The Marriage Trap

by Sheryl Browne

My husband has been keeping secrets for a long time. He thinks I don’t know what he does outside of this house. But I know everything…

Karla watches silently as Jason hurriedly packs his belongings into a suitcase. She knows that her stillness is unnerving him as she watches his every move from the doorway of their bedroom.

Clothes are screwed up and packed into the case, along with a watch she bought him for his last birthday and his precious laptop. He takes everything from his bedside table. Everything except the framed wedding photo, which now stands alone. Karla strains to see the smiling faces in the photo. If only she knew then what she knows now.

‘I’ve fallen in love with someone else,’ he’d said to her, just moments earlier. The brutality of those words hit Karla hard and she struggled to breathe as she took in each word in turn.

You may think you know what Karla will do next. But you’ll be wrong. Because Karla isn't who you think she is. Only she knows what's about to happen. And you will never see it coming.

An absolutely gripping psychological thriller for readers who loved The Girl on the Train, Gone Girl and The Other Woman. With twists you’ll never see coming, you will not be able to put this one down!

What readers are saying about Sheryl Browne:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Oh my goodness I can finally breathe!! What an amazing, addictive and totally gripping read this was… you will not be able to put it down!!’ Goodreads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! What a rollercoaster of a ride that story was, bloody brilliant!... If you enjoyed The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl then this story is for you!’ Between the Pages Book Club

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Stunning… Gripping, tense and suspenseful… a heart in mouth and pulse-racing realistic thriller… I loved it.’ Goodreads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Phew… Goosebumps, shivers down my spine and the hairs on the back of my neck were standing on end, that’s how good this book is.’ Goodreads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I’m speechless… It is just amazing.’ Rachel’s Random Reads

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wow!! I was totally taken away with this book from page one.’ Goodreads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An unputdownable read. I loved that I had no idea what the author had in store next for me.’ By the Letter Book Reviews

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Clear some room in your diary, you will not want to put this down.’ Goodreads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I read it in less than a day. I had to know what happened to who and when!!!... 10/10.’ Goodreads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Absolutely amazing. Twisted, thrilling and chilling. This book is one you will pick up and not want to put down.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Audiobook, Thriller Suspense

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 26, 2019

About the author

Hi, I’m Sheryl Browne writing psychological thriller. My latest psychological thriller MY LOVING HUSBAND is published by fabulous BOOKOUTURE. A member of the Crime Writers’ Association and the Romantic Novelists’ Association, I have several books published and two short stories in Birmingham City University anthologies, where I completed my MA in Creative Writing. I live in Worcestershire with my partner and a variety of disabled dogs. According to readers of my thrillers, I also apparently make an excellent psychopath. ;) Follow my @Bookouture Mailing List and grab a FREE short: https://t.co/bIigwwALCs
𝘼 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚. 𝘼 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙚. 𝘼 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡…
MY LOVING HUSBAND – Can I really trust the man I married?
Do I Really Know You? – She's the friend you trust with your life. But can she trust you with hers?
The Invite – Kaitlin has been looking forward to her engagement party for weeks, but as the champagne corks pop, her dream party soon becomes her worst nightmare…
The Liar's Child – I’ll do anything to protect my daughter…
My Husband's Girlfriend – She told my little boy a secret and now he’s gone…
The Second Wife – SHE MADE HER BED. YOU'LL LIE IN IT.
The Affair – You trusted her. You shouldn't have.
The Babysitter – She's perfect. Too Perfect.
After She's Gone – He's killed your child and kidnapped your wife. What would YOU do?
Sins of the Father - What if you’d been accused of one of the worst crimes imaginable?
Deadly Intent - Tormented to the edge of sanity …
The Rest of My Life - “You can’t run away from commitment forever … “ Two damaged hearts, a sizzling sexual connection. Can love find a way to bring Adam and Sienna together?
Learning to Love – Sometimes help comes from the most unlikely places …
Somebody to Love – Sigh with contentment, scream with frustration. At times you will weep.
Warrant for Love - Blackmail, lies, adultery, heartache. Three love stories wrapped up in one sexiliciously hilarious package.
A Little Bit of Madness – White Knight in Blue rescues The Harbour Rest Home.

Reviews

[Kaceey · Rating 2 out of 5]

What I was expecting...a fabulous thriller! What I read, just missed the mark!

Karla has been married to Jason for over 12 years and have 2 beautiful children. But lately they’ve hit some rocky times. Jason’s business is in deep financial trouble and his pride won’t let him go to his father-in-law for a loan.

To be clear, there’s a lot of history between Jason and his father in law Robert. Robert never approved of Jason, even going out of his way from day one to break up his daughters’ marriage. But this time, he’s pulled out all the stops. And the damage may be beyond repair.

Unfortunately, this book just never got its feet. I was half way through and still wondering what the plot was and when something (anything) was going to happen. By the time any interesting twists were introduced I had already predicted them...and their outcomes.

