I'd say that out of all the thrillers I've read, this one doesn't necessarily stand out, but it was still a really fun read! There were surprising reveals, suspicious motives, and some great characters, my personal favorites being Romeo and Polly. My least favorite character though was actually the protagonist Avery; she was a bit intense and kind of creepy. This novel is definitely worth a read/listen though!

Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen did not disappoint in THE GOLDEN COUPLE. The plot was well built, and the characters interesting. Marissa and Matthew Bishop met my definition of a golden couple: everything looks good on the surface, but there is turbulence underneath it. I enjoyed Avery Chambers’ unorthodox therapy methods and how she unraveled this presumed “all together” couple. I was caught in the story from the beginning and enjoyed it all the way to the end. The final twist was well delivered and surprised me. I listened to the audiobook and the narration was well done. I truly enjoyed this book.

I was hooked on this book from the first chapter. I really enjoyed this audiobook. I loved all the dual POVs. It really brought the book together and I loved hearing all the points of views to really understand the characters. I really recommend this book. It is a must read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this arc.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance reader audio version of this book. This book has amazing twists and turn. The protagonist was hidden until the very final chapters and I had only briefly suspected who that was to be.. The story is very interesting and many introduced characters were suspicious. Loved the dual voices on the audio version, it worked perfectly. 5 stars

Another amazing book by my favorite author duo! I’m so glad I overcame my addiction to looking up spoilers since my eagerness to find out the ending kept me flying through this book, alternating between audiobook and ebook and basically closed off to the world while I was enveloped in this novel. Gosh, it was so stressful in the best way!

Read this if…you have ever wondered if therapy could change your life.

This has been all over IG so I’ll be brief. Avery is a therapist who is known for using questionable, albeit highly successful, techniques with her patients, such as spying on them outside of their sessions. Marissa and Mathew Bishop are a seemingly “golden” couple trying to overcome one night of extramarital indiscretion. Avery takes the couple on as clients and gets a whole lot more than she bargained for.

I was on the fence about ordering this from BOTM, but all the good reviews on booksta swayed me. I bounced back and forth between my physical copy and the audiobook. I will say that this was better than I expected, but I still felt underwhelmed by the whole story. I think this one is way overhyped (unpopular opinion, I know!) and while it was enjoyable overall, there’s nothing about it that really made it stand out for me against all the usual thrillers I read. I still can’t figure out why it’s so popular.

My rating: 3.5/5

A big thanks to @netgalley, the author, and Macmillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review!

This book, was a lot! The basic premise is Avery Chambers, a therapist (no longer licensed) who only takes on certain clients and maintains a 10 session format. Each session has different titles/methods to get to the root of the problem.

Matthew and Marissa Bishop come to her on the premise of wanting help with their 8 year old. They are both beautiful people with the perfect marriage, from the outside looking in. Once there Marissa admits they are really there because she needs to confess an affair. She swears it only happened one time and she wants her marriage.

As Avery works with the couple more secrets come out and we find that nothing is as it seems. Lots of twists and turns until the final dramatic conclusion.

I was hooked on this book from first chapter on, it kept me engaged and needing answers the whole time. There were clues built in throughout the story that kept you guessing in the best way. Just when you were sure you figured it out there’s another twist!

The story features ,Avery, a therapist who’s lost her license due to her unconventional methods now acts as a “consultant” to high profile clients because despite going against the industry standards her success rate is astronomical, and the Golden Couple, the Bishops, who’s marriage isn’t everything that it appears to be on outside is shaken by infidelity. This should be a relatively easy case for Avery but with every secret revealed the twist keep getting deeper.

Honestly this doesn’t even sound like that exciting of a plot or a storyline that I'd normally pick up. I'm really glad i did though because everything from the characters, plot, pacing, and setting kept me wanting to get to the next chapter.

The Narrators, Karissa Vacker; Marin Ireland did a phenomenal job of expressing these characters without letting their tones give anything away.

Not exactly relevant to the story but as someone that lives in the DC metro area, the authors did a great job of making the DMV accessible to unfamiliar readers while sprinkling in real world settings that locals can enjoy.

I also think the concept of co-writing is really underdone, because if this pairing is anything to go on it’s a great way to go about it, I'd love to hear more about their process.

I had the opportunity to pick this up as a February BOTM club choice but unfortunately i overlooked it; but thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a second chance to get in on this book early. I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

“Ten sessions might not seem like nearly enough time to solve complex therapeutic issues but according to Avery Chambers her unique brand of intensive, short term counselling changes lives. Her highly controversial process, which some decry as dangerous is predicated on amplifying core universal emotions such as fear, anger, sadness and happiness. By pinpointing her client’s root issue and using it as a lightning rod to draw in these emotions at high levels she can slay the demons that plague people.”

