One Perfect Couple

An unnamed character tests a radio, trying to reach anyone within range.

Lyla Santiago surveys her lab results while her partner, Nico Reese, tries to persuade her to join him as a contestant on a reality show called One Perfect Couple. Lyla distractedly points out that Nico can go alone, and he petulantly reminds her that the show’s premise requires couples to compete together. As a struggling actor, Nico is convinced that the show will improve his career prospects.

Nico explains that the show will launch on a new streaming network as a reality competition for five couples. In the rules of the game, he explains, “you have to stay coupled up to stay in” (8). Lyla points out that she cannot leave work for 10 weeks, but Nico insists that the show will make them both wealthy. Lyla privately reflects that Nico’s determination to become successful at any moment has yet to bear fruit, but she reluctantly agrees to a meeting with the production team. As Nico lovingly embraces her, she is struck once more by his good looks and charm.

At an unspecified future date, Lyla makes radio broadcasts from a remote island, trying to reach a nearby boat called the Over Easy.

The story returns to the narrative present as Lyla meets with her lab supervisor. Lyla knows immediately that her latest batch of inconclusive data does not bode well for her future, as “grant funding d[oes]n’t go to the scientists who f[ind] out something d[oes]n’t work” (14). Lyla knows that she is now unlikely to be rehired or succeed in finding a permanent position. Lyla tentatively asks if she can write the data up on vacation, describing the show as a business trip. Her supervisor agrees.

Lyla travels home in the rain, reflecting on her dismal career prospects. Nico is four years younger and shows little interest in her domestic dreams of a family, and she admits to herself that Nico’s lack of career success is grating on her as well. She arrives home to an ecstatic Nico, who tells her that the producer of the reality show, Basil “Baz” Farrier, has asked for a meeting. Nico reluctantly admits that Baz described her as “girl next door fuckable” (21), and Lyla is offended at the implication that her worth lies in her aesthetic appeal. However, she becomes intrigued when Nico explains that filming will take place on a resort in the Indian Ocean.

Her relative calm disappears when Nico finally admits that the competition format will require the losers and winners to change partners. Nico insists that he is only interested in portraying the drama, not in truly breaking up with her. He promises Lyla that she can fail the competition in time to return to work, leaving him as a breakout star after her departure. Nico pointedly asks whether she will pass up a vacation in the tropics due to her skepticism. Lyla realizes that Nico seems anxious, as if he is finally aware that he is also running out of time to find success. She reluctantly agrees to the meeting, and he thanks her.

Lyla radios for help as an intense storm gathers. She is concerned that everyone will need to evacuate the island. Suddenly, her broadcast is interrupted.

Lyla and Nico are on a Zoom call as part of their interview with the production company. She is increasingly annoyed that Baz, the lead producer, cannot remember the fact that she studies viruses for a living. Nico exaggerates the length of their relationship to make them seem like a more stable couple. As he describes his dreams of fame, a skeptical Lyla thinks, “Did he really think he was on an Adam Driver career path?” (30). Lyla struggles to describe her own goals.

Baz surprises Lyla when he asks whether she holds progressive political views and is pleased when she discusses issues of feminism and gender equality in scientific fields. When he offers them both roles on the show, Nico is ecstatic, but Lyla is dismayed, and she is anxious once she learns that the show has not been sold to a production company. Nico tells her that she is overreacting, and Lyla resolves to help Nico achieve his shot at fame. Meanwhile, she lets him distract her with a romantic interlude.

Someone who is later revealed to be Lyla makes a distress call in the aftermath of the storm. She explains that she and her companions have lost contact with the boat, and several of their party are seriously injured.

The story returns to the narrative present. Lyla and Nico prepare for their trip. Lyla remains skeptical, and although she assures her mother that her participation is part of her commitment to Nico, she privately admits, “We couldn’t carry on like this, him banging his fist on a closed door, me increasingly resentful of supporting his dreams” (43).