Just not the right fit for me. I hope you all have better luck and enjoy!🤗

A buddy read with Susanne!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Sheryl Browne for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review

[Susanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Disappointing Stars

“The Marriage Trap” revolves around Karla and Jason, whose marriage has fallen apart. Turns out Karla’s father has never liked Jason and has been trying to tear them apart for years. What reasons could he possibly have?!

Everyone in this family has been keeping secrets from each other. Jason has been having a little fun on the side and Karla, feeling left out, decides to have a little fun of her own. Of course, their kids are the ones who suffer. Shocking.

What happens next is a little strange (I’ll give it that) and then it just becomes a bit predictable.

I went into this novel almost completely blind, having quickly glanced at the blurb and not having read any reviews. It has been working for me up until this point, but unfortunately, here, it just didn't. In addition, I kept waiting for something to happen throughout the novel and nothing did. I think perhaps this was simply the case of my being the wrong reader for this novel.

This was another buddy read with Kaceey!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Sheryl Browne for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 8.4.19.

[Berit☀️✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twisty twisty twisty! Sheryl Browne has taken me on another wild and crazy ride. This book starts out pretty straightforward. Jason is packing his bags leaving his wife Carla and their two kids. The story then jumps back to events leading up to this, and you are pretty certain you know the story. BUT then Bing bang boom things go sideways upside down and inside out! As soon as you get a handle on one twist another one comes along. And let me tell you what these twists were not for the faint of heart, they were dark and disturbing and oh so twisted! The lies did not stop with Jason and Carla they Extended to Carla’s parents Robert and Diana. The poor kids that were caught up in this large web of deceit, secrets, and lies! And the ending? All I’m going to say is WHAT!?! This was an entertaining fast-paced story that kept me glued to the pages from first page to last. Sometimes the plot was a little frantic, a little over-the-top, a little unbelievable, but I did not care because I was so very entertained! Another fantastic thriller to add to the TBR!

*** thanks so much to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s well documented that Sheryl Browne writes brilliant psychological thrillers based around marriages and families, in ‘The Marriage Trap’ her 4th book I have read this continues as we find ourselves quickly emerged in a marriage break up at the start of the book, it is a VERY powerful and emotive start indeed and sets the scene for what’s to come....and what is to come is why Karla and Jason have reached
this point and why although neither of them want it they have been left with no choice..
You are then taken back 3 months and in detail, clear, concise and engaging the story is explained by different members of the family, there are many reasons why the marriage has ended, to mention any would ruin the book BUT you are teased as to some of the reasons and then WHAM a massive one, that I never saw coming is suddenly there and changes everything!
The book continues as it started, emotive and powerful as you really feel the hurt and anguish these people are going through and I really felt I was there with them experiencing it
There’s a knockout twist at the end, very clever and again didn’t even contemplate it
The characters are as always so well described, physically and emotionally and the style of writing is imo flawless
A book that will stay with me and situations that you hope you never find yourself in
The author writes with real insight re families and marriage and I can only say ‘read it’ you will not be disappointed
10/10 5 Stars

[Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you think your family is dysfunctional, crack this book open and you may change your mind. Whoa this was a whole bunch of crazy! This family is built on lies, deceit and secrets. Lots and lots of secrets! I flew through this book in just one night as I could not put it down. I love every book Sheryl Browne has put out and she is a "must read" for me. I was so excited to see she had a new book out and I jumped at my chance to get my hands on a copy.

The Marriage Trap revolves around Karla's family. Her family with her husband Jason and her parents Robert and Diana. I could not for the life of me figure out why Karla's father hated Jason so much. He made it clear that he did not want them to marry and even tried to get her to go to extremes in the manner of their children they had together. Robert has even offered to pay him off to leave Karla. What???!! Of all the reasons that I could dream up that Robert had for hating their relationship, I never dreamed the real reason. It is so shocking and dark, it literally blew my mind.

The secrets in this book are so well hidden that the lies and secrets build upon each other year after year. As Karla's marriage begins to unravel I found myself wondering if some of these problems stemmed from her strained relationship with her father and the death of her sister at such a young age.

There are so many different underlying issues that you will never predict how they all come together at the end. The ending shocked me to the core! I never saw that very last twist coming, well okay I never saw any of the twists coming. Once again I was left in the dark until the very end. Thanks Sheryl Browne for yet another fantastic book!

[Suzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Stars (rounded up)! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

When I first came across this book, it sounded really interesting to me. I love a good, psychological/domestic thriller. The reality, however, did not meet my expectations.

The first 75% of this book was very slow, repetitive and tedious. Top that with the worst bunch of characters I’ve read about in a long time. There is not one redeeming quality in any of them. All liars and cheaters. So vile.

I almost gave up on this a few times. I figured out all of the twists before they happened - which is something that doesn’t always come easily for me. This was my first book by this author, but I’d be willing to give her other books a chance. This one just wasn’t my thing.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Sheryl Brown for the advanced copy in exchange for my review.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sheryl Browne has become a go to author for me and The Marriage Trap did not disappoint. A twisty domestic thriller that will keep you up past your bedtime to finish it. It was a fast read for me, lots of questionable characters and a story that had me hooked from the start. If you have not read this author then you really need to start - fans of this genre will not be sorry.

