Lyla a scientist, and her boyfriend Nico, a wannabe actor, are cast on a reality TV show on an island in the Indian Ocean. The premise behind the show is kind of sketchy, but this might be Nico's big break and chance at stardom, so Lyla goes along with the plan to be the first one voted off and sent home early. When a huge storm hits, they are cut off from civilization and any contacts. Then one by one, people start dying. Are they accidents or in there a killer among them?

This book was a tough one to rate because I flew through it and read it all in a day, but in the end it was not my favorite Ruth Ware book.

Positives:
Quick pacing making it a quick read
A satisfying conclusion
Intriguing setting
At the end the real reason behind the TV show comes to light and is interesting
The theme of survival on a remote island after a devastating storm was well done
 
Negatives:
There were a lot of characters to keep track of. I kept a running list and crossed them off as they died.

I can see this book being a very popular summer beach read and I will continue to auto buy every Ruth Ware novel.

wow. this was so good! i could not put it down!! i needed to know what was going to happen.

the only thing for me was all the characters and at times remembering who was coupled up with who because there was a decent amount but other than that enjoyed a lot!

"One Perfect Couple" by Ruth Ware is a riveting thriller reminiscent of Agatha Christie's best works. Set on a storm-swept island, Ware expertly crafts tension and intrigue, keeping readers hooked until the final page. Lyla's journey from uncertainty to resilience is captivating, and Ware's mastery of suspense is on full display as she weaves together intricate plot threads. With its authentic characters and relentless pacing, "One Perfect Couple" is a must-read for fans of psychological suspense.

4.5
I am a huge Ruth Ware fan, so I want to start by thanking her, Netgalley, and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.

The plot follows Lyla, a post-doc virologist, and her boyfriend Nico, and actor waiting for his big break. It looks like that big break finally might have come along when Nico and Lila get cast in a new reality show called One Perfect Couple. Details about the show are scarce, but the beautiful, remote, tropical setting, and the opportunity support Nico, or eventually enough to convince a reluctant Lyla. Unfortunately, a horrific storm turns the focus from winning to simply surviving against the elements… and the other castaways.

Open all, I really enjoyed this book. The characters are engaging and the reality show format is a fun way to introduce the characters and the relationships. The pacing is great- it moves quickly and keeps the readers attention. The author also does some really great foreshadowing. My only wish for this book is that it had more of the mystery element that Ware does so well. I appreciate that she isn’t afraid to mix it up and vary her plots, but in many ways this is more a survivalist tale than the true mystery I was looking forward to. Still, I was engaged throughout, and especially loved how the author crafted her woman characters. I definitely recommend :-)

A thrilling read!
5 couples on an island for a reality TV show called The Perfect Couple when a storm hits and they are left to survive on their own.
Lyla and Nico are the last couple asked to participate. Lyla only agrees to help Nico who is an aspiring actor and plans to be eliminated early on to go home. When they arrive in Jakarta the other 4 couples are already there waiting to board the ship to the island.
An unforeseen storm hits leaving them stranded on the island without drinkable water and limited shelter. One by one people start dying and Lyla joins with a few other women as they unravel what is happening.
The books is filled with suspenseful twists and I found it enthralling start to finish.

I received an arc from NetGalley and Gallery Books in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books and Ruth Ware for this advanced copy. I absolutely loved this book! Every single chapter was exciting! This is my third book by this author and the best. If you like reality TV and murder mysteries, this book is for you!!! I couldn't put it down, her writing is so beautiful. I can't wait for her next book.

Okay, Ware has already done "and then there were none," so maybe stop trying to sell that, but, otherwise, this was absolutely nail biting. I could have done without some of the triggering shit, but it goes that way sometimes.

Ruth Ware does it again with One Perfect Couple. This fast paced thriller has interesting well written characters. Lyla and Nico join the cast of a new reality show. They are competing against 4 other couples in a seriea of challenges. Who ever remains on the island wins. When Nico is kicked off after the first challenge, a large storm hits knocking out power. Suddenly, everything that could go wrong does...and there is a killer on the island. 5 star read.

I love Ware's novels so was excited to read this one, and of course you never know where it's going! Lila allows boyfriend, Nico to talk her into a reality tv show: One Perfect Couple, that has five couples set sail for a desert island and compete to win a cash prize. The island appears to be a lush tropical paradise with palm trees, coconuts, and lovely little villas to entice the contestants. But there will be "challenges" and eliminations like every reality show you've ever seen, and Lyla is skeptical at first as she's reluctant when she realizes each could be "sent home" alone and maybe pair-up with another contestant. I can guarantee you won't sign up for THIS show anytime soon as things are never as they appear; there are secrets, lies, back-stabbing, and all the intrigue we are used to on (un)reality tv!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Agatha Christie meets The Perfect Match reality TV? Those dating reality TV shows have become my recent guilty pleasure, so this book was right up my alley.

