This was exactly what I needed. Lough our loud but also sad in places, just like real life and real marriage, you go through a lot of emotions. I thought the characters were real (flawed, human, happy and shifty at times) and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. I'll be recommending and looking out for what the author comes up with next.

A really fun insight into a marriage, with touches of comedy and raw emotion. A little slow paced but generally entertaining.

Seven Rules for a Perfect Marriage is a quiet but powerful read. Rebecca Reid explores the raw complexities of marriage, highlighting the struggles, silences, and imperfections that sit just beneath the surface.

The characters are flawed in a way that feels honest, and the writing flows with an understated elegance. This isn’t a guide to perfection. It’s a reminder that love, when tested, can either unravel… or reveal something deeper.

Emotionally compelling and truthfully written. A strong, heartfelt read.

An enjoyable light read.

Jessica and Jack have it all - in love, a successful media presence and an instant bestseller - all based on the seven rules for a perfect marriage. A marriage which was good before becoming an instagram success - their success has caused them to question themselves, each other and what they want for their future.

A retreat with a number of other couples allows them the opportunity to reboot their marriage. They seem to be moving forward when an unlicensed conversation with another participant threatens to implode their marriage.

A fun look at what makes a marriage work and how that needs to change over time.

One to be recommended.

This is a beautiful and moving novel. I loved it. Jack and Jessica have, unexpectedly, become influencers and written a book about how to have a perfect marriage. However, success has brought fame, fortune and a great deal of stress. Add to this the strain and disappointment of being unable to conceive a child, and their marriage is put to the test. Part of the problem is that, while Jessica loves her work, Jack hates it and would rather return to his previous job, which he enjoyed. A couples retreat seems to be helping to revive the flame, until Jack releases some of his pent up frustration. What I loved about this book is the way the love shared by the couple shines through. A long relationship does require work, because, inevitably, people grow and change in different ways, so there is a real threat that they will seem less compatible. Whilst the “easy” solution is to walk away, it is possible to work through the difficulties and recall why you first fell in love. An inspiring read, full of hope and tenderness.

4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This one was a surprisingly good mix of humor, heart, and real talk about what makes marriage actually work (or not). It’s not your typical romance or self-here like that friend who’s brutally honest but still has your back.

The characters feel genuine, messy in all the right ways, and the story dives into some tough stuff without getting too heavy. I loved how it balanced the funny with the serious like laughing through the chaos of love and commitment.

My only tiny nitpick is that a couple of the “rules” felt a bit predictable, but honestly, sometimes you need those familiar truths served with a fresh twist.

If you’re looking for something that makes you think but also gives you warm fuzzies and a few good laughs, this book’s worth your time



❤️shaye.readss

I really wanted to live this book but just couldn’t. It’s not your average romance book and covered some heavy topics, but there was just too much drama with characters I just couldn’t get behind. I know others have loved it but it just didn’t really do any thing for me. Thank you to NetGalley, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc and the author for the chance to review.

To the outside it appears Jessica and Jack have it all and have just landed a book deal to share their rules for a perfect marriage. Behind the scenes it is not so straightforward and they find themselves finding fault in one another. In a bid to reboot their marriage they go back to basics and soon learn there’s more to making marriage work than the rules.

This sounded like a fun concept so I wanted to read and it ended up a quick, fun read with a unique spin on the usual romance novel. I enjoyed the influencer side to the story and the chapters set out following the rules made by the couple. I also enjoyed the flashbacks to their past together and found this interesting.

Even though I found this started strongly, my interest started to fade slightly as the book continued and at times I found the pacing slow. Overall though this was well written story with plenty of drama and moments to make you think. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

I was a big fan of the premise of this book! I haven’t come across any plots that were even slightly similar to this one and I loved that our two main characters were modern day love gurus essentially who were already a couple, on a book tour. How novel! This book had bucketloads of potential but didn’t quite land for me and the momentum was very slow at certain points it felt like I was crawling through the plot.

Jack and Jessica are such polar opposites and that was really fun to see how their differences made them misunderstand each other but also made them feel like very distinct separate characters. Jessica is the ultimate organised girl boss who stresses and constantly cares whereas Jack is so carefree and doesn’t pay attention to the details in the way Jessica does.

There was also some really fun wording in this book that I enjoyed (‘as I nurse a cup of coffee like it’s a dying lover’ - was one of my personal faves), which once again added colour and excitement to the reading experience and did add a special touch. However, despite the interesting concept and really wonderful wording and character development, this book still fell flat for me. I found it really slow at points and because Jack and Jessica are already a couple from the beginning of the book for a while I felt like I was starting way too far into their story.

⭐️ 3.5 stars ⭐️
Jack and Jessica have made a career out of their marriage on social media. Much to Jack's frustration. As their new book increases their fame more, they both explore how they ended up where they are and if it's still working, as a couple and as individuals.
This book supported my theory that the relationships you don't see that much of on social media are probably the happiest. Monetising/ exploiting happiness will never not be complex, because good moments are inevitably followed by less good moments. I like how the book explores other people's reactions to the couple and also how sharing some things publicly doesn't qualify access to everything. We see Jack and Jess' relationship in its infancy, we have chapters from both their perspectives so we know they're both worth rooting for, but some of their communication in the book made my toes curl. I don't think the resolution gave enough positive dialogue between them to counteract this fully for me. I did enjoy the exploration of relationships and why they're so tricky and personal to the people in them.

3.5 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the ARC.

Seven Rules for a Perfect Marriage explores the reality behind the curated image of the perfect relationship. Jessica and Jack have become a social media success story, offering advice on how to build a strong marriage through their book and luxury retreats. But behind the glossy Instagram posts lies a relationship fraying at the seams. The story alternates between the present day and flashbacks, revealing the truth behind each of the seven rules they claim to live by.

