Title: Such A Lovely Couple
Author: Hayley Smith
Narrated by: Candida Gubbins
Publisher: Bookouture Audio
Pub date: 11/08/2023

Imagine waking up in a hospital with no memory of who you are or what happened to put you there. As it turns out, you were in an accident that put you and your car in the water. Enter the stranger sitting on your bed and being told he’s your husband. Oh, the confusion and anxiety that must be swirling in your head. But since he’s your husband, you go home with him. All the while you are questioning things with that little voice in your head that says “Something isn’t right.” Well, that’s exactly what the story describes right from the jump. Intrigued - I was.

The story starts out as a slow burn giving you details and tidbits. Building tension as it makes it clear that nothing is as it seems. As if the author could hear you cry out “I need to know what is going on!” She hits you with that first reveal that ties the characters and their stories together. But wait! She’s not done with you yet. The pace quickens as you are hit with shock after shock. Now you’re the one left trying to come up for air.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The narrator of the audiobook had a voice that was spot on. You could hear the confusion, anxiety and the main character’s need to figure out who she is in her voice.

Thank you Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this audiobook.

#SuchALovelyCouple
#NetGalley
#BookoutureAudio

In this story, our main character Becca wakes up in a hospital after an accident with no memory of her life. Luckily, her loving husband is there to help her readjust to her life. Things don’t seem right, however, as she starts to get flashes of memories that she can’t explain…

This was a good, very readable psychological thriller! It felt very tense as we started to learn what was going on. I found myself trying and failing to put the puzzle pieces together throughout most of the book! The wrap up felt like a little bit of a letdown, and I don’t know that I’ll remember this very well, but I had a great time while I was reading!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

Pulled from a flood with no memory, a young lady’s husband comes to pick her up. But things just don’t add up.

At first I felt for sure I had watched a movie similar to the storyline. And there was another book that also tugged at my memory. But this book turned out so fun. There were twists I never saw coming and some outcomes that made me smile. Highly recommend

Whoa! This book is so incredibly intense and good! It isn’t your typical story like you see on a Lifetime movie when a woman wakes up with amnesia and a man takes advantage of that. It’s so much more with an intricate story wrapped up in it.

Hayley Smith is a talent and knows what she’s doing when writing a #psychologicalthriller!

Candida Gubbins narrates the audiobook beautifully.

Thank you, Hayley Smith, Bookouture, Bookouture audio & netgalley for my ecopy & #audiobook! All opinions are my own.

Utterly chilling! I really enjoyed the narration, and this book was such a tangled web of lies, deceit, and relationships that I stayed awake all night listening to it!

A woman wakes up in a hospital and has no idea who she is or where she is. However, there is a man who comes and visits her everyday and says he is her husband. Slowly she starts to remember things, including her name: Becca.

After a few weeks, Becca is released from the hospital and goes home with her husband, Freddie.

However, it feels wrong. And Becca is starting to remember how she ended up in the hospital.

This was a very good thriller. I was thoroughly confused (in a good way) for about 50 percent of the book and could not see how the pieces were fitting together.

Hayley Smith is one of my favorite new thriller authors, for sure.

This is a new to me author. But I love a good psychological thriller and this one delivered. I will be looking into more from Hayley Smith.

Becka wakes up in a hospital with a strange man, who she is told is her husband. She has had a traumatic head injury and as no memory of Freddie, her supposed husband, or anything to do with her life with him.

I did guess some of the plot twists, but I was so invested that it didn't even matter! It was a fun wild read.