I love Ruth Ware’s thrillers, this one was a whole new level. I really grew attached to Lyla and felt all of her emotions along with her. There was a huge cast of characters and it wasn’t until maybe the first third of the book that I remembered who was who? Which I understand, I mean reality tv show.

I was a bit shocked by what happened to the cruise ship at the end, but I flew through the second half of this as each body piled up. The first half was definitely a slow burn, but I could not stop reading.

This is one of those books where when I finish I immediately want to go back to the beginning to see what I missed!

This story follows 5 couples who are on a reality tv show on a private island. A storm leaves them deserted without electricity, no contact with the outside world, and not much food or water. One by one, they start dying off. I expected more of a mystery to figure out what was going on with more twists. Instead it was a more intense game of who would make it out alive. While not my favorite Ruth Ware story, I still enjoyed it and found myself flying through the pages.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for an ARC of this book.

Ruth Ware can do no wrong. This twist on And Then There Were None was nothing like I expected it to be. The main payoff isn't revealed until the end of the novel, and rather than adding many red herrings that would have clumped up the plot, she revealed it plainly. Wasn't at all what I expected but none of Ruth's work ever is.

One Perfect Couple
by Ruth Ware
★ ★ ★

Lyla is at a crossroads in her life. Her career hasn’t taken off, and she’s not really sure where her life is headed. So when her boyfriend, Nico, begs her to join a couples reality TV show with him set on a remote tropical island, Lyla agrees. At first, the tropical island seems like the perfect getaway. But when a storm cuts the contestants off from the mainland, things quickly go from bad to worse.

I was so excited for this book but, unfortunately, it didn’t live up to the hype. I love Ruth Ware. But this book felt very different from her usual. It was slower paced and lacking in suspense for me. I never felt like there was anything pushing me to keep reading. Maybe I’m biased because I don’t love the whole trapped on a desert island thing. But unfortunately this just wasn’t for me. If you like desert island settings, reality tv, and character driven mysteries this might be for you!

Thank you so much to netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC e-book in exchange for my honest review!

I have yet to find a Ruth book that did not make me want to read more of her books. This book was well executed and thought out. This book was a page Turner for me. Being a mother I made sure I found time to read this book Where I could focus and enjoy every moment of it

We can depend on Ruth Ware for white knuckle suspense, and her latest, One Perfect Couple, does not disappoint. The main character, Lyla, is a scientist, struggling as a post doc. Her actor boyfriend, Nico, is also struggling and jumps at the chance to “make it” on a new reality show. The show’s premise is to put 5 couples on a remote island, and subject them to many challenges to see which couple is perfect. There are several red flags, but, Lyla, at a career crossroads, reluctantly agrees to participate.

Because of Ware’s skilled writing, the reader empathizes with Lyla and appreciates her analytical mind as she navigates challenges and appraises the other contestants. When a terrible storm comes up, and strands the contestants, the psychological suspense really accelerates. Male contestants start dying off, and it takes the women, especially Lyla to figure out the killer and how to deal with their predicament.

As always, a Ware novel is impossible to put down.

I am not an unbiased reviewer in the sense that I love everything that this author writes. I devoured this book in one day, and it kept me turning pages as quickly as I could. When Nico learns about an opportunity to be on a reality, show his girlfriend Lyla reluctantly agrees to do it with him as she feels that she’s at a crossroads in her career and may be in this relationship. Knowing that they will be on a beautiful island with four other couples as they compete to be the perfect couple. When they arrive at the island, everything seems like it’s going as planned, but when a big storm comes in and peoples secrets, come to light, it becomes clear that not everybody is what they seem, and not everybody’s motives are honest. this was definitely a page turner and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Nico, an actor lives with Lyla who does medical research. Finding themselves in a rut, Nico wants to join the reality show. one Perfect Couple. They will compete against four other couples to win the cash prize. So off they go to the tropical paradise not knowing a storm will hit and that there is a killer amongst them. Can they survive? Can they win the contest? A wild adventure that not everyone will finish!

Very intense book. To me, a little over the top. I wish there had been more description of the communication with the boat at the end. Just to help balance the horror of all that had occurred. I have read all of Ruth Ware's books and will continue to do so. This one, I don't feel, was up to her usual engrossing, satisfying reads.

When struggling actor Nico asks his girlfriend, scientist Lyla to appear on a new reality show, she reluctantly agrees. Lyla is at a crossroads with both her career and her relationship with Nico, and her plans for this “adventure” are swiftly scuttled. Ware writes an apt take on reality television that quickly turns into her signature locked room mystery and thriller. I found this much more compelling than Ware’s last novel, Zero Days.

A propulsive book where a reality show on a deserted island goes horribly awry. Full of characters you love to hate, this book is a must-read for the summer.