themoodreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Murder, Death, Blood, and Body horror
Minor: Body horror, Cancer, Violence, Vomit, Child death, Death, Pregnancy, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Gore, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Blood, Miscarriage, Infidelity, Terminal illness, Stalking, Abandonment, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship
anna_reads_too_much's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I liked the fact that we followed a lot of different characters to see how they reacted to this technology, but I didn't connect with them like I wanted to. They felt very one dimensional.
My rating is for how thought provoking I thought this one was. In the end, I did enjoy it, but it just wasn't as good as I was expecting.
Graphic: Infidelity and Mental illness
sleepybunnyreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Miscarriage, Murder, Medical trauma, and Cancer
Moderate: Stalking, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Blood, and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Grief
paulaks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Gore, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Chronic illness, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Cancer, Medical content, and Pregnancy
brandilovesbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The One takes place 10 years after this groundbreaking test became public. Millions across the world have been tested. The One follows 5 people who get their match. A woman whose match is across the world, a CEO who always puts her business first, a man who is pressured by his fiance to take the test to prove they are soul mates, a woman who attends her match's memorial after getting matched, and a psychopath who is in the middle of a murder spree.
There is so much more I could say, but I don't want to give anything away.
I enjoyed not only the "what if's" raised by the premise but the way each story unfolded. They were all completely different and each had parts that were completely unexpected.
Definitely recommended.
Graphic: Mental illness, Murder, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, Gore, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
opplecopter's review against another edition
- 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
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.
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
stephanieluxton's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It's basically 5 books in one as it rotates through five unrelated main characters and their experience with "the one".
There's a lot of little twists and turns and I found myself genuinely not knowing what was going to happen, which is rare and exciting.
The concept felt original, the pace was excellent, the characters all unique and colourful. The concept was well explored and it gives you something to think about. This would make a fantastic book club book.
It's both dark and wholesome.
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Mental illness, Death, Stalking, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual content and Cancer
One of the main characters is a serial killer whostalks and targets young women and kills them with a cheese wire. It's not too graphic but it's a thing.roseschlumpf's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Cancer, and Murder
reesespuff6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Violence, Cancer, Death, Gore, Pregnancy, Stalking, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Infertility, Blood, Cursing, Mental illness, and Murder
leebeeloves's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Infertility, Gore, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical trauma, Medical content, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Torture
Moderate: Bullying, Dementia, Rape, Violence, Fatphobia, Infertility, Child death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Cancer, Body shaming, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual content