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The Eden Test
From Edgar Award-finalist Adam Sternbergh, an electrifying domestic suspense novel for fans of The Perfect Marriage and Rock Paper Scissors, about a couple who are forced to the ultimate extremes to save their marriage—and themselves.
Seven Days. Seven Questions. Forever Changed.
Daisy and Craig’s marriage is in serious trouble. That’s why Daisy has signed up for The Eden Test, a week-long getaway for couples in need of a fresh start. Yet even as she’s struggling to salvage her marriage, it seems Craig has plans to leave her for another woman. In fact, his bags are already packed—long before he arrives to meet Daisy in this remote cabin in the woods of upstate New York.
At first, their week away is marked by solitude, connection, and natural beauty—and only a few hostile locals. But what Craig doesn’t know is that Daisy, a slyly talented actress, has her own secrets, including a burner phone she’s been using for mysterious texts. Not to mention the Eden Test itself, which poses a searing new question to the couple every day, each more explosive than the last. Their marriage was never perfect, but now the lies and revelations are piling up, as the week becomes much more than they bargained for…How far are they willing to go?
Adam Sternbergh brings his wit, originality, and a Hitchcockian sense of dread to this chilling, surprising, and wholly entertaining portrait of a marriage on the brink.
Seven Days. Seven Questions. Forever Changed.
Daisy and Craig’s marriage is in serious trouble. That’s why Daisy has signed up for The Eden Test, a week-long getaway for couples in need of a fresh start. Yet even as she’s struggling to salvage her marriage, it seems Craig has plans to leave her for another woman. In fact, his bags are already packed—long before he arrives to meet Daisy in this remote cabin in the woods of upstate New York.
At first, their week away is marked by solitude, connection, and natural beauty—and only a few hostile locals. But what Craig doesn’t know is that Daisy, a slyly talented actress, has her own secrets, including a burner phone she’s been using for mysterious texts. Not to mention the Eden Test itself, which poses a searing new question to the couple every day, each more explosive than the last. Their marriage was never perfect, but now the lies and revelations are piling up, as the week becomes much more than they bargained for…How far are they willing to go?
Adam Sternbergh brings his wit, originality, and a Hitchcockian sense of dread to this chilling, surprising, and wholly entertaining portrait of a marriage on the brink.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 25, 2023
260 people are currently reading
17449 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 941 reviews
April 18, 2023
Holy moly, what a delicious, whirlwind, twisty ultra wild ride!
Sweet, naive, clueless Daisy decides to give her dear cheat husband Craig, seven days cabin in the woods retreat to know each other and give a second chance for their marriage as her husband already packed his bags to run away with his mistress Lilith who has an open marriage with one kid!
Don’t you want to punch the husband dearest! My answer is yesss!
Poor Daisy leaves a note for her husband to meet with him at the address she’s written which makes Craig drive nearly two hours out of the city, getting lost in the woods.
His wife welcomes him with open arms, talking about their one week retreat: each day they will answer one question for their marriage, planning to enjoy many activities including skinny dipping in the lake, canoeing, hiking, eating most delicious pancakes at the local dinner.
Craig has already one day for his flight to Cabo. He’ll meet with his mistress at the airport after his rehearsed conversation with his sweet wife for ending things. But what if he says yes to make sacrifices by giving second chance to their marriage?
Craig feels like he’s the worst man who is keeping dangerous secrets that may ruin their relationship forever! But what if sweet Daisy also keeps worse secrets from her husband may change their entire future and put their lives at risk.
I loved this crazy mad marriage story! I thought things get escalated quickly and those twists are so unexpected and a little far fetched. But I’m still rounding up 4.5 stars to 5 surprising, mind blowing stars!
This story is batshit crazy with lots of triggering subjects just like abuse, cheating, obsession, stalking but it’s my kind of smart, unputdownable, addictive story!
Absolutely recommended!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
Sweet, naive, clueless Daisy decides to give her dear cheat husband Craig, seven days cabin in the woods retreat to know each other and give a second chance for their marriage as her husband already packed his bags to run away with his mistress Lilith who has an open marriage with one kid!
Don’t you want to punch the husband dearest! My answer is yesss!
Poor Daisy leaves a note for her husband to meet with him at the address she’s written which makes Craig drive nearly two hours out of the city, getting lost in the woods.
His wife welcomes him with open arms, talking about their one week retreat: each day they will answer one question for their marriage, planning to enjoy many activities including skinny dipping in the lake, canoeing, hiking, eating most delicious pancakes at the local dinner.
Craig has already one day for his flight to Cabo. He’ll meet with his mistress at the airport after his rehearsed conversation with his sweet wife for ending things. But what if he says yes to make sacrifices by giving second chance to their marriage?
Craig feels like he’s the worst man who is keeping dangerous secrets that may ruin their relationship forever! But what if sweet Daisy also keeps worse secrets from her husband may change their entire future and put their lives at risk.
I loved this crazy mad marriage story! I thought things get escalated quickly and those twists are so unexpected and a little far fetched. But I’m still rounding up 4.5 stars to 5 surprising, mind blowing stars!
This story is batshit crazy with lots of triggering subjects just like abuse, cheating, obsession, stalking but it’s my kind of smart, unputdownable, addictive story!
Absolutely recommended!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
April 1, 2023
Ready to put your marriage to the test?
A couple is in marital trouble. Perhaps a secluded retreat somewhere is just what the doctor ordered. A place where therapy comes in the form of answering seven questions. Will they have the answers!?
Sounds exciting right!? When I read this premise I instantly wanted to jump right in! I love family dramas and domestic thrillers. But it just fell short of…well…everything!
Ingenious plot but the seven questions felt lost, as though the author begrudgingly threw them in periodically because he promised them to us in the blurb.
The whole storyline became convoluted. I didn’t care for our lead couple of Daisy and Craig. While all the side characters just left me confused.
I listened to the audio and truly felt an additional narrator would have balanced the reading.
Overall I found it to be somewhat disappointing. Maybe my expectations were too high?!💁🏻♀️
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio 🎧
A couple is in marital trouble. Perhaps a secluded retreat somewhere is just what the doctor ordered. A place where therapy comes in the form of answering seven questions. Will they have the answers!?
Sounds exciting right!? When I read this premise I instantly wanted to jump right in! I love family dramas and domestic thrillers. But it just fell short of…well…everything!
Ingenious plot but the seven questions felt lost, as though the author begrudgingly threw them in periodically because he promised them to us in the blurb.
The whole storyline became convoluted. I didn’t care for our lead couple of Daisy and Craig. While all the side characters just left me confused.
I listened to the audio and truly felt an additional narrator would have balanced the reading.
Overall I found it to be somewhat disappointing. Maybe my expectations were too high?!💁🏻♀️
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio 🎧
April 25, 2023
Update 4/25/23: Reposting my review to celebrate that today is publication day!
Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for sending me an ARC of The Eden Test in exchange for an honest review.
Daisy knows her two-year marriage to Craig is in trouble, though she doesn’t appear to realize just how close he is to leaving her. To try to save the marriage, Daisy signs them up for a week-long retreat called The Eden Test that’s one part romantic getaway and one part marriage counseling where the couple answers one question each day designed to get to the core of their relationship. But Daisy has her own secrets, and something seems to be off about Eden, and before the week is over it’s Daisy and Craig—not just their relationship—that is at risk of dying.
The Eden Test is not an entirely convincing story. First, within the book, the Test’s premise (repeated many times) is “seven days, seven questions, forever changed.” So it’s strange that we get the questions—which are interesting—but we never see Daisy and Craig wrestle with them. It feels like it might have been more interesting as the setup for a novel much heavier on dialogue and character study than this traditional suspense/thriller. Second, while Daisy is a well-developed with a believable backstory, given what we’re told about Daisy’s feelings towards Craig in the opening chapters, it’s not clear why she’s fighting for this marriage. Finally, the plot of the book was fairly predictable and wraps up a bit too neatly.
