Book Review and Giveaway: The Golden Couple

Wealthy Washington suburbanites Marissa and Matthew Bishop seem to have it all—until Marissa is unfaithful. Beneath their veneer of perfection is a relationship riven by work and a lack of intimacy. She wants to repair things for the sake of their eight-year-old son and because she loves her husband. Enter Avery Chambers.

Avery is a therapist who lost her professional license. Still, it doesn’t stop her from counseling those in crisis, though they have to adhere to her unorthodox methods. And the Bishops are desperate.

When they 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. (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

Melissa Amster:

I spent most of New Year's Eve reading The Golden Couple. I had a really hard time putting it down and my son had to alert me that it was almost midnight. I love Sarah and Greer's partnership on thriller novels, and this one was a great way to start off 2022!

I thought I had guessed some things correctly, but then a game changer would come along to shake that up. There were new surprises around every corner, just waiting to jump out when I least expected them. I was also worried for Avery's situation and thought she should have used a burner phone so that it didn't have to happen in the first place. It seemed like she was able to resolve it without really getting all the answers, as I felt there was more to what was happening than she let on. While Marissa and Matthew's situation seems more common in thriller novels, I still wasn't sure where it was going to go and there were all these other characters coming into play, causing quite a tangled web.

I love that this novel takes place in the DC area and I was able to picture settings easily because of that. Also, I found it interesting that Avery took thyroid pills, as I take them too. 

Be prepared to not get anything else done while reading this novel! It will keep you on your toes. 

Movie casting suggestions:

Marissa: Michaela McManus

Matthew: Christopher Russell

Avery: Alexandra Daddario

Skip: Christopher Lowell

Polly: Taissa Farmiga

Natalie: Taylor Cole

Jami Denison:

Writing team Sarah Pekkanen and Greer Hendricks must have really enjoyed delving into the therapy world when they wrote An Anonymous Girl (reviewed here) about a psychologist and her research subject, in 2018: Their latest book, The Golden Couple, is also about psychology. But thankfully, this book’s protagonist, Avery Chambers, isn’t the master manipulator that Dr. Shields of Anonymous Girl was. Manipulative? Yes. But it’s all in a day’s work for this therapist, whose methods have gotten her news coverage and cost her her license. Avery promises your problems will be fixed in ten sessions or fewer… or your money back.

Her latest clients are “golden couple” Marissa and Matthew Bishop. Parents to an eight-year-old son, Marissa and Matthew were teenage sweethearts and seem to be living a charmed life. But for some reason, Marissa cheated on Matthew in a one-night stand with a guy from her gym. She’s brought Matthew in to confess and repair her marriage. Not surprisingly, Matthew doesn’t take it well. Who would? 

Avery suspects Marissa isn’t telling the complete story, and her methods of therapy include spying on her clients and tracking down their friends. Eventually Avery realizes she and Marissa are connected in ways she never imagined.

The narrative alternates between Avery and Marissa, who for an adulteress is an exceptionally sympathetic protagonist. While initially Avery seems a little creepy, she eventually comes across as someone completely committed to helping her clients. Maybe even risking her own life.

The story unfolded a bit too predictably for my tastes, but it’s a page turner. I think the character of Avery is a winner, and the Pekkanen/Hendricks team should keep her for future stories. There’s something intriguing about a therapist who isn’t willing just to take her patient’s word about the problems in her life. With the Maryland suburbs of D.C. as their setting, this writing team has a lot of material to work with. 

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for the book in exchange for an honest review. They also have one copy for a lucky reader!

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