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Just the Nicest Couple
Two couples, two close friends, one missing husband…
Jake Hayes is missing. This much is certain. At first, his wife, Nina, thinks he is blowing off steam at a friend’s house after their heated fight the night before. But then a day goes by. Two days. Five. And Jake is still nowhere to be found.
Lily Scott, Nina’s friend and coworker, thinks she may have been the last to see Jake before he went missing. After Lily confesses everything to her husband, Christian, the two decide that nobody can find out what happened leading up to Jake’s disappearance, especially not Nina. But Nina is out there looking for her husband, and she won’t stop until the truth is discovered.
Jake Hayes is missing. This much is certain. At first, his wife, Nina, thinks he is blowing off steam at a friend’s house after their heated fight the night before. But then a day goes by. Two days. Five. And Jake is still nowhere to be found.
Lily Scott, Nina’s friend and coworker, thinks she may have been the last to see Jake before he went missing. After Lily confesses everything to her husband, Christian, the two decide that nobody can find out what happened leading up to Jake’s disappearance, especially not Nina. But Nina is out there looking for her husband, and she won’t stop until the truth is discovered.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 10, 2023
13389 people are currently reading
135847 people want to read
About the author
Mary Kubica
29 books27k followersMary Kubica is a New York Times bestselling author of suspense thrillers including The Good Girl, The Other Mrs., and Local Woman Missing. Her books have been translated into over thirty languages and have sold over five million copies worldwide. She’s been described as “a helluva storyteller” (Kirkus) and “a writer of vice-like control” (Chicago Tribune), and her novels have been praised as “hypnotic” (People) and “thrilling and illuminating” (L.A. Times). She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and children.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 17,792 reviews
November 22, 2022
Dud Alert!
1.5 stars
Just the Nicest Couple is a bland thriller about two couples, a missing husband, and the plot to cover up his disappearance.
I had vowed to stop reading Kubica, but the premise sounded so good that I had to give this one a go. This book has all of the makings of a juicy thriller, but the flat characters and messy execution made for a boring read.
Told from the alternating perspectives of Christian and Nina, neither has any personality. Nina is married to Jake, a neurosurgeon who has gone missing. Their marriage is on the rocks, and Nina is just trying to hold it together. Her character is flat but somewhat likable, whereas Christian is just a moron.
Christian is blindly in love with his wife, Lily. His inner dialogue was painful to read--he is immature, and his thoughts are pretty basic. He can't string together a complex sentence and spends most of his time obsessing over Lily and watching her sleep. Lily is whiny and annoying. She could have had some of the most interesting chapters, but Kubica does not share her perspective. Both Lily and Christian speak and act like the high school students that Nina and Lily teach.
This was one of those books where I was just flipping the pages hoping for *something* interesting to happen--even something outrageous or over-the-top. Sadly, it never did. The ending had potential, but it crashes and burns like the rest of the book. I guessed all of the twists, and there were no turns.
The one positive is that it is easy to read.
Some readers have enjoyed this one, but as you can tell, it was not for me. This will be my last by Kubica.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
1.5 stars
Just the Nicest Couple is a bland thriller about two couples, a missing husband, and the plot to cover up his disappearance.
I had vowed to stop reading Kubica, but the premise sounded so good that I had to give this one a go. This book has all of the makings of a juicy thriller, but the flat characters and messy execution made for a boring read.
Told from the alternating perspectives of Christian and Nina, neither has any personality. Nina is married to Jake, a neurosurgeon who has gone missing. Their marriage is on the rocks, and Nina is just trying to hold it together. Her character is flat but somewhat likable, whereas Christian is just a moron.
Christian is blindly in love with his wife, Lily. His inner dialogue was painful to read--he is immature, and his thoughts are pretty basic. He can't string together a complex sentence and spends most of his time obsessing over Lily and watching her sleep. Lily is whiny and annoying. She could have had some of the most interesting chapters, but Kubica does not share her perspective. Both Lily and Christian speak and act like the high school students that Nina and Lily teach.
This was one of those books where I was just flipping the pages hoping for *something* interesting to happen--even something outrageous or over-the-top. Sadly, it never did. The ending had potential, but it crashes and burns like the rest of the book. I guessed all of the twists, and there were no turns.
The one positive is that it is easy to read.
Some readers have enjoyed this one, but as you can tell, it was not for me. This will be my last by Kubica.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
January 27, 2023
I'm not off to a very good start this year...
This book has a lot of issues and it was just not good. Kubica's books are most often misses for me, but every once in a while I am impressed which keeps me coming back for more. Next time I think I'll wait for a library copy.
The main premise is that of two couples: Christian and Lily, and Lily's teacher co-worker Nina and her surgeon husband Jake. Jake doesn't come home the morning after a fight, and Nina assumes he's mad at her and has possibly left her. Yet as the days go by and he doesn't even show up for work, she starts to wonder if something has happened to him. Lily confesses to her husband that as she was out walking in the forest preserve, Jake tried to attack her and she hit him with a rock. Did Lily unintentionally kill him? As the days pass and there's no sign of Jake, everyone starts to panic and wonder where he is.
The writing is very short and simplistic. The characters make dumb decision after dumb decision and jump to conclusions that are ridiculous. The pacing is slow to develop and I was left wondering if anything was ever going to happen, and then bam, things happen very quickly. And then at the end, everything happens off of the page, so we just get to read about the aftermath. So much setup for very little payoff. I do have to say that I was surprised by one of the ending twists, even with as unrealistic and OTT as it was.
I know that lots of people have really liked this one, but if you like logic and characters that behave rationally, then this is not the book for you.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This book has a lot of issues and it was just not good. Kubica's books are most often misses for me, but every once in a while I am impressed which keeps me coming back for more. Next time I think I'll wait for a library copy.
The main premise is that of two couples: Christian and Lily, and Lily's teacher co-worker Nina and her surgeon husband Jake. Jake doesn't come home the morning after a fight, and Nina assumes he's mad at her and has possibly left her. Yet as the days go by and he doesn't even show up for work, she starts to wonder if something has happened to him. Lily confesses to her husband that as she was out walking in the forest preserve, Jake tried to attack her and she hit him with a rock. Did Lily unintentionally kill him? As the days pass and there's no sign of Jake, everyone starts to panic and wonder where he is.
