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The Secret in Our Marriage
Pulling my husband’s favorite lasagna from the oven, I see he’s glued to his phone again. He shifts his chair, hiding his screen from my view.
Without looking up, he asks about work and I quickly come up with a story about my day. Of course, I’m lying. I never went to work. And when I hear the ping of my email, fear and guilt make my face flush pink.
I know what you did. I’m going to tell.
I pour another glass of ice-cold white wine and I look at Nathan, so blissfully unaware of how close we are to our perfect life being torn apart. And I know in that moment I will risk everything to keep the secret in our marriage…
Without looking up, he asks about work and I quickly come up with a story about my day. Of course, I’m lying. I never went to work. And when I hear the ping of my email, fear and guilt make my face flush pink.
I know what you did. I’m going to tell.
I pour another glass of ice-cold white wine and I look at Nathan, so blissfully unaware of how close we are to our perfect life being torn apart. And I know in that moment I will risk everything to keep the secret in our marriage…
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2026
About the author
Cathryn Grant
85 books452 followersCathryn is the author of over forty novels. She writes psychological thrillers, psychological suspense, and the ALEXANDRA MALLORY series which features a sociopath you can’t help but love. Readers say they're “absolutely addicted” to the series.
The things that cause torment in real life—obsession and revenge, guilt and envy and longing—are endlessly fascinating in fiction and she never grows tired of writing stories about characters struggling to overcome the worst.
Cathryn also writes ghost stories because who knows what lies beyond our senses—The Haunted Ship Trilogy and the Madison Keith series of novellas.
When she’s not writing, she’s usually reading, walking on the beach, or playing golf, going way out of her way to avoid hitting her ball in the sand or the water. She lives on the Central California Coast with her husband and her cat, Cleopatra.
You can get in touch with her by email, find her social media links, or sign up for her monthly newsletter at cathryngrant.com/contact. As a thank you for signing up, you’ll receive a free short story about Alexandra Mallory.
The things that cause torment in real life—obsession and revenge, guilt and envy and longing—are endlessly fascinating in fiction and she never grows tired of writing stories about characters struggling to overcome the worst.
Cathryn also writes ghost stories because who knows what lies beyond our senses—The Haunted Ship Trilogy and the Madison Keith series of novellas.
When she’s not writing, she’s usually reading, walking on the beach, or playing golf, going way out of her way to avoid hitting her ball in the sand or the water. She lives on the Central California Coast with her husband and her cat, Cleopatra.
You can get in touch with her by email, find her social media links, or sign up for her monthly newsletter at cathryngrant.com/contact. As a thank you for signing up, you’ll receive a free short story about Alexandra Mallory.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
July 20, 2026
thanks to netgalley and cathryn grant for the ARC in exchange of an honest review!
3/5 ⭐️
this book follows avery and nathan, whose relationship slowly becomes more and more dysfunctional as secrets they’ve kept buried for years begin to catch up with them. when an old friend from their school days unexpectedly comes back into their lives, everything starts to unravel and i found myself wanting to know what had really happened between them!! i really liked how the flashbacks slowly filled in the missing pieces because every chapter revealed something new without giving too much away.
even though i managed to predict a few twists before they happened, i was still invested in the story because i wanted to see how all those secrets connected in the end. i also enjoyed the pacing since it never felt slow, and i kept reading “just one more chapter” until i actually finished it 🤓. it wasn’t the most unpredictable thriller i’ve read, but it was definitely an entertaining one.
3/5 ⭐️
this book follows avery and nathan, whose relationship slowly becomes more and more dysfunctional as secrets they’ve kept buried for years begin to catch up with them. when an old friend from their school days unexpectedly comes back into their lives, everything starts to unravel and i found myself wanting to know what had really happened between them!! i really liked how the flashbacks slowly filled in the missing pieces because every chapter revealed something new without giving too much away.
even though i managed to predict a few twists before they happened, i was still invested in the story because i wanted to see how all those secrets connected in the end. i also enjoyed the pacing since it never felt slow, and i kept reading “just one more chapter” until i actually finished it 🤓. it wasn’t the most unpredictable thriller i’ve read, but it was definitely an entertaining one.
May 21, 2026
Enjoyed this book that had me turning the pages. Lots of secrets will come out. Different timelines, past mistakes, blackmail and decisions that make you question the motives.
July 9, 2026
ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Secret in Our Marriage by Cathryn Grant
Published: July 1, 2026
First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Cathryn Grant for allowing me to read this ARC. Also, thank you for once again proving that secrets are basically tiny little monsters people keep locked away until they eventually escape and destroy everything in their path.
Because let’s be honest… secrets in thrillers are never just secrets, are they? Nobody is ever hiding something harmless like “I ate the last cookie.” No. It’s always something that makes you sit there thinking, well, that escalated quickly.
From the beginning, I was completely pulled in. The writing made it incredibly easy to become that invisible person in the corner—the one watching, listening, and silently screaming at the choices being made. I could feel the tension building while everything slowly started unraveling, and I absolutely loved being trapped in that uncomfortable little bubble.
And this wasn’t just one secret. Oh no. This was a whole secret lasagna. Layer after layer of lies, hidden truths, questionable decisions and people convincing themselves they were doing the right thing. (Spoiler alert: they usually weren’t.) The best part? These secrets weren’t random “gotcha” moments thrown in for drama. They actually connected, and by the end, everything came together in a way that was twisted, messy and strangely satisfying.
I appreciated that this wasn’t just a never-ending twist parade trying to compete for the biggest gasp. You already know I’m not a huge fan of those. The story worked because the secrets had purpose, and the characters had enough flaws to keep me questioning everyone.
The thing that really got me was how uncomfortable this book made relationships feel. Marriage? Complicated. Friendship? Questionable. Trust? Basically missing in action. Everyone has their reasons, everyone has their excuses, and everyone seems to believe their version of the truth is the acceptable one.
I won’t spoil anything for my fellow thriller goblins because half the fun is slowly discovering just how messy this beautiful disaster becomes.
So if you enjoy dark relationship drama, secrets stacked higher than my unread book pile, characters making choices that make you want to grab them through the pages, and a story that reminds you that honesty might actually save everyone a lot of emotional damage… this one is worth picking up.
Four wonderfully dysfunctional, secret-covered stars from me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Secret in Our Marriage by Cathryn Grant
Published: July 1, 2026
First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Cathryn Grant for allowing me to read this ARC. Also, thank you for once again proving that secrets are basically tiny little monsters people keep locked away until they eventually escape and destroy everything in their path.
Because let’s be honest… secrets in thrillers are never just secrets, are they? Nobody is ever hiding something harmless like “I ate the last cookie.” No. It’s always something that makes you sit there thinking, well, that escalated quickly.
From the beginning, I was completely pulled in. The writing made it incredibly easy to become that invisible person in the corner—the one watching, listening, and silently screaming at the choices being made. I could feel the tension building while everything slowly started unraveling, and I absolutely loved being trapped in that uncomfortable little bubble.
And this wasn’t just one secret. Oh no. This was a whole secret lasagna. Layer after layer of lies, hidden truths, questionable decisions and people convincing themselves they were doing the right thing. (Spoiler alert: they usually weren’t.) The best part? These secrets weren’t random “gotcha” moments thrown in for drama. They actually connected, and by the end, everything came together in a way that was twisted, messy and strangely satisfying.
I appreciated that this wasn’t just a never-ending twist parade trying to compete for the biggest gasp. You already know I’m not a huge fan of those. The story worked because the secrets had purpose, and the characters had enough flaws to keep me questioning everyone.
The thing that really got me was how uncomfortable this book made relationships feel. Marriage? Complicated. Friendship? Questionable. Trust? Basically missing in action. Everyone has their reasons, everyone has their excuses, and everyone seems to believe their version of the truth is the acceptable one.
