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The Marriage Counselor
“Adele, we believe your husband is missing.” As everything around me starts to blur, I go over the words once more: “your husband is missing.” Four simple words with the power to shatter my whole world in an instant.
Working as a marriage counselor I’m used to the tragedies that come out of nowhere. People trust me to help them through life’s big moments. The things that leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about the person you love the most.
But I never thought trouble would land on my own doorstep.
As I start to piece together our last conversation desperate for any clues I can find, the cop standing in front of me reveals that my husband never told his co-workers he was married. He was seemingly living a double life right in front of me.
Days later, as I search through our home, I discover a hidden box of baby clothes that suggest my husband was starting to build the perfect life without me.
My entire career has been built on separating the truth from the lies. My husband may think he has pulled off the greatest lie of all but he is not the only one keeping a secret in this marriage.
All I know for certain is that when the truth comes out, only one of us will make it out alive.
A totally addictive and unputdownable psychological thriller about deadly obsession and twisted lies perfect for fans of Gone Girl, The Perfect Marriage, The Wife Before Me and anything by Freida McFadden.
Working as a marriage counselor I’m used to the tragedies that come out of nowhere. People trust me to help them through life’s big moments. The things that leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about the person you love the most.
But I never thought trouble would land on my own doorstep.
As I start to piece together our last conversation desperate for any clues I can find, the cop standing in front of me reveals that my husband never told his co-workers he was married. He was seemingly living a double life right in front of me.
Days later, as I search through our home, I discover a hidden box of baby clothes that suggest my husband was starting to build the perfect life without me.
My entire career has been built on separating the truth from the lies. My husband may think he has pulled off the greatest lie of all but he is not the only one keeping a secret in this marriage.
All I know for certain is that when the truth comes out, only one of us will make it out alive.
A totally addictive and unputdownable psychological thriller about deadly obsession and twisted lies perfect for fans of Gone Girl, The Perfect Marriage, The Wife Before Me and anything by Freida McFadden.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 24, 2023
1009 people are currently reading
5553 people want to read
About the author
Dea Poirier
13 books495 followersDea Poirier was raised in Edmond, Oklahoma, where she found her passion during a creative writing course. She studied computer science and political science at the University of Central Oklahoma. She later spent time living on both coasts and traveling the United States before finally putting down roots in central Florida. She now resides somewhere between Disney and the swamp.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 278 reviews
April 13, 2023
Well this sounds like fun!
A marriage counselor with problems of her own…including a missing husband!
Ok! I’m in!🙋🏻♀
A knock on the door will change Adele’s life forever. Her ex-boyfriend Cameron, now a policeman, is doing a welfare check on a man named Patrick. Cameron is stunned to find Adel at the home, unaware Patrick was married and apparently keeping Adele a secret from everyone in his life. Huh?
Meanwhile, someone is out to trash Adele's reputation and that of her parents who were celebrity therapists from the 90’s.🤪
Never mind! I’m out!🤦🏻♀️
I honestly don’t know what to say. This book was all over the place. My brain hurts. Felt like I was herding cats trying to piece it all together. Bodies piling up at breakneck speed! My only thought was at this rate this story has to end soon as there won’t be any characters left! I’m still a bit baffled by it all.
Wasn’t a good fit for me. I hope you have better luck🤞
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture
A marriage counselor with problems of her own…including a missing husband!
Ok! I’m in!🙋🏻♀
A knock on the door will change Adele’s life forever. Her ex-boyfriend Cameron, now a policeman, is doing a welfare check on a man named Patrick. Cameron is stunned to find Adel at the home, unaware Patrick was married and apparently keeping Adele a secret from everyone in his life. Huh?
Meanwhile, someone is out to trash Adele's reputation and that of her parents who were celebrity therapists from the 90’s.🤪
Never mind! I’m out!🤦🏻♀️
I honestly don’t know what to say. This book was all over the place. My brain hurts. Felt like I was herding cats trying to piece it all together. Bodies piling up at breakneck speed! My only thought was at this rate this story has to end soon as there won’t be any characters left! I’m still a bit baffled by it all.
Wasn’t a good fit for me. I hope you have better luck🤞
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture
April 24, 2023
But in my life I've learned a few things some of us are born to change the world and some of us are born to let the world change us.
Uhmm... Predictable plot and twist.
But since I listened to the audiobook, I will give it 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.
When I listened to the story of this book, it kept bringing me a sense of DEJAVU🧙♀️, like the characters, the plot, and the setting, i have seen it somewhere before 🤔 (pretend to think).
Well, this book is indeed a perfect alternate for fans of "The Perfect Marriage," it has quite a same vibe.
As far as I read books from every genre, whenever the main character is played as a psychologist thing (counselor, sex psychologist, child psychologist, etc.), it will never end well. Literally, that character is the most fucked up one. ALWAYS. No matter what genre I am in, it's all the same.
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW🔊:
Narrated by: Stephanie Cannon 👩
Length of audio: 7h 42m
I did enjoy a lot as I listened to the audiobook; the narrator was good at showing the emotions each character had; also, her pronunciation, tone, and speed are perfecto, so it was easy to hear and catch up. She is the main reason why I rounded up to 4 stars instead of giving it 3 stars. If I read this story as an e-book, then it would be a very different story.
Okay👌.
MY THOUGHTS:
•Actually, I didn't really like all of the characters in this book. Even the main character herself (Adele) she is so childish.