The writing is very short and simplistic. The characters make dumb decision after dumb decision and jump to conclusions that are ridiculous. The pacing is slow to develop and I was left wondering if anything was ever going to happen, and then bam, things happen very quickly. And then at the end, everything happens off of the page, so we just get to read about the aftermath. So much setup for very little payoff. I do have to say that I was surprised by one of the ending twists, even with as unrealistic and OTT as it was.
I know that lots of people have really liked this one, but if you like logic and characters that behave rationally, then this is not the book for you.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
October 22, 2025
Can you hear the choo-choo sounds? The disappointment train is pulling into Nilyland!
This is what happens when your expectations are sky-high. I canceled my weekend plans—gave up chatting with friends and enjoying a fantastic selection of wines—to dedicate my time to this book. (I kept my wines for later.) I was hoping for a thrilling read that would keep me on my toes, but it just didn’t deliver.
Want to know why? If you don’t, feel free to stop reading. Oh, come on—aren’t you a little intrigued?
Some of you might find the book easy to read with its short and simple sentences. Clearly, the author was going for a different style, but it just didn’t work for me.
The beginning was promising: Lily, a beautiful and smart high school teacher who has suffered multiple miscarriages, is expecting another baby. One day after work, her husband, Christian, finds her in the living room, shivering and giving him a blank stare. She seems terrified, mumbling for him to lock the doors—even though they live in a peaceful neighborhood. Clearly, something is very wrong. The next day, she finally tells Christian the reason for her fear.
Then we’re introduced to a second POV: Nina, another high school teacher and Lily’s friend, who’s taking care of her ailing mother. After a fight, her husband Jake doesn’t come home, nor does he respond to texts from their close friends. She doesn’t know it yet, but Lily was the last person to see him!
Without spoiling too much, I’ll say there isn’t much happening in this book until the last quarter. The twists were predictable, except for one (I admit, that one was good).
The characters didn’t captivate me. Only Nina was relatable. I didn’t like Lily, and I found Christian creepy and obsessive—he watches his wife sleep as if he’s trying to keep tabs on her every breath. And Jake? That narcissistic jerk made his bed; I didn’t care if he was dead or alive!
As for the “someone’s stalking Nina” storyline, it didn’t work for me either. I wish Nina would throw on a black suit (no shirt, no bra), dance on the Hollywood Hills, and sing “I can buy myself flowers” Miley-style after receiving those flowers from her secret admirer. At least that would’ve added a spark to the story—and kept me from yawning excessively while reading.
Overall, I’m giving this three “I didn’t like it, but I didn’t hate it” stars. The ending was good enough, but the rest fell short. I was expecting more because Mary Kubica is one of my favorite, brilliant thriller authors. I’m saving my energy and high expectations for her next work!
This is what happens when your expectations are sky-high. I canceled my weekend plans—gave up chatting with friends and enjoying a fantastic selection of wines—to dedicate my time to this book. (I kept my wines for later.) I was hoping for a thrilling read that would keep me on my toes, but it just didn’t deliver.
Want to know why? If you don’t, feel free to stop reading. Oh, come on—aren’t you a little intrigued?
Some of you might find the book easy to read with its short and simple sentences. Clearly, the author was going for a different style, but it just didn’t work for me.
The beginning was promising: Lily, a beautiful and smart high school teacher who has suffered multiple miscarriages, is expecting another baby. One day after work, her husband, Christian, finds her in the living room, shivering and giving him a blank stare. She seems terrified, mumbling for him to lock the doors—even though they live in a peaceful neighborhood. Clearly, something is very wrong. The next day, she finally tells Christian the reason for her fear.
Then we’re introduced to a second POV: Nina, another high school teacher and Lily’s friend, who’s taking care of her ailing mother. After a fight, her husband Jake doesn’t come home, nor does he respond to texts from their close friends. She doesn’t know it yet, but Lily was the last person to see him!
Without spoiling too much, I’ll say there isn’t much happening in this book until the last quarter. The twists were predictable, except for one (I admit, that one was good).
The characters didn’t captivate me. Only Nina was relatable. I didn’t like Lily, and I found Christian creepy and obsessive—he watches his wife sleep as if he’s trying to keep tabs on her every breath. And Jake? That narcissistic jerk made his bed; I didn’t care if he was dead or alive!
As for the “someone’s stalking Nina” storyline, it didn’t work for me either. I wish Nina would throw on a black suit (no shirt, no bra), dance on the Hollywood Hills, and sing “I can buy myself flowers” Miley-style after receiving those flowers from her secret admirer. At least that would’ve added a spark to the story—and kept me from yawning excessively while reading.
Overall, I’m giving this three “I didn’t like it, but I didn’t hate it” stars. The ending was good enough, but the rest fell short. I was expecting more because Mary Kubica is one of my favorite, brilliant thriller authors. I’m saving my energy and high expectations for her next work!
January 23, 2023
Retitling: Just the Nicest, Dumbest Couple You'll Ever Meet 🙄
January 27, 2023
First things first, even the blurb on this is B.S. Lily and Christian and Jake and Nina weren’t “close” friends. Lily and Nina were freaking work friends and every once in a while their husbands would be forced into mingling. So now that’s out of the way, the whole premise here is that Jake has gone missing and Lily thinks she might have done a bad bad thing.
Let’s just get right down to the nitty gritty, shall we? Mary Kubica has become sort of a household name over the past few years when it comes to modern mystery/suspense/thrillers and yet somehow I’ve only read a couple of her offerings. After finishing this one I’m wondering was her writing style always this clipped? And awful? The short sentences, repetition of phrases, and unecessary details were more than a bit jarring to the moldy block of Swiss cheese which is my brain.
Here’s an example . . . .
“…the other night, before we lay down in bed, Lily watched me close and lock it, and then she just barely nodded as if agreement it was the prudent thing to do. It’s not exactly a robust lock; any little screwdriver can pop the lock. But what I like about it, and what Lily likes about it, is that there is a barrier between us and the unknown when we’re out cold. Popping the lock or rattling the door handle would make a sound and wake us.”
Is that how locks work? Please tell me more as I are an uneducated dummkopf. Not to mention this is such riveting material that how could I possibly get enough????
Another (and I’m not typing this crap because it goes on for like THREE MUTHA EFFIN PAGES!) . . .
Or would you prefer playing a fun game? Take a shot every time Lily’s teenie tiny petite body type is mentioned . . .
