One Perfect Couple might be my favorite Ruth Ware novel to date! The premise drew me in immediately, a reality tv show hosted on an island with five couples who complete challenges to see if the person they arrived with is actually the one. I was ready to dive into all the drama that happened on the island but then I remembered this is a mystery/thriller something is bound to go wrong. And boy did it, I LOVED the mode change to survivor and the girl power. I will say I was creating some crazy twists in my head which were wrong, there really wasn’t a twist, at least for me, which made the ending a bit underwhelming but the premise and page turning writing made up for it. Thank you Ruth Ware! 4⭐️

Thank you to Scout Press for an advanced reader’s copy of this title via NetGalley.

I was excited to read this one, and even saved it for my spring break trip due to the tropical setting! I loved the premise – our main character travels to a brand-new, deserted island resort to star in a reality TV show with her aspiring actor boyfriend. Hoping to help him out, the two of them and the other main couples, will compete in a couples competition for a grand cash prize. Because this is a Ruth Ware novel, obviously, things start to go wrong pretty quickly. A massive storm strands the competitors on the island. Cut off from civilization, they have to work together to survive.

This got very “Lord of the Flies” very quickly. I didn’t hate the book at all, but it definitely wasn’t one big mystery to solve, like so many of this author’s other books are. The end twist didn’t seem very twisty at all. I enjoyed reading it, and it will definitely be a popular summer pick. However, I think this one missed the mark for me just slightly. That might have been due to what I was expecting versus what was delivered.

Overall, a fun thriller read. You’ll be on the edge of your seat, but there’s not really any mystery or secret to solve.

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! This is my favorite book of 2024 so far, and this year some incredible authors have been churning out banger after banger! What a great year for readers like me! But let's get to One Perfect Couple. Well, it took me a perfect couple of days to read this book, because once I got to the 34 percent point on the second day, I knew it was getting finished on that day! I couldn't stop turning the pages to find out what happens next.

So, Lyla and her beau sign up to be on a reality show set in paradise. She is reluctant, but she has love pulling at her to give it a go. When a storm rolls in, everyone is unprepared, and I mean everyone. The contestants of this "love" themed reality show, the production, everyone, and as you can imagine, chaos ensues. And death, did I mention that too?

It was a gripping read that had me from the start. The action doesn't let up, and I was gasping audibly throughout the entire book. It was entertaining, and it's going to stick with me, I already know. I'm going to have a book hangover from this, which isn't necessarily a bad thing!

Ruth Ware's "One Perfect Couple" is a masterful thriller that grips you from the very first page. Set on a remote island during a game show, five couples are forced to confront not only the challenges of the game but also the terrifying forces of nature. When a storm hits, leaving them isolated and vulnerable, the true nature of each character is revealed.

What sets this novel apart is Ware's skillful storytelling, weaving together the suspense of the game with the personal dramas of the couples. As tensions rise and secrets are revealed, the reader is drawn deeper into the story, unable to look away.

But "One Perfect Couple" is more than just a thriller. It's a story of resilience, teamwork, and the power of human connection. Despite the dire circumstances, the characters show incredible strength and courage, reminding us of the importance of sticking together in the face of adversity.

Overall, "One Perfect Couple" is a riveting read that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Ruth Ware has once again proven herself to be a master of the genre, and I can't wait for readers around the world to discover this gripping tale.

This was okay. I liked the strong female characters but I found myself skimming through it to get to the twists and the end.

First, let me start off by saying that I am a big Ruth Ware fan. I have read all of her books. My favorite is probably In A Dark, Dark Wood, but I also enjoyed The It Girl and One by One. I requested her newest book (One Perfect Couple) on Netgalley and I was thrilled to be given an advance copy to review.

The premise is catchy. Nico and Lyla find their way onto a couples' reality show (something akin to Love Is Blind, maybe). Only a short while into the competition, however, a terrible storm interrupts production and things become a lot more like Survivor or even the Hunger Games. The body count starts to pile up, and soon the reader is left wondering if there is something even more sinister taking place on the island. Will Lyla and the other contestants survive until rescue?

