My Review of One Perfect Couple discusses the fact that I am a Ruth Ware super-fan and have read (and ranked) all her books. What was my opinion of One Perfect Couple and, more importantly, will you like it? Let’s discuss! Full Spoilers and One Perfect Couple Ending Explained here!
Jen’s Quick Analysis of One Perfect Couple
- Takes place on an island in the Indian Ocean
- Reality TV premise
- Low suspense until the very end
- Some content warnings discussed below
- A very different Ruth Ware but I enjoyed it
- Similar to this other island book I recently read
Jen’s Summary of One Perfect Couple
- 400 pages
- Published on May 21, 2024 by Scout Books
- Thanks to the publisher for the advance review copy, which I accepted under FTC guidelines
- Content note: if you are trying to avoid books about domestic violence or psychologically abusive behavior in a relationship, this book might be a hard read for you.
Lyla, a virology post-doc, seems like an unlikely person to participate in a couples reality show set on a remote island. But Lyla agrees because her boyfriend Nico thinks the show will help his struggling acting career.
Lyla struggles to adjust to being filmed 24/7 and to Nico’s anger as they are split up and she’s coupled with another guy.
But things really take a turn when a severe storm damages a lot of the island’s infrastructure and leaves the group at the mercy of the elements, and at each others’ throats.
Review of The Perfect Couple
While very different from one another, I think Ruth Ware’s books all give a nod to the classic British mystery.
The Perfect Couple has a bit of an And Then There Were None feel with a modern spin. A group is invited to an isolated location by a mysterious host and then things take a deadly turn.
There were two interesting things about the book to me:
First, the Reality TV elements are not a big part of the book, but more part of the set-up.
Second, I’d call One Perfect Couple more of a survival thriller. Most of the book’s suspense centers around its “man vs nature” aspect. There are eventually murder mystery elements but not until close to the end.
So while One Perfect Couple IS suspenseful, it was in a different way than I was expecting. But I think that makes the book a bit different, which I appreciate.
Join my One Perfect Couple Spoiler Post, which includes a character list, full plot summary with spoilers and the ending explained!