What do you think?
Rate this book
The Perfect Couple: A totally addictive psychological thriller with a shocking twist
AN ADDICTIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER WITH A STUNNING CLIMAX.
Rob is not the man I married. And even my own mother is keeping things from me. She’s on his side. However deep the lies are buried, I must find the truth, no matter how horrifying it is.
We moved from Minnesota to a beautiful house in the English countryside. A year away was meant to be the perfect fresh start.
As soon as we arrive, I get a bad vibe. Despite the charming period features, the house is dark and cold. When the taxi driver pulls away, he warns ‘ whatever you do, don’t believe the rumours .’
Our first morning there, Rob brings me croissants in bed and I think maybe this will work, maybe we can be happy here.
Then it begins.
Strange noises coming from the woods.
In the garden, I feel like I’m being watched.
Then I see him. The little boy.
Rob tells me there’s no one there. That I’m crazy. That I’m going to ruin the last chance we have to make our marriage work.
But he’s lying.
This gripping thriller is perfect for fans of Anya Mora, Freida McFadden, Claire McGowan, Daniel Hurst, Hailey Smith, Shari Lapena and Shalini Boland.
PRAISE FOR JANE
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I would never ever have guessed the plot would take the course that it did . . . Fantastic!’ Mrs S. Denny
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘McLoughlin's beautiful writing had me forcing myself to slow down so that I could savour the words.’ C. Gourlay
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A great read’ S. Camp
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I'll definitely be looking out for more work from Jane McLoughlin, I simply loved this’ R. McCaffrey
Rob is not the man I married. And even my own mother is keeping things from me. She’s on his side. However deep the lies are buried, I must find the truth, no matter how horrifying it is.
We moved from Minnesota to a beautiful house in the English countryside. A year away was meant to be the perfect fresh start.
As soon as we arrive, I get a bad vibe. Despite the charming period features, the house is dark and cold. When the taxi driver pulls away, he warns ‘ whatever you do, don’t believe the rumours .’
Our first morning there, Rob brings me croissants in bed and I think maybe this will work, maybe we can be happy here.
Then it begins.
Strange noises coming from the woods.
In the garden, I feel like I’m being watched.
Then I see him. The little boy.
Rob tells me there’s no one there. That I’m crazy. That I’m going to ruin the last chance we have to make our marriage work.
But he’s lying.
This gripping thriller is perfect for fans of Anya Mora, Freida McFadden, Claire McGowan, Daniel Hurst, Hailey Smith, Shari Lapena and Shalini Boland.
PRAISE FOR JANE
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I would never ever have guessed the plot would take the course that it did . . . Fantastic!’ Mrs S. Denny
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘McLoughlin's beautiful writing had me forcing myself to slow down so that I could savour the words.’ C. Gourlay
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A great read’ S. Camp
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I'll definitely be looking out for more work from Jane McLoughlin, I simply loved this’ R. McCaffrey
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 14, 2024
245 people are currently reading
303 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
February 20, 2024
This would have been more entertaining had it not featured a whiny man-boy and his idiotic door mat wife as main characters. Seriously, they were irritating and I was pulled out of the story time and time again by the douche or the idiot.
I mostly stayed reading because I wanted to know if there was something supernatural going on or not. I won’t spoil that – I’ll just say that the way the plot played out was surprisingly satisfying.
I only wish that there was at least one character I actually liked.
An okay read.
• ARC via Publisher
I mostly stayed reading because I wanted to know if there was something supernatural going on or not. I won’t spoil that – I’ll just say that the way the plot played out was surprisingly satisfying.
I only wish that there was at least one character I actually liked.
An okay read.
• ARC via Publisher
March 17, 2024
Wow!
This was the perfect psychological thriller and had me totally gripped from start to finish!
It's the first book that I've read from this author but even the cover drew me right in and I knew I was going to love it!
When Rob is offered a teaching post in a University, he and Jacey pack up their lives in Minnesota and head to the beautiful English countryside.
Recent struggles in their marriage also mean that this could be the ideal fresh start for them.
But things start to go wrong when Jacey starts to hear and see things that others don't!
The whole premise of this sounded so good - not only do we have the great psychological element - what on earth is going on with Rob and how is all this connected to Jacey's mum - but also this strange paranormal element that totally had me on the edge of my seat!
I absolutely didn't get on with Rob - maybe because I'd read the blurb....but right from the start I had this bad feeling about him and had a real distrust around him!
Jacey, however, I really warmed to and felt so sorry for her.
It's bad enough going through this - but to also have no support and more than that, have the people you should be able to rely on the most, turn against you!
This was so fast paced and totally creepy that I just couldn't put it down - I read this over the course of one day and then felt a bit bereft to be honest - not that I needed more story.... Just that it had been such a great read!
This was the perfect psychological thriller and had me totally gripped from start to finish!
It's the first book that I've read from this author but even the cover drew me right in and I knew I was going to love it!
When Rob is offered a teaching post in a University, he and Jacey pack up their lives in Minnesota and head to the beautiful English countryside.
Recent struggles in their marriage also mean that this could be the ideal fresh start for them.
But things start to go wrong when Jacey starts to hear and see things that others don't!
The whole premise of this sounded so good - not only do we have the great psychological element - what on earth is going on with Rob and how is all this connected to Jacey's mum - but also this strange paranormal element that totally had me on the edge of my seat!
I absolutely didn't get on with Rob - maybe because I'd read the blurb....but right from the start I had this bad feeling about him and had a real distrust around him!
Jacey, however, I really warmed to and felt so sorry for her.
It's bad enough going through this - but to also have no support and more than that, have the people you should be able to rely on the most, turn against you!
This was so fast paced and totally creepy that I just couldn't put it down - I read this over the course of one day and then felt a bit bereft to be honest - not that I needed more story.... Just that it had been such a great read!
March 15, 2024
This is a super slow burn mystery/thriller. It is heavy on internal psychological dialogue. There is very little interpersonal interaction.
Definitely good if you’re looking for a slower style read.
I did not connect with any of the characters but in this book that didn’t seem to bother me. It had a feeling of being almost removed from the story.
Unfortunately I could see the twist coming from a mile away. But it would be hard not to in this type of story.
Definitely good if you’re looking for a slower style read.
I did not connect with any of the characters but in this book that didn’t seem to bother me. It had a feeling of being almost removed from the story.
Unfortunately I could see the twist coming from a mile away. But it would be hard not to in this type of story.
February 19, 2024
Jacey and Rob move from America to Malin House, a grand mansion, in the English countryside. Before long, Jacey starts experiencing some strange things - bells ringing, knocking, paranoia. A little boy seems to be following her… but why can’t anyone else see him? And what does this have to do with her Nana Ivy?
This was a quick and easy read that kept me turning the pages so fast that I got through it in one sitting. I enjoyed the supernatural element, and it was definitely chilling in places. However, I felt the ending let it down a bit for me and I’d have preferred a few more twists and turns.
Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for my advanced copy.
This was a quick and easy read that kept me turning the pages so fast that I got through it in one sitting. I enjoyed the supernatural element, and it was definitely chilling in places. However, I felt the ending let it down a bit for me and I’d have preferred a few more twists and turns.
Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for my advanced copy.
February 15, 2024
This is one of those creepy-dark novels that both delight and amaze you! Rob and Jacey move to England so Rob can take a position at the local university. Jacey is excited as her grandmother lived close to where they will settle and even though they don't know anyone there, they are certain they will make friends easily. But the house they move into is huge and immediately Jacey begins hearing odd sounds--what she calls "the hollowing--and sees a young boy outside kicking a rubber ball. But no one else can hear or see what she does and she becomes paranoid when Rob confronts her and seems to pull away when she acts "crazy." And then she finds letters her own mother has written to her husband; what is going on and why does nothing make sense anymore?? I raced through this one as I had to know!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
March 13, 2024
Up until 30% the books was dragginggg and I almost DNF. After that, it ramped up a little, I was invested enough to want to know what was going on.
Sidenote: Rob was the worst male main character and I did not enjoy his part in the book, at all. It was all very weird.
The ending was definitely a twist I didn't see coming! I wished the entire book could've given us background on Jacey and it be more about her and her childhood. I think it was awful the way everyone was tricking her into thinking the mansion was haunted.
Overall it wasn't the worst book I've ever read, but it definitely didn't come together the way I thought it should.
Sidenote: Rob was the worst male main character and I did not enjoy his part in the book, at all. It was all very weird.
The ending was definitely a twist I didn't see coming! I wished the entire book could've given us background on Jacey and it be more about her and her childhood. I think it was awful the way everyone was tricking her into thinking the mansion was haunted.
Overall it wasn't the worst book I've ever read, but it definitely didn't come together the way I thought it should.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2024
Rob and Jacey are married. Rob is a professor. They're moving to England so that he can teach at one of the universities. They've gotten to the house that they will be renting for the year, and now they are hearing strange noises. Rob could have sworn he heard screaming, and Jacey could have sworn she heard someone tell her to leave and get out. Jacey has started to hear the ringing of bells outside of the house as well
Rob has begun to act strange. He sits in the sitting room alone, and Jacey could swear she hears him talking to someone while in there
Jacey has even started seeing a little boy playing ball alone. He's real, right? Can't be her imagination
There's definitely something going on with not just the house but the town as well. People keep mentioning the Kennetts, but Jacey doesn't understand what this has to do with her. Her grandmother was a Smith
Past and present clash and all the secrets that everyone is hiding from Jacey soon begin to reveil themselves
Can she get out of this house before it spooks her to death
Can she stop seeing this little boy before she loses her mind
Rob has begun to act strange. He sits in the sitting room alone, and Jacey could swear she hears him talking to someone while in there
Jacey has even started seeing a little boy playing ball alone. He's real, right? Can't be her imagination
There's definitely something going on with not just the house but the town as well. People keep mentioning the Kennetts, but Jacey doesn't understand what this has to do with her. Her grandmother was a Smith
Past and present clash and all the secrets that everyone is hiding from Jacey soon begin to reveil themselves
Can she get out of this house before it spooks her to death
Can she stop seeing this little boy before she loses her mind
March 20, 2024
The book is gripping and it has atmospheric vibes. This is a fast paced atmospheric thriller. The characters were kind of mysterious.
Jacey and Rob moves to London from Chicago. The historical town in Sussex has its own history and myths. As soon as they arrive at the mansion, strange things starts happening while Rob doesn’t stay at house all day. Jacey hears strange noises, unknown voice in her head and the sound of bells in the woods keep haunting her. She gets to know her neighbours and about her surrounding. She gets to know the history of the house and myths surrounding it but is the house really haunted or Jacey is just imagining things because things are quite unsettling for her.
It’s not as simple as it seems to be but it’s all twisted. The author did a brilliant job. There were secrets, haunting memories and plot twists were unpredictable.
Thanks to Lume Books, Author and Book tour organiser.
Jacey and Rob moves to London from Chicago. The historical town in Sussex has its own history and myths. As soon as they arrive at the mansion, strange things starts happening while Rob doesn’t stay at house all day. Jacey hears strange noises, unknown voice in her head and the sound of bells in the woods keep haunting her. She gets to know her neighbours and about her surrounding. She gets to know the history of the house and myths surrounding it but is the house really haunted or Jacey is just imagining things because things are quite unsettling for her.
It’s not as simple as it seems to be but it’s all twisted. The author did a brilliant job. There were secrets, haunting memories and plot twists were unpredictable.
Thanks to Lume Books, Author and Book tour organiser.
February 19, 2024
this story was just so good read in a day. Jacey and her husband Rob are moving from America to Sussex England for a year for him to teach at the University. the house that they are staying in is Malin house a very big house and so creepy. Jacey s Nan came from England and married an American so she wants to do some sightseeing. there. Rob starts to be distant with Jacey he not the nicest anyway and then she starts seeing a little boy. and she thinks her husband trying to have her sectioned. it's so good but so creepy a very addictive read.
March 21, 2024
What a brilliant introduction to McLaughlin's books The Perfect Couple turned out to be - I absolutely loved it - It was everything I look for in a good thriller!
Moderately paced, The Perfect Couple is a cleverly plotted thriller, that's super high on suspense, full of twists and has the extra bonus of an 'apparently' haunted house...a surefire winner for me.
I was so creeped out by the noises and Jacey's sightings of the little boy...no more reading with the lights out for me.
Moderately paced, The Perfect Couple is a cleverly plotted thriller, that's super high on suspense, full of twists and has the extra bonus of an 'apparently' haunted house...a surefire winner for me.
I was so creeped out by the noises and Jacey's sightings of the little boy...no more reading with the lights out for me.
