Another 5 star book by Ruth Ware. If you want the feel of a locked room thriller but on a tropical island then this book is for you. This book has it all... mystery, suspense and a killer cast of characters.

I just love Ruth Ware.... and truthfully, I feel like this was her best book out of her 3 most recent ones. What I liked best, strangely enough, was how incredibly detailed and atmospheric this novel was. I actually felt like I was on a beautiful beach in the Indian Ocean; could completely envision the destruction of the storm; genuinely found myself reaching for my glass of ice water when reading the parts about cracked lips and sunburned skin. Very rarely do I feel transported from my home in Atlanta, so it was a definite blessing. Although about halfway through Ware definitively tells you who the "bad guy" is, there are diary entries that threw me off, made me question what I was thinking. It was a different kind of "mystery/thriller", one that leaned heavily towards thriller, far from mystery (although there IS a mystery- what was the point of THESE particular people being chosen for the reality show?). Overall, I raced through this book in 4 sittings, and was disappointed to discover I was nearing the end at one point. Ruth Ware has been a "must-read" author for many years, and will continue to be, for years to come. Oh, I also found the mention of "The Woman in Cabin 10" to be used for kindling incredibly clever!

Thank you to Net Galley and Simon and Schuster Publishing for an early copy of One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

The supposed opportunity of a lifetime offered to couple Nico and Lyla sets the stage for an agonizing and suspenseful time on an Indonesian Island when a deadly storm wreaks havoc almost immediately and brings to the forefront the various personalities struggling to survive. Five couples were to participate in a reality TV show that will determine which couple, if any, is a perfect match.

Because the five couples signed off on contracts stating they must turn in all electronic devices while participating in the Perfect Couple challenge (they ALL claim to have neglected to read the fine print??), they have no way to communicate with the outside world to beg for rescue. The battery has died in the communications center, leaving the remaining participants to work together to survive.

Enter Conor, one of the participants, who takes over leadership, rationing food and water and fighting off anyone who challenges his authority (Lord of the Flies and And Then There Were None come to mind plotwise). In addition, a female diabetic has had her insulin stolen and will survive only a few days without it.

With four women and Conor surviving two weeks into this life-threatening situation, the women hatch a plot against Conor that will have lasting consequences. The unfortunate reality of misogyny plays a major role in Conor's back story.

Author Ruth Ware has also included diary entries written by one of the women that seem incongruous when first read but in Ruth Ware style will be explained as the action concludes.

Ware has yet to disappoint in either characterization or plot and One Perfect Couple adds to the plus column of her work. This is a strong recommend for both die-hard and first-time readers of Ruth Ware's storytelling with a twist.

Honestly pretty disappointed with this one. Of course it’s Ruth Ware, so the writing is great and the story is very interesting, but I think there is a really big disconnect between what is being advertised and what this book actually is.
*mild spoilers from here on out* It’s a very different story from what Ware usually writes, which is absolutely fine, it just doesn’t fit with the synopsis. I went into this book thinking it was about these couples going to a desert island to film a reality TV show, a horrible storm hits, they get stranded, and then they all start dying in suspicious circumstances. I thought it was basically just a “And Then There Were None” retelling where there’s someone unknown person on this island picking these people off one by one and they have to try to survive not only that, but being stranded on an island. However, this really isn’t what happens. We know how all these people die (more or less) and we see a few of them happen on the page. This isn’t really a thriller book about a mysterious killer, but an island survival book. It’s really frustrating because we get little hints, specifically in the beginning, about mysterious connections between some of the characters so you’re waiting the whole book for those connections to become relevant and the rest of the story doesn’t really seem to matter. And you can’t even call them red-herrings because the connections do become relevant in the last like five pages of the book.
I think if the book was just advertised differently and there wasn’t that rushed connection at the end, it would be so much better. I usually love Ruth Ware’s books, but this just wasn’t it.

This book was very well written. I loved how the diary entries were scattered throughout but not specified who had actually written them until the end. Started and finished in 1 day!

Finished this one quickly, but not one of my favorite Ruth Ware books. Too much like other books I’ve already read. I was waiting for a big ending twist to make it a little more original but there really wasn’t much. It is an easy read and entertaining enough, so I still recommend you give it a try. It might just be your thing! Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I was hooked on this book early on as it had a great Surviver feel with players navigating physical challenges in a remote jungle. Unfortunately, 3/4 into it, it went off the rails, verging into ridiculousness amongst the characters.

Hands down my favorite Ruth Ware book! The pacing of this one made it a one-day read that I couldn't finish fast enough.

Wanna-be tv star Nico convinces his long-time scientist girlfriend Ivy to join a reality tv show with him--it's a a free vacation, but it could really catapult Nico's career. Fairly quickly, it's obvious that the production team is ill-equipped and manipulating the storylines and there is somehow already tension between cast members. As though that's not enough, natural disaster strikes, people wind up dead, and scare resources lead to high tensions as everyone remaining fights for survival.

I loved getting little snippets of each character as the story progressed, even if it did take me a minute to keep all the couples straight. For the plot itself, even with the "villain" seemingly spelled out, there were always little twists that caused hints of doubt to creep in. I was pleased with how this story played out overall. Ware is liberal with giving credit to her sources (she mentions various shows, casting tropes, etc by name), but it doesn't detract from the enjoyment. This would be a GREAT beach reach for the summer!

Overall: 4.5 stars (I really liked it)

I'll tell my students about: language, LGBT+, physical abuse, mental abuse, suicide, trauma, violence/gore/death/murder, drugs

**Thank you to NetGalley & Gallery Books, Gallery/Scout Press for the free ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.**

I have seen so many positive reviews for this one, and was very excited after reading Zero Days last summer, but this one was just okay for me. I was drawn into the story, following Lyla on her adventure into reality TV as her post doc research project is sputtering out. I have never read Lord of the Flies, so perhaps that is the missing piece for me. The ending feels very rushed, considering how slowly the story builds, and I kept waiting for the plot twist that never came. The Joel storyline felt unresolved. I did find it gripping - enough to keep me up until well past my bedtime finishing it up, just wanted MORE.

