual cause is and are left in a sort of limbo. You get an idea, but not a full explanation or a true, full answer. Of course, thrillers tend to do this a lot but it was kinda disappointing that it wasn’t explained a bit more, and we were left to guess who or what was at fault. A familial curse (that isn’t fully explained)? A hex from an ex? Both? Who knows… not us!
Great body horror book regardless and I’d definitely read it again.
Thank you NetGalley and Union Square & Co for the ARC!
November 18, 2025
Death Do Us is a deliciously unsettling debut that peels back the glossy surface of modern love and leaves something raw and crawling underneath. Ruthy Mason takes the classic engagement story and twists it into a slow-burning feminist horror that lingers like a bruise.
Bea’s journey from newly engaged to deeply unnerved is both surreal and disturbingly relatable. The flaking skin, the too-tight ring, the creeping dread—it’s all metaphor and menace, wrapped in bridal lace. Mason’s writing is sharp and stylish, with just enough body horror to make you squirm, and just enough emotional truth to make you stay.
This is a story about the weight of tradition, the ghosts of past selves, and the quiet terror of becoming someone you no longer recognize. It’s weird, it’s bold, and it’s absolutely not your typical wedding tale.
Perfect for fans of Bodies Bodies Bodies and I’m Thinking of Ending Things, Death Do Us is a haunting little gem that asks: what if the real horror isn’t the monster in the shadows—but the life you thought you wanted?
With thanks to Ruthy Mason, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.
Bea’s journey from newly engaged to deeply unnerved is both surreal and disturbingly relatable. The flaking skin, the too-tight ring, the creeping dread—it’s all metaphor and menace, wrapped in bridal lace. Mason’s writing is sharp and stylish, with just enough body horror to make you squirm, and just enough emotional truth to make you stay.
This is a story about the weight of tradition, the ghosts of past selves, and the quiet terror of becoming someone you no longer recognize. It’s weird, it’s bold, and it’s absolutely not your typical wedding tale.
Perfect for fans of Bodies Bodies Bodies and I’m Thinking of Ending Things, Death Do Us is a haunting little gem that asks: what if the real horror isn’t the monster in the shadows—but the life you thought you wanted?
With thanks to Ruthy Mason, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really like this story. Bea is having a visceral reaction, seemingly to her engagement & impending marriage. It’s like a lit fic novel about when Carrie Bradshaw threw up after seeing Aiden’s engagement ring, and broke out in hives when trying on a wedding dress. A complex layer is added by including flashbacks of an earlier love that ended badly. There’s also body horror and suspense, and since Bea is an archeologist, there’s often mention of bodies in varying states of decay, burials, and curses.
The bones are amazing, pun intended. The way it’s written just didn’t work for me. I felt like I was held at a distance. The pacing is slow, and there’s a lot of unnecessary description and elaboration. The flashbacks are written in second person point of view, which was jarring because I was trying to figure out who was speaking and why I was taking the place of a character in the book. Other readers might love the way it’s written though!
I do recommend reading this book for the story.
(Oh and I really wanted to see the pink diamond ring!!)
Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co for the eARC! Pub date June 30, 2026
The bones are amazing, pun intended. The way it’s written just didn’t work for me. I felt like I was held at a distance. The pacing is slow, and there’s a lot of unnecessary description and elaboration. The flashbacks are written in second person point of view, which was jarring because I was trying to figure out who was speaking and why I was taking the place of a character in the book. Other readers might love the way it’s written though!
I do recommend reading this book for the story.
(Oh and I really wanted to see the pink diamond ring!!)
Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co for the eARC! Pub date June 30, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
marriage/engagement horror! i do have some mixed feelings about this one, so let’s start with the things i liked! first of all, i really REALLY related to the main character bea, though i fear that’s not necessarily a good thing. she isn’t portrayed as a villain, but a lot of her choices in her relationships could definitely be considered bad in societal norms. i enjoyed reading her thought process, even if it’s not idealized. also loved the body horror!
the plot was intriguing and kept me interested, but there was a plot hole that i can’t stop thinking about that i wish was explained. the writing was a bit confusing, especially at the beginning, but as the story continues it gets easier to understand. it’s written in third person but with the added use of “you” that caught me off guard at first. the lead up to the ending was exciting but the last chapter was a little unsatisfying for me.
i think this is a great pick for bridal horror fans, but if that isn’t the subgenre you’re in the mood for, you might be a tad disappointed.
thank you to netgalley and union square co for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion!
the plot was intriguing and kept me interested, but there was a plot hole that i can’t stop thinking about that i wish was explained. the writing was a bit confusing, especially at the beginning, but as the story continues it gets easier to understand. it’s written in third person but with the added use of “you” that caught me off guard at first. the lead up to the ending was exciting but the last chapter was a little unsatisfying for me.
i think this is a great pick for bridal horror fans, but if that isn’t the subgenre you’re in the mood for, you might be a tad disappointed.
thank you to netgalley and union square co for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion!