•I liked how the author made our FMC (Adele) as a psychologist noticed every single movement that the other characters make when they're lying or hiding something.
•It's better if I get some POV from Patrick, even if it's just a glimpse of him. It will add more tension to the story.
•Some words kept repeating over and over. I felt i'm hearing same thing. When I think it could be changed into the other expression, even though the meaning is same. However, it would sound different.
•Truth be told, I might just give it 4 stars without the rounded part IF you delete all of Cameron's dialogue with Adele. Because that sounded bad and made me cringe. Jesus, I wanted to crawl out of my body whenever I heard his dialogue with Adele.
•Again, since I listened to the audiobook, except from Adele, all of the female characters sounded so bitchy. I mean, why did they sound bitchy? Yeah, I get that they're bitches at some point, but you know that not all bitches sound bitchy. So that's a bit annoying.
•Did everyone have to die? Cz everyone around Adele keeps getting killed. There were some things that needed further explanation. Like how the killer killed them and why?.
•And The Ending was ☠️👍🏻. For me, it was predictable, but for people out there who're new to this genre, I think you would like this.
WHAT I REALLY LIKED:
-The audibook. The narrator did such a great job. Without her this book go staright to 3 stars, round applause for Stephanie Cannon👏👏👏. She saved the day.
CREDIT:
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio, for providing me with this audibook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
🐥
April 24, 2023
3⭐
Featuring ~ single 1st person POV, missing husband, murder, infidelity
Knock knock ~ who's there? Oh it's my ex~boyfriend and cop, Cameron, looking for my husband, Patrick.
Adele doesn't seem too broken up with the news that Patrick is missing. But wait, no one knew Patrick was even married to Adele, so what other secrets might he be hiding?
People close to Adele and Patrick are turning up dead and Adele is convinced Patrick is to blame.
All of the characters were unlikable ~ especially Emma, Adele's assistant. She was super annoying and demanding ~ the narrator did a great job of giving her an annoying tone. I thought there was too much talk about Adele's famous dead parents, but it correlated fine with the story.
Overall, this was a fine, quick read/listen, but pretty predictable and not really memorable.
Narration:
Stephanie Cannon ~ 7 hours 42 minutes ~ a fine job
*Thanks to the author, Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
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Featuring ~ single 1st person POV, missing husband, murder, infidelity
Knock knock ~ who's there? Oh it's my ex~boyfriend and cop, Cameron, looking for my husband, Patrick.
Adele doesn't seem too broken up with the news that Patrick is missing. But wait, no one knew Patrick was even married to Adele, so what other secrets might he be hiding?
People close to Adele and Patrick are turning up dead and Adele is convinced Patrick is to blame.
All of the characters were unlikable ~ especially Emma, Adele's assistant. She was super annoying and demanding ~ the narrator did a great job of giving her an annoying tone. I thought there was too much talk about Adele's famous dead parents, but it correlated fine with the story.
Overall, this was a fine, quick read/listen, but pretty predictable and not really memorable.
Narration:
Stephanie Cannon ~ 7 hours 42 minutes ~ a fine job
*Thanks to the author, Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
July 7, 2023
There was a lot going on in The Marriage Counselor. Tons of dead bodies, shady individuals, and so much deception, it was hard to keep track. I was very grateful to have the opportunity to listen to the audiobook. This might’ve been a DNF if I would have consumed it by print. I never really connected to the main character. Some of the other characters seemed very similar and were hard to tell apart. I’m not saying this was a bad thriller necessarily, it just wasn’t for me. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my audiobook.
April 16, 2023
3.25-3.5 Stars
Adele's husband, Patrick, had randomly disappeared one day. While scrambling to find his whereabouts, Adele discovered he has been lying to her for years! He was secretly living a double life and she didn't have a clue. Did he disappear and run off with his mistress? Or was it foul play?
Intriguing concept and idea. I love all the twists, but the story wasn't convincing enough. It lacked depth and clarity.
Overall, a decent read.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Dea Poirier, and Bookouture Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
Adele's husband, Patrick, had randomly disappeared one day. While scrambling to find his whereabouts, Adele discovered he has been lying to her for years! He was secretly living a double life and she didn't have a clue. Did he disappear and run off with his mistress? Or was it foul play?
Intriguing concept and idea. I love all the twists, but the story wasn't convincing enough. It lacked depth and clarity.
Overall, a decent read.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Dea Poirier, and Bookouture Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
May 28, 2023
3.25 stars
A domestic psych thriller that kept me invested but was a little on the dramatic side of the line. Readers who are okay with "over-the-top" thrillers and can suspend disbelief may enjoy this curvy mystery.
When a marriage counsellor's husband suddenly disappears, she discovers many layers of secrets that he kept from her as she tries to figure out where he is. I will leave it at that. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Thanks Netgalley for an advanced audiobook that delivered an engaging performance and kept me up into the night listening.
A domestic psych thriller that kept me invested but was a little on the dramatic side of the line. Readers who are okay with "over-the-top" thrillers and can suspend disbelief may enjoy this curvy mystery.
When a marriage counsellor's husband suddenly disappears, she discovers many layers of secrets that he kept from her as she tries to figure out where he is. I will leave it at that. Buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Thanks Netgalley for an advanced audiobook that delivered an engaging performance and kept me up into the night listening.
March 20, 2023
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for an early copy of The Marriage Counselor. I can honestly say this book was the most confusing book I’ve read. I still don’t know who killed who and why. I don’t even know the point of the plot. Very disappointing.
