Member Reviews

So, our characters are stupid. I mean seriously mind-numbingly stupid.

The age gap is weird because both members of our ‘romantic’ couple act like middle schoolers. But that’s okay because so does every other character in the book.

However, the book is a fast and entertaining beach read that won’t tax your brain. Just don’t expect too much.

• ARC via Publisher

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It perfectly sets the scene, secret getaway on the coast, glass of wine, romantic fire and then.... the OTHER couple.
The other couple stay for the night but this is just the beginning, there are several twists, you dont even see them coming, you mind is in one direction and the authors is in another.
Ive never read anything from this author before and I loved it.

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OMG. Honestly, I have mixed emotions about this book. There were times where I was thisclose to a DNF. With an ARC, I really try to push through because I promised to review. I kept reading and a random twist would drop and I would be into it again. I will say, one of the twists really did not make sense to me, LOL. I think it could have been done differently and make the book a little better! Also, just the end with Alice was... unreasonable. Overall, this book dragged but a couple of the twists were okay. Average at best! Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for letting me review this book! Below are going to be some spoilers to further explain why I didn’t care for a couple of the twists and why this was an average rating for me. Read at your own risk!
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Okay… the whole “Finn faked David’s Death” was truly the dumbest one. I cannot with that… why? Why would he do that? Even if it was to “protect Vivienne” … NO. it could have been done to where NONE of them knew he was alive still and David faked his own death. That would have been more shocking and more of a “WOW” factor when he comes to David showing up. Then, I’m sorry… but Alice wanting to ruin Finn and then she has a change of heart and he just forgives her right away? Anyway, those were just some “twists” that were dumb… TO ME. I think those few things could have been done better and then taking out some of the dragging chapters would have pushed this up to a higher rating!!

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A dynamic thriller with a cool B&B lighthouse setting in Ireland.
The story revolves around the secrets Alice and Finn are hiding. They are also involved in an illicit relationship which can tear down their lives. When their vacation is disrupted by another couple things begin to go wrong and lead to a series of events that challenges their perceptions of trust and fidelity. Finn’s secrets ultimately cause his past to crash headlong into the present - I couldn’t put this intense book down!! It’s full of shocking surprises 🤯 - loved it!!
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Two couples who (seemingly) do not know each other (seemingly) book the same lighthouse stay on the same weekend for a holiday while the booking is supposed to be for one couple only. Which couple should leave? Which should stay? Both couples dig their heels into staying. Each character has a private motive as to why they are there on this weekend.

My thoughts about this book = a series of ups and downs. There were times when I rolled my eyes and wanted to speed read to the end just to finish it. There were times when a plot twist piqued my interest and I slowed down to think of the outcome of the book. The story did not grab me, but it held me loosely enough to keep on reading.

I received a free book from both NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!

This is my first book by this author, but won't be my last. It wasn't as fast paced as most thrillers, but still enjoyable, and kept me guessing. I would read more from this author.

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Alice and her boss. Finn rent a lighthouse to get away from prying eyes and deepen their love for each other.
Another couple shows up and claim to have rented the house for the same weekend.
What ensues is an unveiling of the real people behind their pretend selves. It twists and turns and comes to a surprising end.

The plus is that this is the kind of locked room mystery that I usually like. Also, there are some good twists and turns.
The minuses are that the plot is rather predictable and I was able to see some of the action before it happened.

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This book definitely wasn't for me. I was hooked by the premise as soon as I read it because the idea of a couple wanting to share an Airbnb in a remote location instantly gave me chills. But the execution just didn’t work for me—by 15%, the psychological suspense had already fizzled out, and it was just a matter of reading on to find out why things were happening. I'm not sure if it was the writing or if it was just me, but I felt zero connection to the characters or the story... I think this might be the first time I found myself reading a thriller without even the slightest interest in what was happening.

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Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for providing me with this ARC.