The narrator was fantastic in portraying the multiple POV and she did great with Becka.
You could feel her uncertainty and fear!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 rounded to 4⭐

Such A Loving Couple by Hayley Smith
Published by Bookouture Audio
Genre: domestic thriller
Publication date: November 8, 2023
Audio length: 10 hours 2 minutes
Narrated by: Candida Gubbins

Hayley Smith has a proven record of domestic thrillers, and Such a Lovely Coupe will not be an exception. The narration was wonderful especially because the narrator didn't attempt to sound like a man. This was possible as the book was written in 3rd person POV.
I loved how the author brought each chapter to life in the head of a main character. I also enjoyed a fitting ending for each main character in the book. Ancillary characters also added to the story by way of Becka's daughter, neighbor and a good Samaritan.
I did find a large portion of the story unbelievable and that kept me from connecting with some of the characters. I also thought the ending was too clean, too rushed and too quickly wrapped up while the rest of the story was a slow burn and dragged on during some chapters.

My second outing with this author and even better than the first. The story is again told by pov of different characters. The audio is a nice easy lusten with well defined characters. Each is voiced to show the emotion of the.story. the story development is nonlinear full of twists and turns with the right balance of character backstory and emotion. The plot grew better as it was revealed the dialogue reflected the characters. It was well written and perfectly narrated. It seemed a much shorter listen that it was because it was do engaging. I wanted rhe memoy to cone back and was disappointed when it finally ended.
Thank you netgallery and publisher and author and narrator for a solid 5 star highly recommended listen

4ish stars

Another intriguing, suspenseful thriller, and in a fun twist, it was one where I didn’t anticipate much of the ending. I love being surprised by the conclusion to a story that has kept my interest from the beginning, so this one was a hit. I believe this author was new to me, but I’ll be sure to check out whatever she creates next.

what a great book. i enjoyed every minute. a must read. what an awesome ending. I never did figure this one out. Great job! 5 gold stars

This book was like a soap opera! Amnesia, unfaithful partners, murder plots…this book has it all and I was hooked.

Becka wakes up in the hospital after being pulled out of the river during a flood, and has amnesia due to her head injury. Her husband Freddie eventually tracks down which hospital she has been taken to and takes her home to help rebuild her life. As time passes, she tries to reconstruct her life before her accident and finds that some things just aren’t adding up.

The narrator did a great job distinguishing between the different POVs. I also loved how everything wrapped up, with everyone getting the ending they deserved.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rebekah has no idea who she is or what happened to cause her memory loss. An interesting take on an unreliable narrator. The book slowly gives off hints of what might have happened or what Freddie wants Rebekah to think happened. It’s a slow burn but over all very twisty with a bit of irony at the end.

‘They’re everything to each other. Until she remembers the truth…’- cover tagline.

My thanks to Bookouture Audio for a review copy via NetGalley of the unabridged audiobook edition of ‘Such a Loving Couple’ by Hayley Smith. The audiobook is narrated by Candida Gubbins.

I was also invited to take part in the publication week blog tour.

This psychological thriller was the very essence of a page turner. As a result I would recommend that it is best to read it ‘cold’. So just a few details for context.

A woman awakes in a hospital room, surrounded by beeping machines and completely disoriented. At first she doesn’t remember anything including the identity of the man that the nurses tell her has been by her bedside since the accident. Eventually flashes of her memory return including the realisation that her name is Becka.

Yet she doesn’t remember anything about her life though the man, Freddie, assures her that they have been happily married for seventeen years and he has the receipts. They have a beautiful house and a seemingly perfect life. Yet something still feels wrong. Becka wonders if her memories will ever return and if she will discover the truth. No further details to avoid spoilers.

Like many psychological thrillers the narrative perspective moves between a number of characters and includes some flashbacks to earlier events that fill in important details. In Part One the focus is solely upon Becka though in Parts Two onward other characters contribute to the narrative.

With respect to the audiobook, British actor Candida Gubbins has had a varied career in film, television, and as a voice actor. This was my first experience of her as a narrator and I was very impressed with her narration feeling that she brought the characters and story vividly to life.

Following the main text in both print and audio editions there’s a taster for Hayley Smith’s debut novel, ‘The Perfect Girlfriend’.

