A “Survivor-like” Reality-TV show tests a couple’s love and lives in “One Perfect Couple”


In Ruth Ware’s latest psychological thriller, “One Perfect Couple” (Scout Press) Lyla’s life and career are at a crossroads. Her postdoctoral contract in virology at a London University is expiring and her relationship with Nico, an aspiring actor, is stagnating. When Nico is offered the chance to participate in a new reality show, One Perfect Couple, he convinces Lyla to join the cast with him. This opportunity could provide the ‘big break,” and the cash, he’s been waiting for. He’s told her it is a couples’ elimination format, which could last ten weeks and is set at a brand new tropical resort. Considering it is the middle of a gray winter in London, Lyla is intrigued by the all-expense paid vacation ending with a cash prize. Besides, haven’t they earned the treat?
As a fact-driven sensible scientist, Lyla is also hesitant about the unknowns of the show. However, to placate Nico, she agrees to attend the initial interview. The whirlwind audition process has found Lyla saying “yes” while meaning to say “no way,” and the next thing she knows, she and Nico are Jakarta-bound. Upon their arrival in Indonesia, they join four other couples and the production team preparing for the series. The lucky entourage is then whisked across the Indian Ocean on a yacht to Ever After Island, a deserted island where the games will begin.
They arrive at a paradise of azure waters and pristine villas, and Lyla’s trepidations are quelled, but not for long. She senses that the production has hidden problems, and that the other contestants possess secrets. The show’s producer is a bully with a sharp tongue. The other photogenic and athletic couples are influencer stereotypes ripped from YouTube and TikTok, and even her boyfriend, Nico, is a hunk. Plain, girl-next-door Lyla is the odd woman out.
After one day of shooting, life on the island goes awry. When a hurricane batters the island, the contestants are cut off from society. Most of the villas have been destroyed, the food stores and potable water are dwindling, and the contestants must band together to survive amidst the growing tensions in the group. Having been stripped of their cellphones, their only means of communicating with the outside world is a ship-to-shore radio, but its battery is fading fast.
Lyla and her fellow castaways are left wondering when will the producers return to collect them? Has anyone heard the distress calls? Will anyone notice they are missing? Will anyone arrive to save them before it is too late?
Without revealing any spoilers in this page-turning thriller, soon the paradise of Ever After Island becomes a living hell. Filled with an array of back-stabbing, volatile, and unreliable characters, “One Perfect Couple” is part Agatha Christie’s Ten Little Indians, Golding’s Lord of the Lies and Orwell’s Animal Farm. It is a story about the breakdown of a society transitioning from a democracy to an autocracy, and how Lyla struggles and creates alliances to survive the disaster.
Pulling back the curtain on reality television, Ware makes the reader question whether those shows are staged and how much is “reality”. In “One Perfect Couple,” the lines become as blurred as a mirage on the horizon. Each post-hurricane day mirrors the life on a reality program, presenting another survival challenge to the castaways. Out of her element, Lyla, discovers whom she can trust and that each decision could mean life and death. Not only for her, but also for everyone on Ever After Island.
Ware’s “One Perfect Couple” takes the reader on the breathtaking flips, peaks, and valleys of an endless rollercoaster ride. So, jump on, strap on your seat belt, and enjoy the thrill ride.

I already had my bags packed and I was headed to this gorgeous tropical island, just from reading the synopsis. The windswept beaches, sparkling blue water as far as the eye can see, coconut trees dotting the landscape. Who would say no to a free trip and to be on a reality show?

Lyla has some concerns; she is a scientist whose last job has taken a nosedive and needs a distraction. Her boyfriend Nico is a struggling actor who believes he has one last chance for everyone to notice him. The new reality tv show, The Perfect Couple. Nico has a way to convince Lyla that this trip will be his big breakout and a free trip to paradise for her. When they meet with the producers and the man with the idea. Red flags are popping up everywhere, Nico says this is show business, it is how it is done. When they finally spot their slice of paradise for the next few weeks. Lyla begins to relax, until weirdness starts to occur. Nothing is lining up. There is a small crew, the ship they came in on was a bit sketchy, and the cameras audio is not working. This is the big lead up to the entire crew staying on the boat and leaving the cast on the island overnight. When a storm blows in and leaves the cast stranded with limited amounts of food and water on the island, and the boat no longer insight...