July 30, 2023
This is told from the singke pov of marriage Counsellor Adele who start living her own tragedy when her husband Patrick goes missing.
Full of twists and turns and red herrings this take a while to get you hooked but hooked it does. The back story of adele is hinted at various points. I would like to have read more about her parents death. This was vitual to the plot but was just too matter of fact for me.
The unravel at tines was a bit far fetched for me but kept me hooked and the ending was spot on. Thanks to net gallery and publisher for arc This is a solid 4.5 so 4 . Good read definitely worth your time
Full of twists and turns and red herrings this take a while to get you hooked but hooked it does. The back story of adele is hinted at various points. I would like to have read more about her parents death. This was vitual to the plot but was just too matter of fact for me.
The unravel at tines was a bit far fetched for me but kept me hooked and the ending was spot on. Thanks to net gallery and publisher for arc This is a solid 4.5 so 4 . Good read definitely worth your time
April 22, 2023
★★ 2.5 stars
"You trust her with your darkest secrets...you shouldn't..."
I really don't know what to think of this book. On the one hand it seriously messes with your head...yet on the other, it seriously messes with your head! Seriously, it is twisted and not always in a good way. And yet all throughout you don't know who you can trust. And the main character, Adele, was so completely unreliable I didn't know if I could trust her either!
The premise for this book had me hooked right away. Missing husband of a marriage counsellor? Sign me up! No, not for one of her sessions...somehow I don't think she'd be the best fit for marriage counselling under the circumstances. But for a peek into her own troublesome marriage? Now that I'd be interested in.
Adele is no stranger to fame. Her parents were daytime TV pop-psychologists of the nineties who went on to make a killing...before being killed in a car accident themselves. Now two decades later, she's married to Patrick and opens the door one morning to a police officer who was once her boyfriend, some fifteen years ago. More cheesy daytime TV plot? It seems so. Anyway, Cameron the cop has come knocking for a welfare check on her husband Patrick who apparently hasn't turned up for work. In fact, today was his first day back after a two week vacation. Which was news to Adele who had seen hubby off to work every morning and returning every night. So where was he going every day, if not work? And where was he now if not at work?
But that's not all of it. Apparently, none of his colleagues know anything of Adele's existence. They've only been married seven years and he's worked at the company for three, so what did he tell them of his private life? But this secrecy was only the beginning. The more Adele delved, the more she discovered Patrick lied, cheated and stole from her...and others. Did she even know him at all?
What amazed me was that throughout all this going on Adele continued to meet clients, with the help of Emma who worked as her assistant. I'm not sure what else Emma's role was besides a grade A bitch. The way she spoke to Adele was just mindblowing and the fact that Adele just let it go like water off a duck's back just made my head hurt.
And then just when things couldn't get any worse...someone is out to trash Adele's reputation by digging into her parents' deaths and the cloud that apparently now surrounds their celebrity status. It doesn't matter that Adele doesn't talk to them, they hash it out on national TV anyway. And Adele's business begins to suffer and Emma becomes even bitchier (if that's possible).
And then things start to get a little confusing. Bodies begin to start piling up at such a speed I wondered if there would be any characters left by the end of it!
I still don't even know what to think of of this book. I feel I must give it a good review (being on the tour and all) but how? The plot was just ridiculous. It revolves around the disappearance of our main character's husband, who we don't know anything about beyond being a liar, a cheat and a scammer. There's no depth to his character; no narrative from him (even just one chapter from him would have sufficed to give him some kind of depth). And in the end we just get a brief description of what happened in a couple of paragraphs. Like what? His disappearance was meant to be the main plot focus and that's all the answers we get? And don't get me started on Adele. She had about as much depth as a puddle. She just drifted through the entire book without much of a fight beyond "Patrick is not getting away with blah blah blah".
The premise was good. The concept was intriguing. But the execution was so completely lacking I was left with the only positive thought being it was a nice quick read. Oh, that and the delicious twist at the end. Now that I really did like!
I would like to thank #DeaPoirier, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheMarriageCounselor in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
"You trust her with your darkest secrets...you shouldn't..."
I really don't know what to think of this book. On the one hand it seriously messes with your head...yet on the other, it seriously messes with your head! Seriously, it is twisted and not always in a good way. And yet all throughout you don't know who you can trust. And the main character, Adele, was so completely unreliable I didn't know if I could trust her either!
The premise for this book had me hooked right away. Missing husband of a marriage counsellor? Sign me up! No, not for one of her sessions...somehow I don't think she'd be the best fit for marriage counselling under the circumstances. But for a peek into her own troublesome marriage? Now that I'd be interested in.
Adele is no stranger to fame. Her parents were daytime TV pop-psychologists of the nineties who went on to make a killing...before being killed in a car accident themselves. Now two decades later, she's married to Patrick and opens the door one morning to a police officer who was once her boyfriend, some fifteen years ago. More cheesy daytime TV plot? It seems so. Anyway, Cameron the cop has come knocking for a welfare check on her husband Patrick who apparently hasn't turned up for work. In fact, today was his first day back after a two week vacation. Which was news to Adele who had seen hubby off to work every morning and returning every night. So where was he going every day, if not work? And where was he now if not at work?
But that's not all of it. Apparently, none of his colleagues know anything of Adele's existence. They've only been married seven years and he's worked at the company for three, so what did he tell them of his private life? But this secrecy was only the beginning. The more Adele delved, the more she discovered Patrick lied, cheated and stole from her...and others. Did she even know him at all?