I enjoyed this read. It was similar in plot to some others I have read but it took a different twist that I didn’t expect. The timeline was easy to follow with the journal entries. I liked the mix of characters and getting information on their backgrounds.

Can Ruth Ware ever do wrong? "One Perfect Couple" pulls the reader into a twisted reality show that feels like a spin of "Lord of the Flies" meets "Yellowjackets" for adults. I immediately messaged my book club and this is slated to be a summer read for us. I cannot wait to discuss the characters! This slow burn quickly turns to a page turner in this thriller/suspense with a nod to Ware's "Woman in Cabin 10" and is a must read! Get on the pre-order list ASAP!

Holy crap this was effed up! I can't even imagine - just wow. As per usual, Ware takes everything you expect based on the book and throws it upside down and backwards with a major twist. This is definitely a keeper.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for this ARC! This one comes out May 21st!

Wow! This one was fast-paced, and I couldn't put it down. Read it in one day :)

This is reality tv meets mystery meets scary movie. I've read two other Ruth Ware books, but this one is by far the best!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. This book was a wild ride. Survivor shows scare the bejeebers out of me for the very reason that I’m afraid of being stranded on an island and have it turn into what this book is. This book tapped into my irrational fears and my long buried anxiety from watching Lost on tv. 4 stars for scaring me!

Welcome to Ever After Island, a secluded island, where Baz is recording a reality TV show with five couples. Five couples go in and one couple comes out that’s the goal. Nico convinced Lyla to join him on this reality TV show to help boost his acting career, but Lyla was reluctant to take this journey with him.
…
The first day in and they find themselves stranded on the island with the weather holding them captive. The weather wasn’t part of the plan, but it played a vital role.
…
One Perfect Couple starts off slowly but once the storm arrives on the island the pace begins to build. The story moves at a steady pace. It reads much like the show Survivor. Except there were no challenges. This was eight individuals trying to survive long enough for help to arrive. Meanwhile food and water were scarce. With dehydration a huge factor temperaments were at an all time high. They knew no one was looking for them because they told family and friends they’d be unreachable for six to eight weeks.
…
Ruth Ware writes a story about survival. It was originally written as a reality TV show with five couples competing against each other. That all changed when a storm hit the island.
…
The ending was underwhelming. The entire time I was reading I kept thinking the game was still being played. I guess I didn’t want to accept their reality. The twist of information was cleverly hidden but like I said before it was kind of disappointing that it happened that way. There was no satisfaction with that ending. I couldn’t even rejoice with the outcome. It was bittersweet.
…
The writing was slow and arduous. Reading survivor stories just doesn’t carry the sane weight as watching them. Maybe had I gone into thinking this was about survival instead of a reality show then I could’ve done a better job of feeling the words differently.

This author! What a roller coaster ride. Even though I’m not a reality show fan, I’ve seen enough commercials and this story is very believable. Very suspenseful and nail biting. The setting is easy to imagine and the characters/contestants bring a variety of personalities both good and bad.

One Perfect Couple is classic Ruth Ware. Suspenseful and set on a deserted island, this book follows five couples who embark on a reality TV show to try to determine whether they are with their soul mates. Friendships are born and true colors are revealed. Cut off from family and loved ones due to an unexpected storm, the survivors need to figure out what and who are important to them.

This is my second book by Ruth Ware and I am completely taken by her ability to plot and weave the threads of her books.

Lyla is a young scientist who has become the breadwinner in her relationship with her boyfriend Nico, who is looking for his break to become a star. When he is offered a role in an upcoming reality show called One Perfect Couple, he nags and pouts until she agrees to go. Of course, Lyla starts realizing things are not quite as good as Nico portrays them to be, and after meeting the other couples, a storm hits the island resort where filming takes place and things start going badly.

As with The It Girl, you can't trust anything - or anyone - in this book. There are agendas at play and the most innocent message can have a completely different meaning under another light. The denouement is as always, full of shocks and reveals that had me going back to the beginning to see the seeds that had been carefully planted by Ms Ware. I am diving into the backlist until her next book comes out.

One Perfect Couple
by Ruth Ware
Pub Date: May 21, 20024
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
A fast-paced, spellbinding thriller rife with intrigue and characters that feel so true to life, this novel proves yet again that Ruth Ware is the queen of psychological suspense.
The reality show motif is not my favorite but the book turned out great.
There was a big cast of characters, and it took a minute to remember who's who, and who goes with whom, but ultimately they each had a unique voice. While this was an entertaining, escapist thriller, it also touched on the seriousness of bullying and domestic abuse. This was a page-turner that I flew through in record time. I also loved the little nod to THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10.
Gripping novel!
4 stars

One Perfect Couple is one of those books where a group of people find themselves stranded in a tropical island. These books throw a group of people together … each with their own issues and then mayhem ensues . I’ve read books similar to this where there is a secluded cabin and avalanche … you get the picture.
The basic premise is that 4 couples are going to this island to participate in a reality tv series … to determine who is the perfect couple.
A big storm hits the island almost immediately and it goes from Love Island to Lord of the Flies.
As a frequent reader of Ruth Ware … in my mind there was going to be some mind blowing twists… and I kept waiting for them…and they never really delivered. The plot was pretty straight forward … even until the end. I did enjoy the cheeky reference to The Woman in Cabin 10.
All in all … familiar story that didn’t bring anything new to the genre.
Thanks net galley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.