Well.. I love anything Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen write. Their writing style is right up my alley. I loved the characters and how they keep you on your toes. I read this book in 2 sittings. I was consumed and I highly suggest this book. I can’t give too much detail because I don’t want to give one single detail away! Just trust me and buy this ASAP!

The dynamite thriller duo has done it again! The Golden Couple was such a twisty treat. The switching between Marissa's and Avery's POV was always done seamlessly and put the reader in the best seat for the show each time.

All of the characters were interesting but I will admit to enjoying Avery the most. Her fearlessness, her screw-you attitude, and her love for Romeo were traits I instantly identified with. As is it with these writers, it's a book you will be absolutely unable to put down once you start. The pacing is done so perfectly with just enough pull to keep you reading but not so fast that it feels rushed.

I'd recommend this thriller to any reader of the genre but it has such a wide appeal that I think just about anyone would like it. Lies, secrets, betrayal, and the obsessive need to keep up an Instagram-worthy front are things most (all) of us can identify with, and root fiercely against. I already can't wait for my next Hendricks-Pekkanen read!


Note: I received a free electronic edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank them, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to do so.

Read this book!! This is by far one of the best thrillers I have read all year! It is bonkers how the story unfolds and I was shocked until the very end. Wonderful book and I highly recommend.

The Golden Couple, by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, is the glitzy, twisty thriller you have been looking for! It is the perfect diversion from world events, the economy, and all the ordinary ups and downs of daily life. All three of the main characters are flawed...some more than others. All are entertaining. Although I guessed twice wrong about the villain, I really enjoyed this read. Compelling, quick, and fun! Hendricks and Pekkanen do not disappoint.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read a digital ARC. It was a pleasure!

I enjoyed this book for what it was - upper class white people with seemingly perfect lives in (mostly) unrealistic situations. I'm not a fan of coincidences in my books (particularly thrillers) and I could maybe get on board with the first coincidence amongst the main characters, but the story jumped the shark with the second coincidental relationship. Unless, of course, these coincidences were part of a bigger plot I didn't care to flesh out.

I guessed who the bad guy / girl was fairly early on for me, because normally I do not clue in. I figure that means the story was pretty transparent, because I'm not the most astute reader. I didn't see the very last twist coming, however, and the ending was wrapped up pretty neatly (too much so, perhaps?)

While I did not find this book as strong as their previous books, I thought that it was a solid read. It grabbed my attention and I finished it in 2 days. I enjoyed Avery's investigation of the Bishop's and her total immersion in their lives. Marissa's increasing paranoia and suspicion of everyone created a good deal of suspense. I was definitely caught off guard and surprised by the ending.

Matthew and Marissa have it all, that is until in therapy she admits to an affair. Marissa is desperate to repair their relationship so that is why they are in Avery’s office. Avery is a therapist who has lost her license, but she isn’t letting that stop her. What secrets will be revealed?

This is a slow burn so be warned if that is not your thing. You are also never quite sure who to trust in this story. The characters all seem a bit shady 🤣🤣. Overall it was an interesting read, I wish it had moved a tad faster but I would still recommend it. I enjoyed trying to figure out all the characters and what they were up to.

Two women, two voices, two authors - I kinda like how these two writers accomplish their goal to write an entertaining book. A therapist who is no longer licensed to actually practice (you’ll find out why). She is hired to help save the marriage of the Golden Couple. The wife of the GC, she’s got some secrets…yet so does her hubs. The audio narration from is fantastic - I listened voraciously. I guessed a few things, was mildly surprised by others, was thoroughly entertained, which is exactly what I was looking for. Would I feel the same in print form? Possibly not. Go for the audio - it’s perfection.

Wow, this book was so perfect and it reminded me how much I used to love Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen's thrillers! It had the perfect amount of psychology/therapy for me, which is one of my favorite things to read about, and it had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish - even though I was so sure for most of it who the actual culprit was. I loved the deep look we got into the characters' lives, how no one was perfect, and how the authors kept you guessing until the end. Highly recommend for anyone looking for an unputdownable thriller to read or listen to!

