Enjoyment (stars): 4
Total rating (stars): 4.14

In the Golden Couple, we follow Avery, a former therapist who takes on a client she believes will benefit her own method. If she can't help them in 10 sessions, she won't take you.

The book starts as she takes on her most recent clients - Matthew and Marissa, who have marital problems. They have some pretty big secrets, and all three of their lives will be deeply impacted by this partnership.

This is my first Hendricks and Pekkanen book, and I really enjoyed it. I was pleasantly surprised at how cohesive the book is. It reads as if written by one author and that in itself deserves praise.

The Golden Couple is one of those fast-paced, addictive reads that you can't put down until you know how it ends. The authors mainly played fair, except for one subplot, but I would have enjoyed it more if it hadn't branched out into a subplot. That is a personal preference. It didn't impact the book at all, and to be fair, everything came together at the end.

I have read the book and listened to the audiobook together and must say that Karissa Vacker and Marin Ireland knocked it out of the park with their narration. Their chemistry enhanced the experience, and their pacing honoured the story.

I will seek more books by the authors. This was 100% entertaining.

Disclaimer: In exchange for an honest review, I am thankful to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing a copy of The Golden Couple.

The audio book of The Golden Couple is well done. The narrator has a pleasant tone of voice and uses a variety of inflections for the different characters. The reading pace is good as well.

In terms of the story, this one lacks the “big twist” I’ve come to expect from this author duo. The whistleblower plot line doesn’t seem to impact the plot enough to warrant its being included.

Thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read/listen to an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

let me start by saying i LOVE Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen! But this was not my favorite of theres. I wanted to love this book, but it was just a little slow. The characters were a boring, and the twist was a surprise, but not a shocker. There is also a side plot with Big Pharma that doesn't really have any point to the plot. i did not hate the book, it just kinda felt like homework. I do think that I would have liked it more if I didn't do the audiobook. You can hear the dead pan of Avery, and I really with that they used a male narrator for the men. Her take on the male characters was a little cheesy. That being said, I will alwasy look forward to their books in the future because I really do =love their other books together!! thank you for my advanced copy!

Secrets, twists, and drama. I could not put this down!

This story is told from alternating perspectives from Avery, the therapist, and Marissa, the patient. At the beginning of the story, I wasn't sure how I felt about Avery as a character. Her unconventional therapy treatments had me skeptical, but she quickly grew on me, and I warmed up to her. The characters of Avery and Marissa were well written, and I found myself equally invested in both storylines.

Comparing this book to the author's past books, I felt the pacing was much slower. The first half spent ample time developing the characters and their issues. The second half definitely picked up speed and unveiled secrets and twists that I did not see coming.

The narration of the audiobook was perfect! Karissa Vacker and Marin Ireland did a great job bringing the characters to life. Their voices were easy to follow, and their performance enhanced my enjoyment.

While this may not be my favorite book by Hendricks and Pekkanen, I was thoroughly entertained and satisfied with the ending. I cannot wait to read what this duo writes next!

3.5 Stars rounded up to 4
Audiobook
After reading The Wife Between Us I was anxious to listen to The Golden Couple. Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio, I had the opportunity.

It took me a little while to get into the story. Matthew and Marissa find themselves needing marriage counseling, so they reach out to Avery, a therapist who lost her license for her unconventional practices. But the word is that she is very good, so Marissa reaches out to her. Especially since Avery is supposed to be able to make marriages all good in just 10 sessions.

Though I’ve grown to enjoy a story told in alternating voices, I'm not sure it worked this time The different viewpoints didn’t work together to make the story flow. I found myself occasionally lost and my mind wandering. At other times, however, it picked up and completely had my attention. The ups and downs, interest-wise, weren't horrible, but the story felt a bit all over the place.

My Concerns
I expected more than I received. The plot wasn’t thrilling or terribly interesting..

Final Thoughts
The narration was fine.

The story had some parts that felt original and caught my attention but all and all it fell flat.

Many will find it perfect and others, like me, will say it was okay. If I'd been reading The Golden Couple I might have had a hard time seeing it through to the end. However, if it sounds like it might be a story for you, I'd definitely recommend the audiobook.

The narrator was great! Kept me hooked and intrigued.

