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thebookpear's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
3.75
I read this on a beach and it was an excellent popcorn thriller for vacation! One Perfect Couple follows Lyla and Nico who are cast on a reality TV show set on a remote island near Jakarta. Soon after filming begins, a storm hits the island and the cast of the show is stranded.
It did not feel like Ruth Ware’s typical style of thriller, but I didn’t mind at all. I enjoy when authors explore the genre. One Perfect Couple was so suspenseful and entertaining. I love a reality tv thriller! Something that worked really well was that even though there were a lot of characters to keep track of, the story was mostly told through Lyla’s POV, so it was not overwhelming. The storm happens right away and so does the drama and it does not let up until the final page!
It did not feel like Ruth Ware’s typical style of thriller, but I didn’t mind at all. I enjoy when authors explore the genre. One Perfect Couple was so suspenseful and entertaining. I love a reality tv thriller! Something that worked really well was that even though there were a lot of characters to keep track of, the story was mostly told through Lyla’s POV, so it was not overwhelming. The storm happens right away and so does the drama and it does not let up until the final page!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
kelsey_vanna's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
savvy2323's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Murder, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Domestic abuse
rbudd24's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Cursing, and Murder
Minor: Suicide
booksbytheglass's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
if there’s one thing ruth ware knows how to do, it’s write a popcorn thriller!!! this one is perfect for a poolside binge or a fun vacay read!
… although like most popcorn thrillers, this one will be a bit forgettable in the future for me 😅
lyla, a scientist not a doctor iykyk, is coerced into a reality TV couples show with her aspiring actor boyfriend where she quickly realizes that she was kept in the dark about a majority of the details. and while there is a fairly broad cast of characters, having the book solely from lyla’s POV made it way easier to keep up!
I typically enjoy a locked door mystery, similar to AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, but there was absolutely no mystery about this one! the “villain” was laid out from the beginning with a bully characteristic and not much motive other than being abusive and psychopathic. I definitely would have loved a reveal of a whodunnit here instead!!
while I did appreciate the randomness of characters being picked off or succumb to the elements of a deserted island, I again wanted more of a mystery behind it all! instead, the lack of a twist or reveal left the story dragging a bit for me with a quick and fizzled out ending 🥴
TLDR: a bingeable popcorn read for the summer but not one that’ll stick with me!
rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: new zealand pinot noir
… although like most popcorn thrillers, this one will be a bit forgettable in the future for me 😅
lyla, a scientist not a doctor iykyk, is coerced into a reality TV couples show with her aspiring actor boyfriend where she quickly realizes that she was kept in the dark about a majority of the details. and while there is a fairly broad cast of characters, having the book solely from lyla’s POV made it way easier to keep up!
I typically enjoy a locked door mystery, similar to AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, but there was absolutely no mystery about this one! the “villain” was laid out from the beginning with a bully characteristic and not much motive other than being abusive and psychopathic. I definitely would have loved a reveal of a whodunnit here instead!!
while I did appreciate the randomness of characters being picked off or succumb to the elements of a deserted island, I again wanted more of a mystery behind it all! instead, the lack of a twist or reveal left the story dragging a bit for me with a quick and fizzled out ending 🥴
TLDR: a bingeable popcorn read for the summer but not one that’ll stick with me!
rating: 3 stars
wine pairing: new zealand pinot noir
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Chronic illness and Injury/Injury detail
elizaj's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
berls's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
While it’s not her best IMO this is another fantastic read. Ware has this stunning ability to ALWAYS make the setting a character and this one was no exception. Loved it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
michelle_mightbereading's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Blood, Misogyny, and Physical abuse
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Suicide
letmetakea_shelfie_'s review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse