Once again, Ware has written a thriller and I do mean thriller. I started and didn't stop reading until I had finished. I couldn't' stop until I had found out how the story was all going to be resolved.
It's a contemporary tale. Lyla, who is at a crossroads with her career, and her actor boyfriend, Nico, also in a slump, agree to sign up to appear as couple contestants on a reality TV show. They are whisked off to an island of paradise where they join 4 other couples to compete.
Once that hurricane hits, it's all about surviving. The best of human nature is juxtaposed against the worst.
Expect an all-nighter once you begin. Spellbinding!

Ruth Ware is undoubtedly one of my favorite authors. Ware's The Woman in Cabin 10 was one of the first books that I read in that genre. I have been hooked ever since, and especially hooked on Ware's novels.

One Perfect Couple is intriguing from the beginning, capitalizing on the popular reality shows that abound and have millions of viewers. When Nico, an aspiring actor, convinces his girlfriend, Lyla, to join him in a new reality TV show, they quickly become embroiled in a network of mysteries surroundings the other four couples. Though Nico would like to win the cash prize, he mostly believes that the exposure will lead to his chance at stardom. Lyla, a scientist working on a post-doctoral degree, is not so sure about the whole idea. Especially the locale of a real deserted island. She reluctantly agrees and they embark on an adventure. An adventure that turns into a harrowing, deadly cat and mouse games among the 5 couples. The mysterious and tragic events will keep the reader turning the pages to find out who will win the contest and who will still be alive when it is over.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this ARC.

A group of couples are taken to an island for a reality show. Things immediately go wrong and it quickly becomes a fight for survival. I thought it was an interesting story!

I received an early copy through Netgalley, but all opinions are my own.

The ultimate reality tv show of survival of the fittest.
Grab your factor 50 and be prepared to be whisked away to paradise and be grateful you’re only watching from afar as paradise soon becomes hell!
What should have been the chance of a lifetime, on a beautiful tropical island soon turns deadly as a storm rips through the Indian ocean, decimating their paradise as well as leaving them stranded with out any way to reach safety.
As the chances of the boat returning for them slowly ebbs away so do the remains of their supplies.
Water is the commodity of live and there is only so much drinking water left as well as a meagre amount of food. Add to that a diabetic who relies on insulin to stay alive and only a certain amount of vials of insulin on the island, cracks soon start to appear in the group as rationing begins and temperatures begin to flare. True characters begin coming to the surface and not everyone is what or who they seemed.
The different range of characters makes this a really interesting character driven read and the main protagonist is impossible to not like and to will on in the quest for survival, whereas the antagonist is so easy to dislike that this truly makes this an easy read that is impossible to put down.
Ruth Ware has done it again with One Perfect Couple. It is going to be another huge smash hit!

A gripping, propulsive foray into the perils of reality TV culture and survivalist mentalities! Ruth Ware delivers an addictive new thriller that will be perfect for summer reading! I finished in a matter of days!

So good that I read it in a day. I couldn't put it down! The premise - 10 contestants on a reality TV show stranded on an island - was intriguing, and I love a good survival book. Mix in a little mystery and murder, and this is a solid beach read.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

I love Ruth Ware's fiction not just for the nail-biting suspense but also for her ability to communicate the things that make us people, and how relationships are complex and constantly evolving. So many mystery novels are surface-level when it comes to characters - and in this novel it would be easy to fall into that trap. A young couple, both struggling in their careers - one as a post-grad scientist and one as an actor - decide to compete in a new reality show for couples set on a tropical island. Despite the sleazy tone and half-truths she detects, our young scientist Lyla decides to give it a shot. She has nothing to lose, as her research has fizzled out to nothing and her boyfriend Nico is sure it'll be the break that helps his career. Things go awry though when a storm appears on the horizon. Who are we when the artifice is stripped away and there's no one to perform for? Paradise is not all it's cracked up to be when tensions rise and people's true nature start to come out. Another winner from Ware - again showing why I'll always pick up her new titles as soon as I see them.

4.5 stars!

I was SO excited to get approved to read this advanced copy of Ruth Ware’s new book! Ruth Ware was the author who got me into the genre and I’ve read all of her books.

I will say that this book is probably a little different from her typical thrillers, in that it is a little more straight forward. That does not mean it isn’t suspenseful though! I flew through this and could not put it down!

Do you like reality tv? If so, this book is for you! In this book, couples are sent to a remote island to film a new reality TV show- think Love Island/Survivor. When a hurricane hits the first night, things take a terrible turn as communications are cut off from the main land and people start to die, one by one.

This is one of Ruth’s best works. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced ecopy in exchange for my honest review.

Survivor, reality tv and murder..all combined to make this Ruth Ware book entertaining.

Thanks to netgalley for the eArch

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. 4.5 stars.

I had started to lose faith in Ruth Ware- I felt like the last couple books were just ok. Not this one- this knocked my socks off. I stayed up way too late for several nights because I wanted “just one more chapter” over and over.