What amazed me was that throughout all this going on Adele continued to meet clients, with the help of Emma who worked as her assistant. I'm not sure what else Emma's role was besides a grade A bitch. The way she spoke to Adele was just mindblowing and the fact that Adele just let it go like water off a duck's back just made my head hurt.
And then just when things couldn't get any worse...someone is out to trash Adele's reputation by digging into her parents' deaths and the cloud that apparently now surrounds their celebrity status. It doesn't matter that Adele doesn't talk to them, they hash it out on national TV anyway. And Adele's business begins to suffer and Emma becomes even bitchier (if that's possible).
And then things start to get a little confusing. Bodies begin to start piling up at such a speed I wondered if there would be any characters left by the end of it!
I still don't even know what to think of of this book. I feel I must give it a good review (being on the tour and all) but how? The plot was just ridiculous. It revolves around the disappearance of our main character's husband, who we don't know anything about beyond being a liar, a cheat and a scammer. There's no depth to his character; no narrative from him (even just one chapter from him would have sufficed to give him some kind of depth). And in the end we just get a brief description of what happened in a couple of paragraphs. Like what? His disappearance was meant to be the main plot focus and that's all the answers we get? And don't get me started on Adele. She had about as much depth as a puddle. She just drifted through the entire book without much of a fight beyond "Patrick is not getting away with blah blah blah".
The premise was good. The concept was intriguing. But the execution was so completely lacking I was left with the only positive thought being it was a nice quick read. Oh, that and the delicious twist at the end. Now that I really did like!
I would like to thank #DeaPoirier, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheMarriageCounselor in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
May 1, 2023
REVIEW: Well, they got one thing right in the synopsis.. if you were a fan of “The Perfect Marriage,” you’ll like this one, because that book was batshit crazy garbage and this one was too!
Alright, I’ll reel it in; I try to make my bad reviews respectful, and that was mean; but I had to with TPM comparison.
To have the word “counselor” in the title, this book damn sure didn’t focus on a bit of counseling. I mean, other than the MC stating she was a therapist, in no way was it part of the storyline, which made absolutely no sense to me.
Are you a fan of having the killer revealed right in front of your eyes at the beginning of the story?! Because they basically wore a tshirt, hat, pants and shoes that said “TELL ADELE, I WANT HER TO KNOW IT WAS ME” like Lady Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones with her glass of wine. It could NOT have been more obvious. When they finally reveal themselves in the end, we’re like “duh, we been done known heifer.”
There was literally no suspense. Plot holes abound. Warning, spoiler next: their best friend is brutally murdered right in front of them, and they’re like “ok, let me start worrying over the most mundane things like nothing happened!” It just made no sense.
POSITIVES: It was an interesting plot. I liked the narrator.
👩🏼⚕️VERDICT: 2 STARS ⭐️⭐️
🎶SONG REC: “Stupid Girl” - Garbage.. because that’s what the MC was
Thank you to Bookouture and @netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Alright, I’ll reel it in; I try to make my bad reviews respectful, and that was mean; but I had to with TPM comparison.
To have the word “counselor” in the title, this book damn sure didn’t focus on a bit of counseling. I mean, other than the MC stating she was a therapist, in no way was it part of the storyline, which made absolutely no sense to me.
Are you a fan of having the killer revealed right in front of your eyes at the beginning of the story?! Because they basically wore a tshirt, hat, pants and shoes that said “TELL ADELE, I WANT HER TO KNOW IT WAS ME” like Lady Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones with her glass of wine. It could NOT have been more obvious. When they finally reveal themselves in the end, we’re like “duh, we been done known heifer.”
There was literally no suspense. Plot holes abound. Warning, spoiler next: their best friend is brutally murdered right in front of them, and they’re like “ok, let me start worrying over the most mundane things like nothing happened!” It just made no sense.
POSITIVES: It was an interesting plot. I liked the narrator.
👩🏼⚕️VERDICT: 2 STARS ⭐️⭐️
🎶SONG REC: “Stupid Girl” - Garbage.. because that’s what the MC was
Thank you to Bookouture and @netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 25, 2023
Where is Adele’s husband Patrick? Just as she discovers that is he missing, it appears that he has erased her from his life. The past two weeks especially have been a lie, making Adele wonder if everything about her life has been a lie. The detective handling this case is none other than Adele’s ex-boyfriend, Cameron. He is determined to find her husband.
As this story begins to unravel, it becomes clear that Patrick has had secrets. Even more, Adele may have had at least one of her own. As Adele lost her parents when she was a child, there are things about their deaths that are coming to light now. There is also a murder case, and it is curious to the police whether or not it is in any way connected to Patrick’s disappearance.
This fast-paced story was quite intriguing. The past kept colliding with the present. Everything came together in the end as the dots were connected. As I listened to this as an audiobook, I was drawn into the drama as things unfolded. This latest book by Dea Poirier had some exciting twists, none of which I saw coming.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
As this story begins to unravel, it becomes clear that Patrick has had secrets. Even more, Adele may have had at least one of her own. As Adele lost her parents when she was a child, there are things about their deaths that are coming to light now. There is also a murder case, and it is curious to the police whether or not it is in any way connected to Patrick’s disappearance.
