On the Couch [Paperback]

Alisa Kwitney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 2004

After going for more than a year without a date -- a record in New York City -- Marlowe Riddle has finally met a broodingly sexy, sharply intelligent man who is clearly interested in making more than polite conversation. The only problem: Joseph Kain is an NYPD detective clearly under the mistaken impression that Marlowe is a call girl.

But while Marlowe does take money for spending time with strangers in her expensive Upper West Side apartment, she's a psychologist -- not Manhattan's answer to the Mayflower Madam! A fact she has no intention of telling Joe ... at least not until she finishes her research project on the "Behavioral Effects of Disguising Identity."

But Marlowe's not the only one trying to secretively gain information ... and it's becoming increasingly unclear who is seducing whom. Because sometimes the only way to learn what a man really wants ... is to get him on the couch.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Rich-kid psychotherapist and tough New York cop flirt it up, each playing a role for the unwitting other. Less concerned with embarrassing pratfalls for her neurotic heroines than many of her chick-lit sisters, Kwitney (Till the Fat Lady Sings, 1992, etc.) still wants them to find love, and not a little bit of sex. The single girl here is Marlowe, a Manhattan psychologist with divorced parents providing her with distant affection and a trust fund. Joe is the NYPD detective with more crime smarts than tact. He calls Marlowe by accident during his investigation of a murder (first of several) in which the victim was snuffed out apparently after calling an escort service; thinking that Marlowe is actually an escort, he tries to get information out of her. Bored with her life and thinking she'll sex up Joe's as-yet-unpublished dissertation on role-playing by providing him with some good firsthand experience, Marlowe plays along, quickly warming up to the role of the hooker who's about to retire but wouldn't mind one last assignment. Fortunately, one of her therapy clients is exactly that kind of escort, providing her with plenty of real know-how. Joe comes off as a pretty typical Manhattan male, attractive enough to get most any woman he wants. He knows how to get Marlowe into bed and keep her happily there, but he has a sharp temper and an emotional core buried deeper than even a psychologist would want to dig. The relationship is fitful, playful and exciting, then cold and hostile, swinging wildly about as each tries to figure out what game the other is playing, all the while trying to find the killer to boot. Kwitney deserves credit for not throwing out illogical roadblocks, and there's a refreshing absence of stock best-friend characters. Still, the crime subplot is hardly thrilling: sexy romance with a few welcome twists. (Kirkus Reviews)

About the Author

Alisa Kwitney is the author of the critically acclaimed novels Does She or Doesn't She?, The Dominant Blonde, and Till the Fat Lady Sings. Alisa has an MFA in fiction from Columbia University and countless comic books from her years as an editor for Vertigo/DC Comics. She lives with her husband and two children in New York City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; 1ST edition (June 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060530790
• ISBN-13: 978-0060530792
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,798,916 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and recall the days when there were fewer strollers and more trannies on roller skates in Riverside Park. I have an MFA from Columbia University (though only a dim recollection of what I did to get it).

I have worked as a veterinarian's assistant, a Hebrew teacher, and a comic book editor for Vertigo/DC comics. I have also written some comic books. And I still have all my old Shanna the She Devil issues.

Somebody at Vera Wang once called me "the stupidest receptionist we've ever had." I only worked there for one day.

I currently live in an old farmhouse two hours from Manhattan, with my husband, two kids, two burmese cats and a big Chinook (the dog, not the helicopter).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Humorous situations and lots of chemistry, May 20, 2005

By 

Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: On the Couch (Paperback)

I read this one on an airplane, and I have never laughed so hard or annoyed so many other passengers...

"On the Couch" is cleverly told from two points of view - each chapter is either told from Marlowe's or Joe's perspective. Joe is a recently divorced detective assigned to identify the killer of a prominent businessman who died in an auto-erotic manner. A mis-dialed telephone number brings him to Marlowe, a psychologist who he mistakes for a hooker. Marlowe is also reticent about romance.

She plays along with it for a thesis project on the behavioral effects of disguising one's identity. She meets with him and is taken with how attracted she is to him, Soon she is doing more than research when she actually beds down her "patient/john" and they embark on a full blown affair.

There are so many humorous situations, misunderstandings and so much witty banter between the two of them that the story flows so quickly - you can read it in one sitting (provided you have flight attendants bringing you plenty of soda). It is one of the funniest stories I have read and cannot wait to read the others by this author!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful Romance, February 24, 2005

By 

Elaine C McTyer "avid reader" (Dawson, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: On the Couch (Paperback)

Chick Lit at its best. (I really hate that something so warm and tender is called Chick Lit. It should be called Fun.) Funny careing novel, with an off center heroine and hero.

Marlowe Riddle is a psychologist. A wrong phone number printed in an ad leads to romance and danger. Marlowe has given up on finding a mate, friend or date of the opposite sex.

Joe Kain is a detective with the NYPD who is investigating a suicide/homicide. He dials the number in a magazine at the site of the death and gets Marlowe. He thinks she is a hooker and she thinks her life is so dry why not play the part over the phone.

Needless to say both are surprised when they meet. Marlowe tries to tell him she is not a prostitute but he is busily following clues, hating the man who kicked him off the Task Force, and recovering from a divorce 6 months ago.

The story is humerous, as well as sensitive, and I thought it was a great way to spend a few hours. I intend to find her other books on Amazon as soon as possible.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Light reading, but good fun, July 15, 2004

By 

A. Schultz "amschult" (Park Ridge, IL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: On the Couch (Paperback)

As "chick lit" books go, this is decent fare. The storyline is certainly different than any other books in this particular genre (if you can call it that): psychologist is mistaken for call girl, and plays the part because she's interested in the cop who made the mistake. Oh, she's also supposed to be doing it for the book she's writing, but that's a pretty weak part of the book.

The side storylines are a little distracting, because the interaction between Joe and Marlowe is the best part of the book. For example, I didn't care at all about the client of Marlowe's who's killed - it was just filler. However, I think the main characters are enough to keep you interested.

I was reading this on the train, and while I didn't miss my stop because of it, I did hope that I'd have a few minutes before getting picked up to finish it off. Worth your time if you like this type of book.