March 18, 2024
Formal apologies to the edge of my seat, that must have been painful to have me precariously perched on you for that long.
This book drew me in from the very first pages - it's very apparent that something is wrong in Jacey & Robs relationship. He was a horrid husband, I was internally screaming at Jacey to sack him off.
There was definitely a paranormal element to the book which I really enjoyed, the atmosphere of Malin Manor was so spooky. As a Brit myself I can definitely attest to the creepy mansions littering the countryside! The voices, the creepy hallways, tinkering bells.. all so eerie.
There was a constant sense of foreboding that honestly wouldn't let me put the book down for a second. As a reader I was completely sympathetic to Jacey and the feeling everyone was against her, it felt like there was no one she could trust. Was she paranoid? Was she crazy like her husband thought?
I do have a few questions though - did Rob really hear the screams? What did he see? Why did Lera lie to her? Was the curse real?
The ending, whilst not quite what I thought, was satisfying and quite a shock. I obviously can't tell you why but just trust me.
This book drew me in from the very first pages - it's very apparent that something is wrong in Jacey & Robs relationship. He was a horrid husband, I was internally screaming at Jacey to sack him off.
There was definitely a paranormal element to the book which I really enjoyed, the atmosphere of Malin Manor was so spooky. As a Brit myself I can definitely attest to the creepy mansions littering the countryside! The voices, the creepy hallways, tinkering bells.. all so eerie.
There was a constant sense of foreboding that honestly wouldn't let me put the book down for a second. As a reader I was completely sympathetic to Jacey and the feeling everyone was against her, it felt like there was no one she could trust. Was she paranoid? Was she crazy like her husband thought?
I do have a few questions though - did Rob really hear the screams? What did he see? Why did Lera lie to her? Was the curse real?
The ending, whilst not quite what I thought, was satisfying and quite a shock. I obviously can't tell you why but just trust me.
March 25, 2024
A psychological thriller with a paranormal vibe.
This book will keep you guessing until the very end. There is lots going on and lots of unanswered questions throughout but do not worry it is all wrapped up in the end. I read this book in 2 days because I was hooked and needed answers.
This book will keep you guessing until the very end. There is lots going on and lots of unanswered questions throughout but do not worry it is all wrapped up in the end. I read this book in 2 days because I was hooked and needed answers.
February 29, 2024
Jacey and her husband (a University professor) relocated to the UK from America so he could teach in England for one year. The school owns the manor house they moved into, and visiting teachers make their home in it. Malin House is reputedly haunted.
Secrets and ties to Nana Ivy, who grew up in Cambridgeshire, and other strange things happen to Jacey. One recurring phenomenon is the vision of a little boy in summer clothes that only she can see. Who is he?
I enjoyed Jane McLoughlin's writing style. I'm sure I'll be looking for more books by her in the future.
Secrets and ties to Nana Ivy, who grew up in Cambridgeshire, and other strange things happen to Jacey. One recurring phenomenon is the vision of a little boy in summer clothes that only she can see. Who is he?
I enjoyed Jane McLoughlin's writing style. I'm sure I'll be looking for more books by her in the future.
September 19, 2024
This sucked
February 23, 2024
The Perfect Couple by Jane Mcloughlin. Joffe Books, Lume Books, 2024.
Jacey met Rob, her handsome but disappointed and disappointing husband ten years earlier. They have a negative encounter in a bar, then he turns up as lecturer in her 2nd year English class. They’ve been together for nine years, married for seven, the year after she dropped out.
The story begins with a quick flashback to their decision to quit their jobs so he can accept a one-year academic appointment at a small UK university. Faced with the decision, Jacey experiences “hollowing”; the air, light and sound around her change. This appears to be her response to stress, familiar but not felt since she was a teenager.
In London for a week before heading to Sussex, first their bar tab and then someone’s dog land in the river and we experience Jacey’s “hollowing” again. Before he drops them off, the taxi driver hints that the accommodations arranged for them for the year are haunted. Jacey and her mother have a puzzling relationship. Jacey’s maternal grandmother was a WWII war bride; some of her story emerges.
Jane Mcloughlin is an accomplished writer. The Perfect Couple is an intriguing, easy to read and follow story with some unexpected twists.
