We start this book with friends on vacation in India: Jo, her husband Yash, their children, Zoe, Mia and Ajit, and Lydia, her husband Paul, and their children, Rachel and Bella. The book starts with the couples drinking by the beach, their children in bed but Rachel, who is 14, is watching them and the parents can see the cottage from where they are. Jo is the voice of this story, but she was drunk and blacked out for a bit. When she awakes, she goes to check on the kids, and realizes her five-year-old son Ajit is missing.

After she races to tell the others, the police get involved, and the search for this boy is in full swing. While the main plot is Ajit either being kidnapped, or having gone out an open window in his bedroom, this story is also about friends, betrayals, lies, infidelity and secrets. As the police start digging further while trying to find Ajit, the secrets between these friends start coming to light, and it’s definitely not pretty.

As the story goes on and the secrets start coming out, the book also goes back in time, from years ago to the days right before the trip. There are news articles and online comments that show what the public thinks about this British boy gone missing in India, and that adds quite a bit to the novel. Kidnapping thrillers are a dime a dozen, granted, but this one wasn’t your typical lost child popcorn thriller; it got quite suspenseful with many spoilers and red herrings.

This story has a very Madeleine McCann feel to it, and the similarities were there…until the ending. That ending was great, then the epilogue absolutely blew my mind. There were a lot of possibilities for the end of the book, but the final chapters really surprised me. This had a lot of layers and definitely it was a page turner. 4.5 stars.

(Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me on this book’s tour! “Two Perfect Couples” will be released on August 7, 2025.)

Good easy read, twists and turns but overall the story was predictable. The characters were somewhat lacking. Felt as if I had to push myself through the first half.

2 couples go on vacation in India and the unthinkable happens, a child goes missing!! I felt so much time was spent on that kid that they backtracked a lot and I found myself losing interest. Lots of secrets came out but nothing was shocking to me. It was just ok for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

Two couples along with their children go on holiday renting a cottage on a beach. But now one of the children is missing.
Jo and Lydia are BFFs. Their children play together and their husbands work together.
Jo keeps getting these texts that tell her she isn't a good mother and that her husband is cheating on her but when she goes to show the text to anyone they seem to have been deleted. Her best friend and husband think she's losing her mind
Everyone seems to be keeping secrets
Jo thinks Ajit's disappearance has something to do with her long-lost sister. For they never got along well. But she can't figure out why her sister would come for her after so long of being astray
This book went on and on and on
I didn't think little Ajit would ever be found

A good read, a little bit predictable and with some overused tropes, but still had a good few surprises and was fast-paced so kept me interested.

Ignore the title. These are not two perfect couples but rather two couples with secrets that come tumbling out during a fateful vacation in Goa. Jo, Yash, Lydia and Paul and their children are all at the beach but the second evening, young Ajit son of Jo and Yash goes missing from his bed while the others are enjoying their evening. You know this is the start of the reveal but what is it that Jo doesn't want anyone especially her husband to know? No spoilers from me. This is the sort of popcorn thriller that has multiple twists and unlikable characters. Keep your hopes up for Ajit. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Two Perfect Couples is a quick paced popcorn thriller, that can easily be read in one sitting. The story follows two couples and their children, as they vacation in India. While the parents are spending an evening outside, their children are asleep inside their resort room when one disappears, having only noticed when one of the parents does a routine check on the kids. The overall premise was very similar to a worldwide news story, though it’s the details where the differences lie.. The story centers around finding lost Ajit, but secrets are everywhere in this book - mom, dad, kids, no one is who they portray themselves to be. The main characters were quite unlikable and I found myself rooting for no one, and hoping for someone to just find Ajit. Having said that, the ending was “Lifetime movie” satisfying.

Two British couples and their young children depart on a dream holiday to a secluded beach resort in Goa, India. The husbands are business partners, the wives best friends, and the children accustomed to spending time together as a type of blended family. On the surface, all appears perfect. Until it isn’t.

On their second evening in paradise, five-year-old Ajit goes missing from his room as the parents are lounging by the nearby beach bar, drinking. Jo, his mother, is frantic, but as the investigation unspools, it soon becomes apparent both couples are hiding numerous secrets. These are slowly revealed as the investigation drags on. Some of the writing feels a bit repetitive, but the reveals and twists are good – as is the interspersed social media rubbernecking - as the police work to solve the case.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy - all thoughts are my own.

Title: Two Perfect Couples
Author: Renita D’Silva
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Family Drama/Thriller
Pub Date: August 7, 2025
My Rating: 3.4 Stars
Pages: 422

Best friends - Jo, Yash, Lydia and Paul ~ two couples who look like perfect families. Jo and Yash have three children- Two daughters Zoe and Mia and a son Ajit: Lydia and Paul have two daughters Rachel and Bella They go to Goa, India for what is considered the ‘trip of a lifetime’.
While on vacation the adults and are enjoying a dinner on the beach – they take turns checking on their children who are sleeping nearby even though they have a built in babysitter fourteen year old- Rachel – Lydia’s daughter.

As Jo checked on the children - she soon discovers that five year old Ajit is not in his bed – window open and only hiss favorite teddy is there alone in the bed. Jo’ searches everywhere. Soon realizes what has happened and there is a ‘full on’ search!

As the police question us, Lydia gives Jo a nervous look. Lydia knows about the secret

Most of the story is about finding little Ajit.
We do find out Jo’s secret and discovers the truth,

I love psychological thrillers – plot driven – twist and turns however this was slower than I like and character-driven.
Although not a big wow for me I have no doubt there are readers who will love it!

I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 7, 2025.

