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!

A dark tale of the secrets that come light when a 5 year old is taken. Two couples and their children on what should have been a perfect holiday but it turns into a nightmare. The claustrophobic situation inside their holiday cottage is well described. We find out secrets about each of the adults but, particularly Jo, the main character. I found the final twist unexpected.

This is beautifully written, emotionally honest story that explores love, secrets, and what it really means to be “perfect” together. I was completely drawn into the lives of both couples—flawed, relatable, and deeply human. At the same time it also took me a bit to get into but once I was drawn, I was hooked to find out more.

D’Silva’s writing is lyrical, the characters feel real, and the emotional depth is striking. While the middle slowed slightly, the ending was powerful and heartfelt. A thoughtful, moving read that stays with you. Emotionally rich relationship drama that keeps unfolding.

“We seem like perfect families. But our secrets must never come out…”

Thank you NetGalley! This one started out great. I was drawn into the drama and sadness surrounding the lost family member. It then continued with more and more twists revealing secrets between the characters

⭐️ Rating: 3.75/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The title and cover of Two Perfect Couples immediately caught my attention, they’re what initially drew me in. The first 30% of the book had me completely hooked. From the moment her son is kidnapped, the suspense and unraveling secrets had me flying through the pages.

But, after that initial burst of tension, the pacing slowed quite a bit. The middle of the book lost some momentum, and it wasn’t until the last 15% that things picked up again.

That said, the premise felt incredibly real and grounded, something any parent could imagine facing while on vacation. The fear, confusion, and emotional turmoil were written so good, and the themes of trust, secrets, and family were what drew me in and kept me reading.
They were all so messy and all hiding so much.

Overall, this was a solid, engaging read. I enjoyed it, even if the pacing dipped in the middle.

Two Perfect Couples follows two couples on vacation with their children. The adults are on the beach drinking and the kids are at the house being looked after by the eldest of the children. The drama starts to unravel when one of the mothers goes to check on them and discovers that her son is missing. The plot is well structured and I thought I believed one thing only to be questioning myself moments later. I love that it also draws out emotions that you think you kept hidden. I didn't like how some characters played on the others struggle with mental health but it did make the plot intense. I enjoyed this book so much that I am now going back looking for more that I haven't read by this author.

I love a good thriller, but unfortunately, I was unable to get invested in this one and ultimately DNF'd it around 40% in.

Two Perfect Couples started with a strong premise. Two families on a beach vacation, and then a child goes missing. There was definitely potential for a gripping thriller with all the secrets and tensions bubbling beneath the surface.

That said, the story slowed down quite a bit for me midway, and I found it hard to stay fully engaged. The adults’ drama had interesting moments, but I didn’t really connect with the characters on a deeper level, which made the stakes feel lower.

The mystery itself didn’t surprise me much either, which took away some of the suspense. Still, I liked how the book showed relationships cracking under pressure and the way truth and lies blurred as the story went on.

It’s a decent read if you like character-driven domestic thrillers, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me personally.

I was quickly drawn into this book and was intrigued by the characters and tropical setting. It slowed a little mid way through, however delivered a great ending. I enjoyed this book and would recommend to others.

Two couples go on vacation to a beach resort for a trip of a lifetime. While the adults are enjoying drinks on the beach having left children inside someone comes and takes Ajit. The couples both have secrets that will slowly be revealed to find out who is behind taking the boy. Jo’s anxiety and fear radiated off the page and you weren’t sure what was real or what was her imagination. It had some twists and as a mother this was your worst fear come true and made your heart race just reading about it.

This book really drew me in at the beginning but then I found it a bit slow and repetitive and I began to lose interest unfortunately.

I didn't really gel with the characters and overall it wasn't for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC, even though it wasn't for me personally I would recommend it.

Sadly this one just wasn’t for me. The premise sounded gripping and it was at first but as the book went on I struggled to want to pick it up.
There was a lot of repetition, it just made it a bit of a slog to get through.
There were a lot of elements I didn’t guess and it wasn’t terrible but definitely not one of my favourites sadly.

I was granted the opportunity to read this novel in advance, courtesy of NetGalley. And it was my first read by this particular author.

The narrative opens with two best friends embarking on a holiday together accompanied by their husbands. When a child goes missing, the protagonist is overwhelmed with guilt, convinced that she is to blame for the disappearance.

Beneath their seemingly close friendship lies a web of secrets—yet one must wonder: can a best friend ever be fully trusted? When questioned by the authorities, they resort to deceit to ensure that the truth remains concealed. The question lingers throughout: who could commit such a heinous act as abducting a child?