The narrative then moves forward in time as Lyla and Nico arrive in sunny Jakarta and take a taxi to their waiting yacht. They are met by Baz’s assistant, Camille. Lyla feigns an enthusiasm that she does not feel, and her unease deepens when a crew member asks to speak to Camille about possible bad weather. On board the yacht, Nico and Lyla survey their tiny cabin, which does not match the opulence of the outer decks. Nico sours Lyla’s mood further by summoning her to a meeting with Camille, Baz, and the other contestants. Before entering the meeting room, Lyla realizes that the others are “all, without exception, extremely good looking” and well-dressed (51). They drink a toast to their future on the show.

The contestants introduce themselves. A glamorous French woman named Angel banters easily with her muscular boyfriend, Bayer. Romi, a YouTuber, has a studious boyfriend named Joel Richards, who has a much quieter personality. Santana and Dan are both fit and blonde and have matching Minnie and Mickey Mouse tattoos. Lyla is particularly struck by Connor, who is tall, blond, and extremely muscular, a sharp contrast to his petite girlfriend, Zana. Lyla struggles with her own introduction and tries to ignore her own growing sense of unhappiness.

Camille announces that everyone must turn in all their electronics after sending one final message to their families. This announcement provokes consternation, but a furious Baz tells them that if they truly refuse to follow this instruction, they can leave. Conor coolly agrees, and Lyla wonders why he and Baz seem to dislike one another so much. Baz storms off, and the meeting awkwardly ends.

Two days after the yacht first sets sail for the island, Joel makes a distress call, mentioning the injuries among the contestants and alluding to a disaster that has befallen Romi.

The novel returns to the narrative present. Lyla tries to discuss Baz’s behavior with Nico, but he is distracted. As she waits to turn in her electronics, Lyla studies the other contestant biographies. She realizes that Zana is only in her early twenties and is nearly a decade younger than Conor. Lyla also notes that she herself is one of the oldest contestants. Aloud, Lyla complains that her biography is inaccurate, as she is not a doctor. Joel hears her and explains that he is not a teacher, as listed, but is instead an early-career journalism professor.

Lyla instantly feels comfortable with Joel as they discuss the struggles of academia. Joel explains that his girlfriend, Romi, convinced him to participate in the show despite his reservations. Like Lyla, Joel is somewhat dismissive of the reality TV genre, but he believes that the show will succeed. Joel is more nervous about the romantic aspect of the competition, especially given that the network will be eager to capture any dramatic breakups. Conor interrupts them, and Joel says that he is familiar with Conor’s work. Conor laughs when Joel suggests that his obvious muscles will be part of his appeal, and Lyla finds herself charmed. When Conor downplays his work, Joel explains that Conor has over 10 million subscribers on YouTube.

Romi arrives and is immediately displeased to see that Joel has been talking to Lyla. When Nico joins them, Romi immediately begins flirting with him. Joel confides his fears of being mocked on the show, and Lyla and Conor unsuccessfully attempt to reassure him.

In another series of distress calls, an unnamed person pleads for assistance.

Lyla awakens to hear the crew reporting that they are in sight of their destination. On deck, she meets Dan, who complains about the cabins and suggests that Conor likely has premium accommodations due to his history with Baz. Dan confides that he and Santana are not really a couple, as he has a boyfriend back in London. Lyla only grows more anxious when he reminds her that many cameras and constant scrutiny await them all.

Angel radios, begging for help. She tells Joel to stop lecturing her about preserving the battery since they are all in danger of dying unless things change.

As Lyla and Nico walk on the beach, Nico is obviously acting for the cameras, while Lyla feels stilted. Lyla notices the others staging casual and romantic poses. When Nico does the same, Lyla realizes, “I wasn’t kissing my boyfriend, I was kissing a professional actor” (84). As they look for the villa assigned to them, Lyla notices one villa out on the water with a wooden platform connecting it to the mainland. It is labeled as the “Ever After Villa,” and she concludes that it must have something to do with the competition.

