Author: John Marrs
Narrator: Clare Corbett, Vicki Hall, Simon Bubb, Jot Davies, Sophie Aldred
Publisher: Penguin Random House UK
Publication Date: May 2017
Genre: Thriller
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible
Description: How far would you go to find The One?
A simple DNA test is all it takes. Just a quick mouth swab and soon you’ll be matched with your perfect partner the one you are genetically made for.
That’s the promise made by Match Your DNA. A decade ago, the company announced that they had found the gene that pairs each of us with our soul mate. Since then, millions of people around the world have been matched. But the discovery has its downsides: test results have led to the breakup of countless relationships and upended the traditional ideas of dating, romance and love.
Now five very different people have received the notification that they’ve been “Matched.” They’re each about to meet their one true love. But “happily ever after” isn’t guaranteed for everyone. Because even soul mates have secrets. And some are more shocking than others…
A word-of-mouth hit in the United Kingdom, The One is a fascinating novel that shows how even the simplest discoveries can have complicated consequences.
My Thoughts: Prior to starting this novel, I had heard a lot of praise for this book and for the author so I had very high expectations going in. This book and the author lived up to everything I had heard. I loved the concept that there is someone for everyone out there; someone who is your genetic match, your other half. I loved that upon meeting this individual, most people will feel an immediate connection even if the identity of their match comes as a shock or a surprise.
This story follows the lives of five individuals and how their lives are impacted upon taking the test. Ellie, Nick, Mandy, Jade and Christopher are all about to find out what happens when they get the very best or the very worst news of their lives. Tagging along with each character as they explore this alternate avenue of finding the one kept me on pins and needles.
Normally, a story with this many central characters would be an undertaking to keep straight but the author’s writing style flows seamlessly between the characters. The chapters are very short and alternate and rotate through each character’s point of view. This made the story easy to follow and easy to keep track of who is who.
I paired the reading of this book with the audio format. The narration was performed by five narrators, Clare Corbett, Vicki Hall, Simon Bubb, Jot Davies and Sophie Aldred, which I thought was brilliant. Each narrator performed one of the central characters so hearing their point of view in a different voice was quite enjoyable. Each narrator brought a different emotion and personality to their performance so the characters felt solid without feeling like cardboard. Additionally, each character’s personal experience and situation were vastly different so I didn’t feel like I had to pick a favorite. This helped me connect with all five characters, keeping me engaged in their lives and very curious and in high anticipation how it would all play out.
This story was simply amazing. There are so many twisty bits and jaw dropping moments with all of the characters. Just when I got my bearings settled after one bomb, the next chapter and character throws another in my lap. This story left me feeling breathless, shocked, surprised, scared, amused and sad. This story also teaches that relationships are never easy and there is no guarantee of a happy ever after in life, DNA match or not.
My Final Verdict: After reading this book, all I want to do is pick up another one by this author. I wonder if this is how drug addicts feel after the best high of their lives and needing another fix. I want to read everything this author has written, including his shopping list. Fortunately, he has an extensive backlist for me to dive into.
I highly recommend this book to readers who love stories that twist them around like they are on a roller coaster and unable to catch their breath. I highly recommend this book to readers who love stories that have characters who are easy to connect with but will surprise you. Lastly, I highly recommend this book to readers who love stories that will shock them, surprise them, and leave them wanting more.
Thank you to the publisher, Penguin Random House UK, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.
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