The One: A Suspenseful Sci-Fi Thriller about the Pitfalls in Finding Your Perfect Match through Genetics (Dark Future, 1)

***Over 1M Copies Sold!***
The USA Today bestseller
A Wall Street Journal Best Science Fiction Book of 2018

"A mind blowing journey with nonstop thrills until the very last page."--Freida McFadden

"A shock on every other page." --Wall Street Journal

A thrilling speculative novel for fans of Severance, Silo, and Dark Matter


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...

The nationally bestselling first book in the Dark Future series, The One is a fascinating novel that shows how even the simplest discoveries can have complicated consequences.

Don't miss other suspenseful reads from John Marrs and the Dark Future series (you'll never see the twists coming!):
  • The Marriage Act
  • The Vacation
  • The Family Experiment
  • The One

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Published Apr 16, 2019

448 pages

Average rating: 7.52

1,150 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *The One* offers a compelling concept exploring DNA-based soulmates with engaging twists and multiple perspectives. Many appreciate its fa...

SLAMMIEST
Feb 09, 2025
10/10 stars
Twists and turns with every chapter! Loved it!
Margaux B
Jun 10, 2024
8/10 stars
This is a book where you will have to suspend your belief. Just go with it and you won't be sorry as you read about what sounds like a great idea - what if there was a way to discover who your soulmate was thru dna? A bunch of singles signed up. But so did married people who wanted to see if their chosen partner was scientifically their perfect match. What if it matches you with a criminal?! And you can see where a good idea can go bad. Right quick. This is an ensemble story about six people and how "The One" worked out for them. A quick and gripping read. It's the perfect beach read that will prompt lots of conversation. Very entertaining. (Side note: the TV Series has little to do with the book it's based on)
Serenity75
Dec 04, 2025
8/10 stars
Rollercoaster ride, makes you have so many questions.
Shawn💜Reads
Oct 26, 2025
6/10 stars
Loved the concept! But there were too many main characters for me to follow. I had to keep reminding myself of who everyone was. Other than that, I did enjoy this for the most part. I don't think it's enough to continue with the series though. At least not right away. My favorite POV was Nick's and I'm very happy about how his story ended. I didn't like the cliffhangers with Ellie or Mandy, but especially Mandy.
Lopy
Sep 30, 2025
9/10 stars
Great characters and plot twists.

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