Minnie's Fiction Addiction

Because one more chapter is never enough

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  • Book Review ‘The One’ by John Marrs

    Cover of ‘The One’ by John Marrs, published by Del Rey

    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.

  • Book Review ‘Listen for the Lie’ By Amy Tintera

    Cover of Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera, published by Penguin.

    Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera is a twisty, darkly humorous thriller about a woman named Lucy who returns to her Texas hometown years after being accused—but never charged—in the murder of her best friend, Savannah.

    Although Lucy was the prime suspect, the police could never prove she was guilty. Now, a true-crime podcast decides to investigate Savannah’s murder, drawing Lucy back into the public eye and reopening old wounds. As Lucy reconnects with old acquaintances and faces the town’s suspicions, she’s forced to confront what really happened that night.

    👀 First impressions:
    I was immediately hooked by the premise, a woman returns to her hometown where everyone thinks she murdered her best friend, but she can’t remember what happened. The blend of mystery, podcast framing, and dark humor really drew me in.

    ✅ What I liked:
    The pacing was sharp and addictive; I flew through this in just a couple of days. Amy Tintera’s writing has a witty, sardonic edge that makes the protagonist relatable despite her flaws. The integration of podcast transcripts added a fun, modern true-crime feel, and the small-town setting was vividly drawn, full of secrets, tension, and buried resentments. I also appreciated that the twists weren’t just there for shock value; they made sense and deepened the emotional weight of the story.
    One standout element was Beverly, Lucy’s sharp-tongued, no-nonsense grandmother. She’s an absolute scene-stealer, fierce, funny, and unafraid to call things as she sees them. Beverly brings warmth, grit, and unexpected humour, grounding Lucy’s character and adding another rich layer to the story’s emotional core.

    ❎ What I didn’t like:
    While the main mystery was gripping, I found myself wishing that some of the side storylines and relationships had been explored more deeply. There were interesting threads and secondary characters that felt a bit underdeveloped. Expanding on these could have made the story world feel even richer and more immersive.

    💭 Overall thoughts:
    Listen for the Lie is a smart, engaging thriller with bite, perfect for fans of true crime podcasts, unreliable narrators, and twisty small-town mysteries. It’s funny, sharp, and compulsively readable. I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone who loves a modern mystery with personality.

    📚 Why you should read Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera:
    If you love twisty, fast-paced thrillers with sharp humour and an unforgettable narrator, Listen for the Lie is a must-read. Amy Tintera brilliantly combines the addictive pull of a true crime podcast with a protagonist you can’t help but root for, even when you’re not sure if you should trust her. With plenty of sharp dialogue, layered characters, and gasp-worthy turns, this book will keep you guessing, and laughing, right up to the last page. It’s perfect for fans of Only Murders in the Building, unreliable narrators, or anyone who loves their mysteries with a side of dark wit. Plus, Beverly, Lucy’s grandmother — is one of the book’s standout characters, bringing sharp wit, strength, and unexpected warmth to every scene she’s in. She’s the kind of character you’ll wish had her own spin-off.

    Final Rating: ★★★★☆½ almost perfect, with just a few small details holding it back, but absolutely a standout I’d recommend.

    🛍️ Where to Buy

    Looking to grab your own copy of Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera? Visit the Penguin website for links HERE

  • Welcome to my book blog!

    Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

    Hello Book Lovers!

    I’m so excited to welcome you to this little corner of the internet where I’ll be sharing my reading adventures, reviews, recommendations, and thoughts on all things bookish. Whether you’re someone who devours a book a day or just dips in when you can, I hope you’ll find something here that sparks your interest.

    This blog will cover a bit of everything:
    ✨ Honest reviews of the latest releases and hidden gems
    ✨ Reflections on the reading life, the joys, the struggles, the endless TBR piles
    ✨ Book lists, themed recommendations, and seasonal picks
    ✨ Occasional peeks behind the scenes into how I choose what to read (or abandon!)

    I believe books have the power to entertain, challenge, and connect us, and I’d love for this space to become a place where we can chat about the stories that move us, the characters we love (or love to hate), and the worlds we can’t stop thinking about.

    Thank you for being here at the start. Feel free to introduce yourself in the comments — tell me what you’re reading right now or which book you’d recommend I pick up next!

    Here’s to the start of a great reading journey together. 📖