I won’t spoil anything for my fellow thriller goblins because half the fun is slowly discovering just how messy this beautiful disaster becomes.
So if you enjoy dark relationship drama, secrets stacked higher than my unread book pile, characters making choices that make you want to grab them through the pages, and a story that reminds you that honesty might actually save everyone a lot of emotional damage… this one is worth picking up.
Four wonderfully dysfunctional, secret-covered stars from me.
July 10, 2026
The Secret in Our Marriage is officially my favorite Cathryn Grant book yet! This is the third book I’ve read by her, and she is officially on my auto-read author list.
Honestly, this thriller had absolutely everything I look for in a really good domestic suspense novel. We’re talking short chapters with juicy cliffhangers, alternate timelines, multiple POVs, and that constant, paranoid feeling that you cannot trust a single soul. It’s packed with secrets, lies, blackmail, and characters making some seriously messy decisions. I was sucked in from the start and flew through the pages because I had to know what was actually going on.
The plot itself is so original and completely addictive, but what I loved most is that it wasn’t just trying to shock you for the sake of a twist. It actually dives deep into marriage, trust, forgiveness, and how devastating it can be when you keep secrets from the people you love. The emotional tension hit just as hard as the suspense, which made the characters feel so real.
I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. It was an easy five-star read for me!
If you love domestic thrillers with hidden pasts, unreliable characters, and twists that keep you guessing, you need to add this one to your TBR!
“It will be our little secret.”
Honestly, this thriller had absolutely everything I look for in a really good domestic suspense novel. We’re talking short chapters with juicy cliffhangers, alternate timelines, multiple POVs, and that constant, paranoid feeling that you cannot trust a single soul. It’s packed with secrets, lies, blackmail, and characters making some seriously messy decisions. I was sucked in from the start and flew through the pages because I had to know what was actually going on.
The plot itself is so original and completely addictive, but what I loved most is that it wasn’t just trying to shock you for the sake of a twist. It actually dives deep into marriage, trust, forgiveness, and how devastating it can be when you keep secrets from the people you love. The emotional tension hit just as hard as the suspense, which made the characters feel so real.
I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. It was an easy five-star read for me!
If you love domestic thrillers with hidden pasts, unreliable characters, and twists that keep you guessing, you need to add this one to your TBR!
“It will be our little secret.”
June 12, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
I’ve never read Cathryn Grant before, and apparently, I’ve been missing out in life!
“The hole was deeper than I’d thought I was capable of digging. But it had to be deep. So deep that no one would ever find her.”
I was absolutely, positively sucked into this book from the prologue! There were so many surprises and twists, that I ended up reading this one in a single day.
Avery and Nathan were teenage lovers who everyone thought wouldn’t last long term. Now, more than a decade later, they are married, but is it happily?
After uncovering lies, deception, and secrets in their marriage, they are desperately trying to save it.
Things are going well until Avery receives a concerning email from her former high school best friend, Kelsey. She could send everything crashing down in an instant. But…why? And how? What happened back in high school? Secrets from the past will always come back to haunt you, right?
Unputdownable, full of intrigue, well written characters…this one is a MUST read!
I’ve never read Cathryn Grant before, and apparently, I’ve been missing out in life!
“The hole was deeper than I’d thought I was capable of digging. But it had to be deep. So deep that no one would ever find her.”
I was absolutely, positively sucked into this book from the prologue! There were so many surprises and twists, that I ended up reading this one in a single day.
Avery and Nathan were teenage lovers who everyone thought wouldn’t last long term. Now, more than a decade later, they are married, but is it happily?
After uncovering lies, deception, and secrets in their marriage, they are desperately trying to save it.
Things are going well until Avery receives a concerning email from her former high school best friend, Kelsey. She could send everything crashing down in an instant. But…why? And how? What happened back in high school? Secrets from the past will always come back to haunt you, right?
Unputdownable, full of intrigue, well written characters…this one is a MUST read!
July 1, 2026
Secrets, lies, blackmail and a dark past that is back to haunt them!
Nathan and Avery are going to couple's counseling because of a betrayal that happened on Nathan's part. They are slowly and successfully navigating therapy and it seems to be working. One day Avery receives an email that is asking her for money in exchange for the blackmailer's silence. Avery swears she is innocent, but when the threats become physical and the money starts to run out, Avery and Nathan must decide what to do when their blackmailer threatens to move in!
Oh my goodness! What a thrilling ride. I didn't not see the connection between the couple's present and their past mistakes when they were young. All the characters felt so different and their motives for what they did made sense. I enjoyed reading about the past the most. It was like peeling an onion slowly and gasping at every turn. And the final twist was incredible. I am a huge fan of Cathryn Grant and her books always surpass each other.
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
Nathan and Avery are going to couple's counseling because of a betrayal that happened on Nathan's part. They are slowly and successfully navigating therapy and it seems to be working. One day Avery receives an email that is asking her for money in exchange for the blackmailer's silence. Avery swears she is innocent, but when the threats become physical and the money starts to run out, Avery and Nathan must decide what to do when their blackmailer threatens to move in!
Oh my goodness! What a thrilling ride. I didn't not see the connection between the couple's present and their past mistakes when they were young. All the characters felt so different and their motives for what they did made sense. I enjoyed reading about the past the most. It was like peeling an onion slowly and gasping at every turn. And the final twist was incredible. I am a huge fan of Cathryn Grant and her books always surpass each other.
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
Did Not Finish
July 25, 2026Just could not get into this book. Didn’t know where it was heading. Slow start. Couldn’t finish.
June 6, 2026
I loved this book! It did not disappoint at all; so many twists and turns and I guessed none of them! Also, I really thought the characterization was done well and the characters were all likable. The ending though…sounds like we need a part two! Come on Cathryn!! We need this!
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC!
June 7, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC.
I really hate when I cannot offer effusive praise for an ARC, however this one kind of dragged for me. The description of this book hooked me, unfortunately the characters were not very likable: the wife with her unwavering love for her husband no matter what he does is just an anomaly in this day and age. And the choices they made, fully knowing the consequences would not be good, had me shouting at them to "make good choices" but to no avail. They continued to do things to their detriment and then wanted to be surprised when the outcome was exactly as they predicted, not just once, but over and over again.
But let's talk about the good...the ending was a nice surprise. As always, allow me to place my disclaimer that just because it was not my favorite book, does not mean it will not be yours so take my two cents for what it is worth!
Happy reading!
I really hate when I cannot offer effusive praise for an ARC, however this one kind of dragged for me. The description of this book hooked me, unfortunately the characters were not very likable: the wife with her unwavering love for her husband no matter what he does is just an anomaly in this day and age. And the choices they made, fully knowing the consequences would not be good, had me shouting at them to "make good choices" but to no avail. They continued to do things to their detriment and then wanted to be surprised when the outcome was exactly as they predicted, not just once, but over and over again.
But let's talk about the good...the ending was a nice surprise. As always, allow me to place my disclaimer that just because it was not my favorite book, does not mean it will not be yours so take my two cents for what it is worth!
Happy reading!
May 21, 2026
Fantastic read and hard to put down! Reminds me of Frieda McFadden.
July 2, 2026
Listen. If your marriage requires this many secrets, this many lies, this much blackmail, and approximately seventeen opportunities for two adults to sit down and have a single honest conversation, maybe the problem is not communication styles. Maybe the problem is that everyone involved is treating basic truth-telling like it's a rare collectible item.
The Secret in Our Marriage drops us right into Avery and Nathan's very pretty, very fragile marriage, where he's hiding things, she's hiding things, and an ominous message lands like a brick through a window. Suddenly everyone's sweating, everyone's lying, and I'm sitting there with a glass of wine thinking, "You know what? Maybe nobody should have access to phones anymore.”