This is a fast paced, intense game of who did it. I do not want to get into more details or giveaway the entire book. This book is meant to be devoured. I could not put it down. It did feel a bit long toward the middle. It did not take away from my overall enjoyment. Thank you to Ruth Ware and Scout Press for my gifted copy.

I think I am officially done with Ruth Ware. This (too long) book was pretty ludicrous and not much of a thriller. It’s possible people who like Ware will enjoy it though. She’s just had too many misses for me.

3.5

5 couples are chosen to compete on a secluded island for the title of “The perfect couple”. The main character Lyla was convinced by her boyfriend to join him. She’s hoping to be there a short time before getting kicked off and sent home. The opposite happens, Nico is the first to be sent home and right after a major storm hits the island leaving the remaining contestants stranded. Will they survive? Can they work together or will they be torn apart? Even when the cameras stop rolling there’s a sense of “who will win” due to the need to survive.

I was intrigued by the premise of the book and interested at the beginning but I was left wanting a bit more.

One Perfect Couple
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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What a wild ride this was!!! Taking a thriller and making it set on a Reality TV show?! I knew this would be my kind of book!
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The journey that Ruth Ware takes us on was eery, chaotic, and then at the very end, predictable. But not in a normal way that I guessed it from the beginning.
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I had a hard time throughout the story picking up on exactly how it was going to end. Some of the solutions seemed too obvious to be true, some of the things that my brain was coming up with seemed way too far out.
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I honestly was a little disappointed by the ending. The entire journey to get there was so fun and I just felt like it didn’t fully pay off.
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I am still giving it 4 stars because it was such a fun read!

Stranded on a storm-swept island, five couples battle the elements—and each other—as they struggle to survive in this paradise-turned-nightmare thriller.

Lyla and Nico’s relationship seems to be going nowhere. But out-of-work actor Nico pleads with Lyla, a virologist, to join him on a reality TV show. For Nico, this is the opportunity of a lifetime, and for Lyla, this is the chance to see if their relationship has a future.

From the beginning, however, the show feels thrown together, falling short of the professional expectations of such a production. Lyla and Nico join four other couples—Angel and Bayer, Santana and Dan, Romi and Joel, Zana and Conor—and venture to a remote Indonesian island to take their shot at the grand prize. After their first challenge, the aggressive and ever-shady director departs with the crew and first cast-out contestant, leaving the group for the night. A massive storm hits the island however, and they awake to a terrifying nightmare—most of their huts are destroyed, bodies are found, food and water supply are minimal with only a battery-powered radio remaining.

Distress calls through the radio go unanswered, however, as days turn into weeks. Worse yet, someone on the island forcefully takes over, willing to kill if they don’t fall in line. Division sows, alliances are forged and broken, and more bodies get buried beneath the sand, as hunger and dehydration take root in the sweltering tropical heat.

As their numbers and resources dwindle, and matters of life and death beckon action, it’s unclear whether anyone will make it out alive.
Love Island turns Survivor in this taut, immersive psychological suspense. The narrative—a fresh take on the locked-room mysteries Ware is known for—plays like a movie. Lyla’s pragmatic perspective unfurls the story with clarity, and I felt captive to sheer insanity of everything these people went through. I particularly loved seeing women band together fiercely and problem solve their way through their many situations. While the story touted propulsive pacing overall, my only minor callout is that the ending wrap-up felt a bit like a fizzle down from the high of the well-executed climax. Nonetheless, I loved this book. I couldn’t put it down.

This is the summer thriller you’ve been waiting for.

