The Other Couple by Tríona Walsh is a very twisty book which kept me interested all the way through. A clever story full to the brim with twists and turns so much so I didn't want to finish it.
The twists that this book keeps taking defiantly left me on my toes and wanting to know what was going to happen next. At one point I thought I had it all figured out and then the rug was pulled out from under me.

📚 PRE-PUBLICATION BOOK TOUR BOOK REVIEW 📚

The Other Couple By Trina Walsh
Publication Date: October 28, 2024
Publisher: Bookouture

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
(Rounded Up To 5⭐)

📚MY REVIEW:

The Other Couple is a slow-burning domestic thriller, filled with secrets that will twist and turn and twist again throughout its pages, until its jaw-dropping conclusion comes together. This one really surprised me with its captivating plot and unexpected ending!

This story is told from the POVs of the two female MCs, Alice and Vivienne. However, the story centers around four main characters: Alice, her boyfriend Finn, Vivienne, and Mac. The setting is a remote lighthouse on the Irish Coast, and its remoteness and unforgiving weather play a big role in the telling of this story.

From the beginning, it is clear that every one of our main characters has some sort-of secret... and that none of them were being honest about who they were and what motivated them. Every chapter was filled with foreshadowing and hints that all was not what the reader thought it was....

The first half of the story was the foreshadowing slow burn, laying the foundation for what's to come. Somewhere around the halfway point, when the story took hold and the secrets started spilling, I legitimately COULD NOT read this book fast enough. I simply HAD to get the answers to all the questions I'd had about who these characters were and exactly what was going on. I needed to put the pieces together and figure out all the mysteries as Walsh unraveled them for me.

If you are a fan of domestic thrillers in remote settings, or books in which every character has a secret, you're going to absolutely LOVE the combination of those two things in this book! This was a clever and well-written read, with a really compelling plot and consistent suspense throughout. A big thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the gifted advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, and to Bookouture for inviting me to be a part of this book tour!

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3.5 Stars. Good thriller that kept you hooked with twists (both predictable and unpredictable) sprinkled throughout. But, for some reason the end felt a little unsatisfying to me. I think it is my own personal preference though.

A Irish lighthouse, turned AirBNB, sets the right vibe for the thriller. I'm a personal fan of thrillers set in the Ireland, Scotland, and the northeast US. The short chapters, with multiple POVs (two women characters and an all knowing narrator), kept the story moving quickly.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this book and give my honest review!

This author has a real knack for creating an atmosphere. From the very beginning, even from just reading the blurb I was braced.
We've got a couple, far away location and then a mysterious knock and strangers at the door. The tone was never more set for what's to come!
It's was a story where everyone has secrets and noone really knows what the others true motives are.

Immediately I was invested in the growing danger and suspense, it kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through.

The first chapter was full of promise. A couple is set to spend a romantic weekend in a converted lighthouse. The setting, the relationship the author quickly establishes between the characters...it's all perfect. Then another couple shows up claiming to have reserved the property for the same night and it goes downhill from there. Every person in that lighthouse is hiding secrets and/or plotting against someone else. The book drags from that point on and the characters are hard to emphathize with. Why would a woman who is unwillingly sharing a rental with complete strangers leave her purse unattended in the kitchen -- and then be shocked when things turn up missing?

I really enjoyed this just like I really enjoyed the other two books from the author, The Party, and The Snowstorm, and as with the other two found myself googling the real locations where the book is set.
An excellent twisty-turny read, so well written you can feel the fear, tension and suspicion from the characters.
When Alice & Finn arrive at their lighthouse hideaway both are looking forward to a relaxing weekend where they can be themselves away from the scrutiny of others in Dublin. Not long after they arrive an other couple arrive too and the whole weekend is upended and hidden agendas are uncovered. An excellent unusual plot that is nothing like you think its going to be. Another excellent read from this talented author.

Wow, what a ride! 🚀 The Other Couple had me glued to my seat with its thrilling twists and psychological tension. The story begins with what seems like a perfect weekend getaway for the protagonist and her boss, Finn, at a charming lighthouse keeper’s cottage on the rugged Irish coast. The anticipation builds as they try to keep their romance a secret—until an unexpected knock at the door shatters their plans.