Just make sure you have your insurance card in your purse and enough money in your bank account to cover the co-pay when you have to go get your stomach pumped.
Once again I praise the tiny 8 lb. 6 oz. baby jesus (can’t even say a word) who blessed me with a superhuman reading speed and also the fact that this was dialogue heavy. That being said, I would still give this zero stars if I could.
Let’s just get right down to the nitty gritty, shall we? Mary Kubica has become sort of a household name over the past few years when it comes to modern mystery/suspense/thrillers and yet somehow I’ve only read a couple of her offerings. After finishing this one I’m wondering was her writing style always this clipped? And awful? The short sentences, repetition of phrases, and unecessary details were more than a bit jarring to the moldy block of Swiss cheese which is my brain.
Here’s an example . . . .
“…the other night, before we lay down in bed, Lily watched me close and lock it, and then she just barely nodded as if agreement it was the prudent thing to do. It’s not exactly a robust lock; any little screwdriver can pop the lock. But what I like about it, and what Lily likes about it, is that there is a barrier between us and the unknown when we’re out cold. Popping the lock or rattling the door handle would make a sound and wake us.”
Is that how locks work? Please tell me more as I are an uneducated dummkopf. Not to mention this is such riveting material that how could I possibly get enough????
Another (and I’m not typing this crap because it goes on for like THREE MUTHA EFFIN PAGES!) . . .
Or would you prefer playing a fun game? Take a shot every time Lily’s teenie tiny petite body type is mentioned . . .
Just make sure you have your insurance card in your purse and enough money in your bank account to cover the co-pay when you have to go get your stomach pumped.
Once again I praise the tiny 8 lb. 6 oz. baby jesus (can’t even say a word) who blessed me with a superhuman reading speed and also the fact that this was dialogue heavy. That being said, I would still give this zero stars if I could.
May 22, 2023
4.5⭐️ As I am writing this review, the feedback on this book is…well it’s mixed. However, I loved this bingeable new thriller from the master of twists, Mary Kubica. I read this one in under a day, and was literally on the edge of my seat the entire time. What a ride!
My favorite part of this book is how the author took the pretty common storyline (both in real life and fiction) of the missing wife, and turned it on its head. Here we see what happens when an affluent surgeon goes missing and his wife is the one to report it to the police.
The character development is top notch, per usual, and all four characters and even supporting characters were fully flushed out. There is not one character in this story about which I do not understand their motives or actions. By the time we reach the conclusion, everything becomes crystal clear. As someone who hates messy conclusions to thrillers, I really appreciate this about Kubica’s writing.
Thank you to KCCPR for the gorgeous hardcover and Park Row and NetGalley for the digital ARC.
My favorite part of this book is how the author took the pretty common storyline (both in real life and fiction) of the missing wife, and turned it on its head. Here we see what happens when an affluent surgeon goes missing and his wife is the one to report it to the police.
The character development is top notch, per usual, and all four characters and even supporting characters were fully flushed out. There is not one character in this story about which I do not understand their motives or actions. By the time we reach the conclusion, everything becomes crystal clear. As someone who hates messy conclusions to thrillers, I really appreciate this about Kubica’s writing.
Thank you to KCCPR for the gorgeous hardcover and Park Row and NetGalley for the digital ARC.
January 10, 2023
I have read all eight of Mary Kubica’s thrillers, and they are either a big hit or a complete miss. Unfortunately, Just The Nicest Couple falls into the latter category.
So what happened?
The writing. Kubica uses very short staccato sentences. It reads like this. Is it bothering you? How about reading 320 pages? Just. Like. This.
The uninspired tired plot. I read a lot of domestic suspense novels and this book basically spit out all of the usual devices. A character has macular degeneration of her eyesight, so conveniently cannot see the action unfold. Lily is a damsel in distress cliche and Christian is her knight in shining armor.
The predictability. I guessed every single twist light years before the characters did. Haven’t I read this story before???
The slow burn. Nothing happens until the last 50 pages. The plot unfolds at an excruciatingly slow pace.
Believability. The plot is OTT and had me rolling my eyes many times.
All that being said, I am a fan of Kubica and love to read thrillers written by fellow Chicagoans. I am looking forward to reading her next thriller and hope it will deliver a hit!
2.5/5 stars rounded up
Expected publication date: 1/10/23
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing-Park Row for the ARC of Just the Nicest Couple in exchange for an honest review.
So what happened?
The writing. Kubica uses very short staccato sentences. It reads like this. Is it bothering you? How about reading 320 pages? Just. Like. This.
The uninspired tired plot. I read a lot of domestic suspense novels and this book basically spit out all of the usual devices. A character has macular degeneration of her eyesight, so conveniently cannot see the action unfold. Lily is a damsel in distress cliche and Christian is her knight in shining armor.
The predictability. I guessed every single twist light years before the characters did. Haven’t I read this story before???
The slow burn. Nothing happens until the last 50 pages. The plot unfolds at an excruciatingly slow pace.
Believability. The plot is OTT and had me rolling my eyes many times.
All that being said, I am a fan of Kubica and love to read thrillers written by fellow Chicagoans. I am looking forward to reading her next thriller and hope it will deliver a hit!
2.5/5 stars rounded up
Expected publication date: 1/10/23
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing-Park Row for the ARC of Just the Nicest Couple in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2023
What a bunch of selfish, unlikable, unwise people in this book! I was frustrated enough at one point to yell at one of the characters. "Don't do it!" I insisted. Fortunately, he/she was just imagining a course of action rather than carrying it out. So, as noted in the blurb there are two couples. Our narrators are Christian (husband to Lily) and Nina (wife to Jake). There paths cross in unexpected ways giving more interesting reading in the second half than the first. I do admit to almost completely blindsided by the final reveal, so am giving this book a "really liked it" rating despite the uneven pacing. Not Mary Kubica's best work, in my opinion. I liked The Good Girl and Local Woman Missing better.
Thank you to Park Row and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Park Row and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
November 24, 2022
2.5/3 rounded up
The nicest couples in question are Christian and Lily and Nina and Jake. Lily and Nina are teachers at the same high school and are good friends. One evening Christian arrives home to find newly pregnant Lily exhausted but it’s more than that as she seems fearful. The same night Jake fails to return home after the couple have an argument earlier in the day. Nina thinks he’s staying away to blow off steam but is that the case or is there more to it?
