Wow this was bad. There’s a difference when reading a thriller and not knowing how it’s going to turn out and reading a “thriller” and just waiting for the shoe to drop. This was the latter. The entire premise rests on an unbeliavable idea. Then it just gets worse? Ugh. Skimmed the last half and was so annoyed by the ending. Skip.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row for giving me an ARC through NetGalley.

This was my first read by local author Lisa Kubica, but I'll be back for more! Domestic thrillers are a hard category to review without giving too much away but this one had an ending I wasn't expecting. I've read this sub-thriller genre in the past, and unfortunately they can be very similar, but this one was well-written and twisty.

"Jake Hayes is missing. At first, his wife, Nina, thinks he is blowing off steam at a friend’s house after their heated fight the night before. But then days go by and Jake is still nowhere to be found. Lily Scott, Nina’s friend and coworker, thinks she may have been the last to see Jake before he went missing. After Lily confesses everything to her husband, Christian, the two decide that nobody can find out what happened leading up to Jake’s disappearance, especially not Nina. But Nina is out there looking for her husband, and she won’t stop until the truth is discovered."

Thrilling and Engaging, this was a good Regional thriller!

4 stars Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I thought this was a very good mystery.

A husband goes missing and friends of the couple believe they are to blame. One story changes with time, growing more unstable as it grows. Could one death lead to another? Could one person cover up a crime for anther? When do you stop believing? And who is really to blame?

I really enjoy Mary Kubica's stories. She is in the category of Ruth Ware and Alice Feeney in my book. Always with a twisty turning mysterious tale to tell. Engaging, well built characters. page turning novels. Most enjoyable.

This story premise sounded great! Usually in domestic thrillers the wife goes missing, but in this novel, Jake, Nina’s husband, is missing. They had yet another fight, and she’s worried he’s finally given up on their marriage and decided to not come home. Meanwhile, her friend and coworker Lily, confides in her husband Christian that she might know why Jake never came home to Nina.

The writing was really strange, with short, obvious sentences, and just didn’t seem like the other Kubica novel I’d read last year. It made it difficult to enjoy reading. None of the characters were likeable either, and I just didn’t get into this one as I’d hoped I would!

Thank you to the author, Park Row Books, and NetGalley for my copy.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-ARC of Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica.
Another book that I was excited to read, that left me disappointed. The plot of this book was just too shallow! The wife possibly kills a man, lies to her husband, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her out of jail. What man would do this, accepting everything he's told as truth. The extreme levels he is willing to go to save his wife is unrealistic. The characters are two-dimensional and difficult to like. There is the extra suspicious man thrown in to create a diversion, and the victim's wife who is just too much. Sorry to fans of this book, but it did not work for me.

The Review

This was a gripping and captivating domestic thriller. The author does an incredible job of layering this story with intrigue from the beginning, from Lily’s shocked demeanor and her husband’s desperation to protect her to Nina’s fear and determination to find answers to all her questions. The pacing of the novel was incredible as it allowed the mystery to unravel slowly and keep the reader engaged with the narrative as the motivations and suspects in this case grow larger and larger.

Character development was the heart of this narrative, as each of the four main characters in this narrative held a depth to them that captivated readers from the start. The use of both Christian and Nina’s perspectives for the majority of the story allowed both of their unique viewpoints and shocking revelations to hold their own weight in the story, and the mystery surrounding those they love and what they are capable of to grow until the explosive final chapters.

The Verdict

Memorable, shocking, and entertaining, author Mary Kubica’s “Just the Nicest Couple” is a must-read domestic thriller of 2023. The twists and turns in the narrative and the shocking revelations that come to light in the disappearance of Jake Hayes will keep fans of the genre hanging onto the author’s every word. The adrenaline-fueled suspense read will stay with readers and connect both psychologically and emotionally.

I’ll be honest this isn’t the best Mary Kubica, but it’s still a thrilling story that keeps you turning the pages. I’d recommend it for fans of the author or thrillers in general - it may not blow you away but not every book needs to.

Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica: a good edition to the suspense novels of 2023. Jake Hayes is missing, and his wife Nina thinks maybe he left her. But their friends, Lily and Christian, may have had something to do with it. Lily was the last to see him alive, but Nina doesn’t know that. A suspenseful tale of two marriages.

I always enjoy Mary Kubica's thrillers. This one did not disappoint. It was a little less of a thriller and more a drama unfolding between two women who are friends and their respective husbands. I liked the neighborhood drama. This story also is about two teachers, as an educator myself, I found that perspective unique and relatable. There were a couple unexpected surprises in the story. I would say this is not my favorite of Kubica's books, but it is not to be missed!

