I enjoyed this book a lot. It sucked me in from the first page and I did not see the ending coming. The characters were well written and not annoying. Avery was an interesting "therapist" and the story was a different kind of thriller.

This is a hard review to write because there was so much promise in the book. I kept waiting for the BIG Reveal....it never came. It seemed incredible to me that 1. a therapist would have the time and energy to spy on her patients and 2. the murderer lies DORMANT for 30 years only to kill again?! WHAT?!
I thought that the authors tried so hard to paint everyone as villains without giving them good backgrounds. Everything was so disjointed, it was hard to really like ANY of the characters.
Then to have the therapist have her own "stalkers'...Really?!
Too much story to put into a small group of characters.
The middle began to drag,....especially the school stuff.
Further, the relationship between Skip and Chris was never fully developed, the affair never fully addressed, the relationship between Skip and Matthew never fully developed.
This had great potential that fell absolutely FLAT.

First a big thank you to St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this ARC. Having read and enjoyed a few of Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen I was honoured to be given a first look at the The Golden Couple.

A brief synopsis: Avery, a registered psychologist who is now running a business as a consultant for client’s with her quick and successful 10 step program to resolving their issues. Based on some other client’s including the Golden Couple, Marissa and Matthew Bishop her work seems to involve difficult I’m sure, but surface level problems that 10 steps ought to cure most anyone with problems of the nature described in the book. Except in the Golden Couple what starts off as an infidelity issue and how we get the marriage back on track with a whole lot of added drama. Yes, I know it’s a novel but the whole concept here didn’t work for me.

Without giving too much away, it is not the guilty husband whose had the affair but Marissa. Marissa receives an anonymous news write up about therapist, Avery’s phenomenal 10 step program and right away books an appointment for both Matthew and herself to receive some counseling. Matthew doesn’t immediately know why they are meeting up with Avery, but it first becomes very clear after Step One. Expecting and preparing for the worst, Marissa is over joyed that Matthew although upset does not want to lose his marriage nor divorce and see all they have including young son Benett come to an end over one night of poor judgement. Besides, Marissa is punishing herself the most. Which is why Matthew’s understanding comes as such a relief.

Until unexplained things begin to happen after the affair. Flower deliveries with no card, a menacing note slipped under the door of Marissa’s store. And other things that are upsetting that are set up so as to cause more issues for the couple reconciling. Except Matthew is taking all of this in stride. He’s handling things remarkably well. One might say to well. And this is where therapist Avery can’t put her finger on why half of the Golden Couple is not more upset.

And so ensues so digging around and not everything seems to be adding up deepening the mystery and trying to separate the lies from the truth.

In theory, this storyline should have been intriguing, yet sadly, I found the novel to be formulaic and it just didn’t work for me. There was only a couple of aha! moments but even that wasn’t too shocking. Perhaps it was my mound, but I found myself not looking forward to each new chapter or wanting to race to finish it.

Again, thank you so much for my ARC but this one just didn’t do it for me. However, early reviews look strong and this novel will still do well.

4.5 stars rounded to 5

Avery is an unorthodox counselor aka therapist. If she is unable to help clients in 10 sessions, they can't be helped according to her. This book is told by her and one of her clients, Marissa. By all accounts to their friends, Marissa and her small family are the perfect family. However, secrets quickly begin to unravel. The beginning and middle of the plot was fast and mysterious. The end appeared to be rushed. I really liked Avery and would be fun to read another installment.

Thanks to St. Martin Press and Net Galley for sending me this ARC - very unexpected and appreciated!

