To love or to be loved… We are all capable of loving which sets us apart from all living things. But how far would you go to find The One? This dark romance is an unsettling, compelling, and thrilling read that became my favorite book of 2022.
The One: Synopsis
The One follows five characters who tested their fates by using a matchmaking application called Match Your DNA. The app functions with a DNA match to determine your “One.” This is not a straightforward love story where boy meets girl, because the dating site has its downsides. The novel centers around these couples discovering that happy-ever-after isn’t guaranteed for everyone.
The One: A DNA Debacle
Match Your DNA was based on biology, chemicals and science – none of which she could get her head around. But she trusted it with all her heart, like millions and millions of others did.
A quick mouth swab is all it takes to find your perfect partner. Sounds exciting and easy, right? Told in multiple perspectives, The One features five very different people who have taken the chance on this application. Such a close encounter with the website provided concrete consequences and effects that readers will find immersive.
The stories of Mandy, Christopher, and Ellie were the ones I found the most interesting, while Jade’s and Nick’s POV were underwhelming and fell flat for me. On the side note, the author managed to write unsettling scenarios that captured my attention for each individual character.
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What the book added was a global perspective through Ellie’s, the CEO who discovered Match Your DNA. There were countless breakups and changes in the concept of love and romance, but her point of view wasn’t enough to show how the application affected the world. Did it change drastically now that people need not go through the process of dating? The science aspect of the book was not something I should comment about since I’m not an expert in this field. But there were inconsistencies in this aspect that I noticed- it is a romance novel after all. Nonetheless, I still found myself enjoying the ride immensely.
If you’ve got the opportunity to love someone as much as they love you, then grab it with both hands and hold on to it for dear life.
True love is not easy to find. The One shows readers the darker side of romance. With diverse set of characters, the novel really stood out for me. I was amazed how the author wisely planned everything. Still, I needed more connection amongst the characters.
People do crazy things when they are in love. Take it from our five protagonists: Mandy finally finds her match but discovers him to be dead. Christopher is a serial killer on the loose. Jade was matched with someone halfway across the globe. Nick is in a long-term relationship with Sally but he was matched with a different person. Ellie is the CEO of the application who tried her website.
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Among the stories, one includes an LGBTQIA+ representation though I wasn’t impressed on how the author wrote the scenarios. It felt rushed and a missed opportunity to showcase inclusivity.
Are the stories predictable? I don’t think so. The novel strictly follows the order of perspective from Mandy to Ellie. Every chapter ends with a cliffhanger that the author carefully placed to keep the story engaging and exciting. The pacing was phenomenal because of how simple words were used and how the plot was written.
Final Thoughts
The One is a smart romance novel that promises five whirlwind love stories. Some specific stories are more shocking than others, but all in all it guarantees an exciting read for thriller and science fiction fanatics. It is a very gripping easy read for everyone.
*Disclosure: We only recommend books that we love and would read ourselves. This post contains affiliate links, as we are part of the Amazon Services LCC Associate Program and others, which may earn us a small commission, at no additional cost to you.
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The One is a clever romance thriller that features an application that determines your ideal partner with your DNA. It is divided in five stories and multiple twists that will keep you reading.
PROS
- Plot/Cliffhanger
- Writing style
- Mandy, Christopher and Ellie's POV
- Interesting thoughts about love
CONS
- Misrepresentation
- Difficult to follow different perspectives
- Nick and Jade POV
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