It’s hard to give a review without a spoiler. The books leaves you questioning and on edge, the whole way through. It’s worth the read !!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was so excited to see a new thriller by AJ Campbell! Her books are so addictive!! This book was such a wild ride. Who can you trust in this book?? Could Dan really kill Lucy? So many secrets, so much distrust..it was crazy!! I was so glued to this book, trying to figure out what was going to happen next. This book is a must read!

Well well well, what a rollercoaster of a read. I loved every single word I read. Hooked from the start and completely action packed, what more could you want from a thriller?

Ashley is round her best friend Lucy’s house with her family to celebrate her daughter’s birthday. It really is the perfect day so far, that is until Lucy is found brutally murdered and Ashley’s husband Danny is arrested for her murder.

Ashley doesn’t see how this is possible Danny is no murderer and besides he’s known Lucy for years. Determined to prove her husband is innocent Ash does some digging of her own, however it turns out her marriage isn’t a perfect as all would seem. Danny has been keeping secrets from her secrets that make Ash doubt how well she knows her husband.

With no one but her sister to turn to Ash feels lost and begins to struggle, she can’t focus, she can’t eat nor can she sleep. Ash wants and needs answers from Danny but with her being allowed no contact with him this is looking less and less likely by the minute.

Then comes a twist as Ash comes face to face with Danny, the truth comes out and things turn even more darker and dangerous than anyone could have imagined.

I really enjoyed my perfect marriage and it took me a while to write the review as I couldn’t think of what to write without giving the game away. I’ll definitely be looking out for more books by AJ Campbell.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review.

First, I want to thank AJ Campbell, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.

WOW!! I can’t imagine all the emotions that I would feel finding my best friend was just killed supposedly by my husband! This is what happened in My Perfect Marriage by AJ Campbell. This was a very heartbreaking, suspenseful, shocking read that you must put on your tbr list.

Originally My Perfect Marriage was going to be called How Can I Trust You along with the covers. I think it was smart to change the name of the book as well as the cover. Both covers were good in my opinion but the newer one fit the book better.

I try to put myself into the character’s shoes in every book that I read. This way I can feel all the emotions that they are going through, good or bad. This one I was heartbroken over the best friend getting killed. However, I was shocked that everyone thought the husband did it. All of her emotions I felt right along with her.

There were so many deep dark hidden secrets, lots of questions, and shocking moments. This is one book that keeps you on your toes.

My Perfect Marriage is a completely addictive thriller, with so many twists and turns. This might be her best one yet.

As a fan of psychological thrillers, I am always drawn to AJ Campbell's works. Her unique creativity and ability to create relatable characters always hold my attention, and I find myself reading her storylines until the end.

‘My Perfect Marriage’ is no exception to her excellent work. The plot kept me engaged throughout, with its twists and turns leading to a satisfying conclusion that left me wanting more. Fans of this genre will appreciate the storyline and its structure.

Ashley and Danny, the story's leading characters, are well-developed and ideally suited for their roles. I found myself thinking I knew how they would react in certain situations, only to be surprised by their unpredictable behaviours.

The audiobook version of the novel is also exceptionally narrated, bringing the characters to life. I was particularly impressed with this format, as it enhanced my experience of the book even further.

Overall, ‘My Perfect Marriage’ is an entertaining and engaging read for fans of psychological thrillers. It is an excellent introduction to AJ Campbell's work and a must-read for anyone looking for a thrilling and thought-provoking story.

I loved the previous book I read by this author so was excited for this one but unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me. Overall it was fine but I I didn’t find it very exciting nor did I care much for any of the main characters. I will however look out for more by this author

I enjoy a domestic thriller that really shows the inner workings of a marriage and family life. Especially ones that look perfect but we all know aren’t……

With a great opening prologue I was instantly grabbed and wondered where this would fit with the story that I knew was coming. It was clever to take a back road rather than the faster main route and allowed you to take in the scenery of the story. It’s also more important than you think.

Ashley was a difficult main character as I found her to be whiny and her constant harking back to city life made me question if I could root for her. Then I met Miss perfection and murder victim herself Lucy and I quickly changed my mind.

The author really knows how to put you in the characters shoes and question what you would do in the circumstances. Would you stand by your husband even though the more you look into things the guiltier he looks? How strong is your trust compared to your gut instinct?

Danny made me want to go out and buy bunting covered in red flags to decorate Ashley’s home office but then his brother Tom was looking pretty iffy too. With every piece of suspect information that is revealed, along came a new person to add to my whodunnit list.

Fast paced and packed full of mistrust this is a book you will race through to try and work out who and why. Perfect for fellow armchair detectives that enjoy sorting red herrings from the clues that are there, if you know where to look.

Review of My Perfect Marriage by AJ Campbell

I have really enjoyed every book I have read by this author and I think this one may be my favorite. Or at least my second favorite. 😉 This one grabbed me from the first chapter. And it was an extremely quick read that was that was fast paced and a wild ride the entire time. The ending was somewhat shocking, which I always appreciate in a book. I also really liked the main character. This one was out yesterday so definitely go grab your copy now.