This was an enjoyable and easy read. Rebecca Reid’s writing is accessible and often witty, and she tackles the complexities of long-term relationships with honesty. There are some sharp observations throughout, especially around the pressures couples face to maintain appearances both in private and online. The structure, with each chapter reflecting a different rule of their relationship, adds an interesting layer and mirrors how things have slowly unraveled between Jessica and Jack. It’s a clever setup that makes you reflect on what actually holds a marriage together.

That said, I did find parts of the book dragging. There were moments where I skimmed through scenes, particularly those heavy with internal back-and-forths that didn’t feel like they moved the plot along. Some of the emotional conflict felt repetitive, and I found myself wishing the story would push forward a bit more quickly.

I also struggled to connect with the main characters. Both Jessica and Jack are flawed in a very human way, which is likely intentional, but at times their inability to communicate or compromise became frustrating. I wanted to root for them, but often found myself feeling more exasperated than empathetic.

Still, the book’s themes are important and relatable. It shines a light on what happens after the happily ever after, and how relationships can erode quietly under the pressure of unspoken resentment, ambition, and miscommunication. If you enjoy contemporary fiction that digs into the messiness of love and long-term commitment, this is a solid read. It may not be a sweeping romance, but it does ask the kind of questions that linger long after the final chapter.

Jessica and Jack are an influencer couple, known for their ‘Seven Rules for a Perfect Marriage’.
But behind closed doors, Jack longs for his previous life as a writer, and Jessica feels like she’s holding it all together by herself while she longs for a baby.
They decide to join in with the couple’s retreat that they had planned as the finale to their book tour where they put the rules into practice.
I enjoyed the premise that they would join in with the activities but thought it rather naïve that they could get away with being honest whilst maintaining the pretence of a perfect marriage.
The main characters got on my nerves a little and I didn’t really warm to them but I was still really invested in the story and how everything worked out for them.

This was such an enjoyable book and really felt topical with social media and influencers being so popular. It really shows that what we see online isn't always the truth of what is going on behind closed doors. Even though I was expecting a light hearted read it did deal with infertility throughout. I found that it was written and dealt with very well.

Enjoyable story and i think its worth the read!

This is an emotional read about navigating life's hurdles while in a long-term relationship - and about what happens when the rules you live by may not be working anymore.

Jack and Jessica are the social media couple of the moment, with the followers and a self-help book to prove it. But a long book tour is taking its toll, on Jack because he'd rather be anywhere else (but particularly in his old career), and on Jessica, who is really struggling with infertility.

It's a hard read in some ways because the difficult relationship bits feel true and authentic. The pain is real. That can make it a challenge. It's not a romance that's new or light and sweet. They've got tonnes of baggage, and issues that can't be easily resolved.

And then they agree to take part in the seven rules retreat that they're running. They were supposed to event manage it - not be participants!

It's a bittersweet romance and at times I became frustrated with Jess, who didn't seem to think much about her husband's feelings, just because he ought to be grateful for the money they were making. But I suspect that was the intention.

I enjoyed the journey with this couple - but it wasn't fun every step of the way! And that's okay, that's life reflected back at us, as with all good reads. But it may be harder for some readers than others, depending on how close they are to the topics being explored.

"Seven Rules for a Perfect Marriage" is a book that can only work because it is set in the current times of social media, influencers, bloggers and non-celebrities, people who become "famous" through self-promotion, The book is cleverly constructed as a two hander, written from both Jessica and Jack's viewpoints. The tile probably makes it obvious that the J&J marriage is not perfect, but that doesn't detract from the novel in any way. This is a clever, well-written tale of current times.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you to the author, publisher & Net Galley for the opportunity to read this before release on 3 July 2025 ✨

I can safely say I was invested from Jack & Jessica from the very start! Maybe it’s because i’m a newlywed, married to my childhood sweetheart - but there was just something captivating about it all!

None of us know where our relationship will end up, and this book (in my opinion) perfectly represented the effort it takes to choose your partner and love your partner even when you both know something’s a bit off-beat.

In the end, you’re a team - which Jessica & Jack seem to simultaneously realise and forget throughout.

I was stressed OUT for both of them in the end; I was so invested and honestly didn’t know how their story would end.

The novelty of the Seven Rules and the retreat was actually quite fun & I enjoyed the throwbacks to other moments in their relationship when developing the “rules”.

Themes of infertility are throughout, and I think they were dealt with in quite a relatable way - particularly in how they can place unrealised strain on a relationship.

I genuinely really enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading more from Rebecca Reid as her writing style is definitely up my street! 💜

Absolutely loved this book. Thank you so much.

It was so real and really showed some of the issues you can face with social media and insta vs reality

Not your typical romance read, this was so interesting. Usually a book will introduce two characters that we witness falling for each other, but this book follows Jessica and Jack, in an established relationship and how they will overcome their problems. The arguments are relatable and the humour is great! I really recommend this for something a little bit different and shows more of a realistic relationship rather than a dreamy romance - are men really like that?!

Influencers Jess and Jack have it all- fame, followers, a blissful marriage. Their book of 7 rules for a happy marriage is bound to be a success - but is their marriage as perfect as it seems? Hard to put down, I couldn't wait to see.......

Jessica and Jack have it all, as their social media accounts would prove; they even got them a book deal to share their seven rules for a perfect marriage. Except things are not as perfect as they seem, and in an attempt to go back to how it was, they try to follow their own rules.

Really different from a typical romcom, and definitely unique and very entertaining. It's such a compulsory read, I couldn't put it down and binged it all in a morning. The writing is great, and the story is so engaging, I was hooked from the beginning and I was so curious to see where the story would go. Both characters are flawed and messy, and they both had a lot they needed to work on, and watching them navigate through everything was really interesting.