Review: "One Perfect Couple," Ruth Ware

Lyla Santiago is a diligent, no-nonsense scientist. When her boyfriend, Nico, eagerly tells her they have a fantastic opportunity to participate in a reality TV show, she has serious doubts. Big questions.

Does she really want to spend up to 10 weeks on a remote island in the Indian Ocean? Does she really want to vie to be that “One Perfect Couple?” Lyla spends her days with test tubes, investigating mosquito-borne viruses. She is not bikini-ready, and certainly has no desire to be.

Nico, however, is a buff, aspiring actor who sees “One Perfect Couple” as his big break. As he makes his case, Lyla reluctantly sees some benefits. She could use a break—her work is not going well. She could respect Nico’s goals, give herself a mini-vacation, and avoid the worst of reality TV travails, because she’s sure to be voted off the island within a couple of weeks.

Alas, the alarm bells only get louder when Lyla and Nico make the long, exhausting trip to the other side of the world. Their cabin on the yacht, the Over Easy, which is transporting them to Ever After Island, is far from luxurious. Has the show really been picked up by Real TV? Why are there no health professionals on the staff? Do some of the contestants know more about the situation than Lyla and Nico?

Then, after only a day of filming, a massive storm hits the island and everything really goes south.

There are nine contestants left on their own on the island—the first person to be booted off and the producers and staff have headed for the mainland for the night. Food and water is limited, and the power is out. One member of the group has diabetes. Another appears to be a sociopath, and he seems to be abusing his partner. The group’s only hope is the radio, which is still operating—but no one seems to be hearing their mayday calls.

Meanwhile, the body count is rising—are the deaths accidents or murder?—and Lyla doesn’t know who is friend and who is foe.

Ruth Ware is one of my favorite thriller writers, and she does not disappoint in her latest novel. Lyla is a strong, likable protagonist who has been plunged into an incredible situation. One Perfect Couple is a page-turner with a satisfying conclusion. It was a great way to jump start my summer reading.