Set in Washington, “The Golden Couple”, the latest title from the dynamic duo, Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, is a novel easily on par, if not greater, than their previous intricately plotted thrillers. Hendricks and Pekkanen use their familiar split narration to tell another tense tale of two female characters. The authors use rogue therapist Avery and Marissa, the wife in a “curated Instagram” marriage, to create shifting viewpoints and timeframes which keep readers off-balance. Through alternating chapters, Avery’s point of view is written in first person while Marissa’s chapters are written in third person. It worked for me. “The Golden Couple” is well-stocked with dramatic moments and discoveries. It is fast paced, well-crafted and an easy read.

Synopsis

If Avery Gordon can’t fix you in 10 sessions, she won’t take you on as a client. Her successes are phenomenal – she helps people overcome everything from domineering parents to assault – and almost absorbs the emptiness she sometimes feels since her husband’s death.

Marissa and Matthew Bishop seem like the golden couple – until Marissa cheats. She wants to repair things, both because she loves her husband and for the sake of their 8-year-old son. After a friend forwards an article about Avery, Marissa takes a chance on this maverick therapist, who lost her license due to her controversial methods.

When the Bishops glide through Avery’s door and Marissa reveals her infidelity, all three are set on a collision course. The biggest secrets in the room are still hidden and it’s no longer simply a marriage that’s in danger.

A huge thank you to @NetGalley and @macmillan.audio for the advanced listening copy.

Matthew and Marissa are the perfect couple on the outside , but the marriage is troubled when they decide to start working with therapist Avery. ( who guarantees results in 10 sessions ) . However, not is all as it seems on the surface and when Marissa confesses to having an affair all hell breaks loose. What I enjoyed most about this book is all the different POVS and the way it flowed. The intensity and twists kept building up and little by little everything is revealed. This is my second novel by them but i am excited to read more now.

Creepy, propulsive, and gripping. Thank you to @netgalley for this free ALC. I was drawn in from the first word and was continuously claiming to know who the real manipulator was. I was wrong, of course, but that made it all the better. Avery's plot line wrapped up a little too neatly for my taste, but still a very good read.

I'll be honest, I was a bit apprehensive going into this one since You Are Not Alone was such a disappointment for me. That being said, I found this book wildly entertaining, and the audiobook experience played a huge role in that.

Let me be very clear that there are not any likable characters in this book. Okay, that's a lie. Marissa and Matthew Bishop's son Bennett is adorable. Everyone else...not so much.

Back to my thoughts, this is one of those books that going into it you know it's going to be an absolute trainwreck. Marissa cheated on her husband Matthew in a moment of weakness, and now she's determined to keep her marriage together by going to an unorthodox marriage counselor (aka a psychiatrist who was disbarred).

From start to finish, I found this book to be propulsive and engaging. While I don't think that every twist and turn was unique, I couldn't help myself but get wrapped up in someone else's drama and life that wasn't my own. So from that aspect, I call it a win.

Overall, I found this to be one heck of a rollercoaster ride, and I was happy to see it through from start to finish.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

3.5 rounded up!

I went into this one blind and I’m glad I did! I’ve heard a lot of great things about Hendricks and Pekkanen’s previous books, but this was my first to pick up.

Overall, I found this book to be a quick thriller that didn’t have too many twists and turns. It sort of felt like a car failing to yield at a roundabout. In my opinion, this thriller was on the tamer side! So if you’re not a big thriller lover and want to add one into your TBR rotation, I think this is a good one to add. If you do love thrillers, you may not be impressed.

A LOT happened in this book and it had quite a few side stories that definitely added some confusion to what was actually going on with “The Golden Couple.” Readers will learn a lot these characters but you might also feel like you’re running through mud. That’s how I felt! I kept asking when something big would happen because the story lingered and hinted that something was about to be revealed, which kept my interest in reading. Because it strung me alone, I bet some readers will be frustrated.

My favorite part? The dual POVs! It really made the story for me and I enjoyed getting into both Avery and Marissa’s heads. It added to the suspense although the reveal didn’t seem too shocking.

Highly recommend the audiobook! The narrators were fantastic. Big thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ALC!

Content warnings: infidelity, gun violence, murder, toxic relationships, stalking, infertility

This book/audiobook exceeded my expectations. The narration was clear, well-paced and does a good job at capturing each of the women's personalities The story itselff was a fun, intelligent mystery that kept propelling me forward. I did not want to pause this one and enjoyed each twist that Hendricks and Pekkanen delivered.

I am a lover of Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen's books. I have loved every single one of them and The Golden Couple did not break that streak of good luck with their books. I devoured this book! We are following Avery Chambers, a therapist who lost her license but promises to help her clients with her controversial methods. She is still reeling from the death of her husband and her clients now fill the void he left behind. Then Avery takes on "the golden couple". Marissa and Mathew Bishop seem to have the perfect marriage, that is until Marissa cheats. She has an 8-year-old son and wants to work on her broken marriage. But as Avery and the couple start to work together they realize that there may be more secrets hiding in the dark.

