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The Couple in the Photo
From the author of The Downstairs Neighbor and The Other Guest comes a propulsive suspense novel that asks how far you would go to keep a friend's secret.
Lucy and her husband, Adam, have been best friends with another couple, Cora and Scott for years. The four are practically family at this point--they vacation together, co-own a beach cottage, and their young children are inseparable. So Lucy is devastated when, while looking at a colleague's photos of a trip to the Malives, she spots a picture of Scott, apparently on a luxurious holiday with another woman.
Lucy is determined to protect her best friend from her husband's seeming infidelity, but when she learns that the woman in the photo has gone missing, she can't help but fear that Scott was involved. As she searches for answers, she uncovers secrets about her friends and her own husband that could destroy the wonderful lives they have built...and she suspects that everybody around her knows much more about the missing woman than they are letting on. Is Lucy actually the one most in the dark? If so, what are the consequences of discovering the truth?
Lucy and her husband, Adam, have been best friends with another couple, Cora and Scott for years. The four are practically family at this point--they vacation together, co-own a beach cottage, and their young children are inseparable. So Lucy is devastated when, while looking at a colleague's photos of a trip to the Malives, she spots a picture of Scott, apparently on a luxurious holiday with another woman.
Lucy is determined to protect her best friend from her husband's seeming infidelity, but when she learns that the woman in the photo has gone missing, she can't help but fear that Scott was involved. As she searches for answers, she uncovers secrets about her friends and her own husband that could destroy the wonderful lives they have built...and she suspects that everybody around her knows much more about the missing woman than they are letting on. Is Lucy actually the one most in the dark? If so, what are the consequences of discovering the truth?
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 5, 2023
340 people are currently reading
6148 people want to read
About the author
Helen Cooper
3 books309 followersHelen Cooper is from Derby, England, and now lives in Leicester. She has a MA in Creative Writing and a background in teaching English and Academic Writing. Her creative writing has been published in Mslexia and Writers’ Forum; she was shortlisted in the Bath Short Story Prize in 2014, and came third in the Leicester Writes Short Story Prize in 2018. The Downstairs Neighbour is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 849 reviews
December 22, 2023
My thanks to Penguin Group/Putnam, Helen Cooper and Netgalley.
This was one messed up story! And yes, I was all for it!
No trick or treat from me. Go into this one blind.
Again.....such a funked up story.
Recommended.
This was one messed up story! And yes, I was all for it!
No trick or treat from me. Go into this one blind.
Again.....such a funked up story.
Recommended.
April 24, 2023
How could Lucy know that something so normal as looking through a colleague's honeymoon pictures would put her on a path that would ultimately have her questioning everything she knows and threaten to blow up her whole life.
Lucy has a seemingly idyllic life. Her sweet caring husband Adam and their married best friends Scott and Cora are an impenetrable unit and are practically family. But when Lucy sees a picture of Scott with another woman on vacation, she starts to realize that not everything is as it seems and when the woman in the picture goes missing, Lucy must take a closer look at the people she loves most and consider that they may not be who she thought they were.
This book has you questioning everything from the very beginning. I liked Lucys commitment to the truth and how she was determined to get answers no matter what obstacles stood in her way. It was a bit predictable as I was able to discern who the killer was pretty early on and also who was the main conspirator. I was still able to enjoy the unfolding of the story, but I also think the story could have benefited from tighter pacing and a little less exposition.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for providing me with this ARC
Lucy has a seemingly idyllic life. Her sweet caring husband Adam and their married best friends Scott and Cora are an impenetrable unit and are practically family. But when Lucy sees a picture of Scott with another woman on vacation, she starts to realize that not everything is as it seems and when the woman in the picture goes missing, Lucy must take a closer look at the people she loves most and consider that they may not be who she thought they were.
This book has you questioning everything from the very beginning. I liked Lucys commitment to the truth and how she was determined to get answers no matter what obstacles stood in her way. It was a bit predictable as I was able to discern who the killer was pretty early on and also who was the main conspirator. I was still able to enjoy the unfolding of the story, but I also think the story could have benefited from tighter pacing and a little less exposition.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for providing me with this ARC
January 13, 2024
When Lucy Taylor met her husband, Adam, she found two new friends in his best pals from college, Cora and Scott. Ever since, they have been closer than close—going on double dates, becoming godparents to each others’ children, and even purchasing a vacation home together which they’re now fixing up. It seems they know everything about one another with not even a hint of a secret existing between them. Life truly couldn’t be better—or so it has always seemed.
Scrolling through her colleague’s honeymoon pictures one day, however, Lucy is stunned into silence. On the screen, she spots a man who she is sure is Scott posing intimately with a woman. A woman who isn’t Cora. Immediately jumping to the worst conclusion, Lucy is horrified to imagine that her dear friend has been having an affair. Twenty-four hours later, however, the situation only becomes more dire when she learns that the mystery woman in the photo has gone missing. Is it possible that Scott could be involved?
Determined to learn the truth, Lucy begins to dig for answers. The more she learns, though, the less she seems to know those that she’s always trusted the most—Cora, Scott, and even her husband, Adam. After all, the secrets she suspects they’ve been keeping from her aren’t just little white lies. If Lucy continues down this path, though, will she not only ruin their friendships, but destroy their lives as well? What is the truth worth to Lucy? Is it important enough to implode her own happily ever after? Or has that always been doomed from the start?
Wow. Wow. Wow. While I expected a thoroughly good time from The Couple in the Photo thanks to the fact that Helen Cooper penned these magical words, I was unprepared by how truly blown away I would be. An altogether disturbing story of friendship, secrets, and unbridled deceit, the suspense ratcheted higher and higher until an epic climax shocked me in the extreme. Add in the evocative descriptions plus the intriguing yet mysterious events of the past and I was won over hook, line, and sinker for sure.
While all of the characters captured my attention, it was Lucy who I connected with from the very first page. Genuine and clever but also just a tiny bit naïve, her drive to discover the truth had me urging her on. Don’t get me wrong, I waffled between thinking she was either a well-written unreliable narrator or being gaslighted by those most dear. I can’t, however, say any more as it could quite possibly spoil the plot. Just know that this was one well-orchestrated cast of characters who kept me thoroughly blind to the truth until the final timely reveal.
The storyline itself was a brilliant example of domestic suspense. Told primarily from Lucy’s POV, there was also a mystery narrator who had me under their thrall. Who were they? What horrible things did they do? And how were they connected to Lucy? The answer to each question took me for a ride and a half until the perfectly set up climax where all was revealed. Yes, it was just a bit over-the-top, leaning towards a soap opera-esque feel, but, for some reason, it still felt altogether believable at the very same time.
All said and done, Cooper has done it yet again. A brilliant success that kept me firmly glued to the pages, the twists and turns, while perhaps not entirely unexpected, still hit a hole in one. After all, it was smartly plotted, gloriously intense, and came complete with one altogether perfect scandal. Just know that I didn’t really consider this an adrenaline-fueled thriller myself, despite what was claimed. Until the climax, that is. Still, the slow build of suspicion as the secrets unfurled was just what the doctor ordered for this thriller loving girl. Two enthusiastic thumbs up. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Helen Cooper and
G.P. Putnam’s Sons for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: Out now!
Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling trigger list.
Trigger warning: infidelity, gaslighting, blackmail, mention of: fatal car accident
Scrolling through her colleague’s honeymoon pictures one day, however, Lucy is stunned into silence. On the screen, she spots a man who she is sure is Scott posing intimately with a woman. A woman who isn’t Cora. Immediately jumping to the worst conclusion, Lucy is horrified to imagine that her dear friend has been having an affair. Twenty-four hours later, however, the situation only becomes more dire when she learns that the mystery woman in the photo has gone missing. Is it possible that Scott could be involved?
Determined to learn the truth, Lucy begins to dig for answers. The more she learns, though, the less she seems to know those that she’s always trusted the most—Cora, Scott, and even her husband, Adam. After all, the secrets she suspects they’ve been keeping from her aren’t just little white lies. If Lucy continues down this path, though, will she not only ruin their friendships, but destroy their lives as well? What is the truth worth to Lucy? Is it important enough to implode her own happily ever after? Or has that always been doomed from the start?
Wow. Wow. Wow. While I expected a thoroughly good time from The Couple in the Photo thanks to the fact that Helen Cooper penned these magical words, I was unprepared by how truly blown away I would be. An altogether disturbing story of friendship, secrets, and unbridled deceit, the suspense ratcheted higher and higher until an epic climax shocked me in the extreme. Add in the evocative descriptions plus the intriguing yet mysterious events of the past and I was won over hook, line, and sinker for sure.
While all of the characters captured my attention, it was Lucy who I connected with from the very first page. Genuine and clever but also just a tiny bit naïve, her drive to discover the truth had me urging her on. Don’t get me wrong, I waffled between thinking she was either a well-written unreliable narrator or being gaslighted by those most dear. I can’t, however, say any more as it could quite possibly spoil the plot. Just know that this was one well-orchestrated cast of characters who kept me thoroughly blind to the truth until the final timely reveal.
The storyline itself was a brilliant example of domestic suspense. Told primarily from Lucy’s POV, there was also a mystery narrator who had me under their thrall. Who were they? What horrible things did they do? And how were they connected to Lucy? The answer to each question took me for a ride and a half until the perfectly set up climax where all was revealed. Yes, it was just a bit over-the-top, leaning towards a soap opera-esque feel, but, for some reason, it still felt altogether believable at the very same time.
All said and done, Cooper has done it yet again. A brilliant success that kept me firmly glued to the pages, the twists and turns, while perhaps not entirely unexpected, still hit a hole in one. After all, it was smartly plotted, gloriously intense, and came complete with one altogether perfect scandal. Just know that I didn’t really consider this an adrenaline-fueled thriller myself, despite what was claimed. Until the climax, that is. Still, the slow build of suspicion as the secrets unfurled was just what the doctor ordered for this thriller loving girl. Two enthusiastic thumbs up. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Helen Cooper and
G.P. Putnam’s Sons for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: Out now!
Scroll down for my potentially plot spoiling trigger list.
Trigger warning: infidelity, gaslighting, blackmail, mention of: fatal car accident
April 19, 2023
3.5 rounded down
Lucy and Adam, Cora and Scott have been best friends for years and spend a lot of time together. Lucy loves photos and hones in on a work colleague showing honeymoon pictures in the Maldives she sees one that makes her sit up straight in shock and disbelief and she asks Ruth to show it her again. Why is Scott in a holiday picture with another woman and why does Ruth say their names are Jason and Anna? Lucy is determined to protect her friend Cora as much as she can but furtively try to establish if Scott has indeed been on business in Japan as he claims. The mystery deepens when Lucy sees a news item about a missing British woman on the island resort as to her shock it’s THAT woman from the photo, not Anna but Juliet Noor. The more Lucy digs the mystery hole expands and it all seems to link to the past.
The novel is slow initially but it works well as it demonstrates life jogging along at a steady pace, everything seems to be hunky dory and then bam, one innocuous thing like a photo can change a life which seems built on firm foundations but which is actually built on sand. Things don’t change immediately but there are some odd, uneasy vibes from several sources which puzzle and increase suspicion. There are some good twists, the pace picks up though it never achieves runaway train proportions despite some wreckage. Some twists are easy to predict though one is a surprise. The characterisation is well done though Lucy does have dog/bone tendency which is partly a credit to her tenacity but is also rather irritating! The dynamics of the couples friendship is a good element as is the increasing dysfunction.
Despite the creative premise, the pacing is ultimately too uneven, there’s repetition and some things get dragged out. However, it’s an easy, entertaining novel which would make a good beachside read.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Lucy and Adam, Cora and Scott have been best friends for years and spend a lot of time together. Lucy loves photos and hones in on a work colleague showing honeymoon pictures in the Maldives she sees one that makes her sit up straight in shock and disbelief and she asks Ruth to show it her again. Why is Scott in a holiday picture with another woman and why does Ruth say their names are Jason and Anna? Lucy is determined to protect her friend Cora as much as she can but furtively try to establish if Scott has indeed been on business in Japan as he claims. The mystery deepens when Lucy sees a news item about a missing British woman on the island resort as to her shock it’s THAT woman from the photo, not Anna but Juliet Noor. The more Lucy digs the mystery hole expands and it all seems to link to the past.
The novel is slow initially but it works well as it demonstrates life jogging along at a steady pace, everything seems to be hunky dory and then bam, one innocuous thing like a photo can change a life which seems built on firm foundations but which is actually built on sand. Things don’t change immediately but there are some odd, uneasy vibes from several sources which puzzle and increase suspicion. There are some good twists, the pace picks up though it never achieves runaway train proportions despite some wreckage. Some twists are easy to predict though one is a surprise. The characterisation is well done though Lucy does have dog/bone tendency which is partly a credit to her tenacity but is also rather irritating! The dynamics of the couples friendship is a good element as is the increasing dysfunction.
Despite the creative premise, the pacing is ultimately too uneven, there’s repetition and some things get dragged out. However, it’s an easy, entertaining novel which would make a good beachside read.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
November 27, 2023
3.25⭐
Genre ~ mystery
Setting ~ England
Publication date ~ December 5, 2023
Est page Count ~ 367 (35 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 45 minutes
Narrator ~ Naomi Frederick
POV ~ single 3rd
Featuring ~ secrets, lies, murder, infidelity
4 best friends, Lucy & Adam & Cora & Scott, do everything together. 3 went to uni together and 1 married into this tight knit group, which is who our main narrator is, Lucy.
Once Lucy sees an incriminating photo she becomes obsessed with trying to figure out what's going on. And then the person in the photo turns up missing and she really amps up her obsession. I could totally see my nosy self trying to figure out what was going on my own, too, but I'm not sure I would make all the same decisions as Lucy. I was quite curious how it would play out, but it turned out to be a bit predictable to me. It did move along at a quick pace, so that was a good thing. The extra POV from an unknown adds some intrigue, but unfortunately that's easy to guess who it is. There were some heart pounding moments, especially in the car at the end, but Lucy's actions is the final scenes were just too implausible in my opinion.
Overall, I think it was well written and would appeal to unseasoned mystery reads.
