Perfection will always show it's cracks and this couple is definitely no exception. With the addition of a therapist to try and mend their broken marriage you're hopeful that it's step in the right direction. Soon enough we realize there's much more to the story. I enjoyed parts but really wanted (or was missing) to be captivated, yet at times I found things didn't come across all that surprising.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley for my honest opinion.

The Golden Couple is the fourth novel by writing duo Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. The story is told from two perpectives, that of Avery, a former therapist who lost her license of radical treatment techniques, and Marissa, a perfect seeming wife and mother who seeks Avery’s services to salvage her marriage after cheating on her husband.

I enjoyed the dual perspectives of this book, particularly because in psychological thrillers of this sort but everything is as it appears on the surface. This if my favorite book from Pekkanen and Hendricks so far. It’s a solid twisty thriller worth reading for fans of the genre.

This is the fourth book I've read by this author duo and everyone has been well written, fast paced, with unexpected connections and twists throughout. The Golden Couple is told from two alternating perspectives and kept me reading late into the night. Excellent psychological thriller. Highly recommended

I really like this duo’s writing style! The characters were relatable and full of deception- my favorite! This was quite a slow burn though, mainly action-packed for the last 15% of the story. The twists were great; this duo really packs a punch!

Rating: 4/5

Thank you NetGalley and St, Martin’s Press for my gifted eARC!

This writing duo is becoming a favorite of mine for domestic thrillers. They write so effortlessly and manage to keep us entertained with no idea where each one of them starts or finish, gifting us with a seamlessly constructed novel.

This one will have you vested and hold your interest from the beginning, fluctuating with a plot and subplot about the main character, a relationship counselor, and a couple she is trying to help. Her unconventional methods have cost her her license to practice but she continues to counsel on her own terms and promises results within 10 meetings with her clients.

Go into this cold, I did, and you will find yourself immersed in a strange but intriguing tale that will have you looking forward to each chapter.

Today is release day, get your copy at your favorite retailer. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for my preview copy of which I am reviewing honestly and happy to recommend.

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen is a psychological thriller novel. The story in The Golden Couple is one that is told by changing the point of view between the characters and also with a tad bit of flashing back to past events.

Avery Chambers is not your usual run of the mill therapist having had her license actually taken from her. That fact hasn’t stopped Avery from continuing on with her own method of treatment these days with her program taking just ten steps to help her clients.

Marissa and Mathew Bishop on the outside seem like a perfect couple but of course looks can be deceiving. Marissa has scheduled an appointment with Avery hoping to unbury herself from a dark secret and perhaps even a chance to save her marriage if Avery can live up to her reputation.

I’m sure other readers may know that feeling of joy one gets from seeing a favorite author has a new book and that is exactly how I get when I see a new thriller from Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. Having read all of their previous novels I think this pair works some witchcraft to enchant readers when picking up one of their novels as I’m always in a complete trance while reading unable to put them down and The Golden Couple was no exception to that. Of course you have unreliable characters and suspicions everywhere with plenty of twists and turns along the way with this latest and I was totally down for it all.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Actual rating: 3.5 out 0f 5

The book was well-written, entertaining and held my attention throughout. It wasn't the "gripping" or "edge-of-your seat thrilling ride" type of book, but it did have some twists and reveals along the way. While the story itself was interesting, I felt like it was missing something to make it exciting. The ending also wasn't a "big reveal" and kind of a letdown.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen for a copy of "The Golden Couple" in exchange of an honest review.

Matthew and Marissa are The Golden Couple. They have great careers, amazing son, everything they want or need, amazing love and life. Or do they? One lapse in judgement sends them to Avery, a nontraditional therapist who is intrigued and vows to help them. The story becomes deliciously intriguing and the book flows so amazingly from one curious twist to another. I found myself wanting to just sit and keep reading so I could get to the climax of the story. I made a calculated guess on who was behind the suspense but I could not have seen it evolve the way it did and as in every story these two write, even the last paragraph brings you another unsuspecting twist.