The Golden Couple
by: Greer Hendricks; Sarah Pekkanen
St. Martin's Press
General Fiction (Adult), Mystery and Thrillers

The Golden Couple is suspense at its finest. The duo of Greer Hendricks and Sara Pekkanen have written a well-paced novel of family drama, intrigue and mystery that will keep readers turning the pages. The writing is original and creative, with an intense plot and well developed characters. This is a very well done novel!
Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the advance reader's copy and opportunity to provide my unbiased review.
#TheGoldenCouple #NetGalley

The Golden Couple is about a family drama turned domestic thriller. Avery Chambers a therapist but lost her license because of her unusual methods of treatment. She also is whistleblower when a client confided in her drug company Acelia, was about to get FDA approval for a drug they knew was harmful. Marissa Bishop seeks Avery’s help with her marriage to Matthew after she cheated on him. When the couple meets with Avery, the first thing Marissa does is confess her infidelity.

The Golden Couple is told from two points of view, Marissa and Avery's. Avery suspects that there is something she is not being told as she investigates discreetly which is odd in of itself. Avery also inserts herself in the lives of the people closest to Marissa and Matthew. Meanwhile, Marissa is trying to keep the identity of the man she cheated with a secret. Things will quickly unravel.

The Golden Couple is an intense domestic thriller. This was a wonderfully written suspense driven story. This is my first book by these authors. I look forward to reading more from them.

My Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐/ 5 stars
This is a duo POV thriller about an affluent Washington couple that seeks the help of ex-therapist Avery Chambers on their marital issues. Marissa has admitted that she cheated on her husband Matthew Bishop one time with a man at the gym. She will do anything to make amends and save her marriage, including trying unconventional counseling methods like the Ten Steps with Avery.

Avery on the other hand lost her license due to an issue with her past clients including a whistleblower for a pharmaceutical company, but that has not stopped her busy schedule. Because of the ramifications of the pharmaceutical company lawsuit/whistleblowing, she is being followed and threatened by people trying to get her to reveal the name.

The first chapters are incredibly captivating and pull you in immediately. However, even with the duo POVs with two seemingly interesting female main characters, it was lackluster. I was bored. They both seemed a bit emotionless and robotic - despite everything that was happening to both of them. I think the story with the pharma company could have been nixed, it just made everything really confusing. The best part is when Avery adopted her dog, and little mentions of him throughout. I thought the overall book was OK, the ending was slightly surprising, but you can tell this was written by two different people.

Thank you to St. Martin’s press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review! I also chose this as my #bookofthemonth!

This was okay, I didn’t love it. While the narration was done well, I couldn’t bring myself to care about any of the characters. The lack of professionalism from the “therapist” didn’t feel salacious or shocking, it was expected and boring given Pekkanen and Hendricks’ previous foray into misguided female doctors. I think it would make a fine beach read but it’s nothing to write home about or rush to the bookstore on pub day for.

This was truly a great book. I will start by saying that I loved reading Avery’s story. She wasn’t a weak damsel in distress. She got her pit bull and was ready for whatever life threw at her. She was definitely the stark opposing of Marissa who I was beyond annoyed by. I truly wish she would have grown a backbone at some point in the book. She was just all over the place up until the very end.

When therapist agreed to take on her newest clients, Marissa and Matthew Bishop, she knew exactly what she was getting into. They came to her office in the evening, the best time for Matthew, who worked long hours as a partner in a D.C. law firm. Marissa had told him that it was about their son Bennett, but she really wanted to confess her infidelity and see if her marriage can be saved.

Avery knows how this will go. She has perfected her 10-session counseling system. No longer bound by the American Psychological Association’s rules for their licensed therapists, Avery has become popular for going rogue and creating results for her clients however she needs to. She only meets her clients 10 times, and walks them through her steps without them even realizing what’s happening to them.

She starts with Confession (Marissa’s confession in their first session about her infidelity gets the ball rolling), and Avery proceeds to move them through Disruption, Escalation, Revelation, and Devastation, heading towards eventual Reconciliation and Promises. But as she’s working with Marissa and Mathew, something starts to seem off.

Avery does some digging into their lives, and she finds the lies that Marissa had told her (and Matthew) about her affair. She finds out about Marissa’s shop assistant with boundary issues. She finds Matthew’s ex-girlfriend who is still hanging around, making Marissa uncomfortable. She finds the guy from Marissa’s past who is obsessively watching her. And while these things are unusual and are certainly adding some tension to the marriage, Avery can’t figure out why her foolproof steps aren’t working for them.