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference.
*Thanks to the author, Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ mystery
Setting ~ England
Publication date ~ December 5, 2023
Est page Count ~ 367 (35 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 45 minutes
Narrator ~ Naomi Frederick
POV ~ single 3rd
Featuring ~ secrets, lies, murder, infidelity
4 best friends, Lucy & Adam & Cora & Scott, do everything together. 3 went to uni together and 1 married into this tight knit group, which is who our main narrator is, Lucy.
Once Lucy sees an incriminating photo she becomes obsessed with trying to figure out what's going on. And then the person in the photo turns up missing and she really amps up her obsession. I could totally see my nosy self trying to figure out what was going on my own, too, but I'm not sure I would make all the same decisions as Lucy. I was quite curious how it would play out, but it turned out to be a bit predictable to me. It did move along at a quick pace, so that was a good thing. The extra POV from an unknown adds some intrigue, but unfortunately that's easy to guess who it is. There were some heart pounding moments, especially in the car at the end, but Lucy's actions is the final scenes were just too implausible in my opinion.
Overall, I think it was well written and would appeal to unseasoned mystery reads.
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the info above for reference.
*Thanks to the author, Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
August 3, 2023
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Couple in The Photo!
This book is a decent read that weaves together mystery and romance in an intriguing way. While the plot had its engaging moments, the pacing felt uneven at times, leaving me wanting more consistency. The characters were well-developed and certainly relatable, drawing me into their world. Although the ending left some loose ends, the author’s ability to create a captivating atmosphere made this book an enjoyable escape for me! I liked the (crazy) adventure. Definitely recommend.
Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Couple in The Photo!
This book is a decent read that weaves together mystery and romance in an intriguing way. While the plot had its engaging moments, the pacing felt uneven at times, leaving me wanting more consistency. The characters were well-developed and certainly relatable, drawing me into their world. Although the ending left some loose ends, the author’s ability to create a captivating atmosphere made this book an enjoyable escape for me! I liked the (crazy) adventure. Definitely recommend.
October 1, 2023
A picture is worth a thousand words…..
But are they the right words? Is it the right picture?
A group of three friends from college have a secret. A big one. One of the three has married out of the group and this spouse has no idea. Until she sees a picture and starts putting things together but is it what she thinks? Could it possibly be? Things get twisting and turning and then there’s a twist straight out of left field. Never saw it coming. (This started as a 3 ( out of 5) stars for me. It was just kind of ho hum. As it progressed it turned to a 4 , then a solid 4.5. So, I’ll average it out at a 4.)
It was definitely an enjoyable read. I would recommend it.
It will be released December 5th 2023.
Thank you NetGalley and Helen Cooper for the advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.
But are they the right words? Is it the right picture?
A group of three friends from college have a secret. A big one. One of the three has married out of the group and this spouse has no idea. Until she sees a picture and starts putting things together but is it what she thinks? Could it possibly be? Things get twisting and turning and then there’s a twist straight out of left field. Never saw it coming. (This started as a 3 ( out of 5) stars for me. It was just kind of ho hum. As it progressed it turned to a 4 , then a solid 4.5. So, I’ll average it out at a 4.)
It was definitely an enjoyable read. I would recommend it.
It will be released December 5th 2023.
Thank you NetGalley and Helen Cooper for the advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.
October 1, 2023
A picture is worth a thousand words….. But are they the right words? Is it the right picture?
A group of three friends from college have a secret. A big one. One of the three has married out of the group and this spouse has no idea. Until she sees a picture and starts putting things together but is it what she thinks? Could it possibly be? Things get twisting and turning and then there’s a twist straight out of left field. Never saw it coming.
(This started as a 3 ( out of 5) stars for me. It was just kind of ho hum. As it progressed it turned to a 4 , then a solid 4.5. So, I’ll average it out at a 4.)
It was definitely an enjoyable read.
I would recommend it.
It will be released December 5th 2023.
Thank you NetGalley and Helen Cooper for the advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.
A group of three friends from college have a secret. A big one. One of the three has married out of the group and this spouse has no idea. Until she sees a picture and starts putting things together but is it what she thinks? Could it possibly be? Things get twisting and turning and then there’s a twist straight out of left field. Never saw it coming.
(This started as a 3 ( out of 5) stars for me. It was just kind of ho hum. As it progressed it turned to a 4 , then a solid 4.5. So, I’ll average it out at a 4.)
It was definitely an enjoyable read.
I would recommend it.
It will be released December 5th 2023.
Thank you NetGalley and Helen Cooper for the advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review.
August 6, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ -NetGalley ARC
Description:
Lucy and her husband, Adam, have been best friends with another couple, Cora and Scott, for years. The four are practically family—they vacation together, co-own a beach cottage, and their children are inseparable. So Lucy is devastated when, while looking at a colleague’s photos of a trip to the Maldives, she spots a picture of Scott, apparently on vacation with another woman.
Then she learns that the woman in the photo has gone missing. Lucy can’t help but fear that Scott was involved. But searching for answers might uncover secrets about Scott, Cora, and even her own husband that could destroy the picture-perfect lives they have built together. Or maybe she was never part of the picture at all.
Review:
From the very first chapter this book had me on the edge of my seat with tension. Lucy is obsessed with finding out why their friend Scott was with another woman in the Maldives and what happened to her. She tries to get help from the coworker who showed her the photo of Scott and the other woman in the first place, but she doesn’t want to get involved. When her coworker turns up severely injured, Lucy starts wondering who she can trust. The further she digs, the more questions she has instead of answers. The twist at the end was pure perfection!
I’m always excited when I find a new-to-me author who writes great thrillers and Ms. Coopers writing is so good you feel as if you’re part of the story. Highly recommended!
Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the opportunity to read this book for a review. All thoughts are my own.
Description:
Lucy and her husband, Adam, have been best friends with another couple, Cora and Scott, for years. The four are practically family—they vacation together, co-own a beach cottage, and their children are inseparable. So Lucy is devastated when, while looking at a colleague’s photos of a trip to the Maldives, she spots a picture of Scott, apparently on vacation with another woman.
Then she learns that the woman in the photo has gone missing. Lucy can’t help but fear that Scott was involved. But searching for answers might uncover secrets about Scott, Cora, and even her own husband that could destroy the picture-perfect lives they have built together. Or maybe she was never part of the picture at all.
Review:
From the very first chapter this book had me on the edge of my seat with tension. Lucy is obsessed with finding out why their friend Scott was with another woman in the Maldives and what happened to her. She tries to get help from the coworker who showed her the photo of Scott and the other woman in the first place, but she doesn’t want to get involved. When her coworker turns up severely injured, Lucy starts wondering who she can trust. The further she digs, the more questions she has instead of answers. The twist at the end was pure perfection!
I’m always excited when I find a new-to-me author who writes great thrillers and Ms. Coopers writing is so good you feel as if you’re part of the story. Highly recommended!
Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the opportunity to read this book for a review. All thoughts are my own.