This is hard story to talk about without giving too much away. It is the story of a married couple - Jason and Karla as well as Karla's parents Diana and Robert. Robert is not a fan of Jason's. Karla's father is rich and controlling and wants Jason out of their lives. Jason and Karla's marriage starts to feel the pressure and the book starts with Jason packing his bag to leave her and the kids. Then we go back to the events leading up to this moment and learn how things all went so wrong. Twist after twist makes for an eventful and fast read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jason and Karla have been married for twelve years and have two children. Jason runs his own business but his business is in financial difficulty. Karla's father is a wealthy businessman and she wants Jason to ask him to help save him from financial ruin. Jason does not want to ask his father-in-law for money, but eventually gives in to appease his wife. But even though Jason knows Robert is a womanizing scoundrel and has offered Jason money before for despicable reasons, nothing prepared him for what Robert offered him for the money was to be!

This story is a bit of a slow burner but it needs to be to build the story up. I did guess what one twist was around the half way mark, but the final part I did not see the final part coming at all. My scenarios played out quite differently. I'm still not sure who I felt sorry for the most when the story was unfolding as Karl's mother had a lot to put up with as well. There are secrets, twists and suspense all the way. I was hoping for a happy ending. Did I get it? You will need to read this book to find out.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Sheryl Browne for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Bharath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I read of Sheryl Browne after ‘The Second Wife’. Just like the first read, this one packs a good story and is gripping as well.

Jake & Karla’s marriage is tottering on the brink of collapse. They have two kids who are very soon exposed to the acrimony between them. Jake’s business isn’t doing well and he does not want any favours from Karla’s dad Robert, who spares no opportunity to remind him that he is a loser. But Jake is running out of options, as he has already mortgaged the house and has no other savings to turn to. Karla, while sensing the issue, prods Jake to meet her dad for financial help. Robert has never been supportive of Jake, and now senses an opportunity to get Jake to dance to his tunes. Jake meets Robert and his life & relationship with Karla gets worse. Both of them see no future and start considering other options.

There are secrets of Jake & Karla’s life that Robert knows. Karla also has pains from the past which gives her nightmares. Karla’s mom Diana feels helpless, but can she be of any help?

The characters are extremely well developed – and the stress in the relationship and the ensuing agony is brought out brilliantly. It is just that there is a brief period in the book, when the story seems stuck on the same theme. However, for the most part, it moves fast and makes for interesting reading keeping up the suspense. There are multiple twists towards the end in the story.

My rating: 4.25 / 5.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture & the author for providing a free electronic copy of the book for a review.

[Melissa In The City · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This one was perfectly written with excellent introduction to characters then followed through with some crazy psycho-stop-your-breathing-madness! My heart was pounding for most of the pages and the twists shook me like a box of popping candy! Everything in this book was necessary and mind blowing and I didn't want it to end but the finale was truly encore worthy! What the hell was that?!! Amazing!!!

[Sabi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not addictive as the cover says. I didn't get any thriller elements, to be honest...

[Bookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was psyched to read this book, given the comparison to Girl.on the Train. However, I didn’t see any similarity between the two books nor would I even classify this a thriller. I felt somewhat misled by the description.

When I read a psychological thriller, I anticipate tension, plot build up and either a solid mystery and/or unexpected reveal. This story had one out of three. There were some twists towards the very very end but it lacked both suspense and a gripping plot arc. Most of the plot focused on the breakdown of a marriage. There was very little thriller. It was like reading Kramer vs Kramer with a few surprises thrown in at the end for good measure. I was not a fan of the very ending.

The story is told through various alternating perspectives. I didn’t connect with any of the characters. I didn’t have a sense of what they were about or what made them relatable . As a result, I had an impossible time caring or feeling any emotions. I honestly couldn’t care less whether the characters stayed together or separated. And because that was 90% of the story, I was bored much of the time.

The reveals during the last 10% of the book were the most engaging parts. There was one surprise that I didn’t see coming. That was the highlight for me. In all, it was more domestic literary than thriller. I think with more character depth and a stronger mystery aspect, this could’ve been a fantastic read for me. I received an ARC from Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.

[Namita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jason and Karla have been married for 12 years with two kids but Karla’s rich and controlling father , Robert never approved of him.Finally he is able to drive a wedge between them resulting in Jason packing his bags and moving out.The story then flashes back to the events leading up to this and soon one after the other the twists start coming along

The Marriage Trap by Sheryl Browne is a twisty domestic thriller where nothing is as it seems. Though an implausible story it is still a tightly woven tale of tension, layered with secrets and lies makes it an entertaining read

I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review

This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This enthralling story is the tale of two couples and how a seemingly stable and loving relashionship can be torn apart due to the selfish behaviour and actions of one individual who cares more about making money and preserving their reputation than about the lives and wellbeing of the people around them,including their loved ones. When things go wrong,it's never this person's fault,it's always someone else's or not how they thought things would work out. And this person is not adverse to resorting to a bit of bribery and manipulation to ensure that their secrets and lies remained undisclosed.

