3.5⭐️
- I enjoyed the idea of a reality tv show that was part Love Island part Survivor
- I enjoyed the setting of the island
- There were a lot of characters to learn at the beginning, but I didn’t find it too hard to keep track
- I liked how the mayday calls were included at the beginning to build suspense
- I liked how the relationships changed as their time on the island increased
- MC was easy to root for


- I wish we had a bigger twist. I enjoyed the story, but was left wanting a bit more at the end.
- I feel like some of the characters very abruptly changed from how they acted at the beginning. Not in a “oh this is a twist” but more just an unnatural change of character

I love Ruth Ware's books! This one had me on the edge of my seat the whole time (typically for Ware's books). The dynamics between all of the couples was really interesting to read about. The pace of the book and how everything unfolded meant it was super engaging, I didn't want to put it down! I think this book is an excellent addition to her oeuvre. Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this ARC!

This is now the second "reality show gone horribly wrong" thriller I've read (following Blair Braverman's Small Game), and as a sub-subgenre, its got potential.

This one is completely different from Braverman's -- if anything I'd compare it to Laymon's Island (albeit a lot better and less filled with SA). At it's core, in spite of some of the straightforwardness of the main plot, it pulls of two brilliant twists (and as a longtime Ware fan, well-hidden twists aren't always her thing). The plot is pretty simple: Five couples go to a remote tropical island for a reality show. The first night there, after most of the crew have departed, a huge storm hits, devastating the island and taking out the ship with the crew. The survivors are left to fend for themselves, but of course, things start to go south, as it seems at least one person may have a hidden agenda.

Straightforward as that plot is, Ware not only throws in some nice twists, but also does a great job of building up the characters, making them all feel like real people. We also start to get a different point of view (often a contradictory one) from Lyla (our narrator) that adds narrative tension as the story progresses and there are fewer and fewer survivors. I genuinely did not expect the way this was reconciled.

As always, Ware's a fun, breezy writer, and this is a quick and engaging read. She shifts thriller subgenres with ease, and I'm looking forward to her next one.

This is my second Ware title and honestly I enjoyed the other much better. Zero Days was face paced and I wanted to know the why. But this title I don't care about these characters at all. One feels to desperate, the other can't stand on her own decisions.
I was excited to get started because I do enjoy a good mystery. This did disappoint a little but I'm glad I read it.
I rated this 3 stars for the following reasons: for my reading style this was too wordy and it took too long for things to start, characters can get confusing two had names that was so close I had to keep going back to keep it straight in my head

I had a hard time caring for a few of the characters and kept wondering do we need six characters? All in all, it’s a summer mystery.

I just found this to be a fun time. Coming from someone who does love survivor and both love island this was a great combination of the two about what goes wrong with reality tv

5 couples apply to go to an island for a survivor type show. Lyle who is struggling with her post-doc degree, goes to support her boyfriend Nico who is trying to launch his acting career. But things don't go as planned on this Indonesian island for the five couples.
Part Lord of the Flies theme, a bit of "Then there were none" and based on "Survivor" tv show, this book keeps you reading and guessing. A few twists and some colorful characters to make it an enjoyable read.

I must admit that I had a hard time getting into this book. I put down several times but kept trying to get into it. Once it picked up it was very hard to put down. This author Ruth Ware has a knack for crafting thrilling tales, and this one is no exception, even though her big twist at the end was missing.

The story revolves around a fascinating couple: Lyla, and Nico and Nico pressure Lyla to joining a reality to join a reality TV show with him, she reluctantly agrees, thinking a couple of weeks off work won't hurt.

They are now on a very remote island with all kinds of cast members. When a storm hits the island the deaths start hitting.

Lyla quickly realizes she can't trust anyone. She has to rely on her wits to piece together the clues and stay alive. The characters in this book are well developed and the book keeps your wondering what will happen next. Such a great book and I am so glad that I finished it. Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC.

2-stars One Perfect Couple – by Ruth Ware:

This book was very slow and did not pick up speed until about 75% into it. The author did a fabulous job of making you dislike the characters, especially the antagonist, but there was no big surprise or reveal? Several times I had to just get up and get away from the book to process what was going on with the characters and only continued to read in order to find the great twist but was left highly disappointed. I found the book sad without a thrill, which is just truly sad. I am not a fan of reality TV anyway, so I initially had trouble connecting with the characters and the setting. The story definitely read like a locked room mystery without the mystery. One of the most disappointing books I’ve read in years.

Thank you to Scout Press and Simon Audio for the copies to review!

This was another hit by Ruth Ware for me, I’m loving the locked room thrillers lately and this one had a reality show element that really worked well. Set on a deserted island, five couples are trapped with a killer among them after a storm comes through overnight and takes an already tense situation up ten notches. This was very fast paced, was not too far fetched, and I was definitely captivated the entire time with the story. The audio was a great companion, it really added to the tense atmosphere that was building. The ending was extremely satisfying and I definitely recommend this one!