February 8, 2026
Death Do Us is not simply horror centered around upcoming nuptials but more the story of a character (Bea) being forced to confront her past and her future. I can’t speak to how real the wedding planning stress is but I do the way it can seem to take over - not just in pushing Bea to physically look like hit “ideal bride” (i.e., changing her hair) but how people treat her engagement as a sign she’s no longer going to follow her dreams of a PhD and following her dreams.
I appreciate that Mason avoided the common tropes of an evil MIL-top-be or a fiancé that clearly hates his soon-to-be bride and instead they seem like steadying forces as Bea spirals. Normally I dislike dual timelines and second person but here I think it worked and I was very engaged even though I guessed much of the conclusion. The body horror was there but not overly so I think it’s about what you’d expect off the summary. Very much looking forward to whatever Ruthy Mason has next!
Thank you to Union Square & Co and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I appreciate that Mason avoided the common tropes of an evil MIL-top-be or a fiancé that clearly hates his soon-to-be bride and instead they seem like steadying forces as Bea spirals. Normally I dislike dual timelines and second person but here I think it worked and I was very engaged even though I guessed much of the conclusion. The body horror was there but not overly so I think it’s about what you’d expect off the summary. Very much looking forward to whatever Ruthy Mason has next!
Thank you to Union Square & Co and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Bea loves her archeological future and her upcoming fiance, Jake, in that order. When the nuptials are upcoming to be completed, Bea experiences horrible sensations such as her skin sloughing off, her ring tightening onto her finger, and hearing sounds/ experiencing other hallucinations. While intending to come off as a slow paced feminist study of marriage by societal standards, I raced through this as if it were the most taut and heart pounding action or thriller novel. I couldn't wait to see what Bea thought next, or what she experienced at the hands of Millie next. I loved the satirical spin on some of the relationships displayed, and felt rage baited by the way Jake treated certain friendships in their lives. I just couldn't get enough- Death Do Us was so beyond what I initially expected, and I raced through it for answers. Despite a somewhat quick ending, I think it was pretty near perfect for a debut. Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for the eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
•┈๑⋅⋯ Death Do Us by Ruthy Mason ⋯⋅๑┈•✦
➝ • 4/5 ☆ •
☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦..◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆
This was a genuinely fun read. The story feels fresh and unpredictable in a way that kept me paying attention, and I enjoyed the writing style. It has that quality where you think about the book even when you aren't reading and you look forward to getting back to it. I NEEDED to see how everything would end.
I can't justify a full five stars, but not for any dramatic reason. It's more of a feeling than a flaw. I enjoyed the ride and I liked the characters, but it didn't quite reach that top tier for me. Still, it's entertaining, clever, and very easy to sink into.
A solid pick for readers who want something fun, a little chaotic, and full of surprises.
☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦..◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ dark humor
✔️ relationship driven tension
✔️ fast paced reads
✔️ unpredictable twists
✔️ light horror elements
✔️ compulsive reading energy
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
📅 Pub Day: June 30, 2026 📚
💌 ARC provided via NetGalley from Union Square & CO. All opinions are my own.
➝ • 4/5 ☆ •
☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦..◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆
This was a genuinely fun read. The story feels fresh and unpredictable in a way that kept me paying attention, and I enjoyed the writing style. It has that quality where you think about the book even when you aren't reading and you look forward to getting back to it. I NEEDED to see how everything would end.
I can't justify a full five stars, but not for any dramatic reason. It's more of a feeling than a flaw. I enjoyed the ride and I liked the characters, but it didn't quite reach that top tier for me. Still, it's entertaining, clever, and very easy to sink into.
A solid pick for readers who want something fun, a little chaotic, and full of surprises.
☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦..◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ dark humor
✔️ relationship driven tension
✔️ fast paced reads
✔️ unpredictable twists
✔️ light horror elements
✔️ compulsive reading energy
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
📅 Pub Day: June 30, 2026 📚
💌 ARC provided via NetGalley from Union Square & CO. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square Co for an eARC.
This book was VERY unique in the premise for me. I have never found a thriller/horror book that focuses on wedding planning and being engaged.
I thought that this book was very well written. It reads like literary fiction, with hints of body horror and psychological un-comfort (i.e. body chills and claustrophobia for me).
This book is told in third person, and has dual timelines, with additional random styled chapters as well. The random chapters are Bea's search history, text logs, etc.
I really liked this style as you saw the whole story play out in today, and learned small tidbits about the past as they pertained to the story now.
This book had me feeling uncomfortable through a large portion of it. I enjoyed falling down the rabbit hole with Bea as her life starts to unravel through wedding planning.
I do not think I would classify this as horror, but there are horror aspects...
I liked how the book ended! I thought that the wrap up was perfectly open ended.
This book was VERY unique in the premise for me. I have never found a thriller/horror book that focuses on wedding planning and being engaged.
I thought that this book was very well written. It reads like literary fiction, with hints of body horror and psychological un-comfort (i.e. body chills and claustrophobia for me).
This book is told in third person, and has dual timelines, with additional random styled chapters as well. The random chapters are Bea's search history, text logs, etc.
I really liked this style as you saw the whole story play out in today, and learned small tidbits about the past as they pertained to the story now.
