Books The Marriage Rule by Helen Monks Takhar (Author)

"The Marriage Rule" by Helen Monks Takhar is a propulsive domestic thriller exploring the complexities and dark undercurrents of marriage, motherhood, and personal freedom. The story follows Elle, nine months into motherhood, grappling with feeling sidelined at work, struggling with her post-baby body, and under pressure to be intimate with her husband, Dom, who on the surface is a caring and attentive partner.

As Elle seeks solace in red wine and the attention of a new colleague, Gabriel, she finds herself in a perilous situation after a team away day—waking up next to a dead man, someone who is not her husband. The novel delves into the toxic dynamics Elle experiences and unveils the hidden pressures encapsulated in the "Marriage Rule," a toxic expectation that a wife must comply with her husband's demands, particularly regarding sex, even when it harms her autonomy.