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The Perfect Couple

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2018

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Book Brief

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Elin Hilderbrand

The Perfect Couple

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2018
Book Details
Pages

496

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Nantucket, Massachusetts • Contemporary

Publication Year

2018

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand, the narrative follows the unraveling of secrets after a maid of honor is found dead on the morning of a high-profile Nantucket wedding. Chief Ed Kapenash's investigation reveals tangled relationships, hidden affairs, and family secrets among the wedding party members, culminating in a web of deceit and unspoken truths. The book includes themes of terminal illness and infidelity.

Suspenseful

Mysterious

Emotional

Romantic

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand masterfully blends romance and mystery, set against Nantucket's picturesque backdrop. Readers praised its engaging plot and well-developed characters. However, some felt the story was predictable and the resolution unsatisfying. Despite minor flaws, Hilderbrand's evocative writing makes it a compelling summer read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Perfect Couple?

Readers who enjoy The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand typically appreciate intricately woven family dramas and suspenseful, beachside mysteries. Fans of Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies and Mary Alice Monroe’s The Beach House series will find this novel equally captivating for its engaging storytelling and rich, character-driven plots.

Character List

Celeste Otis

A 28-year-old zoologist and assistant director of the Bronx Zoo, known for her golden hair and blue eyes, who navigates personal and romantic challenges that lead to significant personal growth.

A wealthy, thoughtful corporate social responsibility professional at Nomura Holdings, part of the admired "perfect couple" in the novel, facing a journey of introspection and understanding privilege.

An influencer and fashion lover whose private struggles contrast sharply with her public persona, highlighting the theme of appearances versus reality.

A strikingly handsome, self-made entrepreneur who engages in a complex love triangle, bridging different social worlds with his dual insider-outsider perspective on wealth.

A successful murder mystery writer and core family figure, embodying the intersection of privilege and the traditional societal expectations regarding marriage and wealth.

A charismatic figure whose wealth and privilege shield him from the consequences of his actions, epitomizing male privilege and serving as a key antagonist of the story.

The earnest and principled Chief of Police tasked with investigating a suspicious death, representing moral authority and integrity in a morally complex social landscape.

Book Details
Pages

496

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Nantucket, Massachusetts • Contemporary

Publication Year

2018

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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