The thing Cathryn Grant does really well is make you feel that low-grade marital panic. Not screaming, running-from-a-killer panic. The much worse kind where your spouse asks an innocent question and your entire nervous system starts buffering. Avery and Nathan love each other, which somehow makes all their terrible decisions even more stressful because every lie feels like watching someone slowly stack Jenga blocks on top of an already collapsing tower.
Now, did Avery occasionally make me want to reach through the pages and confiscate her decision-making privileges? Absolutely. There were moments where she was digging herself into such a deep hole that I started wondering if she planned to emerge in a different zip code. But Grant gives her enough humanity that even when she's frustrating, you understand the fear driving her. Not agree with her. Understand her. Those are very different things.
The book bounces between timelines, peeling back old friendships, old mistakes, and the kind of buried history that never actually stays buried. Kelsey, Avery's former best friend, arrives carrying enough baggage to qualify as an additional airline fee, and every new revelation makes the situation messier in the most entertaining way possible. The entire story runs on that delicious thriller fuel of "this could all be solved with honesty" while simultaneously convincing you that honesty is absolutely never going to happen.
I will say the middle sagged a little for me. There were stretches where the story felt like it was circling the airport waiting for clearance to land. The tension stayed there, but I occasionally wanted the plot to grab me by the shoulders and yell, "We're doing this now." Instead, it spent a bit too much time watching everyone make increasingly questionable choices and then acting shocked when those choices had consequences.
But then the last section showed up like it had somewhere to be. The twists started landing, the pieces started clicking together, and suddenly I was having a much better time. Not because every reveal completely floored me, but because the payoff finally matched the paranoia the book had been building. It's the literary equivalent of spending half a movie yelling, "JUST TELL EACH OTHER THE TRUTH," and then getting rewarded for your suffering.
What stuck with me most wasn't even the mystery. It was the idea that people can genuinely love each other while still building entire secret lives inside the relationship. Avery and Nathan aren't monsters. They're just scared, selfish, desperate people trying to protect the versions of themselves they want the other person to see. That's a very human kind of mess, and honestly a lot scarier than any masked killer.
Ended up landing at 3.5 stars for me. A little slow in the middle, a lot messy in the character department, but entertaining enough that I kept turning pages and muttering, "You are making this so much worse," which is exactly what I want from a domestic thriller.
Whodunity Award: For Outstanding Achievement in Turning One Marriage Into a Full-Time Administrative Nightmare
And a huge thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC. My stress levels would also like to thank them for apparently deciding that one secret per marriage was nowhere near enough.
The Secret in Our Marriage drops us right into Avery and Nathan's very pretty, very fragile marriage, where he's hiding things, she's hiding things, and an ominous message lands like a brick through a window. Suddenly everyone's sweating, everyone's lying, and I'm sitting there with a glass of wine thinking, "You know what? Maybe nobody should have access to phones anymore.”
The thing Cathryn Grant does really well is make you feel that low-grade marital panic. Not screaming, running-from-a-killer panic. The much worse kind where your spouse asks an innocent question and your entire nervous system starts buffering. Avery and Nathan love each other, which somehow makes all their terrible decisions even more stressful because every lie feels like watching someone slowly stack Jenga blocks on top of an already collapsing tower.
Now, did Avery occasionally make me want to reach through the pages and confiscate her decision-making privileges? Absolutely. There were moments where she was digging herself into such a deep hole that I started wondering if she planned to emerge in a different zip code. But Grant gives her enough humanity that even when she's frustrating, you understand the fear driving her. Not agree with her. Understand her. Those are very different things.
The book bounces between timelines, peeling back old friendships, old mistakes, and the kind of buried history that never actually stays buried. Kelsey, Avery's former best friend, arrives carrying enough baggage to qualify as an additional airline fee, and every new revelation makes the situation messier in the most entertaining way possible. The entire story runs on that delicious thriller fuel of "this could all be solved with honesty" while simultaneously convincing you that honesty is absolutely never going to happen.
I will say the middle sagged a little for me. There were stretches where the story felt like it was circling the airport waiting for clearance to land. The tension stayed there, but I occasionally wanted the plot to grab me by the shoulders and yell, "We're doing this now." Instead, it spent a bit too much time watching everyone make increasingly questionable choices and then acting shocked when those choices had consequences.
But then the last section showed up like it had somewhere to be. The twists started landing, the pieces started clicking together, and suddenly I was having a much better time. Not because every reveal completely floored me, but because the payoff finally matched the paranoia the book had been building. It's the literary equivalent of spending half a movie yelling, "JUST TELL EACH OTHER THE TRUTH," and then getting rewarded for your suffering.
What stuck with me most wasn't even the mystery. It was the idea that people can genuinely love each other while still building entire secret lives inside the relationship. Avery and Nathan aren't monsters. They're just scared, selfish, desperate people trying to protect the versions of themselves they want the other person to see. That's a very human kind of mess, and honestly a lot scarier than any masked killer.
Ended up landing at 3.5 stars for me. A little slow in the middle, a lot messy in the character department, but entertaining enough that I kept turning pages and muttering, "You are making this so much worse," which is exactly what I want from a domestic thriller.
Whodunity Award: For Outstanding Achievement in Turning One Marriage Into a Full-Time Administrative Nightmare
And a huge thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC. My stress levels would also like to thank them for apparently deciding that one secret per marriage was nowhere near enough.
June 13, 2026
My first book by Cathryn Grant and what a twisty read this was. A very much deserved 4 stars for this intriguing psychological thriller that kept me turning pages.
Avery is trying to rebuild her marriage with childhood sweetheart, Nathan, after a break in trust. However, when she gets a threatening email from someone in her past, she finds herself lying to him which is breaking a cardinal rule of the marriage counselling sessions that they’ve both been attending weekly for almost a year. Avery doesn’t want anyone in her life finding out about certain events in her past, especially Nathan, but equally she doesn’t have the money her blackmailer is asking her for. So, Avery, desperate to get the money, finds herself acting erratically and lying to Nathan whilst simultaneously telling everyone close to her that everything is fine while her life seems to be falling apart around her. But despite telling himself so, Nathan’s lying to Avery isn’t over either. Secrets have a habit of always coming to the surface…. Will the past secrets that Avery and Nathan are hiding from each other end up breaking their marriage and their trust in each other completely or will they eventually find the courage to tell the truth to each other in the hopes of saving their relationship and marriage?!
The prologue of this book instantly intrigued me, and I really liked it when suddenly a second character’s POV came in, I always love hearing a story from multiple POV’s and this was no exception. Avery’s character was written really well and as a reader I could really feel her panic at not being able to get the money that she was being blackmailed about. I did, at times, want to scream at her as she got deeper and deeper but at the same time, I knew that her only other choice was to tell Nathan, which was unthinkable to her. Chapter 37 did break my heart for one of the characters and that is a rare occurrence in a psychological thriller for me and also was very useful in relating to how a certain character was and how this shaped the people around them too. Apologies that this is a little cryptic, but my reviews are always spoiler free, and I don’t want to give anything away.
Overall, this was a twisty read that kept me turning pages to find out what was going to happen next, and I did not see the twist or the events that happened at the end of the book coming at all. A 4 star rating for this story and I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a page turning psychological thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley, Cathryn Grant and Bookouture for my advanced reading copy. Out 1st July 2026.
