The One: John Marrs

We meet again!

I genuinely couldn’t tell you the last time I sat and read a book on my kindle. I don’t know why, but there’s just something much more tangible to me about holding a book and reading it through. However, there was a time that I really loved my kindle and utilized it often. I decided to do that again and read one that my book bestie had recommended to me quite some time ago. So, here we go :)

Brief Synopsis:

What exactly would you do if you knew, 100% without a doubt, that a test could tell you the person that you were destined to be with? This isn’t one of those cheesy dating websites or something manufactured just to sucker people out of money. A scientist worked to find the gene that everyone has that is compatible with one other person, and a simple DNA sample can connect you with your “one”.

In the aptly titled “The One” that’s exactly what has happened. Billions have flocked to sign up for this opportunity to know for sure the person that is for them. The problem? A lot of people are already in relationships, married or are sure of who their person is. Sometimes, it’s not who they thought it was, and the test has devastating results for them.

This book follows a handful of individuals that find their match. For Mandy, her perfect match in Richard is cut short when she finds out that he had just recently passed away. She’s heartbroken for someone that she never actually met and a missed opportunity for happiness, but when she meets Richard’s family, she realizes that maybe it’s not hopeless?

For Christopher, signing up wasn’t something he was going to take seriously. As a matter of fact, he has no time for love, he’s too busy on a killing spree so that he can become the next notorious killer that books are written about. When he’s Matched with a cop, he knows that he has to tread lightly, and he doesn’t expect to begin to fall in love with Amy.

Nick is engaged and perfectly happy with Sally, but she can’t let go of the idea of them taking the test to just make sure. When Nick is matched with a male, Alex, he knows that something has to be wrong. He’s not gay; he’s not even bisexual. However, when he and Alex meet up, neither of them can deny their connection with one another and begin to find any excuse they can to meet up more.

Then you have Jade, who flies across the world to meet with her match, Kevin. When she arrives and finds out that Kevin is terminally ill and has been hiding it from her, she’s so angry at first. She decides to stick around and start spending more time with him to see if the connection is tangible, and couldn’t have ever predicted that she was going to fall for someone that wasn’t Kevin, but is really close to Kevin, which couldn’t be more disastrous if she had tried.

Finally, here’s Ellie. She matches with Tim, and though it isn’t instant sparks, she can feel that they have a really deep connection that she wants to continue to pursue. However, there’s one thing she keeps from him for as long as she can: she’s the one that discovered the gene match for the website and the test in the first place.

Of course, no matter what, all is not as it seems. Mandy comes to understand that Richard’s family hasn’t been telling her the entire truth and that she hastily dove into something that she was, in no way, prepared for. In her defense, none of us really would have been either, though. Christopher’s story ends in such a gruesome and powerful way that all I really have to say here is that I’m totally quoting the Spice Girls and just screaming GIRL POWER.

Nick… Nick Nick Nick. There’s something about his story. From the beginning, him and Alex ensnared me and it felt so much better than these other stories. Things don’t go well, okay? But, in my opinion, they ultimately end well for Nick, amidst a shit ton of heartbreak and tribulations. Jade’s is my second favorite story. And for Ellie, well, I guess you’ll just have to pick up the book to find out what happens to the one that started all of this.

My rating:

I so quickly and easily give this book a 10/10. I am sad that I took so long to read it. However, I will say there are many trigger warnings in regard to death, murder, grieving, cheating, and babies/pregnancy/fertility in general.

Favorite Quote(s):

“It was love in its purest form – and it scared her to death.”

“How could any potential relationship stand a hope in hell when you know you’ve loved somebody else with every inch of your being?”

Check out my Goodreads (Traci Bishop) and/or my Storygraph (bookishmamabish) to see what I’m currently reading and to see a good chunk of the books I have already read. My Instagram can be found on the home page and I will share whenever a new post is up as well!

Until next time <3