The main players in this utterly compelling story of lies,misconceptions,mistakes,infidelities and manipulation are Karla,her husband Jason and their two young children Josh and Holly. Then there is also Karla's parents Diana and Robert.

Not one of these characters (apart from the poor kids) are who they appear to be,they all have hidden secrets and a couple of them were seriously flawed. My favourite character was feisty Diana and I actually cheered out loud and said "you go girl,well done you" at one point during the story. Karla was a complex character who had some serious issues and although I did understand why she reacted the way she did when she suspected that Jason was cheating on her,that doesn't mean I'm am condoning her behaviour and that doesn't mean I found her very likeable. And like Jason,I thought that she seriously needed to open her eyes and see how devious,manipulative and uncaring a certain character really was. Jason did have some redeemable qualities but he also did some really stupid things at times which caused him to go down a bit in my estimations. If Jason and Klara had stopped behaving like immature children and sat down,discussed their feelings and been honest with each other,they might have been able to work through their issues and discovered the truths behind their situation. Poor Josh and Holly behaved with more maturity than their so called parents.

The Marriage Trap is a extremely well written,tightly plotted thriller that had me hooked in from the jaw dropping,chilling opening chapter. The story held me captive throughout,frantically turning the pages,wanting to know how this story was going to end. The conclusion was so intense,I think i actually forgot to breath at one point. Absolutely brilliant book.Very,very highly recommended.

Many many that's to Bookouture for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★ 3.5 stars rounded down.

Oh boy! This book did my head in!
No, correction...Jason and Karla did my head in!

But Sheryl Browne was on top form in this twisty, twisted domestic thriller that was even more dysfunctional than the last book I read. Where do I even begin to start?

Jason and Karla were a loving couple who have been happily married for twelve years, with two children, Holly and Josh. An aspiring actress when they met, Karla and Jason married soon after she fell pregnant. Now, Jason had his own eCommerce business that was rapidly failing unless he could find an investor to inject some huge funds to save it from ruin. And this is where it began its downward spiral. Karla's father is a self-made wealthy businessman (with more money than sense) and on top of that, is incredibly obnoxious.

Karla had been practically nagging Jason at every opportunity to ask her wealthy father for a loan, but he had refused every time. He couldn't stand the man and didn't relish being indebted to him for the rest of his life. After all, he'd already bought the house they were living in. But it got to the point that Jason could see no other way...and he relented.

The whole convoluted mess then began when her father, in turn, revealed a secret so vile enough to churn any stomach at the mere possibility. It is so dark and so shocking, it never even entered my mind. Jason was left reeling at the revelation, repulsed that her father would stoop so low...but with no choice but to do as Robert wanted. Leave Karla.

But Jason cannot reveal the truth to his wife, knowing that it would surely destroy her. So he says nothing...except to tell her it was over. Remaining in the marital home, he slept in the spare bed and kept things together for the children, while Karla systematically lost the plot.

Then one night by pure chance, Jason struck up a conversation online with Jessie, a nurse in Ireland...and they soon became friends. Jason found himself confiding in Jessie about the situation with Karla without revealing the terrible secret his father-in-law had imparted on him. Their conversations soon morphed into phone conversations, as they exchanged mobile numbers. I thought Jason was treading on dangerous ground here. But little did I know where it would lead...and the twist that it would deliver.

Added to what was already a convoluted mess, Karla continued to battle with the memory of her twin sister's death, wreaking havoc on her sanity. She hated her father, aware that he was at the centre of her pain and that his lecherous womanising contributed to her self-destruction. Now Jason had withdrawn from her and prompted by seeds of doubt planted by her father, Karla discovered her loving husband had been "playing away". So she, in her own twisted form of retaliation, set out to destroy herself in a way I simply failed to understand, given that she had been - up till that point - a loving and devoted mother. I could not understand Karla's unravelling - why she began destroying herself and what she thought it would achieve.

The tale just keeps on unraveling as Karla continues to spiral into a black hole and Jason still keeps quiet. Her mother, Diana, knew the truth but failed to say anything. The family is so dysfunctional with so many secrets and lies I'm surprised they haven't imploded before now. No one in this whole sorry tale, except the children, was particularly likable. Everyone was hell bent on destroying themselves and each other that they never gave a single thought to the children. Although Jason was the only one who did his best to keep it together for Holly and Josh, who clearly didn't understand what was going on with their parents, particularly their mother.

I really didn't see where else this story could possibly go given the destruction everyone was meting out on one another. I already had a suspicion regarding Karla and her father, which proved to be correct, and funnily enough cancelled out the awful secret that kept Jason and Karla apart in the first place! But none of this would amount to anything since no one was talking to each other, except to hurl insults and accusations. It wasn't until Karla had the truth thrust in her face by way of the paper that she decided to confront her parents. Oh, what a tangled web these people weaved...