Avery is trying to rebuild her marriage with childhood sweetheart, Nathan, after a break in trust. However, when she gets a threatening email from someone in her past, she finds herself lying to him which is breaking a cardinal rule of the marriage counselling sessions that they’ve both been attending weekly for almost a year. Avery doesn’t want anyone in her life finding out about certain events in her past, especially Nathan, but equally she doesn’t have the money her blackmailer is asking her for. So, Avery, desperate to get the money, finds herself acting erratically and lying to Nathan whilst simultaneously telling everyone close to her that everything is fine while her life seems to be falling apart around her. But despite telling himself so, Nathan’s lying to Avery isn’t over either. Secrets have a habit of always coming to the surface…. Will the past secrets that Avery and Nathan are hiding from each other end up breaking their marriage and their trust in each other completely or will they eventually find the courage to tell the truth to each other in the hopes of saving their relationship and marriage?!
The prologue of this book instantly intrigued me, and I really liked it when suddenly a second character’s POV came in, I always love hearing a story from multiple POV’s and this was no exception. Avery’s character was written really well and as a reader I could really feel her panic at not being able to get the money that she was being blackmailed about. I did, at times, want to scream at her as she got deeper and deeper but at the same time, I knew that her only other choice was to tell Nathan, which was unthinkable to her. Chapter 37 did break my heart for one of the characters and that is a rare occurrence in a psychological thriller for me and also was very useful in relating to how a certain character was and how this shaped the people around them too. Apologies that this is a little cryptic, but my reviews are always spoiler free, and I don’t want to give anything away.
Overall, this was a twisty read that kept me turning pages to find out what was going to happen next, and I did not see the twist or the events that happened at the end of the book coming at all. A 4 star rating for this story and I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a page turning psychological thriller.
Thank you to NetGalley, Cathryn Grant and Bookouture for my advanced reading copy. Out 1st July 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭. 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞, 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞.
Avery and Nathan appear to have the kind of marriage people envy from the outside, but behind closed doors, secrets are quietly rotting the foundation beneath them. When Avery receives a chilling message threatening to expose what she’s done, the careful life they’ve built begins to crack apart. This is one of those domestic thrillers that immediately sinks its hooks into you because it understands that the scariest thing is not always violence. Sometimes it’s the person sitting across from you at the dinner table, smiling while your entire world quietly burns.
Cathryn Grant writes marriage exceptionally well. Not the idealized version of marriage, but the exhausting, messy reality of two people carrying private resentments, guilt, desires, and fears that never fully disappear no matter how much they love each other. I spent this entire book waiting for the next fracture line to split open. Every conversation between Avery and Nathan felt loaded, every interaction sharpened by the knowledge that neither of them was being fully honest. The tension never relied on shock value alone because the emotional stakes were already high enough to make me anxious.
What I appreciated most was how human this story felt underneath all the deception. Nobody here is entirely innocent, but nobody feels cartoonishly evil either. The choices these characters make are terrible in the way real choices often are; they're impulsive, selfish, desperate, and painfully understandable. And don't even get me started on that twist! I was completely consumed by the unraveling of this marriage and the devastating realization that sometimes love is not what destroys us; sometimes it’s the secrets we convince ourselves we buried well enough to survive. Many thanks to Bookouture for the early copy that will publish July 1, 2026.
Avery and Nathan appear to have the kind of marriage people envy from the outside, but behind closed doors, secrets are quietly rotting the foundation beneath them. When Avery receives a chilling message threatening to expose what she’s done, the careful life they’ve built begins to crack apart. This is one of those domestic thrillers that immediately sinks its hooks into you because it understands that the scariest thing is not always violence. Sometimes it’s the person sitting across from you at the dinner table, smiling while your entire world quietly burns.
Cathryn Grant writes marriage exceptionally well. Not the idealized version of marriage, but the exhausting, messy reality of two people carrying private resentments, guilt, desires, and fears that never fully disappear no matter how much they love each other. I spent this entire book waiting for the next fracture line to split open. Every conversation between Avery and Nathan felt loaded, every interaction sharpened by the knowledge that neither of them was being fully honest. The tension never relied on shock value alone because the emotional stakes were already high enough to make me anxious.
What I appreciated most was how human this story felt underneath all the deception. Nobody here is entirely innocent, but nobody feels cartoonishly evil either. The choices these characters make are terrible in the way real choices often are; they're impulsive, selfish, desperate, and painfully understandable. And don't even get me started on that twist! I was completely consumed by the unraveling of this marriage and the devastating realization that sometimes love is not what destroys us; sometimes it’s the secrets we convince ourselves we buried well enough to survive. Many thanks to Bookouture for the early copy that will publish July 1, 2026.
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August 18, 2026I enjoyed this one, but it definitely had a few elements that worked better for me than others. Avery and Nathan are high school sweethearts trying to repair their marriage after Nathan’s betrayal, but things quickly spiral when Avery’s past comes back to haunt her in the form of an old friend with secrets, threats, and a demand for money.
One of the strongest aspects for me was the structure. The alternating timelines and multiple points of view do a good job of slowly revealing information, and I liked how the story pieces were drip-fed so you’re constantly re-evaluating what you think you know. That said, the pacing was uneven. The middle section in particular felt like it stalled a bit, with repeated internal reflection and tension-building that didn’t always move the plot forward. Then the final stretch picked up quickly, almost too quickly, which made some of the resolutions feel slightly rushed compared to the slower buildup.
Character-wise, I had mixed feelings. Avery’s decisions were understandable in the sense that they came from fear and guilt, but she often felt frustratingly passive, especially when the situation clearly called for more direct action. Nathan’s storyline added complexity, but I didn’t feel like his emotional arc was explored as deeply as it could have been given the weight of his betrayal. Some of the supporting characters also leaned a bit into “plot device” territory, mainly existing to push the secrets forward rather than feel fully developed.
As for the plot itself, I liked the idea of layered secrets and how everything connects, but a few twists felt more convenient than fully earned. There were moments where the coincidences stacked up just a little too neatly, which pulled me out of the story slightly.
Even with those issues, it was still engaging enough that I wanted to keep reading and see how everything unraveled. It’s a solid domestic thriller with an interesting structure, even if the pacing and character choices didn’t always land for me.
Overall, a good read. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this copy.
One of the strongest aspects for me was the structure. The alternating timelines and multiple points of view do a good job of slowly revealing information, and I liked how the story pieces were drip-fed so you’re constantly re-evaluating what you think you know. That said, the pacing was uneven. The middle section in particular felt like it stalled a bit, with repeated internal reflection and tension-building that didn’t always move the plot forward. Then the final stretch picked up quickly, almost too quickly, which made some of the resolutions feel slightly rushed compared to the slower buildup.
Character-wise, I had mixed feelings. Avery’s decisions were understandable in the sense that they came from fear and guilt, but she often felt frustratingly passive, especially when the situation clearly called for more direct action. Nathan’s storyline added complexity, but I didn’t feel like his emotional arc was explored as deeply as it could have been given the weight of his betrayal. Some of the supporting characters also leaned a bit into “plot device” territory, mainly existing to push the secrets forward rather than feel fully developed.
As for the plot itself, I liked the idea of layered secrets and how everything connects, but a few twists felt more convenient than fully earned. There were moments where the coincidences stacked up just a little too neatly, which pulled me out of the story slightly.
Even with those issues, it was still engaging enough that I wanted to keep reading and see how everything unraveled. It’s a solid domestic thriller with an interesting structure, even if the pacing and character choices didn’t always land for me.
Overall, a good read. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Cathryn Grant delivers a tense, addictive psychological thriller with The Secret in Our Marriage. From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked by the secrets, lies, and creeping sense that everything was about to fall apart. This was one of those books where I kept saying “just one more chapter” and suddenly hours had passed.
Avery and Nathan seem to have the perfect marriage on the surface, but beneath it are layers of deception and fear. When threatening messages begin arriving, exposing secrets Avery desperately wants hidden, the tension immediately ramps up. I loved the feeling of constantly questioning everyone’s motives and trying to figure out who could be trusted.