I enjoyed this book, but I did not love this book. If it had been my first Ruth Ware, I would not have been interested in continuing to read on. The premise is already just a little ways too out there and at a certain point the number of injuries and near-death experiences almost became comical. That being said, I think this is a perfect read for the pool, beach, or airplane. The cover even makes that clear with its palm tree background and neon font.

If you watched the TV show Lost and enjoyed the tropical setting plus the survival aspects, I think you would like this book. As for me, I'm glad that I read it and I owe the publisher a big thank you for letting me have an early copy. I will continue to read Ruth Ware's books, too!

The initial description of this book did not really prepare me for what was to come. While it is a variation of a classic “locked room” mystery in the style of Agatha Christie—with the isolation in the form of a small island in the Pacific Ocean—it is also a story of survival, along the lines of Lord of the Flies. There were many scenes that made me very uncomfortable, and there is a lot of discussion of domestic violence; I was expecting the reality-show on a beautiful island setting to go in a different direction. The principal characters—5 couples who have agreed to participate on this reality show called “One Perfect Couple” are intriguing and just diverse enough to make their interactions very interesting. For me this was a quick read—I was pulled into the story from the first page and I really wanted to know how it played out. I’ve loved all of Ware’s books, and though this one was a bit of a departure, it was an engaging thriller with some unexpected moments. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really have come to think of this author, Ruth Ware, as a modern day Agatha Christie. This work in particular gives And Then There Were None Vibes! The premise is five couples agree to go to a remote island in the Indian Ocean to compete on a trashy reality show about love. Lyla is an unlikely contestant who was before working as a scientist, but when she realizes it is unlikely her research funding will be renewed, she reluctantly agrees to go with her fame chasing wanna be actor boyfriend, Nico to the audition for the show. This after all could be the big break he's been hoping for....
Not long after arriving in paradise, Lyla realizes things are not what exactly what they seem, and things go very quickly from bad to worse as a sudden devastating storm cuts the contestants off from civilization and the producers who have brought them there. The tensions between the couples begin to explode as they do what they need to survive. This of course feels like a reality version of Lord of the Flies. No spoilers here, but this is the perfect summer read, a thriller that will keep you turning the pages and guessing what is coming next!
I recommend to anyone who loves a smart thriller with a psychological twist. Is it Ware's best? Probably not, but it's really all I want in a summertime read. 3.5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy!

3.5 stars rounded up as it helped fill the jetlaggy wee hours.

A reality tv show goes horribly off course in this gripping thriller.

Scientist Lyla is persuaded by her wannabe actor boyfriend to participate in One Perfect Couple, a reality TV show set on a deserted island. Five couples are taken to a resort in the Indonesian ocean where they will be participating in challenges and eliminated one person at a time with, well it doesn’t really matter because they’ve barely cooed over the white sand and turquoise seas before a storm rampages through the island, wrecking all the support systems and putting the contestants out of touch with the show runners and, actually, anybody at all.

Love Island quickly becomes Survivor and then, this is Ruth Ware after all, Lord of the Flies as the contestants split into factions and the bodies start piling up. Unfortunately it takes quite a substantial amount of time to be able to delineate the different characters and most of them have very few memorable character traits. We have to be told over and again that Angel is French and beautiful and Santana is diabetic. Those that die early on are almost complete blanks. Even Lyla, as our narrator, is only defined by being a scientist so she’s analytical.

Is there a mystery? well sort of. Is there a twist? Again, sort of but nothing that even a not particularly engaged reader couldn’t work out while they were musing on it in the shower. But it is exciting: as well as keeping me gripped at 3am, I struggled to pry my nose out of the book for meal times.

Thanks to Gallery and Netgalley for the digital review copy.

Ooohhh, this book was so good! Ruth Ware really hit it out of the park with this one. ONE PERFECT COUPLE is a destination thriller centered around a couples reality show on a desert island that quickly goes awry. The tension starts right away and continues to steadily ratchet up, along with the body count. Strong female characters and lots of action. Refreshing, original take on the destination thriller and reality show tropes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Galley Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Scout Press, for letting me read and review an advanced copy of this book, ‘One Perfect Couple’ by Ruth Ware.