Synopsis:

My husband is accused of killing my best friend. Can I trust anything he says?

It feels like all the air has been knocked out of me. My best friend is dead, killed at her own daughter’s birthday party. All I want to do is run into my husband’s loving arms. But he’s in handcuffs, covered in her blood. His voice quivers, almost sobbing as officers put him in the police car. ‘You don’t think I did this, do you? I was trying to save her.’

At first, I’m sure he couldn’t have done it. The man I love wouldn’t hurt anyone. But as I try to prove that he didn’t murder Lucy, secrets begin unravelling…

It starts with the messages between the two of them. Initially, they seem innocent enough. But the more I look, the more I become convinced they were having an affair. Then I find out about his divorce lawyer…

Suddenly my whole life feels like a lie. If he was hiding his plan to leave me for Lucy, can I believe his protests that he is innocent? And if he really did murder his lover, what else is he capable of?

My Perfect Marriage is wild ride that’s told in 3rd person. AJ starts this one off with a bang right from the prologue. It had me quickly reading the pages and I didn’t know if I should trust Ashley, Danny or neither of them 😂 there was a lot of betrayal and twists and I loved the pacing of this book. The last 15-20% had me absolutely shocked. Highly recommend if you enjoy domestic thrillers that will keep you guessing!

Ashley moves with her family to Thyme End for a new chapter. Except it should be called End Thyme because many things will change for Ashley.
I suspected who was guiltily of killing Lucy but couldn’t discern the motive until it was revealed in the book.
Ashley gets very paranoid with so many unanswered questions.
The plot kept me guessing, incorrectly, throughout the book.
I liked Susie the sister because she showed up and seemed unflappable.
The ending is a good example of having a wish come true but then seeing a dream die at the same time.

5⭐️

BOOK TOUR

A brilliant domestic psychological thriller crammed with twists, turns and an inundation of secrets! 😍

Imagine suffocating on the cocktail of secrets and deceit you uncover about your husband. They are swirling around and reverberating right through you. This was the case with protagonist Ashley and it made a fantastic read!

Ashley’s husband Danny has been accused of killing her best friend at her own daughter’s birthday party. He’s in handcuffs and covered in blood, but you’re certain he wouldn’t hurt anyone. Then the secrets start to unravel and you start to wonder what is your husband capable of?

Campbell has never failed to deliver in any of her books and this read sure does continue this streak. From the intriguing opening, to the short chapters, red herrings and a likeable main character, this book really captured my attention and its addictiveness made it very difficult to put down.

The first quarter was on the slower side, but I loved the little tangents Ashley went on. They really helped build the picture of Ashley’s marriage to her charming and charismatic husband Danny. As the book progressed, the pace fastened and the tsunami of secrets were unearthed. I felt like I blinked and I was already over halfway through. I loved it! I felt so sorry for Ashley’s son Elliot too.

I didn’t predict what happened or what was yet to come and I was definitely kept at the edge of my seat. The final ten percent was Tense with a capital T!

A huge thank you to @bookouture and @ajcampbellauthor for having me on the Book Tour and to @netgalley for the copy of My Perfect Marriage which was published yesterday. Congrats to Campbell on your first book with Bookouture! ❤️

I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller and recommend you check it out. It left me with the message, how well do you truly know somebody? 😍

💬: ‘It’s astonishing how people can twist history to suit their repulsive thirst for gossip.’

⚠️ Please check out the trigger warnings!

AJ Campbell delivers yet another great psychological thriller!

This book was picked up on a lazy Sunday afternoon and didn’t take me too long to devour. The pages of the book just pulled me in and I escaped into the world of twists and turns. As is key with thrillers, the suspense element was held throughout and the author kept me guessing throughout.
Looking forward to reading more by the author

The book is out now and available on kindle unlimited and is a high recommendation from me

I frequently turn to thrillers for distraction. I’m quite particular in what I like - domestic, credible, compelling but not too violent are some of my requirements. A J Campbell always delivers for me.

Ashley, husband Danny and son Elliott live in their dreamhouse in the countryside running their own business. Things should be good; they aren’t and they get signiificantly worse when Ashley stumbles across a bloody scene with her best friend murdered and her husband holding the weapon. He swears he didn’t do it, but can she believe him?

I wasn’t sure how I would get along with this couple. I took an instant dislike to Danny, but then I wasn’t sure of Ashley either. Both seemed rather tied up in their business…Lucy’s death was a shock to the system. A bloody crime scene, a vibrant life ended and Danny caught up in the middle of it. At the heart of this novel is the relationship between Ashley and Danny and in particular what happens to trust in such situations..Although I pinned the blame on various characters on different points, my opinion was less important than Ashley’s as she desperately searches out the truth, swayed backwards and forwards, wanting to believe in her husband’s innocence.

