Book Review – One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

This book follows Lyla and Nico as they sign up for a couples reality show set on a tropical island. When a storm strands the contestants and they realize that no one is coming for them, their situation descends into power struggles over food and water. And then the murders start.

If you’ve read some of my previous reviews, then you know I’m not a fan of books that are really heavy on dialogue. Ruth Ware came perilously close to getting on my nerves with all the dialogue in this book, but because of the large cast of characters, it was necessary to the context of the story. In that respect, I was able to get through the first third of the book when the characters were getting to know each other so I could enjoy the rest of the book which was not so heavy on the dialogue.

Like all of Ruth’s other books, I found this unputdownable story wise. She throws in enough twists and turns to keep the story interesting as the castaways try to find a way to survive with dwindling resources and a murderer in their midst.

I find it a little unbelievable that no one would know where they were since they were filming on what was going to be a tropical honeymoon getaway hotel. Why was no one checking in on the island? If I were building a luxury honeymoon getaway that was getting used for a reality show before opening, I would be checking in on it from time to time, or at least stay in contact with the show’s producers. And if I could not get ahold of those producers, I’d definitely check the island. But, no one did in this book. I thought maybe the twist was going to be that the reality show was going for full reality and they were letting it play out until only one person remained, but the book never went that way.

Four out of five stars. Not Ware’s best, but certainly readable.