The Perfect Couple
Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Genre: Chick Lit/Mystery
Published On: June 19, 2018
Published By: Little, Brown and Company
Pages: 466 [hardcover]
Celeste Otis is the only child of Bruce and Karen Otis and has grown up, although humbly, feeling enormously loved. Karen has cancer and it has spread to her bones. She does not have much more time to live. Celeste is devastated by the thought of losing her mother, but at least she has Benji.
Benjamin Winbury, Benji for short, has grown up in extreme wealth. His mother, Greer, is a best-selling mystery novelist and comes from ‘old money’. His father, Tag, is one of those investment banker/CEO types. Benji has a penthouse in NYC. His family has summer estate on Natucket, along with a team of landscapers, house keepers, and nannies.
Celeste Otis and Benjamin Winbury are to be married on July 7, 2018.
Typical to Hilderbrand’s summertime setting, The Perfect Couple takes place on the picturesque island of Nantucket. It is wedding season, which brings an abundance of extravagance, tourism, and chaos to the island.
On the morning of the big day, Celeste’s maid-of-honor and best friend, Merritt, is found dead floating in the harbor.
“The bride was the one who found her floating, her best friend, her maid of honor. The bride was . . . well, she was hysterical and she’s such a sweet kid. Her big day ended before it even began, and in complete tragedy.”
Everyone is questioned.
Everyone is a suspect.
Everyone has secrets.
No couple is perfect.
The Perfect Couple is Hilderbrand’s first murder-mystery novel. I have to say: well done, Elin. It grasped my attention from the first page to the last, I savored every word.
The story is told from the point-of-view of several characters, including Celeste (the bride), her dying mother, and the Nantucket Chief of Police. I love when authors successfully incorporate alternating viewpoints; it adds depth and empathizing characterization to the story.
My Rating:
The Queen of Summer Beach Reads.
Everyone has a go-to author for summer reads. For me, it is strictly Elin Hilderbrand. I have been a huge fan of her for years, I even met her at a book signing this past winter! She is not only a captivating writer, but also a fashionista, foodie, single mother of three, and breast cancer survivor.
Ooh this sounds so good! I’m going to have to read it soon!