I have not read a Ruth Ware book in several years, but after hearing some early reviews and reading the blurb about One Perfect Couple, I was eager to get my hands on it. At the start of the book, we meet Niico and Lyla, a young couple who are both struggling with getting their careers up and running. Nico is an actor who has had no more than walk-on roles and is looking for his big break. Lyla is a scientist whose most recent experiment did not have the outcome she was expecting which causes her to question her future in this field. Nico’s agent presents him with an opportunity to be a part of a new reality show One Perfect Couple which he thinks may be just what he needs to increase his exposure and ignite his career. The catch is, Lyla would have to join him as this is an elimination-based show for couples. The two ignore the sketchiness of the premise (they’d have to change partners with other couples each week) and the lack of details about the prize winnings. They think the show may just be the right move for them that has come at just the right time. Within days, Lyla has taken a leave of absence from her job and the couple are on their way to a remote island near Indonesia to start their reality TV adventure.

The premise of a smart woman with a selfish, climber of a boyfriend always hooks me and has me rooting for a breakup! Nico annoyed me from the opening chapter and had me hoping the couples’ time on One Perfect Couple would lead to their relationship’s demise. However, once the couple set sail for the remote island, things began to fall apart for me. The story became less of a story about the couple and more a tale of survival and I lost interest. The tension didn't build and the ending felt rushed. Also, based on the reviews and blurbs I was expecting a nod to Agatha Christie and it just wasn’t there for me. I have loved some previous Ruth Ware locked room style mysteries, but this one didn’t work for me. 2.75 stars rounded up

Thank you to Net Galley, Gallery Books and the author for the opportunity to advance read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ruth Ware has been an auto-buy author for me for a long time and I always love the vibes of her books.

Five couples join the cast of a new reality competition show, set on an isolated island in the Indian Ocean. As someone who loves reality TV — The Bachelor, Love Island, The Traitors — it was so fun to read the spin Ruth put on reality TV (gone wrong) in ONE PERFECT COUPLE.

The prologue pulled me right in with an intense scene👏 the chapters were interspersed with mayday calls and diary entries — all of which kept me trying to piece everything together. The cast of characters each had their place in the story and led to some interesting dynamics. There were some great twists that I didn’t see coming 🫢

I read this in only a couple of sittings. It would be a great thriller to add to your summer reading list!

One Perfect Couple
Ruth Ware
3 stars

This novel was a 3 star read for me. It felt like a story I have read many times before. Maybe the island setting was different, but the idea behind One Perfect Couple, a story where people are trapped and fighting for their lives, is not. I found the plot and character development lacking. The story kept me turning the pages and engaged me, but the entire novel was a let-down and the ending was just blah. I did not find any "thriller vibes" in the novel. The villain was easily identified and the trajectory of the novel was predictable.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, and Simon & Schuster for the ebook of One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware. My opinions are my own.

Ruth Ware delivers again! This book had me gripped from the beginning to the end.

In this story five couples are sent to a remote island in the Indian Ocean to compete on a reality tv show to determine who is the one perfect couple. A storm hits and a what is a reality show soon becomes a fight for survival. The couples soon split and people start dying.

This story was intense and I always appreciate the setting and sense of being trapped that remote island stories give you. I could not put this down and eagerly await Ruth’s next book.

This was okay, but definitely not great. If you enjoy reality tv and suspense/mystery about a group of people trying to survive a killer, then this is write up your alley. I liked the idea behind this, a group of couples on an island for a show similar to love island and perfect match (I believe these shows were even mentioned in the book); but, the execution just wasn’t there for me. There was really no huge twist, but it was still decent without it. I also enjoyed the contemporary references to pop culture. I would recommend to certain people.

This was an incredibly enticing read and nothing like i’ve ever read before. The character development really brought the plot to life and I’m glad there wasn’t too many twists and turns, something that made the story more believable. It’s a book I will be thinking about for a while!

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware is the piece by piece ominous summer thriller you need to read!


Synopsis
One Perfect Couple starts us with Lyla and Nico, they have been together for about 2 years. Nico is an aspiring actor and Lyla is a research scientist that has recently failed at her research project. Well, let me say it this way, all her testing for the past couple of years came out inconclusive. She is sure her contract will not be renewed.

Lyla feeling a bit like a failure gives in to Nico’s begging to star in a new a reality show for couples. He is sure that this will jump-start his acting career. The reality show One Perfect Couple, is exactly what that title sounds like. A number of couples on an island, competing to be the last one standing. Lyla is apprehensive at first but caves when her despair with work gets the best of her.

