Minnie's Fiction Addiction

The One by John Marrs is a fast-paced speculative thriller that explores the dark side of love, fate, and technology.

The premise centres on a revolutionary DNA test that promises to match people with their one true soulmate, the perfect partner, genetically destined for them. As millions around the world sign up and relationships are transformed, the novel follows five characters whose lives are upended by their matches.

👀 First impressions:
The premise immediately caught my attention, a DNA test that can match you to your perfect partner is such an intriguing and unsettling idea. Right from the start, I was pulled in by the multiple storylines and wanted to know how each character’s life would unravel. The pacing felt sharp, and it set up a lot of suspense early on.

✅ What I liked:
I really enjoyed the short chapters and the way the story jumps between different characters — it kept the book moving quickly and made it easy to keep reading “just one more.” The mix of emotional moments and dark, sometimes shocking twists worked well. I also appreciated how the story raises big questions about love, fate, and technology without being heavy-handed.

❎ What I didn’t like:
Some of the characters felt a bit thin or underdeveloped compared to others, and I found myself more invested in certain storylines while others didn’t grab me as much. With so many perspectives, it sometimes felt like I didn’t get to spend enough time deeply exploring one character before jumping to the next.

💭 Overall thoughts:
This was a gripping, addictive read with a really clever central idea. It’s the kind of book that keeps you turning pages and leaves you thinking afterward about how you’d act in the same situation. Dark, twisty, and thought-provoking — definitely worth picking up if you enjoy speculative thrillers.

Extra note:
Although The One works perfectly as a standalone, John Marrs has written other books set in the same world, like The Passengers and The Marriage Act, which explore similar futuristic, tech-driven themes. If you enjoyed the tense, speculative vibe of The One, you might want to check out these connected stories. They’re not direct sequels, but they expand on similar ideas in really interesting ways.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Final Rating 4/5 – A clever, dark, and addictive thriller that asks: what if science could find your perfect match — and at what cost?

🛍️ Where to Buy

You can purchase ‘The One’ by John Marrs HERE

Final Rating: ★★★★☆
A fast-paced and thought-provoking thriller with a brilliant premise, addictive, unsettling, and full of clever twists.