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware is exactly what we have come to expect from Ruth Ware - a fun thriller with killer twists! This one is set amidst a reality competition show on an island and then bodies start dropping! Everything you want from a mystery thriller suspense novel - absolute page turner!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance ecopy of this title. Lyla is a scientist whose boyfriend, Nico persuades her to participate in a reality show featuring couples on an island near Indonesia. When a storm hits, power and communications are knocked out, and the remaining contestants face a "Lord of the Flies" type situation. Highly riveting!

I was excited when I heard the plot of Ruth Ware's latest, as I love reality TV, and the concept of the show was interesting to me. Unfortunately, we really didn't get much of the actual TV show in the plot, as the "thriller" part of the novel began the same night that the filming started. Because of this, I felt quite a bit of distance from the characters. Since the action was ramped up so early on, it was a book that I read fairly quickly, which I also enjoyed. The ending was a bit of a letdown, as I would have liked to see more recourse brought against the perpetrator (but such is life!). Overall, I enjoyed the reading experience, but I don't think it's a book that I will remember or think about much in the future.

It has been awhile since I have read a thriller. One Perfect Couple is set up like what you would expect a reality show is really like behind the scenes. It did take some time for me to become familiar with the characters as there were many to keep up with at first. Once things start rolling, I could not put this one down. Lyla is a smart and fierce protagonist. I would not be surprised to see this one turned into a movie or short series on a streaming platform. I am recommending to all readers who enjoy a thriller. Especially for readers who enjoy a thriller that is not typical political or missing person type of storyline.

What happens when 5 couples are stranded on a private island while filming a reality TV show? Well murder...duh.

I think game show thrillers are becoming my new favorite trope! I recently read one a few weeks before I started this one and was hooked. I was positive Ruth wasn't going to let us down and SHE DIDN'T. Each contestants handed over all electronic devices upon arriving at the island and have no connected to the mainland. After filming for the day 99% of the staff take the boat back to the mainland while the contestants stay on the island. A tropical storm hits the island and destroys everything. The contestants are then faced with injury, little supplies, dehydration, starvation, and deadly alliances. Turning into survival of the fittest.

I binged this in two days!! I couldn't put it down. Every chapter left me wanting more; especially with those journal entries from one of the contestants. NICE TOUCH. There are multiple characters but don't fear, everything is in Lyla's POV so it becomes easier after a bit annnnnnd once they start dying you don't need to remember their names as much LOL. Overall, definitely an entering thriller! A must read pool/beach read for sure.

This is another Ruth Ware thriller in which the character is in a rut but adventure awaits. I love the pace and everything that takes place on the island. Love this book!!

After the last couple Ruth Ware books I’ve read I was hesitant to read this one, but I’ve read enough good from her to give it a chance. This one was a little bit different than her typical books where there was no huge mystery or twist. A little bit of the “who’s the bad guy” and maybe a red herring or two..but mostly a straight forward suspense/action book. But I felt the story was fast moving and I wanted to keep going to find out what happened.
I wouldn’t mind seeing her go back to her roots with a good thriller/mystery but this was a satisfying read!

I love Ruth Ware and was excited to read this book. The book is about 5 couples who will live on a deserted island, competing to "survive" for a reality TV show. The story is told from Lyla's point of view, who is reluctant to do the show, but agrees to do it for her boyfriend, Nico. Shortly after arriving, a massive storm hits the island and things to not continue on as planned. The couples must fight for their life, and not all will survive. I liked the book, but it was not my favorite Ruth Ware book.

Lyla is SO not a reality TV girl. And yet when her boyfriend Nico begs her to go on "One Perfect Couple" she agrees. Her career isn't doing so hot and neither is her relationship, what does she have to lose? But soon, a storm hits, and they are stranded on the island and naturally not everyone keeps up their TV ready persona.

Lyla was super relatable, and the other characters were full of surprises. I would've loved to see more of the potential reality show, but I enjoyed the survivor chaos anyway. There weren't as many twists as I've come to expect from Ruth Ware, but it was still VERY enjoyable.

I enjoyed "The It Girl" by Ruth Ware but had to DNF "Zero Days" and really disliked "One by One". This latest release from her was middle-of-the-road. This first half was slow going, the middle was a solid rendition of "Lord of the Flies", and the ending just fizzled out and didn't leave you feeling anything honestly. I'm glad I read it but I may be putting Ruth Ware's new books on my backburner from now on.

Lyla and Nico are one of the few couples who qualified for the new TV reality series "One Perfect Couple". With both of their careers at dead ends, they decide to take the risk and sign up for this challenge. The more they become involved, however, the more Lyla questions their decision. When a bad storm strands the couples on the island without communication to the outside world, they must either work together or create a hierarchy to survive.

Thorough but Plodding and Anti-climatic, this is a good thriller if you like a steady storyline without surprises.

While very reminiscent of Agatha Christie - this premise seems to be super popular recently to the point is being almost overdone. Ruth Ware puts her own spin on a group of people stranded on an island with murder in its midst. This is an easy read with a few good twists! Nothing earth-shattering or a new concept but a decent popcorn thriller for the summer.