The One

Praise

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“[A] fast-paced and literary debut novel…The One manages to be entertaining in its examination of behind-the-scenes, and searing and true in its send-up of love.” –Salon

“A clever spin on the reality TV romance craze.” –Elle

“[A] smart debut…Argy takes on voyeurism, feminism, and gender norms, as Emily wonders if she really ought to put all her energy into finding love, which is what she was conditioned to do all her life…. [A] winning portrait of a young woman trying to come into her own.” –Publishers Weekly

“Argy is fantastic at showcasing the subtle power dynamics among Dylan, the women, and the producers in all iterations…. A reality TV novel stripped of fluff and fantasy.” –Kirkus Reviews

“Fans of reality TV will appreciate the insider feel first-time novelist Argy creates for her version of a very famous dating show….The characters are flawed and likeable….It’s up to readers to decide if they’re disturbed or charmed and amused by Argy’s knowing satire. A pop-culture send-up bound to inspire lively discussions.” –Booklist

“Riveting, astute and darkly comic, The One takes us behind the scenes of reality television: Julia Argy’s delicious novel is more engrossing than the show itself.” –Claire Messud, author of The Emperor’s Children and The Burning Girl

“I could not stop reading Julia Argy’s smart, funny, and tender debut novel about falling in love and finding oneself on and offscreen. Set in the world of reality TV and populated by unforgettable women, The One is everything I want in a novel – deliciously readable prose, a surprising love story, and insights that linger long after the last page. It’s a stunner, and I’m counting the days until Argy’s next book.” –Julie Buntin, author of Marlena

“The One is a whip-smart exploration of what happens when the pursuit of romance is performed for an audience, and the line between the scripted and the real begins to blur. Julia Argy is tremendous on desire, ambition, and self-invention in this sharply funny and powerfully moving debut.” –Laura van den Berg, author of I Hold a Wolf by the Ears

“Incessantly sharp and consistently funny, The One shows how the strange, singular experience of being a contestant on a reality dating show pales in comparison to the strange, singular experience of figuring out who you are. Argy packs an incisive examination of how external perception clashes with self-perception into a novel that’s never less than captivating and delightful. This is a memorable story about how our desires define us, and how we don’t know who we really are until we know what we really want.” –Gabe Habash, author of Stephen Florida