What makes a marriage last? Love helps. Commitment, certainly. Hard work. Supportive friends. Respect. And balance. As newlyweds Jake and Alice find out, balance is complicated. So when a new friend offers them a chance to join an exclusive group that supports the idea of marriage, they sign on the dotted line. Literally. And just like that, they are part of The Pact. 

The Pact has rules. Always answer the phone when your spouse calls. Give each other gifts every month. Take trips together often. Stay fit. And The Pact members have fancy parties in beautiful homes, with successful people. It's a beautiful life. 

Until a rule gets broken. 

When successful attorney Alice spends too much time at the office, when psychologist Jake starts to question The Pact and its ways, they start to see that The Pact may be more complicated than they originally thought. Is their marriage strong enough to survive the consequences of their carelessness? Are Jake and Alice strong enough to survive? 

Michelle Richmond has woven together a powerful story that looks at all the stresses of modern marriage and what it takes to stay committed to another person through all the challenges that life presents and that we ourselves concoct. In Alice and Jake, she has created two amazing characters whose strengths and weaknesses, gifts and struggles bring them closer and threaten to tear them apart. They seem completely real, and I couldn't help but cheer for them from page one until the end. 

The Marriage Pact is the perfect read for anyone who loves a good psychological thriller that keeps you guessing while taking you on a roller coaster of a ride. Phenomenal characters, genuine peril, chilling twists, and an ending that will make you want to stand up and cheer. This is one not to miss! 

Galleys for The Marriage Pact were provided by Bantam through NetGalley.com, with many thanks.