Just the Nicest Couple

Mary Kubica

59 pages 1-hour read

Mary Kubica

Just the Nicest Couple

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Nina is a high school English teacher who lives in a lavish, custom-built home. She is a devoted daughter who spends significant time caring for her ill mother, a responsibility that causes friction in her marriage. Nina desires a traditional family life but faces increasing marital tension due to her husband's demanding career and emotionally detached behavior.

Key Relationships

Wife of Jake Hayes

Daughter of Nina's Mother

Colleague and Friend of Lily Scott

Colleague of Ryan Schroeder

Coworker of Pam

Christian is an attentive husband who works hard to provide a comfortable life for his wife. He takes pride in the charming home he purchased over his budget because his wife loved it so much. He prioritizes his family above all else and harbors a deep protective instinct toward his wife and unborn child, quickly rushing to her aid whenever she calls.

Key Relationships

Husband of Lily Scott

Acquaintance of Nina Hayes

Jake is a wealthy, successful neurosurgeon who enjoys extravagant possessions, including his expensive BMW and large home. He exhibits emotional detachment from his patients and expects his wife to prioritize his needs above all others. He recently engaged in an intense argument with Nina over the time she spends with her mother before vanishing completely.

Key Relationships

Husband of Nina Hayes

Son-in-law of Nina's Mother

Friend of Damien

Coworker of Tricia

Lily is a highly regarded high school math teacher who is in the early, precarious weeks of pregnancy after experiencing previous miscarriages. She portrays the image of an ideal wife in a quaint marriage but struggles with intense anxiety following an altercation in Langley Woods. She maintains a close friendship with her colleague, Nina.

Key Relationships

Colleague and Friend of Nina Hayes

Coworker of Denise Brady

Nina's mother is a resilient woman who raised her daughter alone after her husband abandoned them. Recently diagnosed with macular degeneration, she increasingly relies on her daughter for daily assistance and transportation. She lives in Nina's modest childhood home and openly disapproves of her son-in-law.

Key Relationships

Mother of Nina Hayes

Mother-in-law of Jake Hayes

Supporting Characters

Ryan is a fellow teacher at the school where Nina and Lily work. He takes an active interest in Nina's personal life and frequently offers his companionship when he learns about her marital troubles. He consistently inserts himself into Nina's daily routine as she searches for her missing husband.

Key Relationships

Colleague of Nina Hayes

Officer Boone is a local police officer assigned to investigate Jake's sudden disappearance. He asks probing questions about the Hayes marriage to determine if Jake vanished intentionally, and he advises Nina on home security measures when she reports a break-in.

Key Relationships

Investigator of Nina Hayes

Damien is a close friend of Jake. He and his wife recently underwent in vitro fertilization and successfully conceived twins, prompting him to try contacting his friend to share the good news.

Key Relationships

Friend of Jake Hayes

Husband of Anna

Anna is Damien's wife. She and her husband recently became pregnant with twins after experiencing significant fertility complications.

Key Relationships

Wife of Damien

Tricia is a nurse who works alongside Jake at his practice. She helps provide Nina with information about Jake's unusual schedule and demeanor on the day he vanished.

Key Relationships

Coworker of Jake Hayes

Denise is a teacher who works with Nina and Lily. She casually mentions that her husband spotted Lily walking in Langley Woods, a revelation that causes Lily to act evasively.

Key Relationships

Coworker of Lily Scott

Coworker of Nina Hayes

Wife of Jim

Jim is Denise's husband. He recognizes Lily walking in Langley Woods on the day of Jake's disappearance but decides not to bother her during her exercise.

Key Relationships

Husband of Denise Brady

Pam is the school secretary where Nina and Lily teach. She playfully teases Nina about receiving a bouquet of flowers, assuming they are a romantic gesture from Jake.

Key Relationships

Coworker of Nina Hayes