Marissa and Matthew Bishop have a beautiful home, and wonderful young son. They are successful people in the most "American Dream" sense of the phrase. The Bishops have been together since they were small-town teenagers and have made it into adulthood side by side. They have everything you could ever want... And some additional things you wouldn't.

Avery Chambers, non licensed therapist, has a 10 session policy where she can fix whatever obstacles you are facing. Guaranteed. She gets results and doesn't stop working when office hours are over.

As Avery councils Marissa & Matthew through their marital problems, it becomes more and more apparent that things are not as shiny and golden as they would first appear. As they address the obvious issue of infidelity, it quickly becames clear that maybe their marriage isn't the only thing they need to save.

I likes that there were so many dodgy encounters and characters. One strange unsettling thi g after another, and nithi g seemed to add up. The ending was exciting and I couldn't stop reading until I had the conclusion. I had to wait until thr very last page to get all my questions answered. Such an enjoyable thriller.

3 stars.*

I was so excited about the new Greer Hendricks/Sarah Pekkanen release that I leapt at the chance to read the ARC. The three previous books I've read by this duo were marvelously dark and gripping and introduced twists that I would not have predicted.

Perhaps they set the bar too high? The Golden Couple was a good story. It would make a suspenseful movie. But it lacked some of the tension of their previous works.

It is the story of Matthew and Marissa Bishop-known to their friends as the Golden Couple for their gleaming, perfect life and physical perfection. All is not golden, however, and they seek out Avery Chambers - a renegade marriage counselor whose 10-session system will either fix you or end your marriage.

Worth the read but not my favorite of their works.

*with thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Many thanks to the authors, publishers, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book! Love these authors and was so excited to get a copy. I wasn't disappointed! Told from the three main characters' points of view, it was interesting to see which each character was thinking. It was well written and the ending was not given away at all, It was a twist I didn't see coming! I will definitely keep reading every book they write!

Anyone who’s been in a relationship (so, the majority of people who’ve reached adulthood, however that’s defined these days) knows that there’s a fair bit of effort involved in keeping things on an even(-ish) keel.

Another thing those with a relationship or two under their belts know is that things often look rather different to anyone not in that relationship (so, everyone else).

But what happens when someone outside knows just enough of the hidden bits and pieces—the secrets or lies, the silences or tears... the stuff that isn't all "happy families" on display—to affect what happens next, in the relationship? When that someone purposefully manipulates things, for an outcome only he or she wants?

Writing duo Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen follow up their previous psychological thrillers (among them, The Wife Between Us, reviewed here, and You Are Not Alone, reviewed here) with a look at that scenario in their upcoming work, The Golden Couple.
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Marissa and Mathew Bishop are, indeed—to their friends, coworkers, and families—the golden couple. They have successful careers, are attractive and healthy, well-liked by their peers, and live in a beautiful house with their little boy. In other words, they’re the epitome of what a lot of couples aspire to be.

But that’s only when viewed from the outside… because Marissa isn’t entirely happy with her life—more frequently feeling taken for granted or ignored by Mathew—which, eventually, results in her cheating on him.

The guilt, afterward, gnaws away at her; she still loves Mathew and really doesn’t want to be that couple, destroyed by infidelity… but she can’t work out just how to tell him outright what she’s done.

When a friend happens to mention an interesting article about a counselor with a lot of buzz--one Avery Chambers, who promises to fix any marital issue via her own very specific ten-step series of sessions--Marissa decides it's worth a shot.

The caveat (which the Bishops only find out once they’re each seated on the sofa in Avery’s office)? She requires carte blanche of her clients… meaning, unfettered access to all the details of their lives, whatever she deems necessary to understanding, addressing, and solving the problem(s). Marissa and Mathew warily agree.

Once the sessions begin, though, and Avery starts to worm out not only what happened, by more importantly, the why of it all, a lot more than just the expected, underlying issues come to the surface… and to all three of them—couple and counselor—it gradually becomes frighteningly apparent that someone out there will do almost anything to prevent this particular marital problem from being successfully solved.
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Hendricks and Pekkanen continue to showcase their special brand of thrilling-because-it-feels-like-this-could-really-happen storytelling, in The Golden Couple. (Working parents with a kid… and problems? Yeah, this could totally happen, whether to you, or to someone you know well, right?)

Interestingly, I never really completely liked (or trusted) a single one of the main characters—nor any of the secondary ones—yet I still followed the tale eagerly. [So, pretty tight storytelling, to keep me engaged…] I’m not entirely sure if I was supposed to identify strongly with anyone, or if the writers’ goal was to keep the reader a bit off-kilter regarding everyone, the whole time. Either way, though, the story worked for me.