Enter a rain-soaked couple who claim they’ve booked the same cottage. From that moment, the atmosphere shifts, and you can almost feel the tension crackling in the air. The protagonist’s heart races not just from the surprise visitors but from the dark secret she’s hiding and her desperate need for revenge. The stakes are raised as the plot unfolds, revealing that one of them might not leave the cottage alive.

Walsh does an incredible job of developing the characters, leaving you questioning their motives and true identities. The layers of suspense kept me guessing, and just when I thought I had it figured out, another twist threw me for a loop!

If you love psychological thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat with unexpected turns, The Other Couple is an absolute must-read! 🏡🔍

Alice is having the perfect weekend in a lighthouse B&B with her boyfriend, Finn. That is until a knock at the door ruins their weekend. A random couple turn up saying that they are also booked there for the same weekend. The other couple may have reasons for being there but then so may Alice and Finn.

I liked the sound of this one as it sounded like an intriguing psychological thriller with an interesting setting. I definitely enjoyed the atmosphere and could picture the dreariness and the weather. Unfortunately I found, as much as I tried, that I could not fully insert myself into the story. It seemed overly long and dragged for quite a while until the plot started to pick up slightly.

Once the twists started my interest increased, however some seemed a bit random and by the end of the novel everything started to feel unbelievable. I didn’t connect to the characters and found some of the dialogue unnatural. Although I personally had a few issues with this thriller, it was no means a bad read. There is suspense and it is full of twists so would be worth a read for those that enjoy atmospheric, twisty mysteries. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

The Other Couple is a suspense-filled thriller set at an isolated lighthouse in the Irish countryside. Alice and Finn are excited for a weekend away - a weekend in which they no longer have to hide their relationship and their true feelings. However, a few hours after arriving at their retreat, an unknown couple knocks at their door claiming that they had also rented out this location for the weekend. As they all accept staying there that night, Alice knows something isn't right. Who are these strangers? Why does it seem that they know more than they should? Then, when suspicious and potentially fatal things start occurring, Alice can't help but wonder if she is alone in this fight.

The Other Couple is well-paced and exciting, and there are plenty of unexpected twists. I didn't find the characters overly relatable or likable; however, I did appreciate their story. I really was surprised with some of the reveals, and I found the end to be quite satisfying. I'll for sure recommend The Other Couple to my fellow thriller/mystery readers.

Thank you to Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest and independent review.

I was convinced that I had this book figured out about halfway through, but I was pleasantly surprised by how many twists and turns came in the second half! I did have a hard time getting into the book though and took a while for me to finally finish. Some parts of the ending were very well thought out but then some parts very felt sloppy and didn’t make sense at all.

The book starts off with an office romance (boss and employee), hiding from the public on a getaway when another couple unexpectedly says they’ve also booked the house and now the four of them are stuck staying with each other. They will eventually learn that they all are hiding secrets… You’ll be guessing who is telling the truth till the very end!

After having read THE SNOW STORM by Triona Walsh last year, I was so excited to learn I had been approved for the ARC of her newest novel, THE OTHER COUPLE! The premise had me hooked immediately, with its promise of sinister secrets, twisty twists, and the chance for revenge. The story is centered around a couple, Finn and Alice, who are looking forward to a much-needed getaway in a remote lighthouse, only to find their weekend disrupted by the unexpected appearance of another mysterious pair, Mac and Viv. As tensions slowly build among our four MCs, it becomes crystal clear that each of them is harboring long-held secrets, adding layers of suspense and intrigue as the plot moves forward.

I love Triona Walsh’s writing style and her natural ability to slowly build the tension through her expertly paced narrative. The chapters alternate between differing perspectives, namely those of Alice and Vivienne, helping the reader get glimpses into their mindsets and memories. Doing this not only helps us better relate to our characters, but enhances the suspense because we are left wondering what is the truth and what is merely deception.

I loved the setting being in Ireland at an isolated lighthouse, the harsh weather and tumultuous sea becoming characters of their own, perfectly mirroring the inner turmoil and unpredictable behaviors of our two couples. As I read and grew closer to the final half of the book, I had a hard time hypothesizing how it all might end. There is more than one twist, which I love, and the final twist is mind-blowing. I honestly did not see it coming. By the conclusion, secrets are revealed, our many questions are answered, and the puzzle pieces perfectly fall into place. I can’t wait to read what Fiona Walsh has in store for us in her next book!!

