The One by John Marrs

Author: John Marrs
Publisher: Hanover Square 
Date of Publication: February 20th 2017 by 

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…

In The One, a scientist has discovered a way to match you to your perfect mate using DNA profiles.  In the ten years since, this controversial method has made couples happy, yet torn others apart.  The story follows five people who recently found their match.  

The story wasn't necessarily the thriller that I thought I was going to get.  The second half of the book is definitely more exciting than the first half.  The first half dragged. However, in the second half, twists kept coming so it was almost worth finishing.  The biggest problem with the book was it suffered from too many perspectives. Every time the story switched to a different person, it took a minute for me to orient myself to which one I was reading about.  There was probably at least two story-lines that could have been left out.  Of the five people featured, Nick's was my favotire story-line.  To me, it was the most honest.  Mandy's story was kind of icky and I could definitely sympathize with her family at their reaction to the decision she made regarding her match.  

I had a lot of questions about the science in the book.  You kind of have to suspend some belief to buy the DNA match scenario.  However, a revelation at the end does make you think about relationships and attraction.  The book is worth a read.  Just don't expect a big thriller or mystery.