You know a wedding is going well when it ends in murder. Elin Hilderbrand’s The Perfect Couple book throws champagne flutes and flower arrangements out the window and replaces them with police tape and secrets.
So, let’s dive into The Perfect Couple book summary and find out who killed Merritt, why nothing is ever as it seems in Nantucket, and whether the Netflix show lived up to the chaos of the book.
The Perfect Couple Book Summary: It Was Supposed to Be the Wedding of the Year…
Until a dead body washed up on the beach. Yikes.
Set on the dreamy (but now crime-scene-adjacent) island of Nantucket, The Perfect Couple kicks off with the highly anticipated wedding of Celeste Otis and Benji Winbury. One is from a modest background. The other? Rich enough to casually host a wedding that would make Pinterest cry tears of joy.
But on the morning of the big day, Celeste’s maid of honor—Merritt—is found dead. As in, very dead. Now it’s less about the seating chart and more about the homicide investigation.
Enter Chief Ed Kapenash, who quickly realizes that behind every perfectly curated Instagram moment is a truckload of secrets. And oh boy, everyone’s hiding something.
Who Killed Merritt in The Perfect Couple Book?
Ah, the million-dollar question. Or at least the one that keeps readers flipping pages at 1:00 a.m. with wine in hand.
Without spoiling the whole plot (because where’s the fun in that?), let’s just say Merritt knew too much. She had a little something on almost everyone, and trust me, that kind of knowledge in a Hilderbrand novel is a death sentence.
The investigation slowly uncovers tangled affairs, messy friendships, and one very complicated bride. You’ll be side-eyeing every character, and yes, that includes the caterer.
The Perfect Couple Book Series: Is There More Where That Came From?
Okay, so here’s the tea: The Perfect Couple book isn’t officially part of a multi-book series. Sad face. BUT—it exists in Elin Hilderbrand’s wider Nantucket universe, so there are recurring characters and overlapping stories.
If you’re into the whole “rich people with secrets and complicated love lives on scenic islands” vibe (and let’s be honest, who isn’t?), check out her other books like The Identicals or Summer of ’69.
The Perfect Couple Book vs Show: Netflix, We Need to Talk
Now, about the The Perfect Couple Netflix series… yes, they adapted it. Yes, Nicole Kidman stars as Greer Winbury, the glamorous (and slightly terrifying) mother of the groom. And yes, the show is juicy—but also different.
Let’s just say, the book and show are like fraternal twins. Similar bones, but different enough that book fans might raise a perfectly arched eyebrow at a few plot changes.
Some characters are merged or renamed (Merritt who?), some timelines shift, and the ending? Let’s just say it might make purists clutch their beach reads in protest. But overall, it’s a binge-worthy adaptation—especially if you like your family drama with a side of murder.
The Perfect Couple Book Series in Order
Technically, this is a standalone. But if you’re diving into Hilderbrand’s Nantucket world, here’s a non-linear “sort of” order with vibes that match The Perfect Couple:
- The Identicals – more twin drama, more secrets.
- The Rumor – someone’s spilling tea all over town.
- Summer of ’69 – family tension galore.
- The Perfect Couple – you’re already here, look at you!
- Golden Girl – a twist of the supernatural, still set in Nantucket.
Final Thoughts: Nobody’s Perfect, Especially This Couple
If you love:
- Destination weddings gone terribly wrong,
- Murder mysteries wrapped in designer clothing,
- Secrets that unravel like your aunt’s attempt at knitting,
…then The Perfect Couple is the perfect pick. It’s gripping, juicy, and just the right amount of soap opera.
The only thing more dysfunctional than this couple? Everyone else in the book.