I appreciate that Ruth Ware mixes up her themes and even her writing style from book to book. But “One Perfect Couple” seemed to be trying too hard to seem hip and happening by taking an easy swing at reality TV dating shows. The first chapters were almost unbearably cute, after which the book took a sharp turn for the very dark and even gruesome. Although “One Perfect Couple” was probably my least favorite of Ware’s works, I’ll concede that in the end, .i wasn’t sorry that everyone didn’t die.

Ruth Ware is always hit or miss for me and this one was a miss. The first part of the book is gripping but it hits a lull halfway in and never really recovers.

HOLY COW!!!!! This took me a little longer than most books to finish for the simple fact that I DIDNT WANT IT TO END! I did because I wanted to know the ending but wow was this a great read. Lyla was such a likable character and I enjoyed reading from her point of view. I can’t say enough good things about this book. Definitely my favorite by Ruth Ware (and I’ve read them all!)

One Perfect Couple sends couples to a remote island in Asia for a reality television show. Lyla is less than thrilled when her boyfriend, Nico, asks her to be part of the show with him. Nico is an aspiring actor and hopes the show will help his career, so Lyla reluctantly agrees. How bad can spending a couple of weeks on a beautiful remote island really be?

Doing what Ruth Ware does best, the sinister plot twists and turns. Some of the characters are a little underdeveloped, but I really enjoyed the plot. One Perfect Couple was a book I couldn't put down because I wanted to see how it would end. There are several characters I supported and several I loved to hate. There are a couple of unanswered questions, but overall, I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this entertaining thriller.

Lyla is in a bit of a rut. Her post-doctoral research has fizzled out, she’s pretty sure they won’t extend her contract, and things with her boyfriend, Nico, an aspiring actor, aren’t going great. When the opportunity arises for Nico to join the cast of a new reality TV show, One Perfect Couple, she decides to try out with.

Hard to go wrong with a Ruth Ware mystery.
I did enjoy this as I have all of her novels but I had trouble concentrating on the story. Probably because I loathe reality shows like this and even though the prospects of someone killing the over privledged, impossibly gorgeous people tickled me.

Recommended.She is a master of her craft.Worth your time.

Thanks to Gallery Books and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

As a fan of reality shows, I enjoyed the premise a lot. It was a good stranded island mystery with a bit of a twist. Rather than keep the 'killer' reveal for the very end, it gets to this much earlier and instead adds intrigue with the diary, prologue, and the characters' survival with this known threat on an island on their own. Ruth Ware has been one of my favorite authors since her early work and I was pleased that her latest continued the train of truly enjoyable novels.

Lyla is a scientist who agrees to go on a reality tv show on a beautiful island with her actor boyfriend Nico. They plan for her to leave early and let Nico get a chance at fame. This plan goes south on the first day. A storm leaves the contestants stranded and fighting for their lives.

I really enjoyed the concept of this book but felt like something was really missing from it. I am not sure what I expected but I felt like the story was dragged out and then rushed at the end.

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware is an incredible domestic suspense.
The characters were well developed and fleshed out.

What a twisty book. I was left shocked , really suprised.

This was such a good thriller, I love Ruth Ware!

This was such a fun and intense thriller, perfect for the summer! The first half dragged a little but the second half more than made up for it and had much better pacing. I enjoyed the ending, ironic as it was. 4.5⭐️

Well this was an interesting Ruth Ware books.

Let’s do a personality type review shall we. It’s the only way I can summarize a book like this. You have the main character who is brilliant and organized. Introverted and just wants a stable life. Her boyfriend is the exact opposite. Very extroverted and wants to be a star. So, why not do reality tv? Seems to be the most logical thing to do right?

Lyla, poor Lyla. She gets guilted and dragged onto this reality tv show. Think, YouTube star wannabes, mixed with instagram drama, and with whatever other private island/love show you can think of. That’s where Lyla went. Then it unfolds and your usual assumptions become correct about the boyfriend and the people she is around.

After you reach halfway through the book, it turns into one mess after another. Everything that could go wrong, goes wrong.

It’s a reality survival show, in a book, with most of the chapters ending with a glimpse into the present timeline. Oh and did I mention, they are trapped on a crumbling island with cameras and a diabetic?

This book is a lot. It’s a lot of drama. A lot of flair. I recommend reading this if you enjoy reality shows, cringe drama, survival stories, or if you are down for reading characters who are walking dumpster fires and who represent everything wrong with our society.

I have said this for many years now and I shall continue to stand by it: Ruth Ware is the modern Agatha Christie and every one of her books is a winner. She is THE murder mystery author of the modern age. Twists, turns, likeable and unlikeable characters, intrigue, suspense, and everything that makes a solid mystery novel good.

One Perfect Couple is another one of Ruth Ware's books that make me think of Agatha Christie. It reminds me of And Then There Were None, but with Ruth Ware's signature ability to modernize the story and characters. A bunch of strangers are joined together on a beautiful remote island on a start-up TV show where couples compete to prove they are the perfect couple. However, are they the perfect couple with who they arrived with or with someone from another couple? The whole setup has this over overexaggerated feel to it like Love Island or Perfect Match in real life. That cultivated reality vibe that makes me want to gag but also makes me want to watch the trainwreck of other people's lives so I feel better about my mediocre one.