I feel like it dragged a bit around maybe the 80% mark, and I thought the “reveal” towards the end was a bit weak, but since I was gripped by this from the beginning, I felt I had to round up to 5 stars. Well done!

One Perfect Couple may not be perfect, but it certainly puts the thrill in thriller. This is one creepy story where everyone’s motives are suspect.

In an attempt to boost her boyfriend’s acting career, Lyla agrees to join him on a new couples-only reality show competition set on a gorgeous tropical island. From the very beginning, the reader gets the feeling that something is terribly off about the show and the people involved. Things go from eerie to downright terrifying when the island is hit with a deadly hurricane, and the contestants are left stranded with limited food and water. Emotions run high as they are forced to do whatever it takes to survive until they are rescued. Meanwhile, there’s a murderer in their midst who seems determined to kill them off one at a time.

Lyla is a scientist, and I really appreciated her sharp, analytical mind. She’s no dummy. Every red flag that I noticed, she notices too. She gives voice to all my suspicions and objections. It makes the situation more believable. It was interesting to see the dynamics and different personalities among the couples, as well as the roles each person undertakes in the aftermath of the storm.

I could have done without the flash forwards that are incorporated, and the ending is more complicated than necessary in some ways and not detailed enough in others. Nonetheless, the mounting tension and tenacity of the main character make this a difficult book to put down.

Another great "closed room" thriller by Ruth Ware! 5 couples are on a remote island filming a reality TV show. On the first night on the island, there is a storm that knocks out all power and communications. Several contestants are injured or dead. And there are new dangers around every turn. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I usually, don't like when books are compared to "and then there were none" but this story was an incredible adventure all on its own with or without the comparison. this gave me ominous vibes from the very beginning, loved the setting, pacing was on point. the twists were for sure twisting, and I did not want to put this down when I was reading it. I do wish there were a couple things clarified in the end, but honestly not knowing adds to the spook of it all. this was such a fun summer read. if you enjoy thrillers and like shows such as love island or love is blind for the messy drama, this book is so for you.

thank you, net galley, for allowing me to read an arc of one perfect couple by ruth ware in exchange for my honest review.

Wow. This book was the modern version of older Agatha Christie novels. It combines what we know from “keep you on the edge of your seat” mysteries with a “reality TV show” experience. I found some parts did slow down a bit for me but it always picked right back up and got me back in. This was my first by her and if more of her books are like this I will have to add more of her books to my list!

Very intriguing, complex plot with lots of layers. There were enough twists and turns to keep you guessing about the outcome. An entertaining read for sure!

I really liked the concept of this book and thought it was well done. The mystery became overly complicated and the story went on a little too long. I think it would have been better if someone else was the murderer. It did keep me interested and wanting to finish.

I love Ruth ware and couldn’t wait to read this one. It started off strong but then the middle really was slow and stretching the story line. The end wrapped up nicely but not my favorite of her books.

"One perfect couple" stands out as a gripping thriller, boasting a meticulously crafted storyline that hooks readers from start to finish. This captivating narrative, rich with suspense and intrigue, keeps readers on the edge of their seats. From the very first page, the skillfully plotted twists and turns draw readers deeper into the world of the story. With its seamless blend of mystery and suspense, "One Perfect Couple" cements its place as a must-read for fans of the genre.

Lyla’s boyfriend , an actor desperate for a a job talks her into participating in an island couples reality series. Layla reluctantly goes on what Nico has pushed would be a romantic adventure. The money offered would answer paraders for both of them. The bottom line in this surprisingly taut thriller is the level of surprise the reader will experience through the other contestants. Couples picked we learn not by random choice but by producers design. It reads quickly, there are some usual suspects, but overall the resulting twist will delight readers use to this genre.

All right--there are a lot of problems here, but I enjoyed reading this one!

3.75 stars

Five couples are stranded on a remote island while filming a reality T.V. show--not all of them will make it out alive.

Lyla, a scientist struggling with her career, is dating struggling actor Nico. With the chance of a lifetime to film a reality show in the vein of Love Island, Nico persuades a reluctant Lyla to film with him. However, after they arrive on a beautiful island in the Indian Ocean, a hurricane hits, turning the relationship-themed show into one about survival. As a result, relationships flounder, power dynamics shift, and chaos ensues, leaving only the strongest to survive.

While there are multiple characters, the sole narrator, Lyla, makes it easy to keep track of each one. Had multiple perspectives been shared, there would have been too many voices, which would have diminished the tension and suspense. The reader is also privy to one contestant's diary.

The plot is one I have read before--a combination of Stranded, One by One, and (very loosely) And Then There Were None. I enjoyed this much more than One by One, which was insufferable boring. In this take, Lyla’s relatable voice and her struggle for survival had me captivated. There weren’t any crazy twists or OTT plotting, which is why I enjoyed it so much. I wasn’t quite sure which characters would survive, and I was happy to see a few of them die.

One Perfect Couple has a different feel from Ware's other novels, with parts reading like a popcorn thriller. Despite a few plot holes and a fizzled-out ending, it is wholly entertaining and worth reading.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Gallery Books in exchange for an honest review.