Character development well done for both main characters, Jacey is more engaging if readers can overlook her questionable decision making (leaving a demanding job as an arts development officer, knowing she can’t work in the UK so will be dependent on her increasingly unappealing husband who will be working long hours) without a good plan for her time. I found supporting characters to be shadowy; some relationships that were unexpected emerged and some relationships that I guessed might emerge did not.
At this point in my life, I read only for my own entertainment and enjoyment. I don’t read anything I don’t have to read, I don’t finish books or even read more than a few pages unless I enjoy them. I started reading this book one cold February evening, and “finished” it in one go. I say “finished”, because at 30%. I skipped to the beginning of the last chapter, read the first few sentences to see who was still there, then worked my way backward, glancing through just the first few sentences of the last ~10 chapters. Then I went back to Chapter 14 and resumed reading where I’d left off (not something I’ve done before) until after 1am.
Disclosure: I received a review copy of The Perfect Couple free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #THEPERFECTCOUPLE #NetGalley
Jacey met Rob, her handsome but disappointed and disappointing husband ten years earlier. They have a negative encounter in a bar, then he turns up as lecturer in her 2nd year English class. They’ve been together for nine years, married for seven, the year after she dropped out.
The story begins with a quick flashback to their decision to quit their jobs so he can accept a one-year academic appointment at a small UK university. Faced with the decision, Jacey experiences “hollowing”; the air, light and sound around her change. This appears to be her response to stress, familiar but not felt since she was a teenager.
In London for a week before heading to Sussex, first their bar tab and then someone’s dog land in the river and we experience Jacey’s “hollowing” again. Before he drops them off, the taxi driver hints that the accommodations arranged for them for the year are haunted. Jacey and her mother have a puzzling relationship. Jacey’s maternal grandmother was a WWII war bride; some of her story emerges.
Jane Mcloughlin is an accomplished writer. The Perfect Couple is an intriguing, easy to read and follow story with some unexpected twists.
Character development well done for both main characters, Jacey is more engaging if readers can overlook her questionable decision making (leaving a demanding job as an arts development officer, knowing she can’t work in the UK so will be dependent on her increasingly unappealing husband who will be working long hours) without a good plan for her time. I found supporting characters to be shadowy; some relationships that were unexpected emerged and some relationships that I guessed might emerge did not.
At this point in my life, I read only for my own entertainment and enjoyment. I don’t read anything I don’t have to read, I don’t finish books or even read more than a few pages unless I enjoy them. I started reading this book one cold February evening, and “finished” it in one go. I say “finished”, because at 30%. I skipped to the beginning of the last chapter, read the first few sentences to see who was still there, then worked my way backward, glancing through just the first few sentences of the last ~10 chapters. Then I went back to Chapter 14 and resumed reading where I’d left off (not something I’ve done before) until after 1am.
Disclosure: I received a review copy of The Perfect Couple free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #THEPERFECTCOUPLE #NetGalley
March 19, 2024
Here is my review for The Perfect Couple by Jane McLoughlin
This is an intriguing story to read as it concerns a possible haunted mansion in Lewes. A young couple from Minneostoa in America have come over to England for a year while the husband, Rob, teaches at the university in Brighton and his wife, Jacey, can’t work so she has to keep herself busy. Rob hears noises first but Jacey thinks he’s joking then she starts hearing bells and noises but Rob says he’s not hearing anything. Their relationship begins to deteriorate and Jacey starts spending a lot of nights on her own in the house. She spends each night in the den until Rob comes home as she doesn’t like being in the house on her own. She takes up hill walking to get out of the house. Jacey begins to think that Rob is having an affair as he is constantly going up to London without telling her. There is a tense feeling in this book whilst you are reading it, it’s very creepy. The plotting and writing are good whereas the descriptive text is very good too. The author has certainly done her best to make this a creepy psychological.
Blurb :
Rob is not the man I married. And even my own mother is keeping things from me. She’s on his side. However deep the lies are buried, I must find the truth, no matter how horrifying it is.
We moved from Minnesota to a beautiful house in the English countryside. A year away was meant to be the perfect fresh start.
As soon as we arrive, I get a bad vibe. Despite the charming period features, the house is dark and cold. When the taxi driver pulls away, he warns us: ‘whatever you do, don’t believe the rumours.’
Our first morning there, Rob brings me croissants in bed and I think maybe this will work, maybe we can be happy here.
Then it begins.
Strange noises coming from the woods.
