"The Prenup" by Arianne Richmonde

 

"The Prenup" by Arianne Richmonde is a slow-burn psychological thriller written from multiple POVs. The main characters are Ava, Lucas, Claudia, and Jasmine. The book is divided into four sections, and the sections with Ava and Jasmine are told in the first person.

After accidentally becoming pregnant, Ava is compelled to marry Lucas and sign a prenup that would leave her with nothing in the event of a divorce. Both Lucas and his father are lawyers after all. Initially, Lucas appears to be a devoted husband, bringing her coffee and flowers and taking care of all her needs.

Three years into their marriage, Lucas starts acting strange, causing Ava to doubt her sanity. Not for long, though. When Ava discovers an earring in her bedroom that doesn't belong to her, she suspects Lucas is cheating on her and gaslighting her while at it. Determined to validate her suspicions, Ava has to decide whether Lucas is indeed the perfect husband or if it's all just a facade.

"What goes around comes around" is the saying that comes to mind when reading the book.
I liked the premise and found it original. The jumping back and forth in time and between multiple people was well-done. The characters were well-devolved and given more and more facets with each scene, which brought depth to the book. However, I didn't like or connect with any of them.

The unexpected plot twists created a powerful story. Unfortunately, the execution itself fell short. While the overall narrative is captivating, there are moments where the pacing feels slightly uneven. The book started off strong, lost momentum in the middle, and picked up again in the last section of the book.

In addition, there were some repetitions of thoughts and events. While describing the events from different perspectives shed light on them, the book could have benefited from tighter editing, resulting in a more engaging read. Additionally, I found the repeated descriptions of the Malibu house redundant. The lengthy article about the actress and the nitpicking over the use of "actor" versus "actress" did not contribute to the story either.

There were some repetitions of self-reflections and events from different POVs. Although they shed light on the occurrences, the book could have benefited from tighter editing, resulting in a more engaging read. Additionally, I found the repeated descriptions of the Malibu house redundant. The lengthy article about the actress and the nitpicking over the use of "actor" versus "actress" did not contribute to the story either.

After much consideration, I decided to rate the book 3.5 out of 5 stars. Overall, I did enjoy the book despite its flaws. The unexpected twists toward the end left me wide-eyed, and I couldn't tear my eyes away from my Kindle.  I recommend the book to anyone that enjoys a complex and unpredictable, albeit slow-burn, tale and doesn't mind a slower pace. It is certainly a unique story.

 * Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "The Prenup" by Arianne Richmonde

3.5 stars