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theliterateleprechaun 's review for:
The Marriage Lie
by Ali Mercer
“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times….”
Anxious excitement. You know the feeling. You strut into the very expensive low-lit restaurant in your killer heels and little black dress. You’ve made it. Happy marriage. Great kid. Lovely home. Gorgeous, successful husband. This is your 40th birthday lunch. You can afford to relax and enjoy it. Can life really get any better? The present must be at home, you think. Your anticipation is killing you on the way home. Only….wait. Where is he going now? Well, this weird. He pulls up to a gated, secluded mansion, punches in a code and as the gate slides open, encourages you to step out of the car and to come have a look. He’s got a key to the home! Your heart pounds. The home is gorgeous. He gives you a tour. Then….he throws the keys at you and tells you it’s yours. Not ours. Yours. He wants a divorce he tells you before he drives off and leaves you all alone. Happy Birthday.
The best birthday present ever or the worst one imaginable?
You’ve got to read this ‘on the edge of your seat’ novel to find out! This is one of the most compelling novels I’ve read in a long time. The author throws you into a situation that shocks you because it is so utterly unexpected and you know that there’s more to the story so you have to keep reading to find out. Mercer’s characters are absolutely fantastic; each is crafted with a flaw and struggling to appear perfect. The birthday girl is the one who experiences the most growth. It’s forced upon her. I cheered so loudly for her as I read, anxiously flipping pages. My favourite character was the husband. I know, I know. WHAT?! I think what appealed to me was that I couldn’t figure out how someone could be so calculatingly cruel yet so accommodating and seemingly thoughtful at the same time. Mercer describes him as “one of the most insidious and intrusive characters” she’s ever put into a story. Perhaps there’s a desire deep down in all of us to not worry what others think of us; her husband doesn’t. The plot – well, it’s like one of those tea cup rides at the amusement park that seems innocuous but you end up with bruises after being slammed from side to side as it whirls you all over the place….but you still smile and say the ride was awesome!
The theme of gift giving in all its forms will make you smile, yell out in frustration and gasp in disbelief.
I’ll share a secret with you. I hate surprises and especially surprise gifts. Birthdays are anxiety ridden. I truly felt the emotion emanating from the wife. The author deftly explores the unexpected consequences for the giver as well as for the person on the receiving end of a surprise gift.
There’s so much going on in this spectacular book; so many different gifts to open. The 40th birthday present is just one of them….
A must read come May 28, 2021.
I was gifted this advance copy by Ali Mercer, Bookouture and Netgalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Anxious excitement. You know the feeling. You strut into the very expensive low-lit restaurant in your killer heels and little black dress. You’ve made it. Happy marriage. Great kid. Lovely home. Gorgeous, successful husband. This is your 40th birthday lunch. You can afford to relax and enjoy it. Can life really get any better? The present must be at home, you think. Your anticipation is killing you on the way home. Only….wait. Where is he going now? Well, this weird. He pulls up to a gated, secluded mansion, punches in a code and as the gate slides open, encourages you to step out of the car and to come have a look. He’s got a key to the home! Your heart pounds. The home is gorgeous. He gives you a tour. Then….he throws the keys at you and tells you it’s yours. Not ours. Yours. He wants a divorce he tells you before he drives off and leaves you all alone. Happy Birthday.
The best birthday present ever or the worst one imaginable?
You’ve got to read this ‘on the edge of your seat’ novel to find out! This is one of the most compelling novels I’ve read in a long time. The author throws you into a situation that shocks you because it is so utterly unexpected and you know that there’s more to the story so you have to keep reading to find out. Mercer’s characters are absolutely fantastic; each is crafted with a flaw and struggling to appear perfect. The birthday girl is the one who experiences the most growth. It’s forced upon her. I cheered so loudly for her as I read, anxiously flipping pages. My favourite character was the husband. I know, I know. WHAT?! I think what appealed to me was that I couldn’t figure out how someone could be so calculatingly cruel yet so accommodating and seemingly thoughtful at the same time. Mercer describes him as “one of the most insidious and intrusive characters” she’s ever put into a story. Perhaps there’s a desire deep down in all of us to not worry what others think of us; her husband doesn’t. The plot – well, it’s like one of those tea cup rides at the amusement park that seems innocuous but you end up with bruises after being slammed from side to side as it whirls you all over the place….but you still smile and say the ride was awesome!
The theme of gift giving in all its forms will make you smile, yell out in frustration and gasp in disbelief.
I’ll share a secret with you. I hate surprises and especially surprise gifts. Birthdays are anxiety ridden. I truly felt the emotion emanating from the wife. The author deftly explores the unexpected consequences for the giver as well as for the person on the receiving end of a surprise gift.
There’s so much going on in this spectacular book; so many different gifts to open. The 40th birthday present is just one of them….
A must read come May 28, 2021.
I was gifted this advance copy by Ali Mercer, Bookouture and Netgalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.