After mulling over Ruth Ware's latest psychological thriller, "One Perfect Couple," for a day, I've come to appreciate its gripping narrative. As someone who's devoured countless thrillers over the years, I'm thrilled to discover a fresh, intriguing concept within these pages. While I enjoyed Ware's "Zero Days," "One Perfect Couple" truly captured my imagination.

The story centers on Lyla, whose life and relationship with Nico, an aspiring actor, are at a standstill. When Nico proposes they join a reality show called One Perfect Couple, promising fame and fortune, Lyla reluctantly agrees. What follows is a whirlwind journey to a tropical resort where the facade of paradise quickly crumbles.

Lyla, a rational scientist, is wary of the show's unknowns, but her reservations are swept aside as they're whisked off to Ever After Island. Amidst the azure waters and luxurious villas, Lyla senses hidden tensions and secrets among the contestants. When a hurricane strikes, turning their idyllic retreat into a nightmare, Lyla must navigate treacherous waters both literal and metaphorical.

"One Perfect Couple" skillfully blends elements of classic thrillers like Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians" with the societal commentary of Orwell's "Animal Farm." As the castaways grapple with survival, Ware exposes the dark underbelly of reality television, blurring the lines between staged drama and genuine danger.

Through Lyla's eyes, readers experience the mounting paranoia and desperation as alliances shift and betrayals unfold. Each twist and turn of the plot propels us deeper into the chaos, mirroring the unpredictability of reality TV.

Ware's storytelling is masterful, keeping readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. "One Perfect Couple" is a rollercoaster of suspense, urging readers to buckle up for a thrilling ride they won't soon forget.

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc all opinions are my own.

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware is a thriller about five couples that are stuck on an island. They thought they were there for a reality TV show; but when a storm came through and destroyed everything, they ended up isolated from everyone. To top it off, people started dying too. What is going on? Is the murderer one of the contestants? Who can they trust? This was a quick read, and I enjoyed it. Ruth Ware books can be hit or miss for me, but this was definitely one of her better books in my opinion. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

I’m a reality TV lover so I especially enjoyed the concept of this book. Four couples are selected to stay on a remote island to compete in challenges to win a prize. The details are kinda fishy, and it’s almost certainly not picked up by any network yet but that doesn’t stop aspiring actor Nico from signing up with his girlfriend Lyla.

Lyla wants nothing to do with this show but she agrees to go along to support Nico. And because a vacation in February sounds lovely. There’s a terrible storm that first night on the island. It leaves behind a lot of damage and injuries. Those who are on the island need to find a way to survive until help comes.

4.5 stars — One Perfect Couple kept me entertained through out. Nothing was too crazy, there wasn’t a ridiculous reveal and the ending was satisfying. I liked the radio transcripts and diary entries between the chapters. (The diary was the one part where I couldn’t figure out what was going on).

Spoiler below!!!
I loved how the survivors were all women and that they worked together to overpower an abusive person.

The story follows Lyla, a scientist, who is dating a guy named Nico who is an aspiring actor. They end up on a couples reality show on a remote island resort that quickly turns from finding that “One Perfect Couple” to Survivor. It wasn’t terribly twisty but the drama kept you reading. I wasn’t able to put the book down once I started. Ruth Ware is quickly becoming an auto-read author for me. I absolutely loved this book.

Very fun book with surprising twists and a lovely ending. While very fun and entertaining there was a slight twinge that something was missing. I was waiting for a bit more, and while everything resolved its self, there is still a bit of me that thinks that something was missing.

I do recommend it.

One Perfect Couple brings together five couples to an island for a reality tv show. Some expected and many unexpected things happen while there. Who could predict how it would all play out? One Perfect Couple is a captivating and thrilling read.

One Perfect Couple is a classic Ruth Ware story, the kind that grows out of a natural human fear, like one of the scenarios that wakes you up in the middle of the night, and then you can’t get back to sleep. Lyla, a virologist, is arm-twisted by her actor boyfriend to join the cast of a new reality show on Ever After Island. The contestants have barely unpacked their gear before one of them is killed.
Block off some time, because once you start this book, you can’t put it down.
The cast of characters competing to be the “one perfect couple” and maybe the one surviving couple, are each unique and clearly recognized by voice and actions. All are flawed and none is particularly loveable, but each one plays a significant role in the plot.
This book is very timely, with the popularity of reality TV. Be sure to read this one, but keep the lights on.

I mean - you can't really ever go wrong with Ruth Ware, right? A really unique take on reality TV. Loved the twists and turns. Some details didn't add up completely during the book - but I was kept guessing the entire way through! Very satisfied by the ending. An awesome summer read!

