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A review by ruthypoo2
The One by John Marrs
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? It's complicated
5.0
What a unique premise: a little sci-fi mixed with romance and murder... YES! In The One, author John Marrs really digs deep into the psyche of how several people react emotionally and morally when matched by genetics to the person with whom they are most compatible and have undeniable physical chemistry. But is knowing who your one true match is a blessing or a curse? According to this book, it could go either way.
The story is told from multiple perspectives, and each has a very different and personal experience. I found all of them to be interesting, and their actions I found relatable as honest-to-goodness human behavior. The book moves at a pretty quick pace with each chapter dedicated to one character at a time, and there's often a little cliffhanger, including an eventual twist or two, to conclude the chapters. It was most definitely a page-turner for me. The conclusion of the story was very satisfying and just a gratifying ending for the book.
NOTE: I watched the Netflix series after reading the book, and while the short series is a good story, in a few ways it's very different from the book and a lot more time with less emotional investment expected from the viewer. I recommend reading the book first because it's a lot deeper, more complex, and the characters so much richer.
I listened to the audiobook and having a cast perform the narration was fantastic. There are a lot of personalities, and it helped me get to know them by having narrators bring to the reading different voices, vocal inflections, and emotions. I'd say audio really did enhance my experience with this story.
The story is told from multiple perspectives, and each has a very different and personal experience. I found all of them to be interesting, and their actions I found relatable as honest-to-goodness human behavior. The book moves at a pretty quick pace with each chapter dedicated to one character at a time, and there's often a little cliffhanger, including an eventual twist or two, to conclude the chapters. It was most definitely a page-turner for me. The conclusion of the story was very satisfying and just a gratifying ending for the book.
NOTE: I watched the Netflix series after reading the book, and while the short series is a good story, in a few ways it's very different from the book and a lot more time with less emotional investment expected from the viewer. I recommend reading the book first because it's a lot deeper, more complex, and the characters so much richer.
I listened to the audiobook and having a cast perform the narration was fantastic. There are a lot of personalities, and it helped me get to know them by having narrators bring to the reading different voices, vocal inflections, and emotions. I'd say audio really did enhance my experience with this story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping