The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand: A Comprehensive Review

The Perfect Couple is a riveting novel written by Elin Hilderbrand, which tells the reader a story of love, passion, and betrayal as well as reveals how people can easily surprise us. The story is a perfect combination of suspense, romance and family issues which are developed in the beautiful setting of Nantucket. An author who is often praised for her apt writing of characters and their realistic portrayals, Hilderbrand does not disappoint the reader by presenting another story of flawed lives behind beautiful facades.

A Masterfully Crafted Setting

Perhaps the most striking feature of The Perfect Couple is how well Hilderbrand paints the picture of Nantucket. These features are not just the background of the events, but the major factors that define the atmosphere and the plot of the novel. Hilderbrand offers vivid accounts of the island environment, climate, and social environment that makes the reader feel as if he or she is on the island. Nantucket is depicted as a beautiful island with sandy beaches, small cottages and a close-knit community, and this has contributed towards the beauty and credibility of the book. From the storms that the island experiences to the setting sun, Hilderbrand paints an image of the island making it a character in the novel.

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A Web of Complex Characters

As you will recall, the characters of The Perfect Couple have their own strengths, weaknesses, passions, and vices. Winbury family becomes the focus of the story as a tragedy happens before a wedding that affects all their lives. The main character of the novel, Celeste Otis, is an average and fully developed character, who is in a dilemma whether to remain loyal to her fiancé, Benji Winbury or not. Internal conflicts are well depicted in the novel especially concerning Celeste which makes her transformation one of the most interesting aspects of the book.

The other characters are also well developed and each of them has his own approach to what is happening around. The interpersonal relationships especially the troubled mother and son relationship between Greer, the mother and Benji, her son enrich the text. As for characters, Hilderbrand has the incredible ability to make characters believable and the reader can easily imagine the characters from the real world and the novel’s characters are no exception.

A Tale of Secrets and Lies

In essence, The Perfect Couple is all about secrets and how far people can go to make sure that they remain hidden. The main plot of the novel is the death of a guest at the wedding and the subsequent investigation of the crime and during the investigation the secret of the characters are gradually disclosed. Hilderbrand writes the novel in such a way that suspense gradually increases so readers are constantly trying to solve the puzzle.

The shifting of narrative between both protagonists and the use of flashbacks gives the readers different views of the events and therefore the novel is not as black and white as it may seem. It also contributes to the aspect of suspense as the audience listens to the different stories from the characters’ point of view. I think that one of the strongest aspects of the novel is Hilderbrand’s ability to withhold certain details while also slowly dropping hints.

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Exploration of Relationships and Marriage

Besides the core of the plot, the novel presents the readers with a reflection on the subject of relationships and marriages. The novel is a study of the interactions between the protagonists and their partners, the problems that arise from the concept of the ‘ideal’ couple. By the journey these characters go through, Hilderbrand is able to tell a story of trust, loyalty and what people are willing to lose in the name of love.

The focus here is on Celeste and Benji’s coupling, and their dynamics give an impression of how even the most polished marriages can be. The novel also raises such issues as roles of parents in shaping their children’s decisions and effects of past experiences on the present behavior. The way Hilderbrand depicted these relationships is quite believable, and that is why the reader can really feel the characters’ emotions.

A Balance of Light and Dark

As with many of the other novels, Hilderbrand includes certain elements of comedy in The Perfect Couple even though the novel is centered on a tragedy at its core. Summer season and a wedding, which is depicted in the context of the novel allows for the utilization of many happy, joyful scenes that interplay with the mystery aspect of the story. Thus, Hilderbrand’s decision to include humor into the picture and make the characters interact in a humorous way brings more layers to the plot and does not let the story turn gloomy.

This balance of light and dark is one of the novel’s strengths, as it means that the novel is much more diverse and therefore more interesting to read. The instances of humor are used to bring out the humanity in the characters in order to make the hardships that they go through more poignant. These elements are placed in contrast with each other and it is to the credit of Hilderbrand’s narrative prowess that she has been able to blend the two.

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Pacing and Structure

The Perfect Couple is a very slow book which is very good for reading as it gives time to interpret all the moments happening in the story. Switching between the two main characters and the time frames, the story gains the feeling of a momentum and progresses from the investigation in the present time to the events that precede the wedding. This structure enables Hilderbrand to provide a concealed revelation of important information to the readers while making them to guess up to the conclusion.

