Relationship Status: It’s complicated Match Your DNA has revolutionised the dating game, taking the guess work out of finding your one true love. Backed by science, a simple DNA test will give you the details of your perfect match (once you pay the £9.99 fee, of course). “What if love at first sight actually exists?” Millions have removed the complications of finding the love of their lives via Match Your DNA and now it’s time for Mandy, Christopher, Jade, Nick and Ellie to meet their matches. Their lives are about to change in unexpected ways, though not all for the good, because this is a John Marrs book after all. Each of the five newly matched protagonists have alternating chapters dedicated to their not quite smooth sailing, lovey-dovey happily ever afters. Two of their matches also get a chapter each, so there are seven perspectives. While I can sometimes get overwhelmed with multiple perspectives, getting muddled with who’s who and which storyline I’m currently following, I had no trouble keeping up with the current status of each match. This was one seriously compulsive read, with cliffhangers at the end of most chapters. While I was always sorry to leave each character because I needed to know what would happen next, I was also eager to get to the next character so I could find out what lay, potentially in tatters, at the bottom of their cliff. “‘Don’t worry, the only skeletons in my closet belong to the mice.’” There were plenty of twisty bits in each of the stories. I anticipated most of the reveals but it was satisfaction, not disappointment, that met me when it turned out I was right. One thing kept nagging at me throughout the story but I don’t know enough about genetics to know if it was my imagination getting the better of me or if I was actually onto something. My understanding of the Match Your DNA science is that a single gene, which only you and your match have in common in the entire world, is what makes it work. So my theory is that this could only really work for one generation because if two people with a single gene had children, then that specific gene would likely be replicated in them, being a dominant gene. Since the only two people in the world who have this gene are already matched, then their kids wouldn’t be able to be matched with anyone. I’m not sure I’ve explained my thought process well enough for anyone outside of my head to understand what I’m going on about, but my brain hurts now so I’ll leave it at that. I want to ramble about the individual storylines but can’t because spoilers. But never fear: I have a plan to prevent an unintentional spoiler explosion. I’ve given this book to my mother, letting her know it needs to be her next read. I figure it’s a win-win … She gets to read her first John Marrs book and will naturally then proceed to devour the rest of his books, most of which I’ve conveniently already purchased for her. I get someone to talk spoilers with. “What could possibly go wrong?” P.S. The Match Your DNA website doesn’t exist. I had to check, not that I would have signed up or anything.

Would you take the test? Unique, as always from John Marrs, a great story with a cast of diverse and meaty characters, engaging writing and a fabulously compelling concept - I literally couldn't put it down. A definite 5 Star read, I will be recommending it to the world!

This novel is simply addictive, and there are plot twists a plenty. What’s more, it definitely tests the boundaries, making for an incredibly enjoyable read. The short, alternating chapters make it very difficult too put his book down, although at first I did find it difficult to keep up because of the number of different storylines going on. This quickly changed, as I got pulled along by the amazing characters who distinguished themselves nicely. Each character goes on a crazy journey through love, loss, and hope, with many other bumps along the way. All the characters are flawed, but it is utterly believable. You find yourself rooting for them all to have a happy ending, even the ones with more sinister backgrounds. My favourite storyline has to be that of Nick, who is happily engaged to the woman he loves, and takes the test upon her insistence to see if they are really meant to be. Things change very quickly when they discover he is actually matched to a man, Alex. This particular story takes you through all the emotions, and has an absolutely heartbreaking end, with just a glimmer of hope that things may change for the better. As well as this, there’s the story of a psychopathic killer, a woman desperate to have a child, a high flying businesswoman with a big secret, and a woman happy to travel to the other side of the world for love. Each character craves love, if very differently, and it is great to watch their different reactions to the scenarios they are hurled in to. These plots are each compelling and though provoking in their own rights, and it is difficult to imagine what we would do if we were placed in their shoes. Marrs explores love in all its forms, and how it can be unwavering even in the most difficult and stressful of situations. The science fiction edge to this psychological thriller makes it feels disturbingly real, and a unique quality which i loved. How would it affect you? What would it do to existing relationships? What if that person wasn’t what you thought? What if your boundaries were pushed beyond belief? I particularly love the idea behind the genetic match. The argument as to whether you can actually will yourself to be in love with someone if you believe you are truly made to be with each other is intriguing. The novel explores the ups, downs, and dangers of online dating, and whilst it is an obvious warning as to the future of genetic engineering and its misuse, does demonstrate that love can still prevail. The story is definitely more plot driven that anything, and you will definitely be gasping out loud at some of the twists are turns that Marrs throws at you - none of which are expected! I thoroughly recommend this read!

Through this book you follow the lives of five quite different pairs, who have been DNA matched with their soulmate. Mandy “was ready to share her life with someone again, this time with someone who’d been made for her, rather than leaving it to chance. What could possibly go wrong?” The answer is – almost anything and everything. This was a book full of surprises. Sometimes you may have an inkling about what might be about to happen – and then other shocking twists just come completely out of the blue. Take Christopher’s first appearance. From that point, you know all bets are off. But, still you keep hoping that at least one of the couples you meet will have a happy ending. It is not really a spoiler alert to say that a few do – and a few relationships explode in quite dramatic fashion. The thrill is in discovering which is which. The characters in the book are so well drawn, that you become quite involved in their lives and how their relationships grow and develop. The whole process of DNA matches raises many questions. If you were in what you regarded as perfect match, would you risk everything to make absolutely sure you were actually with the ONE biological match for you? Would you drop everything (family, friends, career …) to rush to the side of your ONE? Is it better to be biologically certain of your soulmate, or to have some risk, uncertainty, trial and error, before making a full commitment to another person? Where is the fun and excitement of having your future predetermined by a DNA test? Certainty brings many advantages, what are the disadvantages? What do you do if you are not matched? Or if you are matched to someone entirely inappropriate? Does love at first sight really exist? Many of these questions are brought up by the stories of the pairs in this book, but few are entirely answered. I really loved this book. It was not at all what I expected. It crosses the genres of sci-fi and romance – but doesn’t really fit neatly into any pigeonhole. It is a book to make you think, but it is also a fabulous thriller with a quite unique premise. I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Based around the idea that each person has a soulmate who they share a specific gene couples are matched with “the one” for them. But really it’s not that simple. With each chapter written from the perspective of different characters and constant twists and turns, The One is fast paced and griping. I could not put it down and finished it in about 3 days! If you have seen the Netflix show based on this I would argue that the book is better with characters and events that are not included in the show. 100% recommend!