10 The Golden Couple Book Club Questions

Beneath the gilded facade of Marissa and Matthew Bishop’s seemingly perfect suburban life lurks a dark secret, threatening to shatter their carefully constructed world.

When infidelity rocks their marriage and their young son becomes an unwitting casualty, they seek solace in the unconventional methods of Avery Chambers, a therapist with a troubled past.

As layers of deception peel away, revealing the complexities of their relationships, a shocking truth emerges that will leave you breathless.

Join us as we dive deep into the heart of this gripping novel, exploring the characters, their motivations, and the unraveling of their lives. Prepare to be captivated by a story that will challenge your perceptions and leave you questioning the true meaning of happily ever after.

The Golden Couple Book Club Questions For Discussion

Marissa and Mathew’s son’s awareness of their troubled marriage adds a layer of complexity to the story because it highlights the impact of marital problems on children. The fact that their son knows something is wrong even though Marissa and Mathew are trying to hide it shows that children are often way more perceptive than adults in spite of the lack of credit they receive.
Do you think this also adds a sense of urgency to the story because it becomes clear that Marissa and Mathew’s problems are affecting not just themselves but also their child?

Avery’s unethical behavior raises questions about what is acceptable in the pursuit of helping others. Her creative, outside-the-line approach may be effective in some cases, but it is also risky and potentially harmful. This forces the reader to grapple with questions about the limits of professional conduct and whether the end result justifies the risks taken.
Discuss.

Marissa’s infidelity causes her to feel the guilt and shame over the affair, making her feel distant from her husband and becoming increasingly secretive and evasive. This eventually causes her husband, Matthew to become extremely suspicious and mistrustful, eventually leading to arguments and putting a strain on their communication with each other.
What’s your take on the way infidelity has been talked about in the novel? Do you think the repercussions of infidelity have been dealt around properly by the authors?

Avery’s unconventional therapy approach is to focus on getting the couple to open up and communicate honestly with each other. She believes that by doing so, they will be able to confront their issues head-on and work towards resolving them. This approach is effective in getting Marissa to reveal her secret to Matthew and allows them to discuss their feelings and concerns openly. However, it also causes a lot of tension and anger, as the couple is forced to confront some uncomfortable truths about themselves and their marriage.
What’s your take on this unconventional approach toward resolving marital conflicts by Avery? Does this kind of therapy actually work?

Social media has had a significant impact on relationships, both positive and negative. On one hand, it can facilitate communication and connection between partners and provide a platform for sharing important moments and memories. On the other hand, it can also create pressure to present a certain image and compare our relationships with others. This pressure can lead to feelings of inadequacy and jealousy, eventually contributing to a sense of disconnection and inauthenticity, as seen in the case of Marissa and Matthew.
What’s your take on the role of digital mediums, particularly social media, in strained relationships?

Matthew’s workaholic behavior distances him from his family and makes him unaware of their needs and feelings. He prioritizes his job over his wife and son and expects Marissa to manage the household and parenting duties alone. Additionally, his neglectful parenting also creates a gap between him and Bennett, who craves his attention and affection.
Contemplating on Matthew’s life, how important is work-life balance in a successful marriage?

Marissa struggles with the guilt and shame of her secret and grapples with the consequences of her actions on her family. Matthew feels betrayed and hurt by Marissa’s affair and struggles to trust her again. Both of them confront their past traumas, insecurities, and unmet needs that contributed to the infidelity. At the same time, their story also portrays how forgiveness is a gradual process that requires honesty, empathy, and accountability from both partners.
Discuss how themes of honesty and forgiveness are dealt around in the novel.

The sidekicks in the novel are surely something to talk about. Polly represents a younger, more naive version of Marissa who is vulnerable to temptation and deception. Rachel offers a different perspective on marriage and parenting and shows how other couples cope with their issues. Derek represents the consequences of workaholism and the pressure to succeed in corporate culture.
Whom among these three would you resonate with the most? And whom among them did you like and hate the most, respectively?

The authors portray Marissa as a sympathetic character by highlighting her vulnerabilities and the reasons behind her actions. She is presented as a woman who is struggling to maintain a facade of perfection while dealing with the pressures of motherhood, marriage, and societal expectations. Her mistakes are understandable, and as a reader, you can do nothing but empathize with her desire to make things right.
Do you think this character is quite relatable because she represents the struggles many women face in trying to balance their personal and professional lives?

The book’s ending is somewhat predictable, but it still provides a satisfying conclusion to the story. The ultimate villain is revealed in a dramatic twist, and the loose ends are tied up neatly. However, as a reader, you may find the resolution of certain subplots unsatisfactory, particularly the fate of the character who is portrayed as a stalker.
What’s your take on the ending? Did you like it or would you have preferred a more linear approach?

If you liked this set of questions, here are few other options for you to explore: