The Couple Upstairs

by Holly Wainwright

Five months after Mel told her husband to leave, a ghost moved in upstairs.A young man who reminds her, with eerie intensity, of a past lover, someone who changed Mel's life and then vanished.When the man's travelling girlfriend joins him, Mel's obsession with the couple upstairs builds and the boundaries between the two homes begin to blur, with devastating consequences.The Couple Upstairs is about one strange summer of dazzling, curdling infatuation. Writing with both a light touch and vivid intensity, Holly Wainwright explores love, regret, whether you can stop history repeating, and whether or not you should.FINALIST FOR 2023 ITW THRILLER AWARDS BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL NOVELPRAISE FOR THE COUPLE UPSTAIRS'A breathless, twisty plot...Five stars.' Sally Hepworth, bestselling author of The Mother-In-Law'A story every woman will recognise. If you read one book this year, make it this one.' Mia Freedman'Had me hooked from the first page' Jacqueline Bulblitz

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Book Club, Thriller, Adult, Suspense

352 pages, Paperback

First published August 30, 2022

Reviews

[Sally Hepworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

ADORED THIS BOOK. A must read

[Hayley (hayleys.little.library) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm sad to say that this book just wasn't for me.
It started off with me being confused on the ghost situation. The person upstairs was continually named a ghost over and over, so I initially thought that it was a *literal* ghost, but it was actually a person from the main characters past (Silly me!)
I found that I couldn't relate to any of characters and didn't find any of them memorable in any way, so I found it hard to differentiate between what was going on and to follow the story.

This book was set now post c*vid, but unfortunately this story had so many c*vid related things thrown in that felt so unnecessary to me as it added nothing to the plot. For example, some characters were arguing over mask rules and random minor characters were slamming others over their v*x choice and calling them 'hippies'. I feel like the author was really trying to throw in her political views which in my opinion just wasn't warranted. I think it comes down to personal choice as well - I think some people might like reading about c*vid as it might feel more relatable to our everyday lives as it mirrors our own, but personally I don't want to read about people arguing about things that I constantly see in the news etc.
I pushed on and finished this story but I wished that I DNF'd it.

[Jessica Fealy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read - so very Sydney northern beaches Australia. Could relate to the awful boyfriend situation - didn’t love the ending - felt very weak & rushed. The sister in the uk with the sick husband storyline kind of felt irrelevant?

[Alright Hey (Matt) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book but didn’t love it. 3.5/5

Being a Sydney local, I loved recognising many of the Eastern Suburbs references. It was, at times, a bit of a confusing read - jumping timelines and scattered memories made it hard to keep up with, but the story was straightforward and easy to get through.

I picked this up as there’s a quote on the book saying it was gripping/suspenseful. It’s also in the “thriller” section on goodreads. For me, it doesn’t fit that category, and I guess I was gripped, but not because of suspense, I just really enjoyed reading it. I didn’t get any feeling of suspense and I wouldn’t classify it as a thriller - but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it for what it was.

I had a good time with this book. It’s a very easy read that’s written well. I loved the writing style so much. I did love the message behind the book but I would have liked a more shocking outcome, just to hit the nail on the head, however I really understand the realistic outcome to show what it would really be like if this situation happened (as it probably does often), without any crazy endings, so that’s okay.

It’s contemporary, the only warning I’d give is there’s a big emphasis on living during the pandemic, which is when the book is set. It didn’t throw me too much, but it was weird to step back in time (to only a few years ago) and remember all those restrictions and rules we lived by.

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s hard to decide on a rating for this book. Maybe 3.75 ⭐️. The first 200 pages were so addictive and I smashed them out in 2 days. The ending was just a bit underwhelming but I don’t know if that’s because I’ve been reading books with insane plot twists lately.

I loved the start and the character development but I thought something more crazy would happen with Lori’s return.

I caught myself almost feeling sorry for Flynn at points but discovering at the end that all his stories are lies reaffirms that he is a shit person.

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com

The Couple Upstairs is the fourth published title by Australian author Holly Wainwright. A contemporary fiction tale that delves into some trying themes with a light twist, The Couple Upstairs is a great discussion point novel.

The Couple Upstairs follows three different characters as they navigate pandemic life, with links back to the past. We meet Mel, a harassed single mother, who is dealing with her relationship breakdown only five months earlier. Next, we meet a young man who lives upstairs from Mel. This man eerily reminds Mel of an important figure from her past. Mel can’t shake off the weird feeling that she knows this man intensely. The final and third voice in The Couple Upstairs is Lori, a young traveller who becomes acquainted with Mel during some trying times. As these three people negotiate a very difficult time in their lives they each become forever linked by the events that are about to unfold. A story filled with emotion, past memories and decision making, The Couple Upstairs is a thought-provoking look into adult life.