THE MARRIAGE TRAP is a powerful and emotive read but a very destructive tale of secrets filled with such pain and anguish that I just wanted to knock their heads together. You will find yourself going through a range of emotions just reading it! Part of me wanted to keep reading and the other part wanted to hurry and get it over with because these people were doing my head in!

I will add that THE MARRIAGE TRAP was a slow burn to begin with, as it needed to be to build up to the point where Jason and Karla ultimately found themselves...but hang in there for the fireworks because what a show!

A dark and disturbing plot that is so twisted, THE MARRIAGE TRAP is not for everybody. But don't let that deter you from the author's other brilliant works. In this book, Sheryl Browne pushed the boundaries and tested the limits at writing something so different and much bolder than ever before. It was so dark that its twists were even more delicious.

Again, not a book for everybody. But should you dare to take a chance, check it out. I do recommend it for fans who like the darker and more twisted side of psychological domestic thrillers.

I give it 3.5 stars mainly because the characters all did my head in! lol

I would like to thank #SherylBrowne, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheMarriageTrap in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

The way that this intriguing book starts, readers see a dialogue where Jason tells Karla that there is someone else and that he is leaving her. As their past is relayed, we learn that Karla and Jason have been married for twelve years and have two young children. Currently Jason's business is failing and they are facing financial ruin. Their money problems could be over if Jason would only accept a business loan from Karla's father, Robert.

To add to this stress, Karla is hiding a painful secret from her past and she suffers a lot of sleepless nights as a result. Meanwhile, Jason must consider Robert’s proposal. The biggest problem in doing this appears to be Jason's pride and the history he has with Robert. From the very beginning of their relationship, he gave Jason problems. Despite Robert’s constant pressure, Karla loved Jason to distraction and they worked hard on their marriage. However, Jason begins to pull away from Karla, and even tells her that he is leaving.

Both Karla and Jason begin to act completely out of character, thus ruining any chance for a reconciliation. Bottom line is that Jason has very good reason for his actions. These reasons are a huge secret between him and his father-in-law.

This well-hidden and very painful secret is just one of the many twists and turns in this busy book by Sheryl Browne. The characters are multi-layered as they struggle to deal with the various situations. Admittedly, I struggle to write any more in this review because saying much more would deliver spoilers, and that would be unfair.

From beginning to end, this was a captivating story. It was a bit frustrating to witness the apparent lack of communication, therefore, resulting actions were a bit shocking. I would like to state that this is not what I know a psychological thriller to be. Yes, a family drama, but certainly not a thriller. The conclusion, however, tied everything together and I simply could not turn the pages fast enough. I love this author and will definitely be back for more.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story starts off with us meeting Karla and her husband Jason as Jason is leaving the marital home and turning his back on his marriage. We then go back three months and are taken through everything that leads up to the present day.

Obviously there is lots I wanted to know about why Jason had made the decision to leave Karla. There is also a back story to do with Karla's past which instantly had my interest piqued. Her own family sadly arn't a great family unit with her father being a highly horrible person that I despised as soon as we first meet him. I liked Diane, her mum and wondered how she could live with this man for so long.

This is a story packed full of secrets and lies and oh my goodness when they start to unravel, I was very much in my element enjoying every single one of them. Obviously not so great for certain characters but for the reader, it makes for a very entertaining read.

The Marriage Trap is a gripping psychological thriller that will have you glued to it's pages. The author steers the reader in one direction to only veer you off in a totally different one making sure that she has your attention at all times. There are a fair few twists that definitely kept me on my toes and more importantly, that I didn't always see coming. Proper jaw dropping stuff. A thrilling, compelling, page turner of a read.

My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 4 out of 5]


This book screwed my brains up!!

Whew I had to get it out of my system before organizing my brain cells to synapse synchronously and bring my thought waves back

Sheryl Browne has gone where no thriller author has gone in a long long time!! She has broken the barriers where the mind space is the final frontier. She gave me a ball of knotted yarn and asked me unknot it. How could I? I didn't know where the beginning was because the beginning was the end of the marriage and the end was the beginning of something different.

Karla and Jason, a loving couple with two kids till his business failed, and she wanted him to ask her obnoxious father for a loan. The father, in turn, revealed a secret so vile that it churned my stomach at the possibility of it. The marriage broke down slowly, bit by bit, the children got psychologically scarred, Karla started destroying herself, and Jason decided to leave it all.

The whole story was one convoluted mess with a past memory of her sister's death playing havoc with Karla's sanity. Her father was in the centre of it all, and his lecherous ways contributed to destruction. Her mother knew everything yet kept quiet. Her husband was helpless, he didn't know how to reveal. Karla herself spiralled down a deep black hole. None of the characters in the book, except the poor innocent children, were likable. Everyone was hell bent on destroying themselves and others that they never gave a single thought to the children.

My niggles popped up soon, some chapters had the characters doing the actions again and again, which felt repetitive. I couldn't understand nor connect with Karla, who was supposed to be a loving mother.

