Romance, survival and suspense! One Perfect Couple follows Lyla, who reluctantly joins her actor boyfriend Nico on a reality TV show set on a remote island in the Indian Ocean.
The setup seems simple: Five couples compete until the last pair wins the prize. However, a tropical storm traps them on the island, and the game turns deadly. Someone will do whatever it takes to be the last one standing!
I enjoyed revisiting the now multi-billion dollar reality TV industry. Nearly 25 years ago, I remember being intrigued by Big Brother, featuring everyday people. But Survivor was a turning point for reality programming, as contestants travelled to a remote location where they had to fend for themselves and compete in a range of challenges. Over the years, as reality TV evolved, contestants have increasingly sought fame while producers prioritised creating conflict and drama. One Perfect Couple takes you behind the scenes, peeling back the layers of manipulation and ambition that fuels these shows.
Ruth’s central character, Lyla, is a scientist who has no desire to film a reality show. Ruth cleverly navigates Lyla’s apprehension and expertly blends tension as lighthearted competition disintegrates into a gripping fight for survival. The tropical island setting is an ideal backdrop for the layered characters, who are both driven and desperate. There is an escalating sense of danger, and you’ll be left guessing until the final pages. This book is perfect for fans of reality TV dramas and those who enjoy suspense.
“In One Perfect Couple, I tried to create the most idyllic island setting I could imagine, and I endowed Ever After Island with white sand, turquoise sea, coconut palms and all mod cons including a desalination plant and air conditioned beach front villas. Unfortunately, none of this technology can save my characters when the island is hit by a huge storm, the desalination plant is wrecked, and all communication with the mainland is cut off. As the survivors reckon up the cost of the devastation, they begin to realise how precarious their situation is and that they must band together for survival - or pay the ultimate price,” says Ruth.
Ruth Ware is the author of numerous best-selling books. She worked as a bookseller, press officer, teacher and waitress before settling down as a full-time writer. She lives in Sussex, on the south coast of England. Follow Ruth online.
Reviewer: Andrea Molloy
Simon and Schuster
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