Reviews

The Marriage Act by John Marrs

kryder4540's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

stephanieg1992's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

erudler's review

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adventurous challenging reflective medium-paced

3.0

So far my least fav of John marrs books- honestly just cause I think it was extra confusing. Usually the plot twists make sense but this one was too much for me- I think there was too much happening in the dystopia and too many characters and plot lines I just got a bit confused as it went. But overall still worth a read and has themes that are amazing and worth exploring 

april_reads's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

The Marriage Act by John Marrs is a fascinating look at where society could be headed if we continue to embrace AI, invasive technology, and the stigmatization of staying unmarried.

Set in a near-future England, self-driving cars are mandatory, DNA determines your perfect soulmate, and the government has elevated the status of marriage to extreme levels. Everything—from taxes and housing to job opportunities—is tied to your marital status, encouraging citizens to wed. But, in true dystopian fashion, the government is always watching. At any moment, officials can decide your marriage is failing, force a divorce, and demote you to a lower social class.

This book really gets you thinking, as the world it imagines doesn’t feel too far off from our own. While a bit long-winded at times, it masterfully blends elements from classic dystopian fiction with fresh, thought-provoking ideas. Definitely worth a read!
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loriet's review

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dark mysterious tense medium-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? It's complicated

3.0

asnyderk's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-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

5.0

guso's review

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challenging dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really enjoy Marrs' books!

livc2000's review against another edition

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dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

kintara81's review against another edition

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5.0

The was a weird book and gives the reader and insight into what the world of tomorrow could look like. It is a scary premise that every aspect of life could be controlled by AI however is this one of the possible futures. We follow multiple POV's who are on different sides of the Marriage Act scenario - from being for it, against it and everything in between. We watch as John Marrs entwines all of these POV's expertly together until we get to the end and there is an explosive conclusion. He writes characters which are carbon copies of what a person is in real life and they act in realistic ways instead of making unrealistic choices which dont make sense. I am looking forward to reading more from Marrs in the future.

01bee's review

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dark mysterious reflective tense medium-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

4.5