Marissa and Matthew seem to be the perfect couple, but they each have their secrets. They end up going to therapy to try to fix their relationship, but they choose Avery, an unconventional therapist with secrets of her own….

Like with most thrillers, the less you know going in, the better so I’m going to leave my description there. This was a slow burn that kept me wondering what layers we would peel back next, what additional secrets we had yet to find, and how they would all be connected. I love this author duo and this book was no exception. I loved the dual point of views and I could not put it down. Also, the DC area setting was a major plus - I loved reading about familiar places!

I had both the audio and physical books and really enjoyed the audiobook narrators. I was so captivated whenever I was listening.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies.

They seem like the perfect couple. Can appearances ever be fully trusted? What lies under the golden surface of Matthew & Marissa’s marriage. Ex-therapist Avery is on a mission to find out. How well do we really know one another? Can trust ever be restored after betrayal? Can Avery’s revolutionary ten step program enhance their marriage? These are only a few of the questions that drive the plot of this suspense ride. Buckle up! This author duo weaves another novel that will keep you guessing until the end. Thanks NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. #TheGoldenCouple @StMartinsPress @Greerkh @Sarahpekannen

One thing that always impresses me about a Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen novel is how seamlessly they write together. Their writing styles complement each other so well and I’m always excited to see what they come up with.

I found The Golden Couple entertaining, but I was really hoping for some more twists and surprises. I felt like there was a lot of build up on multiple mysterious fronts, but when it all comes together in the end, it felt a little lackluster. While I didn’t know what was going on the whole time, I did guess things much earlier than they were revealed, and I was disappointed that I was right. It all felt kind of Lifetime movie-ish.

I was invested in the characters, though. The chapters rotated between Avery and Marissa’s POVs and I was never upset to leave one for the other, which isn’t always the case in this type of storytelling. There was also a good cast of suspicious side characters that kept me guessing for a little while.

Overall, The Golden Couple, was a pretty enjoyable read, but did not quite live up to my expectations. While the character development was good, I wanted a few more surprises built into the mystery. However, I did like this a little more than these author’s last couple books, so I’ll look forward to what they write next.

The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen is a frightening story about a women who cheated but wants to save her marriage so she has convinced her husband to go to counseling with Avery Chambers, a controversial therapist who has lost her license and so is now a consultant. She has had good luck with a controversial system of ten visits. This isn't necessarily couples' counseling. Marissa and Matthew seem a pleasant couple. They have one son, a beautiful home, and appear to have everything going for them. The Golden Couple. As the counseling progresses, many secrets emerge, and Avery is an unusual therapist, getting more involved than many would. This is as much a mystery as it is a story of a marriage. It had me totally baffled until the end.

These women know how to write a good character. Their characters, like every person I know, have multiple
layers. Usually on the page only one or two of these layers is revealed . . . not here. It was heart-breaking as sell as frightening what happens to people, not only Marissa and Matthew. I couldn't put it down despite the fact I didn't like where I thought it was heading. Lots of crazy people out there. Several in this book that put themselves first, even above their children. It was so easy for people to don a mask and show a completely different face to people they are using. Very sad.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Gold Couple by St Martin's Press, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #stmartinspress #thegoldencouple #greehendricks #sarahpekkanen

The Golden Couple
by Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen
Pub Date: March 8, 2022
St. Martin's Press
Thanks to the authors, St Martins Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. These authors are fast becoming one of my favorites. Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen are the number one New York Times bestselling authors of THE WIFE BETWEEN US, AN ANONYMOUS GIRL, YOU ARE NOT ALONE, and THE GOLDEN COUPLE.
I couldn't stop reading it and I really loved the way it ended. These two know how to write a thriller that will keep you reading and wondering until the final page.
5 stars

The dynamic writing duo Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen are back with a new novel The Golden Couple. I’m a major fan of the authors and have thoroughly enjoyed reading all of their previous books. A big Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and the authors for the advanced digital copy of the book.

