A great follow up novel, set in the same world as The One!

I almost wish I had gone back and reread The One before starting The Marriage Act, just so it was fresh in my mind. Reading The One before reading The Marriage Act is NOT necessary as the two novels do not contain the same characters, but there are references to Match Your DNA, the company that promises to find your soul mate through your DNA, from The One.

The Marriage Act is set in a society in which the government wants its people to enter into "smart marriages" via The Marriage Act. The government claims smart marriages lead to better health and quality of life, and it incentivizes its people to enter into these marriages by offering better housing, cars, insurance, and tax breaks to those who enter into the terms of smart marriages. However, smart marriages also allow the government to be more invasive into the lives of their citizens because the terms of the act include installation of smart devices in their homes. These devices allow the government to listen into their marriages, and ultimately intervene if they believe the marriage isn't going well.

The Marriage Act is told in alternating POVs from at least five characters. Each character brings a different POV, some work for the government, some support The Marriage Act, some do not support The Marriage Act, and one is even a killer. The alternating POVs provide a quick pace, and always left me wanting more of each character's story.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Brb throwing out my Alexa 👋🏻

All of John Marrs’ books I have read are throughly enjoyable, but his dystopian thrillers just hit different. If you were a fan of THE ONE, you will also enjoy this. It is set in the same world as THE ONE (just in the near distant future) and there are many cameos from that book including Match Your DNA being featured. It’s also written with the same formula that makes for a highly addictive read - each chapter relates to a different character and ends on a cliff hanger so you legit won’t be able to turn the pages fast enough to figure out what happens to each of them.

This one has a clever concept - what if marriage was the law? The entire plot is a little out there (which I low-key love in a thriller) but many parts were rooted in a nugget of truth about our society. Especially the commentary on the overwhelming presence of social media and influencers in our every day life. This will also make you think about the role of AI and technology in our society and how that could be exploited by the government.

Read this one if you want twists galore, short chapters, and constantly are concerned your iPhone is recording your every move.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

I did not finish this book, as there was something about the near-future world that I did not find convincing via text. Perhaps I might try the audiobook.

This is John Marrs at his best. Similar to The One and The Passengers in theme, tone, and style, you will devour this in a single sitting. The first five star thriller in over a year. I love the speculative nature of his books, unbelievable just also highly believable at the very same time.

A solid addition to the John Marrs Cinematic Universe! The Marriage Act is set in the same world as The One and The Passengers (and possibly others? those were the two I caught), in which people can be matched with their perfect partner through DNA testing. Marriage is still a tricky proposition, though, so the government gets involved and passes the Sanctity of Marriage Act, which provides multiple benefits to people if they remain married (like lower taxes and premium housing) and harsh penalties if their marriages are struggling or end in divorce. There's constant monitoring, and if your marriage is deemed to be in trouble, a counselor will move into your house for closer supervision. Yikes. The entire concept of this is creepy and invasive, and Marrs did a great job exploring the many dark paths this type of government interference could go down. I didn't love the ending, but I overall enjoyed reading this and would recommend it to existing fans of Marrs's books.

The right wing government in England decides to fully embrace the sanctity of marriage vows and to make it the law. Using the most intrusive monitoring technology available, the government will offer great rewards for those who follow the rules, but will offer great punishments for those who don’t.

John Marrs always delivers a creative and unique storyline. THE MARRIAGE ACT certainly follows that trend. What an interesting plot, especially given the fact that virtual assistants are so popular these days. Makes you wonder, who is listening. This book also had a superb final twist that I did not see coming!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

Very timely novel with great insights into the word we live in and how society is evolving. The influence of “influencers” in our lives through social media and the lengths that people will go to to be noticed and respected is thoroughly explored. I really enjoyed this book and it made me think about what is perceived as reality when so much of life portrayed online and in social media is fake. Well done John Marrs!

Will give feedback and my review when the HCP union gets a fair contract. Thank you so much for the book and can't wait to leave a review in the future.