But that said, The Eden Test works as a traditional suspense/thriller. It’s a propulsive, absorbing page turner with some genuinely moving scenes (the tattoo story in particular) and some clever touches (the ultimate significance of the painted rocks). 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Recommended.
That bookstore looks cool—I’ll have to stop in later, Craig thinks, before remembering that he’s supposed to be dumping his wife later and heading off to Mexico.
…
Yes, she knows about the affairs. Of course she knows.
She’s not stupid.
And she’s always accepted his indiscretions and infidelities as part of their deal. Unlike most people, she doesn’t need her partner to be faithful. She just needs him to be predictable. And incurious.
Craig, reliably, is both.
Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for sending me an ARC of The Eden Test in exchange for an honest review.
Daisy knows her two-year marriage to Craig is in trouble, though she doesn’t appear to realize just how close he is to leaving her. To try to save the marriage, Daisy signs them up for a week-long retreat called The Eden Test that’s one part romantic getaway and one part marriage counseling where the couple answers one question each day designed to get to the core of their relationship. But Daisy has her own secrets, and something seems to be off about Eden, and before the week is over it’s Daisy and Craig—not just their relationship—that is at risk of dying.
The Eden Test is not an entirely convincing story. First, within the book, the Test’s premise (repeated many times) is “seven days, seven questions, forever changed.” So it’s strange that we get the questions—which are interesting—but we never see Daisy and Craig wrestle with them. It feels like it might have been more interesting as the setup for a novel much heavier on dialogue and character study than this traditional suspense/thriller. Second, while Daisy is a well-developed with a believable backstory, given what we’re told about Daisy’s feelings towards Craig in the opening chapters, it’s not clear why she’s fighting for this marriage. Finally, the plot of the book was fairly predictable and wraps up a bit too neatly.
But that said, The Eden Test works as a traditional suspense/thriller. It’s a propulsive, absorbing page turner with some genuinely moving scenes (the tattoo story in particular) and some clever touches (the ultimate significance of the painted rocks). 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Recommended.
April 13, 2023
Seven Days. Seven Questions. Forever Changed.
Daisy and Craig have been together for three years and married for two of them. Not a long time but apparently it's long enough for the two to grow apart. Daisy has a plan to fix that.
Welcome to the Eden Test.
In the middle of the woods, in upstate NY, sits a cabin. Here Daisy wait's for her husband to arrive on their anniversary. They will spend a week here. Everyday they will receive an envelope asking the couple a question to which they must answer honestly. By the end of the week they will either decide to remain together or they will decide to go their separate ways.
Craig isn't thrilled. The last thing he wanted to do was to come home from work to find a note from his wife requesting he meet her at some cabin in the woods more than three hours away. He just wanted to grab an anniversary dinner and call it a night. See, Craig has a big day tomorrow, he's jetting off to Cabo San Lucas with his mistress after breaking the news to Daisy that their marriage is over. Luckily their flight doesn't depart until tomorrow evening so with a little adjustment of his plans he'll have to break the news to Daisy at the cabin in the morning and then off he goes. Freedom at last.
Not so fast, Craig, because this trip has been meticulously planned by Daisy and it's a trip some would die for.
Holy moly! This book was excellent. So. Much. Suspense. I love books like this where I have no clue what's going on and I mean that in the best way possible. Everything right from the get go seems a little off, like nothing is what it seems, and it isn't. Not by a long shot. The isolation of being alone in the middle of the woods, the creepy locals that seem to be watching them and threatening them, not to mention the apple orchard that they have been warned to stay away from. The tension was palpable and I was flipping the pages desperate for answers. To say the reveals were surprising would be an understatement. Adam Sternbergh is a damn fine writer who weaved a devious web of a book and I was his prey that was caught in it's silky snare - and I enjoyed every minute of it. ALL. THE. STARS!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for my complimentary copy.
Daisy and Craig have been together for three years and married for two of them. Not a long time but apparently it's long enough for the two to grow apart. Daisy has a plan to fix that.
Welcome to the Eden Test.
In the middle of the woods, in upstate NY, sits a cabin. Here Daisy wait's for her husband to arrive on their anniversary. They will spend a week here. Everyday they will receive an envelope asking the couple a question to which they must answer honestly. By the end of the week they will either decide to remain together or they will decide to go their separate ways.
Craig isn't thrilled. The last thing he wanted to do was to come home from work to find a note from his wife requesting he meet her at some cabin in the woods more than three hours away. He just wanted to grab an anniversary dinner and call it a night. See, Craig has a big day tomorrow, he's jetting off to Cabo San Lucas with his mistress after breaking the news to Daisy that their marriage is over. Luckily their flight doesn't depart until tomorrow evening so with a little adjustment of his plans he'll have to break the news to Daisy at the cabin in the morning and then off he goes. Freedom at last.
Not so fast, Craig, because this trip has been meticulously planned by Daisy and it's a trip some would die for.
Holy moly! This book was excellent. So. Much. Suspense. I love books like this where I have no clue what's going on and I mean that in the best way possible. Everything right from the get go seems a little off, like nothing is what it seems, and it isn't. Not by a long shot. The isolation of being alone in the middle of the woods, the creepy locals that seem to be watching them and threatening them, not to mention the apple orchard that they have been warned to stay away from. The tension was palpable and I was flipping the pages desperate for answers. To say the reveals were surprising would be an understatement. Adam Sternbergh is a damn fine writer who weaved a devious web of a book and I was his prey that was caught in it's silky snare - and I enjoyed every minute of it. ALL. THE. STARS!!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for my complimentary copy.
April 24, 2023
Seven Days. Seven Questions. Forever Changed.
Daisy has signed she and her husband, Craig, up for the Eden test. It's a weeklong getaway for couples who want to take a deeper look at their marriage. They will answer seven questions to determine if their marriage is worth saving. What better place to do it than in a beautiful setting where a couple can re-evaluate their life together.
Craig is planning to leave Daisy for another woman and Daisy is struggling to hold on to her marriage. When he receives Daisy’s note telling him to come, Craig arrives ready to inform Daisy that he is leaving her. Daisy, a talented actress, has a few tricks up her sleeve (as well as burner phone) and wants to save her marriage.
As they begin answering the questions, things get interesting when lies, deception and secrets come into play. Just how well do they know each other? What secrets will be revealed?
This book has an interesting premise, a couple that are struggling. A husband preparing to leave his wife for another woman, a wife with secrets, and a beautiful setting. I thought I would love this book. In the end, I was all over the place with this book. I enjoyed some parts, I felt some parts were slow, others interesting, etc. It was entertaining and things do get a little OTT, but I can't say that I loved this book. I put it in the liked not loved category.
One thing I did enjoy was the feeling that something wasn’t quite right. I enjoyed trying to figure out why Daisy had the burner phone and who she was communicating with. When revelations are made, I thought “Ok, this is interesting” and “I wonder how this is going to play out”. This book held my interest but unfortunately did not wow me. Others have enjoyed this book more than I did, so please read their reviews as well.
I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a great job.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Daisy has signed she and her husband, Craig, up for the Eden test. It's a weeklong getaway for couples who want to take a deeper look at their marriage. They will answer seven questions to determine if their marriage is worth saving. What better place to do it than in a beautiful setting where a couple can re-evaluate their life together.
Craig is planning to leave Daisy for another woman and Daisy is struggling to hold on to her marriage. When he receives Daisy’s note telling him to come, Craig arrives ready to inform Daisy that he is leaving her. Daisy, a talented actress, has a few tricks up her sleeve (as well as burner phone) and wants to save her marriage.
As they begin answering the questions, things get interesting when lies, deception and secrets come into play. Just how well do they know each other? What secrets will be revealed?
This book has an interesting premise, a couple that are struggling. A husband preparing to leave his wife for another woman, a wife with secrets, and a beautiful setting. I thought I would love this book. In the end, I was all over the place with this book. I enjoyed some parts, I felt some parts were slow, others interesting, etc. It was entertaining and things do get a little OTT, but I can't say that I loved this book. I put it in the liked not loved category.