In the garden, I feel like I’m being watched.
Then I see him. The little boy.
Rob tells me there’s no one there. That I’m crazy. That I’m going to ruin the last chance we have to make our marriage work.
But he’s lying.
This is an intriguing story to read as it concerns a possible haunted mansion in Lewes. A young couple from Minneostoa in America have come over to England for a year while the husband, Rob, teaches at the university in Brighton and his wife, Jacey, can’t work so she has to keep herself busy. Rob hears noises first but Jacey thinks he’s joking then she starts hearing bells and noises but Rob says he’s not hearing anything. Their relationship begins to deteriorate and Jacey starts spending a lot of nights on her own in the house. She spends each night in the den until Rob comes home as she doesn’t like being in the house on her own. She takes up hill walking to get out of the house. Jacey begins to think that Rob is having an affair as he is constantly going up to London without telling her. There is a tense feeling in this book whilst you are reading it, it’s very creepy. The plotting and writing are good whereas the descriptive text is very good too. The author has certainly done her best to make this a creepy psychological.
Blurb :
Rob is not the man I married. And even my own mother is keeping things from me. She’s on his side. However deep the lies are buried, I must find the truth, no matter how horrifying it is.
We moved from Minnesota to a beautiful house in the English countryside. A year away was meant to be the perfect fresh start.
As soon as we arrive, I get a bad vibe. Despite the charming period features, the house is dark and cold. When the taxi driver pulls away, he warns us: ‘whatever you do, don’t believe the rumours.’
Our first morning there, Rob brings me croissants in bed and I think maybe this will work, maybe we can be happy here.
Then it begins.
Strange noises coming from the woods.
In the garden, I feel like I’m being watched.
Then I see him. The little boy.
Rob tells me there’s no one there. That I’m crazy. That I’m going to ruin the last chance we have to make our marriage work.
But he’s lying.
September 29, 2024
Jacey and Rob move to England for his job. Their home is huge but also increasingly scary. What secrets are the couple hiding and what is happening at the house...?
The Perfect Couple is a psychological thriller with a strong supernatural theme.
Jacey and Rob's marriage isn't as perfect as they pretend. He is short tempered and takes every opportunity to malign his wife. He is lying about his whereabouts and Jacey is starting to suspect an affair. She is starting to experience strange symptoms where she zones out and finds it difficult to concentrate. Her anxiety is heightened by the spooky house with creepy noises and strange visions of a young boy. Meanwhile she also wants to discover the truth about her grandmother's move to America.
There are three clear layers to the plot: the deteriorating relationship between Rob and Jacey, the unsettling house and the mystery about her grandmother's past. Poor Jacey really is under attack on all sides and is struggling with the pressure of her existence in a haunted house with a horrid husband. My heart went out to her and I was desperate for her to stand up to Rob and walk away.
There are lots of mysteries and secrets for Jacey to uncover: her husband's secret trips to London, her blackouts and confusion, other people's unsettling remarks about her home and grandmother. I didn't particularly like Jacey but I felt sorry for her and wanted her to get the truth and find some happiness. There is a wonderful tension and dark atmosphere created and sustained over the course of the book.
The Perfect Couple is an intriguing book with lots going on!
The Perfect Couple is a psychological thriller with a strong supernatural theme.
Jacey and Rob's marriage isn't as perfect as they pretend. He is short tempered and takes every opportunity to malign his wife. He is lying about his whereabouts and Jacey is starting to suspect an affair. She is starting to experience strange symptoms where she zones out and finds it difficult to concentrate. Her anxiety is heightened by the spooky house with creepy noises and strange visions of a young boy. Meanwhile she also wants to discover the truth about her grandmother's move to America.
There are three clear layers to the plot: the deteriorating relationship between Rob and Jacey, the unsettling house and the mystery about her grandmother's past. Poor Jacey really is under attack on all sides and is struggling with the pressure of her existence in a haunted house with a horrid husband. My heart went out to her and I was desperate for her to stand up to Rob and walk away.
There are lots of mysteries and secrets for Jacey to uncover: her husband's secret trips to London, her blackouts and confusion, other people's unsettling remarks about her home and grandmother. I didn't particularly like Jacey but I felt sorry for her and wanted her to get the truth and find some happiness. There is a wonderful tension and dark atmosphere created and sustained over the course of the book.