This fast-paced story was quite intriguing. The past kept colliding with the present. Everything came together in the end as the dots were connected. As I listened to this as an audiobook, I was drawn into the drama as things unfolded. This latest book by Dea Poirier had some exciting twists, none of which I saw coming.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
May 22, 2023
The Marriage Counselor is a fast paced, gripping, explosive page turner.
Adele has made a career of being a counselor for married couples.
She professionally helps individuals with problems and tragedy.
From the outside she has the perfect marriage with Patrick.
But one day, the police knock at her door.
Patrick is missing.
Soon the lies begin to surface.
The deception and accusations begin to accumulate.
Adele can’t trust anyone as no one is to be trusted.
Until the very surprising and ghastly truth is revealed……
A cleverly put together psychological thriller that will give you the chills from cover to cover.
Filled with suspense, betrayal and the crazy moments some characters will get up to.
My first book by Dea and I was clearly enamoured and exultant by the plot, the writing style, the intriguing characters, the twists and the wild ride.
I think readers will totally enjoy and devour this one.
A snappy attention grabbing read with great twists and unexpected moments.
Adele has made a career of being a counselor for married couples.
She professionally helps individuals with problems and tragedy.
From the outside she has the perfect marriage with Patrick.
But one day, the police knock at her door.
Patrick is missing.
Soon the lies begin to surface.
The deception and accusations begin to accumulate.
Adele can’t trust anyone as no one is to be trusted.
Until the very surprising and ghastly truth is revealed……
A cleverly put together psychological thriller that will give you the chills from cover to cover.
Filled with suspense, betrayal and the crazy moments some characters will get up to.
My first book by Dea and I was clearly enamoured and exultant by the plot, the writing style, the intriguing characters, the twists and the wild ride.
I think readers will totally enjoy and devour this one.
A snappy attention grabbing read with great twists and unexpected moments.
April 27, 2023
Where to begin with this novel? It was certainly entertaining and dramatic, filled with unlikable characters, juicy twists, and it had lots of action. It was a fun plot for audio and is a pretty quick read.
Adele is a successful family therapist, carrying on the legacy of her parents who died in a car accident when she was a teenager. When Adele's husband goes missing, secrets about his life become exposed and Adele realizes that he's been living a lie their entire marriage. Soon, bodies start piling up around her and it's clear that Patrick has done more than just abandon and defraud his wife.
For a short novel, this has A LOT going on. There are mysteries involved with Adele's parents' deaths, how they ran their business, Patrick missing and his sordid affairs and lies, an ex-boyfriend who also happens to be the lead detective on Patrick's case, endless drama with friends and colleagues, and lots and lots of dead bodies. Oddly enough, with all of this going on, the book also felt quite repetitive. We heard over and over again Adele's inner monologue about how much she gave up to be a wonderful wife and how she was so surprised by everything she was uncovering. Much of the emotion felt told, not shown, and it was hard to connect with Adele or feel empathy for her.
There were also some inconsistencies in the storytelling. First and foremost, this novel should not have been in first person. The twists felt inauthentic and haphazardly thrown in because there were things we should have known but been explicitly told otherwise through Adele's thoughts and inner dialogues. Second, there were several instances of disjointed / inaccurate information being shared, all minor, but still slightly irritating (i.e. talking about how immaculate her house always is but then wishing she had time to "tidy up" before the detective came by; claiming to never drink more than a glass of wine but getting blackout drunk with her friend one evening; etc.). Regarding inaccurate information, there were several instances throughout the therapy sessions, investigation, and with the news crews that were just wildly incorrect and unlikely to ever happy.
Finally, as a big advocate of therapy, I didn't love some of the offhand comments made about counseling. For example, Adele starts the novel by saying most couples who entered her door were already past a point of help and in need of a divorce. These flippant comments were made repeatedly and didn't add any value to the story. Though they certainly helped keep Adele unlikable in my book!
I listened to this novel on audio and the narrator was decent but some of her voices were a bit overdone and overly dramatic. She did keep the story exciting and helped with the pacing.
Overall this was a decent read but not one that will likely stick with me.
2.5 rounded up.
Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the copy.
Adele is a successful family therapist, carrying on the legacy of her parents who died in a car accident when she was a teenager. When Adele's husband goes missing, secrets about his life become exposed and Adele realizes that he's been living a lie their entire marriage. Soon, bodies start piling up around her and it's clear that Patrick has done more than just abandon and defraud his wife.
For a short novel, this has A LOT going on. There are mysteries involved with Adele's parents' deaths, how they ran their business, Patrick missing and his sordid affairs and lies, an ex-boyfriend who also happens to be the lead detective on Patrick's case, endless drama with friends and colleagues, and lots and lots of dead bodies. Oddly enough, with all of this going on, the book also felt quite repetitive. We heard over and over again Adele's inner monologue about how much she gave up to be a wonderful wife and how she was so surprised by everything she was uncovering. Much of the emotion felt told, not shown, and it was hard to connect with Adele or feel empathy for her.
There were also some inconsistencies in the storytelling. First and foremost, this novel should not have been in first person. The twists felt inauthentic and haphazardly thrown in because there were things we should have known but been explicitly told otherwise through Adele's thoughts and inner dialogues. Second, there were several instances of disjointed / inaccurate information being shared, all minor, but still slightly irritating (i.e. talking about how immaculate her house always is but then wishing she had time to "tidy up" before the detective came by; claiming to never drink more than a glass of wine but getting blackout drunk with her friend one evening; etc.). Regarding inaccurate information, there were several instances throughout the therapy sessions, investigation, and with the news crews that were just wildly incorrect and unlikely to ever happy.