One thing I did enjoy was the feeling that something wasn’t quite right. I enjoyed trying to figure out why Daisy had the burner phone and who she was communicating with. When revelations are made, I thought “Ok, this is interesting” and “I wonder how this is going to play out”. This book held my interest but unfortunately did not wow me. Others have enjoyed this book more than I did, so please read their reviews as well.
I listened to the audiobook and thought the narrator did a great job.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
June 4, 2023
3.75 rounded up to 4 stars
TW: abusive relationship and miscarriage.
This book was highly recommended in a group that I follow on Facebook.
I went blind.
I did not read the synopsis or the reviews before finishing it.
This was my first book by this author.
As soon as I started reading the opening, I was immediately hooked.
I read this book in one sitting. That’s how entertained I was.
I enjoyed the writing and I thought that the development of the storyline was well done, although slow.
The writing was simple but gripping.
I loved the premises. I thought that it was quite ingenious.
It’s not flawless, but it held my attention the whole time, hence my rating.
I did read the ebook edition as I simultaneously listened to the audiobook. I thought that the audiobook was excellent.
e-book (Kobo): 264 pages (default), 82k words
Hardcover ((Flatiron Books): 336 pages
Audiobook narrated by Carlotta Brentan: 10.5 hours (normal speed)
PS. I did not know that asphyxiation could cause miscarriages, so I had to Google it. I did find some good explanations. Some said that it can happen within the first 8 weeks. I did find a true story about a woman who was 9 weeks pregnant (happened somewhere in California, last year). But, as this is a work of fiction, I did not bother going into a deep research.
As for those reviewers who said that a man shouldn’t write using women’s perspective, I didn’t think that the author was wrong using his imagination.
TW: abusive relationship and miscarriage.
This book was highly recommended in a group that I follow on Facebook.
I went blind.
I did not read the synopsis or the reviews before finishing it.
This was my first book by this author.
As soon as I started reading the opening, I was immediately hooked.
I read this book in one sitting. That’s how entertained I was.
I enjoyed the writing and I thought that the development of the storyline was well done, although slow.
The writing was simple but gripping.
I loved the premises. I thought that it was quite ingenious.
It’s not flawless, but it held my attention the whole time, hence my rating.
I did read the ebook edition as I simultaneously listened to the audiobook. I thought that the audiobook was excellent.
e-book (Kobo): 264 pages (default), 82k words
Hardcover ((Flatiron Books): 336 pages
Audiobook narrated by Carlotta Brentan: 10.5 hours (normal speed)
PS. I did not know that asphyxiation could cause miscarriages, so I had to Google it. I did find some good explanations. Some said that it can happen within the first 8 weeks. I did find a true story about a woman who was 9 weeks pregnant (happened somewhere in California, last year). But, as this is a work of fiction, I did not bother going into a deep research.
As for those reviewers who said that a man shouldn’t write using women’s perspective, I didn’t think that the author was wrong using his imagination.
May 22, 2023
Audiobook….read by Carlotta Brentan
…..10 hours and 29 minutes
This psychological domestic thriller is a character driven story about a marriage in question.
It’s filled with lies, deceptions and secrets —
Daisy and Craig — married only two years —in combination — are desperate and deceitful.
They attend a ‘fix-it-solution-resolution’ -type retreat for seven days — (hippy-happy- therapy camp) —
with seven silly hypothetical questions: one new question a day. The questions were supposedly conversational starters.
“Will you change for me?”
“Will you die for me?”
etc.
The puzzling aspects kept me listening… but those seven questions—dangling— hanging out in the universe too long were annoying.
The reader and author are both locked into ‘question-rules’. The count-down-list of each new question was a tedious plot device…. that got swallowed up by its own blunder.
However…
Keep your seatbelt on during the twisty paradise turns ….
….unexpected dark-drama can jolt one out of their seat …..
And….
as suspected ……
not everything is as seen.
Overall….somewhat theatrically — blaze orange 🍊 entertaining.
3.5
…..10 hours and 29 minutes
This psychological domestic thriller is a character driven story about a marriage in question.
It’s filled with lies, deceptions and secrets —
Daisy and Craig — married only two years —in combination — are desperate and deceitful.
They attend a ‘fix-it-solution-resolution’ -type retreat for seven days — (hippy-happy- therapy camp) —
with seven silly hypothetical questions: one new question a day. The questions were supposedly conversational starters.
“Will you change for me?”
“Will you die for me?”
etc.
The puzzling aspects kept me listening… but those seven questions—dangling— hanging out in the universe too long were annoying.
The reader and author are both locked into ‘question-rules’. The count-down-list of each new question was a tedious plot device…. that got swallowed up by its own blunder.
However…
Keep your seatbelt on during the twisty paradise turns ….
….unexpected dark-drama can jolt one out of their seat …..
And….
as suspected ……
not everything is as seen.
Overall….somewhat theatrically — blaze orange 🍊 entertaining.
3.5
August 2, 2023
4 Stars
August 30, 2022
Sternbergh starts his Suspense Thriller off with an automatic “WHODUNNIT?” You have barely gotten seated in your favorite chair and the ambulance is already there, EMT’s are bringing out two bodies. WTH?
Let us begin:
Craig and Daisy have been married for 3 years; however, their marriage is on the way out in the dumpster, fast! Craig an account manager is not happy with his job, and he is not happy with Daisy anymore. Why should he be, when he has a younger, more vibrant Lilith, who he has been with for the last 4 months, and she is at his disposal. He is going to go home, pack his bags, and he and his love Lilith are going to Cabo to have the time of their lives.
Daisy is a talented actress, sweet and loves the theatre. Decides that for their 3rd anniversary she is going to book the perfect couples retreat for the two of them. Only this is not just any “couples retreat” This is the Edenic Foundation, in Upstate New York. They specialize in troubled marriages using the Eden test method, where you are asked a serious question, 1 a day for 7 days. You are in an isolated cabin, off the beaten path of nowhere. The purpose of the 1 serious question a day, is meant for the couples to get back in touch with their innermost feelings towards each other. To reconnect with the intimacy, they had with each other. The Edenic Foundation is run by 2 elder retired counselors, who have several years’ experiences dealing with troubled marriages. Hence them starting the retreat. Daisy found this the idyllic situation for her needs. For Daisy has her own secrets, she too is hiding something, running from a past that is very, very terrifying.
Craig comes home to find a note Daisy has left for him, telling him to meet her at the address to the cabin. (Which he does)
All the while complaining in his head, he is mad because of the distance he had to drive and because he should be in Cabo with Lilith. But listening to Daisy flitter around telling him all the wonderful things they are going to be doing, actually gives him pause. Is he a bad person? Is he doing the wrong thing wanting to leave his wife? Should he actually give this retreat a chance?
Daisy on the other hand, is the epitome of the perfect actress and plays her part to perfection. Her secrets are perfectly hidden, thus are Craigs. Until they are not!
Sternbergh is a stunning storyteller and boy does he have a story to tell.
His word building is phenomenal, and the novel flows smooth as silk.
Sternbergh’s writing style was precise, without any unnecessary
flourishes, and absolutely no word dump.
The descriptive imaginative, view of the Edenic Foundation could
be totally see-through one’s mind’s eye.
Sternbergh’s epic rollercoaster ride was one full of hair pin turns
and topsy turvy twists.
The Victorious moment of the novel is the stellar ending, you do
not see it coming. Matter of fact, half of a “certain” person you do not see coming.
So, BUCKLE UP BUTTERCUPS!” Sternbergh’s about to go 0-100 and “LEAVING” everyone “BEHIND.”
BRAVO!
“JOB MARVELOUSLY DONE!!”
Thank you, NetGalley/Adam Sternbergh/Flatiron/For this Astonishing eARC for my review. All opinions are of my own volition.
