The story is centred around two couples who are friends - Christian and Lily, and Nina and Jake. When Jake goes missing, readers are given a few nefarious reasons why he hasn't turned up, but the possible culprits and motives weren't shocking with most feeling felt farfetched and overly contrived. The story started out strong, but the tension quickly fades into a very slowly paced story with writing that felt surprisingly repetitive and choppy (not Kubica's usual style or caliber). I ended up skimming the middle of the book until the tension picked up at the end, but by then it felt 'too little, too late'.
This didn't feel like a typical twisty suspenseful Kubica book to me with its lack of tension, flat characters and its writing style. It was a very odd read for me, but even though Just The Nicest Couple wasn't as strong of a thriller as I've come to expect from Kubica, I continue to be a fan of hers and eagerly await her next book.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Park Row Books who provided me with a complimentary digital copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
My Rating: 3 stars
Author: Mary Kubica
Genre: Suspense
Type and Source: eBook from publisher via NetGalley
Publisher: Park Row (Harlequin Trade Pub.)
First Published: January 10, 2023
Book Description from GoodReads: Two couples, two close friends, one missing husband…
Jake Hayes is missing. This much is certain. At first, his wife, Nina, thinks he is blowing off steam at a friend’s house after their heated fight the night before. But then a day goes by. Two days. Five. And Jake is still nowhere to be found.
Lily Scott, Nina’s friend and coworker, thinks she may have been the last to see Jake before he went missing. After Lily confesses everything to her husband, Christian, the two decide that nobody can find out what happened leading up to Jake’s disappearance, especially not Nina. But Nina is out there looking for her husband, and she won’t stop until the truth is discovered.
Oh, that's such a bummer when a much-anticipated read doesn't quite hit the mark. I suppose even the best writers can't have winners every time. This is a book I am SO excited for, but I will temper my expectations when I get a chance to read it.
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