First of all, I am a big Mary Kubica fan but this is far from my favourite book of hers. I’m not keen on the way it’s written with very short, rather staccato sentences as it feels so basic from such a good author. There is irrelevant detail, repetition and some statements that frankly, make my eyes roll.
The characters are not especially well fleshed out and some dialogue between them isn’t good either which considering what’s occurring this feels very understated and underwhelming.
However, there are some moments of tension and a few decent twists that throw you off the expected track, as well as some good red herrings . Sadly though, the pace rarely rises much above a country amble and this plot deserves to be brisk. What can I say about the ending? It doesn’t wow me and it also feels rushed considering all the buildup.
Overall, I’m so disappointed as excitement levels rise when you see a new Mary Kubica novel and it grieves me to rate her book this low. I still very much want to read what she comes up with next but in all honesty I don’t think this is up to her usual high standard.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
The nicest couples in question are Christian and Lily and Nina and Jake. Lily and Nina are teachers at the same high school and are good friends. One evening Christian arrives home to find newly pregnant Lily exhausted but it’s more than that as she seems fearful. The same night Jake fails to return home after the couple have an argument earlier in the day. Nina thinks he’s staying away to blow off steam but is that the case or is there more to it?
First of all, I am a big Mary Kubica fan but this is far from my favourite book of hers. I’m not keen on the way it’s written with very short, rather staccato sentences as it feels so basic from such a good author. There is irrelevant detail, repetition and some statements that frankly, make my eyes roll.
The characters are not especially well fleshed out and some dialogue between them isn’t good either which considering what’s occurring this feels very understated and underwhelming.
However, there are some moments of tension and a few decent twists that throw you off the expected track, as well as some good red herrings . Sadly though, the pace rarely rises much above a country amble and this plot deserves to be brisk. What can I say about the ending? It doesn’t wow me and it also feels rushed considering all the buildup.
Overall, I’m so disappointed as excitement levels rise when you see a new Mary Kubica novel and it grieves me to rate her book this low. I still very much want to read what she comes up with next but in all honesty I don’t think this is up to her usual high standard.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
April 13, 2023
This was a decent thriller with many false leads and red herrings - although I did guess correctly toward the end. I give it three stars because it wasn't anything really unique and all the characters were unlikeable idiots.
This is my third read by Mary Kubica and none have really been a rave, so I guess this author just does not mesh with me. I can't remember if this bothered me in the other novels, but here she does this thing that drives me crazy: she'll drag out a scene by describing completely mundane activities as if they are important, e.g:
The waitress brings our coffee. She puts the mugs on the table with a sugar bowl and little pot of cream. I add cream and sugar and taste the coffee to make sure it is to my liking, blowing on the coffee first so I don't burn myself.
Fascinating, right?! That's paraphrased because I don't feel like trying to find the passage in my audiobook, but I'm only slightly exaggerating. She does this over and over again. The pace of the book was good, but these descriptions would bog things down and I'd be muttering to myself, "Okay, Nina is opening a letter - we all know how that is done, so can we get ON with it?!"
Finally, the end seemed rushed and confusing to me, almost like they forgot to record the last chapter of the audiobook. If anyone has read this, and you know the answer to the following questions, please message me (so as not to add spoilers in the comments)!!
My unanswered questions/random observations/SPOILERS:
This is my third read by Mary Kubica and none have really been a rave, so I guess this author just does not mesh with me. I can't remember if this bothered me in the other novels, but here she does this thing that drives me crazy: she'll drag out a scene by describing completely mundane activities as if they are important, e.g:
The waitress brings our coffee. She puts the mugs on the table with a sugar bowl and little pot of cream. I add cream and sugar and taste the coffee to make sure it is to my liking, blowing on the coffee first so I don't burn myself.
Fascinating, right?! That's paraphrased because I don't feel like trying to find the passage in my audiobook, but I'm only slightly exaggerating. She does this over and over again. The pace of the book was good, but these descriptions would bog things down and I'd be muttering to myself, "Okay, Nina is opening a letter - we all know how that is done, so can we get ON with it?!"
Finally, the end seemed rushed and confusing to me, almost like they forgot to record the last chapter of the audiobook. If anyone has read this, and you know the answer to the following questions, please message me (so as not to add spoilers in the comments)!!
My unanswered questions/random observations/SPOILERS:
January 20, 2023
Per Wikipedia, five baseball players have hit grand slams in their first Major League times at bat:
1) Bill Duggleby (1898)
2) Jeremy Hermida (2005)
3) Kevin Kouzmanoff (2006)
4) Daniel Nava (2010)
5) Jerar Encarnación (2022)
Similar to the above five baseball players, Mary Kubica also hit a "grand slam" in her first time "at bat" with her debut novel "The Good Girl".
IMHO, "The Good Girl" was Mary Kubica's only book that she hit out of the park.
To the author's credit, it's not easy to replicate success.
Some of Mary Kubica's books have been better than others and, unfortunately, "Just the Nicest Couple" is not one of Mary Kubica's better books.
To the author's credit #2:
This book boasted a strong and compelling "Who killed the missing husband?" premise.
SO WHAT WENT WRONG?
The book suffered from one-dimensional characters, uneven pacing, and repetitive text.
Also, one of the couples in the book was pathetic and irritating. (Who talks to each other like that?)
The book shared the same exact ending as two other thrillers that I recently read and, therefore, I was easily able to guess who killed the dead husband.
I listened to the audiobook read by Brittany Pressley and Gary Tiedemann.
I always enjoy books with multiple narrators and both narrators did a fine job with the narration.
It's possible for authors to hit multiple "grand slams" and, therefore, I have not given up on Mary Kubica.
Instead, I have just adjusted my expectations.
2 stars, rounded up.
1) Bill Duggleby (1898)
2) Jeremy Hermida (2005)
3) Kevin Kouzmanoff (2006)
4) Daniel Nava (2010)
5) Jerar Encarnación (2022)
Similar to the above five baseball players, Mary Kubica also hit a "grand slam" in her first time "at bat" with her debut novel "The Good Girl".
IMHO, "The Good Girl" was Mary Kubica's only book that she hit out of the park.
To the author's credit, it's not easy to replicate success.
Some of Mary Kubica's books have been better than others and, unfortunately, "Just the Nicest Couple" is not one of Mary Kubica's better books.