Let us begin:
Craig and Daisy have been married for 3 years; however, their marriage is on the way out in the dumpster, fast! Craig an account manager is not happy with his job, and he is not happy with Daisy anymore. Why should he be, when he has a younger, more vibrant Lilith, who he has been with for the last 4 months, and she is at his disposal. He is going to go home, pack his bags, and he and his love Lilith are going to Cabo to have the time of their lives.
Daisy is a talented actress, sweet and loves the theatre. Decides that for their 3rd anniversary she is going to book the perfect couples retreat for the two of them. Only this is not just any “couples retreat” This is the Edenic Foundation, in Upstate New York. They specialize in troubled marriages using the Eden test method, where you are asked a serious question, 1 a day for 7 days. You are in an isolated cabin, off the beaten path of nowhere. The purpose of the 1 serious question a day, is meant for the couples to get back in touch with their innermost feelings towards each other. To reconnect with the intimacy, they had with each other. The Edenic Foundation is run by 2 elder retired counselors, who have several years’ experiences dealing with troubled marriages. Hence them starting the retreat. Daisy found this the idyllic situation for her needs. For Daisy has her own secrets, she too is hiding something, running from a past that is very, very terrifying.
Craig comes home to find a note Daisy has left for him, telling him to meet her at the address to the cabin. (Which he does)
All the while complaining in his head, he is mad because of the distance he had to drive and because he should be in Cabo with Lilith. But listening to Daisy flitter around telling him all the wonderful things they are going to be doing, actually gives him pause. Is he a bad person? Is he doing the wrong thing wanting to leave his wife? Should he actually give this retreat a chance?
Daisy on the other hand, is the epitome of the perfect actress and plays her part to perfection. Her secrets are perfectly hidden, thus are Craigs. Until they are not!
Sternbergh is a stunning storyteller and boy does he have a story to tell.
His word building is phenomenal, and the novel flows smooth as silk.
Sternbergh’s writing style was precise, without any unnecessary
flourishes, and absolutely no word dump.
The descriptive imaginative, view of the Edenic Foundation could
be totally see-through one’s mind’s eye.
Sternbergh’s epic rollercoaster ride was one full of hair pin turns
and topsy turvy twists.
The Victorious moment of the novel is the stellar ending, you do
not see it coming. Matter of fact, half of a “certain” person you do not see coming.
So, BUCKLE UP BUTTERCUPS!” Sternbergh’s about to go 0-100 and “LEAVING” everyone “BEHIND.”
BRAVO!
“JOB MARVELOUSLY DONE!!”
Thank you, NetGalley/Adam Sternbergh/Flatiron/For this Astonishing eARC for my review. All opinions are of my own volition.
March 21, 2023
This wobbled between two and three stars for me. I couldn't figure out what this book's deal was. Was it a basic domestic thriller? Was it absolutely bananas? Turns out it's both. This is a hard thing to do and while I am not 100% sure it stuck the landing, the fact that it managed to be both things and see them through to the end, well, I have to respect it.
You will be regularly wondering what is wrong with these characters, you will think this stuff doesn't make sense, you will have all kinds of questions about the plot. Most of them are addressed, and I honestly didn't think that could happen, so kudos. Are there a few too many plots? Maybe! By the end were they all resolved? Weirdly yes! It turns out I didn't really mind getting a domestic thriller that did something rather different even if that was doing absolutely everything at the same time.
You will be regularly wondering what is wrong with these characters, you will think this stuff doesn't make sense, you will have all kinds of questions about the plot. Most of them are addressed, and I honestly didn't think that could happen, so kudos. Are there a few too many plots? Maybe! By the end were they all resolved? Weirdly yes! It turns out I didn't really mind getting a domestic thriller that did something rather different even if that was doing absolutely everything at the same time.
April 14, 2023
This one greatly disappointed me.
I went into this book with a fair warning from a friend regarding the misinformation regarding miscarriages. However, it was already in my netgalley stack, so I decided to give it a read, knowing what I was getting into. I want to make it clear that it is dangerous and hurtful to a lot of people to spread such misinformation surrounding domestic violence and miscarriages. It would not be possible to tell that early on that asphyxiation was the cause of a miscarriage. Miscarriages also do not cause infertility. The author did a great disservice by including that sup-plot without thoroughly researching the topic.
A marriage is in trouble. Daisy books a weeklong marriage retreat for herself and her husband, Craig. It is supposed to be 7 days in a secluded cabin where they discuss and answer 7 questions. At the end, they will have more clarity on their relationship. It is a thriller, so obviously, things go sideways. The book begins with Craig planning to leave Daisy for his mistress, but things are put on hold when he is dragged on this getaway.
Overall, the first half of the book was great and kept me really engaged. Then, around the time of the explanation of Daisy's infertility came, the book just tanked from there. The plot twist was so ridiculous, that it completely lost me altogether. It also seemed like the author had two separate ideas for books and just kind of crammed them altogether. Once the plot twist was revealed, it just got crazier and crazier and wasn't entertaining anymore.
I also found it completely unbelievable that so many men were so helplessly in love with Daisy. I found her to be insufferable. She was boring, and a complete know it all.
Overall, I will not be recommending this book to anyone, and I highly recommend this author does some research next time. If he is going to attempt to cover such topics as domestic violence and miscarriage, the least he can do is be accurate.
I went into this book with a fair warning from a friend regarding the misinformation regarding miscarriages. However, it was already in my netgalley stack, so I decided to give it a read, knowing what I was getting into. I want to make it clear that it is dangerous and hurtful to a lot of people to spread such misinformation surrounding domestic violence and miscarriages. It would not be possible to tell that early on that asphyxiation was the cause of a miscarriage. Miscarriages also do not cause infertility. The author did a great disservice by including that sup-plot without thoroughly researching the topic.
A marriage is in trouble. Daisy books a weeklong marriage retreat for herself and her husband, Craig. It is supposed to be 7 days in a secluded cabin where they discuss and answer 7 questions. At the end, they will have more clarity on their relationship. It is a thriller, so obviously, things go sideways. The book begins with Craig planning to leave Daisy for his mistress, but things are put on hold when he is dragged on this getaway.
Overall, the first half of the book was great and kept me really engaged. Then, around the time of the explanation of Daisy's infertility came, the book just tanked from there. The plot twist was so ridiculous, that it completely lost me altogether. It also seemed like the author had two separate ideas for books and just kind of crammed them altogether. Once the plot twist was revealed, it just got crazier and crazier and wasn't entertaining anymore.
I also found it completely unbelievable that so many men were so helplessly in love with Daisy. I found her to be insufferable. She was boring, and a complete know it all.
Overall, I will not be recommending this book to anyone, and I highly recommend this author does some research next time. If he is going to attempt to cover such topics as domestic violence and miscarriage, the least he can do is be accurate.
April 23, 2023
I really enjoyed The Blinds by this author but unfortunately this one did not work for me at all. I did like the narrator but she wasn’t enough to save the story for me.
It’s SUPER repetitive. 7 Days, 7 Questions, Forever changed - get ready to hear that slogan a million times. Some stories are told from both POVs, sometimes more than once, with very little changed or added. There was an over use of words - everything is described as cool. The cool lake, the cool sheets, the tablecloth is cool. The night air? It’s cool!. The air again, but this time morning air. Still cool. Phrases beside the slogan are overused too. Do the right thing, no more lies, her overalls are basically a character as much as they are mentioned. Again and again ahhhhhh! The characters also like to drone on and on about imaginary things or flashbacks slowing down the pace even as the action begins to ramp up.
I predicted the plot in its entirety, it was very easy to see where it was going from early on in the story. The way it was executed also left a lot of plot holes and I don’t love the use of a trigger warning topic as a plot twist.
⚠️ Stop reading here if you don’t want any spoilers! ⚠️
❌ Spoiler Section - Questions I’m left with ❌
❓Why would this woman intricately plot a 6 day “dress rehearsal” test for her husband, just to have everything with her evil ex taking place literally minutes after it wraps up leaving no time to get ready.
❓ If her husband failed how would that have worked given she left zero time between the events. This woman was meticulous and calculating but didn’t think to have a back up plan or room to adjust?
