I was hesitant about this one. Reality TV is just not my thing so to read a novel about a reality TV show just didn’t sound enticing. But it is by Ruth Ware so that was enough for me to at least give it a try. And I’m glad I did. I think One Perfect Couple just might be my favorite book from this author to date.

Five couples are selected to compete on a reality TV show to see who is the Perfect Couple. When they arrive on the isolated tropical island, not every thing is as they expected. Not all the equipment is working and it is not yet clear exactly what the competitions are going to involve. When a fierce tropical storm hits the island on their first night there, all communication with the outside world is cut off. As supplies run low and tempers run high, they all must do what every it takes to survive. But can they?

There was a full cast of characters but the development was such that it wasn’t hard to keep everyone straight. They were all very realistic, some you wanted to cheer on and other the kind you loved-to-hate. A real page turner that kept you on the edge of your seat in anticipation of what would happen next. All Ruth Ware fans and mystery/thriller fans alike will not want to miss this one!

I have not always liked every Ruth Ware novel, but I did enjoy One Perfect Couple. Admittedly, I had a tough time putting down this book, once I got to the half-way point. One Perfect Couple is the second book that I have read lately using a reality TV show motif. The plot begins for 5 couples, who will be deposited on a remote island, where they will undertake a series of challenges that are designed to determine which coup[le is best suited to one another. That is the premise, but that is not this novel. How all of that goes wrong is the plot, which I am not going to spoil for readers.

I liked that there were a lot of twists and turns and that nothing was as it seemed. Halfway through the novel I was sure how this Ware's novel was going to end. I could not have been more wrong. I did enjoy One Perfect Couple very much. There is a 3-part structure, where in part 1, everyone is introduced and dropped off at the island. Part 2 is the complication--a storm, and part 3 is the resolution and how that happens. And how the resolution takes place is witty and full of twists. I am recommending this novel.

Thank you to the publisher, Scout Press, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, and to NetGalley. The above is my honest review.

Ruth Ware is consistently one of the best authors in the psychological thriller genre and this book is no exception. The ensemble cast of characters makes for a wild ride from start to finish, and I couldn't wait to see how it ended. I loved how the plot unfolded and how strongly I felt about the characters--bad and good.

I'm not a big fan of deserted Island books, but this one was good. Her writing reminded me of Woman on Cabin 10, but better.

I had 4 other books lined up to read first and as soon as this became available I dropped everything to read it. Her writing style and descriptions are great, I felt so anxious, like I was there with them in the island.

The only thing is I wish there a big twist at the end. Like someone set them all up, or the boyfriend was alive and waiting for revenge. I don't know, but I guess I wanted more.

Otherwise it was great as are most of Ruth Ware's books.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lyla a scientist, and her boyfriend Nico, a wannabe actor, are cast on a reality TV show on an island in the Indian Ocean. The premise behind the show is kind of sketchy, but this might be Nico's big break and chance at stardom, so Lyla goes along with the plan to be the first one voted off and sent home early. When a huge storm hits, they are cut off from civilization and any contacts. Then one by one, people start dying. Are they accidents or in there a killer among them?

This book was a tough one to rate because I flew through it and read it all in a day, but in the end it was not my favorite Ruth Ware book.

Positives:
Quick pacing making it a quick read
A satisfying conclusion
Intriguing setting
At the end the real reason behind the TV show comes to light and is interesting
The theme of survival on a remote island after a devastating storm was well done
 
Negatives:
There were a lot of characters to keep track of. I kept a running list and crossed them off as they died.

I can see this book being a very popular summer beach read and I will continue to auto buy every Ruth Ware novel.

wow. this was so good! i could not put it down!! i needed to know what was going to happen.

the only thing for me was all the characters and at times remembering who was coupled up with who because there was a decent amount but other than that enjoyed a lot!

"One Perfect Couple" by Ruth Ware is a riveting thriller reminiscent of Agatha Christie's best works. Set on a storm-swept island, Ware expertly crafts tension and intrigue, keeping readers hooked until the final page. Lyla's journey from uncertainty to resilience is captivating, and Ware's mastery of suspense is on full display as she weaves together intricate plot threads. With its authentic characters and relentless pacing, "One Perfect Couple" is a must-read for fans of psychological suspense.

4.5
I am a huge Ruth Ware fan, so I want to start by thanking her, Netgalley, and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.

The plot follows Lyla, a post-doc virologist, and her boyfriend Nico, and actor waiting for his big break. It looks like that big break finally might have come along when Nico and Lila get cast in a new reality show called One Perfect Couple. Details about the show are scarce, but the beautiful, remote, tropical setting, and the opportunity support Nico, or eventually enough to convince a reluctant Lyla. Unfortunately, a horrific storm turns the focus from winning to simply surviving against the elements… and the other castaways.

Open all, I really enjoyed this book. The characters are engaging and the reality show format is a fun way to introduce the characters and the relationships. The pacing is great- it moves quickly and keeps the readers attention. The author also does some really great foreshadowing. My only wish for this book is that it had more of the mystery element that Ware does so well. I appreciate that she isn’t afraid to mix it up and vary her plots, but in many ways this is more a survivalist tale than the true mystery I was looking forward to. Still, I was engaged throughout, and especially loved how the author crafted her woman characters. I definitely recommend :-)

A thrilling read!
5 couples on an island for a reality TV show called The Perfect Couple when a storm hits and they are left to survive on their own.
Lyla and Nico are the last couple asked to participate. Lyla only agrees to help Nico who is an aspiring actor and plans to be eliminated early on to go home. When they arrive in Jakarta the other 4 couples are already there waiting to board the ship to the island.
An unforeseen storm hits leaving them stranded on the island without drinkable water and limited shelter. One by one people start dying and Lyla joins with a few other women as they unravel what is happening.
The books is filled with suspenseful twists and I found it enthralling start to finish.

I received an arc from NetGalley and Gallery Books in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Books and Ruth Ware for this advanced copy. I absolutely loved this book! Every single chapter was exciting! This is my third book by this author and the best. If you like reality TV and murder mysteries, this book is for you!!! I couldn't put it down, her writing is so beautiful. I can't wait for her next book.

Okay, Ware has already done "and then there were none," so maybe stop trying to sell that, but, otherwise, this was absolutely nail biting. I could have done without some of the triggering shit, but it goes that way sometimes.

Ruth Ware does it again with One Perfect Couple. This fast paced thriller has interesting well written characters. Lyla and Nico join the cast of a new reality show. They are competing against 4 other couples in a seriea of challenges. Who ever remains on the island wins. When Nico is kicked off after the first challenge, a large storm hits knocking out power. Suddenly, everything that could go wrong does...and there is a killer on the island. 5 star read.

I love Ware's novels so was excited to read this one, and of course you never know where it's going! Lila allows boyfriend, Nico to talk her into a reality tv show: One Perfect Couple, that has five couples set sail for a desert island and compete to win a cash prize. The island appears to be a lush tropical paradise with palm trees, coconuts, and lovely little villas to entice the contestants. But there will be "challenges" and eliminations like every reality show you've ever seen, and Lyla is skeptical at first as she's reluctant when she realizes each could be "sent home" alone and maybe pair-up with another contestant. I can guarantee you won't sign up for THIS show anytime soon as things are never as they appear; there are secrets, lies, back-stabbing, and all the intrigue we are used to on (un)reality tv!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Agatha Christie meets The Perfect Match reality TV? Those dating reality TV shows have become my recent guilty pleasure, so this book was right up my alley.

I love Ruth Ware’s thrillers, this one was a whole new level. I really grew attached to Lyla and felt all of her emotions along with her. There was a huge cast of characters and it wasn’t until maybe the first third of the book that I remembered who was who? Which I understand, I mean reality tv show.

I was a bit shocked by what happened to the cruise ship at the end, but I flew through the second half of this as each body piled up. The first half was definitely a slow burn, but I could not stop reading.

This is one of those books where when I finish I immediately want to go back to the beginning to see what I missed!

This story follows 5 couples who are on a reality tv show on a private island. A storm leaves them deserted without electricity, no contact with the outside world, and not much food or water. One by one, they start dying off. I expected more of a mystery to figure out what was going on with more twists. Instead it was a more intense game of who would make it out alive. While not my favorite Ruth Ware story, I still enjoyed it and found myself flying through the pages.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for an ARC of this book.

Ruth Ware can do no wrong. This twist on And Then There Were None was nothing like I expected it to be. The main payoff isn't revealed until the end of the novel, and rather than adding many red herrings that would have clumped up the plot, she revealed it plainly. Wasn't at all what I expected but none of Ruth's work ever is.

One Perfect Couple
by Ruth Ware
★ ★ ★

Lyla is at a crossroads in her life. Her career hasn’t taken off, and she’s not really sure where her life is headed. So when her boyfriend, Nico, begs her to join a couples reality TV show with him set on a remote tropical island, Lyla agrees. At first, the tropical island seems like the perfect getaway. But when a storm cuts the contestants off from the mainland, things quickly go from bad to worse.

I was so excited for this book but, unfortunately, it didn’t live up to the hype. I love Ruth Ware. But this book felt very different from her usual. It was slower paced and lacking in suspense for me. I never felt like there was anything pushing me to keep reading. Maybe I’m biased because I don’t love the whole trapped on a desert island thing. But unfortunately this just wasn’t for me. If you like desert island settings, reality tv, and character driven mysteries this might be for you!

Thank you so much to netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC e-book in exchange for my honest review!

I have yet to find a Ruth book that did not make me want to read more of her books. This book was well executed and thought out. This book was a page Turner for me. Being a mother I made sure I found time to read this book Where I could focus and enjoy every moment of it

We can depend on Ruth Ware for white knuckle suspense, and her latest, One Perfect Couple, does not disappoint. The main character, Lyla, is a scientist, struggling as a post doc. Her actor boyfriend, Nico, is also struggling and jumps at the chance to “make it” on a new reality show. The show’s premise is to put 5 couples on a remote island, and subject them to many challenges to see which couple is perfect. There are several red flags, but, Lyla, at a career crossroads, reluctantly agrees to participate.

Because of Ware’s skilled writing, the reader empathizes with Lyla and appreciates her analytical mind as she navigates challenges and appraises the other contestants. When a terrible storm comes up, and strands the contestants, the psychological suspense really accelerates. Male contestants start dying off, and it takes the women, especially Lyla to figure out the killer and how to deal with their predicament.

As always, a Ware novel is impossible to put down.

This book had me hooked from the beginning. I was so intrigued by the synopsis of this story, and the writing and plot did not disappoint. This is a book that makes you say I’ll just read a little more and then you end up finishing the entire book in one sitting. The ending was really surprising and I didn’t guess what was coming. I think a lot of people will enjoy this thrilling mystery. Thank you Gallery Books for sending me an ARC of this book.