Book Review One Perfect Couple

Introduction

Hello, everyone, and welcome back to my blog where I share thoughts on the newest Ruth Ware thriller, One Perfect Couple. This book instantly caught my attention. I finally read it while relaxing at the beach this summer, and the whole experience made the story even more fun to follow.

Premise of One Perfect Couple

In One Perfect Couple, we meet Lyla, a PhD student nearing the end of her research contract with no renewal in sight. Her boyfriend, Nico, convinces her to join a reality competition show even though she has no interest. Nico dreams of becoming an actor, so the exposure means everything to him. Lyla feels she has no real reason to say no.

The story soon moves to Jakarta. From there, the couple joins other contestants—Bayer, Angel, Dan, Santana, Joel, Romi, Conor, and Zana—on a boat heading to a remote island. Once aboard, they surrender their phones and lose all contact with the outside world. When they arrive, the island seems perfect, almost too perfect.

Each challenge puts one contestant at risk of elimination. When a player leaves, their partner must team up with someone new. These shifts stir jealousy and tension. Then, disaster strikes. A storm destroys the villas, kills two people, and cuts them off from the crew that left earlier.

Now the group must survive with almost no food, water, or shelter. As panic sets in, people start dying. The big question is—are these deaths accidents, or is someone killing them one by one?

Pacing & Reading Experience

The pacing in this book is fast and gripping. From the first chapter, I couldn’t stop reading. Nothing drags, and every scene builds the tension higher. The setup reminded me of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, which I first read in school.

That “ten strangers on an island” format feels familiar, but Ruth Ware gives it a fresh, modern twist. Lyla’s confusion and fear make her easy to relate to. I kept worrying about her as things spiraled out of control.

Some characters react oddly to simple things, like being shocked that cameras are in their rooms or that they can’t use their phones. Still, each person has a clear voice and purpose in the story. Joel, Santana, and Angel especially stand out, and the way their personalities clash keeps the story alive.

Even when a few scenes lose emotional depth, the mix of suspense, mystery, and human tension keeps the momentum strong.

In the end, One Perfect Couple delivers exactly what a thriller should — suspense, emotion, and atmosphere. The setting feels real, the danger feels close, and the audiobook narrated by Imogen Church adds extra drama. If you’re looking for a vacation read, this one’s perfect.

The tension and survival themes reminded me of Freida McFadden’s The Housemaid’s Secret. Both stories explore trust and hidden motives in closed environments, keeping you guessing until the end.

Characters in One Perfect Couple

The relationships between the couples are written clearly and with care. Even though there are many names, it’s easy to remember who’s who. Ruth Ware gives each pair their own spark, showing what makes them tick and how they break under pressure.

Lyla remains the emotional anchor of the story. Her mix of logic and fear makes the chaos feel real, and her reactions guide the reader through the danger.

Sources of Tension

One Perfect Couple echoes And Then There Were None in its setup. Ten people stranded on an island begin to die one by one. At first, it’s a mystery who’s behind the murders, but midway through, the motive becomes clearer — survival and control of resources.

Even when the “who” becomes obvious, the fear doesn’t fade. The group’s desperation and lack of water create constant tension. Every choice feels urgent. When their radio stops working and no rescue comes, the sense of doom grows heavier.

The story also explores leadership and trust. Who should make the rules? Can anyone be fair when their life depends on it? Each death forces the group to face these questions while struggling to stay alive.

Style & Inspiration of One Perfect Couple

The book feels like Agatha Christie meets reality TV. It blends the structure of a classic mystery with the chaos of a modern competition show. I loved how familiar the setup felt but with new energy.

Lyla’s perspective grounds the story. She’s not a typical contestant; she’s a scientist out of her element, trying to survive both nature and human greed. You root for her instantly.

Criticisms

I finished the book in a single day. It’s around 340 pages but moves quickly. Still, the ending disappointed me. I expected a final twist that never came. The killer’s identity felt predictable, and my guesses turned out right too early.

The conclusion tied things together neatly, but it lacked the shock that Ruth Ware usually delivers. Even so, the journey to that ending was exciting, and the atmosphere kept me hooked.

Reader’s Experience of One Perfect Couple

I enjoyed this novel, even though it feels very different from Ruth Ware’s earlier work. If her name wasn’t on the cover, I might not have guessed it was hers. Her style has evolved over time — shifting from dark, gothic mysteries like The Death of Mrs. Westaway to more modern thrillers like The It Girl and Zero Days.

One Perfect Couple follows that newer path. It’s more of a survival thriller than a psychological one. The gothic tension is gone, replaced by raw fear and group dynamics.

I found it interesting that Ware drew inspiration from reality shows like Love Island. Mixing “trash TV” with isolation and danger worked surprisingly well. It’s her trademark theme — trapping people together and seeing what secrets surface — but in a totally new environment.

For me, the characters carried the story. Each felt believable, and their emotional reactions made sense. The ending was emotional even without a shocking twist.

If you liked the isolation and paranoia here, you’ll probably enjoy Freida McFadden’s Never Lie, where a couple trapped in a snowed-in mansion uncover deadly secrets. Both stories build that same claustrophobic tension that keeps readers guessing until the last page.

Final Thoughts

• One Perfect Couple turned out to be more suspenseful than I expected. The shift in tone gives it a unique identity, and I appreciate how Ruth Ware continues to evolve as an author. It’s not her most shocking book, but it’s clever, atmospheric, and deeply human.