August 4, 2023
The Couple in the Photo was a very good book. Lucy Taylor is the main character along with her husband, Adam. Lucy had met Adam when she moved to Leicester for her job. He introduced her to his university friends Cora and Scott Waughs who become their best friends. Cora works for the National Health Service as an Admin team player and Scott worked for an international company. While looking at honeymoon pictures of an associate she sees a picture of Scott with another woman supposing honeymooning in Maldives. She tells Adam about it.
Later listening to the news when it mentions Maldives. A British woman was missing from a resort. A photo of the woman is shown and it is the same woman Lucy saw in the photograph. Her name is Juliet Noor. The police were now involved. This set Lucy on the edge, She needed to speak to Ruth and see the picture again. When she spoke to Ruth she was told that the picture had been deleted. Lucy was surprised as Juliet was missing and later she was washed ashore dead.
When at the Waugh's house Lucy asked to see the pictures of their time at the University. She found a picture of the three of them with Juliet and a man named Gus Everley. in the background. Juliet had gone to Leads University the same time Adam, Scott and Cora had gone there. Lucy became obsessed now trying to find out more about Juliet and why Scott was in Maldives. Lucy decides to go and tell the police what she suspects. After talking to them as she is leaving she sees Ruth's husband with the police coming into the station. He is covered in blood. Lucy decides to go and check up on Ruth but when she gets there she sees lots of police cars at the house and that Ruth had been found unconscious on her kitchen floor. When Lucy comes home she finds Adam, Cora and Scott at the house but Scott gets a call and has to leave. Later he comes back to their house upset as he had been at the police station being questioned.. He does admit that he knew Juliet and that he had an affair with her.
This is when the story takes all kinds of twists and turns as Lucy tries to find out what all is happening. I will let the reader find out everything as it is too much going on to put on the paper. Everything builds up to an unexpected and surprising climax,
I really enjoyed the story and all the suspense. The author holds the reader's attention throughout to the ending.
Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's and Sons for this ARC.
Later listening to the news when it mentions Maldives. A British woman was missing from a resort. A photo of the woman is shown and it is the same woman Lucy saw in the photograph. Her name is Juliet Noor. The police were now involved. This set Lucy on the edge, She needed to speak to Ruth and see the picture again. When she spoke to Ruth she was told that the picture had been deleted. Lucy was surprised as Juliet was missing and later she was washed ashore dead.
When at the Waugh's house Lucy asked to see the pictures of their time at the University. She found a picture of the three of them with Juliet and a man named Gus Everley. in the background. Juliet had gone to Leads University the same time Adam, Scott and Cora had gone there. Lucy became obsessed now trying to find out more about Juliet and why Scott was in Maldives. Lucy decides to go and tell the police what she suspects. After talking to them as she is leaving she sees Ruth's husband with the police coming into the station. He is covered in blood. Lucy decides to go and check up on Ruth but when she gets there she sees lots of police cars at the house and that Ruth had been found unconscious on her kitchen floor. When Lucy comes home she finds Adam, Cora and Scott at the house but Scott gets a call and has to leave. Later he comes back to their house upset as he had been at the police station being questioned.. He does admit that he knew Juliet and that he had an affair with her.
This is when the story takes all kinds of twists and turns as Lucy tries to find out what all is happening. I will let the reader find out everything as it is too much going on to put on the paper. Everything builds up to an unexpected and surprising climax,
I really enjoyed the story and all the suspense. The author holds the reader's attention throughout to the ending.
Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's and Sons for this ARC.
October 15, 2023
4.5. I was sucked into this book in the first chapter! It was such a great opening. A co-worker is showing honeymoon photos from the Maldives when Lucy believes she recognizes her husband’s best friend in a photo with a woman who is not his wife. Lucy is sure that the woman in the photo is the one that then goes missing. She tells her husband but he doesn’t believe any of it. These are their best friends so now Lucy tries to figure out if these people in the photo really is husband’s best friend or not. Sooooo good. Is she being gaslighted? Is she wrong? Who can she trust?
I really like Lucy’s character. The author portrayed her as a smart woman trying to figure out what the heck is going in between her husband and their best friends.
Preorder this book. Ask your library to order it. You’ll love it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Helen Cooper and G.P. Putnams Sons for the ARC.
I really like Lucy’s character. The author portrayed her as a smart woman trying to figure out what the heck is going in between her husband and their best friends.
Preorder this book. Ask your library to order it. You’ll love it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Helen Cooper and G.P. Putnams Sons for the ARC.
June 26, 2023
Lucy and her husband, Adam, have been best friends with another couple, Cora and Scott, for years. The four are practically family at this point - they vacation together, co-own a beach cottage, and their young children are inseparable.so Lucy is devastated when, while looking at a colleague's photos of a trip to the Maldives, she spots a picture of Scott, apparently on a luxurious holiday with another woman. Lucy is determined to protect her best friend from her husband's apparent infidelity, but when she learns that the woman in the photo has gone missing, she can't help but fear that Scott was involved.
While it was a little slow to start, it did have some really good twists. The characters were well developed. We learn in the first chapter that Lucy sees her friend Scott with another woman in a photo that had been taken in the Maldives. The storyline was a bit predictable and easy to figure out. A series of events has Lucy asking herself if she was imagining things. This is a quick and easy book to read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HodderandStoughton and the author #Helencooper for my ARC of #TheCoupleInThePhoto in exchange for an honest review.
While it was a little slow to start, it did have some really good twists. The characters were well developed. We learn in the first chapter that Lucy sees her friend Scott with another woman in a photo that had been taken in the Maldives. The storyline was a bit predictable and easy to figure out. A series of events has Lucy asking herself if she was imagining things. This is a quick and easy book to read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HodderandStoughton and the author #Helencooper for my ARC of #TheCoupleInThePhoto in exchange for an honest review.
May 25, 2023
We meet Lucy on the day she sees her best friend Scott, married to Cora, in a picture smiling and happy with another woman.
Shock!
Lucy and her husband Adam have a very, very close friendship with Scott and Cora, although Lucy got to know them a couple of years after the other three left university. They are practically family, so Lucy doesn't know what to do. Tell Adam? Would he believe her? Tell Cora? Wouldn't she feel utterly betrayed if Lucy didn't tell her? Tell Scott? Wouldn't he deny it immediately?
Well, the reader will find out soon. And more, because there is a lot more behind a seemingly simple photo of a friend who's having an affair.
The whole story play out in just a couple of weeks and we see the lives of all four characters unravel by the day. By the minute sometimes. I just with Lucy tried a bit harder to express herself more clearly. No wonder more trouble is brewing after Lucy's actions.
Of course everything goes south but there are some surprises. It was a fast read (although it took me a few days because I was very busy) and it kept my interest so therefore it's a solid three stars for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this review copy.
Shock!
Lucy and her husband Adam have a very, very close friendship with Scott and Cora, although Lucy got to know them a couple of years after the other three left university. They are practically family, so Lucy doesn't know what to do. Tell Adam? Would he believe her? Tell Cora? Wouldn't she feel utterly betrayed if Lucy didn't tell her? Tell Scott? Wouldn't he deny it immediately?
Well, the reader will find out soon. And more, because there is a lot more behind a seemingly simple photo of a friend who's having an affair.
The whole story play out in just a couple of weeks and we see the lives of all four characters unravel by the day. By the minute sometimes. I just with Lucy tried a bit harder to express herself more clearly. No wonder more trouble is brewing after Lucy's actions.
Of course everything goes south but there are some surprises. It was a fast read (although it took me a few days because I was very busy) and it kept my interest so therefore it's a solid three stars for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this review copy.
July 13, 2023
Oh my goodness, read another book. This was far fetched and so convoluted! Too many characters to keep track and way too many timeframes to line up to make this work out. It's like someone telling you this is what happened in this place with these people while those people were here and then we went there and then those people were friends of .... get the mess? There's a photo. Someone who is in photo jarrs someone who is seeing the photo's memory and there is the story. I dare you to read it and get this jist. Oh and t's about two couples who hang out together but yeah, back to the photo. This book will make you roll your eyes.
January 6, 2024
How well do you know your closest friends and spouse? This book will have you questioning your relationships from the start. Unreliable narrator? Maybe. I won't spill the secrets.
This book was a wild ride. Kept me entertained and wanting to read more. I'd give it a solid 4 stars. Thank you to #netgalley for the advance copy to review.
This book was a wild ride. Kept me entertained and wanting to read more. I'd give it a solid 4 stars. Thank you to #netgalley for the advance copy to review.
Read
March 23, 2024Lucy and her husband Adam are best friends with Cora and Scott, and Adam was friends with them in his University days, before knowing Lucy. They all do everything together with their kids. Then Lucy sees a photo from a coworker that includes Scott and another woman on a tropical island.
Suspicions arise as a woman goes missing, then is found dead. And now people are acting strange, other photos are making Lucy question her friends and husband. The twists and pacing in this audiobook had me intrigued for most of it, but there did come a point where things spiraled for me.
What would have easily been a 4 star book ended up 3-1/2 for me. But I still recommend it for someone wanting a fun read/listen with good twists.
Suspicions arise as a woman goes missing, then is found dead. And now people are acting strange, other photos are making Lucy question her friends and husband. The twists and pacing in this audiobook had me intrigued for most of it, but there did come a point where things spiraled for me.
What would have easily been a 4 star book ended up 3-1/2 for me. But I still recommend it for someone wanting a fun read/listen with good twists.
December 5, 2023
The author did a great job holding my attention with this story! It started off with a bang, and kept the pace. There was so much gaslighting going on in this book, it was cray! We have two couples who are best friends. Lucy married Adam, and he has been friends with Cora and Scott since Uni. The college friends have a secret they need to stay buried that Lucy has no idea about. When Lucy’s coworker gets back from her honeymoon, she shows Lucy her photos. What Lucy spots startles her….Scott is in the Maldives with a woman who is NOT his wife. Lucy becomes obsessed with this, trying to figure out for certain if her eyes played a trick on her, or it really was Scott. Then the woman he was pictured with winds up dead. Lucy finds herself in a terrible predicament and SO MANY secrets start to unravel.
August 18, 2023
I received an ARC of this book; all thoughts are my own. Many thanks
Helen Cooper's gripping novel, "The Couple in the Photo," is a suspenseful exploration of friendship, trust, and the dark secrets that can unravel even the strongest bonds. With a compelling narrative and a cast of characters whose lives are intricately intertwined, Cooper crafts a tale that delves into the complexities of human relationships and the lengths one will go to protect their loved ones.
Lucy and Adam, along with their close friends Cora and Scott, have shared a deep bond for years, their lives intertwined in a tight-knit friendship that seems unbreakable. Their idyllic existence is shattered when Lucy stumbles upon a photograph of Scott seemingly enjoying a luxurious vacation with another woman. Stricken by the implications of Scott's apparent infidelity, Lucy embarks on a journey to uncover the truth and shield her best friend, Cora, from the painful reality.
As Lucy delves deeper into the mystery, she finds herself entangled in a web of secrets, half-truths, and hidden motives. The disappearance of the woman in the photograph casts a shadow of doubt over her friends and even her own husband, Adam. The more Lucy investigates, the more she realizes that the people she thought she knew best may be harboring shocking secrets of their own.
Cooper skillfully builds tension and suspense as Lucy races against time to unravel the truth. The narrative is fraught with twists and turns, leading Lucy down unexpected paths and forcing her to confront uncomfortable truths about the people she holds dear. Lucy's determination to uncover the reality behind the photograph thrusts her into a dangerous game of deception and betrayal, where the consequences of unearthing the truth could be devastating.
"The Couple in the Photo" is more than just a mystery—it's a thought-provoking exploration of human nature, vulnerability, and the intricate dynamics of friendship and marriage. Cooper delves into the psyche of her characters, revealing their fears, desires, and insecurities as they grapple with the consequences of their actions. As Lucy inches closer to the heart of the mystery, readers are drawn into a world of suspense, manipulation, and moral ambiguity.
With its engaging characters and skillful narrative pacing, "The Couple in the Photo" keeps readers on the edge of their seats, eager to unravel the layers of deception and uncover the truth that lies beneath. Helen Cooper's novel is a riveting examination of the lengths people will go to protect their loved ones, even if it means confronting uncomfortable truths and facing the consequences of their choices. As Lucy's search for answers intensifies, the boundaries between loyalty and self-preservation blur, leaving readers questioning how well they truly know those closest to them.
Helen Cooper's gripping novel, "The Couple in the Photo," is a suspenseful exploration of friendship, trust, and the dark secrets that can unravel even the strongest bonds. With a compelling narrative and a cast of characters whose lives are intricately intertwined, Cooper crafts a tale that delves into the complexities of human relationships and the lengths one will go to protect their loved ones.
Lucy and Adam, along with their close friends Cora and Scott, have shared a deep bond for years, their lives intertwined in a tight-knit friendship that seems unbreakable. Their idyllic existence is shattered when Lucy stumbles upon a photograph of Scott seemingly enjoying a luxurious vacation with another woman. Stricken by the implications of Scott's apparent infidelity, Lucy embarks on a journey to uncover the truth and shield her best friend, Cora, from the painful reality.
As Lucy delves deeper into the mystery, she finds herself entangled in a web of secrets, half-truths, and hidden motives. The disappearance of the woman in the photograph casts a shadow of doubt over her friends and even her own husband, Adam. The more Lucy investigates, the more she realizes that the people she thought she knew best may be harboring shocking secrets of their own.
Cooper skillfully builds tension and suspense as Lucy races against time to unravel the truth. The narrative is fraught with twists and turns, leading Lucy down unexpected paths and forcing her to confront uncomfortable truths about the people she holds dear. Lucy's determination to uncover the reality behind the photograph thrusts her into a dangerous game of deception and betrayal, where the consequences of unearthing the truth could be devastating.
"The Couple in the Photo" is more than just a mystery—it's a thought-provoking exploration of human nature, vulnerability, and the intricate dynamics of friendship and marriage. Cooper delves into the psyche of her characters, revealing their fears, desires, and insecurities as they grapple with the consequences of their actions. As Lucy inches closer to the heart of the mystery, readers are drawn into a world of suspense, manipulation, and moral ambiguity.