The book is not for everybody, the plot is so twisted that it bordered on darkness. Sheryl Browne has tested her hand at writing something bigger than normal and way bolder. This story would rip apart your senses and take you to an alternate time space continuum, a wild ride.

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Karla and her husband Jason are having problems with their marriage and his business is going bust. Things get so bad that Jason decides to leave home.
A book full of secret, lies and nasty characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Shelby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Karla and Jason have been married for 12-years and have two kids together. Jason’s business is in serious turmoil and is on the edge of bankruptcy. Karla’s father, Robert, is extremely wealthy, willing to give Jason a business loan. But no good deed comes without a cost. And what is Robert’s caveat?

Robert has been hiding a secret that he reveals in order to blackmail Jason. He doesn’t think Jason is right for his little girl and he is willing to do whatever it takes to tear them apart. When Jason learns the truth, he can’t bear to stay with Karla—it’s tearing their already rocky marriage apart.

This family is full of lies and secrets. And not everyone will make it out alive.

The Marriage Trap is Sheryl Browne’s latest thriller release. I haven’t read this author before and unfortunately, this book was a miss for me. I can see why others have enjoyed it—it’s twisty and full of tasty drama. But after the initial shocker, I could see the secondary twist from ten miles away. I didn’t love the writing style and never felt invested in the characters or the plotline. I’d be willing to give this author another try in the future! 2.5/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Sheryl Browne for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephen Clynes · Rating 1 out of 5]

Diana is married to Robert and their daughter Karla is married to Jason, giving them two grandchildren, Holly and Josh. However, the adults in this story have some very sharp words will each other and are not living in married bliss. Follow these three generations of people as they try to muddle through the hustle and bustle of family life.

The cover of The Marriage Trap claims this novel is a psychological thriller. I did NOT find this book thrilling but found it to drag on and on. I thought The Marriage Trap was a MISERABLE read. All four adults were unhappy with their marriages and the mood was dreadful. The story got off to a BAD start in the first chapter when you are thrown into the situation of Jason leaving Karla. Then chapter two begins and the timeline goes back three whole months. From hereon you are given a day by day account of both marriages. It was off putting to read in the first chapter that Jason is leaving Karla and the rest of the book is background to that day. All four adults have their faults and you do not develop an empathy for any of them. Your gut feeling very quickly becomes that you are very glad you are not married to any of them.

There are plenty of secrets and lies to be revealed but each one takes forever, a hint here and a hint there until many chapters later you find out what the hints were all about.

I found the mood of this book very annoying, the three generations were living a miserable existence. There was no joy in their lives, making this novel a very sad read. The Marriage Trap did not stimulate me and I did not find it entertaining. I failed to engage with the story and found it a turn off. I think this book would put off any single people thinking of marriage.

In the acknowledgements at the end of The Marriage Trap, Sheryl writes…

Final thanks to every single reader out there for buying and reading my books. Authors write with you in mind.

...However, I did not enjoy reading The Marriage Trap. I found the domestic misery a chore to read. I was very disappointed with The Marriage Trap, I simply did not like the story. Having been happily married myself for the past 28 years, I thought the adults were behaving dreadfully towards each other. I think Sheryl has made a mistake by publishing such a negative novel.

I did like that each adult had their own chapters that represented their points of view. Sheryl can write very good novels as I thought her last book called The Second Wife was an OUTSTANDING 5 star read. Sadly The Marriage Trap left me COLD and I can only vote this latest from Sheryl the minimum score of 1 star. Sheryl can produce the goods, so hopefully better luck next time for her readers but if this was their first read, they may move onto other authors.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Bookouture for giving me a copy of this book on the understanding that I provide an honest review.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just mediocre for me. It took far too long to get into the "meat" of the book, and by the time it got there, I was rather disgusted with all of the characters and didn't much care what happened.

The beginning of the book had a lot of promise - husband, Jason, is leaving his wife, Karla, for another woman, and Karla watches him leave while holding a knife behind her back and imagining what might happen. Then the book goes back in time - and literally, nothing happens. It goes on and on dangling hints about past "secrets" that are actually not very hard to figure out. It is told in alternating POVs, with Jason and Karla narrating the chapters so that you get a glimpse inside both of their heads. It just didn't work in this one as there was too much re-telling of the same events and never really moving forward. The mystery from the past was only briefly alluded to and felt like a throw-in just to substantiate what an awful person Karla's father was. But at that point it was one of those "enough already, you have told us a hundred times how horrible he is." I really disliked every one of the characters and found them all to be a bunch of despicable people hiding life-changing information from their families.

The ending was also a bit disappointing as there was no real redemption for anyone. This was more of a sorry romance than a psychological thriller. I was going to give it 3 stars, but after writing my review, I don't think it was deserving of more than 2 stars.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Domestic drama that focuses on a family with so many secrets and lies that it will make your head spin!