Finally, as a big advocate of therapy, I didn't love some of the offhand comments made about counseling. For example, Adele starts the novel by saying most couples who entered her door were already past a point of help and in need of a divorce. These flippant comments were made repeatedly and didn't add any value to the story. Though they certainly helped keep Adele unlikable in my book!
I listened to this novel on audio and the narrator was decent but some of her voices were a bit overdone and overly dramatic. She did keep the story exciting and helped with the pacing.
Overall this was a decent read but not one that will likely stick with me.
2.5 rounded up.
Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the copy.
April 8, 2023
It was so good in the start. I was hooked, I really wanted to know what happened. The missing husband and te solid marriage fallen apart. And some victims connected to the husband. And all was done in the name of love. Oh well there is a twist at the end maybe not all expected. An pop-corn entertaining thriler. Thank you Bookouture and Netgalley for the opportunity.
March 24, 2023
I will start with a spoiler-free review. It had the premise for a great thriller but it fell so flat for me. There were several plot holes and as other reviewers have mentioned, some things either didn't make sense or weren't explained - it was as if there should be a sequel to explain things. After you read this, you will not know who did what or the motives behind it. I also didn't find it thrilling at all which disappointed me. The "big" plot twist was easily predictable, and this is coming from someone who rarely predicts twists correctly. I will go into more detail about my issues with the plot below which will contain spoilers.
With that being said, I also found it hard to connect with the characters because they weren't well-developed. Many characters seemed to be the same person with different names (essentially rude, unintelligent, and insufferable). There is a part where the receptionist calls the mc a "b*tch" and threatens her many times, but the mc doesn't even seem to care??? I'm sorry but there's no way someone would tolerate unnecessary bs from an employee. It also doesn't make sense that the plot of the book revolves around the disappearance of Adele's husband, but we don't know anything about him except side characters saying he's a scammer. It's ridiculous that the description of what happened to him was less than a page. Is that not the main plot? I don't even want to get started with the relationships in this book because wtf was that. There was no chemistry between Cameron and Adele like AT ALL. Oh wow guys he remembered her hot dog order 😱😱
Now onto my rant which WILL contain major spoilers
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
With that being said, I also found it hard to connect with the characters because they weren't well-developed. Many characters seemed to be the same person with different names (essentially rude, unintelligent, and insufferable). There is a part where the receptionist calls the mc a "b*tch" and threatens her many times, but the mc doesn't even seem to care??? I'm sorry but there's no way someone would tolerate unnecessary bs from an employee. It also doesn't make sense that the plot of the book revolves around the disappearance of Adele's husband, but we don't know anything about him except side characters saying he's a scammer. It's ridiculous that the description of what happened to him was less than a page. Is that not the main plot? I don't even want to get started with the relationships in this book because wtf was that. There was no chemistry between Cameron and Adele like AT ALL. Oh wow guys he remembered her hot dog order 😱😱
Now onto my rant which WILL contain major spoilers
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2023
Unfortunately this is one of the worst books I've read in a long time. The writing is juvenile and unbelievable. The reactions of the characters are ridiculous. No research has gone into how the police work and operate. Everyone seems to die, and just going back to the writing it's terrible.
May 4, 2023
What a wonderful wonderful read this is! Do not, whatever you do,miss this one. One of my top reads of 2023! Very highly recommended
April 18, 2023
Narrated by Stephanie Cannon ⭐⭐⭐
Stephanie Cannon's voice ok but after a while it becomes sickly sweet.
Story by Dea Poirier ⭐⭐
Every time Emma came into the story I wanted to stop this book. She was so unrealistic. No assistant in that profession would behave that way. Her character really destroyed this book
As for the rest of the story it was so so. Even though there was a lot of death it wasn't particularly interesting death.
Stephanie Cannon's voice ok but after a while it becomes sickly sweet.
Story by Dea Poirier ⭐⭐
Every time Emma came into the story I wanted to stop this book. She was so unrealistic. No assistant in that profession would behave that way. Her character really destroyed this book
As for the rest of the story it was so so. Even though there was a lot of death it wasn't particularly interesting death.
August 3, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for an arc of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I have to start by saying that I am a counselling therapist myself. This book had absolutely zero understanding of the counselling field and how it works. The marriage counselling “sessions” that Adele ran from her home office seem more like psychic readings than any type of counselling sessions. “Reading the clients minds” is something she genuinely claims to do in her counselling. Adele even states she only went to college for one year before dropping out! To be a Psychologist (as Adele claims to be) you need at LEAST a 4 year undergraduate degree and a masters degree. This aspect of the book made things so irritating to me but I also felt like I needed to continue because I was convinced that Adele was a scam “Counsellor” and wanted to see how it played out. This was left unresolved so I am disappointed I finished the book.
The rest of the book was filled with unnecessary deaths that I still don’t really understand who did them at the end. I swear this reads like a first draft from a hobbies writer, but nope! This book was written by an author with a whole body of work. It’s like she forgot what she wrote in previous chapters before writing the next.
Do yourself a favour and skip this one. There is absolutely no pay off at the end.
