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laurennom's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pregnancy
opplecopter's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
Imagine if finding your most compatible partner was as simple as mailing off a saliva sample and getting the results emailed to you. Dating would be unnecessary. Going through the awkward phases of getting to know someone or stumbling over your words would be cast aside completely. You wouldn’t have to worry about second guessing anything because on a genetic level, you would have the person who is best suited for you. No other person could ever connect or love you as deeply as your Match could. Not only would this person be your Match, but they would be “the one.” The only other person in the entire world that is perfect for you. Sounds crazy but also kind of intriguing, right?
Let me start off by saying this whole concept is creepy in itself because I can completely see this, along with the absolute chaos that ensues, being a possibility in the future. This is a modern day Twilight Zone tale or I suppose Black Mirror would be a better fitting comparison. We’ve got some psychological thriller/suspense with a dash of sci-fi thrown in. The story follows five people who have been “Matched.” Mandy, a divorcée who just wants to find love after heartbreak, Jade, who is angry and disappointed in her life as a whole, Nick, a man who is planning a wedding with his fiancée, Ellie, a woman of wealth and power, and Christopher, who is a serial killer (not a spoiler, you find this out immediately when he is introduced).
We cycle back and forth between the lives of each of these people, so if you prefer a book with one straightforward storyline and don’t like jumping around, then you probably won’t enjoy this. The chapters are numerous, but very short since each one focuses on one of the five people. Personally, I enjoy the short chapters, some of which are only 2-3 pages, because it helps me remember everything still going on with the other characters. I feel like if they were longer, I would’ve been constantly flipping back to reread so I could keep up. I will be honest and say a couple of the storylines started out boring while a couple seemed to grab my attention much sooner (like Christopher’s), but they all deepen and get better as you go on. Starting off, we get to know their lives and backgrounds before we watch their worlds get shaken up and flipped upside down. There were so many layers, twists, lies, secrets, and betrayals. The ending was so unexpected and changed the entire atmosphere of the book and made you question everything.
I’ve been looking for another 5 star for months, and every time I thought I found one, I was disappointed. I have zero complaints on this one.
Let me start off by saying this whole concept is creepy in itself because I can completely see this, along with the absolute chaos that ensues, being a possibility in the future. This is a modern day Twilight Zone tale or I suppose Black Mirror would be a better fitting comparison. We’ve got some psychological thriller/suspense with a dash of sci-fi thrown in. The story follows five people who have been “Matched.” Mandy, a divorcée who just wants to find love after heartbreak, Jade, who is angry and disappointed in her life as a whole, Nick, a man who is planning a wedding with his fiancée, Ellie, a woman of wealth and power, and Christopher, who is a serial killer (not a spoiler, you find this out immediately when he is introduced).
We cycle back and forth between the lives of each of these people, so if you prefer a book with one straightforward storyline and don’t like jumping around, then you probably won’t enjoy this. The chapters are numerous, but very short since each one focuses on one of the five people. Personally, I enjoy the short chapters, some of which are only 2-3 pages, because it helps me remember everything still going on with the other characters. I feel like if they were longer, I would’ve been constantly flipping back to reread so I could keep up. I will be honest and say a couple of the storylines started out boring while a couple seemed to grab my attention much sooner (like Christopher’s), but they all deepen and get better as you go on. Starting off, we get to know their lives and backgrounds before we watch their worlds get shaken up and flipped upside down. There were so many layers, twists, lies, secrets, and betrayals. The ending was so unexpected and changed the entire atmosphere of the book and made you question everything.
I’ve been looking for another 5 star for months, and every time I thought I found one, I was disappointed. I have zero complaints on this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Torture, and Murder
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Medical content, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, and Fire/Fire injury
stephanieluxton's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this book.
It's basically 5 books in one as it rotates through five unrelated main characters and their experience with "the one".
There's a lot of little twists and turns and I found myself genuinely not knowing what was going to happen, which is rare and exciting.
The concept felt original, the pace was excellent, the characters all unique and colourful. The concept was well explored and it gives you something to think about. This would make a fantastic book club book.
It's both dark and wholesome.
It's basically 5 books in one as it rotates through five unrelated main characters and their experience with "the one".
There's a lot of little twists and turns and I found myself genuinely not knowing what was going to happen, which is rare and exciting.
The concept felt original, the pace was excellent, the characters all unique and colourful. The concept was well explored and it gives you something to think about. This would make a fantastic book club book.
It's both dark and wholesome.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Stalking, and Murder
Moderate: Cancer and Sexual content
One of the main characters is a serial killer whostalks and targets young women and kills them with a cheese wire. It's not too graphic but it's a thing.melasse's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Miscarriage, Stalking, Murder, and Pregnancy
nikkiei's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
A dumpster fire I couldn’t pull my eyes away from
This is such a chaotic book. 4 storylines. No inter lapping of plots until the very end, and even then it was only one person’s storyline crossing into the other three. I will say this would make a good TV show, with each storyline being its own episode.
This is such a chaotic book. 4 storylines. No inter lapping of plots until the very end, and even then it was only one person’s storyline crossing into the other three. I will say this would make a good TV show, with each storyline being its own episode.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, and Murder
xwritingstoriesx's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
4.75
John Marrs is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. A twisty, science-fiction tale with a brilliant cast of characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Infertility, Infidelity, and Miscarriage
Minor: Abortion
jasminejuly's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Miscarriage, Violence, and Murder
monique1316's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy
chicitytyty's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I loved this book and it’s slow descent into seemingly madness.
What starts as stories of biologically destined loves begins to turn into some more thought provoking. Something darker.
And it gets darker still.
John Marrs’ reads like an episode of Black Mirror and with that comes both the hope and the destruction that new technology can have on a society. I finished the book not knowing if I wanted DNA Matches to be real or if the scenarios presented were enough of a deterrent. I’ll be thinking of this book and it’s message for a while.
What starts as stories of biologically destined loves begins to turn into some more thought provoking. Something darker.
And it gets darker still.
John Marrs’ reads like an episode of Black Mirror and with that comes both the hope and the destruction that new technology can have on a society. I finished the book not knowing if I wanted DNA Matches to be real or if the scenarios presented were enough of a deterrent. I’ll be thinking of this book and it’s message for a while.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Infertility, Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Cancer
nadia's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book wins points because, despite the clunky, amateur-seeming, writing, and cringe dialogue and asides (which sometimes felt a little sexist), I was curious to see how pretty much all of the different storylines played out. There were a couple of good surprises packed into this. Some things were rather too convenient, but that can be hard to avoid with books of this style!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Infidelity, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, and Pregnancy