Mamamia head of content and four-time novelist Holly Wainwright is back with another contemporary tale with a twist. The Couple Upstairs is a modern mystery title that raises some interesting themes. Initially I was a little perplexed by the opening of the novel and a plot set-up involving a ‘ghost’. However, once I settled into this one there were elements that clicked with me and other aspects that I didn’t connect with. So all in all The Couple Upstairs was a mixed bag response read in my eyes.

I think it can be quite tricky for a writer to delve into pandemic times complete with social distancing and border controls. Wainwright does a good job of depicting this very recent time in our present-day existence. For some readers this may hit a little too close to home so please be aware of this direction when picking up The Couple Upstairs. I found I was able to sympathise with single mum Mel and her parenting during this trying time. In fact, it brought up some memories I would rather cast to the back of my mind!

Wainwright tackles three different perspectives in her fourth novel. Shifting between Mel, Lori and Flynn over series of months and in four parts, The Couple Upstairs unveils a story filled with mystery, suspicion, speculation, regret, love, ill decision and proximity. Wainwright ties in issues of abuse, relationship breakdown and emotional manipulation. Links to the past via flashbacks also provide another layer to this issue filled tale. The writing supporting this story is snappy, witty, fluid and pointed. The characters and complete storyline didn’t quite win me over. Although I did stay faithful to this one until the epilogue, I can’t say that The Couple Upstairs was a book I loved.

If The Couple Upstairs has ignited your interest via the synopsis, a review, or you have enjoyed Holly Wainwright’s writing before it is worth giving this a go.

*Thanks extended to Pan Macmillan for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not a good book.

The characters are unlikeable - they have no redeeming qualities. Other reviewers have said it’s hard to describe the plot? Is it? A middle-aged white woman, whilst glorifying her previous abusive relationship, becomes obsessed with the traveller upstairs. She helps his girlfriend escape his abuse.

Sorry, but this book is boring, I wasn’t invested in anything that happened. I read it in about 5 sittings, mostly because I got so incredibly bored and had to put it down and walk away constantly. Not because of positive emotions, but because I honestly didn’t care about anything that happened.

Mel was boring, her actions made no sense, why didn’t they just tell the police they were hiding Lori? It would have been more believable? The police would not have given a shit and if they had just been honest and said Lori was in an abusive relationship, they would have simply said she was not wanting to be contacted and would never have told Flynn where Lori was? This book feels like a middle age woman's lunge for drama - what would I do if this happened to me…? It is boring and unimaginative. A story that is unoriginal and not worth your time to read. There is a reason this cover has so many endorsements - they knew it wasn’t a good book, so they had to trick people into reading it.

There was also a bunch of continuity errors in the book that really took me out of the story.

[Monique Lepine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outlouders will love this book and Holly's voice comes through so clearly. Loved it.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up

Lately, I have let my book choices be quite impulsive, which has led to the discovery of new-to-me authors and books I probably would never have crossed paths with. THE COUPLE UPSTAIRS jumped into my shopping trolley, so I couldn’t really refuse, could I? Lucky for me, as it turned out, because I really enjoyed this character study of neighbours whose lives become enmeshed in unexpected ways.

Even though I am closer in age to Mel than to Lori, Lori’s backpacking adventures brought back a lot of memories of my own travels as a wee youngster, down to the places she visited and meeting an Australian man (my now husband) on her journey. Weaving the pandemic into the backdrop of her novel, Wainwright sets the stage for a group of people thrown together by circumstance. Mel, a forty-ish mother whose marriage has recently dissolved, finds herself stuck in an apartment with her two children, trying to juggle home schooling with daily zoom meetings. It’s no wonder that she finds her young neighbour from upstairs intriguing, especially since he reminds her of a former boyfriend and prompts the age-old question of “what if I had stayed with him”. When young, innocent, pretty backpacking Lori moves in upstairs, Mel’s alarm bells chime. In Flynn, she senses the same controlling manner as in her former lover, and she becomes obsessed with protecting Lori from his influence.

I enjoyed the slow-burning character study of THE COUPLE UPSTAIRS, which primarily focuses on relationships and the reality of emotional abuse. Told through three different POVs – Mel’s, Lori’s and Flynn’s – we get a glimpse into the lives of all characters and the way they view their reality. The 2020/21 setting, so often avoided by other writers, gives the book the necessary claustrophobic air that adds a bit of tension, though as a mystery it may be considered a bit slow by some readers. This was my first book by the author but definitely won’t be my last.


*blog* *facebook* *instagram*

[Craig and Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Pan Macmillan for sending us a copy to read and review.
My first foray into the literary world of Holly Wainwright.
A book I enjoyed at times and while I couldn’t fully connect to the characters, there’s moments of wit, clever, entertainment and smart writing.
I’m even finding it hard to write a short synopsis as I don’t want to misinterpret the storyline.
If you’d like to know the blurb of the story, swipe left on the picture.
It’s very unusual as I’ve never experienced this complication about a story.
After finishing this book, my feelings for it are divided.
There’s parts that I liked and there’s elements that just didn’t register.
So because of this, it’s very hard for me to review this title.
A recognisable cast, the premise is interesting, the writing is flowing and the tale is fast paced.
My feelings are mixed on this and I’m being as honest as I can be, as I try to put my own words to this review.
At the end of the day, if it appeals go ahead and grab a copy and make up your own mind.

[Camila - Books Through My Veins · Rating 1 out of 5]

thanks to @macmillanaus for my #gifted copy

This is the first time I read one of Wainwright's books, and I went into The Couple Upstairs thinking I would be reading a Thriller, but, alas, it was not the case. In hindsight, apart from the Contemporary Fiction classification, I would classify it as a Domestic Drama. So why delve into genre classification at all? Because having a clear idea of what genre I will be delving into helps me adjust my expectations as they affect my reading experience significantly.

I am more than willing to suspend disbelief to enjoy particular works of fiction, but I am not willing to do so when it comes to Contemporary Fiction. If a likely scenario gets resolved illogically or if I find myself questioning the characters' actions (Why would you even? Who in their right mind would do such a thing? Is this for real?), then that's it for me. It's drastic, I know. But I cannot help it. I have always disliked unbelievable resolutions, which is why I was incapable of enjoying this novel.

Apart from the plot development and how I could not befriend the logic behind it, I also could not connect with the characters, but mainly, how they relate to each other. For example, the dialogues between Mel and Lori felt forced and unnatural. I could not believe in them as characters, less alone as real people that might interact with each other in a significant manner (considering there's domestic violence involved as the primary narrative that moves the plot forward). In addition, all the characters felt relatively underdeveloped, and not even the main characters got personalities beyond surface-level traits.

Lastly, I was profoundly disappointed by the ending. Beyond the lack of proper drama delivery after so much built-up suspense, I was appalled by how the characters manage the last 'consequences'.

Overall, The Couple Upstairs was not my cup of tea. As it stands, I will skip my 2-book-per-author self-imposed rule as I cannot envision reading Wainwright again.

[Reannon Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read that kept me guessing. I liked that it was told from different POV’s. Epilogue was 👌🏼

[Jacquip · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best of holly wainwright’s 4 books I think. Much deeper and more challenging than her other 3 (although I enjoyed them too) - but this one has more ‘meat on the bones’.

[Jo Rice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book dragged a bit for me in the last 100 or so pages. I did not find any characters appealing at all and got frustrated with Mel’s character and some of the choices she made.

[Karima chermiti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5/5) — A gripping, well-crafted thriller that keeps you hooked—until the ending leaves you feeling like you missed a step on the staircase


Holly Wainwright’s The Couple Upstairs is an enthralling psychological thriller that grips you from the start with its sharp writing, compelling characters, and layered storytelling. As someone who thoroughly enjoyed the first two-thirds of the book, I found myself drawn in by the complex dynamics between the characters, which felt refreshingly authentic and well-explored.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its use of alternating POVs. Seeing the same events unfold from different perspectives not only deepens the intrigue but also keeps the reader actively engaged, constantly reassessing what they think they know. This narrative choice adds an extra layer of tension and makes the unraveling mystery all the more absorbing.

Another aspect that made the story feel incredibly real was the way Wainwright incorporated COVID into the narrative. Rather than being a mere backdrop, the pandemic heightened the sense of isolation and claustrophobia, mirroring the emotional and psychological tension at the heart of the story. The lockdown setting not only made the novel feel more authentic but also intensified the unease, reinforcing the book’s themes of entrapment and control in a way that felt both unsettling and compelling.

However, where the book truly soars in its buildup, it stumbles in its conclusion. After such a tense and well-paced journey, the ending felt somewhat flat, lacking the punch I was expecting. Instead of a climax that hit hard and lingered, the resolution slowed the momentum, leaving me wanting more. It wasn’t necessarily a bad ending, but it didn’t quite stick the landing in a way that would have made the entire novel truly unforgettable.

Despite this, The Couple Upstairs is still a strong and engaging read, particularly for fans of domestic thrillers that thrive on psychological complexity. Wainwright’s ability to craft tension and immerse readers in the tangled web of relationships is undeniable—if only the conclusion had carried the same impact as the journey leading up to it.

[Jenny (Bookbookowl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Macmillan Australia for providing me with a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review!