Ware's talent for creating palpable tension is on full display as the contestants face unforeseen challenges that quickly escalate into a fight for survival. The setting of Ever After Island transforms from a tropical paradise to a menacing, isolated trap, amplifying the suspense. The novel's strength lies in its vivid character portrayals and the psychological depth Ware brings to their interactions and conflicts. "One Perfect Couple" is a testament to Ware's prowess in crafting edge-of-your-seat thrillers, leaving readers questioning the thin line between reality and survival.

Popular author Ruth Ware turns paradise into a new form of hell in her latest novel, One Perfect Couple.

Depending on who you ask, Lyla and Nico have been together for two-and-a-half years or three years. Nico counts their relationship as starting from their first hookup. Lyla doesn’t think that drunken groping was really the beginning since it was at a friend’s party, and they just got together for convenience’s sake. But when they met up again six months later, deliberately? They haven’t been apart since.

The differing opinions on how long they’ve been together reflect how Nico and Lyla view the world. Nico, an actor, has an emotional response to everything. Lyla, a scientist, is practical. Which is why she is in the process of carefully contemplating her future. She and Nico are at a crossroads in their relationship and Lyla, the elder by several years, is thinking it may just be time for them to part ways. She is ready to level up – to start thinking about family and forever. Not just with her love life but with her job, too, since it is looking like she isn’t going to be promoted and may need to change careers.

Then Nico is offered the opportunity to join the cast of One Perfect Couple, a reality TV show featuring authentic partners who must prove on camera why they are perfect for each other. Lyla doesn’t want to participate, but she also has nothing holding her back. And Nico is making all kinds of promises as to why this will be great for them both. She agrees to do two weeks on the show, confident she will quickly be kicked off the tropical paradise where it is being filmed, because audiences don’t want a pedantic nerd. They want someone like Nico – volatile, gorgeous, and emotive. The audition process is sketchy, but neither Nico nor his agent blink an eye at that, and before she knows it and despite her trepidation, Lyla is boating through the Indian Ocean towards Ever After Island.

Once on board, they meet the four couples they will be competing against – Bayer and Angel, Dan and Santana, Joel and Romi, and Conor and Zana – to win a cash prize. While everyone else seems media savvy, Joel and Lyla find themselves bonding over their odd-man-out status. Joel is a lecturer at St. Clements and, like her, is the more boring/normative half of the couple. They have a good laugh over it. Lyla continues to make the rounds, talking to the other contestants and the staff of the show as they prepare for landing. This is how she overhears talk of a dangerous storm potentially encompassing the island. The production crew dismisses any concerns, but she disembarks uneasily.

She is right to be worried. The first challenge proves a disaster for Lyla and Nico. She gets a near-perfect score listing his dreams, favorite foods, and most embarrassing secret, but after living together for so long, he still gets her go-to takeout order wrong, doesn’t know what her dream date would be, nor really much of anything about her. A furious Nico is escorted off the island, while Lyla is left to bask in humiliation. But this will not be the worst thing to happen that evening. The production company departs, taking the boat back to the mainland to deposit Nico and pick up supplies. And then the storm hits, leaving massive destruction in its wake. The contestants quickly find themselves struggling for survival, cut off from any form of communication with the outside world, and running low on food and water. It doesn’t take long for them to realize that starvation isn’t the only thing they have to fear. One couple is still playing the game, albeit under a very different set of rules. And they are determined to be the last pair standing.

This is less a mystery and more an action/adventure/thriller. That a villain is on the island is clear from the outset. Who it is is obvious by the midpoint. The only real question to be answered is if both members of the couple are complicit or if it is just the conspicuous half of the pair, with the other being forced to cooperate. There is a surprising twist at the end regarding why it is all happening, but it doesn’t play into how the plot unfolds until the final chapters.

Readers who love strong female protagonists will adore this story. All of the ladies are resilient, brave, and fiercely intelligent. I appreciated that each and every one of them – even Santana who is by far the most fragile – is grimly determined to survive themselves and help the others to do so. They are very much about doing what needs to be done, even when that is less than palatable.

Lyla is surprising in her ability to adapt. A kind of everywoman with few practical survival skills and only minimal fitness, her struggle to acclimate to the new conditions is very relatable and the author makes her growth believable without ever sacrificing the essence of who Lyla is. It’s easy to believe that the kick-ass version we see emerge as the novel progresses was inside our heroine all along.

There are plot points I found questionable, but the author’s easy-to-read writing style and brisk pacing kept me invested in what was happening. There are deaths here, but the gore and violence are kept to a minimum.

Ware’s obsession with failing machinery actually fits this particular scenario perfectly because it would be natural for an isolated location to have difficulties with technology after a massive, damaging storm. It also gives the characters – especially the women – the opportunity to show their unique skills since they have to be quite creative as they seek to find a way to communicate with the outside world.

One Perfect Couple isn’t a perfect book but it is pretty darn entertaining. I would recommend it to fans of the author, those who love the Reality TV scenario, and anyone in the mood for a heroine-centric adventure story.

