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A review by jhscolloquium
Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Just the Nicest Couple focuses on two couples living in Chicago suburb. Lily Scott is a high school algebra teacher and her husband, Christian, works as a market research analyst. Lily is pregnant and after three heartbreaking miscarriages, they are cautiously excited about the fact that she is nearing the end of the first trimester of the pregnancy, a milestone they did not previously reach. They have not told anyone that they are expecting again. They stretched their budget to purchase their dream home, set on the edge of a large forest with breathtaking views. Bestselling author Mary Kubica modeled the locale after Waterfall Glen, a preserve “where I’ve trained for marathons. It’s beautiful, densely wooded with a limestone path that weaves between forests and beside ponds, and is filled with wildlife.” In his first-person narrative, Christian reveals he is excited that their dream of becoming parents seems to be closer to coming true every day and remains deeply in love with the wife who is, to him, beautiful, petite, and delicate. His protectiveness of Lily leads him into a moral quagmire.
In contrast, the marriage of Jake Hayes, a highly successful neurosurgeon, and Nina, who teaches English at the same high school as Lily, has hit a rough patch. The story opens on the day after they had a particularly vicious argument and Jake stormed out of the house. He did not return and is not answering Nina’s calls or text messages. She is growing increasingly worried. She explains in her first-person narrative that the two have been at odds over the amount of time she has been spending assisting her mother. At just sixty-two years of age, her mother has been healthy and able to live independently until recently. Now, not only is she unable to drive because she is suffering from macular degeneration (the wet form which is resistant to treatment and ultimately leads to blindness), she recently discovered a mass in her breast which is being evaluated. Nina is an only child and her mother raised her alone after her parents divorced due to her father’s infidelity. In time, he also abandoned Nina, who has remained close to and feels an obligation to care for her mother She and Jake have argued numerous times over what she describes as Jake’s jealousy and resentment about the amount of time and attention Nina spends caring for her mother’s needs, which detracts from their time together as a couple.
Lily and Nina are good friends and tell each other everything, according to Nina. And the two couples have occasionally socialized together. But as Nina is worrying about Jake’s whereabouts and the state of their marriage, Lily confesses to Christian that she lost one of the earrings he gave her as a fifth wedding anniversary present. It must have become dislodged when she happened upon Jake as she was walking in Langley Woods, the forest preserve behind their house. Jake confided in her that he was troubled about being unable to save a few patients recently and having marital problems with Nina, and led her down an unmarked trail, looking for deer. “He tried to kiss me,” Lily tells Christian, and the situation escalated. Lily claims to be unsure about Jake’s fate, but she “might have hurt him.” And then she ran back to her car as fast as she could. She is covered with scrapes and bruises, and did not report the incident to the police or anyone else, explaining that she “couldn’t bring herself to tell Nina because she didn’t want to hurt her like that. Nine would have been devastated if she knew what Jake tried to do.” Hours later, Lily is “haunted by what happened” and concerned about Jake’s well-being.
Kubica is known for crafting compulsive, fast-paced domestic thrillers featuring fascinating, fully developed characters. In Just the Nicest Couple, her four main characters are complex and compelling. Christian and Lily do, in fact, seem like a quintessentially nice young couple. They are educated, have solidly established themselves in their careers, and have settled into a home they love. Lily’s current pregnancy seems, so far at least, on track to end joyfully. Their marriage is a happy one. But the incident with Jake upends their peaceful domesticity. Christian is earnest, likable, and devoted to Lily, who has never previously given him a reason to distrust her. He details why they opt not to belatedly report Jake’s assault on Lily to the police, their search for Jake back at Langley Woods, and the increasingly desperate measures – most of which are by his design -- they employ to ensure that if something untoward has happened to Jake, Lily will not be implicated. After all, Christian also must protect their unborn child.