The short chapters and alternating timelines kept the story moving quickly, and every reveal added another layer to the mystery. Cathryn Grant does an excellent job building suspense slowly, letting the paranoia and pressure simmer until everything explodes. Just when I thought I had things figured out, another twist pulled me in a completely different direction.
What really worked for me was the atmosphere of unease throughout the entire book. The marriage dynamics felt toxic, emotional, and believable, and the constant secrets and manipulation made it impossible to stop reading. Avery frustrated me at times, but in the best possible way because I was so invested in what would happen to her.
This felt more like a dark domestic suspense than an over-the-top thriller, and I loved that about it. The emotional tension, hidden pasts, blackmail, and unraveling relationships kept me fully engaged from start to finish.
If you enjoy twisty domestic thrillers full of lies, betrayal, secrets, and unreliable characters, The Secret in Our Marriage is absolutely worth picking up. A gripping and entertaining read that kept me turning pages late into the night.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Avery and Nathan seem to have the perfect marriage on the surface, but beneath it are layers of deception and fear. When threatening messages begin arriving, exposing secrets Avery desperately wants hidden, the tension immediately ramps up. I loved the feeling of constantly questioning everyone’s motives and trying to figure out who could be trusted.
The short chapters and alternating timelines kept the story moving quickly, and every reveal added another layer to the mystery. Cathryn Grant does an excellent job building suspense slowly, letting the paranoia and pressure simmer until everything explodes. Just when I thought I had things figured out, another twist pulled me in a completely different direction.
What really worked for me was the atmosphere of unease throughout the entire book. The marriage dynamics felt toxic, emotional, and believable, and the constant secrets and manipulation made it impossible to stop reading. Avery frustrated me at times, but in the best possible way because I was so invested in what would happen to her.
This felt more like a dark domestic suspense than an over-the-top thriller, and I loved that about it. The emotional tension, hidden pasts, blackmail, and unraveling relationships kept me fully engaged from start to finish.
If you enjoy twisty domestic thrillers full of lies, betrayal, secrets, and unreliable characters, The Secret in Our Marriage is absolutely worth picking up. A gripping and entertaining read that kept me turning pages late into the night.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Avery has lived every wife’s worst nightmare. Her husband betrayed her in a way that is taking a lot of time, patience, and therapy to move past, but it’s working. Avery finally feels like they’re making progress in a meaningful way until a blast from the past steps in and turns her life upside down. Now she has to do the one thing that they promised they would never do to each other, lie. Will Avery be able to solve the issue in her life and keep her marriage together? Only time will tell in this gripping thriller that is full of twists and turns.
Lies. Betrayal. Murder. The Holy Trinity of a good thriller in my opinion and Cathryn Grant does a great job of grabbing the reader and throwing them into the story. I love the way that the tension from this story comes directly from the emotions that the characters are feeling. Things seem bigger than they are because you’re seeing them from the eyes of the character and you don’t know what’s waiting for you around the corner because they don’t either.
Per usual, I found myself trying to “figure it out” before the end of the story and I was pleasantly surprised when I got to the end. It wasn’t too predictable, which I feel like is a big balancing act in a good thriller. I had such a hard time putting it down once the ball got rolling in the story, I had to know what was happening next and loved how into the book I was. It was a bit of a slow start for me, but that’s okay because it absolutely made up for it as the book continued on.
This ended up being a 4 star read for me because it held my attention, the plot was good, and the tension was there! I wasn’t able to give a complete 5 star because the pacing was a bit off for me personally, but it is definitely still a novel worth reading!
Thank you to Cathryn Grant and Bookouture for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Lies. Betrayal. Murder. The Holy Trinity of a good thriller in my opinion and Cathryn Grant does a great job of grabbing the reader and throwing them into the story. I love the way that the tension from this story comes directly from the emotions that the characters are feeling. Things seem bigger than they are because you’re seeing them from the eyes of the character and you don’t know what’s waiting for you around the corner because they don’t either.
Per usual, I found myself trying to “figure it out” before the end of the story and I was pleasantly surprised when I got to the end. It wasn’t too predictable, which I feel like is a big balancing act in a good thriller. I had such a hard time putting it down once the ball got rolling in the story, I had to know what was happening next and loved how into the book I was. It was a bit of a slow start for me, but that’s okay because it absolutely made up for it as the book continued on.
This ended up being a 4 star read for me because it held my attention, the plot was good, and the tension was there! I wasn’t able to give a complete 5 star because the pacing was a bit off for me personally, but it is definitely still a novel worth reading!
Thank you to Cathryn Grant and Bookouture for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thankyou to Cathryn Grant and Bookouture for this complimentary advanced copy via Netgalley. This review is being left voluntarily and all opinions expressed are my own.
My rating is 3.75 will happily round up to 4!
I read Not my Husband by Cathryn earlier this year and loved it so was excited to get stuck into this one!
I was immediately conflicted. I feel like you usually feel some affinity to the main character but Cathryn did such a good job of writing Avery that even though I should have felt sorry for her plight or rooted for her, is it bad to say I was just sat watching with popcorn at the car crash she is?
Avery and Nathan are a married couple who were teenage sweethearts, but a secret in their marriage has derailed them and they are in therapy. A familiar face from Avery's past pops back up, with nefarious intentions. Soon, all the hard work the couple are doing in therapy is at risk of being lost as more and more secrets drive a wedge between them.
The characters in this book were not very likeable, but to be honest I love to hate a character. It was honestly to the point of there being no redeeming qualities for any of them. I think a big thing steering it was that the story was drenched in privilege and the class divide. We were able to see from both sides how each perceives the other and nobody came out on top in this regard.
Told from a split pov and shifting timeline. It is mostly told from Avery's pov now, but we also see things from both her and Kelsey's pov from the past. The pace was quite slow at the start, but it allowed for us to build a picture of how things have come to be.
The end chapters all of a sudden became fast paced and were really quite twisty. Some of the twists shocked me but I did guess one.
Overall, a good read for those who enjoy a slower burn to start, characters you love to hate, and piecing things together over a shifting timeline.
My rating is 3.75 will happily round up to 4!
I read Not my Husband by Cathryn earlier this year and loved it so was excited to get stuck into this one!
I was immediately conflicted. I feel like you usually feel some affinity to the main character but Cathryn did such a good job of writing Avery that even though I should have felt sorry for her plight or rooted for her, is it bad to say I was just sat watching with popcorn at the car crash she is?
Avery and Nathan are a married couple who were teenage sweethearts, but a secret in their marriage has derailed them and they are in therapy. A familiar face from Avery's past pops back up, with nefarious intentions. Soon, all the hard work the couple are doing in therapy is at risk of being lost as more and more secrets drive a wedge between them.
The characters in this book were not very likeable, but to be honest I love to hate a character. It was honestly to the point of there being no redeeming qualities for any of them. I think a big thing steering it was that the story was drenched in privilege and the class divide. We were able to see from both sides how each perceives the other and nobody came out on top in this regard.
Told from a split pov and shifting timeline. It is mostly told from Avery's pov now, but we also see things from both her and Kelsey's pov from the past. The pace was quite slow at the start, but it allowed for us to build a picture of how things have come to be.
The end chapters all of a sudden became fast paced and were really quite twisty. Some of the twists shocked me but I did guess one.
Overall, a good read for those who enjoy a slower burn to start, characters you love to hate, and piecing things together over a shifting timeline.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
hank you to NetGalley, Cathryn Grant, and Bookouture for a copy of The Secret in Our Marriage in exchange for an honest review.
You know those thrillers that keep dangling a juicy secret in front of you, making you think, "Okay, this reveal is going to be absolutely wild!"? That was my experience with this one.
