Ahoy there me mateys! This was me first foray into John Marrs writing and I had a very good time. I wanted to read this as soon as I read the blurb. The premise of the book is that there be a DNA test ye can take to find yer “One” i.e. the perfect genetic and romantic partner. The book follows five people who get their matched results. Do they all get their happily ever after? Ye will be surprised.
One of the best things about this book is how the Match program works. It has only been around for ten years. It costs £9.99 to join. Not everyone wants to use it so ye aren’t guaranteed a match. Or there can be other problems. Sometimes yer match may already be married. Sometimes yer match may be the “wrong” age or gender. Or dead. There are myriad possibilities. I loved how quickly the matching program led to structural changes in how society functions. Think along the lines of the internet or cell phones (I was alive before both those things took off). The implications were so fascinating and cool.
The novel itself was quick, twisty, and fun. It is part mystery and part thriller. It did take a little adjustment to get into it because of how the POVs were structured but I was quickly engrossed. I won’t really get into the plot or characters here because I think it be best to go in blind. The only thing that makes this less than a five star read was a couple of over-the-top ridiculous plot points that I just found implausible. So silly and had me eye rolling. That said I was also smiling at the same time because I was enjoying the unexpected waves. I just decided to go with it.
Apparently this is being made into a Netflix series. If ye want to read the book before then, the e-book is only $1.99 on Amazon US and £4.99 on Amazon UK. Worth the money. Arrrr!
Side note: Sci-Fi Month is hosted by Matey Lisa of Dear Geek Place and Matey Imyril of One More. Check out their blog links for more info and join the fun!
Goodreads has this to say about the novel:
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’re 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.
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I’m so excited you reviewed this! I think released before i was very active in the blogging community so I’ve been hesitant to try it without seeing someone else vet it first. I like that it sounds like it includes the societal implications of changing tech.
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For me the details of the characters (names mostly) are fading already but the tech itself is a topic I have been pondering at random times ever since. Still a little more on the popcorn side but I do recommend it to ye.
x The Captain
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I’m A-Ok with popcorn!
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This sounds like a lot of fun. But wow, the issues that come with the whole matching program is sure to lead to inevitable problems hahah Thanks for sharing, Captain!
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The First Mate and I were matched up by a dating site with no regrets. So the tech does exist in part!
x The Captain
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That is absolutely amazing! Definitely nice to hear that it worked for some!
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When technology tries to meddle into human relationships it seems inevitable that mayhem would happen… 😀 😀
Interesting story, thank you so much for sharing this!!!
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Thanks for reading! It’s not a life-changing novel but it sure was fun.
x The Captain
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What a lovely review! I also enjoyed The One and completely agree with your observation that this is a book that should be plunged into without knowing too much about the plot in advance. I really liked the way this one played out.
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I saw yer review and enjoyed reading it. The only other book by him that I be interested in maybe reading is the good samaritan but it looks like a straight thriller and I don’t read a lot of those.
x The Captain
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I really liked The One, given that it took a premise and thoroughly explored the consequences in an entertaining story. But, like you, I’m not all that interested in reading a straight thriller.
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This certainly sounds amusing! (And I remember life before the internet and cell phones, too. It’s crazy how much they changed the way we live our lives. Remember how we used to have to actually set meeting times and places because we couldn’t just text the other person to see where the were? Crazy.)
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This book was super fun. As for meetings, I remember being kicked out of camping trip when I was a kid (not me fault) with no way to call the Ma to come and get me. I walked several miles to find a phone to call her to come and get me. It was in a scary bar with big scary drunk men in the early morning. I still laugh a bit every time I visit the family and end up driving past it. Seriously what dumb adult let 9 year old me fend for meself? Could have used a cell phone that day. I also got me first cell phone under duress because I didn’t want a leash. Now I have to have one to function in society!
x The Captain
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Wow, that was a dumb thing for an adult to do. I’m glad nine-year-old you was safe!
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I had similar feelings about his other book, The Passengers. Fun and fast-paced with an interesting topic, but the silly parts of the plot let it down. Still, I’ll probably give The One a try!
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I was going to read the passengers but then a member of the crew pointed me towards three laws lethal so I am going to read that instead. I do still hope ye give the one a try. Fun.
x The Captain
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