I am a fan of Ruth Ware and thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was a super quick fun read that felt a little different from her usual work. As a fan of reality tv, it was fun to combine the theme in a book. Turn that theme into a Christie-ish, And Then There Were None type of trope and I am in! Despite a little saturation in the genre, I felt the story line and Ware's style of writing to be quite refreshing. Super quick, fast paced, Lord of the Flies meets a one by one thriller, trapped with a killer read.

I had read some reviews criticizing the characters, length of the book and plot holes and I could not disagree more. The book was full of action, no glaring plot holes, was paced beautifully, had just enough background knowledge and great character development. Unlike some other books in the genre where the character development is quite weak, this one contains five couples and a production crew and you truly care who lives or dies - there are some you will root for and some you will be quite happy to see go.

Thank you to NetGalley, Scout Press, Simon & Schuster, LLC and Ruth Ware for the privilege of reading an ARC of One Perfect Couple in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first book by Ruth Ware. The premise of the book is definitely appealing, however, I think the story starts slow. It was nice to have the little bits of radio call dispersed through out the first half of the book to add some excitement. The first half is mainly to introduce the characters, who in my opinion are mundane. The MFC, Lyla, has the potential to be a great character. I am Huge fan of women in STEM. I think I struggle with her, because she gave in so easily to Nico's wants, even though the whole situation should have been a red flag. The men is the book are *gag*. The fact that any of the characters were this gullible makes me frustrated with them, and I feel like they are definitely not presented as likeable characters. You maybe grow to like the survivors by the end of the book, but I still feel an air of suspicion about them. The second half of the book is definitely more engaging and intense since it is focused on the survival and the losses on the island. Everyone's connection kind of gets exposed in the second half too, so it's nice to the dots connecting. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends, especially those who have read other Ruth Ware books or those who like Mary Kubica.

Lee hesitantly joins her actor boyfriend on a deserted island for a reality tv show. After a terrible storm hits, leaving some injured or dead, the contestants realize they’ve been abandoned.

I could not put this one down. Let me tell you that I love my sleep, and I rarely stay up late reading books, but I stayed up reading this one because it was very hard to find a stopping point. It has everything you would want in a thriller: fast pace, an evil bad guy, strong women, and major suspense and action. It reminded me the entertaining anxiety I had while reading Stranded. Definitely recommend and is now one of my favorite Ruth Ware’s.

“.. we were being eliminated - all of us. And by someone who was determined to win this game at any cost. But the prize was no longer fame and money. It was survival.”

One Perfect Couple comes out 5/21.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

This novel really starts out with a bang - instant reality TV show goes Fyre Festival FAIL meets Love Island meets Survivor. I think if you love these type of shows, there will be more interest and pull for you. For me, it felt a little too far fetched - maybe that was part of the point- the Fyre Festival type of shock value? Ware did a good job of creating a creepy atmosphere riddled with anxiety though - I did find myself wanting to keep reading to see if they would be saved/what the hell happened. Meeting 5 couples immediately all at once was a bit of a slog - I had to keep returning to that chapter to see who was who and who they were coupled up with. Would be nice to have a couples guide/introduction inside the book when it releases :).

This book is what I imagine would happen if Lord of the Flies had a baby with Love Island. It is a slow burn to start, but the book really picks up speed at about 30% of the way in. I enjoyed the thriller, mystery and adventure elements combined with the reality TV twists. I do wish we got more background on the production crew and what happened to them after all of the major events occurred. I also wish we had more perspectives than just Lyla's. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Five couples are brought to an island to compete on a reality show. After a storm ravages the island, the couples find themselves banding together to fight for their survival. A fast paced, psychological thriller worth the read.

Lyla is a scientist who has run into a bit of a career lag. Her most recent research project has not had the results that she was hoping for, and she thinks she will soon be out of a job. When Lyla’s aspiring actor boyfriend, Nico, gets the opportunity to join the cast of a new reality TV show that focuses on couples, Nico begs Lyla to take part. After some hesitation and reflection on Lyla’s end, she decides to take the leap with Nico to hopefully further his career amid her own career floundering. After a short and confusing audition process, Lyla and Nico jet off to Ever After Island to compete against four other couples— Dan and Santana, Bayer and Angel, Joel and Romi, and Conor and Zana.

After a boat ride through the Indian Ocean to the island, the competition begins. The first couple’s challenge leaves tensions high and feelings hurt. That same night, the island is hit with a violent storm that destroys much of the vital infrastructure and shelter on Ever After Island. The couples soon realize that they have no way to contact the crew that brought them to the island and as the days go by without rescue, they realize that they may be forced to try to survive on the island for the foreseeable future. As resources begin to dwindle, tensions run high, teams begin to form, and enemies are made. One thing becomes clear, not everyone can be trusted.

I could not put this book down! I highly recommend it. I am actually devastated that it’s over and that I don’t get to read this book anymore. A top-notch survivalist thriller that keeps you on your toes until the very end! The story is told from the point of view of Lyla, which makes it easier to get to know each character without getting too confused about who it who. I adored all of the women in this book and really loved the girl power element of it. I think that each of the women are inspiring in their own, very different ways. I have been a Ruth Ware reader for years and years and will continue to keep her at the tippy top of my must-read list. I can’t wait to read what she comes up with next :)

Thank you to Gallery Books | Gallery/Scout Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ruth Ware is a mastermind and I absolutely jumped at the chance to read an early copy of her book. This was the perfect locked room mystery with a sultry vacation vibe.

