This one was just okay. I think it's missing something in the plot to make it really engaging. I do like this author, though, so I will read more from her.

Love Island meets Lost and Lord of the Flies in this thriller about a group of reality contestants trapped on a deserted island, Lyla is convinced by her boyfriend Nico to set her career aside and join the show for a few weeks, but when they show up they realize they have been sold a vision that doesn't truly exist. After a few short days, a storm rolls in, and Lyla and a group of other contestants are trapped, lost to the outside world. When tensions run high and contestants start dying, Lyla realizes the dark side of reality TV is darker than she thought.

This was a good thriller but I wanted something more from it... we seemed to fast forward past the reality TV aspects that could have made the book incredibly dynamic (ironic statement), and focus only on the survival of the cast. Ruth Ware is fantastic at writing characters you want to save... or push off a dock into shark infested waters.

I love a Ruth Ware book, and I really enjoyed this one, but it was not my favorite of hers. With that said, this book kept me engaged and had such an interesting premise. I really enjoyed the suspense throughout.

This book was so good! I really liked the concept and the reality show part was an added bonus. This book had a lot of plot twists and I confess that I didn’t see most of them coming! Many times I thought I had figured out what was going on and I was so wrong. I really enjoy Ruth Ware’s writing and this was no exception

I have enjoyed all of Ruth Ware's novels, and One Perfect Couple did not disappoint! It was fast-paced and had me on the edge of my seat anticipating what would happen next. It was reality tv meets Lord of the Flies with characters likeable and not so likable. Thank you to NetGalley and Scout Press for the ARC!

This one is really a wild ride! Lyla and her aspiring actor boyfriend Nico are recruited to star in a new reality TV program. The premise is that four couples will be sent to a remote tropical island and subjected to a variety of trials and challenges. One player will be eliminated each week and the partner of the eliminated person will have the chance to "couple up" with one of the other contestants, if they so choose. The idea is to determine which couples are in solid relationships, and of course, for lots of drama to happen between the participants. Lyla is working as a research scientist on one short-term contract after another. She has no interest in participating, but she knows Nico thinks this will be his big showbiz break and will lead to offers for more acting work. She reluctantly agrees. When they get to the island, they discover that it's "not ready for prime time." Much of the infrastructure is still under construction and many of the cameras and microphones that are being used for filming don't work. The cabins where the contestants stay are all on the small island, except for one that is out in the water, connected by a rickety walkway. The newly paired couples will get to spend time here to after eliminations to see if they want to stay with their current partners or move on to someone more interesting. The crew stays offshore on a yacht when not filming, but can monitor the couples through the cameras. After the first person is eliminated, there is a massive storm. The yacht is no longer visible, some people were killed and injured during the storm, and everything is damaged. As the people who are left await rescue, things begin to take a dark turn when they realize the food and fresh water on available to them won't last long. And soon someone begins to exhibit extremely disturbing behavior.

I really was on the edge of my seat for the whole time! This book is very compelling for so many reasons as the people struggle for survival, both from the hostile (but beautiful) environment and also from each other. Really a page turner! I couldn't wait to see who made it off the island and how they would accomplish it!

I like how Ruth Ware does reality. This book a twisty thriller that will keep readers engaged until the very shocking end. I highly recommend!

WOW.. I've read Ruth Ware before and, while I've always enjoyed her work, I've never been so enamored by one of her stories. I was on the edge of my seat, biting my nails and gripping my kindle for dear life! What began as a foreshadowing turned confusing to telling as the contestants of a new reality TV show become stranded on their tropical island paradise after a horrible storm. Thibk Lord of the Flies meets Animal Farm.

As a fan of both Ruth Ware and reality TV, I assumed I'd like this one, and it was a fun read. Though there were a lot of characters to keep track of, they were differentiated enough that it wasn't too tricky, and the pacing of the story was good. I thought some of the characters could have used a bit more dimension, but perhaps it was an intentional choice to make them archetypes the way that reality TV contestants often are.

Love the author but this one just wasn’t it for me. I personally don’t like to read about reality tv shows. Other than that i think others will like it a lot. As always the author has great writing style.

Ruth Ware does it again. The queen of thriller never fails to delight the fear out of me each time. I enjoy books that are set on islands, and this spin off of a reality game made it even more interesting. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, there was another twist. This is a perfect thriller to cozy up with in front of a fire with a hot toddy in your hand this Fall.

