One Perfect Couple

By: Ruth Ware

Narrated by: Imogen Church

Harkening to Agatha Christie’s classic And Then There Were None, this high-tension 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, One Perfect Couple, she agrees to try out with him.

A whirlwind audition process later, Lyla finds 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.

©2024 Ruth Ware (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

Modern premise

It’s fine. A fun summer read. I wouldn’t have purchased if I had paid attention to the narrator being Imogen Church, though. I simply do not like her simpering voice. And in this book the first person sometimes changed between female characters and her acting was so similar for both that it was very confusing and I had to keep going back to see whose voice it was.

Imogen’s narration is next level outstanding as always!

Ruth Ware is simply the best, this story was intensely captivating and paired with Imogen’s narration skills it’s an 11/10

Enjoyable

I’m a Ruth Ware fan. Prefer the stories where there is more mystery around who the “bad guy” is rather than figuring out why he is and how that will be resolved, but still an enjoyable read. Loved the narration.

predictable and boring

I've read everything by Ruth Ware and this didn't even come close to past books. Characters were caricatures of real people, so predictable. The plot held no surprises or suspense. I knew what was coming at every turn. What a waste of time.

Great read

I have loved all of her books so far and love Imogene as narrator. I will continue to be a Ruth Ware fan!

Singular and absolutely riveting

Ruth Ware has done it again, but even better! I adore this genre and its classic tropes, but this book featured a truly original plot line, fascinating, multidimensional characters, and SMART and socially poignant themes. Do not miss this book!!

Excellent read!

Love Ruth Ware! I’ve read most of her books and enjoyed every one of them. Never disappoints!

Good but not Ware's best

Ware is my favorite contemporary thriller writer, and Church always does a beautiful job. This wasn't as edge-of-my-seat as Ware's others (like Woman in Cabin 10 or Zero Day), but it is still a fun, engaging summer read!

Kept me on my toes

There we all kinds of different scenarios that could have played out. I enjoy this type of novel, as it keeps me interested until the end.

Ruth Ware Does It Again!

Mesmerizing, Horrifying, Sickening, Thrilling, Satisfying. Definitely one of her best. Finished in 2 days. What a rush!