To the author's credit #2:
This book boasted a strong and compelling "Who killed the missing husband?" premise.
SO WHAT WENT WRONG?
The book suffered from one-dimensional characters, uneven pacing, and repetitive text.
Also, one of the couples in the book was pathetic and irritating. (Who talks to each other like that?)
The book shared the same exact ending as two other thrillers that I recently read and, therefore, I was easily able to guess who killed the dead husband.
I listened to the audiobook read by Brittany Pressley and Gary Tiedemann.
I always enjoy books with multiple narrators and both narrators did a fine job with the narration.
It's possible for authors to hit multiple "grand slams" and, therefore, I have not given up on Mary Kubica.
Instead, I have just adjusted my expectations.
2 stars, rounded up.
December 21, 2022
I am a huge fan of Mary Kubica’s books since her first, The Good Girl. Just the Nicest Couple is her newest release and check this out: ⬇️
“Two couples, two close friends, one missing husband…
Jake Hayes is missing. This much is certain. At first, his wife, Nina, thinks he is blowing off steam at a friend’s house after their heated fight the night before. But then a day goes by. Two days. Five. And Jake is still nowhere to be found.
Lily Scott, Nina’s friend and coworker, thinks she may have been the last to see Jake before he went missing. After Lily confesses everything to her husband, Christian, the two decide that nobody can find out what happened leading up to Jake’s disappearance, especially not Nina. But Nina is out there looking for her husband, and she won’t stop until the truth is discovered.”
I remember that Mary Kubica was a teacher before she became a writer, and as someone works in education, too, that added an extra layer of authenticity to this story from the very beginning. This is a story of a deep betrayal, and how far people will go to hide the truth. It’s also about how the people you thought were friends can turn on a dime and become your most bitter enemy.
Full of lies and twists, twists and lies, and layers upon layers of deception, I was kept invested and guessing with suspense consistently building throughout.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
“Two couples, two close friends, one missing husband…
Jake Hayes is missing. This much is certain. At first, his wife, Nina, thinks he is blowing off steam at a friend’s house after their heated fight the night before. But then a day goes by. Two days. Five. And Jake is still nowhere to be found.
Lily Scott, Nina’s friend and coworker, thinks she may have been the last to see Jake before he went missing. After Lily confesses everything to her husband, Christian, the two decide that nobody can find out what happened leading up to Jake’s disappearance, especially not Nina. But Nina is out there looking for her husband, and she won’t stop until the truth is discovered.”
I remember that Mary Kubica was a teacher before she became a writer, and as someone works in education, too, that added an extra layer of authenticity to this story from the very beginning. This is a story of a deep betrayal, and how far people will go to hide the truth. It’s also about how the people you thought were friends can turn on a dime and become your most bitter enemy.
Full of lies and twists, twists and lies, and layers upon layers of deception, I was kept invested and guessing with suspense consistently building throughout.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
September 8, 2023
2 stars.
Started off strong and slowly turned into an eye-roller.
This author has had some amazing winners for me and some duds. Unfortunately this fell into the latter category.
This book follows two couples. One of the husbands goes missing and we follow the aftermath of his disappearance.
I enjoyed the dual perspective chapters of both characters, one from each couple. They each had interesting back stories and added layers of intrigue and mystery to the story.
A third of the way into this book, the plot became unrealistic, which I can handle in small doses. As I read further along, the book became more and more far fetched and I ended up skimming the last quarter. I didn’t buy into anything that was happening. The characters thoughts and decisions didn’t ring true and lacked natural ease.
This one didn’t work out for me but I highly recommend this authors’ others books, Local Woman Missing and When The Lights Go Out. Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!
Started off strong and slowly turned into an eye-roller.
This author has had some amazing winners for me and some duds. Unfortunately this fell into the latter category.
This book follows two couples. One of the husbands goes missing and we follow the aftermath of his disappearance.
I enjoyed the dual perspective chapters of both characters, one from each couple. They each had interesting back stories and added layers of intrigue and mystery to the story.
A third of the way into this book, the plot became unrealistic, which I can handle in small doses. As I read further along, the book became more and more far fetched and I ended up skimming the last quarter. I didn’t buy into anything that was happening. The characters thoughts and decisions didn’t ring true and lacked natural ease.
This one didn’t work out for me but I highly recommend this authors’ others books, Local Woman Missing and When The Lights Go Out. Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!
March 21, 2023
the setup…
Lily and Christian Scott are a happily married couple expecting their first child. She’s a high school algebra teacher and he’s a market research analyst, living comfortably but nervous about her high risk pregnancy. Their world gets turned upside down, though, when Lily shares a disturbing encounter with Jake Hayes, the husband of her friend and fellow teacher Nina. Lily was determined to put the incident behind her until she learned that day that Jake never returned home the night before. Nina thinks he’s still miffed about their own argument; Lily’s not so sure. When Jake fails to return after several days, she and Christian go down a perilous path in an effort to protect themselves.
the heart of the story…
A typical Kubica story has you questioning just about everything you know throughout and this one had me doing that to the nth degree. It’s told from Christian and Nina’s points of view, both of them somewhat reliant on the accounts of others. Jake is a successful neurosurgeon but Nina knows very little about his work family. All that Christian knows is from Lily’s perspective and the story transitions between the two narratives. Of course I questioned whether I could rely on the narrators and those around them. I loved the back and forth, particularly when Christian would share his “reimagined” behaviors as that kept me even more off balance.
the narration…
I enjoyed the two narrators and at first I thought I leaned more towards the performance for Nina. But, the storytelling for Christian’s narrative was what had me mesmerized as the story progressed. No matter, as both delivered fine performances.
the bottom line…
Overall, I enjoyed the story as it kept me engaged and I vacillated between Jake being dead or alive, Lily being culpable or not, or someone else being involved. I developed quite a few theories before I settled into one. I came close but still missed the mark. This was a very entertaining story, even though I found some of the things Christian did a bit of a stretch. Everything else, including the audio performance, worked for me. 3.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
Lily and Christian Scott are a happily married couple expecting their first child. She’s a high school algebra teacher and he’s a market research analyst, living comfortably but nervous about her high risk pregnancy. Their world gets turned upside down, though, when Lily shares a disturbing encounter with Jake Hayes, the husband of her friend and fellow teacher Nina. Lily was determined to put the incident behind her until she learned that day that Jake never returned home the night before. Nina thinks he’s still miffed about their own argument; Lily’s not so sure. When Jake fails to return after several days, she and Christian go down a perilous path in an effort to protect themselves.
