Table of Contents
Why We Can’t Stop Talking About The Perfect Marriage
Ever since Jeneva Rose self-published The Perfect Marriage in 2020, readers have been obsessed with its toxic-marriage twist, dual POVs, and gasp-worthy reveals. The book exploded on TikTok, selling more than one million copies worldwide and racking up 700 000+ five-star ratings on Goodreads. Film producers quickly snapped up the rights, and a feature adaptation is now in development with director Sigal Avin attached.
That viral rise launched a fresh wave of searches for books like The Perfect Marriage—thrillers dripping with betrayal, red herrings, and murderous domestic bliss. This guide is your definitive resource.
Books like The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose Herself
Before we dive into other authors, check out Rose’s own dark universe:
| Title | Year | Hook | Why it’s a fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| One of Us Is Dead | 2022 | Salon gossip turns deadly among Atlanta’s elite. | Catty POV shifts and killer twists mirror the energy of The Perfect Marriage. |
| Home Is Where the Bodies Are | 2024 | Three siblings uncover a corpse in their childhood home-for-sale. | More razor-sharp domestic secrets for fans craving books similar to The Perfect Marriage. |
Author Spotlight: Jeneva Rose
Raised in Wisconsin and now living in Chicago with her husband and two English bulldogs, Rose leveraged TikTok skits (starring her husband) to turn a once-rejected manuscript into a #1 New York Times bestseller translated into 30+ languages. She credits that Midwestern upbringing for her “everyday characters with shocking secrets.” When she’s not writing, she moderates a 5 000-member Facebook group of fans who call themselves the “Silly Geese,” a nod to her viral videos. Her savvy social-media presence is a master class in reader engagement—and a big reason people endlessly Google books like The Perfect Marriage.
Sales, Adaptation & Viral Buzz
- Sales milestone: Passed one million copies in three years; Rose celebrated the feat on X in May 2023.
- Awards & lists: Hit #1 on Amazon Kindle and Audible suspense charts for eight straight weeks in 2022.
- Film news: Picture Perfect Federation and Zurich Avenue are producing the movie, with CODA’s Patrick Wachsberger on board.
- Goodreads stats: 1 000 000+ ratings, 3.98 average—polarizing but addictive.
- Global reach: Published in 27 languages as of February 2025.
Every new headline drives another spike in search traffic for books similar to The Perfect Marriage—proof that twisty domestic suspense is here to stay.
What Inspired The Perfect Marriage?
Rose has said the plot emerged from a late-night “what if” game with her husband: What if the spouse of a top criminal-defense attorney was accused of killing his mistress? She blended that seed with her fascination for real-life wrongful-conviction podcasts, resulting in a thriller where truth is the deadliest weapon. That marriage-on-trial concept underpins many books like The Perfect Marriage: ordinary couples + extraordinary crimes = page-turning mayhem.
Top Books like The Perfect Marriage
Below you’ll find seven hand-picked recommendations. Each mini-review (≈250 words) explains why it belongs on any Perfect Marriage fan’s TBR, offers three random facts, and includes a bite-sized Goodreads-style quote.
1. Behind Closed Doors — B.A. Paris
Grace and Jack appear to be the perfect couple—until visitors realize Grace never answers the phone and the bedroom windows are barred. Soon you’re racing through a chilling cat-and-mouse game staged entirely within marriage.
Random facts
- Paris wrote the first draft in just six weeks.
- Sold over two million copies worldwide.
- Film rights optioned by Stone Village.
“If you liked The Perfect Marriage, read these pages with the lights on—pure claustrophobic terror.” —Goodreads user ThrillerAddict (fictional)
Why it’s a match: Both novels weaponize marital trust and flip it into psychological warfare, making it essential for seekers of books like The Perfect Marriage.
2. The Wife Between Us — Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
A jilted ex-wife stalks her replacement bride—but nothing in this triangle is what it seems. Dual timelines and an audacious midpoint twist echo Rose’s sleight of hand.
Random facts
- Debuted at #2 on the NYT list.
- Written in Google Docs on opposite coasts.
- Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners owns the film rights.
Why it’s similar: Unreliable narrators, courtroom-ready revelations, and the question “who’s lying?” dominate—prime territory for books similar to The Perfect Marriage.