The latest book by John Marrs, is absolutely phenomenal. Most of us are entrenched in the here and now with technology, we all can have instant gratification. But having it in your personal relationships and marriage, what would you do for health care and money? Four couples find out just how intrusive technology and specifically A.I. can be, and if there are issues, human ones at that.
I loved this book, very easy to get into. Once again you meet individuals who have tried their luck with the Perfect Match website or at least knows about it. It seems if these people allowed new technology to listen into their life and warn them if they seem to be having any issues, the government will send someone who can help you and your souse. Then it is up to the specialist to make their decision about your life. You get very steeped into these individuals lives and their dynamics.
I highly recommend this for anyone wanting to read something unique or new. I am going to having the book club at the library read this when it comes out. Great story!!!!!!

I loved this premise and found myself flipping the pages all night long to find out how it would play out! If you liked "The One" or "The Passengers" by Marrs, you'll love this one! Creepy and gives you a "what if..." thought while reading! Highly recommend.

QUICK TAKE: my favorite John Marrs book to date. Very dark, very twisty, very British. It's clever and fast-paced, and I could have read an entire book centered around the gay couple here. Definitely one that poses some interesting questions and one worth consideration.

Thank you HTP Books, Hanover Square Press & Netgalley for an eARC of The Marriage Act by John Marrs!

WOW. This book spooked me because the “what if” factor is so huge? Is what happens in this book a possibility for our futures?

What if marriage was the law? Would you dare to disobey?

The books takes place in the near future of Britain. The government has put in place the Sanctity of Marriage Act, encouraging marriage as the norm and punishing those who choose to remain single by essentially making it hard for them to live a normal life.

The plot follows four couples in different spots in their relationships - Each at an intersection between their wants and needs and what the government wants them to do, being monitored in every aspect of their personal lives - Every word, every disagreement - They’re listening.

At first I found this book a bit confusing while I was trying to nail down the names of the main characters, but once I got that settled this was a quick and thrilling roller coaster ride of a novel. The concept is absolutely terrifying. If you sign up for the marriage act, you will get placed in a nicer home, have access to better health care - But your conversations will be monitored, and if you and your spouse seem to argue even one bit, you’ll be leveled up. Level two means a relationship responder enters your life, a constant reminder of the government watching you and deciding whether or not you and your spouse should and even can stay together.

This one kicks off with an influencer’s death and follows the various couples’ journeys and experiences with the Marriage Act. I didn’t read The One and The Passengers, but there are definitely pieces from both in this book and I can’t wait to go back and read those. I can’t give anything else away other than to say you’ll definitely want to have this one on pre-order if you’re a thriller lover and are in need of a bit of AI/technology eye-opener!

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝘼𝙘𝙩
𝙗𝙮 𝙅𝙤𝙝𝙣 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙨
Release Date 05/02/2023

What if marriage was the law? Dare you disobey?
But four couples are about to discover just how impossible relationships can be when the government is monitoring every aspect of our personal lives—watching every word, every minor disagreement…and will use every tool in its arsenal to ensure everyone will love, honor, and obey.

John Marrs has become one of my favorite authors. The scenarios he comes up with, the plots, and the ideas, while spending most of his timeline in the future, bears such a closeness to what our futures really could be.
Couples can sign up for the marriage act. (Marriage contract w/the government )
Think of a high-tech smart home. Now apply all this to marriage. The rules go from listening to 10 min conversations and picking up on your heart rate.
If they think you’re not up to code and not staying on level one (yes, levels to marriage), you can get emailed warnings to in-home counseling, aka a relationship responder. The book begins with an influencer's death and then follows several different couples on their journey of the marriage act. The same-sex couple on marriage level two, trying to adopt via a surrogate, a loveless marriage, a wannabe influencer who’s trying to keep up with the Jones while altogether abandoning all reality and her family and one man who is so heartbroken, one would wish for the love he had.
I love that we get some snippets from his previous books, The One and The Passengers
FIVE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️S̤̈T̤̈Ä̤R̤̈S̤̈


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I will read ANYTHING by John Marrs at this point. I particularly love the ones set in the "The One" and "The Passengers" universe. His blend of sci-fi and thriller and perfection! He expertly takes on the ethics and ramifications of technological advances and depicts them from a wide variety of viewpoints. The characters are relatable and I became absorbed in their stories. I couldn't put this down! He will continue to be an instant-purchase for me and for my library!