the heart of the story…
A typical Kubica story has you questioning just about everything you know throughout and this one had me doing that to the nth degree. It’s told from Christian and Nina’s points of view, both of them somewhat reliant on the accounts of others. Jake is a successful neurosurgeon but Nina knows very little about his work family. All that Christian knows is from Lily’s perspective and the story transitions between the two narratives. Of course I questioned whether I could rely on the narrators and those around them. I loved the back and forth, particularly when Christian would share his “reimagined” behaviors as that kept me even more off balance.
the narration…
I enjoyed the two narrators and at first I thought I leaned more towards the performance for Nina. But, the storytelling for Christian’s narrative was what had me mesmerized as the story progressed. No matter, as both delivered fine performances.
the bottom line…
Overall, I enjoyed the story as it kept me engaged and I vacillated between Jake being dead or alive, Lily being culpable or not, or someone else being involved. I developed quite a few theories before I settled into one. I came close but still missed the mark. This was a very entertaining story, even though I found some of the things Christian did a bit of a stretch. Everything else, including the audio performance, worked for me. 3.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
March 28, 2023
On a positive note, this book is a quick read. Unfortunately, Just the Nicest Couple, was not the book for me. I struggled with just about every aspect of it and that's disappointing because I have enjoyed other books by Mary Kubica.
I'll just cut to the chase and say the plot revolves around a missing husband. It reads like a first draft in that the potential is here for a good story but needed more work before publication. The writing was off, the characters were dumb, and by the time I got to the ending, which was average at best, I was pretty much checked out at that point.
Local Woman Missing and The Good Girl are better showcases of the writer's talent in my opinion.
I'll just cut to the chase and say the plot revolves around a missing husband. It reads like a first draft in that the potential is here for a good story but needed more work before publication. The writing was off, the characters were dumb, and by the time I got to the ending, which was average at best, I was pretty much checked out at that point.
Local Woman Missing and The Good Girl are better showcases of the writer's talent in my opinion.
August 30, 2023
I enjoyed the reading experience but every anticipated climax was met with a 'coulda-guessed-it- plot twist.
It's fast paced and fun in some aspects but also basic and underwhelming in others.
I think readers who are newer to the thriller/mystery genre will really like this. But those who're more seasoned won't.
It's fast paced and fun in some aspects but also basic and underwhelming in others.
I think readers who are newer to the thriller/mystery genre will really like this. But those who're more seasoned won't.
January 24, 2023
Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica is a domestic thriller novel. The story in Just the Nicest Couple is one that is told mainly by alternating the point of view between two of the characters with a little flashing back to the past too.
Jake Hayes is missing. Jake’s wife Nina thinks it’s due to a fight the couple had and confesses as much to her coworker Lily. Lily however may have been the last person to see Jake and confesses to her husband Christian. Christian only wants to protect Lily and their unborn child Lily is carrying so he knows Nina cannot find out the truth.
Mary Kubica is an author that I feel a lot of readers find a bit hit or miss, including myself. Just the Nicest Couple seems to be right down that alley with some loving it and some not so much but I found this one highly compelling with the set up of knowing something happened but waiting for the twist that I knew would come. The tension of what and when drew me in and had this one falling in at four and a half stars for me.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Jake Hayes is missing. Jake’s wife Nina thinks it’s due to a fight the couple had and confesses as much to her coworker Lily. Lily however may have been the last person to see Jake and confesses to her husband Christian. Christian only wants to protect Lily and their unborn child Lily is carrying so he knows Nina cannot find out the truth.
Mary Kubica is an author that I feel a lot of readers find a bit hit or miss, including myself. Just the Nicest Couple seems to be right down that alley with some loving it and some not so much but I found this one highly compelling with the set up of knowing something happened but waiting for the twist that I knew would come. The tension of what and when drew me in and had this one falling in at four and a half stars for me.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
September 2, 2024
3.5 Stars
How well do you really know your friends?
Nina is devastated by her husband's disappearance and turns to her friend and coworker, Lily, for comfort. Little does she know that Lily was one of the last people to see him alive. This revelation adds an intriguing layer to the story, keeping readers engaged. While there were some predictable twists due to excessive foreshadowing, the book was still an entertaining read.
How well do you really know your friends?
Nina is devastated by her husband's disappearance and turns to her friend and coworker, Lily, for comfort. Little does she know that Lily was one of the last people to see him alive. This revelation adds an intriguing layer to the story, keeping readers engaged. While there were some predictable twists due to excessive foreshadowing, the book was still an entertaining read.
January 13, 2025
This is the third Mary Kubica book I’ve read and probably my least favourite so far but I still did really enjoy it!!
I feel like the middle dragged a little more than Kubica’s typical reads as this one was a lot more suspense (and blimey I really felt like I was there with these characters at some points) than twists.
The final twist was great but I did guess it this time. Not my fave Mary Kubica but still a big recommend.
If you haven’t read anything by this author yet I definitely recommend She's Not Sorryand Local Woman Missing⭐
I feel like the middle dragged a little more than Kubica’s typical reads as this one was a lot more suspense (and blimey I really felt like I was there with these characters at some points) than twists.
The final twist was great but I did guess it this time. Not my fave Mary Kubica but still a big recommend.
If you haven’t read anything by this author yet I definitely recommend She's Not Sorryand Local Woman Missing⭐
June 3, 2022
Another winner from Mary Kubica. Don't miss it!!
March 1, 2023
Absolutely recommend the audio for this one, the narrator was wonderful! The plot was not. I think me and Kubica have to break up :(
January 13, 2023
Just what constitutes a "nice" couple.
Christian and Lily are the nicest couple until something happens and they turn into a couple who would do anything to save themselves no matter who they hurt.
We meet Christian and Lily both happily married and friends of Jake and Nina whose marriage isn't all that happy.
Lily and Nina met at the school where they teach, and both couples became close.
One day Jake never returned home, and Nina thinks it's because of the fight they had, but Jake doesn't answer his phone and doesn't come home.
Where could he be? Lily might know since she was the last one to see him alive, but no one knows that.
JUST THE NICEST COUPLE had me completely engaged, and I couldn't wait to get back to the book.