What it's about: Jason and Karla Connelly have been married for 12 years. They have two young children, 11-year old Holly and 10-year-old Josh. Jason's business is failing and Karla keeps nagging him to get a loan from her father, wealthy businessman Robert Fenton. Now, Robert is, as the author tells us every other page, a real sleazeball -- a "bully, womanizer, misogynist" -- so Jason really doesn't want his money. When Jason finally has no other choice and goes to talk to Robert about a business deal, Robert rocks Jason's world with a bombshell of a secret he's revealed only to finally break up Jason and Karla's marriage -- a goal he's had since the two got together. And things go completely awry from there. NO SPOILERS.

My thoughts about this book: I had a really hard time with this one. It was way too full of redundancy and angst with the same old song on eternal repeat. Thus it seemed to drag on far too long and the dangled hints about the "secrets" got on my nerves since I'd long figured out the big thing. It's told in alternating points of view, Jason and Karla narrating the chapters, so that you're inside both of their heads. I honestly didn't like any of the characters in this drama and didn't feel empathy nor could I manage to relate to anything they were thinking or feeling. What a collection of pathetic losers! OK maybe that's a bit harsh but that sappy love stuff doesn't go too far for me and I couldn't buy it no matter how hard it was being sold.

Should you read it? If you like a plot line that focuses on despicable people hiding important information from their families and if you enjoy meandering around a straight line plot while having a lot of feelings, this would be for you. If you prefer lots of emotional drama, this will be your cup of tea. You may or may not find a twist or surprise, just depends on how many books in this particular genre niche that you read. The characters are paper thin and stereotypical meaning they are either "good" or "bad" and those labels are beat home. And any #metoo supporters will get their validation that lecherous and sexual harassment perpetrators get their just due.

I've read other books by this author and I'll try another one in the future but I just wish for more depth than the usual secrets and lies, bad marriages, poor communication, typical dysfunctional families and I hope for something new in the psychological thriller vein.

My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.

[Kelly Van Damme · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Marriage Trap is a bit of a slow-burner at first, more of a drama than a thriller, it starts with Jason telling his wife Karla that he’s going away and then we go back in time a few months to find out what happened to make Jason want to leave his wife. And let me tell you right now, whatever it is you’re thinking, it’s not that! Holy cow, what an impeccable and original execution of a rather ordinary premise! Because let’s face it, a man leaving his wife, marital warts and all that, it’s been done before, but the journey Sheryl Browne takes us on, ending in this unbelievable knot of twists, hasn’t!

The Marriage Trap alternates between Karla’s and Jason’s POV, and it’s really quite tragic how people who love each other so much can drift apart, and how little it takes to fuel the flames. I felt for them, but most of all, I felt for their children, easily my favourite characters, even though they only have supporting roles. Scratch that, my favourite character may very well be the one I hated the most: Karla’s father Robert, your typical misogynistic pig, the rich and successful business man who thinks he’s allowed to do whatever he wants, even coming on to girls half his age right under his wife’s and daughter’s nose. A despicable man, but what can I say, I have a thing for loathsome characters. I love to root for the lovely people but I’m perhaps a tad more gleeful when I can root for a character’s downfall. The Marriage Trap allowed me to do both, I kept rooting for Karla and Jason to unravel all the secrets and save their marriage AND I kept wishing for all of Robert’s secrets to come out and bite him on the arse! Secrets? Yeah quite a lot of them and most of them I never even suspected, they never even crossed my mind.

If you’re looking for a suspenseful, twisty psychological thriller with some family drama and loads of secrets to unravel, look no further and pick up The Marriage Trap!

Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the free eARC! All opinions are my own and I was not paid to give them.

[The Geeky Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Married for twelve years, Karla and Jason have two children. Life is mostly good. They have a few problems, but they can work it out. That's what Karla thought, at least, before Jason abruptly announces he is leaving her for another woman. But Karla knows something Jason doesn't... and he had no idea what's about to happen.

The story begins with Jason packing his bags and informing his wife he's in love with someone else, before going back three months in time to show what led up to that moment. I loved how it immediately grabbed my attention, making me want to read as quickly as possible to find out how their marriage went wrong.

I imagine many scenarios along the way, but none were as shocking as the reason compelling Jason to leave. Whoa. Up to that point, my sympathies were all firmly in Karla's corner. Clearly, Jason was a jerk, and the obvious villain in the matter... or so I thought. Knowing all the facts made me reconsider everything I thought I knew about Jason and Karla, resulting in a definite shift in sympathy. In hindsight, it should have been obvious who was behind Jason's decision to wreck his family, but Browne's careful crafting of the story kept me in the dark until the moment of truth arrived. I was floored by it completely... outstanding!

The surprises kept coming after that, and it became clear to me that nothing was as it seemed. The final revelations of ALL secrets and motivations led to multiple satisfying conclusions. What a ride this book proved to be! I definitely recommend this book to readers who love books full of twisty surprises.

I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Bookouture via Netgalley.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I am completely floored by Sheryl Browne’s newest psychological thriller, The Marriage Trap! Browne first came on my radar after reading The Second Wife (which also totally blew me away). Browne just has this easy ability to draw you right into a story and hooks you right from the start.