3.5

This is a good book. It’s one of those books that will definitely suck you in and keep you hanging on because you just need to know how it all ends.
Avery Chambers is what you might call a fixer. She has a 10 session method in which she has succeeded in helping people overcome things like assault to controlling parents and spouses. She has an excellent success rate. Of course, she won’t take a client if she doesn’t think she can help them.
One day she gets new clients Marissa and Mathew Bishop. These two are what one might refer to as the “Golden Couple”. Perfect in most every way. That is, until Marissa admits that she cheated. She wants to try to work things out with her husband for her sake and her sons. She loves Mathew and her life and deeply regrets what she’s done. So, she called Avery.
As Avery gets deeper into the lives of the Bishops she begins to realize that the infidelity is just the beginning of the secrets surrounding her new case. Things just may not be as they seem.
Now on a side note, Avery is having her own person issues because of something she did as well. She blew the whistle on a certain pharmaceutical company and they weren’t very happy about it and they are letting her know about it.
There’s a lot that happens in this book but I’m not going to tell you about it because, well, that’d be silly to tell you all of it and ruin it for you! The story sort of trickles down the thriller stuff as it goes so I didn’t want to accidentally slip and spoil you.
I enjoyed this story. I didn’t love the pharmaceutical story. I didn’t like it from start to finish but it did have a start and finish so there’s that. I just didn’t personally enjoy any part of that story line. It was written well enough, it just wasn’t for me. The rest of the book was good. It’s one of those books that probably isn’t going to be remembered as time goes by but parts of it will definitely sneak back in my mind when I least expect it. It’s very well written from the characters and the situations they’ve been put in or put themselves in to the little thriller bits here and there that get you when you least expect it.
I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of these authors, is a thriller fan, is just looking for a quick fun thrill, or anyone just curious about how this book turns out in the end. It’s worth reading. It’s a good time.


***Thank you so much to the authors, the publisher, Netgalley, and anyone else I may have left off for the ARC copy for review. I can't thank you enough!***

This book is a psychological thriller that kept me anxiously racing to the end! From the very first page I was hooked. An unconventional therapist who lost her license along with a couple seeking relationship advice is the main focus of this novel. The authors did a tremendous job ramping up the tension with unreliable characters. Everyone is holding secrets and there are plenty of twists and turns along the way. The therapist would also make a great private eye and I loved all her insights into the characters. I predict this will be clamoring to get their hands on this novel in the coming year. #TheGoldenCouple #GreerHendricks #SarahPekkanen #NetGalley

Another twisty hit by these authors! While, it took me a bit to get into it, I think it was my mood, because once it grabbed me it didn’t let go! Chilling to the bone! One that will definitely get you in the right way, at least for thriller lovers! Now want another to see how things will eventually play out, as I truly became attached to the characters! Highly, highly recommend this twisted book!

Will buzz around and use my top Amazon reviewer number on release!

This was a terrific thriller. I loved the multiple POV so we as a reader often had more information than the main characters. This one kept me on the edge of my seat.

Boasting a unique and intriguing premise, “The Golden Couple” pulled me in straight out of the gate. As the story progressed, it veered off into a different direction than I had originally anticipated, but it continued to hold me in its grip, despite certain portions of the story that tended to drag. There are twists and turns along the way, but I can’t honestly say that they came as much of a surprise. Still, I found this book to be an enjoyable read, even though I’ve enjoyed these authors’ prior books a great deal more.

I am someone who would read anything written by GH& SP. I have read all their other books and I was so excited to read this psychological thriller. I absolutely loved the book and am eagerly looking forward to its release.

"Maverick" therapist Avery Chambers lost her license to practice, but that only means she's free to create her own methods of helping people heal. She's developed a ten session plan and only takes on clients she thinks she can fix.

When Marissa Bishop walks through the door with her husband, Matthew, they seem like the titular "golden couple:" rich, successful, driven, beautiful. But Marissa unloads a secret: she cheated on her husband.

She wants to repair her marriage especially for the sake of her son, but she's still hiding things and the consequences put everyone in the room in danger.

I've read every Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen book and so far this one is my favorite. It's a quick read, and even though the excitement really doesn't happen until the last quarter of the book, they build this excellent sense of dread from the first page. You're expecting a thriller and just waiting for the shoe to drop and you'll feel Marissa's anxiety until the deadly end.

I liked Avery as well--she sort of reminded me of Nikki Griffin from S.A. Lelchuk's books, and she's got the sweetest rescue dog in tow. Usually I don't care either way for the addition of an animal, but Romeo was the perfect side character.

Highly recommended for fans of the authors and domestic thrillers.

Special thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for making this advance copy available for me for review.