I think this was actually my favorite book by this duo! I was so curious what was happening and where the story was going to go. I didn’t know how all the dots connected and it was quite the tale. I thought it was going to be a simple story but the further in, the more twisted it got. It was definitely more intricately woven. This is one that had me wanting to get back to it so i could find out how it ended. . A lot of twists and turns at the end there that i didn’t see coming! Always refreshing when i don’t have the story pegged! I wouldn’t say it was a huge reveal but it was a surprising twist or two and i thoroughly enjoyed this one.

I greatly enjoyed this audiobook. I liked the therapy aspect and the interactions between couple and therapist. So far I have enjoyed every book for Hendricks and Pekkanen.

This is my first book by this duo and it didn’t disappoint! I listened to it on audiobook and I was hooked. Filled with so many twists and turns, I couldn’t stop listening.

The plot is well developed and the characters are realistic in their flaws.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for sending me an audioARC of this book.

I was not expecting to LOVE this book but WOW. It started off with Avery, a former therapist turned consultant after violating her patient confidentiality in order to save lives, who is now offering a unique approach to help clients get their lives back in order that is part therapy, part private investigation. We meet Marissa and Matthew, the golden couple, who come to Avery after Marissa’s infidelity in an attempt to reconcile their broken marriage. Avery then must unravel their twisted lies to find the truth behind the betrayal, and all the while keep a watchful eye out for her own safety from a constant barrage of mysterious threats in this psychological thriller.

If Avery Chambers can’t fix you in 10 sessions, she won’t take you on as a client. Marissa and Mathew 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. 

That is the simplest description of this book. Nothing after that is simple at all.
This is a mystery reader’s, mystery book. Hendricks and Pekkanen created characters that you either like or loathe but you can’t help but feel something for each of them. They created a mystery that turns you into so many twists, giving you just enough to think you know which did it, just to rip away that safety net and send you spiraling into space, a shocked look on your face as things again turn a corner.

I can’t say enough good things about this book. It has everything a good mystery should; an unfaithful partner, a tortured soul, someone in an authoritative position that won't play by the rules, and most importantly, secrets. Lots and lots of secrets that are like breadcrumbs to the end.

I could not put this down and the last few hours of the audiobook had my heart pounding as I shut out everything but the story.
 Karissa Vacker (Narrator), Marin Ireland (Narrator), managed to keep me engaged and made the book even better.

Thanks to @Netgalley, Macmillan Audio for granting my wish, Greer Hendricks, and Sarah Pekkanen for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow. This was a wild ride. This is my first read of Hendricks and Pekkanen's and I was impressed. This was a very fast paced thriller.

This is the story of the Bennett's, Marissa and Matthew and their therapist, Avery. Avery is not your average therapist. She's got some unconventional methods and has lost her license, but still continues to see patients for her ten session method. I don't want to give too much away, so I won't go too much further, but as the story flows along, the characters become more and more intertwined in each other's lives, culminating in a huge twist.

I enjoyed this book. It's told from alternating viewpoints and had a lot of suspense. There were some plot holes and I was really confused about part of the big twist, however, it wasn't anything that ruins the story. Just more clarification on the why would be helpful to the reader. All in all 3.5 stars.

The audio was average. There were two female narrators and I disliked both of their male voices, but it wasn't bad enough to ruin the story.

Thanks to the authors, @stmartinspress @netgalley and @macmillanaudio for the early audio copy of one of 2022’s most anticipated thrillers! Brace yourself folks, because it delivers. I was hooked from the start and devoured this delicious twisty tale. The audio was fantastic, and narration was *chefs kiss*

Marissa and Matthew seem to have it all, a lovely home and family in the Washington, D.C. area…enter Marissa’s infidelity. Wanting to repair her indiscretion, she enlists the help of an unconventional therapist (Avery) who has lost her license due to controversial methods.

Did I mention Avery has her own issues?

What I loved was that the story was split between Marissa and Avery’s points of views and this fast-paced thriller was chock full of twists and turns as you discover everyone’s dirty little secrets. The characters were multi-faceted which made for a complex story, and the ending was well-executed.