Secrets are kept, lies abound, and lots of twists and turns in Ms. Kubica's newest thriller that you won't want to miss if you are a fan.
It's a good one!! 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
Christian and Lily are the nicest couple until something happens and they turn into a couple who would do anything to save themselves no matter who they hurt.
We meet Christian and Lily both happily married and friends of Jake and Nina whose marriage isn't all that happy.
Lily and Nina met at the school where they teach, and both couples became close.
One day Jake never returned home, and Nina thinks it's because of the fight they had, but Jake doesn't answer his phone and doesn't come home.
Where could he be? Lily might know since she was the last one to see him alive, but no one knows that.
JUST THE NICEST COUPLE had me completely engaged, and I couldn't wait to get back to the book.
Secrets are kept, lies abound, and lots of twists and turns in Ms. Kubica's newest thriller that you won't want to miss if you are a fan.
It's a good one!! 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
January 11, 2023
After seeing all the mixed reviews about this book I still picked it up, because it's freakin Mary Kubica! Well, I concur that the writing style and format is very different from what we usually see from a Kubica novel. It came across as short scripted and seemed very detailed at some parts. But putting that aside, I really liked the story, plot and that amazing twist at the end. So 4 stars for looking the other way, because I still enjoyed it!
January 27, 2023
3.5 stars, rounded down. While not my personal favorite of Kubrica’s, it was a pretty decent read - a bit slow to start, but came together satisfying at the end, almost a bit rushed. Pacing sorely needed!
February 6, 2023
Nina and Jake Hayes have just had the worst fight of their marriage, one that has recently been marred by just a few too many disagreements. But this was the kind of quarrel where hurtful words, the kind that cause lasting injury and can’t be taken back, were exchanged. So when Jake doesn’t come home the following night, she just assumes he’s being spiteful, too angry to look at her right now, and checked into some posh hotel in town. The following day, however, he still hasn’t come home. Or returned any of her calls or texts. Yet it isn’t until she gets a phone call from the hospital where Jake works as a neurosurgeon that she begins to truly begin to worry. And by then she hasn’t seen him in three days.
Meanwhile, Lily Scott, Nina’s friend and fellow teacher, has been acting oddly around her husband, Christian. Nervous and distant, he finds her staring off into space when he gets home from work one evening. But she refuses to say anything about what has pushed her to the edge. Afraid to prod, he lets her be until the following day when Lily asks him to leave work early. Something is clearly wrong.
Walking into their living room, he sees in an instant that his gut was right. Lily finally divulges the whole truth: that she believes she was the last person to see Jake before he disappeared. Together, they agree that this should be kept between the two of them. No one, especially Nina, should learn what she knows.
Nina, however, after taking her concerns to the police, feels that they aren’t taking Jake’s disappearance as seriously as she believes they should. She decides that if they won’t discover what has become of her husband, then she will. But the deeper she digs, the closer she gets to the secret that the Scotts are protecting. So Lily and Christian do the only thing they feel they can and begin to put more space between Lily and what they believe happened to him. But will this all actually be their undoing in the end? Step by step each makes their move. The only question that remains is: who will get to checkmate first?
Having read the reviews before beginning Just the Nicest Couple, I learned that its reception was incredibly mixed. After finishing, I now know why. Because between the Good and the Bad of this novel (of which there were both), it was still a story I, for the most part, really enjoyed reading. So, while the storyline was addictive and relatively unputdownable, little things did eat at me throughout. Aspects that repetitively rankled and left me disappointed in this highly anticipated new release. Let me explain.
Told in dual mostly alternating POVs, each narrator (Christian and Nina) caused me mild irritation. Despite both having very real motivations behind their deeds, some of their reactions and thoughts were uncomfortably melodramatic. Nina in her naivety and Christian with his pinballing emotional state. But, while I found them difficult to swallow, I have never been in either’s shoes with regards to what they were experiencing and so their thoughts and reactions could very well have been authentic and true-to-life. It just didn’t read like it was for me.
All of this being said, however, I found myself firmly choosing one side of their matched wits (or sometimes lack of them) as they each made moves to achieve their goals. So I obviously connected with them even if I found myself saying “Wait, what?!” one too many times at their seriously stupid decision making. You’ll see what I mean when you read the book (don’t want to elaborate and ruin the plot) as I definitely recommend it if the synopsis sounds intriguing.
The second big hang-up was how little happened within the plot for a large chunk of the book. I kept waiting for what I hear is Mary Kubica’s trademark mind-blowing twist and, while there certainly was one (and it was positively earth-shattering), it came at the last minute, leaving very little time to explore the ramifications of what happened. Equally, I wasn’t thrilled with the ending despite how it satisfactorily resolved all of the remaining hanging threads of the story. I guess I was simply hoping for a little, well, more.
All of this, however, don’t keep me from truly loving this book. Because the game of chess performed between the two sides revolved around some deadly serious lies and secrets. Many that made me shake my head in frustration, but also hungrily turn the page all at the same time. Plus, I found plenty of great twists (which I sometimes sadly predicted but enjoyed nonetheless) filled with red herrings as well as some truly superb tension.
After all is said and done, Kubica is quite obviously a talented writer. So, while I didn’t love or hate Just the Nicest Couple, the ride it took me on was one that I look forward to repeating with the author’s other highly regarded books. Now I just need to pick my poison. Any suggestions? Rating of 3.5 stars.
Trigger warning: miscarriage, cancer, vision loss, fertility problems, possible attempted rape, physical assault, PTSD, controlling relationship, breaking and entering
Meanwhile, Lily Scott, Nina’s friend and fellow teacher, has been acting oddly around her husband, Christian. Nervous and distant, he finds her staring off into space when he gets home from work one evening. But she refuses to say anything about what has pushed her to the edge. Afraid to prod, he lets her be until the following day when Lily asks him to leave work early. Something is clearly wrong.
Walking into their living room, he sees in an instant that his gut was right. Lily finally divulges the whole truth: that she believes she was the last person to see Jake before he disappeared. Together, they agree that this should be kept between the two of them. No one, especially Nina, should learn what she knows.
Nina, however, after taking her concerns to the police, feels that they aren’t taking Jake’s disappearance as seriously as she believes they should. She decides that if they won’t discover what has become of her husband, then she will. But the deeper she digs, the closer she gets to the secret that the Scotts are protecting. So Lily and Christian do the only thing they feel they can and begin to put more space between Lily and what they believe happened to him. But will this all actually be their undoing in the end? Step by step each makes their move. The only question that remains is: who will get to checkmate first?