I want to thank NetGalley, Triona Walsh, and Bookouture for gifting me the ARC of THE OTHER COUPLE! It was such a privilege to read this before publication. And I appreciate you trusting me with an honest review!

Finn and Alice are going on their first getaway together. Alice works at Finn's company so they can't be public near where they live so they went away for a weekend where they could go out and be a real couple. They stayed at a lighthouse Air BnB. A night of togetherness and cuddles turned into Viv and Mac knocking on the door because of the "double booking." Finn let them stay in the guest room while they figured out the next steps.

It becomes clear that these two people are here for a purpose other than a vacation. Alice also knows she is there for reasons other than a "couple getaway." She has an agenda, but whose agenda will be completed this weekend, that's the question.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this arc for an honest review.
This book was a pretty good read although it was slow going for me. There are lots of twists that happen along the way. Truths we find out as they are revealed to the characters of the story. A statement was made in the book that let me know what the main reveal would be before it happened at the end of the book. Was it my favorite book? No, it wasn't but I can say I'm not disappointed by reading it.

So, our characters are stupid. I mean seriously mind-numbingly stupid.

The age gap is weird because both members of our ‘romantic’ couple act like middle schoolers. But that’s okay because so does every other character in the book.

However, the book is a fast and entertaining beach read that won’t tax your brain. Just don’t expect too much.

• ARC via Publisher

It perfectly sets the scene, secret getaway on the coast, glass of wine, romantic fire and then.... the OTHER couple.
The other couple stay for the night but this is just the beginning, there are several twists, you dont even see them coming, you mind is in one direction and the authors is in another.
Ive never read anything from this author before and I loved it.

OMG. Honestly, I have mixed emotions about this book. There were times where I was thisclose to a DNF. With an ARC, I really try to push through because I promised to review. I kept reading and a random twist would drop and I would be into it again. I will say, one of the twists really did not make sense to me, LOL. I think it could have been done differently and make the book a little better! Also, just the end with Alice was... unreasonable. Overall, this book dragged but a couple of the twists were okay. Average at best! Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for letting me review this book! Below are going to be some spoilers to further explain why I didn’t care for a couple of the twists and why this was an average rating for me. Read at your own risk!
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Okay… the whole “Finn faked David’s Death” was truly the dumbest one. I cannot with that… why? Why would he do that? Even if it was to “protect Vivienne” … NO. it could have been done to where NONE of them knew he was alive still and David faked his own death. That would have been more shocking and more of a “WOW” factor when he comes to David showing up. Then, I’m sorry… but Alice wanting to ruin Finn and then she has a change of heart and he just forgives her right away? Anyway, those were just some “twists” that were dumb… TO ME. I think those few things could have been done better and then taking out some of the dragging chapters would have pushed this up to a higher rating!!

A dynamic thriller with a cool B&B lighthouse setting in Ireland.
The story revolves around the secrets Alice and Finn are hiding. They are also involved in an illicit relationship which can tear down their lives. When their vacation is disrupted by another couple things begin to go wrong and lead to a series of events that challenges their perceptions of trust and fidelity. Finn’s secrets ultimately cause his past to crash headlong into the present - I couldn’t put this intense book down!! It’s full of shocking surprises 🤯 - loved it!!
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Two couples who (seemingly) do not know each other (seemingly) book the same lighthouse stay on the same weekend for a holiday while the booking is supposed to be for one couple only. Which couple should leave? Which should stay? Both couples dig their heels into staying. Each character has a private motive as to why they are there on this weekend.

My thoughts about this book = a series of ups and downs. There were times when I rolled my eyes and wanted to speed read to the end just to finish it. There were times when a plot twist piqued my interest and I slowed down to think of the outcome of the book. The story did not grab me, but it held me loosely enough to keep on reading.

I received a free book from both NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!

This is my first book by this author, but won't be my last. It wasn't as fast paced as most thrillers, but still enjoyable, and kept me guessing. I would read more from this author.

Alice and her boss. Finn rent a lighthouse to get away from prying eyes and deepen their love for each other.
Another couple shows up and claim to have rented the house for the same weekend.
What ensues is an unveiling of the real people behind their pretend selves. It twists and turns and comes to a surprising end.

The plus is that this is the kind of locked room mystery that I usually like. Also, there are some good twists and turns.
The minuses are that the plot is rather predictable and I was able to see some of the action before it happened.