I've read everything by this author duo and nothing has ever blown my mind like their first, The Wife Between Us. Actually, I've I'm being really honest, they haven't even come close. Until now. Loved this twisty ride and I found myself loving some characters in spite of myself. (I mean I assumed someone was evil and so I felt weird about liking and respecting our two MCs at different points.)

Also, really great audio narration. Zero complaints on that!

I really enjoyed this book!
The narrators were both fabulous and I especially enjoyed the dual narratives.
There was a side bit about a big pharma company that was a little Ill fitted to the story but did not take away from the the overall enjoyment
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a suspenseful read.
Thank you so so much

Wow! I really wish I could give this book more than five stars! If you love psychological thrillers, this book will be perfect for you!

I loved pretty much every part of this book and I could not put it down since there were no lulls to want to make you want to stop reading.

I kind of hope there will be a book two based on Avery's twisted therapy methods. She was a great MC who had flaws, but they didn't overshadow her character.

I really hope Hendricks and Pekkanen write another book together very soon.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Avery Chambers’ clients must endure her specialized method to fix them within 10 sessions. Although she no longer has her professional license, she is still sought after for her proven methods. Marissa and Matthew Bishop, a seemingly perfect couple, seeks out Avery to help with their marriage. Marissa confesses in their first session that she cheated. Through Avery’s unorthodox sessions, more than the infidelity is uncovered, which may cause everyone involved to be in danger.

Having the narrators switch between Marissa and Avery’s perspectives really enhanced the story. Avery is so self-assured, she seemed to know everything, I kept questioning whether she really could be insightful. It wouldn’t call it out of character though, she is a therapist after all. Marissa on the other hand is so focused on maintaining a perfect image, it kept me guessing what she was hiding behind her façade. Their differing personalities intertwined wonderfully and kept me wondering who to believe. The first half was a slow burn but it was nonetheless an engaging thriller that kept me guessing until the very end.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced audiobook.

Listened to this one and as an audiobook I really enjoyed it! The narration style kept my attention and I found myself trying to listen to it any time I could. I liked the subtle voice changes for characters, and the overall pacing worked really well for this story in audio.

As far as the storyline, the first 80% of the book there is an exciting tension as we get different POVs and no one seems to really have full insight into what is going on. I enjoyed feeling sure it was so-and-so, then, a few chapters later, thinking I was wrong. The last 20% flew by and while I did see one part of the resolution coming, I didn’t see all of it playing out like it did. I won’t give anything away but the VERY ending really surprised me (in a good way) compared to some of the more wacky endings of others books by this author duo.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review

Mathew and Marissa Bishop decide to go for counseling. They decide not to go the traditional route and seek Avery Chambers who has says she can fix a couple in just ten sessions. Her methods are unorthodox as she spies on you and questions everyone around you to find out who the real you is. If you have a secret she will find it!

Marissa bares her soul to Avery and tells her how much she wants to make this marriage work. Too bad everyone is lying about something. Time to figure out how deep the lies go and if this marriage can be salvaged.

Thank you Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for my ARC and this is my honest review.

5 out of 5 for The Golden Couple. The authors weave a plot that leaves the reader guessing the entire time with a surprise ending. The story is built upon the untraditional therapy method of a psychologist gone rouge. Typically her unorthodox methods resolve the clients needs but in this instance have the opposite effect. This thriller had me engrossed and unable to put the story down. Great read!

Domestic thriller author duo Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen do it again in their latest novel The Golden Couple. I usually don’t listen to audiobooks because I find it hard to stay focused, but I was engaged the entire time I listened to this book.

Avery is an unlicensed therapist with some unconventional methods of working with her patients. While treating the picture-perfect couple, Marissa and Matthew Bishop, she completely inserts themselves into their lives, following them while they are out to dinner, snooping around in Marissa’s small business, and following Matthew while at work. The goal is to help the Bishop’s work through Marissa’s infidelity, but Avery is beginning to uncover much bigger secrets.

The first half of this book was definitely a slow burn, but we learn a lot of details about our main character trio. The second half is where things pick up and we start to uncover a few secrets about our Golden Couple. What I love about these two authors is how complex and how multi-layered their stories can be.

If you are looking for an easy yet entertaining thriller that keeps you guessing, look no further!