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