The story definitely had my attention. The tension between the characters was well-written, and I enjoyed trying to piece together who was telling the truth and who was hiding something. Every time I thought I had it figured out, another layer was added, keeping me invested.
My biggest issue was the pacing. There were moments where the story slowed down just enough that I found myself wishing we'd get to the big reveal already. When the secret finally came out, I liked it—but I wanted just a little more punch after all the anticipation.
Overall, this was an entertaining domestic thriller with plenty of suspicion, lies, and family drama. It didn't completely blow me away, but it kept me engaged from beginning to end.
💋 Sassy Review:
Every married couple says they have secrets. These two acted like they were competing for the Olympic gold medal in withholding information. I spent half the book yelling, "Can somebody please just use their words already?"
📚 Final Verdict:
The Secret in Our Marriage is a solid domestic thriller filled with secrets, deception, and enough twists to keep you guessing. While I wanted a bigger payoff and tighter pacing, it was still an enjoyable read that thriller fans will likely appreciate.
Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5 Stars)
You know those thrillers that keep dangling a juicy secret in front of you, making you think, "Okay, this reveal is going to be absolutely wild!"? That was my experience with this one.
The story definitely had my attention. The tension between the characters was well-written, and I enjoyed trying to piece together who was telling the truth and who was hiding something. Every time I thought I had it figured out, another layer was added, keeping me invested.
My biggest issue was the pacing. There were moments where the story slowed down just enough that I found myself wishing we'd get to the big reveal already. When the secret finally came out, I liked it—but I wanted just a little more punch after all the anticipation.
Overall, this was an entertaining domestic thriller with plenty of suspicion, lies, and family drama. It didn't completely blow me away, but it kept me engaged from beginning to end.
💋 Sassy Review:
Every married couple says they have secrets. These two acted like they were competing for the Olympic gold medal in withholding information. I spent half the book yelling, "Can somebody please just use their words already?"
📚 Final Verdict:
The Secret in Our Marriage is a solid domestic thriller filled with secrets, deception, and enough twists to keep you guessing. While I wanted a bigger payoff and tighter pacing, it was still an enjoyable read that thriller fans will likely appreciate.
Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5 Stars)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh I had SO much fun with this one.
Cathryn Grant is one of my favorite authors when it comes to psychological and domestic thrillers, and The Secret in Our Marriage reminded me exactly why. I started reading and suddenly my evening was gone, because this was absolutely a one-sitting read for me.
Avery and Nathan are married, in love, and both hiding things. And honestly, that is such a perfect setup for a domestic thriller. What are they hiding? How bad are the secrets? And what will happen to their marriage when everything starts coming to the surface? You’ll have to read it and find out. 👀
This book has everything I enjoy in this genre: short chapters, secrets, lies, suspicious characters, messy choices, and that wonderful feeling that you can’t fully trust anyone. I kept flying through the pages because I needed to know what was going on, and every time I thought I had a handle on things, something else made me question everything again.
There were moments where I laughed, moments where I wanted to shake certain characters, and moments where I had to stop and take a deep breath because OMG. And honestly, that is exactly why I love these books. Give me the drama. Give me the chaos. Give me characters who make me angry in the most entertaining way.
This is definitely one of my favorite Cathryn Grant books. It’s twisty, addictive, dramatic, and perfect for domestic thriller lovers. I would also totally recommend it as a beach read, because it’s fast, fun, and impossible to put down.
Cathryn Grant is one of my favorite authors when it comes to psychological and domestic thrillers, and The Secret in Our Marriage reminded me exactly why. I started reading and suddenly my evening was gone, because this was absolutely a one-sitting read for me.
Avery and Nathan are married, in love, and both hiding things. And honestly, that is such a perfect setup for a domestic thriller. What are they hiding? How bad are the secrets? And what will happen to their marriage when everything starts coming to the surface? You’ll have to read it and find out. 👀
This book has everything I enjoy in this genre: short chapters, secrets, lies, suspicious characters, messy choices, and that wonderful feeling that you can’t fully trust anyone. I kept flying through the pages because I needed to know what was going on, and every time I thought I had a handle on things, something else made me question everything again.
There were moments where I laughed, moments where I wanted to shake certain characters, and moments where I had to stop and take a deep breath because OMG. And honestly, that is exactly why I love these books. Give me the drama. Give me the chaos. Give me characters who make me angry in the most entertaining way.
This is definitely one of my favorite Cathryn Grant books. It’s twisty, addictive, dramatic, and perfect for domestic thriller lovers. I would also totally recommend it as a beach read, because it’s fast, fun, and impossible to put down.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Secret in Our Marriage is one of those books that lures you in with the promise of a picture‑perfect life, then slowly peels back the layers until you’re left questioning every word, every glance, every seemingly innocent moment. Cathryn Grant has such a talent for capturing the quiet dread that builds inside a marriage when trust starts to crack.
From the opening scene—lasagna in the oven, a husband glued to his phone, a wife spinning lies with practiced ease—I was hooked. The atmosphere is wonderfully claustrophobic. You can feel the weight of the secrets pressing down on both of them, even as they try to maintain the illusion of normality. And that chilling email? It shifts the story into a whole new gear.
What I loved most is how Grant keeps the tension simmering. Every chapter adds another little twist, another reason to doubt what you think you know. I found myself devouring “just one more page” again and again, desperate to understand who was lying, who was watching, and how far each of them would go to protect their version of the truth.
Fans of The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage, and The Girl on the Train will feel right at home here. It’s twisty, fast‑paced, and deliciously unsettling—exactly what I want from a domestic psychological thriller.
A gripping, compulsive read about love, lies, and the dangerous space between them.
with thanks to Cathryn Grant, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
From the opening scene—lasagna in the oven, a husband glued to his phone, a wife spinning lies with practiced ease—I was hooked. The atmosphere is wonderfully claustrophobic. You can feel the weight of the secrets pressing down on both of them, even as they try to maintain the illusion of normality. And that chilling email? It shifts the story into a whole new gear.
What I loved most is how Grant keeps the tension simmering. Every chapter adds another little twist, another reason to doubt what you think you know. I found myself devouring “just one more page” again and again, desperate to understand who was lying, who was watching, and how far each of them would go to protect their version of the truth.
Fans of The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage, and The Girl on the Train will feel right at home here. It’s twisty, fast‑paced, and deliciously unsettling—exactly what I want from a domestic psychological thriller.
A gripping, compulsive read about love, lies, and the dangerous space between them.
with thanks to Cathryn Grant, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
June 14, 2026
“The hole was deeper than I’d thought I was capable of digging. But it had to be deep. So deep that no one would ever find her.”
Avery and Nathan were high school sweethearts. Over a decade later, they’re married and living in a beautiful home. After finding out about Nathan’s lies, they were going to therapy and everything was seemingly fine. That is, until Avery gets an email from Kelsey - her former best friend from high school asking for $25,000. Avery and Nathan were in therapy because of Nathan’s lies…but what would happen if Nathan found out about Avery’s lies? And why was Kelsey contacting her now? After all this time?
This is a book written with three different narratives - Avery, Nathan, and Kelsey. As well as an alternating timeline, where slowly you find out what happened fifteen years ago and why Avery is being blackmailed by Kelsey. There were also short chapters which add to the suspense and make it faster to read. Always wanting to read just one more chapter.
I loved this book. None of the narrators are fully reliable so you’re questioning what is being said the whole time. What I love most is that each character feels very real. None of them are perfect and you have empathy for each character at different times. This was the type of book that I couldn’t put down because I just had to know what was next. Every time I thought I knew what would happen, a twist was thrown at me and changed everything I thought.
Thank you so much to Net Galley and Bookouture for this ARC. This book is available for purchase July 1, 2026
Avery and Nathan were high school sweethearts. Over a decade later, they’re married and living in a beautiful home. After finding out about Nathan’s lies, they were going to therapy and everything was seemingly fine. That is, until Avery gets an email from Kelsey - her former best friend from high school asking for $25,000. Avery and Nathan were in therapy because of Nathan’s lies…but what would happen if Nathan found out about Avery’s lies? And why was Kelsey contacting her now? After all this time?
This is a book written with three different narratives - Avery, Nathan, and Kelsey. As well as an alternating timeline, where slowly you find out what happened fifteen years ago and why Avery is being blackmailed by Kelsey. There were also short chapters which add to the suspense and make it faster to read. Always wanting to read just one more chapter.
I loved this book. None of the narrators are fully reliable so you’re questioning what is being said the whole time. What I love most is that each character feels very real. None of them are perfect and you have empathy for each character at different times. This was the type of book that I couldn’t put down because I just had to know what was next. Every time I thought I knew what would happen, a twist was thrown at me and changed everything I thought.
Thank you so much to Net Galley and Bookouture for this ARC. This book is available for purchase July 1, 2026
July 1, 2026
*BOOKS ON TOUR REVIEW*
If you love an entertaining domestic thriller, full of lies, deceit and secrets... look no further.
This was definitely a book that kept my attention, kept me reading through the night just so I could find out the big 'reveal'.
In full transparency, it did take me a while to really get into the story, it was a real slow burner and at times the pacing was a little too slow for my liking but the constant twists kept me engrossed enough to bypass that.
The characters were really well written but not at all likeable and I actually really enjoyed (don't judge) watching Avery's life implode around her.
Avery and Nathan have been together forever. Childhood sweethearts, now married, they are attending marriage therapy. All due to a secret that could ruin everything.
Kelsie is an old friend who suddenly reappears. Threatening to expose long buried secrets, she's now demanding money to keep her mouth shut, but will she?
Told from multiple POVs and timelines, this helped build up the storyline and the characterisation and also how the characters have come to be what they are now.
A gripping tale with mounting tension and brilliantly awful characters, I just personally wish that the accelerator pedal had been pushed down a little more so the pacing was that bit faster.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.
If you love an entertaining domestic thriller, full of lies, deceit and secrets... look no further.
This was definitely a book that kept my attention, kept me reading through the night just so I could find out the big 'reveal'.
In full transparency, it did take me a while to really get into the story, it was a real slow burner and at times the pacing was a little too slow for my liking but the constant twists kept me engrossed enough to bypass that.
The characters were really well written but not at all likeable and I actually really enjoyed (don't judge) watching Avery's life implode around her.
Avery and Nathan have been together forever. Childhood sweethearts, now married, they are attending marriage therapy. All due to a secret that could ruin everything.
Kelsie is an old friend who suddenly reappears. Threatening to expose long buried secrets, she's now demanding money to keep her mouth shut, but will she?
Told from multiple POVs and timelines, this helped build up the storyline and the characterisation and also how the characters have come to be what they are now.
A gripping tale with mounting tension and brilliantly awful characters, I just personally wish that the accelerator pedal had been pushed down a little more so the pacing was that bit faster.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.
June 16, 2026
There were twists and turns I could’ve never predicted! It is a slow burn, it starts out slow (and feels kind of repetitive). But it sure picks up about half way through. I enjoyed the multiple POV and I love when a book goes back and forth from the past to now, letting you slowly start to piece things together.
I enjoyed the characters and their dynamics. Avery infuriated me 95% of the time with her choices and decisions but I was still rooting for her. As much as Avery ticked me off, I despised Kelsey, especially from her own POV she is insufferable. But in a good way- like in a love to hate kind of way. I liked the chapters from high school highlighting her and Kelsey’s friendship and how they individually viewed their friendship.
I’m still trying to wrap my head around all the twists and how they intertwined in the end. The epilogue was a neat ending that tied everything together. Without giving spoilers, I just have so many more questions on the aftermath. I need more info!! I enjoyed the book though it was a quick read and kept my interest.
Thank you to Bookouture Publishing, Cathryn Grant and team for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed the characters and their dynamics. Avery infuriated me 95% of the time with her choices and decisions but I was still rooting for her. As much as Avery ticked me off, I despised Kelsey, especially from her own POV she is insufferable. But in a good way- like in a love to hate kind of way. I liked the chapters from high school highlighting her and Kelsey’s friendship and how they individually viewed their friendship.
I’m still trying to wrap my head around all the twists and how they intertwined in the end. The epilogue was a neat ending that tied everything together. Without giving spoilers, I just have so many more questions on the aftermath. I need more info!! I enjoyed the book though it was a quick read and kept my interest.
Thank you to Bookouture Publishing, Cathryn Grant and team for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a very easy thriller to get into from the start. The opening immediately pulled me in, and the short chapters kept the pacing fast enough that I constantly wanted to read “just one more.”
I also really enjoyed the different timelines throughout the story. Knowing that something had happened in the past, while slowly uncovering what actually went wrong, added a lot of suspense and kept me invested in the mystery.
I would say this feels more suspense-driven than twist-heavy. While there were a few reveals along the way, the tension and need to know how everything would unfold was what kept me turning the pages the most.
The main character definitely frustrated me at times because of some of the decisions she made, but in a way that still kept me emotionally involved in the story. I kept wanting to see what would happen next and how everything would come together in the end.
Overall, this was a fast and engaging thriller that kept me curious from beginning to end.
This was a very easy thriller to get into from the start. The opening immediately pulled me in, and the short chapters kept the pacing fast enough that I constantly wanted to read “just one more.”
I also really enjoyed the different timelines throughout the story. Knowing that something had happened in the past, while slowly uncovering what actually went wrong, added a lot of suspense and kept me invested in the mystery.
I would say this feels more suspense-driven than twist-heavy. While there were a few reveals along the way, the tension and need to know how everything would unfold was what kept me turning the pages the most.
The main character definitely frustrated me at times because of some of the decisions she made, but in a way that still kept me emotionally involved in the story. I kept wanting to see what would happen next and how everything would come together in the end.
Overall, this was a fast and engaging thriller that kept me curious from beginning to end.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"The Secret In Our Marriage" is a masterclass in domestic suspense, and I enthusiastically award it a 5-star rating. This book delivers everything a thriller fan could ask for: a deeply unsettling central mystery and a secret so stunning, it is absolutely jaw-dropping. The tension is ratcheted up immediately as an unknown texter begins threatening to expose a hidden truth that could shatter the main characters' lives.
Structurally, the book is designed to be impossible to put down. The short, punchy chapters make it a true page-turner, propelling the narrative forward at a relentless pace. The author expertly utilizes a dual timeline format, weaving together pivotal events from the characters' teen years with the escalating crisis of the present day. This structure effectively draws you in, layering suspense and shocking revelations until the final, thrilling conclusion.
If you are looking for a suspenseful read that will keep you guessing until the very end, I definitely recommend picking up this title.
Thank you to #NetGalley for providing the Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this unforgettable read.
Structurally, the book is designed to be impossible to put down. The short, punchy chapters make it a true page-turner, propelling the narrative forward at a relentless pace. The author expertly utilizes a dual timeline format, weaving together pivotal events from the characters' teen years with the escalating crisis of the present day. This structure effectively draws you in, layering suspense and shocking revelations until the final, thrilling conclusion.
If you are looking for a suspenseful read that will keep you guessing until the very end, I definitely recommend picking up this title.
Thank you to #NetGalley for providing the Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this unforgettable read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. I had been happily awaiting this read. Worth it yes i definitely think so .
Avery and Nathan have a solid marriage , everything looks great from the outside. The house , the car , the baby plans for the future its all mapped out.
