60 pages 2 hours read

Elin Hilderbrand

The Perfect Couple

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2018

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Background

Geographical Context: Nantucket Island

Nantucket, the setting of The Perfect Couple, is a real, well-known island in the state of Massachusetts. Nearly 50 kilometers from the island of Cape Cod, Nantucket is at the tip of the American seaboard and was the center of the country’s whaling industry at one point. An early destination for transatlantic colonial settlers in the 17th century, Nantucket is a heritage town. The name “Nantucket” is of Indigenous American origin, as the island was inhabited by the Wampanoag people before colonization. It is believed that epidemics brought about by contact with the settlers, as well as migration, contributed to the dwindling number of Wampanoag people on the island. In the 21st century, Nantucket is home to vacation houses owned by uber-wealthy families from New York City, Boston, and elsewhere in the United States and beyond. Nantucket’s waterfront properties, such as Summerland in The Perfect Couple, are some of the most expensive in the United States, leading to Nantucket being labeled the “Billionaires’ Isle.”

Nantucket’s appeal lies no doubt in its scenic white-sand beauty as well as its location: While it is close to large East Coast cities, it is also tucked in the relatively quieter state of Massachusetts.