The Perfect Couple is an intriguing book with lots going on!
February 28, 2024
Jacey and Rob have been married for almost 8 years. Rob is an arrogant, cocky prick and Jacey is docile and has low self-esteem, so what a couple they make! They move to England when Rob accepts a teaching job at a university, and one of the perks is they get to live in a mansion from the late 1800’s that the university own for its professors from abroad.
As soon as they move in, Jacey starts experiencing weird feelings, hearing weird sounds, and seeing strange things. She learns the house has a dark history. She also befriends some odd people in town and the more she gets to know them, the more she doesn’t know what to believe. All the while, suspecting her husband is having an affair. Between the house and her husband both giving off dark, cold, and ominous vibes, what’s really happening?
It’s definitely worth reading. This was a dark and semi-suspenseful thriller. Some parts of the novel were predictable but somethings were a surprise. All in all, I give this book 4 stars because I felt that the ending was rushed.
March 14, 2024
The Perfect Couple by author Jane McLoughlin is a story that kept me totally hooked from beginning to end AND there is a killer twist that makes the story all the more better! I refuse to spoil this book in any way - so this review is without a lot of detail. I recommend this book to all lovers of mystery!
5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚Disclosure: I received a review copy of this #book from the author/publisher via #Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, comments, and interpretations of the story are my own and bias free. I did not receive any money in exchange for this review. Thank you to the publisher/author for allowing me the opportunity to review. 🦄
⭐️When possible reviews are cross-posted on the following:
✔️Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/jaime-loves...
✔️Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/25772...
✔️IG https://www.instagram.com/alphabookclub/
✔️Twitter @alpha_book_club
#ReviewByJaime #BookReview #MustRead #TBR #BookBoost
🦄
5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚Disclosure: I received a review copy of this #book from the author/publisher via #Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, comments, and interpretations of the story are my own and bias free. I did not receive any money in exchange for this review. Thank you to the publisher/author for allowing me the opportunity to review. 🦄
⭐️When possible reviews are cross-posted on the following:
✔️Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/jaime-loves...
✔️Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/25772...
✔️IG https://www.instagram.com/alphabookclub/
✔️Twitter @alpha_book_club
#ReviewByJaime #BookReview #MustRead #TBR #BookBoost
🦄
March 5, 2024
This book gripped me from the start. Everything from the title. The Perfect Couple: clearly destined for a fall. The setting: creepy old house in a backwater of Sussex. The characters: arrogant, attractive, wanna-be writer and now lecturer Rob, and his awestruck wife Jacey (so lucky to have bagged him). The author Jane McLoughlin created the perfect set up. And then the performance begins. Voices, creepy visitations, suggestions of trauma buried deep in Jacey’s past and family history, a flirtatious friend of Rob’s, mysterious locals, who seem to know more about Jacey than she knows herself. I really enjoyed the book and raced towards the end as I just needed to know what was going on and how it would all end. I wasn’t disappointed. I recommend for readers who like psychological thrillers with a supernatural flavour.
March 16, 2024
With relatable characters, beautiful writing, and a fair amount of good humor, The Perfect Couple is a page-turner that’s a joy to read.
An American couple, Rob and Jacey, move to England for a year-long academic exchange. Their marriage, dominated by pretentious and narcissistic Rob, is far from perfect. Their temporary home, a mansion in a bucolic setting, seems ideal. But Jacey, who is often left home alone, soon encounters eerie sounds, sights and sensations.
Rob is deliciously easy to despise. Jacey is a joy to root for. She grows more aware, self-confident and courageous as she struggles to understand and deal with what’s happening in her marriage and her creepy house.
This psychological thriller kept me guessing until the very end. I hope to read more by Jane McLoughlin in the future.
An American couple, Rob and Jacey, move to England for a year-long academic exchange. Their marriage, dominated by pretentious and narcissistic Rob, is far from perfect. Their temporary home, a mansion in a bucolic setting, seems ideal. But Jacey, who is often left home alone, soon encounters eerie sounds, sights and sensations.
Rob is deliciously easy to despise. Jacey is a joy to root for. She grows more aware, self-confident and courageous as she struggles to understand and deal with what’s happening in her marriage and her creepy house.
This psychological thriller kept me guessing until the very end. I hope to read more by Jane McLoughlin in the future.
