This might just be my first new favorite book of 2022! I love these two authors and anything they write. This book though is one I dare you to read the first 3 pages of and see if you’re hooked because I was!
There are so many stories within the story but every story is a thrill and every story is necessary! The characters were each given the sane amount of attention.
I started this thinking I would read at bedtime a few night. Nope! Basically carried this book open in my kindle for 24 hours straight!!!!

I was able to review  The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks; Sarah Pekkanen and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Wow. This was a wild ride. This is my first read of Hendricks and Pekkanen and I was very impressed. This was a very fast paced thriller and it didn’t disappoint! This is the story of the Bennett's, Marissa and Matthew and their therapist, Avery. Avery is not your average therapist. She's got some unconventional methods and has lost her license, but still continues to see patients for her ten session method. I don't want to give too much away, so I won't go too much further, but as the story flows along, the characters become more and more intertwined in each other's lives, culminating in a huge twist.

Another twisty pyschological thriller from this duo! Very entertaining, quick read (probably because I needed to keep reading to see what would happen next). Avery is an interesting character, a therapist who lost her license because of unorthodox practices, but who is as successful as ever. The Golden Couple - Marissa and Matthew - in all sense of the phrase: blond, rich, successful, seemingly perfect life and love. Marissa was a bit too much of a nervous nelly for me, but by the end you are rooting for her.

"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 absorb 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 8-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."

Thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I've read a few books by this duo, they're always enjoyable and fun to unravel the twists.

The Golden Couple is fast paced and keeps the reader totally engaged. Chapters alternate between Avery and Marissa, so the reader is privy to everyone's secrets. Marissa was a bit over the top at times, but I found her likeable nonetheless. Characters are well crafted and there are ample twists. I figured out a few along the way, but it didn't take away from the story, as I still couldn't wait to see how it all played out.

How can you not read a mystery about a therapist that lost their license and is unconventional?! You know you are in for a wild ride!

It was so hard to put down The Golden Couple. The alternating chapters between Avery (the therapist) and Marissa (wife of the perfect couple) were so addictive that I just needed to read "just" one more chapter. I was surprised by the ending and liked how everything came together. The only negative was the side story of the pharmaceutical company. I felt that it took away from the main story and was out of place. Wasn't a fan of it, especially with the ending.

Thank you to Netgallery and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this. It was almost a feeling of wondering if everyone was just being paranoid, and nothing really was wrong. Like, am I gonna be mad at the end because nothing sinister is actually going on here? Well that wasn't the case.

The story follows a couple and their therapist. Everyone has secrets and it's told sometimes through the therapist Avery's pov and sometimes third person about the couple. Marissa cheated on her husband, and is still telling small lies, but she's uneasy like all the time. Her husband, Matthew, is mercurial. Sometimes he seems to handle it all great and is all lovey but others he seems angry about it. And Avery has a unique way of dealing with clients, but not everyone likes it or her.

I won't give anything away, but there were twists I didn't see coming. Even when I thought I had something partially figured out, I didn't. The end was awesome and made it all come together in an interesting way.

I think this is a case of "I should've read the book instead of doing to
audio." I basically had no idea what was going on the entire time and by
the time I got to the end and "the big reveal" I had no interest in rewinding
to catch it.
We can't love them all!

I'll start this off by saying I've read every single book Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen have written together. I've loved some more than others, sure, but they've all fascinated and thrilled me till the end.

The Golden Couple is now my favorite of all.

I read it all in one day, almost nonstop, and the twists and turns were just breathtaking. Every chapter opened up a new angle, and I waited with bated breath to see what would come next.

The premise is simple:

Avery Chambers is a therapist, or ex-therapist whose revolutionary intensive therapy has put her on everyone's radar. She's sought after by everyone - the rich and powerful along with those who can barely give her more than a minimal fee.

But she doesn't care about that.

She lost her license because of her unorthodox methods, yet that doesn't turn away clients.

Especially not Marissa and Matthew Bishop, the titular Golden Couple.

Their problems are thrown out in the very first minutes of their session, and the wild ride you're taken on along the way is both unnerving and exhilarating. I gasped, a covered my mouth, and I squealed with pleasure at times I actually was able to guess the mystery.

If you're into thrillers or even just a winding mystery - you'll love this one.

I know I did.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Look… I tried to read this entire book in one day because, well, it is freaking crazy. Unfortunately, I didn’t get it finished that quickly, but it was still a great read.

The book had me from page one. The whole premise of the 10 session therapy was crazy, but intriguing. And the golden couple? SO. MUCH. DRAMA.

