ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Greer Hendricks is an American bestselling author. Before becoming a writer, Hendricks was the Senior Editor at the American publishing company, Simon & Schuster. With Sarah Pekkanen, Hendricks has co-authored bestsellers like The Wife Between Us and You Are Not Alone.
For her part, Pekkanen was an investigative journalist before pursuing a career as a novelist. She has authored many bestselling novels, which include The Opposite of Me and The Perfect Neighbors. The two authors had a professional editor-and-writer meeting, but ended up penning down stories together. Many of these tales are in the process of being adapted for TV shows and movies.
SYNOPSIS
The Golden Couple is the story of a couple, their marital problems, and their new therapist. Marissa and Matthew are the golden couple in question. They are rich and admired by their friends. They have a perfect home and a perfect family. However, their life is anything but perfect. Their lack of intimacy drives Marissa to cheat on Matthew. Avery is the unconventional therapist Marissa turns to for help in repairing the damage she has caused.
Avery had lost her license due to her unusual methods of resolving her clients’ issues – arguably even through illegal means. She has a no-nonsense attitude, and threats do not go down very well with her. When Marissa gets in touch with her, Avery is rather wary. However, after seeing the couple together in their first session, she makes up her mind to take up their case. Despite their lack of intimacy, Matthew and Marissa share a good chemistry.
In their very first session, it is revealed that their marriage has more secrets to it than Marissa’s infidelity. The couple must jump through ever hoop Avery sets as the therapist peels back the layers carefully put in place over the years of their marital life.
WHAT WE LIKED ABOUT THE GOLDEN COUPLE (MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS)
At first glance, both the reader and the therapist are fooled by her near-perfect first interaction with the troubled couple. From that point, the author carefully lets the reader in on crucial fragments of the spouses’ lives. It comes to light that there are other parties involved, who keep influencing their marital bond.
On the other hand, Avery has her own share of problems to deal with, what with previous clients and adversaries. The three prominent characters are in a constant state of secrecy and duality, which keeps everyone on the edge of their seats. Things eventually come to a head when the threats looming on both the couple’s relationship and Avery’s career become too real for comfort. The mystery around Marissa’s affair also has a shocking side to it, which changes the characters’ lives forever. For the most part, The Golden Couple is the fast-paced thriller it promised to be.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER ABOUT THE GOLDEN COUPLE
The plot holds its own for the most of the book. However, the initial promise of the unconventional therapist goes down the drain as early as the third chapter. It isn’t hard to see where the authors abandoned the original story line and decided to focus on the characters’ individual journey instead. Readers can easily see the final reveal coming from miles away, which saps the book of the element of surprise.
QUOTES
Grief isn’t linear. It isn’t logical. There’s no structure or civility to it; it grabs you when you least expect it and digs in its nails until you succumb.
“That’s an Instagram post. Give me something real.” Marissa flinches. In those few words, Avery has cut to the core of what their marriage has become: curated moments served up in public, while in private the emptiness between them slowly expands.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, The Golden Couple offers an air of positivity in its narrative style. There is an unmistakable element of mystery for the most part of the book. This would make for a wonderful on-screen adaptation, thanks in part to its dynamic scenes and enigmatic characters.
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