Books

Bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand shares what to read after watching the Netflix series based on her 2018 novel.

Bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand’s 2018 novel, “The Perfect Couple,” has been adapted into a six-episode Netflix series starring Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Dakota Fanning and Eve Hewson. The mystery drama debuted on the streaming platform on Thursday.

The plot of “The Perfect Couple” revolves around Amelia Sacks (Eve Hewson, “Bad Sisters”), who is about to marry Benji (Billy Howle “Under the Banner of Heaven”), the son of novelist Greer Garrison Winbury (Nicole Kidman), and become part of the wealthy Nantucket Winbury family – much to the disapproval of the novelist’s matriarch, Greer.

But when a body is found on the beach on the morning of the wedding, an investigation begins, secrets are revealed and everyone becomes a suspect.

We asked Hilderbrand what books she recommends for fans of the book and the series. Below are her six book recommendations if you’re reading or watching “The Perfect Couple.”

Rufus Leung Gresham is the future Earl of Greshambury, the son of a former Hong Kong supermodel. But it turns out that the glitz and glamour of the family’s magazine covers, yachts and country estates is nothing more than a facade: the legendary Gresham Trust has been depleted by decades of extravagant spending, and the family is struggling with a mountain of debt. The only solution, proposed by Rufus’s scheming mother, is for Rufus to attend his sister’s wedding at a lavish resort and seduce a woman with money. But when a volcanic eruption burns through the wedding and a hot microphone reveals a secret romantic rendezvous, the Greshams’ plans – and their reputation – go up in flames.

Critics say: “If you loved Crazy Rich Asians, Kevin Kwan’s latest book won’t disappoint… Alliances are made and broken. Fortunes are won and lost. Rich people trying to get richer outdo themselves. Poor girls, armed with only their stubborn integrity, claim happiness. And the laugh lines come punctually… Kwan has a keen eye.” – The Washington Post

When Liv and Nora decide to take their spouses and children on a cruise vacation, everyone is excited. The adults are lulled into a state of comfort and convenience. The four children—ages six to 11—love the nonstop buffet and their newfound independence. But when they all land for an adventure in Central America, a series of minor setbacks and miscalculations leads the families further from the safety of the ship. One moment the children are there, and the next they’re gone.

Critics say: “(Meloy delivers) a wild, propulsive plot with tight prose and a steady stream of suspense. It’s a suspenseful novel, well-constructed and hard to put down, a stark reminder that the tide can take us anywhere, even when the water looks perfectly fine.” – Los Angeles Times

A 52-year-old photographer and a 41-year-old anatomy professor are jurors sequestered during a sensational three-week trial involving the murder of a toddler by one of his twin sisters. At a court-appointed highway motel, they become embroiled in an intense affair, but it’s only during deliberations that they realize they’re on opposite sides of the case. After the trial, the photographer returns home to her husband amid an ongoing media frenzy over the case. But the judge has received an anonymous letter about the affair, and she’s preparing to release the names of the jurors.

Critics say: “(The) deft orchestration of absurdity and existential dread distinguishes Ciment’s style. That is why the situation of Ciment’s latest novel, The body in question, is so perfectly suited to her strengths as a novelist… perceptive… a profound story about mortality and the mysteries of human behavior… clever and disturbing.” – NPR

‘Siracusa’ follows two couples on vacation in Siracusa, a small town on the coast of Sicily, where the secrets they’ve been keeping from each other are revealed and relationships unravel. The book unfolds at the pace of a psychological thriller, delivering an unexpected final act that no one will see coming.

Critics say: “A seductive and edgy dissection of two imploding marriages – and a fractured mother-daughter alliance… Each of these toxic relationships sets the characters on a path toward a dark place of deceit and rage in Ephron’s brilliant reckoning with marital and familial pretensions.” – Publishers weekly

‘Swan Song’ by Elin Hilderbrand

Police Chief Ed Kapenash is about to retire. Blonde Sharon is getting a divorce. But when a $22 million summer home is purchased by the mysterious Richardsons—how exactly did they make their money?—Ed, Sharon, and everyone in the community are swept up in a major drama. The Richardsons throw extravagant parties, flirt with multiple locals, flaunt their wealth with not one but two yachts, and set impossible expectations for everyone they meet. When their home burns to the ground and their most important employee disappears, the entire island is in turmoil.

Critics say: “Hilderbrand’s latest Nantucket novel will pull readers old and new out of nowhere… There are plenty of Easter eggs for longtime fans, but even those new to her exquisite writing are in for a treat: a story that feels like it’s being told over cocktails at the Oystercatcher, perfectly timed for maximum drama with characters you can’t get enough of. This is aspirational escapism at its best.” – Susan Maguire, Booklist

Irene Steele shares her idyllic life in a beautiful Victorian home in Iowa City with a man who loves her to the extremes of skywriting and sentimentality. But as she rings in the New Year on a cold, snowy night, everything she thought she knew is shattered by a shocking phone call: her beloved husband, away on business, has died in a helicopter crash. Before Irene can process the news, she must first come to terms with the confusing details of her husband’s death on the remote Caribbean island of St. John.

After arriving in this far-flung paradise, Irene and her sons make another shocking discovery: her husband has been living a secret life. As Irene unravels a web of intrigue and deceit, and she and her sons are drawn to the vibrant island culture, they must face the truth about their family and their own future.

Critics say: “With great verve, (Hilderbrand) has done it again with her latest novel, ‘Winter in Paradise,’ the first book in a planned trilogy. She is witty and engaging, keeping her readers captivated with a memorable cast of characters… As always, she delivers a richly detailed story, expertly weaving together her characters and plot lines… Be prepared to read a fast-paced and entertaining novel that will leave you craving the second book in the series for hours.” – Book reporter