I loved the backstory and all the side stories! There is just so much crazy paranoia going on… with everyone.

The second half wasn’t quite as fast-paced as the first half and seemed a little repetitive to me. I also didn’t love how much explanation there was close to the end.

I did absolutely love the last chapter, though. Avery’s work not only helps others, but we see it helps her as well (not a spoiler, just an observation).

This was a page turner for me and would absolutely recommend. I love a multiple viewpoint book and the authors wove them together so well. Also I feel like the ending wrapped up perfectly for a thriller - I don’t love it when it feels rushed after everything is revealed and thought this was perfect. That being said there was one element about the ending that seemed a little far-fetched but I don’t want to spoil it!

The Golden Couple is a compelling psychological thriller and one of the better ones I’ve read in a while.

Avery Chambers has an unorthodox method of therapy that she uses to treat her clients. It’s so unethical that she lost her license several months ago. Despite this, her therapy sessions have proven effective, and many clients still seek her out.

Meet Marissa. Marissa recently cheated on her husband Matthew, something that she deeply regrets. Marissa earnestly hopes that Avery can help repair their relationship.

Avery always tries to find the actual crux of the problem, not the one that is merely on the surface. She believes the situation may be murkier than the pretty picture this golden couple presents.

The Golden Couple alternates POVs between Avery and Marissa. Many chapters end with little cliffhangers that make this a very captivating read. The carefully crafted reveals had me flipping the pages as fast as I could. Just when I thought I had it figured out, bam, there was another twist that made me reconsider everything.

The authors did a great job writing multi-dimensional characters. Avery and Marissa are wholly complex and dynamic characters; they aren’t the typical hysterical, unreliable female narrators that are so common these days. I thought Avery would be insufferable, the pretentious and spoof therapist, but she ended up being my favourite character. Would I want her as my therapist? Absolutely not. But I probably would as a friend.

My one complaint would be that everything wrapped up very quickly.

I hope this author duo keeps writing together because I will keep reading whatever they cook up.

I highly recommend this well-plotted and suspenseful thriller.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for an arc provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

https://booksandwheels.com

I was completely immersed in this story from the very beginning. With so many twists and lies I could not put it down. I loved it! It reminded me of a Lifetime thriller. Thank you my my copy, I can't wait to read more from this author.

I've read everything by this author duo and nothing has ever blown my mind like their first, The Wife Between Us. Actually, I've I'm being really honest, they haven't even come close. Until now. Loved this twisty ride and I found myself loving some characters in spite of myself. (I mean I assumed someone was evil and so I felt weird about liking and respecting our two MCs at different points.)

Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen are one of my favorite writing duos when it comes to psychological thrillers. The strong, unreliable female characters and the build up of the story, leaving us little morsels along the way is what I enjoy most and The Golden Couple was no different.

Avery is a "non-traditional" therapist. After having her license taken away, she has proved to be a much sought after 'therapist' with unconventional ways of treating her clients. But after treating a past client, she has someone after her because of something they think she has done. This little nugget plays out kind of secondary and in the background of the main story concerning the "Golden Couple."

Marissa is the second POV we have in the story. She is one half of the "Golden Couple". She is married to Mathew and has recently cheated on him. She seeks out Avery to help her tell her husband and for them to forge a healthy relationship forward. Problem is, she may just have that person in the back of her mind still. Is she sorry for cheating, or would she just miss the lifestyle her husband and her have built?

This is where this writing duo succeeds. They give us two strong female characters and we are led down both of their paths of secrets, lies and their personal lives. Each woman is successful in her own right, although completely opposite. Each one has more drama than we could've originally imagined. The authors keep building on the story, dropping subtle clues and adding additional characters to keep us on our toes.

The Golden Couple was engaging and a total page turner. I enjoyed the strength and resilience of each character and the way Avery "researched" her clients. It may have been over the top, but it benefitted the storyline and gave me a clear picture of who these people were perceived to be. But who was I supposed to trust? The story started out slowly and built to a rewarding crescendo, while giving me the twists and turns that I needed. The ending wasn't exactly what I expected but overall, this is a satisfying and smartly written book that will not disappoint.

Marissa and Michael Bishop are regarded as a Golden Couple. They are prosperous, good-looking, fashionable, seem to be much in love, and are the parents of an adorable young son. The Bishops are either admired or envied by their acquaintances. I feel that the book falls more into the category of domestic drama than a psychological thriller, but contains elements of both. The slow-paced middle of the story detracted from the buildup of suspense for me.

Avery Chambers has lost her license as a therapist due to her unorthodox methods. She now acts as a counsellor in private practice. She has developed a 10 Step program that she claims will resolve her client's problems. This is carried out over 10 sessions if she considers prospective clients suitable for her therapy, and if they can afford her high fees. Marissa learned about Avery's controversial methods when a friend sent her a magazine article where Avery was interviewed, and in it, she explained her new-style therapy and its success.

Marissa becomes a client of Avery and convinces Matthew to attend with her under false pretenses. She wants the maverick therapist's support while confessing to her husband that she had an affair with a gym instructor. Matthew is upset and angry at first but becomes more compliant and cooperative in the following sessions. He still resents Marissa's confession. Their eight-year-old son senses tension at home.

There are a number of secondary characters whose lives are revealed to be entangled with the Bishops and/or Avery. Avery's life is not problem-free. She is in trouble with a pharmaceutical company for revealing the dangers of a newly developed drug. This was I felt, an unnecessary thread in a complicated story. Avery is also recovering from the death of her husband. One of Avery's unique methods is snooping in the lives of her clients and those connected with them. She feels this is essential in unearthing long-buried secrets, of which there are many. She is concerned that Marissa and Matthew are still withholding secrets, and since they are reluctant to be truthful with her, the therapy will be a failure.

I failed to fully engage in the story. I disliked the main characters. Both Matthew and Marissa seemed deceitful and boring. Avery, trying to be helpful, dominated and interfered with their lives and those of people with whom they were connected. Nevertheless, I was interested in learning the outcome. The narration was from the perspectives of Marissa and Avery in alternate chapters and gave the reader a good chance to get to know the behaviour and thoughts of both these women.

There was some tension later in the book with dangerous scenes. Some worthy twists and red herrings were in place with some surprising reveals, but I thought the buildup of suspense was lacking. I think many readers will enjoy this book and the secrets the characters are hiding.
I wish to thank Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

Marissa and Matthew Bishop go to marital counseling after she commits adultery with one of their longtime friends. They know their new counselor, Avery, lost her license to do therapy but she was recommended by a friend because of her totally different approach to therapy. But she is not hiding that fact - she reported a corrupt drug company, thinking she would be anonymous and now she's always looking over her shoulder. I love that she rescued a shelter dog for company and maybe some protection. Just as things are progressing along, introduce the Grandpa. Few things are as they seem, but there are definitely some clues as to what the marriage was all about. I definitely recommend The Golden Couple.

You’ve seen those couples. You know which ones I’m talking about. The ones who have the perfect life. Or so it seems…..

I never really know what to expect when I pick up a Hendricks/Pekkanen book. I was intrigued by the description and was excited to dive in. The story begins and you meet the characters. Right off the bat, I don’t like any of them. I know I’m supposed to feel that way but I couldn’t help feeling irked. Yet it’s not enough to turn me off from the book. More like, let’s see where this is going. The story unravels lots of suspense and turns. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, it’s a dead end. LOVED THAT! What an ending! Totally satisfying. It felt like the sun came out after being hidden by the clouds. Very nice.

This is a great read! You have suspense and that thrilling feeling like something bad is going to happen but you’ll get all your answers. I highly recommend this book! I give it 4 stars.

All that glitters is certainly not gold. When a too-perfect-to-be-true couple comes to see unconventional therapist Avery Chambers for help, something is definitely “off.” But as Avery peels back the layers of betrayal and deception, she realizes that the troubles she’s been experiencing in her personal life are all intertwined in this gilded spiderweb. Fast-paced with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing, The Golden Couple is yet another winner by this talented, New York Times bestselling author duo. 4.75/5 stars.

I love the previous books by author's Sarah Pekkanen and Greer Hendricks, this one does not disappoint.
Avery lost her license as a psychiatrist but still works as a therapist/counselor. Marissa and Matthew come to her because their marriage is in danger. Marissa cheated, but still wants to make it work with Matthew, if he can forgive her. From the very beginning Avery suspects that both of them are keeping their own secrets, from her and each other. Avery is used to clients lying to her, but she is good at ferreting out the truth. Usually she is better at helping clients with straightening out their messy lives than she is at fixing her own. The thing is, the secret that one of her clients is keeping may be to much for even Avery to handle.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to enjoy this suspense-thriller e-ARC.

This one has to my be favorite by Greer and Sarah. I read it so fast and couldn’t put it down. It kept me guessing until the end. It was very fast paced and not your typical thriller.