Lyla is talked into participating in a reality TV show by her partner Nico, so that he can advance his acting career. That takes them to a remote island in the Indian Ocean, along with four other couples. After a rough first day of filming, there is no doubt in her mind that things will not end up well.

This story is a combination of a reality TV show (think ‘Love Island’), a disaster movie, survival, and, finally, ‘Lord of the Flies’. As the isolated group slowly loses hope and some of its’ members, the fight for survival takes over.

This is another of Ruth Ware’s outstanding stories, which leaves the reader guessing who will be the last person standing.

Great thriller that you will fall right into. It was well written and easy to read. I really enjoyed all the characters and how well the storyline played out for the whole book.

Lyla reluctantly agrees to join her boyfriend to compete in a reality tv show set on a tropical island. Things do not go as planned! Lots of suspense and twists. Ruth Ware always delivers.

4.5 stars
Slightly confused in the beginning with the introduction of all of the characters, but was able to get a grasp fairly quickly. I haven’t liked the main character in a fair amount of thriller books, but I did like Lyla. I think some parts in the first half of the book were drawn out but overall I was interested in the story and wanted to keep reading.
I’ve read 2 other Ruth Ware books and this was my favorite.
Thank you Net Galley for my advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely flew though One Perfect Couple and enjoyed every minute of it!

Lyla’s boyfriend Nico is an aspiring actor, and when he gets the opportunity to be on a new reality show about couples on an island, Lyla reluctantly agrees to go along with it and be part of the show. The five starring couples make their way to a deserted island via boat, and things quickly go from bad to worse.

You could call this a locked room thriller, or a survival novel, or a psychological thriller, and all of those would be true. We do know who the killer is quite early on, but the motives and just how bad things might get are the unknowns. The couples must face a harrowing storm and its after effects, the chronic health condition of one member, low food and water supplies, and limited means of communication. It is tense and wild and fast paced, leaving me flying through the pages.

One Perfect Couple is a perfect summer read, bringing to mind tropical islands and scorching sun. It is pure binge worthy fun and I’ll be highly recommending it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books/Scout Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own,

Always desperately waiting for the new Ruth Ware so can't wait to read this one!

I always think Ruth Ware's books have eras. Her first few are locked room, twisty, cinematic mystery thrillers. Her middle era had atmospheric, gothic mysteries with incredibly vivid settings, and her recent few have been more fast-paced.

This one sounds like a mix of early and late era, but I'll be curious to see when I read it where it fits!

After Ruth Ware's more recent novels, I had begun to think she was losing her skill as a writer. This is the first book by her I have really enjoyed in a while.

"One Perfect Couple" is based around the idea of a reality TV show in which five seemingly perfect couples are pitted against one another on an island. The basis of the show is to create conflict and drama, but nature instead does this for them in the form of a brutal storm. Unlike most thrillers where the villain is unclear, in this book it is apparent fairly quickly. Thus, the suspense comes in wondering who will manage to survive and how they will do it. On a deserted island, there are so many ways to die.

I enjoyed how this wasn't a typical thriller, and I didn't feel disappointed by a weak premise or a senseless motive. I couldn't predict the outcomes in this story, and that was satisfying for me.

Much like a bag of white cheddar popcorn, I went through this book too quickly and was left wanting more.

I'd like to thank Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was an "okay" thriller. I didn't love any of the characters or the premise honestly. I definitely like other Ruth Ware books better.

Such an awesome thriller! There were so many twists and turns, and it kept my attention the whole time. Definitely pick this one up!

I have enjoyed the novels I’ve read by Ruth Ware so far and this one did not disappoint! It was intense! Once I got to the halfway point I knew I needed to finish the rest in one sitting.

This was a locked door mystery where you figure out pretty early on who the killer is, but the motive is the unknown piece. There are also a lot of twists that make it difficult to know who can be trusted. I enjoyed each reveal as it came and found myself wondering until the very end what may happen next.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an eARC of #ThePerfectCouple by #RuthWare in exchange for honest feedback. -4.5 stars