58 pages 1 hour read

John Marrs

The One

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2016

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Club Questions

General Impressions

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of mental illness and death.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. How did you feel about the novel‘s unique structure of five interconnected storylines? Did you find any particular narrative more compelling than the others? What made that storyline stand out?

2. The One blends elements of science fiction, romance, and thriller. How effectively does it balance these genres? How does this compare to other genre-blending works like Blake Crouch‘s Dark Matter?

3. What was your initial reaction to the concept of Match Your DNA? Did your feelings about genetic matching change by the end of the novel?

Personal Reflection and Connection

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Each character has different motivations for using Match Your DNA. Which character‘s reasons resonated most with your own views on finding love?

2. The novel explores how technology intrudes into people’s private lives. How do you navigate the balance between using technology for connection while maintaining privacy in your relationships?

3. Several characters face moral dilemmas between personal happiness and duty to others.