3. Gone Girl — Gillian Flynn
The gold standard of marital mind games: Amy Dunne’s disappearance turns her husband into a prime suspect. Flynn’s toxic-love deconstruction paved the way for Rose’s breakout.
Random facts
- Popularized the phrase “cool girl.”
- Sold 20 million+ copies.
- David Fincher’s film adaptation earned Rosamund Pike an Oscar nomination.
Goodreads-style quote: “Marriages have blood under the varnish—Flynn shows every stain.”
4. Rock Paper Scissors — Alice Feeney
A troubled couple’s anniversary trip to a remote Scottish chapel spirals into snowed-in paranoia. Letters from an unknown writer punctuate the narrative à la Rose’s courtroom transcripts.
Random facts
- Netflix adapting with Suzanne Heathcote (Killing Eve) as showrunner.
- Feeney previously produced BBC newscasts.
- First draft written longhand in a camper van.
5. The Couple Next Door — Shari Lapena
When a baby disappears during a dinner party, secrets unravel across two households. Police interview transcripts mimic Rose’s legal scenes, and every chapter ends with a bombshell.
Random facts
- Lapena practiced law before turning to fiction.
- Sold rights in 35 languages.
- Topped NYT list for eight weeks.
6. The Last Mrs. Parrish — Liv Constantine
Amber Patterson sets out to steal a wealthy husband, but the wife has her own cryptic agenda. A mid-novel POV flip—much like Rose’s final-act reveal—reframes every detail.
Random facts
- Written by sisters Lynne & Valerie.
- Selected for Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club.
- Currently in screenplay development.
7. The Silent Patient — Alex Michaelides
Famed painter Alicia Berenson shoots her husband five times, then stops speaking. A psychotherapist turns detective to unlock her silence. Like Rose’s courtroom, therapy sessions drip with misdirection.
Random facts
- Fastest-selling UK debut thriller ever.
- Inspired by Euripides’ Alcestis.
- Brad Pitt’s Plan B acquired film rights.
Why all seven belong together: They weaponize marriage, showcase twisty timelines, and deliver that final-chapter gut punch—exactly what drives readers to search “If you liked The Perfect Marriage, read these.”
The Perfect Marriage vs. the Recommendations
| Book | Core Conflict | POV Style | Shock Factor | Similarity Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Perfect Marriage | Husband accused of mistress’s murder | Dual husband/wife | 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 | — |
| Behind Closed Doors | Secret captive spouse | Third-person limited | 🔥🔥🔥🔥 | ★★★★★ |
| The Wife Between Us | Ex-wife vs. new fiancée | Multi-timeline | 🔥🔥🔥 | ★★★★☆ |
| Gone Girl | Missing wife frame-up | Dual diary/narrative | 🔥🔥🔥🔥 | ★★★★☆ |
| Rock Paper Scissors | Anniversary isolation | Dual-narrative + letters | 🔥🔥🔥 | ★★★★ |
| The Couple Next Door | Infant kidnapping | Rapid multi-POV | 🔥🔥🔥 | ★★★★ |
| The Last Mrs. Parrish | Social-climber infiltration | Split halves | 🔥🔥🔥 | ★★★☆ |
| The Silent Patient | Wife’s silence post-murder | Therapist narrator | 🔥🔥🔥 | ★★★☆ |
FAQs about books like The Perfect Marriage
What genre is The Perfect Marriage?
A domestic-suspense thriller mixing courtroom drama with psychological twists.
Are all books like The Perfect Marriage heavy on marriage themes?
Yes—each pick centers on spouses or partners hiding deadly secrets.
Is The Perfect Marriage part of a series?
No, but Rose’s spin-off The Perfect Divorce arrives in 2026.
Why do people compare it to Gone Girl?
Both flip marriage tropes and rely on jaw-dropping mid-book reversals.
Where can I find more books similar to The Perfect Marriage?
Check My Plot Review’s thriller shelf or explore #BookTok’s domestic-suspense tag.
If you liked The Perfect Marriage, read these recommendations in any order?
Absolutely—the twists stand alone, so spoil-free hopping is safe.
