One & Only: A Novel

The women in Cassia's family possess a certain kind of magic. They're able to literally look into someone's past life - by reading their face - and find their fated. In modern times this translates into them owning a match-making business called One & Only. Cassia has put her heart and soul into the belief of love. But, Cassia has been waiting on her fated match ever since her grandmother read her face and found out his name. That was ten years ago, and nearing her 40th birthday, Cassia is starting to question. That's why accepts a date with younger "go where the wind takes me" Ellis. Normally, the twelve year age gap would be a hard no for Cassia, but there's just something about Ellis. That is, until her fated - Daniel - shows up. show more Quick to follow her fated path, Cassia breaks up with Ellis and begins her future with Daniel. However, she can't seem to get Ellis out of her mind, and continually running into him doesn't help matters either. When family secrets come to the surface, Cassia begins to question everything she thought she believed about love.

This book was such a major surprise for me. I've been an avid romance/women's fiction reader for years so it's not often that a book delightfully surprises me as much as One & Only did. It takes such a poignant look at love and fate. I mean how often do we think about meeting "the one" or how many paranormal romance books have we read with "fated mates"? And whether or not we're talking about how cringey some of these things might be when we examine them with a magnifying glass, there's still some part of us that may look at these things with rose colored glasses.

I like how this story doesn't necessarily dissuade anyone from love and romance, but forces the question of not letting the omnipotent fate dictate your path in life. It asks the question if tying oneself to a certainty is more constraining or freeing. I think maybe the best part is that it doesn't give an across the board answer, it give the answer that is best for Cassia.

For me personally, the dynamic between Cassia and Ellis just clicked. I think this is helped by the fact that they continue to run into each other even after Cassia breaks up with Ellis to pursue things with Daniel. Daniel, for his part, is good for Cassia. They have a lot of the same interests, and are attracted to one another. As much as there were some decisions of Cassia's that I didn't like, I still couldn't fault her for them. She was as open and forthright with everyone involved as much as possible. More, I wanted her to actually listen to herself and trust in herself more than a prediction.

There were many times throughout the reading of the book where I could not tell you which way things would go. It's rare that a book keeps be on the edge of my seat in that way right up until the decision is made.

The book was also very well balanced in that even though it's a romance and romantic, it also deals with grief and family and friendship. I finished this book and don't have an ounce of unresolved feelings. I was satisfied with where everything left off.

This is one of my first five star reads of the year! Let's keep it up! show less

Title: One & Only
Author: Maurene Goo
Publisher: Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"One & Only" by Maurene Goo

My Insight:

"One & Only" is a delightful read that masterfully weaves together an enchanting tapestry of elements: magic, the allure of fate, intricate family drama, poignant choices, heartbreak, a fabulous best friend, a quirky, cursed cockatoo, and moments of sizzling chemistry that will keep you eagerly turning the pages. Prepare yourself for an emotional odyssey that invites you to ponder the nature of destiny and whether you are truly fated for a particular path or can carve your own. The coming-of-age narrative is both thought-provoking and compelling, elevated by a sprinkle of magical show more realism that resonates long after the final page is turned. show less

This was a lovely story touching on the wonder of love, fate and family. Cassia Park's family runs a matchmaking business in California. The women in the family have a special ability to determine a perfect match, making their match rate basically perfect. Cassia's mom didn't marry her matched fate and also passed away when Cassia was 8. Cassia is turning 40 and has been searching for her fated mate, Daniel, for 10 years. Sparks fly with a much younger man, Ellis, when Cass and her best friend are on one of their weekly bike rides. Really good read and the ruminations on the expectations of family and the weight of a fated mate was a lot more thought provoking that I was expecting.

Cassia can read people's faces and see their past lives. She is also determined to find her fated love. Her family owns a matchmaking business that uses this ability, which has been passed down for generations. After a bike crash, she meets Ellis, a charming, much younger man. While there is an immediate attraction, she is hesitant due to the nearly 12-year age difference. She believes her fated love is a man named Daniel, and after meeting him, she breaks it off with Ellis. Cassia believes that her mother's early death resulted from the stress of her failed marriage to her fated match, and she feels a relationship with Ellis would yield the same result. Several conversations in this novel made me laugh out loud. I enjoyed this romance. show more I rooted for Ellis throughout the story, as he was so kind and considerate. There are some serious issues, but overall, it is light-hearted. show less

Interesting combo of matchmaking and magic, with a dash of family history/beliefs thrown in to muddy the waters.

Cassia runs her family's matchmaking business, which specializes in finding the one and only true love for her clients. Cassia is approaching 40, and is still single. She has been searching for her fated match, but has not been able to locate him. Time is ticking. When Cassia falls for a much younger man, and not her fated one and only, her world is turned upsidedown.

Turning forty angst. Sweet, likeable characters. An enjoyable, although predictable, read.