The Golden Couple: A Novel

The next electrifying novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author duo behind The Wife Between Us.

"Propulsive and thrilling....A page-turner that will keep you guessing until the very end." --Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of Malibu Rising

Wealthy Washington suburbanites Marissa and Matthew Bishop seem to have it all—until Marissa is unfaithful. Beneath their veneer of perfection is a relationship riven by work and a lack of intimacy. She wants to repair things for the sake of their eight-year-old son and because she loves her husband. Enter Avery Chambers.

Avery is a therapist who lost her professional license. Still, it doesn’t stop her from counseling those in crisis, though they have to adhere to her unorthodox methods. And the Bishops are desperate.
When they glide through Avery’s door and Marissa reveals her infidelity, all three are set on a collision course. Because the biggest secrets in the room are still hidden, and it’s no longer simply a marriage that’s in danger.

"An utterly compelling, spellbinding read." --Lisa Jewell, author of Then She Was Gone and Invisible Girl

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Published Mar 8, 2022

330 pages

Average rating: 7.69

326 RATINGS

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Across the Globe Book Buddies

Oct 19, 2025

6/10 stars

No. In fact, maybe 3 stars is too generous. Dunno. I was enjoying this book up until the point of noticing I was rolling my eyes realizing I was AGAIN being required to suspend my disbelief. It continued to go downhill with one word repeatedly cropping up: convenient. How does nearly every character have a rather significant connection to every other character? Way too much overlap in these people's' lives. Not for me...

thenextgoodbook

Sep 04, 2025

8/10 stars

In this psychological thriller Marissa and Matthew seem like the perfect couple- but are they?

full review on the site-

thenextgoodbook.com

Mary Pat Holt

Feb 05, 2026

6/10 stars

This is a very good thriller that keeps you guessing right up until the end. At least for me. :) So why only 3 stars? Well, you do have to suspend belief a bit . There are really only 3 main characters (Marissa, Matthew and Avery) but a lot of extras and I thought it was a bit much how they all were connected, and the pharmaceutical coverup was an unnecessary subplot.

Marissa and Matthew are wealthy Washington suburbanites with an eight year old son. They seem to be the perfect, golden couple, until Marissa is unfaithful one night. Marissa wants to desperately repair her marriage so she turns to Avery, a therapist who lost her professional license because of her unorthodox practices. I really disliked Avery and her methods to help her clients. She had a ten-point session plan but would follow her clients, call/email/text them., show up at their business/home. She seemed more like an undercover investigator than a therapist.

Definitely a good cat and mouse plot with lots of secrets and lies. Not my favorite Hendricks/Pekkanen novel but still impressed with the writing style of this duo. They write so seamlessly, never know it's two authors. Maybe I'll try a book by Pekkanen. Love the alternating POV's (Marissa and Avery).

Kati

Jan 01, 2026

6/10 stars

3.5⭐️

Bosky

Dec 30, 2025

6/10 stars

I was excited to read this. The first few chapters were good. But then the character development was meh and plot meh. Yes, there were twists and turns, but I wasn't invested in the characters to care as much. Some plot points didn't make sense. 2.75 stars.