But when Avery realizes that there was an overlap between Marissa’s life and her own, she thinks that maybe she is in more danger than she realized. Avery is usually the puppet master when it comes to her clients, but is it possible that in this situation, someone else is pulling the strings? And if so, how far will they go to manipulate them?

The Golden Couple is a compelling dance of a thriller, with layers of secrets and lies, and lots of surprises throughout. Powerhouse author duo Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen have sculpted another flawless novel of suspense and intrigue, filled with realistic details of the ups and downs of a privileged couple. These women have the ability to create characters and stories that take the usual tropes and turn them on their heads, weaving novels that keep you up at night, until you get to the end, and can finally try to recover for the novel that you hope is coming from them the next year.

I have been a fan of this writing due since I first met them, back with their first novel. I love good thrillers, and Hendricks and Pekkanen have consistently written some of the finest ones on my shelves. The Golden Couple is no exception. With the twist of the unlicensed therapist, this novel takes the domestic thriller to a new level, and you will find yourself questioning everything you think you know about every character you meet in this book, except for Romeo, who is always exactly who you think he is (he’s the dog). Make sure to set aside some time for this one, because once you start reading it, you won’t want to stop until you get to that very last page, that very last secret.

Egalleys for The Golden Couple were provided by St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, with many thanks.

I am very thankful for the ARC copy of this the publisher sent me via Netgalley, but I have to say, this is not the best work from Hendricks/Pekkanen. I love this duo for a good thriller/trashy beach read. It is escapism at its best and this pair is great... but not this book.

There were parts that were amazing, but I hate an exponential timeline. I don't like the last few chapters being a dizzy mess. Also, there were too many red herrings. While I am happy when writers do not frame a book around the clues, this reads like a plotline that got out of hand. Stephen King once said that he had the idea for The Stand several years before he wrote it, but he waited until he was more skilled as a writer... and that is exactly what should have happened here. It was a solid concept and there were times when it read extremely well, but you can tell the writing pair struggled to tell the story (coherently), especially in the first half.

That said, I'm happy to see the pair maturing their writing and growing as authors. Again, I enjoy these books, but if you haven't read their other work, I suggest starting there.

Marissa and Matthew Bishop seem to have it all. They are the Golden Couple. Avery is the maverick therapist of Washington DC who lost her license but still counsels people using her unique and unorthodox 10 step process. Marissa wants to repair her marriage which was not going well even before her unfaithfulness so she convinces Matthew to go to Avery with her. The characters in this book are well developed during the course of the story, which evolves during the therapy sessions. In the beginning there are many secrets that Avery must ferret out if the therapy has any hope of success. But Avery has secrets of her own. The story is told in alternating chapters by Marissa and Avery in the present tense although they go back in time to examine facets of their lives. I was totally shocked at the ending. Somehow I never suspected it even though, looking back, I could see hints. This is another hit from this writing duo. I received a copy through NetGalley.

Review will be posted on 3/15/22
Avery Chambers, a therapist, has lost her license due to her unconventional methods; however, this hasn't caused her to leave the field. In fact, she is more popular than ever and is known for multi-step approach to get back her clients back on track. That is exactly why Marissa Bishop hires her to save her marriage. Marissa has cheated on her husband and confesses this during her first therapy session with her husband, Matthew. This shouldn't be too difficult for Avery to fix, right? Her ten step approach can fix anything, that is until she meets Marissa and Matthew who are hiding too many secrets for their own good. On the surface, they look like the perfect "golden" couple; however, there's many dark secrets lurking below that Avery uncovers slowly and some of the secrets, surprisingly, trip Avery up! But Matthew and Marissa aren't the only characters hiding secrets in the novel. Avery has made some enemies along the way, starting with a drug company that she reported to the FDA. The drug company is hot on her trail and isn't happy with her all. Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen's The Golden Couple is a solid thriller that had me flipping the pages.