Lyla learns that the show’s crew will mostly stay on the boat at night, relying on the cameras in the villas to give them additional material. Lyla is shocked by this invasiveness, and Nico petulantly reminds her that this setup is standard for the genre. Lyla forces herself to admit that he is right, fearful that any more authentic reactions might result in footage that will be used against her.

In their villa, Lyla is struck by the all-new furnishings and high level of comfort, and she lets Nico embrace her as a silent apology for their earlier debate. He physically lifts her off her feet, a gesture that she finds to be more disconcerting than romantic. Camille arrives, but her welcome speech is interrupted by a technical problem with the cameras; the video is recording, but there is no sound. Camille instructs them to find the cabana, the central gathering space, to have brunch and learn about the first official task. Nico and Lyla have another argument as she expresses concerns due to the resort’s unfinished state and the potential for complications, especially with the fresh water supply. He tells her that she does not understand television and then softens and urges her to enjoy the setting. Lyla is not comforted.

Lyla makes another distress call, explaining that three people are dead. She asks for immediate evacuation from the island.

Lyla joins the others at the cabana. She feels insecure about her appearance and decides to “make a virtue out of [her] low-maintenance girl-next-door charms” (96). Santana introduces herself, and Lyla notices that she wears an insulin pump, an indicator that she has diabetes. Lyla watches the muscular and truculent Bayer and wonders whether he will provoke conflict in the competition.

Camille explains the first game. The contestants will fill out a questionnaire about themselves and then attempt to anticipate their partner’s answers. The couple that knows each other the best will be the winner. Lyla notices the others acting for the cameras and struggles to do so herself. The meal begins; most of it is prepackaged and processed food. The group is separated by gender to fill out their questionnaires.

Lyla and the other women are led out to the Ever After Villa. Zana struggles to cross the walkway because she is terrified to be so close to the ocean. Confronted with the questionnaire, Lyla admits her lack of knowledge of astrology and struggles to describe her ideal romantic evening in terms that will play well with an audience. When she reaches the question about her “biggest secret,” she has an unwelcome epiphany when she realizes, “I can’t see myself with Nico in five years’ time” (107). Zana is deeply anxious about disappointing Conor with her answers, a fear that Lyla attributes to youthful naivete. The tension breaks when they are all summoned for individual interviews.

After the interviews, the contestants return to the cabana to review their answers and see the footage from the interviews, in which they had to guess their partner’s likely answers. Camille shows them some of the footage, which reveals that Conor and Zana answered similarly several times, to Zana’s visible relief. Lyla is disconcerted to learn that most of Nico’s answers are unrealistic or entirely inaccurate.

Camille reveals that Lyla earned the highest score with her knowledge of Nico, while he came in last place. Camille informs Nico that he has been eliminated. Nico is stunned and furious. He accuses Lyla of scheming against him, and they argue. Lyla is dismayed on Nico’s behalf and is not pleased to realize that she has just increased her own value on the show, which means that she will be forced to remain much longer than she intended. Camille also reveals that the questionnaires prove Joel and Lyla to be the most compatible. For this reason, Joel and Lyla will be spending the night at the Ever After Villa. Romi is furious and accuses Joel of having a secret attraction to Lyla. An enraged Baz tells them all to accept the results or leave. He orders the crew back to the boat.

Now alone in the cabana, the contestants reveal that they are all increasingly skeptical about the show. Other programs of this type have counselors and psychologists on staff to coach contestants through moments of emotional upheaval, and no one is monitoring the meal schedule to ensure that Santana stays healthy. The others finally agree that because there is no dinner, they will go find food in the staff kitchen. Lyla worries for Nico. She wonders if their relationship is over and is uncertain of what awaits her.

In the final distress call, an unnamed person declares, “We are stuck on this fucking island with a murderer” (129), but they realize that the battery is no longer holding a charge.