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The Marriage Act
The Marriage Act | John Marrs
From the bestselling author of The One, now an eight-part Netflix series. Set in the same world as The One, The Marriage Act is a dark, high-concept thriller. One of the most exciting original thriller writers Simon Kernick What if marriage was the law? Dare you disobey? Britain. The near-future. A right-wing government believes it has the answer to societys ills the Sanctity of Marriage Act, which actively encourages marriage as the norm, punishing those who choose to remain single. But four couples are about to discover just how impossible relationships can be when the government is monitoring every aspect of our personal lives, monitoring every word, every minor disagreement . . . and will use every tool in its arsenal to ensure everyone will love, honour and obey. Black Mirror meets thriller with a dash of Naomi Aldermans The Power. Praise for John Marrs: 'A page-turning and thought-provoking read' - Daily Mirror 'A socially aware novel packed with thought-provoking questions' - SFX Magazine 'Original thriller with lots of surprises' - My Weekly 'Clever, compelling and terrifyingly plausible. A near future nightmare that grips from the first page and never lets go. The Marriage Act is a brilliant examination of relationships and the power we let others have over us. And talk about a page-turner. This one will leave you with paper cuts! C. J. Tudor, bestselling author of The Chalk Man A smart, gripping and scarily believable story from the master of the speculative thriller.TM Logan, author of The Curfew and The Holiday 'Johns creative, high-concept thrillers never fail to keep me furiously turning the pages and The Marriage Act is no exception. Pacy and packed full of tension, the book kept me constantly guessing as the thought-provoking plot about marriage and everything that comes with it unfolded in the most sinister of ways . . . dark, immersive speculative fiction at its very best!' Sarah Pearse, author of The Retreat and The Sanatorium 'A scarily plausible alternative future with a truly twisted narrative. Tensely plotted and terrifyingly imagined! - Harriet Tyce, author of Blood Orange
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review
BarbaraBB
The Marriage Act | John Marrs
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Pickpick

This book helped me get through some tough days after the election, the horrible violence in Amsterdam and all the fake news surrounding that night.
I knew I could count on Marrs. This is another good speculative novel set in a near future Britain where people are encouraged to upgrade their relationship to a Smart Marriage, which is tempting because then you benefit from NHS and top education for your kids etc. ⬇️

BarbaraBB The marriages are monitored by AI robots which comment on your marriage - or worse. A bizarre plot, yet nothing seems unthinkable at the moment. 1w
Suet624 You‘re right. Nothing seems unthinkable. Glad this book got you through. 1w
Amiable 💙💙 1w
sarahbarnes Well said. Glad you found something that worked for you. ♥️ (edited) 1w
LeahBergen Happy Birthday, my friend!! I hope you have a wonderful day! 😘😘 1w
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BarbaraBB
The Marriage Act | John Marrs
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I am not sure if this is true but it sounds very plausible. And yet AI is taking over… so scary!

DogMomIrene AI equally thrills and chills me. So much potential for good, but given the state of the world, so much more opportunity for the self-interested to meddle, distort, and manipulate. 1w
AmyG AI just makes me think of The Terminator. 😬 1w
bookandbedandtea @DogMomIrene I agree with you, both that AI offers so much potential for good but also that there's too much potential for it to be misused. I personally think we're going to see a great deal of the latter and little of the former. 🫤 1w
DogMomIrene @bookandbedandtea Agree! Too many humans are asking “What‘s in it for me?” instead of “What do we owe one another?”😢😢😢 1w
BarbaraBB @DogMomIrene So sad but I think you‘re right. 1w
47 likes5 comments
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DogMomIrene
The Marriage Act | John Marrs
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#TenBeforeTheEnd #10BeforeTheEnd

Two books down. Slowly making my way through a sci-fi anthology audiobook. 7 stories completed and I‘ve only enjoyed one of them. 18 more to go. Holding out hope for this collection🤞🏼

Thinking I‘ll be starting Bookshops & Bonedust next🤔

ChaoticMissAdventures ✅✅ great job! 2w
DogMomIrene @ChaoticMissAdventures Thanks! I‘m loving how much this challenge is motivating me🙌🏼 2w
ChaoticMissAdventures @DogMomIrene I am so glad! This time of year can be tough 2w
53 likes3 comments
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DogMomIrene
The Marriage Act | John Marrs
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Pickpick

Chapters rotate through 5 MCs who have different relationships to the marriage act, a govt program that incentivizes couples to marry with better housing, cars, healthcare, & more. While implausible, I also found this dystopia unputdownable. The level of surveillance and AI involvement was highly creepy. Won‘t be buying an Echo any time soon. Second book down for #TenBeforeTheEnd #10BeforeTheEnd

ChaoticMissAdventures ✅ working through it! 2w
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DogMomIrene
The Marriage Act | John Marrs
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Started this science fiction read last night and it‘s bananas! Characters keep checking their smart watches because for ten minutes every day the government will be listening.

Given how many concerns I have about smart tech listening in right now in my reality, this speculative future is already making my skin crawl.

AnnCrystal 😳🧐🥺🙏. 3w
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Megabooks
The Marriage Act | John Marrs
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Pickpick

Barbara, I can see why you like Marrs! Thank you for sending me this and getting me hooked!

In the near future, Britain has made it hard for single folks. There are penalties for being single and perks for leveling up to a “Smart Marriage,” which allows the government to listen in through an Echo-like device and dispatch counselors if you‘re disagreeing too much. Marrs writes from the perspective of 6 people dealing with this Orwellian nightmare!

BarbaraBB I am glad you liked it. I will read it soon too. How is your wrist? 6mo
Megabooks @BarbaraBB my wrist is better! I wanted another picture before the irises were gone, so I took it several days ago. 👍🏻 it‘s in the same universe as the one, so I‘ll have to go back and read that. 6mo
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TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! I really enjoyed The One - it's a book that has really stuck with me. I didn't realize this book was in the same universe - I'll have to find a copy!! 6mo
Megabooks @TheAromaofBooks I hope you enjoy it! 6mo
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Megabooks
The Marriage Act | John Marrs
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Thank you to my wonderful cohosts of all things ToB for the great birthday presents!!

Molly loves her toy, and I love the portraits of rescue dogs, Helen!! Such a cute bookmark (though upside down in the photo 😂).

Barbara, I‘m so excited for Pet, which has been on my TBR for awhile, and a Marrs you loved!! The incense smells good, too.

sarahbarnes Happy Birthday!!! 🎉🎂 8mo
AmyG Happy Birthday 🎂 8mo
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 8mo
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Deblovestoread Happy birthday! 🎂🎈📚 8mo
Ruthiella Happy Birthday! 🥳🥳🥳 8mo
Chelsea.Poole Lovely gifts! Happy birthday to you!! 🎂 8mo
LeahBergen Happy Birthday! ❤️❤️ 8mo
Jess Happy birthday!! 8mo
merelybookish Happy Birthday!! 8mo
squirrelbrain Oh, I loved Pet (it was one of my best of 2023) and I think you will too. ❤️ 8mo
BarbaraBB Happy birthday dear Meg 🤍 I hope it will be a wonderful year 🤞🏽 🤎 8mo
Bookzombie Happy belated Birthday! 🥳🧁📚💕 8mo
Suet624 Pet!!! 8mo
Megabooks @Suet624 so excited for that!! 8mo
Megabooks @sarahbarnes @AmyG @dabbe @Deblovestoread @Ruthiella @Chelsea.Poole @LeahBergen @jess @merelybookish @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @Bookzombie thank you all for the wonderful birthday wishes!! This week has been a bit of a nightmare with a new aide calling in one shift then being a no-show the next. Finally on Thursday I got to take my birthday trip to shop in Evansville and spend my BN gift card and get 2 spring tops at the mall. ⬇️ 8mo
Megabooks I‘ll hopefully have time on the weekend to show my BN haul. Dad‘s cancer treatment was this morning and mom has a hair appointment in an hour. 😬😬 it never stops!! 8mo
AmyG Hugs…you got your hands full. I look forward to seeing your haul aka what I should be reading. 🤣 8mo
squirrelbrain What @AmyG said… you book guru, you! Hope your day isn‘t too stressful. 8mo
75 likes18 comments
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Kappadeemom
The Marriage Act | John Marrs
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This book is trippy. The government gives you perks if you sign up for a Smart Marriage but you have to install listening software (Alexa) in your home. When you fight you automatically get marriage tips sent to your smart watch…BUT as most things managed by the government, it gets real bad when your marriage shows flaws😳

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Jaimelire
The Marriage Act | John Marrs
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Pickpick

I have read several of his books. I like the way they are all tied together in this alternative near future. This book was no exception, he keeps you turning the pages.

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BookMaven9
The Marriage Act | John Marrs
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️😢this book is terrifying!!! Imagine a world where AI will dictate your marriage and Alexa type devices listens to your lives and other end is the government. Marrs never disappoints and his fears about our not so distant future makes The Black Mirror seem like child‘s play.

bookandbedandtea I love him and agree that his books are made more terrifying by seeming plausible. 12mo
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Kboltz
The Marriage Act | John Marrs
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Pickpick

If you are not afraid of all that lies in the future with AI leading the way then this book will not scare the heck out of you. This will be my best read of the year, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. The marriage act law gives married people the perks of living in Britain. DNA matching also allows you to find your perfect match. Who needs true love? This speculative fiction read is way scarier than the IT clown!🤡. I love John Marrs, great read.

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DaniJ
The Marriage Act | John Marrs
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Pickpick

Dark dystopian fiction set five minutes into the future. Immersive and shocking read. Hard to put down!!

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bookandbedandtea
The Marriage Act | John Marrs
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Pickpick

Marrs' latest book is set in the same universe as The One and The Passengers, both of which are referenced but not necessary to read first, and, like those books, this offers a scarily plausible* near future. I enjoyed his MO of short chapters with frequent POV changes. Likeable characters are few and far between but all of their stories interested me while I fretted over who would come through unscathed. I'll be on the watch for his next book.

bookandbedandtea *I'll be surprised if the government uses "upgraded" marriage as their means of controlling the population but the thought that our gadgets may be increasingly used against us doesn't feel unlikely. 1y
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Shawna
The Marriage Act | John Marrs
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Mehso-so

A decent read, but I preferred The One

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Mpcacher
The Marriage Act | John Marrs
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Pickpick

This book returns again to the near future of the Marr's previous books “The One“ and “The Passengers“. Now marriage is deemed beneficial by the right wing government and singles are heavily penalized. Married couples meanwhile are monitored by listening devices to ensure their relationship remains strong. While there were perhaps too many characters, a lot of them unlikable, it was thought provoking with a strong ending. and I liked it. 4/5!

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Shawna
The Marriage Act | John Marrs
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It‘s going to be the perfect rainy weekend for a #20in4 #readathon!
My goal is to finish both of these 🎾💍

Andrew65 Best of luck. 😁 I loved Carrie Soto is Back. 2y
19 likes1 comment
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keepingupwiththepenguins
The Marriage Act | John Marrs
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Panpan

The Marriage Act could have been used to make some really interesting point, about policy-making, about surveillance, about patriarchal institutions… but instead, there was no critical thought to accompany the concept, beyond “Wouldn‘t be scary if the government used Alexa to listen to our marital spats?”. Full review: https://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/the-marriage-act-john-marrs/