Marissa and Matthew are golden. He is a successful attorney and she owns and runs a sophisticated shop in DC. The were high school sweethearts who married as adults and now have an 8 year old child. Recently, although the world at large didn’t know, things have not been going well for them. Avery was a therapist who was no longer licensed but is a very successful consultant. Her husband had passed away in the not too distant past. She was step-mother to his daughter. Marissa contacted her and wanted to have her be their couples therapist. Avery agreed that they would benefit from her most unusual form of therapy. The novel deals with this, each chapter either Avery’s or Marissa’s version of their stories. The psychological tension developed at the onset and grew with each subsequent chapter. The authors continue to live up to their promise. Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martian’s Press for an ARC for an honest review.

The dynamic duo is back, so clear the schedule because you won't be getting anything done until this book is finished! The characters, the pacing, the twists and the turns will keep your eyes glued to this book. I don't even hesitate to read anything these two authors write, and I always recommend their books to our library patrons. Thank you so much to the publisher and to Netgalley for the opportunity to read the ARC. This one is going to be a best seller!

*****
Wow! This was one wild ride! It is a gripping psychological thriller and I loved every minute. Avery is a therapist, gone rogue and lost her license as her methods were considered controversial. Yhis only made her more popular and sought after as she enjoyed enormous successes with her clients. Her new clients, Marissa and Matthew are more challenging than Avery expects. Marissa confesses to having cheated, just once, but wants to repair her marriage. Matthew is shocked and angry at first, then decides he loves his wife too much to end the marriage. It all seems just too perfect. Gradually, the reader realizes there are more secrets, kept by everyone. I would love it if this turned into a series about Avery.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Another great book by Greer and Sarah! I am always so excited when these two come out with a new book, and this one didn’t disappoint. I couldn’t put it down and was guessing throughout the book. I was able to guess small pieces, but overall was surprised and enjoyed my time reading this.

3.5 stars
I’ve read all of this duo’s books so far and I feel like I keep having the same issue - they have interesting premises and start off strong, but then fizzle out in the second half. This one did the same thing once again although this is probably the strongest of their books.
The main plotline we’re following here (Matthew and Marissa are trying to mend their marriage after she cheats on him, and start seeing a therapist known for her controversial and even borderline unethical ways) is really captivating and had some good twists. However I did feel like towards the second half of the books we get too many side plots and reveals that really don’t have any effect on the main story, they kinda seem like they had to think of extra stuff to throw in there to meet a word count. With that said, it felt a bit too long and started to get dragged out with all of these extra ‘reveals’ but I do think it’s still probably my favorite of their 4 books.

The Golden Couple follows Marissa, who is married to Matthew, as she is trying to save their marriage after an infidelity. The pair meets with Avery, a therapist who is no longer certified. She's okay with that as it allows her to delve deeper into her patient's lives (read: follow them around, stalk them, harass other people in their lives).

Marissa and Matthew work through the therapy sessions (Avery believes that she can solve any client's problems in 10 sessions). While it seems like they may be making progress... they are also keeping secrets. Avery is trying to figure them out, while dealing with her own issues.

There are twists and turns throughout the whole book, all the way up until the end. I didn't see the big twist coming (although there is seemingly a plot hole with regard to this but I don't want to spoil anything).

Overall, I wanted to keep reading. I didn't like the characters of Matthew and Marissa, but I think that was the point. I really liked Avery and wanted more of her backstory and what happens to her in the future. This book fits with Hendricks/Pekkanen's brand and readers of their previous titles will enjoy this one as well.

The latest from this duo is a one sitting read. Like just sit down, forget the real world and suspend all disbelief, and read it straight through. Don't even read the blurb!

Told in alternating POVs between client (Marissa) and therapist (Avery), we learn about Avery's unconventional therapy methods and the secrets her clients are keeping. It was really one of those stories with so many red herrings, I was guessing throughout and truly had next to no idea where these characters would end up.

Pick this up!

At first I thought “oh great, another therapist book.” But I was wrong. Lots of twists and turns. Very very surprised ending!

That was a good read! You never know from page to page who did it. This one keeps you guessing until it all unravels. The characters were well done and stayed in their roles. The fire starts early and builds and builds. You feel creeped out when you should and you want to keep the pages turning well past your bedtime.

Devoured this prepub copy in a few days. This is my own opinion of this book.