I have to start by saying that I am a counselling therapist myself. This book had absolutely zero understanding of the counselling field and how it works. The marriage counselling “sessions” that Adele ran from her home office seem more like psychic readings than any type of counselling sessions. “Reading the clients minds” is something she genuinely claims to do in her counselling. Adele even states she only went to college for one year before dropping out! To be a Psychologist (as Adele claims to be) you need at LEAST a 4 year undergraduate degree and a masters degree. This aspect of the book made things so irritating to me but I also felt like I needed to continue because I was convinced that Adele was a scam “Counsellor” and wanted to see how it played out. This was left unresolved so I am disappointed I finished the book.
The rest of the book was filled with unnecessary deaths that I still don’t really understand who did them at the end. I swear this reads like a first draft from a hobbies writer, but nope! This book was written by an author with a whole body of work. It’s like she forgot what she wrote in previous chapters before writing the next.
Do yourself a favour and skip this one. There is absolutely no pay off at the end.
April 24, 2023
When you don't have anything nice to say...
Okay, I have to say something. I found this to be confusing, repetitive, and in need of a nice long edit.
Okay, I have to say something. I found this to be confusing, repetitive, and in need of a nice long edit.
April 25, 2023
My Review:
Enjoyed!!!! This was my first book by this author and it certainly will not be my last. I didn’t know what to expect with this but it sure was a doozy. I didn’t trust anyone in this book especially the narrator. I definitely felt like she was hiding something the whole time. I just couldn’t put my finger on what it was. Now let’s talk plot. Who doesn’t like a book where the husband goes missing along with having lots of secrets that are uncovered. Everyone had a motive in this one. The whole book kept me wondering what the heck was going on here. Then came that wow of an ending. Could not believe it or guessed it in a million years. All in all this was a fast paced thriller with a great ending that I couldn’t put down for the life of me. This author did a fantastic job.
In conclusion, the plot, the characters and all the twists in this book made this book an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 4 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️
Enjoyed!!!! This was my first book by this author and it certainly will not be my last. I didn’t know what to expect with this but it sure was a doozy. I didn’t trust anyone in this book especially the narrator. I definitely felt like she was hiding something the whole time. I just couldn’t put my finger on what it was. Now let’s talk plot. Who doesn’t like a book where the husband goes missing along with having lots of secrets that are uncovered. Everyone had a motive in this one. The whole book kept me wondering what the heck was going on here. Then came that wow of an ending. Could not believe it or guessed it in a million years. All in all this was a fast paced thriller with a great ending that I couldn’t put down for the life of me. This author did a fantastic job.
In conclusion, the plot, the characters and all the twists in this book made this book an enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 4 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️
May 8, 2023
This book is said to be perfect for fans of the book The Perfect Marriage, so that could be why this wasn’t really for me because I wasn’t a massive fan of that book. I don’t have anything really bad to say about this, it just wasn’t a favourite for me and that’s okay, but I think this could be a favourite for others! If you like a lot of action and twists, this is a good one for you and I’d definitely recommend! I just found it hard to keep up with the plot of the story at times and I really didn’t like the main character, but it was still a decent thriller with some good twists.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2025
I couldn’t help but think of “The Housemaid” the entire time reading this. Good book with a good plot twist that I surprisingly didn’t predict before hand. But maybe that’s because there’s a lot going on in this one. The plot was chaotic and all over the place but for some reason I couldn’t stop reading lol
June 15, 2023
2.75⭐️
This book started so well, but after a while it was all over the place.
It was quite predictable and unrealistic.
I just feel it should have been better based on the premise.
Good thing is, I just didn't see the ending coming. It's what made my time not feel wasted.
Thank you Bookouture Audio& NetGalley for this ALC.
This book started so well, but after a while it was all over the place.
It was quite predictable and unrealistic.
I just feel it should have been better based on the premise.
Good thing is, I just didn't see the ending coming. It's what made my time not feel wasted.
Thank you Bookouture Audio& NetGalley for this ALC.
March 28, 2023
Adele is a marriage counselor who’s husband Patrick is reported missing after he was supposed to return from a two week vacation. Adele does not seem very concerned, but calls around to check in with his friends. That is when she discovers that he had many secrets and maybe Adele didn’t know her husband as well as she thought she did. Or did she? Maybe Adele knows more than she is letting on. While this book kept my interest and I wanted to know what was happening, it was a bit confusing. People around Adele start being murdered and Adele also seems unaffected. She also doesn’t seem concerned about her own safety even after being warned by Cameron, the officer on the case that just happens to be a former flame. The resolution seemed rushed and I am still a little confused, mainly about the lack of any kind of emotion from the main characters. I enjoyed reading it, but feel like the motivation and characters could have been better developed.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this early read audiobook in exchange for my honest review. THE MARRIAGE COUNSELOR will publish April 24, 2023. #themarriagecounselor #netgalley #deapoirier #bookouture #ARC #psychologicalthriller
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this early read audiobook in exchange for my honest review. THE MARRIAGE COUNSELOR will publish April 24, 2023. #themarriagecounselor #netgalley #deapoirier #bookouture #ARC #psychologicalthriller
April 20, 2023
I enjoyed this psychological thriller, which is about a woman called Adele, who is a marriage counsellor. Her husband goes missing, and after a police investigation, she finds out that he has been living a secret life. But does Adele also have her own secrets? What is she hiding?
The audiobook narrator for this book was amazing, and I really loved her voice.
If you love psychological thrillers with a lot of twists and secrets, and where you don't know who you can trust, then you will love this book. Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the author, narrator, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
The audiobook narrator for this book was amazing, and I really loved her voice.
