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A review by booksbytheglass
One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware
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