In her alternating narrative, Nina details the tension in her marriage in the months leading up to Jake’s disappearance, her efforts to find him, and the unwavering support she receives from her mother. She also takes steps to protect her mother, who is vulnerable because of her visual impairment. Kubica thoughtfully explores Nina’s difficulty balancing the demands of her husband against her devotion to a parent who is growing older and facing health challenges. Despite their recent struggles, Nina fondly recalls and longs for happier days with Jake, still loves him, and is intent on learning whether he callously decided to leave her following their last argument . . . or is unable to come home to her. As she searches for answers, her suspicions grow. In addition to Nina’s mother, another supporting character also figures prominently in the tale. Ryan, a fellow teacher at the high school, is a devoted friend to Nina. But his behavior grows increasingly concerning and Kubica keeps readers guessing about his motivations. Does he want more than friendship from Nina? Is he somehow involved in Jake’s disappearance?
The main theme of Just the Nicest Couple is the moral dilemma that Christian faces. Kubica asks readers to consider how far they would go to protect a loved one from the consequences of his/her poor decision-making, especially with potential criminal liability looming. Christian must choose between his own sense of right and wrong, and the preservation of the life he has built with Lily. Kubica propels the story forward as Christian confronts what – and who – he is willing to sacrifice to safeguard his wife so that they can raise their child together.
Kubica’s approach to telling the story is inventive and provocative. As noted, readers get to know Christian and Nina, and are privy to their thoughts and emotional struggles via their alternating first-person narratives. However, she does not include narratives from either Jake or Lily. Rather, readers get acquainted with them only through the recollections, observations, and impressions of their partners and friends. Thus, Christian and Nina are inherently unreliable narrators. As the story progresses, it becomes apparent that Lily’s stated version of her interactions with Jake may not have been fully accurate and truthful. Meanwhile, Christian’s questionable decision-making escalates, heightening the danger in which he and Lily find themselves. Nina, meanwhile, gradually discovers that her perceptions of her relationships with those most important to her were severely flawed, and her life will never play out the way she once thought it would.
Kubica says she strives to create characters with whom her readers will connect, hoping readers will relate to them and step into their shoes as “they make really stupid decisions.” In Just the Nicest Couple Kubica takes readers on a turbulent emotional journey with Christian and Nina, and their spouses, injecting clues, revelations about the characters’ marriages, and plenty of red herrings along the way, as the pace of the action escalates and the story careens to a shocking climax. She says it is also important to her that once all the surprising plot twists are revealed, readers remain interested to see what ultimately happens to her characters. Indeed, she provides an emotionally satisfying conclusion to an absorbing, entertaining, and thought-provoking story.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.
In contrast, the marriage of Jake Hayes, a highly successful neurosurgeon, and Nina, who teaches English at the same high school as Lily, has hit a rough patch. The story opens on the day after they had a particularly vicious argument and Jake stormed out of the house. He did not return and is not answering Nina’s calls or text messages. She is growing increasingly worried. She explains in her first-person narrative that the two have been at odds over the amount of time she has been spending assisting her mother. At just sixty-two years of age, her mother has been healthy and able to live independently until recently. Now, not only is she unable to drive because she is suffering from macular degeneration (the wet form which is resistant to treatment and ultimately leads to blindness), she recently discovered a mass in her breast which is being evaluated. Nina is an only child and her mother raised her alone after her parents divorced due to her father’s infidelity. In time, he also abandoned Nina, who has remained close to and feels an obligation to care for her mother She and Jake have argued numerous times over what she describes as Jake’s jealousy and resentment about the amount of time and attention Nina spends caring for her mother’s needs, which detracts from their time together as a couple.
Lily and Nina are good friends and tell each other everything, according to Nina. And the two couples have occasionally socialized together. But as Nina is worrying about Jake’s whereabouts and the state of their marriage, Lily confesses to Christian that she lost one of the earrings he gave her as a fifth wedding anniversary present. It must have become dislodged when she happened upon Jake as she was walking in Langley Woods, the forest preserve behind their house. Jake confided in her that he was troubled about being unable to save a few patients recently and having marital problems with Nina, and led her down an unmarked trail, looking for deer. “He tried to kiss me,” Lily tells Christian, and the situation escalated. Lily claims to be unsure about Jake’s fate, but she “might have hurt him.” And then she ran back to her car as fast as she could. She is covered with scrapes and bruises, and did not report the incident to the police or anyone else, explaining that she “couldn’t bring herself to tell Nina because she didn’t want to hurt her like that. Nine would have been devastated if she knew what Jake tried to do.” Hours later, Lily is “haunted by what happened” and concerned about Jake’s well-being.
