One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware Published by Gallery Books on May 21, 2024
Pages: 416
Format: ARC
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
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Harkening to Agatha Christie’s classic And Then There Were None, this high-tension and ingenious thriller follows five couples trapped on a storm-swept island as a killer stalks among them—from Ruth Ware, the New York Times bestselling author who “is turning out to be as ingenious and indefatigable as the Queen of Crime” (The Washington Post).
Lyla is in a bit of a rut. Her post-doctoral research has fizzled out, she’s pretty sure they won’t extend her contract, and things with her boyfriend, Nico, an aspiring actor, aren’t going great. When the opportunity arises for Nico to join the cast of a new reality TV show, The Perfect Couple, she decides to try out with him. A whirlwind audition process later, Lyla find herself whisked off to a tropical paradise with Nico, boating through the Indian Ocean towards Ever After Island, where the two of them will compete against four other couples—Bayer and Angel, Dan and Santana, Joel and Romi, and Conor and Zana—in order to win a cash prize.
But not long after they arrive on the deserted island, things start to go wrong. After the first challenge leaves everyone rattled and angry, an overnight storm takes matters from bad to worse. Cut off from the mainland by miles of ocean, deprived of their phones, and unable to contact the crew that brought them there, the group must band together for survival. As tensions run high and fresh water runs low, Lyla finds that this game show is all too real—and the stakes are life or death.
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.
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.
Recommended for fans of:
Deserted islands
Reality TV
Thrillers
Mysteries
Packaged pastries
I received an early copy from the publisher. Opinions are my own.
One Perfect Couple releases May 21, 2024.
About Ruth Ware
Ruth Ware is an international number one bestseller. Her thrillers In a Dark, Dark Wood, The Woman in Cabin 10, The Lying Game, The Death of Mrs Westaway, The Turn of the Key, One by One, The It Girl and Zero Days have appeared on bestseller lists around the world, including the Sunday Times and New York Times, and have sold more than six million copies. Her books have been optioned for both film and TV, and she is published in more than 40 languages. Ruth lives near Brighton with her family. Visit ruthware.com to find out more.
This certainly sounds thrilling! I need to add it to my TBR. Great review!