Review: The Arrangement

Robyn Harding's The Arrangement is another of those books I read an embarrassingly long time ago. It was the first of Harding's that I had read and I finished it waaaaayyy back in July. Oops. Sometimes when it takes me that long to get to a book it's just because I'm insanely busy. Others it's because the book under or overwhelmed me and I just wasn't sure what to write. In the case of this one, I didn't like it quite as much as I expected - but didn't dislike it! - so I just wasn't sure what to say about it.

Here's the synopsis:

Natalie, a young art student in New York City, is struggling to pay her bills when a friend makes a suggestion: Why not go online and find a sugar daddy—a wealthy, older man who will pay her for dates, and even give her a monthly allowance? Lots of girls do it, Nat learns. All that’s required is to look pretty and hang on his every word. Sexual favours are optional.
Though more than thirty years her senior, Gabe, a handsome corporate finance attorney, seems like the perfect candidate, and within a month, they are madly in love. At least, Nat is…Gabe already has a family, whom he has no intention of leaving.
So when he abruptly ends things, Nat can’t let go. She begins drinking heavily and stalking him: watching him at work, spying on his wife, even befriending his daughter, who is not much younger than she is. But Gabe’s not about to let his sugar baby destroy his perfect life. What was supposed to be a mutually beneficial arrangement devolves into a nightmare of deception, obsession, and, when a body is found near Gabe’s posh Upper East Side apartment, murder.

I'm not sure what it was that I didn't like about this book. Maybe it's not even that I didn't like it. It could honestly just be that I had really high expectations for it going in. I think, after all these months, I'm finally having an epiphany about this one! *rolls eyes at self* People had raved about Harding's novel The Party or Her Pretty Face so I think I expected this thriller to blow my socks off.

I was surprised by the ending, though, so I guess the socks were a bit blown off. It was also kind of a quick double surprise once a few details came to light and then wham another few details made it so much more twisted.

I think it was a wise choice to start the book with a prologue and have Natalie calling her (estranged) father and admitting that she killed someone. I wasn't totally sure I believed her but throughout the book you kind of start to think...well...maybe she did kill someone. Harding keeps the reader on their toes as the story starts four months prior to the prologue and moves forward through time. The story is told in third person and from both Natalie and Gabe's perspectives, which creates a ton of tension throughout the book.

Speaking of blown off socks (sorry...that image and cliche is just working for a great number of things right now)...it turns out I have actually read a Robyn Harding book before. She's another former chick lit turned thriller author and I had no idea. I even reviewed it way back in 2011 after getting it from the library because it had a "Canadian author" sticker on it.

I especially liked that, in the acknowledgments, Harding wrote about how she talked with sugar babies, ones like Natalie. Really talked to them to find out their motivations and experience in the "sugar bowl" and having sugar daddies. I felt this showed that she respected that these women were making conscious choices and wanted to acknowledge what she had learned from them.

I can't say I loved The Arrangement but I think thriller lovers should think about checking out Robyn Harding's novel. And then maybe read her new one, The Swap, which comes out next month!

*An ARC of this novel was provided by the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

November Chick Lit Challenge Read #1: Unravelled

For my November Chick Lit Challenge read I decided to read something a little cozy. And what's cozier than a book with a ball of yarn on the cover? Unravelled by (Canadian!) Robyn Harding was a fun read.

Here's what this book is all about, courtesy of Goodreads:

Beth wasn't sure that joining a knitting club would fill the void created when she left her commitment phobic boyfriend and moved in with a kooky roommate, but it was worth a try. Even more than a hobby, Beth needed a new circle of friends to help her rebuild her life.

Together the club knit scarves, sweaters, and the bonds of friendship. Beth even started dating again - and this time she was doing it right! But Beth soon discovers that her new man has a secret so shocking it could end their relationship - and worse, destroy the best group of friends she's ever had. Unravelled is a hilarious tale of knitting, betrayal, and the power of friendship.

This was a book that I picked up on a library trip. I almost missed it but while I was wandering through the stacks the Canadian sticker on the spine and the interesting title caught my eye. I admit, it sat in my library pile for probably six or seven weeks before I finally picked it up to read (I kept renewing it...hope no one else wanted it!). I'm glad I did because it was an enjoyable read even if it doesn't quite make it to my favourites list.

There was a bit of craziness in this book that just didn't quite suite my tastes. Beth was one of those women with a deadline - she wanted to be married by a certain age and have kids by a certain age. I guess I can understand that to a point but I think putting these restrictions on yourself and your relationships creates unnecessary tension. I do appreciate that Beth really finds herself during the course of this novel. If a character makes me go through all sorts of stuff with her throughout the course of the novel I want her to change for the better, otherwise I find the book to be a waste of my time. Anyone else feel like that? When a character is obviously flawed but doesn't make any changes to their life to make it better? Happily, Beth was not one of those characters and I like how her story ended up.

There are a ton of supporting characters in this novel but I think they all could have used a little more development. For example, I couldn't quite understand why Angie and Beth were best friends. There are little glimpses of a good girlfriend here and there but for the most part Angie was totally absorbed with herself. I do, however, like that there are a lot of secondary characters because it meant there were lots of people available to help Beth on her journey.

There's an unexpected twist near the end of the novel that I did not see coming. I love when that happens because sometimes too many clues are given away during the course of the story and I figure out exactly what's going to happen. This twist is slightly outrageous but it totally fits with the feeling of the rest of the book. Even though it was a little bumpy getting to the resolution, I liked how Harding ended Unravelled.

Way back in January I made a resolution to learn how to knit because of another book series (the first in the series is The Friday Night Knitting Club and I suggest you give it a try!). There was something about a group of women getting together and bonding over this craft that really intrigued me. I did pretty well with my knitting for awhile but eventually it became a nice fixture on my end table. Once I read Unravelled though, I decided to pick it back up. It's not the prettiest knitting but I'm determined to create something with it. Even if it's a slightly wonky looking scarf.

Overall, I liked this book. I didn't love it but I definitely didn't hate it. I think other chick lit lovers would enjoy it too so if you happen to pass it at your own library I suggest you pick it up and give it a try.

Happy reading...and knitting! :)