Overall, I found ‘Such a Loving Couple’ an engaging thriller with plenty of satisfying twists and turns. After such a positive experience I am keen to read her first novel and plan to keep a look out for her future projects.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Good listen I enjoyed this audio book its not the first book I have read/listened to by Hayley Smith and it wont be the last
Lots of twists and turns

I'm awarding this book a strong 3.75/5 stars. From the very first page, I was catapulted into a whirlwind of mystery and suspense. The story, set in the chilling aftermath of an accident, introduces us to a woman grappling with amnesia. The atmosphere of uncertainty and fear is palpable as she wakes up to a stranger claiming to be her husband. The tension builds instantly, keeping me on the edge of my seat, trying to unravel the enigma alongside the protagonist.

The pacing of the narrative is relentless, ensuring that every chapter leaves you yearning for more. The author's meticulous plotting and attention to detail shine through, weaving a complex web of intrigue that kept me guessing at every turn. What struck me the most was the seamless manner in which the story tied up all its loose ends. The revelations were both shocking and heart-wrenching, making the climax my favorite part of the book. It was an action-packed sequence that not only answered lingering questions but also left me emotionally invested in the characters.

The character of the protagonist is brilliantly portrayed, her journey from confusion to realization, from vulnerability to strength, is both compelling and relatable.
One of the book's standout features is its exploration of relationships and the dark secrets that can lurk behind closed doors. The dynamics between the characters, especially the protagonist and her husband Freddie, are layered and complex. The author skillfully delves into the nuances of love, trust, and betrayal, keeping the reader constantly questioning the authenticity of the relationships portrayed.

In essence, this book is a gripping and page-turning psychological thriller that delves into the human psyche, exploring themes of identity, deception, and the lengths one would go to uncover the truth. Don't miss the chance to embark on this thrilling journey – it's a ride you won't forget.

What if one day you woke up and you didn’t know who you were? You have to trust the strangers around you as you search for any inkling of recognition in them. But what if someone close to you is keeping a secret they don’t want you to remember. “Such A Loving Couple” had me questioning reality - this is definitely a nightmare that could come true!

This read definitely had me creeped out in the way that this story can (and likely has) happen to anyone. Less thriller and more real life fear inducing. Great story!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this Audio ARC!

First off, I LOVED this book! I thought the concept was so cool, and did NOT see the twist coming. My partner and I listened to this together on our drives, and we binged it because of how much we loved it. We also were continuously bouncing theories off of each other throughout the story, which made it so fun, and just shows how much this book keeps you guessing and intrigued.

I loved the open ending, leaving room to decide what you as the reader truly believe happened, and leaving you to question who the villain really might be.

Overall, I will definitely be picking up more from this author, this book was very well done!

4.5 stars!

🎧Audio Book Review🎧

Such A Loving Couple
Hayley Smith

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

A woman wakes up in hospital and can't remember anything about her life - nor who she is even!

This had me instantly hooked.
What had happened to her, how did she get there and who was the man at the end of her bed who she didn't recognise?

I don't know whether I've just read too many books in this genre now, but I immediately had a bad feeling about Freddie.
When Becka finally feels up to going back to her old life - Freddie, her husband, takes her home and helps her to remember the life they had before.

I really wasn't convinced by the stories Freddie was telling and the more information that came about, the more I wasn't really sure if I trusted Becka either!?

I thought I had it all worked out a couple of times throughout the story but there were some massive twists thrown in just to keep you guessing.

I had one thing right, from the start, but the journey for everyone else in the book to get to the same point, was just perfect.
I especially loved the twists at the end. Nothing was as it seemed and the end result was such a shock!

I loved that this was told over time and by multiple pov's so that we got the full picture fed to us slowly, this drew out the suspense and had me racing through to find out what the heck was going to happen.

Another enjoyable read where I feel the need to explore other books by this author.




💕Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my ARC copy - this is my honest review 💕

I loved this book! The multiple viewpoints and unexpected twists delighted me! I had really strong feelings if wanting to kill Toby and Magdalena myself. The narration was lovely- the pacing inflection and use of voice spot on to capture the excitement of the novel.