The premise sounded great and I was really curious to start this book but unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it. The supposedly moments of suspense were falling short and were written in a way that left me with no curiosity to carry on reading. I couldn't connect with the characters and their stories so, sadly, felt no interest in discovering what was going on. At the 35% mark I couldn't bring myself to carry on

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Triona Walsh is a new to me author so before going into this book I had no idea whether this would be my cup of tea. However I was seeing a few of my friends on Goodreads reading and enjoying it, so I though I would give it a go. And I am so glad I did!
The story jumps right in from the start and the tension doesn't let up until the very end.
I was immediately intrigued and invested in the plot and the short snappy chapters had me flying through the book.
I liked the characters and the setting really did add to the atmosphere for me.
The only slight problem I had was I didn't enjoy the ending. It felt like all the build from the book hit a brick wall and it was resolved very neatly at the end. This did unfortunately leave me feeling ever so slightly disappointed. There were also no surprises to me in the plot, which did feel predictable to me.
However that didn't ruin my enjoyment of the book as a whole. It was such a fun, fast paced enjoyable thriller that you could easily read in one sitting and I had a great time reading it.
If you like Frieda McFadden books then you might like this one.

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2.5 stars: The Other Couple is a suspenseful thriller. Finn and Alice booked a lighthouse for a weekend getaway, but they quickly realize the lighthouse has been double-booked and they will be sharing the space with a mysterious couple. Alice takes it upon herself to find out who these people are and why they are so interested in her and Finn.

This book was certainly full of suspense and twists. The author described the setting well and it was easy to visualize the Irish countryside where the story takes place. As the reader, I felt like I was thrown into the middle of a story with little context, and while it did not take long to figure out many of the characters were up to something, it seemed like the story took awhile to develop and for anything of significance to happen. However, once I started learning more about the characters and their motivations, I was eager to keep reading and figure out what was going on. Personally, I did not find the characters themselves to be very relatable and the writing was a bit dry, but the suspense and mystery of them all kept me engaged. I would recommend this to readers who enjoyed First Lie Wins and The Housemaid.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this Advance Reader Copy in exchange for my review.

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. I received this book for free with net galley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this.

This was not my favorite thriller at all. I found the language to be written in a young adult style. And made me wish the characters and written was more developed.

The plot lines felt pretty over the top. There felt like there was too much going on and yet at the same time nothing went on. There were a few plot twists which some might not be able to guess. The book overall left me wanting more of something it didn’t have.

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I definitely tried to love this but after 11 days decided ultimately to DNF the book.

I couldn’t get into it and had trouble connecting with the story, characters and felt like this was the slowest burn ever.

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This was an enjoyable read for me, hard to put down. I was constantly trying to predict what would happen and who the bad guys were. didn’t see the ending coming and I love that. So fun.

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Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookcouture for giving me the chance to read an ARC of The othe couple.
I really enjoyed this book. I could feel the underlying tensions that the characters had all the way through the book. I knew it was leading up to a few secrets, but I didn't know what they were until....BAM, it hits you towards the ending of the book. I had no idea of what was to come. The ending was brilliant. I loved some of the characters and loved to hate some of them too. All in all this is a fabulous book that will keep you turning the pages well into the night. 5 big stars from me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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This wasn’t one of my favorites. It kind of put me to sleep. I definitely was hoping for more.. the characters had so much room to grow and go places but overall it was stale and drug on for what felt like an eternity.

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What a ride! Finn and Alice find that they have been double booked on their weekend getaway. When Vivienne and Macdara turn up it sure puts a damper on their secret getaway. But everyone has their own agenda including Alice.
I breezed through the book in 5 hours. The writing style is so gripping. You get just enough clues to keep you hooked till the end. I would definitely recommend this to my friends.
I was provided an advance review copy of this book by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
#Netgalley