Mel is a newly single mum, with a lot on her plate. Not only is she just starting to navigate the shared custody world, a man has moved in upstairs from her that reminds her far too much of an old boyfriend.

Lori has been traveling Australia and refuses to go home to England when the pandemic hits. She’s far more interested in finding Flynn in Sydney, a man she met and had what felt like the start of a relationship with in Broome.

As Mel and Lori’s world’s collide, Mel feels as though she’s watching her past play out before her, and that can’t be good for Lori.

I have absolutely loved all of Holly Wainwright’s books so far, and I did enjoy this one, it just didn’t quite have my adoring heart by the end. There was nothing wrong with it, it just missed living up to her other books by a smidgeon.

The exploration of how people can become lost inside a relationship they refuse to see for what it is was done well but it was still so frustrating to read. The describing of the man upstairs as a ‘ghost’ from the start really threw me too. I legitimately thought the author was talking about an actual ghost for half the book and I was trying to figure out how that was going to work 😅 (I probably should have read the synopsis beforehand and I would have realised the ghost part wasn’t literal)

[haiqa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book devastated me. Not because it was sad, although it did have some elements that were a little painful to read through, but because it felt like I was watching myself in a mirror, seeing all the insecurities and ugly parts brought on to paper.

My fav POV was of Mel. Which is weird since I don't necessarily have anything in common with her. She's a forty year old English woman who was living in Australia after a recent split with her husband, with her two young kids. Yet every insecurity. Every painful revelation as the book went on resonated with me to a painful degree. I didn't particularly care for Lori tho but her experience itself was ... relatable. This book really is a reflection of society, as the author put "what it's like to love someone who makes you sick"

It's really easy to fall into a net woven by a toxic person. Very easy to let them integrate into your lives to the point you can't understand where they start and where you end. In short, this was an amazing book. And I really needed a read like this since I've been stuck in a fanfic whirlpool for the past few weeks. It was nice to read. I really liked it

[Ash 🐸 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book surprised me as I didn't particularly enjoy Holly Wainwrights other novel 'I Give My Marriage a Year'. However, from the very beginning I was hooked! The characters are amazing, very well written and I especially loved the different perspectives the book gave. The story itself is real and relatable. Loved the Australian setting and references. I'm obsessed. No wonder this book is getting so much hype - well deserved!!

[Hails · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book started off ok but the whole plot was so childish and not sure what they were trying to accomplish? Mel thinks shes this big bad ass at the end, its so fricken stupid.

Also the end where she writes letters to schools and parents? also posts on Facebook is so aggravatingly stupid. Big nope from me.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read by Holly Wainwright, and while I absolutely loved I Give My Marriage a Year, this one didn't reach the same lofty heights for me. I still enjoyed it very much, I just think my expectations were super high. This author is definitely an auto buy for me though.

[EmG ReadsDaily · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and realistic exploration of flawed relationships and obsession, with plenty of psychological suspense and tension.

This story has cemented Holly Wainwright as an auto-read author for me.

[Cassie Hamer]

A fantastic read! This book offers highly nuanced depiction of complicated relationships and a fabulous through-line to keep you turning the pages. A really clever structure to keep you guessing and some lovely imagery and use of language.

[Gabrielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting look into relationships. Psychological, in an informative way. Not bad at all, but also not amazing in any way. A super "okay" book, hence the two stars.

[Clare Doughty · Rating 2 out of 5]

This took me 8 months to read- it just wasn’t for me. A pandemic book with a storyline that dragged on - I just wanted to finish it so it wasn’t carried over to 2024- this was almost a DNF.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly got hooked on this one. Started with the audiobook and then needed to finish reading it as soon as possible.
Some beautifully told messages in this one 💕

[gi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I COULDNT GET INTO IT it was nicely written but i just wasn’t interesting

[Majella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it. Loved the different perspectives.

[Molly Borland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was tempted to dnf this half way through because it was a bit slow but I ended up really loving it and it had such a powerful ending.

[Kathy B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listen to a lot of Holly Wainwright and I really like her. I enjoy hearing her voice in this book it’s like a warm hug. Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with this book as much as I have with others. I felt that Holly was trying to weave the subject of coercive control into the story, which is admirable and educative. However, the way that was done felt a bit clunky (and also was quite incident related and violence centred and missed the point somewhat). I also found there were too many storylines and that some had to be wrapped up in a confusing rush. Trying to do all of this, and add the covid context, was again cool in theory, but didn’t quite work. I’ll read holly again because I am a fan, but I really did struggle with this one and struggled to finish it.

[Amanda Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars for the book…and the extra half because I love Holly! Great work Hol, an entertaining read with a good dose of important conversations.