With its engaging characters and skillful narrative pacing, "The Couple in the Photo" keeps readers on the edge of their seats, eager to unravel the layers of deception and uncover the truth that lies beneath. Helen Cooper's novel is a riveting examination of the lengths people will go to protect their loved ones, even if it means confronting uncomfortable truths and facing the consequences of their choices. As Lucy's search for answers intensifies, the boundaries between loyalty and self-preservation blur, leaving readers questioning how well they truly know those closest to them.
November 27, 2023
BOOK: The Couple in the Photo
AUTHOR: Helen Cooper
PUB DATE: 12/5/23 by @penguinrandomhouse
PAGES: 368
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
GENRE: Psychological Thriller
A BIG thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Putnam Group for gifting me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
SYNOPSIS: Lucy and her husband, Adam, have been best friends with another couple, Cora & Scott for years. The four are practically family at this point--they vacation together, co-own a beach cottage, and their young children are inseparable. So, Lucy is devastated when, while looking at a colleague's photos of a trip to the Maldives, she spots a picture of Scott, apparently on a luxurious holiday with another woman. Lucy is determined to protect her best friend from her husband's seeming infidelity, but when she learns that the woman in the photo has gone missing, she can't help but fear that Scott was involved. As she searches for answers, she uncovers secrets about her friends and her own husband that could destroy the wonderful lives they have built...and she suspects that everybody around her knows much more about the missing woman than they are letting on. Is Lucy actually the one most in the dark? If so, what are the consequences of discovering the truth?
REVIEW: This was one of my top suspense arcs this year! The story was engaging from the very beginning, and I had a difficult time putting it down. It was also my first time reading from this author and I’m excited to read more by her! Look for this one! It comes out on December 5th! I highly suggest it!
Happy Reading!
AUTHOR: Helen Cooper
PUB DATE: 12/5/23 by @penguinrandomhouse
PAGES: 368
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
GENRE: Psychological Thriller
A BIG thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Putnam Group for gifting me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
SYNOPSIS: Lucy and her husband, Adam, have been best friends with another couple, Cora & Scott for years. The four are practically family at this point--they vacation together, co-own a beach cottage, and their young children are inseparable. So, Lucy is devastated when, while looking at a colleague's photos of a trip to the Maldives, she spots a picture of Scott, apparently on a luxurious holiday with another woman. Lucy is determined to protect her best friend from her husband's seeming infidelity, but when she learns that the woman in the photo has gone missing, she can't help but fear that Scott was involved. As she searches for answers, she uncovers secrets about her friends and her own husband that could destroy the wonderful lives they have built...and she suspects that everybody around her knows much more about the missing woman than they are letting on. Is Lucy actually the one most in the dark? If so, what are the consequences of discovering the truth?
REVIEW: This was one of my top suspense arcs this year! The story was engaging from the very beginning, and I had a difficult time putting it down. It was also my first time reading from this author and I’m excited to read more by her! Look for this one! It comes out on December 5th! I highly suggest it!
Happy Reading!
October 30, 2023
I thought this book was really good and I was left in suspense for much of the time. It centers on Lucy, who sees a picture of one of her best friends with a woman that isn’t his wife. This leads her to questioning everything she took for granted about her close relationships.
Lucy originally got on my nerves because she was like a dog with a bone, even when others told her to back off. Once it became apparent that there was more to the story, I appreciated her approach more. There were some great twists in the story that I didn’t see coming. The end seemed like it wrapped things up awfully quickly after many other parts of the book were more of a slow burn, but I still felt satisfied with the way it all came together.
Overall, this was a good book with a unique storyline that kept me guessing. I’d recommend to those who enjoy psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Lucy originally got on my nerves because she was like a dog with a bone, even when others told her to back off. Once it became apparent that there was more to the story, I appreciated her approach more. There were some great twists in the story that I didn’t see coming. The end seemed like it wrapped things up awfully quickly after many other parts of the book were more of a slow burn, but I still felt satisfied with the way it all came together.
Overall, this was a good book with a unique storyline that kept me guessing. I’d recommend to those who enjoy psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 11, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
The Couple in the Photo.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
Lucy and her husband, are a happy couple with two daughters.
Their close friendship with Cora and Scott have entwined their families and children together and they wouldn't have it any other way.
But, when Lucy sees a photo with Scott with another woman, years of lies and deceit begin to unravel, and Lucy discovers her marriage and friends are not what they appear to be.
First, the novel forces the reader to take a big gulp of disbelief suspension right from the start; that a coworker of Lucy has snapped a photo of Scott with another woman because out of all the people in the world, Lucy's coworker has spent her honeymoon on the same island as scumbag Scott.
Seriously, what are the odds???
The novel begins slowly, and the pace is slow, ohhhh so slow as Lucy ruminates and obsesses over Scott's involvement with this mystery woman.
Her anxiety increases when the mystery woman goes missing and is found death.
All the drama and deceit is revealed at the end, and it's a Lifetime-y cornucopia of outlandishness, ridiculousness, love triangle drama mama.
I wasn't a fan of the third person narrative, nor was I a fan of Lucy, Adam, Scott or Cora.
I liked Lucy's doggedness in seeking the truth, but like most spouses in these novels, she was the odd man out.
The only one not privy to the secrets and deep rooted jealousy and unrequited love that bound her husband and his college friends together.
The twists and revelations are both predictable and hilariously, overly dramatic, especially what happens to Cora in the end.
The narrative could have used more editing and less filler, but the plain and simple fact was I just couldn't suspend disbelief to believe Lucy's coworker would be vacationing on the same island as Scott.
** Minor spoilers ahead **
Lucy and her husband, are a happy couple with two daughters.
Their close friendship with Cora and Scott have entwined their families and children together and they wouldn't have it any other way.
But, when Lucy sees a photo with Scott with another woman, years of lies and deceit begin to unravel, and Lucy discovers her marriage and friends are not what they appear to be.
First, the novel forces the reader to take a big gulp of disbelief suspension right from the start; that a coworker of Lucy has snapped a photo of Scott with another woman because out of all the people in the world, Lucy's coworker has spent her honeymoon on the same island as scumbag Scott.
Seriously, what are the odds???
The novel begins slowly, and the pace is slow, ohhhh so slow as Lucy ruminates and obsesses over Scott's involvement with this mystery woman.
Her anxiety increases when the mystery woman goes missing and is found death.
All the drama and deceit is revealed at the end, and it's a Lifetime-y cornucopia of outlandishness, ridiculousness, love triangle drama mama.
I wasn't a fan of the third person narrative, nor was I a fan of Lucy, Adam, Scott or Cora.
I liked Lucy's doggedness in seeking the truth, but like most spouses in these novels, she was the odd man out.
The only one not privy to the secrets and deep rooted jealousy and unrequited love that bound her husband and his college friends together.
The twists and revelations are both predictable and hilariously, overly dramatic, especially what happens to Cora in the end.
The narrative could have used more editing and less filler, but the plain and simple fact was I just couldn't suspend disbelief to believe Lucy's coworker would be vacationing on the same island as Scott.
January 16, 2024
Who could imagine an innocent vacation photo could lead to deadly secrets being exposed, murder and lives being changed forever? Well, in this new thriller, The Couple In The Photo that is exactly what occurs! And be warned! Once you begin the book, you will not be able to stop until you find out the truth!