❓ I’m not buying that 2 mins of screen time under a name he didn’t know for a show he doesn’t watch would easily come to his attention. I don’t see a whole lot of chat rooms dedicated to very small roles by an unknown actor even if it is a hit show.
❓ Every character changes personality with the flip of a switch. The Shep/Christian plot was also dumb and unnecessary complication that added nothing.
❓ Craig is unbelievably unobservant and gullible. I mean really dude, you didn’t find the notes sus. Or the extremely cliched characters to be odd?
❓ Also, what was up with the apple orchard? Did I miss the point of all the extreme warnings they kept getting about staying away from it for REASONS??
It’s SUPER repetitive. 7 Days, 7 Questions, Forever changed - get ready to hear that slogan a million times. Some stories are told from both POVs, sometimes more than once, with very little changed or added. There was an over use of words - everything is described as cool. The cool lake, the cool sheets, the tablecloth is cool. The night air? It’s cool!. The air again, but this time morning air. Still cool. Phrases beside the slogan are overused too. Do the right thing, no more lies, her overalls are basically a character as much as they are mentioned. Again and again ahhhhhh! The characters also like to drone on and on about imaginary things or flashbacks slowing down the pace even as the action begins to ramp up.
I predicted the plot in its entirety, it was very easy to see where it was going from early on in the story. The way it was executed also left a lot of plot holes and I don’t love the use of a trigger warning topic as a plot twist.
⚠️ Stop reading here if you don’t want any spoilers! ⚠️
❌ Spoiler Section - Questions I’m left with ❌
❓Why would this woman intricately plot a 6 day “dress rehearsal” test for her husband, just to have everything with her evil ex taking place literally minutes after it wraps up leaving no time to get ready.
❓ If her husband failed how would that have worked given she left zero time between the events. This woman was meticulous and calculating but didn’t think to have a back up plan or room to adjust?
❓ I’m not buying that 2 mins of screen time under a name he didn’t know for a show he doesn’t watch would easily come to his attention. I don’t see a whole lot of chat rooms dedicated to very small roles by an unknown actor even if it is a hit show.
❓ Every character changes personality with the flip of a switch. The Shep/Christian plot was also dumb and unnecessary complication that added nothing.
❓ Craig is unbelievably unobservant and gullible. I mean really dude, you didn’t find the notes sus. Or the extremely cliched characters to be odd?
❓ Also, what was up with the apple orchard? Did I miss the point of all the extreme warnings they kept getting about staying away from it for REASONS??
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2023
3.5 stars
I guess you could ask yourself how far would I go to save a marriage, to what lengths would I conspire, and lie to find out if your marriage should continue?
This couple, Craig and Daisy, especially Daisy plan a week away, a marriage retreat with an interesting premise. Seven questions for seven days is the agenda. While Craig is opposed being that he has plans for the next day to fly off with his married lover, Lilith, to Cabo, ditching Daisy and his marriage, but then.....
However, once he arrives at this destination, gorgeous surroundings and a very willing wife, he sets his plans aside for a bit and the couple start a journey to reconnect.
Sounds very normal doesn't it, but normal is not the way Daisy operates. Daisy, an actress has a plan, a somewhat bizarre one, to find out if Craig is really "the one", and it results in death.
I don't really know my feelings about this story. It was surely original and touched on a subject (miscarriage) that probably would incense some (rightfully so). However, I took it as just an outlandish story that could possibly illustrate how far someone would go to "save" a marriage, while getting rid of a major problem.
I guess you could ask yourself how far would I go to save a marriage, to what lengths would I conspire, and lie to find out if your marriage should continue?
This couple, Craig and Daisy, especially Daisy plan a week away, a marriage retreat with an interesting premise. Seven questions for seven days is the agenda. While Craig is opposed being that he has plans for the next day to fly off with his married lover, Lilith, to Cabo, ditching Daisy and his marriage, but then.....
However, once he arrives at this destination, gorgeous surroundings and a very willing wife, he sets his plans aside for a bit and the couple start a journey to reconnect.
Sounds very normal doesn't it, but normal is not the way Daisy operates. Daisy, an actress has a plan, a somewhat bizarre one, to find out if Craig is really "the one", and it results in death.
I don't really know my feelings about this story. It was surely original and touched on a subject (miscarriage) that probably would incense some (rightfully so). However, I took it as just an outlandish story that could possibly illustrate how far someone would go to "save" a marriage, while getting rid of a major problem.
March 29, 2023
Since the beginning of time, man's been tempted by forbidden fruit - afforded a choice between right and wrong. Choose right and enjoy the fruits of your labor . . . choose wrong and suffer the consequences. In Adam Sternbergh's The Eden Test, a couple confronts a crisis. Should they forsake all others and fight for their marriage 'till death do they part? Or give in to temptation with another bite of forbidden fruit, dooming their marriage and souls forever? Daisy and Craig each made bad choices in the past. The Eden Test Retreat is their chance to make the right choice . . . if they survive.
Daisy's an actress who shuns the spotlight, careful to keep her face off social media for reasons unknown to all but her. A desperate woman and wife harboring deadly secrets, she has to know if she can trust her serial cheater husband Craig when the going gets perilous. What'll he do if faced with an "or else" ultimatum? Will he fight for her? Daisy needs answers and after coming across an advertisement for a couples' marital retreat called The Eden Test, she jumps at the opportunity to sign them up. The Edenic Foundation guarantees results if couples follow their plan. Seven days alone in a remote upstate New York cabin. Seven questions that force couples to reflect on their flawed marriage and reconnect with their inner feelings. Forever changed.
Craig is fuming when he comes home from work to find Daisy's note directing him to drive to a remote cabin - an anniversary surprise she says. Daisy doesn't know Craig's prepared to tell her their marriage is over, after which he'll board a plane for Caro with his hot, young mistress. Daisy's waiting at the cabin . . . and tomorrow, Lilith will be waiting at the airport. What's a man to do? Craig figures after three years of marriage, he owes Daisy a face to face kiss off so he reluctantly makes the harrowing drive to the cabin. Upon arrival, Craig finds it harder than expected to deliver his rehearsed breakup speech, and the longer he postpones confessing to Daisy, the more he second guesses his decision to leave. Maybe he'll stay a day or so and see what happens. What Craig doesn't yet understand is Daisy has secrets of her own - ones that fuel the chaos erupting around them when bizarre things begin occurring. Strange noises in the woods, dead animals left as calling cards, threats intensifying from volatile locals . . . and their own lies and secrets oozing out. Suddenly, their peaceful retreat turns into their worst nightmare.
A week in paradise quickly mutates into a fight for their lives with all the creepy vibes of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. I swear I could hear the Hitchcock opening theme music, Funeral March of a Marionette, sounding warnings in my head as its ill-boding strain resonates throughout the last half of The Eden Test. A malicious undertone permeates every page as the action accelerates until what starts as a fight for their marriage turns into a battle for their lives. Sternbergh's delivery is razor sharp and precise with descriptive imagery that brings a beautiful location to life before it morphs into a somber, menacing setting they may not survive. As this couples' situation turns dire, the action swells and I burned through pages seeking answers.
I highly recommend the audio version of The Eden Test rendered by Carlotta Brendan as it's the perfect way to become fully immersed in this story. Her voice breathes life into the characters, enhancing the sense of urgency as events snowball out of control. Dual points of view allow readers in both characters' minds, revealing critical backstory as well as the hidden intentions of Craig and Daisy. They can lie to each other . . . but not to readers.
The Eden Test is smart, witty and highly entertaining from cover to cover. Sternbergh brilliantly delivers a propulsive, unique, tension laden thriller that this reader couldn't put down. Highly recommended to fans of domestic suspense and suspense thrillers. The Eden Test is one of my 2023 favorites.
4.5 Stars
Many thanks to MacMillan Audio for the arc of this book. The narrators do a fantastic job of taking this one to the next level. While it appears reviews for this book are mixed, I enjoyed the smart, witty rendering of this convoluted tale - especially all the Hitchcockian vibes!