The twists and turns were great in this psychological thriller. I kept trying to figure out how the web of characters would come together and was impressed with the way the author duo wrapped everything up. Avery was such a complex character and I really enjoyed going along with her during her therapy methods. I also loved Romeo, her rescue dog. This book had so many elements that worked together seamlessly. I highly recommend and even better it released on my birthday, March 8th. :)

This was a rollercoaster! Was a slow start but just over halfway through it starting picking up and getting better. I enjoyed the twists and turns throughout and although some where predictable I was pleasantly surprised by others. There was a lot of plot lines going on in this book though that I felt was a bit much at some points, but as they all slowly tied together it was easier to follow them all. Matthew and Marissa were both interesting characters with lots of lies hidden within their marriage. The side story about Avery and her own life’s struggles felt a bit unnecessary as the main focus was on Marissa and Matthew. Overall this was a 3.75/4 star rating for me as the ending definitely made up for the slow beginning!

Avery has the freedom to run her ten-step consulting program now that she's no longer a licensed therapist. With unconventional methods and significant involvement in her patient's lives, Avery can help her therapists through anything. When Marissa brings her husband, Matthew, in for help after infidelity, trust issues, and quality time issues, Avery thinks it might be the easiest work in her life. Only, this golden couple has a lot tarnishing their walls. Avery is presented with one secret, but as she walks the couple down the path of healing more secrets begin to be uncovered and these secrets are a threat to all three of them.

I loved Avery, I tolerated Marissa, and I could not put this book down for anything. I had both printed and audio ARCs of The Golden Couple and while I don't usually believe in switching between the two, I had to for this book. I wanted to be reading or listening at all times, unable to focus on anything when in-between the words. While it's a classic suburban drama and thriller, I found myself entertained and intrigued, happy to find twists and reveals that were unexpected amidst the predictable parts. There was a lot to unravel in this book, which made me enjoy it all the more. I like a good mixture of both, it wasn't something totally unfathomable, but I couldn't guess everything. This is another success for Hendricks and Pekkanen, in my opinion, a winner for all suburban thriller fans.

The audio is fantastic, as usual for Hendricks and Pekkanen books. It did suffer a bit when sped up to my usual listening speed, taking on a robotic quality, but at 1-1.3x it was perfect. Easy to follow with unique voices for each perspective and the right amount of emotion put into the words.

4.5 stars. I don't even know where to begin with this novel. Nothing is as it seems with this couple or their therapist. Marissa and Matthew Bishop are seemingly perfect. Beautiful, Insta-worthy life, adorable son, lots of money. But Marissa has been unfaithful and she and Matthew end up seeing Avery Chambers, a therapist, who has lost her therapy license due to controversial methods. But that hasn't stopped her success rate. If she can't fix you in 10 sessions, it's not going to happen.
SO MANY THINGS are happening in this novel. It's very difficult to keep all the secrets straight. And it's not only the marriage that winds up being in danger.

*Special thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an early audio version of this novel.*

This audiobook was fantastic! It was twisty and surprising and I had no idea what was going to happen next!

Avery is an unconventional "consultant" who has developed her own unique way of helping people. After losing her license, she was freed from the constraints of traditional therapy rules and regulations. Avery used her vast experience to come up with a 10-meeting treatment plan for her clients in which she could resolve their problems successfully.

Enter Matthew and Marissa. Marissa brings her husband to therapy under false pretenses (claiming trouble with their son) and then she confesses to him that she had slept with someone else. Avery has a challenge on her hands to help them repair the damage to their relationship.

There are a few other characters and storylines that intertwine with the main issues between Matthew and Marissa and make the story complex. Matthew's father hasn't been around much but somehow slips in at odd times. Polly is Marissa's overly helpful assistant at her shop who can't seem to stay out of Marissa's personal business. Avery anonymously called the whistle-blower hotline on a pharmaceutical company who covered up bad outcomes during a clinical trial for a new drug. The company didn't like what Avery did and wanted the name of the employee who told her about the trial. How far would the company go to get it? And we saw the complications from Marissa's lover who couldn't seem to let her go. From leaving notes to sending flowers and more, he tried to make his feelings known.

At first I wasn't sure where the story was headed but after a few chapters, I was really into it. More and more mysteries are added as you go through the book so it's not simple and easy to guess end. I was actually pretty surprised to find out who was behind the craziness. I liked the alternating between Avery and Marissa as narrators for the chapters because it kept the story moving along well. I think the audiobook voices were excellent and added to the intensity of the story.

Thanks Netgalley and MacMillan Audio. It will be available March 8. This review will be posted to Goodreads and my bookstagram today and Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com upon publication.

This book is not what it seems to be . Not sure if it’s a thriller but it’s as close as I can guess.
This book starts off with a couple who have been married for years . The wife cheats with the man who was her first kiss but pretends it is something else. They go to a therapist who uses unconventional methods and no longer has her license due to a prior client but stills sees patients. All the lives in this story are intertwined.
. The therapist is being stalked because she has a secret she refuses to reveal . The father to the wife holds a secret he will keep as long as his son is alive. The wife’s best friend is murdered when they are teens and it’s not who they always thought the killer to be .
Strange things start to happen and more clues are revealed as the story goes on. Are the characters really who you think are? What do you think everyone is capable of?

I loved how this book was written. I have read one other book by this author but loved this one a lot more. 5 stars. I didn’t want to put this book down.