Kubica is known for crafting compulsive, fast-paced domestic thrillers featuring fascinating, fully developed characters. In Just the Nicest Couple, her four main characters are complex and compelling. Christian and Lily do, in fact, seem like a quintessentially nice young couple. They are educated, have solidly established themselves in their careers, and have settled into a home they love. Lily’s current pregnancy seems, so far at least, on track to end joyfully. Their marriage is a happy one. But the incident with Jake upends their peaceful domesticity. Christian is earnest, likable, and devoted to Lily, who has never previously given him a reason to distrust her. He details why they opt not to belatedly report Jake’s assault on Lily to the police, their search for Jake back at Langley Woods, and the increasingly desperate measures – most of which are by his design -- they employ to ensure that if something untoward has happened to Jake, Lily will not be implicated. After all, Christian also must protect their unborn child.
In her alternating narrative, Nina details the tension in her marriage in the months leading up to Jake’s disappearance, her efforts to find him, and the unwavering support she receives from her mother. She also takes steps to protect her mother, who is vulnerable because of her visual impairment. Kubica thoughtfully explores Nina’s difficulty balancing the demands of her husband against her devotion to a parent who is growing older and facing health challenges. Despite their recent struggles, Nina fondly recalls and longs for happier days with Jake, still loves him, and is intent on learning whether he callously decided to leave her following their last argument . . . or is unable to come home to her. As she searches for answers, her suspicions grow. In addition to Nina’s mother, another supporting character also figures prominently in the tale. Ryan, a fellow teacher at the high school, is a devoted friend to Nina. But his behavior grows increasingly concerning and Kubica keeps readers guessing about his motivations. Does he want more than friendship from Nina? Is he somehow involved in Jake’s disappearance?
The main theme of Just the Nicest Couple is the moral dilemma that Christian faces. Kubica asks readers to consider how far they would go to protect a loved one from the consequences of his/her poor decision-making, especially with potential criminal liability looming. Christian must choose between his own sense of right and wrong, and the preservation of the life he has built with Lily. Kubica propels the story forward as Christian confronts what – and who – he is willing to sacrifice to safeguard his wife so that they can raise their child together.
Kubica’s approach to telling the story is inventive and provocative. As noted, readers get to know Christian and Nina, and are privy to their thoughts and emotional struggles via their alternating first-person narratives. However, she does not include narratives from either Jake or Lily. Rather, readers get acquainted with them only through the recollections, observations, and impressions of their partners and friends. Thus, Christian and Nina are inherently unreliable narrators. As the story progresses, it becomes apparent that Lily’s stated version of her interactions with Jake may not have been fully accurate and truthful. Meanwhile, Christian’s questionable decision-making escalates, heightening the danger in which he and Lily find themselves. Nina, meanwhile, gradually discovers that her perceptions of her relationships with those most important to her were severely flawed, and her life will never play out the way she once thought it would.
Kubica says she strives to create characters with whom her readers will connect, hoping readers will relate to them and step into their shoes as “they make really stupid decisions.” In Just the Nicest Couple Kubica takes readers on a turbulent emotional journey with Christian and Nina, and their spouses, injecting clues, revelations about the characters’ marriages, and plenty of red herrings along the way, as the pace of the action escalates and the story careens to a shocking climax. She says it is also important to her that once all the surprising plot twists are revealed, readers remain interested to see what ultimately happens to her characters. Indeed, she provides an emotionally satisfying conclusion to an absorbing, entertaining, and thought-provoking story.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.