This title is available on April 25, 2023. This review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is now available at Cross My Heart Reviews.
Daisy's an actress who shuns the spotlight, careful to keep her face off social media for reasons unknown to all but her. A desperate woman and wife harboring deadly secrets, she has to know if she can trust her serial cheater husband Craig when the going gets perilous. What'll he do if faced with an "or else" ultimatum? Will he fight for her? Daisy needs answers and after coming across an advertisement for a couples' marital retreat called The Eden Test, she jumps at the opportunity to sign them up. The Edenic Foundation guarantees results if couples follow their plan. Seven days alone in a remote upstate New York cabin. Seven questions that force couples to reflect on their flawed marriage and reconnect with their inner feelings. Forever changed.
Craig is fuming when he comes home from work to find Daisy's note directing him to drive to a remote cabin - an anniversary surprise she says. Daisy doesn't know Craig's prepared to tell her their marriage is over, after which he'll board a plane for Caro with his hot, young mistress. Daisy's waiting at the cabin . . . and tomorrow, Lilith will be waiting at the airport. What's a man to do? Craig figures after three years of marriage, he owes Daisy a face to face kiss off so he reluctantly makes the harrowing drive to the cabin. Upon arrival, Craig finds it harder than expected to deliver his rehearsed breakup speech, and the longer he postpones confessing to Daisy, the more he second guesses his decision to leave. Maybe he'll stay a day or so and see what happens. What Craig doesn't yet understand is Daisy has secrets of her own - ones that fuel the chaos erupting around them when bizarre things begin occurring. Strange noises in the woods, dead animals left as calling cards, threats intensifying from volatile locals . . . and their own lies and secrets oozing out. Suddenly, their peaceful retreat turns into their worst nightmare.
A week in paradise quickly mutates into a fight for their lives with all the creepy vibes of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. I swear I could hear the Hitchcock opening theme music, Funeral March of a Marionette, sounding warnings in my head as its ill-boding strain resonates throughout the last half of The Eden Test. A malicious undertone permeates every page as the action accelerates until what starts as a fight for their marriage turns into a battle for their lives. Sternbergh's delivery is razor sharp and precise with descriptive imagery that brings a beautiful location to life before it morphs into a somber, menacing setting they may not survive. As this couples' situation turns dire, the action swells and I burned through pages seeking answers.
I highly recommend the audio version of The Eden Test rendered by Carlotta Brendan as it's the perfect way to become fully immersed in this story. Her voice breathes life into the characters, enhancing the sense of urgency as events snowball out of control. Dual points of view allow readers in both characters' minds, revealing critical backstory as well as the hidden intentions of Craig and Daisy. They can lie to each other . . . but not to readers.
The Eden Test is smart, witty and highly entertaining from cover to cover. Sternbergh brilliantly delivers a propulsive, unique, tension laden thriller that this reader couldn't put down. Highly recommended to fans of domestic suspense and suspense thrillers. The Eden Test is one of my 2023 favorites.
4.5 Stars
Many thanks to MacMillan Audio for the arc of this book. The narrators do a fantastic job of taking this one to the next level. While it appears reviews for this book are mixed, I enjoyed the smart, witty rendering of this convoluted tale - especially all the Hitchcockian vibes!
This title is available on April 25, 2023. This review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine and is now available at Cross My Heart Reviews.
May 1, 2023
I had a really difficult time with this one. I was intrigued by the synopsis and felt like the beginning was interesting but it went downhill from the there. There were way too many things going on and I found the plot to be completely implausible on so many levels. And the characters were all seriously annoying. This just wasn’t for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Flatiron Books and Adam Sternbergh for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Flatiron Books and Adam Sternbergh for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 21, 2023
OMG, that was a wild ride. Reading The Eden Test makes you wonder how far someone would go to save a failing relationship. I am so thankful to NetGalley, Adam Sternbergh, Macmillan Audio, and Flatiron for granting me advanced audiobook access to this twisty thriller before it publishes on April 25, 2023.
Daisy and Craig are celebrating their second marriage anniversary, and Craig has a wondering pair of eyes; further than that, he's been having a full-fledged affair with a woman named Lilith, and he was planning on ending things with Daisy so he and his mistress could jet off to Cabo San Lucas. But Daisy, the learned actress, has more in store for Craig. This married duo is whisked away to upstate New York for a rehabilitative couples' retreat, and Daisy knows more than Craig does, considering how the next seven days will go.
Soon, Daisy and Craig are transplanted into The Eden Test, which guides couples through a series of questions to help strengthen their relationship. These questions include prompts such as: "Would you fight for me?" "Would you Change for me?" and the list continues. Day after day, Daisy and Craig quickly learn that the locals aren't too keen on their presence and find they might be in danger.
Craig has secrets, but so does Daisy, and it's only a matter of time before this claustrophobic retreat unearths those hidden pasts. Will Daisy and Craig's marriage make it? What lies past the dense woods behind their cabin, and how endangered are these two?
I seriously couldn't stop listening to this audiobook and cannot wait for Pub Day!
Daisy and Craig are celebrating their second marriage anniversary, and Craig has a wondering pair of eyes; further than that, he's been having a full-fledged affair with a woman named Lilith, and he was planning on ending things with Daisy so he and his mistress could jet off to Cabo San Lucas. But Daisy, the learned actress, has more in store for Craig. This married duo is whisked away to upstate New York for a rehabilitative couples' retreat, and Daisy knows more than Craig does, considering how the next seven days will go.
Soon, Daisy and Craig are transplanted into The Eden Test, which guides couples through a series of questions to help strengthen their relationship. These questions include prompts such as: "Would you fight for me?" "Would you Change for me?" and the list continues. Day after day, Daisy and Craig quickly learn that the locals aren't too keen on their presence and find they might be in danger.
Craig has secrets, but so does Daisy, and it's only a matter of time before this claustrophobic retreat unearths those hidden pasts. Will Daisy and Craig's marriage make it? What lies past the dense woods behind their cabin, and how endangered are these two?
I seriously couldn't stop listening to this audiobook and cannot wait for Pub Day!
May 5, 2023
I was not expecting this book to be so character driven. To me, it read like a character study. The heart of the story got lost in the writing.
The description sounded incredibly intriguing. A couple on the brink of breaking up, seven days away in a secluded cabin, seven questions that can save their marriage....and they both have deep secrets that they are hiding from eachother. However, the execution was less engaging. The first two thirds was quite noneventful and bland. Not at all what I was expecting. The last third picked up but the ending was lacking the wow factor.
The best part about this book was its cryptic plot. I had absolutely no idea where it was going and I was keen to find out. The suspense definitely builds toward the end.
The audio narration was satisfactory. Good performances by both narrators.
Thank you Netgalley for an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
The description sounded incredibly intriguing. A couple on the brink of breaking up, seven days away in a secluded cabin, seven questions that can save their marriage....and they both have deep secrets that they are hiding from eachother. However, the execution was less engaging. The first two thirds was quite noneventful and bland. Not at all what I was expecting. The last third picked up but the ending was lacking the wow factor.
The best part about this book was its cryptic plot. I had absolutely no idea where it was going and I was keen to find out. The suspense definitely builds toward the end.
The audio narration was satisfactory. Good performances by both narrators.
Thank you Netgalley for an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
July 11, 2023
Daisy and Craig are a couple with some serious issues. Daisy tricks Craig into going on a retreat in the middle of nowhere, NY, to get some healing therapy through a popular thing called The Eden Test. Not a great first step, right?
First we see through Craig's eyes how unlikeable he is, then we see through Daisy's that she's unlikeable in different ways. This is where I started to think maybe this wasn't the book for me.
Things changed and got a lot more interesting, and I began to get some insight into both characters, even gained a little sympathy for them as I learned their backstories. Then something happened that took everything to Ludicrous level (are you a fan of Spaceballs?), things got crazy and violent, and it kind of lost me. Also lost were the famed Seven Questions of The Eden Test, which is surprising because they were presented as the foundation of the book, right? Apparently not.