Marissa is, at first, an intriguing character despite her affair. However, once readers get to know her, they realize that the you don't really know her at all. She hides many secrets and omits the truth quite frequently. For starters, she says her affair was with a guy from her gym, which we find out isn't true at all. I do give her credit for trying marriage counseling, but can it really work when there's too many secrets between a couple? Slowly Avery tries to figure them out by using her unconventional ways that make her feel more of a detective at times. She visits Marissa's boutique, talks to Marissa's assistant who raises some red flags, trails Matthew, and even visits Marissa's gym to find the guy she had an affair with. As Avery uncovers more of Marissa's story, she realizes there's more to this than meets the eye.

The other characters are equally interesting in The Golden Couple. Matthew raises some red flags from the beginning, but he wants everyone to recognize him as a victim since he is the one who was cheated on. Slowly readers learn more about Matthew and Marissa's past, how they met, his background, and all of this helps the readers better understand their relationship. Then there's Polly, Marissa's assistant, who seems entirely unstable and a bit Single White Female at times. Readers can't help but feel like she is withholding some secrets, too. Then there's the Avery, who is supposed to be figuring out everyone else's problems, but she has some of her own that are starting to look bigger than she can handle as this drug company's stalking is getting dangerous.

There are many twists in The Golden Couple and although I enjoyed the novel more than their last novel, I still felt that some twists were a bit forced and I didn't entirely believe some of them. However, that didn't stop my enjoyment as I thought it was an entertaining thriller despite its downfalls.

So, are you a fan of Hendricks and Pekannen's collaborations? Have you read The Golden Couple? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Avery's an unlicensed therapist, and a private investigator of sorts. She's developed an unorthodox therapeutic approach where she only takes clients she feels she can address their problems in 10 visits. As the book opens, she's meeting with Marissa and Matthew. They're the titular Golden Couple, but, of course, their life isn't as wonderful as it may seem from outward appearances. They met as teenagers and have been married for quite a while, and that marriage is starting to show some strains. Duplicity starts early in the book, as we learn that Marissa tells Matthew one reason for wanting to see Avery...but the truth is very different.
This is the fourth novel by the dynamic writing duo and their creativity and writing remains as fresh as their first book. There are lots of red herrings, and you'll be trying to guess if they're real or not....and likely will still be as surprised at the ending as I was.
I liked the location of Washington, DC and while I always like a good pharmaceutical industry twist, I didn't think this one was as fully developed or relevant as it could have been. Overall, a great twisty read!
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity for an early look at The Golden Couple in exchange for an honest review.

I'm betting there's at least one "golden couple" in everyone's life. You know...the perfect couple who has it all - beauty, money, big house, expensive cars - living the dream. Meet Marisa and Matthew Bishop aka the Golden Couple and their eight year old son Bennett. Bright, beautiful, perfect. So why do they seek out the help of unorthodox therapist Avery Chambers whose license was revoked?

Marissa and Matthew Bishop are a beautiful couple whose marriage is perfect in public but privately in deep trouble. Marissa had a one night stand with a guy she refuses to name, and she seeks Avery's help in revealing the infidelity to Matthew and convincing him to give their marriage a second chance. Sharp, intelligent and snarky Avery is intrigued by the Bishop's both as a couple and individually so she agrees to apply her famous ten step treatment plan to their marriage on the condition they open their lives and home to her and do everything she tells them - when she tells them. As the story unfolds, readers learn there's way more than meets the eye to all three of these characters as the lies, dark secrets and malicious threats begin to pile up.

Through Avery and Marissa's points of view, readers are privy to the present and past history of the main characters and how it leads to a connection between Avery and this couple. It quickly becomes obvious that things don't add up. Someone is not who they present themselves to be, but who and why? The plot line is an extremely convoluted, multilayered, twisted masterpiece. The multiple support characters are all viable red herrings in the big question of "who is the villain" in this story and what's really going on. I found myself constantly changing my mind over who the culprit was and what the real endgame was. One thing's for sure - by the big reveal, the golden couple's golden glow has dimmed considerably and their relationship is in dire danger. Can their marriage be salvaged?

The Golden Couple is a gritty, character driven thriller with a multitude of players any of who could be the villain. Someone is trying to destroy the Bishops marriage, and Avery is determined to unearth all the hidden secrets to expose the truth. But will anyone survive the truth? The Golden Couple unfolds layer by layer with new revelations exploding off the page with each new layer. Fans of mystery and suspense will enjoy this story. I also recommend it to fans of domestic thrillers.