Domestic suspense, dark humor, and women behaving very badly? Sign me up.
Release date: November 24, 2026
Publisher: Rare Bird Lit
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Synopsis:
He’s Gotta Go is a wickedly intelligent domestic thriller about marriage, money, and the fantasies we nurture just to survive another school pickup line.
Nina Simmons is drowning-financially, emotionally, existentially. Trapped in a crumbling marriage to a passive husband, raising two struggling daughters, and caring for a deteriorating mother-in-law in the suffocating perfection of Hidden Hills, Nina’s life has become an endless loop of sacrifice, resentment, and quiet despair. As the bills pile up and the illusion of security evaporates, a single thought begins to steady her nerves and sharpen her He’s gotta go.
What begins as a private mantra evolves into something far more dangerous. Nina is smart, observant, and meticulous-and she has learned a great deal from true-crime documentaries about how people get caught. If she’s going to do this, she intends to do it perfectly.
But Nina isn’t the only woman harboring secrets. As the novel unfolds through the intersecting lives of Nina, a glamorous new neighbor with a flawless façade, a private investigator on the verge of escape from corporate purgatory, and an artist whose self-destructive appetites are catching up with her, He’s Gotta Go becomes a taut, multi-voiced examination of power, desire, and the quiet violence embedded in modern domestic life.
Darkly comic, sharply observed, and unsettlingly plausible, He’s Gotta Go skewers wealth, marriage, motherhood, and the myths women are told about endurance and gratitude. Marilee Albert delivers a fearless, satirical thriller that asks an uncomfortable when survival itself feels criminal, how far would you go to reclaim your life?
Review:
He’s Gotta Go is one of those domestic thrillers where you quickly realize that absolutely nobody has their life together, everyone has secrets, and things are probably going to get much worse before they get better. And honestly? I had a pretty good time watching it all unravel.
Nina is at the end of her rope. Between her marriage, financial problems, motherhood, and the general exhaustion of keeping everything afloat, she’s had enough. And when the thought that her husband has simply gotta go starts taking up more and more space in her head, things take a decidedly dark turn.
But Nina isn’t the only woman with questionable judgment and a few secrets up her sleeve. We’re introduced to several women whose lives intersect, and let me tell you, these ladies are all a little batshit. 😂 I mean that in the most entertaining way possible! The characters are messy, complicated, and morally gray, which is something I always appreciate. People aren’t entirely good or bad, and I enjoy stories that explore all those uncomfortable shades in between.
What really worked for me was the combination of domestic suspense and dark, sarcastic humor. This book gets pretty unhinged, and I appreciated that the author wasn’t afraid to lean into the absurdity of some of these situations. The humor was sharp and often wicked, providing a fun contrast to the darker subject matter.
I also found the story mostly unpredictable, largely because I genuinely had no idea what any of these women might do next. When you’re dealing with characters who aren’t exactly operating with the best judgment or the strongest moral compass, pretty much anything feels possible.
Overall, He’s Gotta Go was a darkly entertaining domestic thriller filled with messy women, questionable decisions, and plenty of chaos. It’s twisted, sarcastic, and just a little outrageous, and sometimes that’s exactly the kind of thriller I’m in the mood for.
Perfect for readers who love:
- Morally gray, messy female characters
- Domestic thrillers with a darkly comedic edge
- Multiple perspectives and intersecting secrets
- Unpredictable characters making questionable decisions
- Marriage drama that takes a seriously twisted turn
- Sharp sarcasm mixed with suspense
- Stories where absolutely nobody is innocent
Overall rating: 4/5
Thanks to the author for my review copy.
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