This book had me feeling uncomfortable through a large portion of it. I enjoyed falling down the rabbit hole with Bea as her life starts to unravel through wedding planning.
I do not think I would classify this as horror, but there are horror aspects...
I liked how the book ended! I thought that the wrap up was perfectly open ended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5⭐️ Thank you NetGalley and Union Square & Co. for giving me an ARC of this book!
It delivers an incredibly gripping concept packed with fantastic body horror that definitely satisfied my craving for the visceral and unsettling. The eerie atmospheric tension was built well from the start. Though the narrative choice to use a second-person perspective threw me off for a while. The disturbing physical elements really stood out to me, the supernatural ones didn't quite hit the way I wish they could have.
The execution faltered slightly for me as the story reached its climax. I found the big twist to be pretty predictable well before it landed, and the ending felt a bit rushed. I left the book wishing for far more detail regarding the underlying motivations of why things turned out the way they did, and I was especially left wanting to know what ultimately happens to Millie. It is a solid, creepy read with a great premise, but a little more depth in the final act would have really elevated it for me.
It delivers an incredibly gripping concept packed with fantastic body horror that definitely satisfied my craving for the visceral and unsettling. The eerie atmospheric tension was built well from the start. Though the narrative choice to use a second-person perspective threw me off for a while. The disturbing physical elements really stood out to me, the supernatural ones didn't quite hit the way I wish they could have.
The execution faltered slightly for me as the story reached its climax. I found the big twist to be pretty predictable well before it landed, and the ending felt a bit rushed. I left the book wishing for far more detail regarding the underlying motivations of why things turned out the way they did, and I was especially left wanting to know what ultimately happens to Millie. It is a solid, creepy read with a great premise, but a little more depth in the final act would have really elevated it for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It took me a while to get through this one, and I really don’t know how I feel about it. It wasn’t so bad that I couldn’t finish, but it didn’t have me excited to read more either. I like the idea of the premise, but it maybe didn’t play out the way I had hoped, and there were a lot of things that I found to be unnecessary or irritating. For example, the flashbacks to the ex-boyfriend—referring to him as “you” and “he” without giving him a name annoyed me and took me out of the story. At times, I wondered if he was a figment of her imagination because it was unclear what the point of these flashbacks was. I’m not sure it added anything to the story, quite honestly, and I would have rather had the focus be on the seemingly cursed engagement ring. I still don’t even really understand what happened, and it didn’t feel like things were wrapped up to my liking.
Thank you NetGalley and Union Square & Co for this eARC in exchange for my review.
Thank you NetGalley and Union Square & Co for this eARC in exchange for my review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4 stars. Thank you to Union Square & Co and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This book has a lot of things that interest me: a tattooed FMC with colourful hair, bits of archaeological info interspersed throughout, and a rather biting critique on the expectations society puts in women and the marriage industry. I really liked Bea and understood her character. I felt so frustrated with her as she changed everything about herself for this idea of a marriage that I knew wasn't hers at all. I thought the other timeline was a bit interesting but I did guess the plot twist long before it was revealed. I wish there had been more focus on the archaeology aspect, as I think the idea behind its inclusion tied in really well to the overarching theme of the book, and could have been used a lot more. This book was also somewhat slow, which I expected. Unfortunately the ending didn't quite work for me, but I am glad with how it ended. I would read this author again!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Death Do Us by Ruthy Mason
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Thriller
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: June 30, 2026
📚 368 pages
❓️ Unreliable Narrator
🕙 Alternating Timelines/POVs
🧠 Psychological Decay
Perfect for fans of Monika Kim and Marcus Kliewer, of if you love psychological thrillers with horror elements, Death Do Us is a must-read!
This was such an incredible read! I absolutely loved how the author utilized multiple POVs and alternating timelines to flesh out the characters while masterfully building and maintaining suspense.
Bea’s spiral was fascinating to witness, and Mason used such visceral descriptions to convey her slow decay.
The addition of internet searches and reddit threads made me feel even more immersed in the read. I found the inclusion of the steps of decay particularly fascinating, and they added to the overall feeling of dread we feel with Bea. The twist left me speechless, and the ending was... interesting.
Thank you so much Union Square & Co and NetGalley for the digital review copy!
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Thriller
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: June 30, 2026
📚 368 pages
❓️ Unreliable Narrator
🕙 Alternating Timelines/POVs
🧠 Psychological Decay
Perfect for fans of Monika Kim and Marcus Kliewer, of if you love psychological thrillers with horror elements, Death Do Us is a must-read!
This was such an incredible read! I absolutely loved how the author utilized multiple POVs and alternating timelines to flesh out the characters while masterfully building and maintaining suspense.
Bea’s spiral was fascinating to witness, and Mason used such visceral descriptions to convey her slow decay.
The addition of internet searches and reddit threads made me feel even more immersed in the read. I found the inclusion of the steps of decay particularly fascinating, and they added to the overall feeling of dread we feel with Bea. The twist left me speechless, and the ending was... interesting.
Thank you so much Union Square & Co and NetGalley for the digital review copy!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews