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

"Just try to put this gripping thriller down once you pick it up." --
AARP

"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...

A word-of-mouth hit in the United Kingdom, 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 (you'll never see the twists coming!):
  • The Marriage Act
  • The Vacation
  • The Family Experiment
  • The One

BUY THE BOOK

Published Apr 16, 2019

448 pages

Average rating: 7.6

1,049 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

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)
KikiStoneCreek
Jun 03, 2023
10/10 stars
Fascinating premise! I couldn't put it dowm
Kmercer95
May 29, 2025
7/10 stars
Interesting! Threw me for a loop!
✨ashreads 📚✨
May 28, 2025
10/10 stars
Loved this! The story kept me entertained and on the edge of my seat. I felt invested in the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. One of my favourite reads of the year so far.
TammyA
May 11, 2025
7/10 stars
Initially I had a hard time keeping characters straight, but once I got going it became clear. There were certain storylines that I was more invested in than others.

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