The Golden Couple is an exhilarating, completely compelling story about a seemly perfect Washington DC suburbanite couple, Marissa and Matthew Bishop. A successful and wealthy couple with a young son. The couple look like they have it all together, but everything is not as it appears to be. Sometimes looks can be deceiving, and The Golden Couple that seems perfect from a far is actually fractured up close. After engaging in an affair Marissa seeks out Avery Chambers to help repair her marriage. Avery is a controversial therapist who uses unconventional methods to help her clients. This leads the three of them down a dangerous path. A seriously intriguing, unputdownable psychological thriller that you will definitely want to read.
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Book Synopsis: “If Avery Chambers can’t fix you in 10 sessions, she won’t take you on as a client. Her successes are phenomenal—she helps people overcome everything from domineering parents to assault—and almost absorbs the emptiness she sometimes feels since her husband’s death.

Marissa and Mathew Bishop seem like the golden couple—until Marissa cheats. She wants to repair things, both because she loves her husband and for the sake of their eight-year-old son. After a friend forwards an article about Avery, Marissa takes a chance on this maverick therapist, who lost her license due to controversial methods.

When the Bishops glide through Avery’s door and Marissa reveals her infidelity, all three are set on a collision course. Because the biggest secrets in the room are still hidden, and it’s no longer simply a marriage that’s in danger.”

Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen have been writing domestic thrillers for the last few years and I love this writing team! I especially loved their first novel together, The Wife Between Us. After reading that one I was super excited to check out the next book which was just ok for me but that said, I enjoyed their writing style and was eager to read other collaborations.

When this book came up for review I was familiar enough with the authors names and the quality of novels they put out so I was obviously on board with a review. While the second book I read wasn’t my fav, it was still enjoyable and sometimes you have a a book that just doesn’t live up to the first and that’s ok, it isn’t a deal breaker for me so I looked forward to this one being like a redemption book for me.

Collaborative works can sometimes be tricky. Each author has their own unique voice and style so trying to mesh those two together can sometimes be a challenge. I have been fairly lucky in my reading of collaborative novels as most have been well written and interesting but sometimes the different styles can be obvious, however with these two authors their different styles have really worked well together.

Summary

The next electrifying novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author duo behind The Wife Between Us.

Wealthy Washington suburbanites Marissa and Matthew Bishop seem to have it all—until Marissa is unfaithful. Beneath their veneer of perfection is a relationship riven by work and a lack of intimacy. She wants to repair things for the sake of their eight-year-old son and because she loves her husband. Enter Avery Chambers.

Avery is a therapist who lost her professional license. Still, it doesn’t stop her from counseling those in crisis, though they have to adhere to her unorthodox methods. And the Bishops are desperate.

When they glide through Avery’s door and Marissa reveals her infidelity, all three are set on a collision course. Because the biggest secrets in the room are still hidden, and it’s no longer simply a marriage that’s in danger. (summary from Goodreads)

Review

This book was absolutely redemption worthy for me! While maybe not a 5 star review, it was still a very entertaining novel and absolutely kept me interested and guessing! Marissa and Matthew are the typical upper middle class suburban couple with what appears to be everything going for them—-until it’s not. They enter into counseling where they meet Avery. First of all I would not be going to a non licensed and controversial therapist if I needed couples counseling however I thought the authors did a great job setting readers up for buying into Avery’s program. I think most readers would be like wait there are some red flags here but in this book you can sort of be like ‘ok ya makes sense’ so kudos to the authors for getting me to buy into this part of the story.

After that everything really fell into place for me until the last little bit go the book which is why it ended up being a 4 star review for me rather than a 5 star review. I don’t want to give away any details but the ending felt like it wrapped up a little too quickly for me. It could have been a little more refined and polished in my opinion but overall it was a fitting ending. If you enjoy domestic thrillers this book very much needs to be on your list for spring/summer reading! I really enjoyed it even if the ending wasn’t as impactful as I was hoping.