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Name :- The Other Couple
Author :- Triona Walsh
Genre :- Psychological Thriller
The Other Couple is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Set against the rugged and remote backdrop of the Irish coast, the story is a tense and atmospheric exploration of secrets, betrayal, and the lengths people will go to protect themselves. The novel opens with protagonist and narrator escaping to a secluded lighthouse keeper's cottage with her partner, Finn. Their relationship is fraught with secrecy—Finn is her boss, and their affair must remain hidden—but it soon becomes clear that secrecy runs much deeper in their lives than just this romantic entanglement. Walsh does an excellent job setting up the initial idyllic getaway, only to shatter the calm with the unexpected arrival of another couple claiming they’ve booked the same cottage. The tension immediately escalates, with each character bringing their own hidden agendas and complex motives to the table. One of the strengths of The Other Couple is its unreliable narrator. The protagonist’s voice is laced with unease, and as layers of her past are revealed, it becomes clear that not everything is as it seems. Walsh masterfully toys with readers' perceptions, making us question who can be trusted and what the true motivations of each character really are. The relationship between the protagonist and Finn is another rich source of intrigue—just as she begins to question her partner, we do too, and the unraveling of Finn’s true intentions is both suspenseful and chilling. The stormy weather, the isolated location, and the claustrophobic setting of the cottage amplify the tension, creating a perfect backdrop for the unsettling events that unfold. Walsh’s pacing is excellent, with secrets being revealed at just the right moments to keep the reader hooked. As the story progresses, the interplay between the two couples grows more sinister, and the realization that one of them may not survive the weekend adds a thrilling sense of urgency.
Likes and Dislikes :-
Likes:
1. Atmospheric Setting: The remote lighthouse on the rugged Irish coast adds a sense of isolation and tension, heightening the suspense.
2. Unreliable Narrator: The protagonist's secrets and unreliability make for an intriguing and layered narrative, keeping the reader guessing.
3. Tension and Suspense: The arrival of the mysterious couple and the protagonist’s hidden motives maintain a high level of suspense throughout the novel.
Dislikes:
1. Predictability in Some Twists: A few plot twists feel somewhat predictable, especially for seasoned readers of the genre.
2. Limited Character Depth: While the suspense is strong, some characters feel underdeveloped, which may make it harder for readers to fully invest in their fat
Overall Impression:- The Other Couple is an engaging psychological thriller with a captivating setting and intricate plot twists. While it has some predictable elements and pacing issues, the gripping atmosphere and secrets lurking beneath the surface make it a worthy read for fans of suspenseful, character-driven mysteries. If you're looking for a novel filled with deception and danger in a chilling, isolated location, this one is for you..
My rating :- 4/5.

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I was very excited to read this book. It seemed really interesting. I would say it started out strong and about half way through, I lost interest. I was stressed when Alice and Finn decided to stay in the house with the other couple. I figured after that, it would just keep getting better but It got so slow and boring. I wasn’t even sure I was going to finish it. I haven’t read any of Triona’s other books but I’ll definitely check them out. Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Triona for the ARC!

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My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC of The Other Couple by Triona Walsh.

The Other Couple starts out strong by creating an interesting, ominous setting and effectively building suspense. But for me, it began to spiral at the midpoint. Let me first say that I am a detail-oriented reader, so vague explanations of circumstances surrounding character motivations, actions, and behavior make it difficult for me to suspend disbelief. The plot points revealed in the second half of the book are far too unrealistic for me -- beginning with the one that sets everything in motion. Everything else is built on this one plot point, and I just couldn't buy it. It made much of the subsequent character behavior, and some of the conflict and tension, feel contrived. The dialogue is also unrealistic, which is another thing that's difficult for me to look past. The characters seem to suspect that the reader may find it difficult to suspend disbelief, as they make sure to explicitly explain details of their their actions and motivations that should be left for the reader to infer.

I might have been able to overlook these issues, but The Other Couple commits what I consider a cardinal sin by appearing to reveal a major plot twist at the end of a chapter and then ripping it away on the next page. If the plot points hadn't already eliminated my ability to suspend disbelief, this would have been cause to DNF immediately. It was jarring, and just absolutely unnecessary.

I would recommend this book to readers who don't get caught up in the details, like I tend to do. If you are willing to look past convenient coincidences and plot points that stretch the limits of believability, this may be for you. Triona Walsh does a good job of building suspense, and I didn't see the reveals coming until they were right on top of me. I just wasn't able to accept the actions and motivations as believable enough to stay in the story.

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