Ruth Ware's stories are always great. The narrator was fun to listen too. I expected more from the ending, but still a good story.

dnf at 55%

the characters are so stereotypical which I know is kinda the point with them being reality TV stars and all fitting those molds, but everything was so obvious and idk how a thriller could move so slowly. Having diary entries between the chapters that are written before the chapter happens was a really bad move because then I know what's going to happen? Also I found way too many typos and grammar mistakes for a traditionally published book. Needed some serious editing before being put on shelves

Ruth ware is always just a fun summer read!

This one wasn’t her best, but I still enjoyed the ride. Following the couples on an island, it was clearly another take on Agatha Christie, but with a bit more oomph. I enjoyed this one more than her other book, one by one.

I’ll read Ruth Ware as long as she writes.

This was a lot of fun!! I loved the reality show theme and it kept me entertained through the whole book. My only complaint is that the ending was just okay... I was kind of hoping for more of a "shock" but overall the book was great! 4 stars! Thank you NetGalley and Scout Press for the arc!

Drawing comparisons to And Then There Were None, One Perfect Couple features five couples who have been cast on a reality tv series on a deserted island. Things quickly take a turn for the worse and the couples must learn to work together to survive..... or not.
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One Perfect Couple sort of fell flat for me. I was initially really engaged with the story and wanted to find out what was going to happen, but then it seemed like it kind of drug on. I hoped for some sort of last minute twist or a shocking moment, but it didn't land for me. I feel like when that happens sometimes, it might just be me and not the book. I hope that is the case because I have enjoyed Ruth Ware's novels in the past.

I received this book courtesy of the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!
Lyla finds herself in over her head immediately, once she agrees to go on a couple’s reality show with her boyfriend, Nico. He’s an actor looking for a big break, and she’s a scientist-a “normie”, which makes her the fish out of water with the show cast. When a storm hits their secluded island, and things go from crazy to crazier, she truly only has her wits to help her get by.
Great read!

Ruth Ware's "One Perfect Couple" lures you in with the fun, glamorous world of reality TV but quickly evolves into a nerve-wracking survival thriller. The story centers on Lyla, a woman whose life is teetering on the edge of collapse—her research career is floundering, her relationship with her actor boyfriend Nico is strained, and her future feels uncertain. When Nico gets the chance to audition for a reality show called "The Perfect Couple", Lyla decides to join him, hoping for a distraction or maybe even a fresh start.

The couple is whisked off to Ever After Island, a secluded paradise in the Indian Ocean, along with four other couples, all competing for a life-changing cash prize. At first, it’s all fun and games, with typical reality TV drama and tension playing out as expected. But when a violent storm cuts the contestants off from the mainland, the stakes shift dramatically. It’s no longer just about winning money—their very survival is on the line as the challenges turn deadly, forcing them to navigate an increasingly dangerous game.

The island setting is immersive, with its tropical beauty masking the lurking dangers beneath the surface, and Ware's ability to ramp up the tension is impressive. The characters, though sometimes fitting reality show stereotypes, are distinct enough to keep track of, and the story remains a fast-paced, page-turning ride throughout. There are plenty of twists and turns, with red herrings sprinkled in to keep you guessing. The novel deftly blends reality TV drama with thriller elements, delivering a blend of psychological suspense and tragic, heart-pounding moments.

If you're a fan of thrillers with a "Lord of the Flies" twist, or if you've ever been captivated by the spectacle of reality TV, "One Perfect Couple" delivers a thrilling, entertaining read that keeps you hooked until the final page. A special thank you to Gallery Books for providing me with an Advance Reader's Copy for review!

I may be in the minority but I found this book to be a really fun ride. Reality show plot, isolated setting, people dying one by one, uhh yes please! Were there some flaws in the facts and plot, yes, but I go into books to have fun and enjoy the story and this delivers on both accounts.. In a nutshell, this is a quick paced survival story set on a deserted island with quite a few unlikeable characters. Lyla is our main character, a scientist who goes a on a reality dating show when everything goes wrong. If you want perfect scientific facts or a realistic story, do not read this. It is a far-fetched thriller, but again fun and a quick read. It was a solid 4 stars until the end which dropped it to a 3.5, ut still recommend.

The island setting and the reality show trope make for a wonderful match in the newest thriller by Ruth Ware.
This book was a page turner - Ruth Ware never disappoints.