REVIEW: The One by John Marrs (First in the Dark Future trilogy)
Book #61 of 2025, done!
📖BOOK: The One by John Marrs
🎧FORMAT: Audiobook via Hoopla
📚GENRE: Techno-Thriller/Sci-Fi/Psychological Suspense
📅RELEASED: February 20, 2018
⏱️AUDIOBOOK LENGTH: 11 hrs 1 min (listened at 1.83x speed)
⭐RATING: ★★★★★ (5/5)
👉 PURCHASE: Click Here to Purchase
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🧳SYNOPSIS:
”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…”
💬THE VIBE:
Black Mirror meets The Bachelor meets “OMG!” Fast-paced, and morally murky.
💡STANDOUT ELEMENTS:
Multiple story lines that somehow all deliver
One twist that made me say “OH DAMMMMMMN” out loud
🧠WHAT STUCK:
John Marrs is so good at making you question everything. The ethical “what would YOU do?” questions hit hard, and the pacing? Chef’s kiss. This is the first in Marrs’ Dark Future series, though I read them out of order, I’d recommend starting here.
👎WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME:
Nothing major. It took me a minute to get used to the narration (British vs. American phrasing like “disorientated”), but that’s on me, not the book.
🤔IF YOU LIKE:
Black Mirror (the TV show) or The Circle (book by Dave Eggers book)
Morally gray characters and twisty plots
Tech that gets way too real, way too fast
🙅♀️IF YOU DON’T LIKE:
Multiple POVs
Sci-fi elements grounded in “near future” reality
Questioning whether you’d actually want to meet your soulmate
📝FINAL VERDICT:
5 stars.
Fast, addictive, and a little terrifying in how believable it all feels. If you want a thriller that makes you question humanity and keeps you entertained, this one hits all the right nerves. Read this one first if you’re diving into the series.
So…would you take the test?