Lucy and Adam, Cora and Scott have been best friends for years. Adam, Cora and Scott were besties in college. They and their children do everything together. They have even bought a cottage which they are fixing up so they can spend even more time together.
But something changes this friendship when Lucy sees a picture taken by a co-worker during her Maldives honeymoon on her phone. It seems to be a couple they met and it’s her friend Scott and the woman beside him is not his wife Cora! She asks her friend their names and even though she is absolutely sure this is Scott; the name is not his. As a matter of fact, he was supposed to be on a work trip in Japan when the picture was taken.
With her interest piqued, of course she goes home and tells her husband, Adam. But he thinks she perhaps made a mistake because of course Scott would never cheat on Cora and he was in Japan.
But that all changes when she confronts Scott and discovers some suspicious clues. Then, her co-worker ghosts her as she once again tries to see the photo. Why on earth would she avoid her? But once the Pandora’s Box is opened, it cannot be closed and when the mysterious woman ends up dead, murdered in the Maldives, well Lucy knows she must go to the police.
She begins to suspect not only Scott of nefarious behavior, but Adam and Cora as well. Lucy must make some very hard choices which could not only ruin all their lives, but could possibly put her in danger as well.
Perhaps she has unknowingly become the next victim in a pact made years before which she never knew existed. But what happened back then which could possibly affect what is happening today?
The Couple In The Photo is a jaw dropping read which will continually shock you and the ending? Well, picture perfect!
Thank you #NetGalley #G.P.Putnam’sSons #TheCoupleInThePhoto #HelenCooper for the advanced copy.
Lucy and Adam, Cora and Scott have been best friends for years. Adam, Cora and Scott were besties in college. They and their children do everything together. They have even bought a cottage which they are fixing up so they can spend even more time together.
But something changes this friendship when Lucy sees a picture taken by a co-worker during her Maldives honeymoon on her phone. It seems to be a couple they met and it’s her friend Scott and the woman beside him is not his wife Cora! She asks her friend their names and even though she is absolutely sure this is Scott; the name is not his. As a matter of fact, he was supposed to be on a work trip in Japan when the picture was taken.
With her interest piqued, of course she goes home and tells her husband, Adam. But he thinks she perhaps made a mistake because of course Scott would never cheat on Cora and he was in Japan.
But that all changes when she confronts Scott and discovers some suspicious clues. Then, her co-worker ghosts her as she once again tries to see the photo. Why on earth would she avoid her? But once the Pandora’s Box is opened, it cannot be closed and when the mysterious woman ends up dead, murdered in the Maldives, well Lucy knows she must go to the police.
She begins to suspect not only Scott of nefarious behavior, but Adam and Cora as well. Lucy must make some very hard choices which could not only ruin all their lives, but could possibly put her in danger as well.
Perhaps she has unknowingly become the next victim in a pact made years before which she never knew existed. But what happened back then which could possibly affect what is happening today?
The Couple In The Photo is a jaw dropping read which will continually shock you and the ending? Well, picture perfect!
Thank you #NetGalley #G.P.Putnam’sSons #TheCoupleInThePhoto #HelenCooper for the advanced copy.
March 19, 2025
OVERVIEW:
Great suspense, clean fiction, lots of twists and turns - the plot just keeps on thickening. I was fooled as to the “bad guy” eventually turned out to be - and the lengths that person went to in order to keep secrets.
I especially like how this one concluded, with an enjoyable epilogue.
OF NOTE:
A few sprinklings of f-bombs.
CONCLUSION:
Recommended.
- Desiree Reads
The Bookish Birder
March 18, 2025
See more book recs @ https://bookshop.org/shop/TheBookishB...
Great suspense, clean fiction, lots of twists and turns - the plot just keeps on thickening. I was fooled as to the “bad guy” eventually turned out to be - and the lengths that person went to in order to keep secrets.
I especially like how this one concluded, with an enjoyable epilogue.
OF NOTE:
A few sprinklings of f-bombs.
CONCLUSION:
Recommended.
- Desiree Reads
The Bookish Birder
March 18, 2025
See more book recs @ https://bookshop.org/shop/TheBookishB...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2023
This is my third Helen Cooper thriller. As I loved the first two I had very high expectations of this one, and I can confidently say that she hasn't let me down. It was brilliant!
The story involves two young couples who live in Leicester, England. Lucy and Adam - Cora and Scott. They all have jobs outside the home and both couples have two young children. They are very close friends and do a lot of socializing together - they even bought a summer cottage together in Norfolk.
When Lucy, a teacher, sees her co-worker's holiday photos she is shocked to recognize Scot her close friend, on the beach in the Maldives with a woman who is NOT Cora. She is very upset by this as she doesn't want to jeopardize her friend's marriage by saying anything. Yet, she is torn by wanted to be honest with Cora... When the woman in the photo she saw is on the news reported as missing, things begin to spiral... Strangely, her co-worker doesn't seem to want to acknowledge that the woman in the photo is the same woman that is missing. Why?
"...she felt a surge of resentment that Scott's secrets were spawning her own, like toxic pieces breaking off and taking root where they landed."
This is a novel of secrets. Secrets that can fester and taint all those privy to them. It exemplifies the knowledge that a person can never fully know someone else. How even deep trust can erode given the right circumstances.
Yes, there is a plot twist or two that will satisfy lovers of the genre.
Highly, highly, recommended to those readers who enjoy intelligently plotted thrillers.
4.5 stars rounded up
The story involves two young couples who live in Leicester, England. Lucy and Adam - Cora and Scott. They all have jobs outside the home and both couples have two young children. They are very close friends and do a lot of socializing together - they even bought a summer cottage together in Norfolk.
When Lucy, a teacher, sees her co-worker's holiday photos she is shocked to recognize Scot her close friend, on the beach in the Maldives with a woman who is NOT Cora. She is very upset by this as she doesn't want to jeopardize her friend's marriage by saying anything. Yet, she is torn by wanted to be honest with Cora... When the woman in the photo she saw is on the news reported as missing, things begin to spiral... Strangely, her co-worker doesn't seem to want to acknowledge that the woman in the photo is the same woman that is missing. Why?
"...she felt a surge of resentment that Scott's secrets were spawning her own, like toxic pieces breaking off and taking root where they landed."
This is a novel of secrets. Secrets that can fester and taint all those privy to them. It exemplifies the knowledge that a person can never fully know someone else. How even deep trust can erode given the right circumstances.
Yes, there is a plot twist or two that will satisfy lovers of the genre.
Highly, highly, recommended to those readers who enjoy intelligently plotted thrillers.
4.5 stars rounded up
April 22, 2023
Lucy is looking at her coworker's honeymoon pictures when she sees her best friend's husband with another woman vacationing in the Maldives. Not knowing what to do with this shocking information she confides in her husband who encourages her that she must be mistaken.. But she doesn't let it deter her and begins doing her own detective work trying to put together all the pieces and find proof before destroying Cora's life. .When the woman turns up missing Lucy can't keep it to herself any longer, she goes to the police to tell them what she knows, and everything begins to unravel.
This book will keep you on the edge of your seat, and keep you guessing to the very end!
Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC for an honest review.
This book will keep you on the edge of your seat, and keep you guessing to the very end!
Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC for an honest review.
March 21, 2023
When I saw a new book from Cooper I moved it to the top of my TBR list. It did not disappoint -- plenty of surprises kept me turning the pages.
*Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
*Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
July 14, 2023
★★★ 3.5 stars
The camera never lies...but someone is...
Let's just take a moment to admire that cover...and imagine being in the Maldives ourselves. That crystal clear water. The sunshine in the ocean blue sky. The luxury of such a destination.
That's just what Lucy was admiring in her colleague's photos upon returning from her honeymoon. Until she saw a familiar face...one that shouldn't be there. her husband's best friend Scott in the Maldives with his arm around a woman that wasn't his wife. Lucy doesn't know what to do with this information at first. After all, she and her husband Adam have been best friends with the Scott and his wife Cora for nearly two decades and their children are inseparable. They are practically family. In fact, they even co-own a holiday cottage in Norfolk that they are renovating together. Their lives are perfect.
But when Lucy sees this photo of Scott with another woman in the Maldives when he is supposed to be on a business trip in Tokyo, she begins to realise that maybe their lives aren't quite as perfect as she had thought. And that nothing is as it seems.
And then shortly afterwards, the woman from the photograph goes missing - last seen in the Maldives. And Lucy starts to question everything she thought she knew about those closest to her and wonders whether those that she loves and trusted the most may not be who she thought they were.
Beginning as a steady slow burn, the story soon picks up pace as Lucy realises that things aren't always what they seem. In the space of just a couple of weeks, the lives of each of the characters unravel by the day. It leaves you pondering just how well you know those closest to you.
My first read by Cooper and it was certainly interesting they way the story played out and how it all came together and then fell apart. I did predict the twists almost from the start but then as a seasoned mystery thriller fan, I tend to look where there aren't any clues and see what isn't there...and then piece it together. But in doing so, it doesn't ruin my enjoyment of a good story. And I did enjoy this thriller. In fact I read it in one sitting tonight in bed and am jotting out this review before I go to sleep.
Overall, a good read but nothing overly spectacular though still reasonably entertaining.
I would like to thank #HelenCooper, #Netgalley and #HodderAndStoughton for an ARC of #TheCoupleInThePhoto in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
The camera never lies...but someone is...
Let's just take a moment to admire that cover...and imagine being in the Maldives ourselves. That crystal clear water. The sunshine in the ocean blue sky. The luxury of such a destination.
That's just what Lucy was admiring in her colleague's photos upon returning from her honeymoon. Until she saw a familiar face...one that shouldn't be there. her husband's best friend Scott in the Maldives with his arm around a woman that wasn't his wife. Lucy doesn't know what to do with this information at first. After all, she and her husband Adam have been best friends with the Scott and his wife Cora for nearly two decades and their children are inseparable. They are practically family. In fact, they even co-own a holiday cottage in Norfolk that they are renovating together. Their lives are perfect.
But when Lucy sees this photo of Scott with another woman in the Maldives when he is supposed to be on a business trip in Tokyo, she begins to realise that maybe their lives aren't quite as perfect as she had thought. And that nothing is as it seems.
And then shortly afterwards, the woman from the photograph goes missing - last seen in the Maldives. And Lucy starts to question everything she thought she knew about those closest to her and wonders whether those that she loves and trusted the most may not be who she thought they were.
Beginning as a steady slow burn, the story soon picks up pace as Lucy realises that things aren't always what they seem. In the space of just a couple of weeks, the lives of each of the characters unravel by the day. It leaves you pondering just how well you know those closest to you.
My first read by Cooper and it was certainly interesting they way the story played out and how it all came together and then fell apart. I did predict the twists almost from the start but then as a seasoned mystery thriller fan, I tend to look where there aren't any clues and see what isn't there...and then piece it together. But in doing so, it doesn't ruin my enjoyment of a good story. And I did enjoy this thriller. In fact I read it in one sitting tonight in bed and am jotting out this review before I go to sleep.
Overall, a good read but nothing overly spectacular though still reasonably entertaining.
I would like to thank #HelenCooper, #Netgalley and #HodderAndStoughton for an ARC of #TheCoupleInThePhoto in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
June 12, 2025
Thank you to PRH Audio for the copy, all thoughts are my own.
I’m not gonna lie, this took me a while to listen to. The first section drags on, but once things start unraveling it picks up. There is gaslighting, toxic friendships, and honestly a nightmare of a situation. Looking back now that I’m done with it, I can appreciate how the first section was written. Lucy and her obsession, the never letting it go, picking at the tiniest of inconsistencies, until she finally finds a thread that brings the whole house crashing down, with people inside.
Lucy has an idyllic life. Her loving husband, two kids, and his best friends from uni that are married and have two kids the same age. They even bought a vacation house and are redoing it together. So the last thing she expects when she looks at her coworker’s honeymoon pictures was a very familiar face with his arm around someone who is very much not his wife. And then for that same lady to end up dead. But the picture disappears, and all evidence proves that he was never there. So what the heck happened?
I’m not gonna lie, this took me a while to listen to. The first section drags on, but once things start unraveling it picks up. There is gaslighting, toxic friendships, and honestly a nightmare of a situation. Looking back now that I’m done with it, I can appreciate how the first section was written. Lucy and her obsession, the never letting it go, picking at the tiniest of inconsistencies, until she finally finds a thread that brings the whole house crashing down, with people inside.
Lucy has an idyllic life. Her loving husband, two kids, and his best friends from uni that are married and have two kids the same age. They even bought a vacation house and are redoing it together. So the last thing she expects when she looks at her coworker’s honeymoon pictures was a very familiar face with his arm around someone who is very much not his wife. And then for that same lady to end up dead. But the picture disappears, and all evidence proves that he was never there. So what the heck happened?
January 7, 2024
Middling, at best. It’s always the too good to be true partner.
Luce(y) is married to Ad (am) and they are couple bffs with Scott & Cor(a) - the constant nicknaming was irritating.
Except for Lucy, the others have all been friends since college. Of course Adam loves Cora, & he also loves photoshop.
He’s been mocking up photos for almost 20 years , resulting in one death that was covered up during their uni days, one death by a crazed wife, and then the death of that crazed wife.
At least Lucy wasn’t too dumb & went to the police right away despite Adam’s best tries to gaslight her. Don’t worry he gets arrested, him & Lucy divorce, and the end.
Luce(y) is married to Ad (am) and they are couple bffs with Scott & Cor(a) - the constant nicknaming was irritating.
Except for Lucy, the others have all been friends since college. Of course Adam loves Cora, & he also loves photoshop.
He’s been mocking up photos for almost 20 years , resulting in one death that was covered up during their uni days, one death by a crazed wife, and then the death of that crazed wife.
At least Lucy wasn’t too dumb & went to the police right away despite Adam’s best tries to gaslight her. Don’t worry he gets arrested, him & Lucy divorce, and the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2024
I never thought this book would end… this put me into a reading slump. It started out promising and I was really interested in the first few chapters but I honestly was left confused and so uninterested by the end. I’ve never disliked so many characters in one book before.
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