I wanted to love this book, but instead only mildly enjoyed it.
First we see through Craig's eyes how unlikeable he is, then we see through Daisy's that she's unlikeable in different ways. This is where I started to think maybe this wasn't the book for me.
Things changed and got a lot more interesting, and I began to get some insight into both characters, even gained a little sympathy for them as I learned their backstories. Then something happened that took everything to Ludicrous level (are you a fan of Spaceballs?), things got crazy and violent, and it kind of lost me. Also lost were the famed Seven Questions of The Eden Test, which is surprising because they were presented as the foundation of the book, right? Apparently not.
I wanted to love this book, but instead only mildly enjoyed it.
Read
November 16, 2022QUICK TAKE: I'm a huge fan of Sternbergh's THE BLINDS, and this was his take on a relationship drama, which I enjoyed a lot. It's not perfect, but it's a big swing and there's a lot to lean into here.
March 31, 2023
Daisy and Craig’s marriage is on the rocks. In order to salvage their relationship, Daisy signed them up for The Eden Test, a weeklong retreat where couples are asked one question each day to determine if they are going to make it or break it.
Craig arrives at the retreat with his bags already packed and has decided to leave Daisy for another woman. But sly Daisy has her own plans. As the couple is surrounded by solitude and natural beauty, they run into angry locals, mysterious texts appear, and long-held secrets are finally revealed, how far is the broken couple willing to go to save not only their marriage but each other?
This is my second read by Adam Sternberg, my first was his 2017 release The Blinds (which I loved). After reading the first chapter of The Eden Test, I knew I was in for a treat. The book begins with a prologue that immediately hooks the reader. The pacing in The Eden Test was exactly what I want in a thriller, with no slow-moving, repetitive, or overwritten parts yet all the while giving enough backstory and character details to give the story dimension.
The suspense in The Eden Test kept me on the edge of my seat and obsessively guessing what would happen next. The ending completely made this one a true page turner and solid entertaining read. I see a lot of thriller readers enjoying The Eden Test as much as I did.
The Eden Test by Adam Sternbergh will be available on April 25. A massive thanks to Flatiron Books for the gifted copy!!
Craig arrives at the retreat with his bags already packed and has decided to leave Daisy for another woman. But sly Daisy has her own plans. As the couple is surrounded by solitude and natural beauty, they run into angry locals, mysterious texts appear, and long-held secrets are finally revealed, how far is the broken couple willing to go to save not only their marriage but each other?
This is my second read by Adam Sternberg, my first was his 2017 release The Blinds (which I loved). After reading the first chapter of The Eden Test, I knew I was in for a treat. The book begins with a prologue that immediately hooks the reader. The pacing in The Eden Test was exactly what I want in a thriller, with no slow-moving, repetitive, or overwritten parts yet all the while giving enough backstory and character details to give the story dimension.
The suspense in The Eden Test kept me on the edge of my seat and obsessively guessing what would happen next. The ending completely made this one a true page turner and solid entertaining read. I see a lot of thriller readers enjoying The Eden Test as much as I did.
The Eden Test by Adam Sternbergh will be available on April 25. A massive thanks to Flatiron Books for the gifted copy!!
February 24, 2024
began nicely, but it seemed the writer was unsure on where to take the plot. uninteresting characters, a ludicrous narrative, and general meaningless nonsense. also, was it necessary to repeat certain points constantly? i’m not sure if it was intentional, but it got annoying after a while. i was so close to dnf’ing several times but i pulled through.
September 4, 2022
Seven Days. Seven Questions. Forever Changed.
Daisy and her husband Craig are on the rocks, to say the least. Craig is a serial cheater and Daisy, has a damaged past. She pretends not to notice a lot about her marriage but she can sense the end is near. Daisy decides to book a getaway to a couples therapy retreat called Eden as a last-ditch effort to salvage the relationship. Each day at the retreat they are presented with a question to answer together as a couple to learn more about themselves.
They decide to give it a go and from the minute they get there, everything seems slightly off. I couldn’t put my finger on what was going to happen but not really much happened to say the least…
This is a slow burn. You very slowly find out more and more about Craig and Daisy. Not much was interesting to me. I thought there would be more to it? I didn’t really find the characters likeable so ultimately I didn’t care if they lasted. This lacked depth for me.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Daisy and her husband Craig are on the rocks, to say the least. Craig is a serial cheater and Daisy, has a damaged past. She pretends not to notice a lot about her marriage but she can sense the end is near. Daisy decides to book a getaway to a couples therapy retreat called Eden as a last-ditch effort to salvage the relationship. Each day at the retreat they are presented with a question to answer together as a couple to learn more about themselves.
They decide to give it a go and from the minute they get there, everything seems slightly off. I couldn’t put my finger on what was going to happen but not really much happened to say the least…
This is a slow burn. You very slowly find out more and more about Craig and Daisy. Not much was interesting to me. I thought there would be more to it? I didn’t really find the characters likeable so ultimately I didn’t care if they lasted. This lacked depth for me.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
May 13, 2023
Loved this book ….. my advice is don’t over think it just enjoy this crazy , fantastic story with its twists & turns
July 19, 2023
What did I just read?
What rollercoaster ride did I just take?
A couple confront a crisis in their marriage. Should they forsake others and fight for the marriage or give in to temptation? The Eden Test Retreat is their chance to make the right choice…if they survive.
Daisy, an actress, shuns the spotlight, careful to keep her face off social media for reasons unknown to all but her.
Why?
A desperate woman and wife harboring secrets, she has to know if she can trust her serial cheater husband Craig when the going gets perilous. What will he do if faced with an “or else” ultimatum?
Will he fight for her?
So, when she sees an advertisement for a couple’s marital retreat called The Eden Test, she thinks this will save her marriage and get her the results she needs.
What we as readers don’t realize is that this Eden Test has ulterior motives, and that Daisy has many secrets.
And as readers, we are the ones being led down a dark path, slippery slope suspense chilling page-turning reading experience.
The book is told in dual P.O.V.’s giving a sense of urgency about the events that are taking place, and let’s readers in to both character’s minds – Daisy and Craig. It also reveals critical backstory, which shares the intentions behind both Craig and Daisy that lead them to The Eden Test.
It is a very unique, propulsive and tension laden thriller that was difficult to put down. Especially for those who are fans of domestic suspense.
But it is also downright creepy in its own right. On this roller coaster ride, seatbelts please.
TW: miscarriage.
What rollercoaster ride did I just take?
A couple confront a crisis in their marriage. Should they forsake others and fight for the marriage or give in to temptation? The Eden Test Retreat is their chance to make the right choice…if they survive.
Daisy, an actress, shuns the spotlight, careful to keep her face off social media for reasons unknown to all but her.
Why?
A desperate woman and wife harboring secrets, she has to know if she can trust her serial cheater husband Craig when the going gets perilous. What will he do if faced with an “or else” ultimatum?
Will he fight for her?
So, when she sees an advertisement for a couple’s marital retreat called The Eden Test, she thinks this will save her marriage and get her the results she needs.
What we as readers don’t realize is that this Eden Test has ulterior motives, and that Daisy has many secrets.
And as readers, we are the ones being led down a dark path, slippery slope suspense chilling page-turning reading experience.
The book is told in dual P.O.V.’s giving a sense of urgency about the events that are taking place, and let’s readers in to both character’s minds – Daisy and Craig. It also reveals critical backstory, which shares the intentions behind both Craig and Daisy that lead them to The Eden Test.
It is a very unique, propulsive and tension laden thriller that was difficult to put down. Especially for those who are fans of domestic suspense.
But it is also downright creepy in its own right. On this roller coaster ride, seatbelts please.
TW: miscarriage.
April 3, 2023
Summary: When Daisy and Craig’s marriage hits the rocks, Daisy signs them up for The Eden Test, a week-long retreat for couples who need to reconnect.
