The Marriage Test

3.8 out of 5

1,496 global ratings

From the bestselling author of In an Instant comes a heartfelt short story about one couple’s journey to discover if there really is a secret ingredient to happily ever after before their upcoming holiday wedding.

When Ava Barnes’s boyfriend, Justin, proposes after a whirlwind romance, the young couple embarks on a quest that will test their love. For generations, engaged couples in Ava’s family have traveled into the Everglades to retrieve the egg of the magnificent frigate bird in order to bake it into a marriage cake. Those who succeed live happily ever after, while those who fail are destined for heartbreak. With Ava’s beloved grandmother gravely ill, never has the marriage tradition meant so much. Ava’s dream is to pass the test so her grandmother can attend Ava’s holiday wedding to the man she loves.

So Ava, Justin, and their best friend Walton as a witness set off on a remarkable adventure that will challenge the true depth of their character and devotion. An emotional, heartrending journey of self-discovery, The Marriage Test turns out to be far more than any of them imagined.

Is there any test more challenging than a test of love?

68 pages,

Kindle

Audiobook

First published November 22, 2021


About the authors

Suzanne Redfearn

Suzanne Redfearn

Suzanne Redfearn is the award-winning and bestselling author of six novels. Her newest novel, "Where Butterflies Wander" is about an unexpected journey of healing after a horrible family tragedy.

"In an Instant" published in 2020 was an Amazon #1 bestseller as well as a Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist. It was named Best New Fiction from Best Book Awards and has been translated into twenty-four different languages.

Her work has also been recognized by RT Reviews, Target Recommends, Publisher’s Marketplace, and Kirkus Reviews.

A former architect, Suzanne lives in Laguna Beach, California, where she and her husband own two restaurants: Lumberyard and Slice Pizza & Beer.

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Reviews

Bella

Bella

5

Very romantic

Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2024

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I liked the plot but I just want to point out that those birds that live in the marsh lay eggs that taste like fish because that is what they eat and if you use their eggs to make a cake, it will be a fishy cake. Enjoy !

Diane

Diane

5

Beautiful story

Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2024

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Wonderful story of friendship and love. A great quest where truths are realized. A quick read which made me smile.

Nerms

Nerms

5

Short and cute

Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2024

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I've always been fascinated by family traditions, and their beliefs. This book goes into a unique tradition. More of a quest couples have to do before they're married. It's a short and sweet story.

FSM

FSM

4

Great Read!

Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2023

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I truly enjoyed this book. The storyline was great. My one critique is let us do appropriate research before mentioning other countries. I am a Haitian woman that is not a language. The two languages spoken there are Creole and French. This is easily found out in a google search. I Was taken aback when I read and heard that in the book. Do better!

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4 people found this helpful

Brandi L. Elliott

Brandi L. Elliott

4

good short story

Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2024

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A cute short story, not what I expected but I enjoyed it. Not my favorite of this author I enjoy her novels much more, which I think is a compliment as a novel is a more difficult task.

Kindle Customer

Kindle Customer

4

The Marriage Test

Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2024

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This was a good book and it was written well but I expected so much more! Too short and the ending left me with wanting more. I feel cheated!

Michelle

Michelle

4

The Marriage Test

Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2024

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This was a sweet little love story. Not the ending I predicted, I like that! It was fun reading about family traditions and how they extend from generation to generation.

Andrea F. Ozment

Andrea F. Ozment

3

Pleasant but slight

Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2022

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Nice short story of a romance whose next step depends on the successful completion of a wedding cake challenge. I didn’t really get the rules, but the notion was interesting. A couple of obvious cliches were well avoided, but the story was otherwise nothing unexpected.

2 people found this helpful

Katherine Galvez

Katherine Galvez

3

it was an okay read

Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2023

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This is a quick read from Suzanne Redfearn about two couples, Evan and Justin, who are about to get married and have to go on a quest to see if their love is true love. I liked it but it was not my favorite novel from Suzanne.

Erika

Erika

2

No.

Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2024

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This book left me wanting to yell like Cardi B, “What was the reason”?! There was so much forced angst. It all felt so unnecessary. Ava was whiny and dramatic. Her interactions with Justin and Walton were awkward. The resolution for the couple didn’t make any sense. At times, I thought that this was an attempt at a modern day fairytale. It just ended up being a pointless non-romance.

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3 people found this helpful