Accept Nathan's hiding something and does Avery want to forgive him absolutely! This book isnt what you think. I thought it may go down the lines of infidelity and it really didnt ! Quite the opposite if am honest , imagine a twisty and bendy road full of stories this is where it takes you.
You hope it will get better but both of them have their own agendas, are they really a team . The reader gets an insight into their teenage years and events that shape the minds thinking. When you really get to know the characters its very interesting its very much not what you think! A well captivating book enjoyable and mysterious too .
Roles soon turn round and it does all fall into place but not till the very last chapter. Set aside some time to read this and follow the motivates of all characters .
Avery and Nathan have a solid marriage , everything looks great from the outside. The house , the car , the baby plans for the future its all mapped out.
Accept Nathan's hiding something and does Avery want to forgive him absolutely! This book isnt what you think. I thought it may go down the lines of infidelity and it really didnt ! Quite the opposite if am honest , imagine a twisty and bendy road full of stories this is where it takes you.
You hope it will get better but both of them have their own agendas, are they really a team . The reader gets an insight into their teenage years and events that shape the minds thinking. When you really get to know the characters its very interesting its very much not what you think! A well captivating book enjoyable and mysterious too .
Roles soon turn round and it does all fall into place but not till the very last chapter. Set aside some time to read this and follow the motivates of all characters .
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Secret in Our Marriage by Cathryn Grant is one of those books that kept me turning the pages while I was reading...and then promptly vanished from my brain the moment I finished.
Avery and Nathan are high school sweethearts trying to rebuild their marriage after a devastating betrayal. But when Kelsie, an old friend from high school, reappears demanding money and threatening to expose long-buried secrets, the fragile foundation they've worked so hard to rebuild begins to crack.
Told through alternating timelines and multiple points of view, the story steadily builds tension while unraveling the complicated history between its characters. Although the mystery itself wasn't especially memorable for me, I appreciated the way Cathryn Grant portrayed an imperfect marriage and created characters who felt authentic and relatable rather than overly dramatic.
This ended up being an enjoyable domestic thriller with secrets, emotional conflict, and plenty of tension—even if it wasn't one that lingered with me after the final page.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Avery and Nathan are high school sweethearts trying to rebuild their marriage after a devastating betrayal. But when Kelsie, an old friend from high school, reappears demanding money and threatening to expose long-buried secrets, the fragile foundation they've worked so hard to rebuild begins to crack.
Told through alternating timelines and multiple points of view, the story steadily builds tension while unraveling the complicated history between its characters. Although the mystery itself wasn't especially memorable for me, I appreciated the way Cathryn Grant portrayed an imperfect marriage and created characters who felt authentic and relatable rather than overly dramatic.
This ended up being an enjoyable domestic thriller with secrets, emotional conflict, and plenty of tension—even if it wasn't one that lingered with me after the final page.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Y’all, The Secret in Our Marriage serves up domestic drama with a side of paranoia, and let me tell you… that lasagna gets cold real fast. 🍷📱
Nathan and his wife are both keeping dangerous secrets, and when an anonymous message threatens to expose everything, their polished marriage starts cracking like thin ice under heavy boots. Every conversation feels loaded, every text notification lands like a ticking time bomb, and you’re never quite sure who’s telling the truth.
Cathryn Grant keeps the tension simmering with crisp, addictive writing and plenty of psychological mind games. While I guessed a couple of twists before they landed, the unraveling lies and escalating suspense kept me flipping pages to see just how spectacularly this house of cards would collapse.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you love messy marriages, unreliable narrators, and enough secrets to fill a suburban cul-de-sac, this twisty thriller is well worth the read. Just don’t trust anyone sitting across the dinner table. 🍷🔪📚
Thanks to #NetGalley, Cathryn Grant and #Bookouture for a copy of The Secret In Our Marriage for my honest, voluntary review. #DomesticThriller #TheSecreInOurMarriage #CathrynGrant
Nathan and his wife are both keeping dangerous secrets, and when an anonymous message threatens to expose everything, their polished marriage starts cracking like thin ice under heavy boots. Every conversation feels loaded, every text notification lands like a ticking time bomb, and you’re never quite sure who’s telling the truth.
Cathryn Grant keeps the tension simmering with crisp, addictive writing and plenty of psychological mind games. While I guessed a couple of twists before they landed, the unraveling lies and escalating suspense kept me flipping pages to see just how spectacularly this house of cards would collapse.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you love messy marriages, unreliable narrators, and enough secrets to fill a suburban cul-de-sac, this twisty thriller is well worth the read. Just don’t trust anyone sitting across the dinner table. 🍷🔪📚
Thanks to #NetGalley, Cathryn Grant and #Bookouture for a copy of The Secret In Our Marriage for my honest, voluntary review. #DomesticThriller #TheSecreInOurMarriage #CathrynGrant
July 30, 2026
The Secret in Our Marriage was a psychological thriller that kept me guessing from beginning to end. I was immediately drawn into the complicated marriage at the center of the story and the growing sense that neither spouse was telling the whole truth.
What I enjoyed most was the suspense. Grant slowly reveals secrets and hidden motives, creating a constant feeling of tension and uncertainty. Just when I thought I had figured out where the story was headed, another twist changed everything. The characters were believable, which made their choices and conflicts even more compelling.
The pacing was steady, and the I liked the short chapters. While some of the characters were frustrating at times, that only added to the emotional impact of the story.
Overall, The Secret in Our Marriage was an excellent read filled with deception, betrayal, and surprising twists. If you enjoy suspenseful stories about secrets behind seemingly ordinary relationships, this is a book worth reading
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy.
I would recommend this book to all of my friends.
What I enjoyed most was the suspense. Grant slowly reveals secrets and hidden motives, creating a constant feeling of tension and uncertainty. Just when I thought I had figured out where the story was headed, another twist changed everything. The characters were believable, which made their choices and conflicts even more compelling.
The pacing was steady, and the I liked the short chapters. While some of the characters were frustrating at times, that only added to the emotional impact of the story.
Overall, The Secret in Our Marriage was an excellent read filled with deception, betrayal, and surprising twists. If you enjoy suspenseful stories about secrets behind seemingly ordinary relationships, this is a book worth reading
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy.
I would recommend this book to all of my friends.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you so much, NetGalley, for this ARC ❤️
This was my first time reading a book by this author, and unfortunately, it wasn't for me. I had high hopes going into this book, but it just didn't live up to my expectations.
I disliked almost all of the characters. 😒 The FMC, Avery, was incredibly frustrating at times and felt very hypocritical—the definition of "the pot calling the kettle black." The MMC wasn't much better. He was willing to do almost anything for love, even at the expense of his own freedom. Jeez. 🥱
I didn't mind the twist at the end, but what I couldn't ignore was the repetition. The book felt far too long for the story it was trying to tell. This could easily have worked better as a novella.
I really wanted to DNF this book, but I pushed through because I wanted to find out what the big secret was. When it was finally revealed, I wasn't even surprised—I was just like, "Okay..." 😔
Would I recommend this book? Honestly, I don't know. 😕😪
This was my first time reading a book by this author, and unfortunately, it wasn't for me. I had high hopes going into this book, but it just didn't live up to my expectations.
I disliked almost all of the characters. 😒 The FMC, Avery, was incredibly frustrating at times and felt very hypocritical—the definition of "the pot calling the kettle black." The MMC wasn't much better. He was willing to do almost anything for love, even at the expense of his own freedom. Jeez. 🥱
I didn't mind the twist at the end, but what I couldn't ignore was the repetition. The book felt far too long for the story it was trying to tell. This could easily have worked better as a novella.
I really wanted to DNF this book, but I pushed through because I wanted to find out what the big secret was. When it was finally revealed, I wasn't even surprised—I was just like, "Okay..." 😔
Would I recommend this book? Honestly, I don't know. 😕😪
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