February 26, 2024
At first, I did not think I was going to enjoy this book. The beginning seemed to drag a bit before anything really happened. However, at about 50% the story really started to pick up and made up for the beginning. The characters were however horrible. Rob was the actual worst and Jacey was so insecure and naive. Jacey, however, did grow on me towards the end.
The storyline was good, an unreliable narrator or a ghost? Or both? I love a book where you really have to pick up on the clues to determine what is actually going on because you can’t rely fully on the narrator. Or so you think.
All in all, this was a good quick read for me. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes psychological thrillers.
November 13, 2024
I immensely enjoyed reading The Perfect Couple by Jane McLoughlin, a psychological thriller on many levels. Not only a gripping thriller with an unexpected denouement that has kept me reading through the night, I also got entirely immersed in the heart breaking tragedy of the gradual deterioration and final break-up of the main character's marriage - told with great sensibility, yet without any self-pity.
The narrator’s perception of life in Britain from the point of view of a small town American gave another very interesting dimension to the story. The book is a masterpiece on many levels.
The narrator’s perception of life in Britain from the point of view of a small town American gave another very interesting dimension to the story. The book is a masterpiece on many levels.
September 22, 2024
Another random book I decided to just go in blindly with. This book was really good! First book I’ve read by this Author and may have to see what else she has. Jaycee and Rob move to England where Rob has a new job. Jaycee was hesitant about going but Rob talks her into it and from there is where everything just takes a turn. The way things happen and the things Jaycee sees looks like she’s going “mad”. When you get to the end and see what really happened, it’s just not what I expected at all!!! Loved it!!
April 18, 2024
This book was tedious for me to read and I did not find it to be suspenseful, just boring. The ending was BLAH. This is a story about a woman who moves to a new place with her husband and the subsequent events that happen to her, leaving one wondering (but not caring) if someone is out to get her or if she is going crazy, it just goes on and on that way. I found the storyline to be weak and not thought out.
April 8, 2024
This novel is a really engaging read. There are fabulous evocative descriptions of the Sussex landscape and its inhabitants that affectionately capture their eccentricity. The narrative artfully plays with the readers sense of reality as the protagonist questions what to believe and becomes increasingly fearful. This is a ghostly, gothic tale that will keep you awake at night whilst avoiding supernatural implausibility. Ultimately the protagonist learns that we have most to fear from those closest to us and the monsters that haunt are the product of our own trauma.
February 16, 2024
3.25
Overall, it was a decent story. However, I found the main characters, Rob and Jacey, to be unlikable and it kept taking me out of the story.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
Overall, it was a decent story. However, I found the main characters, Rob and Jacey, to be unlikable and it kept taking me out of the story.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
February 28, 2024
The main characters were very unlikeable and because of that it was hard for me to really get into this story. I was interested in the supernatural elements of this story, which was the only reason why I finished it but caught myself skimming through most of the parts.
It was an OK story for me.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
It was an OK story for me.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 23, 2024
Another reviewer said it quite well (I’m paraphrasing)—this book would have been infinitely better if the MC’s weren’t a know-it-all d-bag husband and his doormat of a wife.
I despised all of the characters except Stanley. The dog! What a good boy. Jacey was boring and doormat-ish, without aspiration, motivation, or original thoughts. Rob was a scourge on society.
The writing was fine. I kept reading to see whether Jacey was crazy or there was a paranormal element—but I went in blind and didn’t expect there to even be a hint of a paranormal element, so that was a surprise.
One thing I loved was the setting. A gorgeous old mansion in the English countryside? A small town with a storied history? The writing was so descriptive and lovely about this, I would have loved a bit more.
I despised all of the characters except Stanley. The dog! What a good boy. Jacey was boring and doormat-ish, without aspiration, motivation, or original thoughts. Rob was a scourge on society.
The writing was fine. I kept reading to see whether Jacey was crazy or there was a paranormal element—but I went in blind and didn’t expect there to even be a hint of a paranormal element, so that was a surprise.
One thing I loved was the setting. A gorgeous old mansion in the English countryside? A small town with a storied history? The writing was so descriptive and lovely about this, I would have loved a bit more.
November 18, 2024
This could have been a great thriller but lacked a depth to the characters. The shocking twist was not in the least but shocking and sorry I wasted a credit on it. The narrator’s pronunciation of English counties and some French cities was ridiculous.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews