Just the Nicest Couple

Why does Kubica use Nina and Christian as narrators, rather than either Jake (before his death) or Lily? How would the narrative change with different narrators?

Nina’s mother claimed that she murdered Jake to protect Nina from a difficult life. How does Kubica characterize the relationship between Nina and her mother?

Imagery of the dreary, windy weather adds to the novel’s dark mood. What other elements contribute to the eerie and sinister mood? How does the mood contribute to character development?

Nina’s point of view ends with her decision not to turn in her mother for Jake’s murder. Why does Kubica have Christian reveal Nina’s change of heart?

What evidence suggests that Lily and Christian will or will not reconcile as a couple? How would either outcome tie into the themes of the novel?

Christian develops extremely violent and intrusive thoughts. Although he never acts on these thoughts, how does their existence influence Christian’s character development?

How does the novel represent gun violence? How are guns presented symbolically throughout the narrative?

Aside from being a red herring, what purpose does the character Ryan serve? How does he tie into the novel’s themes or the preoccupations of domestic thrillers?