One way in which this story is most successful is in the pacing of the central mystery. Hilderbrand uses a lot of suspense and misdirection to guide the reader through a number of directions only to lead him or her to the right path at the end. The plot of the novel culminates in a manner which is quite shocking yet, at the same time, quite realistic to the occurrences in the novel.

Themes of Class and Privilege

There is another important topic that runs through The Perfect Couple and it is the issue of class and privilege. The Winbury family which is depicted in the novel belongs to the upper class Nantucket society due to their richness and nobility. Hilderbrand employs this background to explore the underlying factors on how privilege determines people’s experiences and interactions. The difference between the families of Winburys and Celeste gives a clear impression of the disparity that exists within the two worlds and how these differences affect their togetherness.

Although Hilderbrand’s writing is satirical when depicting the Nantucket elite, the author is not unsympathetic toward her characters, as she unveils the challenges that the characters face due to their privileged status. The novel gives the reader food for thought concerning the price, which is paid to sustain the outward image and the extent to which some people are protected from the repercussions of their actions due to their status. Thus, the analysis of class brings more dimensions to the narrative, which makes The Perfect Couple more philosophic.

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Pros and Cons

Like any novel, The Perfect Couple has its advantages and disadvantages or strengths and weaknesses. However, below are some of the pros and cons of the book that we are going to discuss in detail.

Pros:

1. Engaging Plot: The main plot of the novel is mysterious indeed and does not let the reader get bored to the end. Hilderbrand has done a good job in building suspense and tension in the story and the surprising twists that are present in the story are quite satisfying.
2. Complex Characters: All the characters in The Perfect Couple are developed and complex and all play a role in the story. It is to the credit of the author that all the characters are believable and many of the circumstances depicted in the novel are easily recognizable.
3. Immersive Setting: The setting of the novel is portrayed well, especially with the location of Nantucket, which is quite helpful in developing a feel of the area. The geographical location of the story plot is well chosen and plays an important role in the creation of the novel.
4. Exploration of Themes: The work revolves around some issues like love, marriage, social status and power. That is why Hilderbrand’s focus on those issues enriches the plot and turns it into something more than just a beach read.
5. Balanced Tone: The novel has both humorous and serious aspects in it and this is evident throughout the novel. This balance means that a reader is not bored or overwhelmed by one type of writing style, but gets to enjoy the flip side of the coin, the meaty side of writing.

Cons:

1. Predictability in Some Areas: The main feature of the book is mystery and the main mystery of the story is quite good, yet there are some clichés in the story. Some of the changes of different characters may be predictable if one has read similar stories before.
2. Pacing in the Middle: Despite the fact that the pace of the novel is relatively good, there are several parts in the middle of the book which seem to be rather slow. These sections may feel a bit drawn out especially to those who may find it difficult to read at a slow pace.
3. Secondary Characters: The main characters are very well depicted and portrayed however some of the characters that are secondary could have received a more elaborate depiction. A look at the other characters, their reasons for their actions and their past could have provided other dimensions to the story.
4. Heavy Focus on Privilege: This may seem to be a drawback of the novel because while the authors successfully present class and privilege as central themes, the reader may sometimes get the impression that the focus is slightly skewed. Novel readers who are in search for a more casual read might think that these themes are too much.
5. Lack of Closure for Some Plot Points: However, all the plot points are not tied up by the end of the novel. Though this makes the story more realistic, some of the reader may feel dissatisfied.

Conclusion

The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand is a gripping and well written novel that fits into the mystery, romance, and family genres. All in all, the book is characteristic for the exciting plot, the creation of the multi-faceted characters, and the powerful setting that make it one of the best books in the given genre. Despite the mentioned shortcomings, it is also possible to list several flaws of the novel: First, the novel is pretty predictable in some aspects; second, the novel is written from the perspective of privilege that may not appeal to everybody.

The Perfect Couple is a book that readers who are already fans of Hilderbrand’s novels should not miss, and for those who love mysteries that are driven by characters and take place in beautiful settings. This is so due to the fact that the novel has well addressed issues of relationship, secrets, and privilege which makes it an interesting book to read. In other words, whether you’re in the mood for a light summer read, or something with a little more substance, The Perfect Couple has got you covered.

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