A J Campbell creates great female characters. They are gutsy, intuitive, persistant, brave. Her females dig deep, search out clues, follow dangerous leads whilst cooking dinner, looking after a child, doing the school run and picking up the shopping! On top of that Ashley is creating videos for her company and she is dodging the village gossips and the media. I loved the domesticity - I loved watching Ashley trying to work out passwords and hack into his phone.. What on earth would you do if you found yourself in this situation?!!

If you enjoy domestic thrillers with plenty of twists and turns, a compelling and credible plot, then this is for you.

with many thanks to Bookoutre and Netgalley for my digital copy.

But is it?….

Trust is paramount to Ashley and Dan’s marriage…at least Ashley thought it was…then when a horrific incident at a friends child’s party leaves the friend dead and Dan holding a hammer she wonders just how much she knows her husband

The story then evolves part Whodunit, part family crisis drama ( have I created a new genre 😎 ) plus a healthy smattering of psychological thriller which turn this authors ( who has previously self published 6 books and now publishes her 7th via Bookouture ) writing into a smooth, exciting and fast paced read with a tense ending

The references to village life including the old fashioned village shop owner and the many gossips were spot on, also really laughed at the toothbrush email, am sure many of us have had this same email!🤗

An addictive read that HAD to keep reading to see what was going to happen next

A trail of secrets. Unbound betrayal. Confusion over whether to trust or suspect. All three just barely scratch the surface for My Perfect Marriage. A.J. Campbell’s newest thriller, I was utterly floored by the brilliance held within these pages. After all, from the moment I read the attention-grabbing start, my eyes were fixed to the pages as this twisted tale took me on the ride of my life. Well-plotted and nuanced, the treacherous lies, stomach-curdling events and shocking revelations will keep you spellbound for sure.

The characters felt wholly realistic and well-developed. From the gossipy townspeople to the blindsided wife, each and every one drew me in deep. Ashley, in fact, was portrayed in a clever, even-handed way and managed to never come across as melodramatic or over-the-top. In many plots such as this, that would’ve been a guarantee, but thanks to the sharp writing of Ms. Campbell, I needn’t have worried.

It was the storyline, however, that made this book a hole in one. From the steady pacing that meant I lost track of time to the explosive climax which had my adrenaline pumping, I was constantly on the edge of my seat. But it was the unguessable twist that truly took the cake. Coming out of left field but also fitting perfectly into place, it made the whole plot fit together seamlessly, in my humble opinion. So much so in fact, that multiple subplots were nailed in just one go.

There were a few teeny, tiny bits and bobs that irked me just a tad. Namely the unexplored epilogue. While it did answer all of the unresolved questions, there could’ve been so much more given the shocking conclusion. been so much more given the shocking conclusion. Additionally, I would’ve loved to hear from Danny some more. But then, you can’t have everything that you want, can you? Although I do have to say that I just so nearly did.

All said and done, this book was Campbell at her best. The fourth that I’ve read by her, I was captivated from the very first page as the storyline unfurled before me naturally in a show of true genius. Perfect for fans of Shari Lapena and Lisa Jewell, it held all of the necessary ingredients for an addictive, unputdownable tale. So, obviously, I strongly recommend that you go out and grab this one today. After all, this one will win you over hook, line and sinker just as it did for me. Rating of 5 stars.

My Perfect Marriage is one of those stories with lots of mystery that keep on leading to more questions than answers and the more the wife finds about her "perfect marriage and outstanding husband" she finds that she knows very little. Everything has a fitting explanation, her husband is estemeed by all in the village, but who is telling the truth and why so many secrets involving these so called friends? A good story line, well-written, providing good entertainment for a few hours.
I thank the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

What a thriller! Kept me guessing right till the end. I was so frightened at times, especially the ending. My goodness it blew me away, I definitely didn't see those twists coming.
This author sure knows how to capture your attention and draw you into their book and keep you there till you reach the last page.. even then you want more! Will definitely be recommending this book.

Loved this book!!! It has all the elements of a good thriller: keeps you guessing, lies, secrets, high stakes, and so much more. The title changed from How Can I Trust you? to My Perfect Marriage so if you see both titles, they are the same book.

As always with A.J. Campbells work, I was completely captivated with this story.

My Perfect Marriage is well paced with lots of red herrings to keep you guessing (and second guessing) the motives of the characters. I really appreciate Ashley's thought processes and her determination to find the truth and the answers that she desperately needs.
Family is always a huge part of Campbells work, so I was rooting for Ashley, who just wanted to protect her son Elliot and live happily as a family. I also enjoyed reading about her close relationship with her sister, Susie.

Secrets and lies continue to unfold throughout the book, right until the end, and the plot gets thicker and thicker. I think it's great that all characters, no matter how small, have a significant part to play in the story. From the gossiping moms, setting the scene for the small village vibes, to the extended family adding more motives and spilling more secrets.

Overall My Perfect Marriage is an intense and enjoyable read that will definitely have you hooked.