The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose

Narrated by Neil Hellegers and Teri Schnaubelt

Standalone Crime Thriller

I met Jeneva Rose at Readers Take Denver and immediately liked her. I checked out her TikTok and she was so funny (check out the Scott Saga playlist) I had to read her most popular book (which is being made into a movie), The Perfect Marriage.

“I’ve always felt like Sarah was taking on the world, while I was just struggling to live in it.”

Adam and Sarah have been married for 10 years. She is one of the best criminal attorneys in the business and is always working. Adam is a struggling author who spends a lot of time at their lake house trying to write, but Sarah never seems to make it up there.

“Kelly gives me the love that Sarah can no longer. They both complete me. It’s sick I know, but it’s true. I need them both.”

After sleeping with his lake house lover, Kelly, he leaves her sleeping in his bed to go home to his wife. The next morning he is arrested for Kelly’s brutal stabbing murder after she was found dead in his bed.

Sarah, being the best criminal attorney, decides to represent her husband. Ok. Now I’m going to get real here. Though I binged this book and couldn’t stop listening, it was absolutely ridiculous. First of all, what judge would allow this? Her husband’s mistress is murdered and she is representing him for a death penalty case?

“Because when I said ‘til death do us part’ I meant it and I’m the only person that has any chance in hell of getting you off.” There’s ice in her voice and rightfully so.”

The police were so horrible it was almost comedic. There is all this other evidence and tons of doubt but they ignored it all. Still, I couldn’t stop listening. There really isn’t one likable character in the book, but still, I couldn’t stop listening.

There are a ton of plot holes, unfinished clues and things that made absolutely no sense at all. Adam was also the biggest idiot ever. Though I always prefer a first person story, I think The Perfect Marriage would have worked so much better in 3rd person. But still, I was hooked.

I’m not going to do my traditional likes and dislikes for this review, because honestly when I pick it apart, I hate everything, yet I really enjoyed The Perfect Marriage after I suspended all belief.

The Narration:

Neil Hellegers and Teri Schnaubelt were both new narrators to me, and I think think they both really added to my enjoyment of the story.

The Down & Dirty:

I couldn’t stop listening to The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose. The storytelling and narration kept me riveted despite all the ridiculous plot holes. I’m having such a hard time giving this a star rating because I really enjoyed the listen even though the story truly made no sense and could never even come close to happening in real life. I will for sure be checking out more of Jeneva Rose’s books after reading this and watching her on TikTok.