dilani's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
very addictive and compelling…I wasn’t expecting to be hooked liked this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Cancer
Minor: Infertility, Abortion, and Infidelity
opplecopter's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Imagine if finding your most compatible partner was as simple as mailing off a saliva sample and getting the results emailed to you. Dating would be unnecessary. Going through the awkward phases of getting to know someone or stumbling over your words would be cast aside completely. You wouldn’t have to worry about second guessing anything because on a genetic level, you would have the person who is best suited for you. No other person could ever connect or love you as deeply as your Match could. Not only would this person be your Match, but they would be “the one.” The only other person in the entire world that is perfect for you. Sounds crazy but also kind of intriguing, right?
Let me start off by saying this whole concept is creepy in itself because I can completely see this, along with the absolute chaos that ensues, being a possibility in the future. This is a modern day Twilight Zone tale or I suppose Black Mirror would be a better fitting comparison. We’ve got some psychological thriller/suspense with a dash of sci-fi thrown in. The story follows five people who have been “Matched.” Mandy, a divorcée who just wants to find love after heartbreak, Jade, who is angry and disappointed in her life as a whole, Nick, a man who is planning a wedding with his fiancée, Ellie, a woman of wealth and power, and Christopher, who is a serial killer (not a spoiler, you find this out immediately when he is introduced).
We cycle back and forth between the lives of each of these people, so if you prefer a book with one straightforward storyline and don’t like jumping around, then you probably won’t enjoy this. The chapters are numerous, but very short since each one focuses on one of the five people. Personally, I enjoy the short chapters, some of which are only 2-3 pages, because it helps me remember everything still going on with the other characters. I feel like if they were longer, I would’ve been constantly flipping back to reread so I could keep up. I will be honest and say a couple of the storylines started out boring while a couple seemed to grab my attention much sooner (like Christopher’s), but they all deepen and get better as you go on. Starting off, we get to know their lives and backgrounds before we watch their worlds get shaken up and flipped upside down. There were so many layers, twists, lies, secrets, and betrayals. The ending was so unexpected and changed the entire atmosphere of the book and made you question everything.
I’ve been looking for another 5 star for months, and every time I thought I found one, I was disappointed. I have zero complaints on this one.
Let me start off by saying this whole concept is creepy in itself because I can completely see this, along with the absolute chaos that ensues, being a possibility in the future. This is a modern day Twilight Zone tale or I suppose Black Mirror would be a better fitting comparison. We’ve got some psychological thriller/suspense with a dash of sci-fi thrown in. The story follows five people who have been “Matched.” Mandy, a divorcée who just wants to find love after heartbreak, Jade, who is angry and disappointed in her life as a whole, Nick, a man who is planning a wedding with his fiancée, Ellie, a woman of wealth and power, and Christopher, who is a serial killer (not a spoiler, you find this out immediately when he is introduced).
We cycle back and forth between the lives of each of these people, so if you prefer a book with one straightforward storyline and don’t like jumping around, then you probably won’t enjoy this. The chapters are numerous, but very short since each one focuses on one of the five people. Personally, I enjoy the short chapters, some of which are only 2-3 pages, because it helps me remember everything still going on with the other characters. I feel like if they were longer, I would’ve been constantly flipping back to reread so I could keep up. I will be honest and say a couple of the storylines started out boring while a couple seemed to grab my attention much sooner (like Christopher’s), but they all deepen and get better as you go on. Starting off, we get to know their lives and backgrounds before we watch their worlds get shaken up and flipped upside down. There were so many layers, twists, lies, secrets, and betrayals. The ending was so unexpected and changed the entire atmosphere of the book and made you question everything.
I’ve been looking for another 5 star for months, and every time I thought I found one, I was disappointed. I have zero complaints on this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Torture, Murder, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, Medical content, and Cursing
Minor: Pedophilia, Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, and Suicide attempt
kaylee14's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Death, Terminal illness, Fire/Fire injury, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Abortion, and Murder
Minor: Pedophilia
xwritingstoriesx's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
John Marrs is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. A twisty, science-fiction tale with a brilliant cast of characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Murder, Death, Violence, Gaslighting, Grief, Kidnapping, Stalking, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Infidelity, Infertility, and Miscarriage
Minor: Abortion
meg_in_progress's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I brought this book on vacation and it proved a good beach read - short chapters from different character’s POV that ended in mini-cliffhangers. While it was a real page turner, I was having more fun with family and too tired to read at night so didn’t finish it until I got home. The book had a Black Mirror-esque vibe, leaving the characters and the reader feeling wary and to heed, “be careful what you wish for.” I didn’t feel the choices some of the characters (namely ) made in the end felt accurate to their previous depictions, which brought my rating down.
Spoiler
Ellie, Sally, and Amy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder, and Child death
Moderate: Abortion
sierra_smith_418's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This was a really fun read and such an interesting premise, but I think the author could have done much more with each of the relationships and left more up to interpretation by the reader. Sometimes I feel the author stated too explicitly what the reader should be feeling
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Miscarriage
Minor: Abortion
agonz225's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Minor: Kidnapping and Abortion
desana75's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Miscarriage and Abortion
hanna's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This made me root for a serial killer — make of that what you will.
I received "The One" years ago as a birthday present and picked it up again on a whim. At first I was a bit hesitant. There are five stories, that interact very very little until the end.
But after a few 100 pages or so, I'd really gotten invested in 4/5 stories and wanted to see them continue. There were really surprising twists, that I didn't anticipate at all and towards the end, all the already short chapters (my fav) ended cliffhanger-ish and I couldn't put the book down anymore. Definitely one of my new favourite thrillers!
I received "The One" years ago as a birthday present and picked it up again on a whim. At first I was a bit hesitant. There are five stories, that interact very very little until the end.
But after a few 100 pages or so, I'd really gotten invested in 4/5 stories and wanted to see them continue. There were really surprising twists, that I didn't anticipate at all and towards the end, all the already short chapters (my fav) ended cliffhanger-ish and I couldn't put the book down anymore. Definitely one of my new favourite thrillers!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Death and Pregnancy
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, and Miscarriage
luv_sk8rboi13's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
You know that large bag of potato chips you see on the grocery shelf that you’ll take home and eat while bingeing that new series on Netflix? You start eating them and they taste so delicious and satisfying going down. Later though you find yourself sick to your stomach with zero nutritional gain to show for it. That is the best way I can describe how this book was for me. It wasn’t all a disappointing experience. The short cliff hanger chapters lend to a fast paced narrative that kept me interested. I just would’ve liked the characters fleshed out a little more. I just never felt a connection to any of them. The outcome to their story arcs felt abrupt and hurried. DNA is a fascinating tool in aiding law enforcement solve crimes, just not so much in helping you find the “one”.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Abortion