A fast paced domestic thriller that kept me reading, even when the twists went a little too far for me.

Goodreads | Promise Me Never

Release date: August 18, 2026

Publisher: Bantam

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Next Mrs. Parrish comes an unmissable thriller about a woman who becomes embroiled in the mystery of her husband’s deceased first wife—and after moving to his remote house in the woods, uncovers terrifying secrets.

Aspiring writer Savannah’s scheme to meet superstar horror novelist Bennett Bryson turns out better than she ever imagined: not only does her charming and handsome literary idol offer to read her work, he is instantly smitten with her. After a whirlwind romance, Savannah says “yes” to marriage, and the two settle into Bennett’s secluded upstate home.

But just as Savannah thinks she has it made, cracks appear in her perfect new life. Bennett’s behavior becomes dark and controlling: he criticizes Savannah’s writing, dictates her permitted activities, and spends most of his time locked in his office, forbidding her from entering. And everywhere, Savannah cannot escape the shadow of Bennett’s first wife, the free-spirited and passionate artist Poppy, who died in a tragic accident, but who seems still to be Savannah’s rival for Bennett’s affection.

Then comes an enigmatic warning: Bennett is not who he seems. The women that came before Savannah have disappeared. And Savannah could be next.

Isolated and unsure whom to trust, Savannah tries to piece together the mystery of the man she married, and the woman he married first. But Savannah has no idea what her husband is really hiding. And someone out there knows Savannah has secrets of her own. As these two writers will learn the hard way—past really is prologue.

With memorably complicated characters, deliciously devious betrayals, and truly shocking twists, this edge-of-your-seat novel from one of today’s most original writers will keep you guessing until the last page.

Review:

I was initially really hooked by Promise Me Never. The setup immediately pulled me in, and even though it seemed like we might be heading into a familiar “it’s always the husband” storyline, I was completely seated and ready to see where Liv Constantine would take it. The pacing is excellent, and there was always another question or mystery that made me want to keep reading.

Unfortunately, as the story went on, the reveals became a little too wild and over the top for me. I’m absolutely here for a good soap opera or Lifetime movie moment every now and then, but this one crossed that line into wait…are we really supposed to believe this? territory. 😂 I found myself noticing the plot holes and questioning some of the twists instead of being shocked by them, and ultimately, the answers felt pretty underwhelming after all that buildup.

That said, I can’t deny that this was a page turner. I genuinely wanted to find out what happened, and I flew through it despite my issues with where the story ultimately went. I think readers who enjoy very twisty domestic thrillers and don’t mind suspending disbelief for some big, dramatic reveals may have a lot more fun with this one than I did.

For me, Promise Me Never was a case of loving the setup and the compulsive pacing but not quite connecting with the execution of the twists. It kept me entertained, but I wanted the payoff to land a little harder. 

Perfect for readers who love:

• Domestic thrillers
• Suspicious husbands
• Mysterious first wives
• Isolated settings
• Big, dramatic twists
• Fast paced, compulsively readable suspense

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

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