As with every reality show, there is a villain and then a favorite, a person who seems like they don't belong because they seem like a real person and not some curated personality. But with this particular reality show, it is hard to tell who the villian is. Is it the network that is launching this shitshow? The production assistant that seems suspiciously cheery and like she is covering something up from day one? The rather rude and dickish producer who sidesteps questions? Or is it any one of the toolbags and primadonnas that have lined up to use One Perfect Couple as their ticket to stardom?

After the first night, a massive storm wreaks the island and leaves the cast stranded and scared. As if things didn't already seem weird enough before the storm, now things are taking an unpleasant and dangerous turn. More and more questions arise every day, including the one about who the villian really is.

There is a saying, "players gonna play," and on this remote island people are doing a lot of playing. Dangerous games, manipulative games, and one big game of survival. One of the islanders keeps a diary of what happens, and as you read the book you experience the written record, and the reality. And you genuinely start to question what is at play when reality and the cultivated truth don't really match up.

A thrilling book that keeps you turning the pages until the shocking ending. Full of twists and turns and shocks. Brilliant!’ I highly recommend reading this book! 📖

Ruth Ware is by far one of my favorite authors and never disappoints! This was not my favorite out of all her books, but I definitely enjoyed it. I love that the storyline was different than other books that are popular right now as it is about a couple that get chosen to participate in a reality show competition but with a lot of twists. It was a little difficult to keep up with the different characters at first, but it all came together at the end.

Ruth Ware's "One Perfect Couple" promises an enticing journey into the complexities of relationships, but ultimately delivers a mixed bag of emotions. Set against the backdrop of a luxurious island resort, the novel sets the stage for a gripping tale of love, betrayal, and suspense. However, while the overall plot captivates, the execution falters, leaving readers yearning for more substance and depth.

Despite its promising start, "One Perfect Couple" struggles to maintain momentum. Around the middle of the novel, the pacing begins to falter, bogged down by unnecessary details and repetitive scenes. The once-engaging plot loses its steam, leaving readers to trudge through a sluggish middle section.

The characters, too, fail to leave a lasting impression. While their flaws and insecurities are evident, they never quite transcend the realm of cliché, rendering them forgettable amidst the chaos unfolding around them. Supporting characters suffer a similar fate, failing to leave a lasting impact beyond their surface-level attributes.

In conclusion, "One Perfect Couple" is a tale of missed opportunities. While the premise holds promise and Ware's skill for crafting suspense is evident, the novel ultimately falls short of its potential. With a dragging middle, underdeveloped characters, and an unsatisfying conclusion, it earns a modest three stars. While it may not be a perfect read, it still offers moments of intrigue and suspense for those willing to endure its shortcomings.

Ruth is back, baby!!!! This felt like old RW in all the best ways. Reality TV meets deserted island meets strangers having to work together meets whodunnit. A little mystery and a little genre bending. Ah, so good! This felt like one by one but on an island. Absolutely loved it!

I am a huge Ruth Ware fan and I eagerly await her next books so I was thrilled to get an advance reader copy of One Perfect Couple. The setting was a reality show set on a remote island where couples would compete in challenges to see who was the 'perfect' couple. They were told to give up their phones to keep the series a secret. Everyone was beautiful and the island was exotic and all seemed well until the storm hit that cut them off from contact with the outside world... I couldn't stop reading and trying to figure out what was real and what was part of the show. Twists and turns and bodies showing up made this mystery into a page-turning thrill ride!

I'm sorry, but Ruth Ware's books are always so unbelievable and the writing just doesn't do it for me. I find her plots slow & boring, her characters poorly written (and always so unlikable) and the writing juvenile. I'm giving this two stars, because I should not have requested it, as I have not liked a single one of her books before.

The Perfect Couple is the newest thriller by one of my favorite authors, Ruth Ware. This one is set on a remote island. Five couples are brought together to film what they think is a new reality show. Little do they realize how much their lives will change over the course of the next few weeks. Secrets and drama keep this plot moving right along. If locked room mysteries are your deal, then you're going to love this book. Read and enjoy!

Ruth Ware books can be hit or miss for me, but this one was a hit. I liked the locked room/isolated island vibe it had. The characters were varied in terms of development. Some I loved and some I hated, so it kept me reading to see who’d be next. Definitely recommend for those wanting a more updated version of And Then There Were None.

You can count on Ruth Ware to write a reliable thriller. One Perfect Couple will keep you reading far into the night, although the end did fall a bit flat. Lyla is a post-doc virologist; her longtime boyfriend, Nico, is a struggling actor. When Nico is offered a place in a new reality show for couples set on a remote island in the Indian Ocean, he convinces Lyla to go with him. Readers can guess something is wrong with the show, and things start to go badly immediately. The book is told through Lyla's POV, which is a relief. I am tired of the multi-POV books. Through her eyes, we meet the other four couples and the show's director/crew. The book description references Agatha Christie's classic And Then There Were None, but I honestly think Lord of the Flies is a better comparison. Not my favorite book of Ware's but highly entertaining.