Huge fan of Ruth Ware here, but this one didn't quite do it for me. I didn't like either character, and I found it hard to believe that Lyla, a virologist, would have been convinced by boyfriend Nico to sign up for a reality show. The plot itself just felt tired--yup, another reality show gone wrong. I struggled to finish this book.

The premise was a little ridiculous, but the characters and the mystery of it, kept me engaged and reading. I can see why my patrons clamor for the latest Ruth Ware book!

This book had me captivated as a couple's survival show on a mostly deserted island turns into a true test of survival. The story is fast paced and full of twists and shocking surprises. Although I thought the story was missing this author's usual major twist ending, I still loved the book and highly recommend it.
Thanks to Gallery Books through Netgalley for the advance copy of this book. The opinions in this review are my own and given voluntarily.

I loved this book! Ruth Ware can do no wrong. Loved the storyline and characters. Not so much a thriller but more a mystery but overall another win from Ware.

When a reality show becomes a thriller, prepare for a wild ride!

Characters - I enjoyed the tension between Lyla & Nico from the very start! The author was very creative with all the couples and interactions.

Plot - Captivated by the structure of the reality show and as the book progressed it provoked so many questions!

Pacing - The author is a pro at keeping the story moving

What I liked - Very unpredictable and kept me wondering how things would end

What I didn’t like - There were moments I lost interest during the Storm section and it felt a bit long

What I loved - I’m a devoted Bachelor Nation fan and I enjoy a good thriller…perfect combo for me! It also gave me glimpses into the show Survivor.

I would recommend to any thriller fans particularly when it comes to desiring surprises!

I would read the sequel (hint hint) if they reimagined the reality show on a new network—just like American Idol!

Imagine agreeing to go away with your boyfriend when you’re not even sure you want to go? Tropical island, reality TV, and a chance at becoming famous…what could possibly go wrong besides everything? As the story begins there’s hardly the undertone of what will slowly emerge to not only be a fight for survival when a terrible storm hits but also a true psychological twist in which Mother Nature is not the real enemy.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one started a bit slow for me. The story follows several couples who have signed up for the next reality show hit, One Perfect Couple. Lyla, the FMC is a virologist who likes to keep to herself but is dating Nico, an opportunist wannabe influencer / actor who convinces her to sign up for the show. The premise of the show is to get couples together and based on challenges, mix couples up with two people, one perfect couple, winning in the end.

From the very beginning, things are off- for example it’s discovered that the show hasn’t actually been picked up by anyone. More turbulence with broken cameras, lack of food, an incomplete resort, etc. questions what exactly is going on. After the first person is kicked off the island, a storm rolls in and changes the whole game. From reality show to a show for survival, the participants have to work together to survive and wait to be rescued.

Lyla and Nico's relationship isn't going so great. Lyla, a scientist, is very logical in her reasoning. Nico is the exact opposite. He's a wannabe aging actor who's still looking for his big break. With Lyla's career not going great and her relationship not living up to expectations, she's starting to question things. But when Nico is offered a once in a lifetime chance to be part of a new couple's reality show, he convinces Lyla this is his ticket to stardom. Reluctantly, she agrees to accompany him in a last ditch effort to salvage their relationship and to escape her work woes.
But as soon as they reach the island, things go from bad to worse. The competition is driving an even bigger wedge between the pair and a hurricane cuts them off from the mainland completely. Now they're stranded on the island with four other couples who aren't just competing on reality tv, but fighting for survival.

I haven't liked the last several books by Ruth Ware, and this one is no exception. It was pretty lackluster for me. The premise sounds amazing, riveting, intense. I, however, felt none of those things while reading it. The first part of the book dragged on with a lot of filler (there was a particular bit about mosquitos that went on forever) until the thrills came. Unfortunately, the thrills weren't so thrilling. The baddie was the most obvious person in the room, all the characters were unlikable and unpleasant to read about, and the conclusion was disappointing.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don't know if badass feminist thrillers are a new trend, but if they are, sign me the HECK up.

One Perfect Couple was *so* good. The cast of characters -- and their ambiguous connection to one another, and the show -- were brilliantly portrayed in this tale of reality tv gone so, so wrong. It was incredibly fun, edge-of-the-seat style storytelling, with a resolution that had me physically pumping my fist.

The incorporation of disability in the form of a diabetic contestant felt incredibly well-done, with constant considerations for how being disabled impacted that character's unique experience on the island.

I really loved One Perfect Couple. I want so much more!

Definitely not one of my favorites by this author.

I felt that the plot started out fine, but it quickly became too far fetched to be believed. Lord of the flies meets Love Island meets a typhoon disaster movie. The characters weren’t particularly likeable, I really didn’t care what happened to them. I was tempted to DNF several times but at least it moved along quickly so I got through.

Giving two stars because I have enjoyed the author’s previous works and will give future books a chance.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.