Karla and jason have been happily married for twelve years, but suddenly cracks begin to show as their marriage slowly starts to unravel. The story begins with Jason packing up and leaving Karla. Sure, it seems like Jason might be cheating, but is this really the full story? What happened in their marriage that lead them down this path? The answer may surely surprise you!

I am addicted! Like totally addicted to this story. When those bombs start dropping my jaw dropped to the floor. I kid you not. I could not put this book down at all and wound up staying up till the sun came out just so I could reach the ending. Next time I know don’t start a Sheryl Browne book well into the evening!

Nothing in this story is as it seems. There are many secrets revolving around Karla and Jason as well as with Karla’s parents. Karla’s Father, a multimillionaire, was never happy with his daughter’s choice in marrying Jason. But, Karla loved Jason wholeheartedly. They had a great marriage for over a decade, but when the cracks begin to show they are quite the doozy. I am still shocked as I write this review!

The Marriage Trap, while being an easy read, manages to capture so much angst and vulnerability between its pages and while we start with Jason leaving, the story also then takes a look back as to what lead up to this event. Browne incorporated quite a few surprises that are very very shocking. A few times I was like “wait, what? What! OMG!” I am happy to say The Marriage Trap has landed on my very short top books of the year list.

The Marriage Trap surely delivered in the psychological thriller genre and is definitely a story you will definitely want to clear your calendar for. It is a MUST read!

[Lisa Aiello · Rating 4 out of 5]

These people put the "fun" in dysfunctional, and I mean that in the most sarcastic way possible. There is not a likable person or a non-toxic relationship to be found within these pages. In the beginning, I was tempted to skim or even DNF, but I held strong. By the last 25%, I was so engrossed, that it was flying along as I held my breath. Yeah, the plot is a bit outlandish, but something kept me reading. When all was said and I done, I felt a little wrung out, watching our heroine spiral deeper and deeper out of control. She is surrounded by so many people who did her wrong and situations that she may not have created, but she certainly didn't do much to help herself. All in all, I enjoyed this one - and you will too if you are willing to see it through to the end.

[Jade Kovacs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley & Bookouture for my copy of "The Marriage Trap" By Sheryl Browne.

I absolutely loved the storyline to this gripping thriller! Not the usual set up of a Physcological Thriller I felt like it had a storyline I hadn't read before..... Unlike some I've read lately that seem to be the same as another novel I had read.

The only thing I did pick up in this book was that I felt at times the same things kept being repeated, like the author was filling pages, but at the expense of saying the same story a few too many times.
The only other thing was the word effervescent.....I had no clue what this was and.my Google and Kindle dictionary would not give me a definition of it!?! .

Apart from that.... I read this thriller in under 24hrs, was all consumed as with a very good Physcological Thriller can do to you!, I got hardly anything done this Saturday but felt it was not wasted! Loved this book, would totally recommend. Keep up the great storylines Sheryl Browne!

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I picked this book, I did it with the hope that this would be a "psychological thriller" as mentioned in the description. Sadly, I didn't find it to be as compelling and twisted as I like my psychological thrillers to be. I expect them to blow my mind away, which this did not. I totally saw what was coming and the ending was hardly surprising. This is a domestic thriller at best. That's not to say that this was something short of a good read. It was a decent book with a good number of twists (actually two good twists - one of which I saw coming).

Karla watches silently as her husband Jason hurriedly packs his belongings into a suitcase. She knows that her stillness is unnerving him as she watches his every move from the doorway of their bedroom.
Clothes are screwed up and packed into the case, along with a watch she bought him for his last birthday and his precious laptop. He takes everything from his bedside table. Everything except the framed wedding photo, which now stands alone. Karla strains to see the smiling faces in the photo. If only she knew then what she knows now. ‘I’ve fallen in love with someone else,’ he’d said to her, just moments earlier. The brutality of those words hit Karla hard and she struggled to breathe as she took in each word in turn.

As far as the characters go, the only ones I liked were the kids Holly and Jake and the mother, Diana. The main characters Karla and Jason were infuriatingly dense and their reactions to situations in the book were childish and reckless. They got really predictable halfway through the book. I found Karla's pov to be highly repetitive and extremely dramatic. She completely "loses the plot" midway and it only goes downhill for me from there. Given the story, I don't think the main characters behaved responsibly in any way given their history together. But every human is different and so is their response, so I'm letting that one pass. What the characters lacked in, the plot kind of made up for (maybe?). I liked the one big twist that is revealed halfway through although it wasn't what I'd say makes a psychological thriller. This was a decent one-time read.

Thank you, NetGalley, Bookouture and Sheryl Browne for an arc!

[Diah · Rating 1 out of 5]

(I received a digital ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

My question while I was reading the book was: what's the story on the blurb's got to do with the one I'm reading?

The blurb promised a scorned wife revenge, but I got nothing?

Instead, I got a family drama so twisted that I didn't bother to keep up. Karla was... uninteresting, the multiple (but weird) povs were just.. didn't work well.

In short, no. Thank you, but no.