Virologist Lyla and her actor boyfriend, Nico, are chosen to appear on a new mystery dating show on a remote island off of Indonesia, what could possibly go wrong? Lyla hesitates to go, as she isn't one for the spotlight, but ultimately agrees for this trip of a lifetime to appease Nico. Multiple couples travel to the remote island to film the show, One Perfect Couple. There they will perform challenges and the one who under performs will be sent on their way home. The characters are an interesting mix of people who are hoping to use the show to jumpstart their careers. During the first night on the island, a terrible storm demolishes parts of the island, leaving bodies in its wake. Will the contestants survive without food, drinkable water and technology?

Thank you for the complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Gallery Books in exchange for an honest review.

I was a bit bummed with this one because I loved The It Girl by Ruth Ware, this one just didn’t do it for me sadly. It reminds me of a Lord of the Flies situation - group on an island where several things start going wrong. It wasn’t just predictable but it seemed the ending was just laid out for you in advance. Thank you for the early copy!

This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I loved it! I can’t wait to read more!! This was an amazing read!

I adore Ruth Ware. Her books were what got me back into reading in 2018, and I always look forward to a new release from her.

One Perfect Couple is exactly what Ruth Ware is known for: atmospheric psychological thrillers with that classic "and then there were none" feel. It's one of my favorite kind of thrillers. The setting couldn't be better: a remote island off the coast of Indonesia, no phones, and five couples primed by reality TV to distrust each other. It's Survivor meets Hunger Games meets Love Island, and I was hooked.

Unfortunately, while I loved the first half, I was a bit let down by the actions of some characters (lack thereof, really) and by the ending.

Spoiler thoughts: I was so hooked for the first portion of the story. Ruth Ware is known for her similar "And Then There Were None" plots, but I love them. However, I spent this one trying to guess the Big Reveal. I thought it was going to come out that Zana was the mastermind, or that the storm was part of the show and they were still filming, or that Nico was still on the island and was secretly killing everyone but Bayer, or SOMETHING. Instead there was no twist: the reader was shown who the bad guy was early on, and nothing changed. The only "reveal" was about the diary entries. I read thrillers for the twists, so I'm a little disappointed when there's no big reveal.

When Nico and Lyla signed up for the reality TV show One Perfect Couple they had no idea what they were getting in to. This book is fast paced and leaves you wondering what the next twist and turn will be. Overall a great read!

This book was just ok for me. It got really repetitive in the middle but I liked how the author connected the characters' storylines and ended the book.

And Then There Were None meets Lord of The Flies meets Survivor. This was a great beach read, but not much more than that, excellent choice for readers who love televised elimination-style reality competitions. What if the TV show Survivor meant literally, "the last one surviving"?? What if your competitors were being "eliminated" for real?? Who would win this kind of competition? Who would SIGN UP for this kind of competition? What if they didn't know what they were getting themselves into because they just craved the attention and the adventure? Themes of reality-TV/ social media fame, abusive relationships, wilderness survival. I wouldn't say that this was much of a "mystery", however. I wanted more of a twist or a reveal, I liked the ending, but it wasn't a shock.

This book was so outstanding! I stayed up way too late because I had to see what happened next. It could have descended into something really predictable, but Ruth Ware is such a good writer, I was always on the edge of my seat. I also feel she has done a great job not repeating herself, when she could rest on her laurels if she wanted to. Pretty amazing. I thought I would not be interested in a book that deals with a reality show but I was wrong. Read this, you will love it! Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the advance copy.

I really wanted to love this one, after reading the premise and the beginning, but it kind of fell flat for me. It had great promise, but maybe just the way it was marketed as a comparison to “And Then There Were None” led to my disappointment. The comparisons between the two were surface level, with the overarching character dynamics, conflict, and “twists” not relating to the referenced Christie story. I think overall the book was enjoyable and interesting, but I kept expecting more because of my own preconceptions.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

(3.5 stars rounded up)
This is a reality TV-setting survival thriller that’s fast-paced and pretty good! I felt like the different characters were pretty distinct, which is sometimes an issue with this type of book. The beginning caught my attention and the ending tied everything together well. The middle dragged a little bit for me, but I was glad I finished it.
Heads up that this is not really a murder mystery. There’s death and an isolated setting, but no real mystery to keep you guessing. I was surprised about that based on the description.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I enjoyed this! The story was propulsive and tense all the way through. I thought the explanation for the show was a bit convoluted and far-fetched but it didn't take away from the overall story.

I absolutely loved this book - I love Ruth Ware's writing and her innovative plot lines. This kept me hooked and was an adventure until the last page.

Ruth Ware is the mystery thriller QUEEN!

I think this is now my favorite book of hers. The suspense will keep you on your toes. The snippets at the end of chapters will keep you guessing until the very end.

I love the way she expands on the characters and how they are important to the entire story. She is so detailed oriented, I can guarantee if I read this again I will notice even more details that pertain to the big picture.

Highly recommend, you will not be disappointed!