The Catch
The catch to the One Perfect Couple reality show is SUPPOSED to be that the couples get swapped out and eliminated (sometimes individually) in this really weird format. Not only that, the “resort” they’re staying and filming at is hardly finished, its honestly hardly started. They can all smell the wet paint, only enough cabanas for them (none for the filming crew.)


Sketchy as heck!

As day one of filming goes on, one person gets eliminated, then a huge storm passes the small secluded island. Soon the couples start to feel the pressure of being stranded, and personalities clash. Then people start disappearing and dying.

Do I recommend?
I absolutely recommend Ruth Ware’s One Perfect Couple, its such a compelling thriller. I love the feeling of “who done it?” I was constantly changing my guesses of who the killer or villain is/was. (Or are all these deaths truly accidents?) All those different personalities stuck on this super remote secluded island, phew! It was a whirlwind of a book.

One Perfect Couple is the thriller you need for the summer. Grab your copy of One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware here!

Ruth Ware is the queen! This book is one you won't put down and won't regret staying up to read.

Lyla is researching a viral disease but feels like her life is in a rut. Her boyfriend Nico, is a struggling actor and Lyla is beginning to resent paying for everything. When Nico presents the chance for them to be on a new reality show, One Perfect Couple, she puts asides her worries and says okay. The process to be chosen goes by so quickly and before she can say anything, they are on their way to an island outside of Thailand. Almost immediately, things go wrong and when a hurricane hits, everything becomes something different entirely. There are deaths and they are stuck stranded on the island without any way out and not much to survive on. It becomes a Lord of the Flies situation.

It is quite the nail-biter and Ms. Ware never fails to bring on the tension and the questions. Is everyone who they say they are? I will always get whatever book she is putting out in this world. She never disappoints.

Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for a copy for review

Really enjoyed this latest novel from Ruth Ware. Interesting, relatable characters. Fast-paced story with an interesting setting. I was expecting more of a "who done it" but it was pretty clear early on who was doing what but it was still a good read.

✨One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware (Out Now)✨
I loved this tropical take on a locked room thriller! A reality show gets put on hold when the contestants are left stranded on the tropical island it takes place on. This was filled with twists and turns and the ending was perfection. This is the perfect thriller for summer!

Couldn’t put this down! Perfect blend of high stakes thriller and slow burn mystery. Scientist Lyla and her aspiring-actor boyfriend are selected for a new reality TV show filming on a remote island near Indonesia. Reluctantly she takes the time off work and they find themselves competing with four other couples for a cash prize and the title of Perfect Couple. When a catastrophic storm hits the island shortly after they arrived, the couples find they’re all alone with no sign of help in sight and a sinking suspicion one of them is a murderer.
I would’ve loved more of a twist or maybe some better explanation at the end, but otherwise, this was a great thriller that kept me holding my breath with every new chapter.
Thank you to Gallery Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Lyla, a postgrad student whose research (and academic career) has hit a brick wall, is convinced to join a new reality show, One Perfect Couple, with her aspiring actor boyfriend, Nico. Things don't go as planned, though, when Nico is the first contestant kicked off the show, and a storm threatens the island. Cut off from production, with the camp destroyed, the remaining contestants begin turning on each other, loyalties are questioned, and dark motivations are uncovered.

Ruth Ware is pretty hit or miss for me, so I was pleasantly surprised that I really enjoyed this book- especially because I loved last year's Zero Days. The reality show setting really worked for me- a lover of reality TV- although I found that it took me awhile to get a handle on the characters' personalities- as well as who was in a couple with who. The ending was really clever, not what I would have guessed at all, and I found myself drawn into the relationship dynamics between the characters in addition to the survival aspect of living on an island that's been cut off from the mainland.

Is And Then There Were None one of my all time favorite books? Yes. Did I eat every page of this up? Yes. Am I obsessed? YES! I went in with low expectations due to my love of ATTWN, but this was perfection!

I really enjoyed this story by Ruth Ware. The characters were all so interesting, and the storyline was unique that it kept you wanting to turn the page. I am definitely a fan now!