Having read the reviews before beginning Just the Nicest Couple, I learned that its reception was incredibly mixed. After finishing, I now know why. Because between the Good and the Bad of this novel (of which there were both), it was still a story I, for the most part, really enjoyed reading. So, while the storyline was addictive and relatively unputdownable, little things did eat at me throughout. Aspects that repetitively rankled and left me disappointed in this highly anticipated new release. Let me explain.
Told in dual mostly alternating POVs, each narrator (Christian and Nina) caused me mild irritation. Despite both having very real motivations behind their deeds, some of their reactions and thoughts were uncomfortably melodramatic. Nina in her naivety and Christian with his pinballing emotional state. But, while I found them difficult to swallow, I have never been in either’s shoes with regards to what they were experiencing and so their thoughts and reactions could very well have been authentic and true-to-life. It just didn’t read like it was for me.
All of this being said, however, I found myself firmly choosing one side of their matched wits (or sometimes lack of them) as they each made moves to achieve their goals. So I obviously connected with them even if I found myself saying “Wait, what?!” one too many times at their seriously stupid decision making. You’ll see what I mean when you read the book (don’t want to elaborate and ruin the plot) as I definitely recommend it if the synopsis sounds intriguing.
The second big hang-up was how little happened within the plot for a large chunk of the book. I kept waiting for what I hear is Mary Kubica’s trademark mind-blowing twist and, while there certainly was one (and it was positively earth-shattering), it came at the last minute, leaving very little time to explore the ramifications of what happened. Equally, I wasn’t thrilled with the ending despite how it satisfactorily resolved all of the remaining hanging threads of the story. I guess I was simply hoping for a little, well, more.
All of this, however, don’t keep me from truly loving this book. Because the game of chess performed between the two sides revolved around some deadly serious lies and secrets. Many that made me shake my head in frustration, but also hungrily turn the page all at the same time. Plus, I found plenty of great twists (which I sometimes sadly predicted but enjoyed nonetheless) filled with red herrings as well as some truly superb tension.
After all is said and done, Kubica is quite obviously a talented writer. So, while I didn’t love or hate Just the Nicest Couple, the ride it took me on was one that I look forward to repeating with the author’s other highly regarded books. Now I just need to pick my poison. Any suggestions? Rating of 3.5 stars.
Trigger warning: miscarriage, cancer, vision loss, fertility problems, possible attempted rape, physical assault, PTSD, controlling relationship, breaking and entering
January 10, 2023
Lily is a math teacher--exhausted by spending her days teaching math to teenagers. Her husband, Christian, a market analyst, is especially worried about her as she's pregnant again after several miscarriages. One day he comes home to find Lily staring out into the backyard--and she tells him of an encounter at a local forest preserve with the husband of her close friend, Nina, also a teacher. Nina's husband, Jake Hayes, is a surgeon. And now he's missing.
Honestly, this was a strange thriller. It seemed to be told from a weird simplistic writing style that often felt repetitive--yes, we know Lily is pregnant. Yes we know Christian would do anything to protect Lily. Yes Nina's mom is suffering from an illness, etc. It's hard to explain, but I felt like I was reading the same snippets over and over.
Basically, Lily feels she did something, Christian goes all wild trying to protect her, Jake is missing, and Nina freaks out, because they fought before he disappeared. Who is telling the truth--anyone, everyone? Christian irritated me with his impulsive doltish ways, Nina needed to stand up for herself, and even Lily got to me after a while. And Jake seemed to have no redeeming qualities and could stay missing for all I cared. One of the twists was a pretty decent surprise; the other one not so much. An odd read overall. 3 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Park Row in return for an unbiased review.
Honestly, this was a strange thriller. It seemed to be told from a weird simplistic writing style that often felt repetitive--yes, we know Lily is pregnant. Yes we know Christian would do anything to protect Lily. Yes Nina's mom is suffering from an illness, etc. It's hard to explain, but I felt like I was reading the same snippets over and over.
Basically, Lily feels she did something, Christian goes all wild trying to protect her, Jake is missing, and Nina freaks out, because they fought before he disappeared. Who is telling the truth--anyone, everyone? Christian irritated me with his impulsive doltish ways, Nina needed to stand up for herself, and even Lily got to me after a while. And Jake seemed to have no redeeming qualities and could stay missing for all I cared. One of the twists was a pretty decent surprise; the other one not so much. An odd read overall. 3 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Park Row in return for an unbiased review.
February 6, 2023
I read this book in only a few hours. I found the story to be engrossing and quick. It wasn’t twisty in the typical way thrillers are, but it was a fun story with twists all the same. I wasn’t really surprised by the ending. Nina and her husband Jake have a fight on Monday, but he doesn’t come home that day or the day after or the day after that. Lily saw Jake at the park on Monday and is terrified that she will be a suspect once she realizes Jake never came home. The book is told in two parts Nina’s perspective and Christian, Lily’s husband. I thought the choice to have Christian instead of Lily was interesting and I ended up liking it.
November 23, 2022
Nina Hayes’ husband, Jake, is missing. At first she thinks he is just cooling down after a fight they had, but after several days go by, this is less and less likely to be the explanation. Nina’s friend, Lily, ends up being the last one to see Jake alive. Lily confides in her husband the truth about Jake, and they agree to withhold information together. Will Nina ever get to the bottom of her husband’s disappearance?
Mary Kubica is one of my favorite authors and I have read all of her back catalog. I have literally loved each and every book by this author. So I was thrilled to read her latest work, JUST THE NICEST COUPLE. It sounded like something I would enjoy, and I really did. Kubica has done it again and created a brilliant mystery for you to try and solve. I was not able to predict the final twist, but I loved it!
Many thanks to Park Row Books and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
Mary Kubica is one of my favorite authors and I have read all of her back catalog. I have literally loved each and every book by this author. So I was thrilled to read her latest work, JUST THE NICEST COUPLE. It sounded like something I would enjoy, and I really did. Kubica has done it again and created a brilliant mystery for you to try and solve. I was not able to predict the final twist, but I loved it!
Many thanks to Park Row Books and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
March 16, 2023
Repetitive writing
Flat story development
Predictable twists
Would not recommend
Flat story development
Predictable twists
Would not recommend
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