The one thing that both of these authors really do well is writing well drawn characters. In this book I felt like Marissa and Matthew could be any couple that I know personally or even my own spouse. I mean clearly there are issues in their marriage but as characters and people, I think readers will find things to relate to in each of the characters. They are multidimensional with lots to make readers think about. I also appreciated some of the topics they covered as well as some of the musings for me to consider. It was a great read and I definitely recommend for thriller fans!

Book Info and Rating

Format: 336 hardcover

Published: March 8th 2022 by St Martins Press

ISBN: 9781250273208

Free review copy provided by publisher, St Martins Press, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.

Rating: 4 stars

Genre: domestic thriller

Avery is a marriage counselor who utilizes unorthodox and in some cases illegal methods of dealing with her clients, but when the seemingly ‘golden couple’ of Matthew and Marissa sign on to work with her, the three of them are set on a collision course.

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Hendricks and Pekannen are able to weave together such fun mystery/thrillers, and I’d say this is probably my favorite yet from this duo! Their books, to me, are pure and unadulterated escapism, and I mean that in the best possible way.

I might categorize this as more of a domestic mystery than a psychological thriller, but there was definitely a bit of unreliable narration going on. I thought the therapist gone rogue was a very fun idea! I enjoyed watching Avery spy on her clients and force them into certain situations in a way an actual therapist never would dare.

The narration alternates between Avery’s first-person and Marissa’s third-person, so that the POV shifts between the therapist who uses underhanded means to try to bring couples back together and the wife who is trying to keep a very big secret hidden from everyone - including her own husband. The alternating POV keeps the reader off-balance, and the pacing is engaging and steady – not too fast, not too slow. Just the perfect, steady drip of red herrings and fun twists that will keep a reader turning pages until the surprising end.

This hits the shelves today!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

The Golden Couple/Ken and Barbie/Mr and Mrs Perfect. Don’t we all know at least one couple that fits this stereotype? Now tell the truth, is that couple that you know as perfect as they appear, as perfect as they lead people to think they are? My guess is no, no, they are not perfect. Not only are they not perfect, they actually have more skeletons and dirt than most other couples you know. Those so called perfect couples are the ones you need to need to be most wary of. Don’t be fooled into thinking otherwise and don’t be jealous of them. Still not sure? Come read about Marissa and Matthew and then see if you agree with me…

I flew this book in one day and was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole thing. There are so many twists and turns and I had to shake my head at one point wondering how everything was going to tie together. Be ready for the ride, it is a great one!

I have loved every book I’ve read written by these two authors and I knew I could expect the same with their newest. Fantastic!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I loved this book! It’s now my second favorite by this duo. THE WIFE BETWEEN US will always be my favorite, but this one is right up there! So good!! 🙌

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Marissa and Matthew have the perfect marriage, wonderful son and an enviable life…. until Marissa has an affair.

Marissa is desperate to save her marriage and enlists the help of a very nontraditional therapist.

During this unusual therapeutic approach, more secrets are revealed and things begin to spin out of control….
______________________________

✨You definitely want to grab a copy!

This was an anticipated reads I was very excited I received an eARC for. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this one as much as this author duo’s previous works. I struggled getting engaged with the story for the first half of the book and it felt like it dragged on for the entirety of it. I did enjoy the many twists it provided. It sure kept me guessing. This will not keep me from reading future books published by this duo.

I would like to thank the publisher, NetGalley and the authors for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and did not see the final twist coming. The characters were well developed and the plot kept me turning the pages on my kindle as fast as I could. This is the third book of Hendricks' that I have read and it is my favorite by far. I will recommend this to everyone I know who enjoys domestic thrillers and thrillers in general.