Group Read - The Golden Couple Spoiler Welcome to the end

[Ann]

Spoilers Welcome topic for Greer Hendricks's The Golden Couple .
Please note how far in the book you have covered when posting.

[Carol/Bonadie]

I just finished this and I'd better comment on it before I forget it. These will be comments to the end so spoilers ahoy!
************
I was intrigued by the concept of a therapist operating without a license (which she lost by an action in service of her client that was outside the bound of professional decorum). I initially couldn't tell if she was a good guy or a rogue bad guy but after attending an interview by the authors I got that she was a good guy. Some of the attendees wanted to see another book with Avery as the lead; I'm not so sure. I wound up liking her (especially since she was clever enough to save the day at the end) but I'm not sure I see her as the lead in a series.

There were a few red herrings leading me in the opposite direction of the stalker (Skip! Polly! the snooty Mom at Beckett's school who had eyes for Matthew! Chris!) but eventually all was revealed. I should have realized Matthew was too good to be true in the way he recovered from Marissa's infidelity but I bought into their reconciliation hook, line and sinker. It was weird how all the characters seemed to tie together but it made sense at the end. I keep telling myself I'm going to stop reading "women in jeopardy" thrillers but I keep getting sucked in. I guess the tale was pretty well told, it kept me guessing.

[Dustin]

I just reserved a copy from the library so we will see….we can start this anytime? I currently have two books already going so I wanted to make sure I was free to go a ahead an start this or do I need to wait?

[Kathryn in FL]

I thought this was a terrific read. I was disturbed by Amber's technique's.

@Carol/Bonadie has summarized all the things I experienced.

As the story unwinds at the end, I couldn't believe that I had bought most of the red herrings. However, Matthew's responses were signaling much more going on though I didn't see all of it.

[Ann]

Dustin, yes you may start anytime!! It is so good, enjoy! By the way this thread will contain spoilers, so watch out for those before you finish the book. The No Spoiler thread is here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Dustin wrote: "I just reserved a copy from the library so we will see….we can start this anytime? I currently have two books already going so I wanted to make sure I was free to go a ahead an start this or do I n..."

[Ann]

Carol: how great you found an author event on this book; did the two authors talk about the co-writing? (How they did it, why, etc.?)
~~~Spoilers
~~~to
~~~the
~~~End
I also couldn't figure out if Avery was a "good" or "bad" character. She certainly wouldn't qualify as a 'good' therapist, the rules are there for a good reason; but I did understand her motive when she called in the anonymous tip.

[Sherry]

i hosted them at an event before covid- they write all their books on google docs and share back and forth. i think they said they also do "hotel writing retreats". Greer Hendricks was an editor at Simon & Shuster and if I remember correctly, Sarah Pekkanen was one of her authors.

[Carol/Bonadie]

Sherry's got it right. One of them suggested cowriting and they just hit it off. As Sherry said they write together, not one does one chapter and the other does another. This is not their first book and they seem fairly popular. I forget how they came up with the idea. I should go back to taking notes when I attend these events; it's even easier when you're virtual!

[Carol/Bonadie]

It took me awhile to trust Avery -- she was a bit reckless for my taste. When I first read about the book I was afraid she was going to wind up sleeping with the husband -- so glad we didn't go down that road!

[Ann]

Carol: I wouldn't have been surprised (re: Matthew) since Avery had irretrievably abandoned the 'rules' of a therapist already with no regret. I never got the impression she was interested in Matthew, but just about everything else happened. ha.
Did I ever trust her? Not completely. In the end I knew her heart was in the right direction, if not the right place, but her recklessness was startling.

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "It took me awhile to trust Avery -- she was a bit reckless for my taste. When I first read about the book I was afraid she was going to wind up sleeping with the husband -- so glad we didn't go dow..."

[Ann]

Sherry and Carol: How interesting! The process of co-writing a book is fascinating to me. I wonder if they write series books (could be a clue as to the possibility of Avery popping up again.)
About three quarters in Avery's role as an unconventional investigator made me wonder about the viability of a series. (Not necessarily the desire for continuation though)

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Sherry's got it right. One of them suggested cowriting and they just hit it off. As Sherry said they write together, not one does one chapter and the other does another. This is not their first book..."

Sherry wrote: "i hosted them at an event before covid- they write all their books on google docs and share back and forth. i think they said they also do "hotel writing retreats". Greer Hendricks was an editor at Simon & Shuster and if I remember correctly, Sarah Pekkanen was one of her authors.."

[Ann]

Kathryn: agreed, I listened on audio, and it was over a weekend where I had plenty of binge listening time, so I finished it fast. The speed allowed me to just "go with the flow" and the red herrings were accepted at face value as they came flying by - I didn't have time to consider the merits of one before there was another and I just had to say, "what??" (Over and over) and move on to the next idea. LOL.

Kathryn in FL wrote: "As the story unwinds at the end, I couldn't believe that I had bought most of the red herrings. However, Matthew's responses were signaling much more going on though I didn't see all of it."

[Ann]

~~~Spoilers
~~~to
~~~the
~~~End
Not only was I unsure what I thought of Avery from the start, Matthew and Marissa didn't initially draw me in as a couple that should stay together. Avery had watched Marissa closely in the beginning to be sure Matthew wasn't abusive and instead Marissa drew attention to herself with her evasions and omissions which led Avery to question everything from either point of view.
Marissa's motivation for engaging a package of therapy always seemed off to me.
In retrospect Matthew's about face and capitulation to loving Dad and husband was an abrupt switch that perhaps was reluctance to delve too deeply into his own extra marital activities.
I started to wonder if Avery was going to have to abandon her ten-part program - this couple and the last were not playing by her rules.

[Ceelee]

(sigh) I am sorry to report I didn't like The Golden Couple. I was excited to read it because I had read The Anonymous Girl last year and really liked it. This story seemed flat the whole time. There were little hints of suspense but the characters were basically bland. Ooooo somebody sent flowers. Must be the homeless guy. in love with Marissa! (what? He's HOMELESS) Ooooo Marisa's assistant Poloy is secretive and wearing Marisa's earrings! . Must be in love with Matthew! She's doing all this! Polly was just one red headed herring. The anniversary dinner thing was nothing. And all of it was just another love triangle which are a dime a dozen. I didn't even think Tina's death was really necessary to the plot. Sure, it got that guy out of prison because he was serving time for her murder but still...I didn't see the point.
Sorry for the rant. It's Shark Week.

[Ann]

Ceelee: I love your Polly comment! (One red headed herring) priceless!! I hadn't heard of The Anonymous Girl before. Liking that one would raise expectations. Shark week!
Ceelee wrote: "(sigh) I am sorry to report I didn't like The Golden Couple. I was excited to read it because I had read The Anonymous Girl last year and really liked it. This story seemed flat the whole time. Polly was just one red headed herring. >/b>
..."

[Sue Ellen]

I read this book on the advice of a friend who knows me pretty Well. I found Avery kind of prickly and Marissa kind of winey at first but as I read I really enjoyed the story and I never saw the ending coming, not the part about Matthew or his father.

[Ann]

Sue Ellen, I think the ending snuck up on most of us. I suppose I was suspicious of all of them at one time or another as the clues were revealed and the story unfolded, but I was surprised. :)

Sue Ellen wrote: "I read this book on the advice of a friend who knows me pretty Well. I found Avery kind of prickly and Marissa kind of winey at first but as I read I really enjoyed the story and I never saw the ending coming..."