I don’t know what it is lately about fantastic writers dropping the ball on the pacing of their beginning. Again, another great author who totally lost me because the storyline was boring. Just no.

"Just The Nicest Couple" by Mary Kubica is a thrilling and suspenseful novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. The story is told from multiple perspectives, which allows the reader to see the events unfold through different eyes and adds to the overall tension.

The characters are well-developed and complex, each with their own secrets and motivations. The couple in question, Violet and Finn, seem like the perfect pair on the surface, but as the story progresses, their flaws and issues are revealed. The supporting characters are just as intriguing, with their own hidden agendas and ties to the main couple.

The pacing is steady and the plot twists are unexpected, keeping the reader engaged throughout the book. The author's writing style is fluid and descriptive, allowing the reader to fully immerse themselves in the story.

Overall, "Just The Nicest Couple" is a well-crafted and entertaining read, perfect for fans of psychological thrillers. While some of the twists may be predictable for seasoned thriller readers, the characters and their interactions make up for it, making this book a solid 4 star read.

A super fun read. Very engaging, looked forward to reading this each night. Will definitely recommend.

Christian and Lily are just the nicest couple. They are loyal to one another to a fault. Nina and Jake are a beautiful couple but are having major marital issues. We’ve all gone through rough times in our marriage but some are a bit rougher than others. An excellent story from beginning to end.

I was very unimpressed by this book, which was really disappointing because I LOVED Local Woman Missing.

Several things that disappointed me: 1) you basically knew what happened at the very beginning. While the rest of the book tries to convince you there may be more to the story, there really isn't. 2) which the small bit of "something more" is revealed, it's not exciting or suspenseful or anything. It's incredibly anti-climactic. Ultimately, I was rooting for no one by the end of this book. There's minimal action, minimal buildup, and no pay-off at the end. Very boring overall.

I have read a few titles by this author (The Other Mrs. is my favourite so far), but I'm kind of on the fence with her. I think for the most part I like her synopsis' more than the books themselves, and this one was no exception.

I didn't care for any of the characters - Nina was too entitled (what business would provide the information Nina was asking for?); Lily was presented as too fragile and beautiful; and Christian was too obsessed with his wife's fragility and beauty. I could see both the twists coming and, to me, that means they weren't too twisty, because I don't normally call these things correctly. I could have done without the Ryan storyline, which just muddied the waters unnecessarily.

This book a solid 3 from me, despite my misgivings.

This book was awful. Totally predictable and just out in out terrible. The characters were not likable at all. I don't recommend.

I always enjoy Kubica’s books and she is an auto read author for me. This one was not my favorite of hers though, it was a little too predictable and too slow paced for me. It is an entertaining read and I think several will like this one. I am looking forward to what she writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Park Row Books for the digital galley to review.

🏠 Just the Nicest Couple - Mary Kubica

4 ⭐️ - your classic suspenseful “whodunit” story. I loved Local Woman Missing, so I was super excited to dive into this one. I have seen many mixed reviews for this one, but I thought it was good, quick, and twisty.

Jake Hayes is missing. His wife Nina thinks he left after a fight between the two of them and he’s just blowing off steam. But when does go by and no one hears from Jake, Nina starts to panic. Lily Scott is Nina’s friend and coworker and believe she could be the last person who saw Jake before he went missing. When a confession, a news story, and a cover up unfold, Nina will do anything to find out the truth about her missing husband.

Often times, suspenseful whodunit stories can be predictable BUT as I’ve mentioned plenty of times before, I love thrillers/mystery/suspense and I NEVER know what’s going to happen. I enjoyed this one through its changing POVs and different sides of the secrets. The ending felt satisfying and honestly, that’s all I can ask for. If you’re into whodunnit stories, this one’s for you! If you are new to the genre of suspense or mystery, definitely start here!

3.5 stars rounded up
This book started off strong for me, I was intrigued with both Lily and Nina's characters. I wish we could have gotten a few chapters with Lily's POV instead of them all being from Christian's POV. I was waiting for the shocking plot twist, but alas I was left with a very predictable ending. The story fell very flat towards the middle and the dialogue between the characters wasn't always the best. I was hoping there would be an ending that would help save the story but all in all it was a fairly enjoyable read.
A huge thanks to NetGalley, I received an ARC of this book from them in exchange for an honest review.

The four main characters are flat and uninteresting and make poor decisions. I could barely keep them straight in my head while reading. Even the greatest plot would have a hard time overcoming those obstacles.

Dud.