The Perfect Couple

Author: Ruth Ware
Publisher: Gallery Books
Date Published: May 21, 2024

This book was written by one of my favorite authors and included one of my favorite tropes – a locked room mystery. So of course I was going to love it!

Five couples join a reality TV show, The Perfect Couple. Half of the participants aren’t sure what they signed on for, since they are mostly there to support their acting/fame-seeking partners. But one thing is for sure – despite the producer’s promises, this show will be as cutthroat as any other Survivor/Love Island-type show. Nico, who has talked his skeptical scientist girlfriend into coming along is the first contestant cut from the show. Despite her promise to leave before him, Lyla is already having second thoughts about this man who seems to not get her at all.

And then the storm hits.

When the untested infrastructure fails, it truly becomes a survivor experience for the remaining couples.

And then…they start dying. On…by…one. (pun intended, ifykyk)

The whole time I was reading this book I felt like this was a scenario that could happen in this age of fast production, quick-to-fame social media, and reality shows. Ware has a knack for making you feel as drenched from the rain, dehydrated from the sun, and itchy from the mosquitos as our poor protagonists are.

Ware remains on my list of auto-buy authors!

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an advance reader’s copy.

Thanks to Meritt Thomas @unsplash for the background photo