This is my first book by Helen Cooper and I can't wait to read more of her titles. The author captured you from the beginning and you had to finish the book in one setting to see the end result.

I received an ARC of this book; all thoughts are my own. Many thanks

Helen Cooper's gripping novel, "The Couple in the Photo," is a suspenseful exploration of friendship, trust, and the dark secrets that can unravel even the strongest bonds. With a compelling narrative and a cast of characters whose lives are intricately intertwined, Cooper crafts a tale that delves into the complexities of human relationships and the lengths one will go to protect their loved ones.

Lucy and Adam, along with their close friends Cora and Scott, have shared a deep bond for years, their lives intertwined in a tight-knit friendship that seems unbreakable. Their idyllic existence is shattered when Lucy stumbles upon a photograph of Scott seemingly enjoying a luxurious vacation with another woman. Stricken by the implications of Scott's apparent infidelity, Lucy embarks on a journey to uncover the truth and shield her best friend, Cora, from the painful reality.

As Lucy delves deeper into the mystery, she finds herself entangled in a web of secrets, half-truths, and hidden motives. The disappearance of the woman in the photograph casts a shadow of doubt over her friends and even her own husband, Adam. The more Lucy investigates, the more she realizes that the people she thought she knew best may be harboring shocking secrets of their own.

Cooper skillfully builds tension and suspense as Lucy races against time to unravel the truth. The narrative is fraught with twists and turns, leading Lucy down unexpected paths and forcing her to confront uncomfortable truths about the people she holds dear. Lucy's determination to uncover the reality behind the photograph thrusts her into a dangerous game of deception and betrayal, where the consequences of unearthing the truth could be devastating.

"The Couple in the Photo" is more than just a mystery—it's a thought-provoking exploration of human nature, vulnerability, and the intricate dynamics of friendship and marriage. Cooper delves into the psyche of her characters, revealing their fears, desires, and insecurities as they grapple with the consequences of their actions. As Lucy inches closer to the heart of the mystery, readers are drawn into a world of suspense, manipulation, and moral ambiguity.

With its engaging characters and skillful narrative pacing, "The Couple in the Photo" keeps readers on the edge of their seats, eager to unravel the layers of deception and uncover the truth that lies beneath. Helen Cooper's novel is a riveting examination of the lengths people will go to protect their loved ones, even if it means confronting uncomfortable truths and facing the consequences of their choices. As Lucy's search for answers intensifies, the boundaries between loyalty and self-preservation blur, leaving readers questioning how well they truly know those closest to them.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy. I though it was a fun and fast paced read. I enjoyed the plot and suspense. I was easily sucked into the story but felt like it ended quickly. Would be a good beach read r to devour on a long flight.

Kept me guessing the whole time. I bounced from person to person suspecting someone new each chapter. Intense!

A solid but easily predictable mystery featuring long-held secrets, devious murders, and convoluted relationships. The Couple in the Photo was a quick read and good for easy entertainment.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This book was a very interesting concept and full of gossip, which I love. I was able to predict the outcome relatively easily, but the way they got to the outcome was full of twists and turns so I didn’t mind!

A Couple in the Photo has an interesting plot and is engaging for the most part. It's another one where the good guys are really bad and the bad guys are just kind of bad. The ending is somewhat surprising. If you like mysteries that keep you guessing and friendship stories, you'll enjoy this book.

Lucy and her husband Adam are best friends with another couple, Cora and Scott. The four of them are tight as family. But have you ever wondered how well you really know the people in your life?

I enjoyed this read, and I applaud Lucy's quest for the truth. The story starts out a bit slow, but not uncomfortably so. The plot is pretty predictable, but it was still an enjoyable read. It really makes you wonder what the people in your life are hiding! 😂

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Helen Cooper is a new to me author. But wow am I excited to check out her back list. Lucy's search for the truth is very engaging.

Damn, okay.
This was such a fast paced easy thriller to read but really predictable to me. I loved how determined Lucy was to find out the truth, but I loved how the book still made me question things.
Imagine this its a normal day and your colleague is showing off photos of their honeymoon and then you see one of you close friend with a woman, mind this friend is married and just want to know why? Without realizing its so much more than what you think.

A perfect beach read thriller.

This book was a great easy read The author captured you from the beginning and you had to finish the book in one setting to see the end result. Both couples had been friends for a long time and were working on a weekend home together. Lucy discover her friend Scott in a photo that a friend showed her. He was suppose to be in Japan for business but he was in Maldive with another woman. The story takes many twists and turns but Lucy realizes she has been in the dark for along time. The incident involves everyone but Lucy.

3.5 stars.
Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Couple in The Photo!
This book is a decent read that weaves together mystery and romance in an intriguing way. While the plot had its engaging moments, the pacing felt uneven at times, leaving me wanting more consistency. The characters were well-developed and certainly relatable, drawing me into their world. Although the ending left some loose ends, the author’s ability to create a captivating atmosphere made this book an enjoyable escape for me! I liked the (crazy) adventure. Definitely recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

This book got me at the end. I had a guy about one of the members of the couples being involved but one really surprised me- don’t want to spoil it, if you like a good twist, read this book!

This book was ok, just a bit hard to believe. It's about 2 couples who have been friends for years, and suddenly things start looking suspicious for one of them. Without giving anything away, I just found it hard to believe that the couples were such good friends that they had bought a vacation house together, and that none of this had come out before. It was enjoyable, but nothing super exciting.

2 couples, 4 friends, (3 of which have been friends since University)...so many secrets of the past. Eventually, secrets come out and people get hurt. It's a shame all it took was a photo to unravel their picture perfect lives.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Publishing for allowing me to read this before it's release. This is my first book by Helen Cooper and I can't wait to read more of her work.
The beginning was a little slow for my liking, however, as the story progressed it all started to work together and by the end I couldn't put it down. Even stayed up past my bedtime reading!
I highly recommend you give this book a read, you will not be disappointed.

Wow! This book really got me. I wasn’t expecting any of that! It gets your attention from the very beginning and you do not want to put it down!! The further you get into it the deeper the twists get. You will think you got it figured out, but you don’t! I had my hands on this book every spare minute I had because I just needed to know! I needed Lucy to keep digging and hopefully find something! The ending was well put together! There is something about being on the edge of your seat the entire time, to disappointed with a rushed or vague ending leaving you with unanswered questions. And I’m glad that this book isn’t one of those!! So thank you for that! Thank you NetGalley for giving me access to this eARC. I will be recommending for sure!

The Couple in the Photo is a good beach read. I enjoyed the suspense and the slow uncovering of the history of the friendship. And I very much identified with the main character's ambivalence, missing relationships that never really were what she thought they were. My one criticism is that I grew tired of the near constant shortening of names: Adam was shortened to Ad, Cora to Cor, Lucy to Luce. Yes, I know we all nickname people, but do people named Adam so often go by Ad? The whole book through, I kept hearing Ad-Rock and the rest of the Beastie Boys in my head.

I was sucked into this book! I thought it had a good twist and was a pretty quick read! The plot was different and didn’t feel overly predictable. The characters were not super likable but I related to Lucy trying to get to the bottom of the situation. Great quick twisty read!

Helen Cooper's The Couple in the Photo is an intricately woven story about lies, broken friendships, deceptively perfect marriages, and murder. Lucy is married to Adam and they have two adorable girls. Their best friends are Cora and Scott Waugh, who have been like family to Adam since their university days.

As the newest member of their extremely close knit group, Lucy is fiercely loyal until she sees a picture on her colleague's phone that makes her question everything that she believes, She's sure that the photo is Scott and another woman... a woman who mysteriously turns up dead in the waters of a Maldives resort. But when Lucy mentions her concern to Adam, he vehemently denies that Scott would ever be unfaithful. Is he covering for his oldest friend or is Scott innocent? And why does Lucy's colleague suddenly shut her out after Lucy questions her about the photo? The answers will leave you stunned right up to the very last chapter.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. It started a bit slow but then picked up and kept me guessing until the end. Really enjoyed the premise and twists and turns along the way. This is my first Helen Cooper novel and cannot wait to read more now! Highly recommend.