Although I was confident that I had uncovered the truth early on, I was proven entirely mistaken. The author’s writing style is clear and accessible, making this a compelling and suspenseful read that held my attention until the very last page.

Sadly, as someone who reads her fair share of mystery and thriller books, this was not for me. I don’t enjoy disliking a book, and this is just an opinion, but here are my thoughts.

Firstly, I didn’t even realise where the story was set until they mentioned it quite into the book; it completely changed what I pictured and threw me off for a while. I thought it was Spain / Portugal at first, which maybe that’s my own doing, but I would prefer to know at the beginning. Throughout the book I felt the use of “big smart words” was constant, it felt like the author was just trying to show off how smart they are and did not add to the book. Similarly the unnecessary side characters. I get that they were there to add suspicion and potential other suspects, but Tom?? Was that needed? The sister just felt too much and not relevant to the story. Maybe it’s just because I’m familiar with this genre, but the outcome was predictable. I won’t go into that much, but the reasoning behind it was just not believable and was a disappointing end. Also, the epilogue fell flat. It just redid what we already read but just so much worse, and just so unnecessary. A bad note to end the book on, although for me, I don’t think anything could have redeemed the book.

Overall, the biggest thing that contributed to the low star score was the repetition. The first two chapters had me gripped; I felt the fear, I understood the reactions, I truly felt for the mother. However, as the story progresses it just feels… the same. Not only did the mother’s thoughts repeat, but the same phrases appeared over and over again, and it didn’t add to the story. If anything it frustrated me as a reader. I get it. Other parts felt repetitive, like bringing up certain flashbacks, describing the same characters again etc.. It seemed like the author was trying to foreshadow something, but it did not work, it was just annoying.


(Side note, the snapchat thing had me giggling, because it was clearly written by someone who has no idea how it actually works)

I received an ARC of Two Perfect Couples from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Bookouture, for the opportunity.

Two Perfect Couples is a gripping, emotionally charged thriller that delves into every parent’s worst fear—a missing child. Renita D’Silva crafts a suspenseful, twist-filled narrative that keeps you on edge while also pulling at your heartstrings.

One of the most compelling elements of the book is the constant uncertainty over who can truly be trusted. As the characters’ lives intertwine and hidden truths begin to surface, I found myself questioning the narrator’s reliability—an element that heightened the story’s tension even more.

D’Silva’s writing is both vivid and immersive. She expertly balances emotional intensity with a strong sense of suspense. Just when I thought I had the plot figured out, the story veered in an unexpected direction. The ending, in particular, caught me completely off guard and left a lasting impact.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers with emotional depth, dark secrets, and surprising twists, Two Perfect Couples deserves a spot at the top of your reading list. It’s a haunting and thought-provoking read that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page.

I was able to read this book early thanks to Net Gallery. This book starts with two best friends going on holiday together with their husbands. When a child goes missing the main character believes it is her fault.
The secrets two best friends hold but can the best friend be trusted?
They have to lie to the police when they interview so the secret never gets told.
Who would do such a thing to kidnap a child?

I thought I had this book figured out but I was so wrong. The writing style was easy to follow.

Is anyone tired of the female main character acting hysterical, being told she is crazy and told to go back on her medication? I am. And it is the reason I did not enjoy this psychological thriller.

This was my first book by Renita D’Silva. It did not live up to the hype of the description.

I received this galley from NetGalley.

TWO PERFECT COUPLES BY RENITA D'SILVA.
Release date set for the 7th of August 2025.
This is my 2nd book by this author.
Love the cover.
I loved the pacing for this story.
I found this book to be rather intense at times which was great.
A really gripping psychological thriller and I recommend it to all lovers of that genre.

When I started this book, I couldn't understand how the title related, but now, OMG. This was hands down one of the best written thrillers I've read this year. Every new discovery dropped at the perfect time in the story. The plot could not have been paced better. I think one of the markers of a good suspense novel is when the surprises are not so surprising that it's ludicrous, but more like "yea, now looking back I can see all the connections." This author does that in the best way and reading this book was an absolute treat. The setting and description of Goa was so vivid that I really felt like I was there. She also portrayed the challenges of motherhood and postpartum in such an honest, believable way. 10/10 Looking forward to more of her work.


Review will also be posted to GoodReads closer to publication day.

In the beginning of this book, I wasn’t sure if I really would enjoy this book. Until, it started to pick up the pace and things really got interesting. I really enjoyed it. Thank you for giving me a chance on being an ARC reader.