If you love psychological thrillers with a lot of twists and secrets, and where you don't know who you can trust, then you will love this book. Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the author, narrator, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
September 25, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy !!!
This book jumps around so please make sure you are paying attention.
One would think a counselor/marriage counselor lives a great life. No issues because they are a therapist. WRONG
Adele's husband, Patrick, is missing. Her ex-boyfriend Cameron is on the case. Adele uncovers many things about Patrick and realizes he is living a double life. Lots of twists and turns in this book. Make sure you pay attention.
This book jumps around so please make sure you are paying attention.
One would think a counselor/marriage counselor lives a great life. No issues because they are a therapist. WRONG
Adele's husband, Patrick, is missing. Her ex-boyfriend Cameron is on the case. Adele uncovers many things about Patrick and realizes he is living a double life. Lots of twists and turns in this book. Make sure you pay attention.
April 25, 2023
The Marriage Counselor
By: Dia Poirier
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When Adele finds out her husband Patrick is missing. Then she is shocked to find out he has been having affairs. Next a women he has been seeing is dead. Of course she would be the prime suspect. The strangest part is all his coworkers never knew he was married.
She is a professional! How could she have known about her husband! As she starts to unravel her life Cameron comes into her life and helps Adele.
This novel is full of many twists, lies and unexpected scenarios which makes it so juicy. Is it possible Adele knows more than she is revealing? Did she know about his true identity? This was my first book by this author and I will be looking for more.
Thank you Bookouture for this advanced book. Available April 24, 2023.
#themarriagecounselor, #diapoirier, #bookouture, #audiobook, #kindle, #bookstagram, #booksconnectus, #bookreview, #stamperlady50
By: Dia Poirier
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When Adele finds out her husband Patrick is missing. Then she is shocked to find out he has been having affairs. Next a women he has been seeing is dead. Of course she would be the prime suspect. The strangest part is all his coworkers never knew he was married.
She is a professional! How could she have known about her husband! As she starts to unravel her life Cameron comes into her life and helps Adele.
This novel is full of many twists, lies and unexpected scenarios which makes it so juicy. Is it possible Adele knows more than she is revealing? Did she know about his true identity? This was my first book by this author and I will be looking for more.
Thank you Bookouture for this advanced book. Available April 24, 2023.
#themarriagecounselor, #diapoirier, #bookouture, #audiobook, #kindle, #bookstagram, #booksconnectus, #bookreview, #stamperlady50
April 6, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC
I’ve been on a huge thriller kick lately, so i was beyond excited to get an ARC of this book. The blurb sounded absolutely amazing.
Unfortunately, the book wasnt great. The writing was amateur and the characters were annoying. I figured out who the villain was within the first 15% of the book. The main character was so hard to relate to, and all the side characters felt like the same person just multiplied.
The book is in desperate need of an editor, as well. At one point the FMC finds someone’s facebook profile, talks about how she found the profile, and then a page later gets a call from her best friend saying “you wont believe this.. I found their facebook profile!” And the FMC is like “WHAT HOW?” Like… what? You were JUST talking about how you were looking at her FB.
There were so many little inconsistencies and plot holes. By the end of the book it felt like I had no idea what actually happened.
Also- and this is a personal note- I can not STAND when author’s dont do the smallest amount of research on things that they dont know about. Ignorance is obviously fine. I could never write a book about horses because I dont know a single thing about horses. That being said, I would go to someone who does know about horses so I was writing accurately.
YOU CAN NOT LOG INTO YOUR CELL PHONE CARRIERS APP AND LOOK AT THEIR MESSAGE HISTORY. You just cant. You can get message history with a warrant from a judge and then you have to go to the carrier. Your lawyer, not you personally. They can only be gathered through a legal avenue. No one can just log into their app and look at the texts or even a history of who was being texted/who was doing the texting. You can see call logs, but not texts. It’s not a thing. /rant.
I feel like the author had a good concept but had no idea how to execute it, sadly
I’ve been on a huge thriller kick lately, so i was beyond excited to get an ARC of this book. The blurb sounded absolutely amazing.
Unfortunately, the book wasnt great. The writing was amateur and the characters were annoying. I figured out who the villain was within the first 15% of the book. The main character was so hard to relate to, and all the side characters felt like the same person just multiplied.
The book is in desperate need of an editor, as well. At one point the FMC finds someone’s facebook profile, talks about how she found the profile, and then a page later gets a call from her best friend saying “you wont believe this.. I found their facebook profile!” And the FMC is like “WHAT HOW?” Like… what? You were JUST talking about how you were looking at her FB.
There were so many little inconsistencies and plot holes. By the end of the book it felt like I had no idea what actually happened.
Also- and this is a personal note- I can not STAND when author’s dont do the smallest amount of research on things that they dont know about. Ignorance is obviously fine. I could never write a book about horses because I dont know a single thing about horses. That being said, I would go to someone who does know about horses so I was writing accurately.
YOU CAN NOT LOG INTO YOUR CELL PHONE CARRIERS APP AND LOOK AT THEIR MESSAGE HISTORY. You just cant. You can get message history with a warrant from a judge and then you have to go to the carrier. Your lawyer, not you personally. They can only be gathered through a legal avenue. No one can just log into their app and look at the texts or even a history of who was being texted/who was doing the texting. You can see call logs, but not texts. It’s not a thing. /rant.
I feel like the author had a good concept but had no idea how to execute it, sadly
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