A beautifully written tale of love, secrets, and the facades we keep. Renita D’Silva weaves emotional depth into a dual timeline that explores the fragile lines between truth and illusion. Poignant, gripping, and thought-provoking.

What an enjoyable read! It got a little slow in some parts but I was hooked while riddled with intrigue and suspense. I did enjoy the finger pointing! Haha. I got lucky enough to read this one early and can’t wait to actually discuss it with my friends!

I’ve just finished “Two Perfect Couples” by Renita D’Silva and it was an excellent thriller! The premise of the story is about two couples who’ve been lifelong friends taking their families on a holiday vacation in India. While there, Jo and Yash’s youngest child, a boy named Ajit, disappears.

Cue the secrets unfolding that keep coming and coming! This is a slow burn thriller that doesn’t pick up steam until the second half, so stick with it, as it gets really good! Such great twists in this story….you don’t know who or what to believe! All you can think about is that precious little boy and the absolute gut wrenching trauma his parents are going through!

I thought the ending was crazy and I was there for it! If you’re a lover of psychological thrillers, you’ll enjoy this one…you just got to be a little patient through the first half…then the pace picks up!

Such a great read! A solid 4 stars from me!! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Bokouture for the complimentary advanced reader copy. This book publishes on August 7th. Now go read it!!

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Two Perfect Couples by Renita D’Silva
The buildup and emotional weight of this book were intense. Having a child disappear, seemingly without a trace, is terrifying anytime. But to have your son disappear while on vacation in a different country—whew.

This was packed with secrets, lies, deceit, and twists. Every turn of the page held something I was not expecting. The way this plot escalated and then came crashing down was excellent.

The character development was well done. I did not know whom to blame, trust, or suspect because everyone had a motive for one reason or another. We see the weight of that impact these characters.

I enjoyed Renita’s writing style and how she curated the story. She did a fantastic job writing characters that were equal parts likable and frustrating, which made them feel more authentic.

How this novel twisted, turned, and moved at breakneck speeds was wildly entertaining. I was on the edge of my seat, frantically trying to read faster because I had to know what happened next.

The ending felt a tad anticlimactic, but with such an intense rollercoaster of a story, things had to simmer at some point. The way this story flips will leave readers gasping for air.

Publication date: August 7, 2025
Publisher: Bookouture

**3.75 Stars**

✨Book Review✨
📖 Two Perfect Couples
✍️ Renita D’Silva
📅 Publication: August 7, 2025

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
They look like perfect families. But their secrets must stay buried…
She trusts her best friend Lydia with everything, especially the things she can’t tell her husband. On a beach holiday, it all feels idyllic… until her son vanishes from his bed. The window is open. His teddy bear lies forgotten. And her world shatters.
Only Lydia knows the truth she’s hiding, the lie she must tell to keep her family. Because if anyone finds out what she’s done, she could lose her son forever.
She’ll stop at nothing to get him back…
𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
This book was an intense ride. Before picking it up, I’d recommend checking the trigger warnings; child abduction is central to the story, and it can be heavy at times. From the moment her son goes missing, the tension is palpable, and as long-buried secrets begin to unravel. While the pacing lagged a bit in the middle, the final chapters ramped the suspense back up and had me hooked again.
What struck me most was how terrifyingly real it all felt, especially as a parent. Losing a child is every parent’s worst nightmare and losing one while on vacation in a foreign place makes it even more haunting. The author captured the fear, grief, and emotional turmoil beautifully. The messy family dynamics, hidden truths, and constant questions of trust created a gripping, layered story I couldn’t put down. Overall, a compelling and emotional read.
Thank You @Netgalley and @Bookouture for allowing me to review this book.

I was super excited for this book as the synopsis sounded SO good and right up my alley. Unfortunately, I felt let down by this book. There were times I caught myself zoning out because I wasn’t invested. My biggest issue was all the information and how long it took to get to the biggest plot twist. I feel like the book could’ve been shorter and more fast paced. However, the writing was good and easy to follow. I have never read a book by this author and I am not sure if she will be someone I read in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for a freed advanced copy for this book in exchange for my honest review.

This story was about two best friend couples. Each person with their own secrets that will.desteoy them. The characters where well written and thr lies they told left you gasping. The twist at the end will leave you jaw on the floor!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was my first book by Renita D'Silva and I was gripped from the very beginning. There were some parts that I found quite repetitive and maybe a bit drawn out but other than that it was a great plot. Fantastic!

Great book. Was up all night reading it. I loved the characters & the storyline. I totally recommend reading this book straight away, the twists and turns are fab. Definitely 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

this book is a great read. one you can imagine sitting anywhere be it home or holiday and just enjoying every moment you get inside its pages.
we've got two families who treat themselves to a holiday together. being all best friends it couldn't be more perfect, right?
yes. until one night one of their children goes missing. and this is just the beginning because secret and lies are awash through everything here and they might all just tumble out. and the beliefs you have behind your best friends is going to knock the punches out of some of our characters.
i liked this premise because not only have you the thriller vibes of the missing child. but of course the why? and there is so much more to that question than you could think.
they mystery and thriller element was done really well in this book and so woven thought human emotions and relationships only added to what this book gives to us readers. you feel more because the book makes you feel more about the characters and the situations.
who needs enemies when you have friends, eh?

First, thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC!

After reading all those books lately, I do feel like going on holiday with your friends and there families seems never to be a good idea in the end. No matter where they go, something does go wrong at some point, and then worlds shatter, friendships break apart, or a life is taken....

In this case, we have a child going missing while his parents and their friend are all on the beach together. And his mother is lying to the police about what has happened. The only question, is - why?

It was a good book. Started a little slow, but then picked up the page to a point where 'Only one more chapter' would mean you do not stop reading until turning the last page. 4,5 stars from me!