There’s a sub-plot that gets sorted a little too conveniently, as well, but again… I actually didn’t mind that much, so, kudos to Hendricks and Pekkanen, for crafting such a compelling story.

Will this be my favorite psychological suspense of the year? No… but I blazed through it in good time, and was (mostly) satisfied at the end, so I’m definitely put this one in the win—and the “recommend”—column. :)
~GlamKitty

Another highly anticipated & stunning domestic/psychological thriller from the dynamic duo! The Golden Couple is mesmerizing, chilling, and vividly descriptive in the characters and settings which I love. I always thotlroughly enjoy a therapist character, and one who is unconventional, even better. Creeptastically unputdownable and it would make a phenomenal movie or limited series! Excellent! I loved it.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my e-ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Held my interest from the beginning to the end. Good character development. Surprises galore that I didn't see coming. It's not that you really came to care for the characters but you were engaged enough that you wanted to read till its conclusion. Will recommend.

The Golden Couple, a mystery/thriller book was a solid 4 stars.
The book centers around three main characters, Avery, a therapist, and married couple Marissa and Mathew. Though seemingly a “golden couple”, they start seeing Avery to repair their marriage after Marissa admits to infidelity. Avery isn’t an ordinary therapist though-she’s one that lost her license and is considered highly controversial. Once Avery starts really digging into Matthew and Marissa’s martial issues, she gets way more than she bargained for. They has a lot going on. From a marriage in crisis, to Avery’s own drama with a pharmaceutical company-it is entertaining book and full of twists and turns. Well-developed characters and an entertaining plot.

I love Greer and Sarah's books. I was so excited to receive this. For a minute, I was worried it would live up to The Anonymous Girl or the Wife Between Us. No worries on that. It was so good. The weird marital dynamic between Marissa and Matthew was one I couldn't quite understand or grasp but it helped because I never saw the ending. The whole time, I thought Avery was going to have some role in the twist (because there are always twists in their books). The character of Avery was my favorite. She is slightly disturbed but a character I couldn't get enough of. You want to keep reading to figure out what is going on with her. It was a quick, great read. I highly recommend!

This book was nothing short of what is expected from Hendricks & Pekkanen. The shocking ending is expected and not expected. It's expected as it's what Hendricks & Pekkanen does best. It's like the seed of a pepper. The spiciness is expected, but it still gives you a chill when you get there. Some characters are more developed than others. As the title would tell you, the main focus is between Marissa and Matthew. Avery's character is harder to figure out. She's very translucent as a character, yet at the same time her character has a very high mystery that confuses me, but in a good way. I do think that Avery's side story doesn't add anything to her character and seems to be an extra storyline that is unnecessary to me. I would have loved to see Avery's character more developed. She doesn't have a back story. Overall, it's a must-read story.

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

As a fan of Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, their latest novel does not disappoint! I was hooked from the start and though I did find the story to be a bit long, I was fully along for the ride.

Huge thank you to St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC of what is sure to be one of the most popular domestic/psychological thrillers/suspense of 2022.

Once again, this writing duo led me down a path until they threw in the big twist that made me question everything I read up to that point. At least this time, there was one line that let me figure out the twist a few pages before it was revealed. But this domestic thriller about a couple appearing golden on the surface did not disappoint at all.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the arc.

I have read all of Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen's books. I have enjoyed them all to some extent. This one was good. It kept me interested, if not all that surprised. I may be burning out on the thriller genre at this point. For those who are looking for a quick read with a few twists and turns, this book is for you. Thank you so much to NetGalley, the authors and the publisher for providing me with this ARC. I will continue to read the books written by this team.

Lately , I’ve been reading books with the same old plot over & over. Way to go ladies, this book kept me Intrigued until the very end.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Golden Couple. Well written and all loose ends were tied. I had suspicions about how it was going to end but my suspicions were wrong. I was honestly surprised by the outcome - it was not what I expected at all! , I give a solid five star rating!

Thank you to netgalley, Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen, and St. Martins Press for the opportunity for read this advanced copy!

Whew. I have to take a deep breath before I write this review. I am an avid reader of Hendricks and Pekkanen and have read all of their other books at LEAST twice, sometimes also listening to the audiobook versions. I was incredibly excited for their latest, THE GOLDEN COUPLE.

It started off as every book of theirs does--twisted and unpredictable with characters whose personalities pull you right in.

Avery is an unusual (ex) therapist who has her own unique ways of "helping" her clients.
Marissa is a business owner and wife and mother who recently cheated on her husband.
Matthew is the husband, with of course, secrets of his own.
Plus a handful of supporting characters who have their own motives.

We soon discover there is far more going on than meets the eye. As I reached the midpoint of the book, I was eager to see how the authors would bring these twists and turns together.

As it was, I felt as though some of the twists were excellent, some were predictable (and I don't MIND that, but they fell flat), and some just felt out there. When the book ended, I found myself trying to figure out how I felt--because thrilled was not it, which is how I usually feel when I finish a book by them. Instead, I spent the next several days trying to decide if I loved it or hated it, and in the end, I suppose I just felt "meh." Which sucks. So much build up, so much promise, and it just didn't do it for me.

I'm still looking forward to their next book, I'll STILL buy this to add to my collection. Honestly, if they were anyone besides themselves, I would have probably thought "decent". But I have such high expectations for them based off their previous novels, I was really expecting to be blown away.

Wow…this book had every last thing I love in a book! I wanted to savor this one, but I also could have finished it in one sitting. This is my favorite book by Hendricks & Pekkanen!

Avery is a therapist (well, former therapist) that has lost her license. Avery is still highly sought-out because of her proven methods & high success rate, unusual as they may be. She makes no apologies for her invasive, 10-session method to repairing your broken relationships. She also blew the whistle on a pharmaceutical company, Acelia, that cost them millions of dollars…and they are none too happy with her. Throughout the story, they quietly vow to avenge for her “wrong-doing.”

Marissa has betrayed her husband, Matthew. Feeling regret and guilt, she seeks out Avery to help her put their marriage back together. While she wants to repair her marriage, Marissa struggles to be completely honest in their sessions, seemingly holding something back. But she’s not the only one with a secret. Lies, secrets, and disappointments abound in this novel.

The story is told in three parts from two points of view: Avery and Marissa. I love a story with multiple POVs. It keeps you guessing & moves the story along at a beautiful pace.

I bought into every trap laid out by this spectacular writing duo. I bought them all, hook, line, and sinker. I never knew who to trust, who to believe, who was sincere, and who was honest. Everything I thought was true was blown up by the end of the story. You will question every single character…for good reason. Nothing is as it seems in this story.

The ending was extremely satisfying. It delivered exactly what was right for the characters & gave me what I didn’t realize I wanted. Hendricks and Pekkanen wrapped up every part of the story line in a way that was satisfying to the reader.

I can’t wait for you all to get your hands on a copy of this when it releases in 2022! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A big fan of this author duo as I've been hooked on them since I received their first book, The Wife Between Us. When I get the opportunity to read an ARC by a fave author, I bump whatever I am reading at the time so I can jump right in. This book has a bit of everything. A couple in trouble looking to deal with repairing a marriage after an affair, an unconventional therapist that is dealing with her own issues at the same time, and all sorts of other characters that fit in that keep you wondering just how. While this wound up not being my favorite book by these authors, they weave a great story that keeps the reader engaged and never disappointed. Many thanks to netgalley, Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen, and St. Martins Press for the opportunity for read this advanced copy.

The Golden Couple is yet another example of why Pekkanen and Hendricks are at the top of my favorite authors list. Their storylines are plausible, but not predictable, which is what makes the twists and turns that much more intriguing.
Avery Chambers is a therapist who has developed a controversial 10 session method of treatment for her clients. Marissa and Matthew Bishop come to her to repair their relationship after Marissa has cheated on Matthew. Is this once "golden couple" ready to face their reality? Is it only their marriage that is in peril?
Avery is not without complications herself. She has lost her license after hiding in a closet to record the interactions of a couple she was counseling. Did mention that she has no boundaries? There is also the big Pharma company that is stalking her after she made a report to the FDA (on behalf of a client) concerning misconduct during drug trials. A drug which is now causing deaths, but making millions. Will Avery be added to that body count?
Another great read form Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. I'm ready for their next one!
My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I could not put it down—finished this book in about 5 hours! Great plot, well-written, and fast paced. I simply adore these 2 authors!

Thank you for the arc, Netfalley!

I was delighted to go out of my comfort zone and try a mystery with this latest book by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, The Golden Couple. Fans of mysteries and thrillers would definitely consider this a "light mystery", but that was just enough for me. I was pleased with the twists and turns in each chapter, and equally as happy with the lack of gore and nightmare-inducing scenes. (I admit I'm a wimp!) While some of the characters were stiff in the beginning, they grew on me halfway through the book. The book went from slow-moving to unable-to-put-down at 50%. Some readers may consider this book predictable, but those of us new to mysteries and thrillers, will find it a perfect introduction to the genre. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced eCopy with a publication date of March 8, 2022.