Thoughts: As soon as I saw that this was being compared to Rock Paper Scissors, one of my all time favorite thrillers by Alice Feeney, I knew I needed to read it ASAP. This was a very quick, bingeable read with some really fun twists. The writing is very easy to understand and pulls you in from the beginning. That being sad, I had a few issues with this book. First and foremost, as other reviewers have noted, the author misrepresents both miscarriage and infertility. As someone who has experienced both, I really take issue with the lack of research done on this issue, particularly as this author is male writing about female reproductive health, and incorrectly.
Read if you like:
•domestic suspense
•quick reads
•twisty plotlines
•marriage in crisis
Thank you to Flatiron Books and Minotaur Audio for my gifted advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.
Thoughts: As soon as I saw that this was being compared to Rock Paper Scissors, one of my all time favorite thrillers by Alice Feeney, I knew I needed to read it ASAP. This was a very quick, bingeable read with some really fun twists. The writing is very easy to understand and pulls you in from the beginning. That being sad, I had a few issues with this book. First and foremost, as other reviewers have noted, the author misrepresents both miscarriage and infertility. As someone who has experienced both, I really take issue with the lack of research done on this issue, particularly as this author is male writing about female reproductive health, and incorrectly.
Read if you like:
•domestic suspense
•quick reads
•twisty plotlines
•marriage in crisis
Thank you to Flatiron Books and Minotaur Audio for my gifted advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.
June 9, 2023
Daisy, a brilliant but somehow still not famous actress, has organised a week in a remote cabin in the forest in order to try and save their marriage. She and her husband Craig will do the Eden Test: seven days, seven questions to figure whether they want to fight for their relationship. But things don't go as planned, because right from the start we know that on the Sixth Day two people lie dead at the cabin...
Don't read this if you want good writing or original insights in relationships. Everything in this book is at the service of the plot, which is twisty and turning but not very realistic. The characters are all unbelievable, their reactions and emotions just very strange Especially the superficial Craig, who is even supposed to be a writer, is one of the least perceptive character I ever came across in a novel.
Ah well, it actually reads well and cured me of my lingering desire to read a thriller.
2,5 rounded up. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
Don't read this if you want good writing or original insights in relationships. Everything in this book is at the service of the plot, which is twisty and turning but not very realistic. The characters are all unbelievable, their reactions and emotions just very strange Especially the superficial Craig, who is even supposed to be a writer, is one of the least perceptive character I ever came across in a novel.
Ah well, it actually reads well and cured me of my lingering desire to read a thriller.
2,5 rounded up. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
April 27, 2023
“Seven Days. Seven Questions. Forever Changed.”
Holy bat s&$t crazy! The Eden Test is a domestic thriller with excellent twists that will keep you on your toes from the very beginning!
What appealed to you the most in this story?
The premise is what really appealed and hooked me before I even began listening to the audiobook. It's best to go into this book without knowing too much about it--just know that married couple Daisy and Craig travel to a remote cabin in upstate New York to work on their marriage for seven days while answering a question each day, and from there they discover how far they will go to save their marriage. Once they arrive at the cabin, mysterious things begin to happen and secrets that both are hiding threaten to come to the surface.
Oh, how I want to talk so much about their marriage, the dynamics, the chaos, their individual pasts, the supporting characters, and more but I can’t say a dang word without giving something away! AAAARRRRGGGG! Definitely perfect for book clubs and buddy reads.
How was the audio version?
This book was made for audio, and it was perfect for a long road trip I recently took for work. I had a total of 11 hours in the car round trip, and it made the drive go by in a flash! Carlotta Brentan narration is excellent, and she kept me invested in the story while giving each character a distinct voice.
Listening speed: 2.0
How was the pace?
The audio version kept this a fast-paced story!
Do you recommend this book?
Like I mentioned, this book has some great twists and audio is the way to go! I didn't really like any of the characters, but overall, this didn't actually matter and made the story that much more intriguing. I loved how the book was laid out and how the various secrets were revealed--the characters to each other and then to the reader. The Eden Test itself comes into play in more ways than one in this creepy, atmospheric, and surprising tale. If you're looking for a good domestic and psychological thriller, The Eden Test is an excellent choice.
Thank you, Flatiron Books and MaCMillan Audio, for my gifted copies in exchange for my honest review.
Holy bat s&$t crazy! The Eden Test is a domestic thriller with excellent twists that will keep you on your toes from the very beginning!
What appealed to you the most in this story?
The premise is what really appealed and hooked me before I even began listening to the audiobook. It's best to go into this book without knowing too much about it--just know that married couple Daisy and Craig travel to a remote cabin in upstate New York to work on their marriage for seven days while answering a question each day, and from there they discover how far they will go to save their marriage. Once they arrive at the cabin, mysterious things begin to happen and secrets that both are hiding threaten to come to the surface.
Oh, how I want to talk so much about their marriage, the dynamics, the chaos, their individual pasts, the supporting characters, and more but I can’t say a dang word without giving something away! AAAARRRRGGGG! Definitely perfect for book clubs and buddy reads.
How was the audio version?
This book was made for audio, and it was perfect for a long road trip I recently took for work. I had a total of 11 hours in the car round trip, and it made the drive go by in a flash! Carlotta Brentan narration is excellent, and she kept me invested in the story while giving each character a distinct voice.
Listening speed: 2.0
How was the pace?
The audio version kept this a fast-paced story!
Do you recommend this book?
Like I mentioned, this book has some great twists and audio is the way to go! I didn't really like any of the characters, but overall, this didn't actually matter and made the story that much more intriguing. I loved how the book was laid out and how the various secrets were revealed--the characters to each other and then to the reader. The Eden Test itself comes into play in more ways than one in this creepy, atmospheric, and surprising tale. If you're looking for a good domestic and psychological thriller, The Eden Test is an excellent choice.
Thank you, Flatiron Books and MaCMillan Audio, for my gifted copies in exchange for my honest review.
February 4, 2023
Classic psychological thriller! This one hooked me from the beginning and kept me there the entire time. It was a tad predictable, but I feel like that’s just because I read so many psychological thrillers that it’s rare that I don’t call it by the halfway point.
This one is super creepy and atmospheric - classic middle of nowhere setting with characters who are used to a big city so they’re already on high alert throughout. I think this one is great for people just getting into the thriller/horror genre!
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This one is super creepy and atmospheric - classic middle of nowhere setting with characters who are used to a big city so they’re already on high alert throughout. I think this one is great for people just getting into the thriller/horror genre!
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 20, 2023
**ARC provided by the publisher for review consideration. All thoughts are my own**
OK, this one seems to be in a lot of other reviewer's wheelhouses, but I was left rather disappointed. My first thought at the end was "this is why I don't read books by men anymore."
Content warnings for
OK, this one seems to be in a lot of other reviewer's wheelhouses, but I was left rather disappointed. My first thought at the end was "this is why I don't read books by men anymore."
Content warnings for
May 17, 2023
Such an interesting concept, I really enjoyed this one. A married couple, Daisy and Craig, are struggling and so they head to a week-long retreat to participate in ‘The Eden Test’, where they go through a series of seven questions and by the end they will apparently either be stronger than ever or perhaps no longer a couple. Daisy and Craig set out and little does Daisy know but Craig’s bag is packed to go be with someone else. However, Daisy has a few secrets of her own, and the test itself is not easy questions, which you probably figured from the potential end result. They stick it out and the ending was not what I expected. I will note this starts off with a prologue that mentions bodies so it’s definitely not a weekend without casualties….
As I said, this was an interesting concept and I was curious as to where it would all go. It was a tad out there but not unlike most thrillers I’ve read, and overall it was a very enjoyable and great read. The audio was great as well, with Carlotta Brentan doing a great job of building the suspense throughout and until the end.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC to review.
As I said, this was an interesting concept and I was curious as to where it would all go. It was a tad out there but not unlike most thrillers I’ve read, and overall it was a very enjoyable and great read. The audio was great as well, with Carlotta Brentan doing a great job of building the suspense throughout and until the end.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC to review.
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