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The Arrangement
9 hours, 15 minutes
A Pretty Woman tale turns toxic and deadly in this provocative and riveting thriller of sex, obsession, and murder from Robyn Harding, the “master of domestic suspense” (Kathleen Barber) and the USA TODAY bestselling author of The Party and Her Pretty Face.
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 favors 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.
Emotionally powerful and packed with page-turning suspense, The Arrangement delves into the sordid, all-too-real world of shadowy relationships between wealthy, powerful men and the young women who are caught in their web.
A Pretty Woman tale turns toxic and deadly in this provocative and riveting thriller of sex, obsession, and murder from Robyn Harding, the “master of domestic suspense” (Kathleen Barber) and the USA TODAY bestselling author of The Party and Her Pretty Face.
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 favors 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.
Emotionally powerful and packed with page-turning suspense, The Arrangement delves into the sordid, all-too-real world of shadowy relationships between wealthy, powerful men and the young women who are caught in their web.
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First published July 30, 2019
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About the author
Robyn Harding
20 books5,441 followersRobyn Harding is the bestselling author of several books and has written and executive produced an independent film. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her family and two cute but deadly rescue chihuahuas.
To learn more about Robyn's books visit: http://www.robynharding.com. Or follow her on Instagram: @rhardingwriter
or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRobynH...
To learn more about Robyn's books visit: http://www.robynharding.com. Or follow her on Instagram: @rhardingwriter
or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRobynH...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,315 reviews
June 1, 2019
2.5 stars
A fabulous premise marred by too many cliches.
When Natalie, a 22-year-old art student, loses her job, she has two choices: take out a student loan (gasp) or become a Sugar Baby. She chooses the latter. While she isn’t completely comfortable with becoming a Sugar Baby and grossed out by the prospect of having to potentially touch or sleep with older men, she finds herself surprisingly attracted to Gabe, her first “daddy” date.
Gabe is a powerful and attractive corporate cutthroat attorney in his 50’s. Gabe, married for 29 years, has an 18-year-old daughter. He justifies his indiscretions (apparently he has had several) due to his wife letting herself go physically after she got cancer (she is currently in remission). Did I mention that he is vile? Here is an example of the thoughts that run through his head: “If he spent too much time alone with the crazy bitch, he would either f*ck her or kill her.”
Natalie and Gabe begin dating, and soon Natalie falls in love with him. She and Gabe come to an arrangement--they will date exclusively and he will pay her rent, gives her a monthly allowance and buy her expensive gifts. But when he breaks off their relationship, Natalie finds herself obsessed with hurting the man who betrayed her, even if it means destroying his family. When one of them winds up dead, the other is put under the spotlight and their baby/daddy relationship is exposed to the masses.
Natalie and Gabe are giant cliches and lack chemistry. Their characters have little depth and I couldn't care less about them. Both were horrible people, although Natalie's character is more likable than Gabe's. I didn’t have to like them to enjoy this novel, but they needed to have some depth of emotion, instead, they just fell very wooden. Both spend a lot of reminiscing about their relationship--this might be one of the reasons why I didn’t feel their chemistry.
I was expecting a juicy, tawdry read but I was underwhelmed by the characters and the writing. I found Harding’s writing style to be a little odd--there is way too much telling vs. seeing but also something just felt off--I can’t put my finger on what it was exactly.
Reading The Arrangement is like watching a bad Lifetime movie. I wanted to look away, but I couldn’t! The ending saved it a bit, which is why I bumped up my rating. I love the premise of The Arrangement as I find the whole Sugar Daddy/Sugar Baby dynamic fascinating. However, the execution failed. I was hoping this would be a fun, entertaining psychological thriller, but sadly it missed the mark.
I won a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway!
A fabulous premise marred by too many cliches.
When Natalie, a 22-year-old art student, loses her job, she has two choices: take out a student loan (gasp) or become a Sugar Baby. She chooses the latter. While she isn’t completely comfortable with becoming a Sugar Baby and grossed out by the prospect of having to potentially touch or sleep with older men, she finds herself surprisingly attracted to Gabe, her first “daddy” date.
Gabe is a powerful and attractive corporate cutthroat attorney in his 50’s. Gabe, married for 29 years, has an 18-year-old daughter. He justifies his indiscretions (apparently he has had several) due to his wife letting herself go physically after she got cancer (she is currently in remission). Did I mention that he is vile? Here is an example of the thoughts that run through his head: “If he spent too much time alone with the crazy bitch, he would either f*ck her or kill her.”
Natalie and Gabe begin dating, and soon Natalie falls in love with him. She and Gabe come to an arrangement--they will date exclusively and he will pay her rent, gives her a monthly allowance and buy her expensive gifts. But when he breaks off their relationship, Natalie finds herself obsessed with hurting the man who betrayed her, even if it means destroying his family. When one of them winds up dead, the other is put under the spotlight and their baby/daddy relationship is exposed to the masses.
Natalie and Gabe are giant cliches and lack chemistry. Their characters have little depth and I couldn't care less about them. Both were horrible people, although Natalie's character is more likable than Gabe's. I didn’t have to like them to enjoy this novel, but they needed to have some depth of emotion, instead, they just fell very wooden. Both spend a lot of reminiscing about their relationship--this might be one of the reasons why I didn’t feel their chemistry.
I was expecting a juicy, tawdry read but I was underwhelmed by the characters and the writing. I found Harding’s writing style to be a little odd--there is way too much telling vs. seeing but also something just felt off--I can’t put my finger on what it was exactly.
Reading The Arrangement is like watching a bad Lifetime movie. I wanted to look away, but I couldn’t! The ending saved it a bit, which is why I bumped up my rating. I love the premise of The Arrangement as I find the whole Sugar Daddy/Sugar Baby dynamic fascinating. However, the execution failed. I was hoping this would be a fun, entertaining psychological thriller, but sadly it missed the mark.
I won a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway!
July 2, 2022
3.25; in the hate of all sugar daddies and their little rag dolls, widespread arrangement models of big cities plot might work as a better erotic romance concept than nerve-bending, heart throbbing thriller story but I have to admit some parts of the book are intriguing enough for me but most parts aren’t STARS!
Somehow I thought I was a little tough grader about this book.
Well if you asked me to those questions above:
Is this one of your fastest reading because of its intriguing, attention alerting, riveting story-telling method? My answer: YES!
Is this character driven story focused on three different women and man who connects them? YES
And aren’t you fan of great developed character driven stories? YES YES YES
BUT… Here comes my big, badass, bold BUT…
If I have a chance I named Gabe ( shortened of Gabriel) as Luci ( shortened of Lucifer) or Bas( you know the full word) or As, or Douch… The list goes on and on…
One my favorite GR friend will laugh at me to write this because she knows I liked to give good slap shows to the characters I disliked with my whole heart, soul and brain cells. Bu when it comes to Gabe, I didn’t want only slap him across his face, kick him in the shins or punching his despicable face with rope-a dope as Ali did to George Foreman. I wanted to surrender him to the mercy of Jack Bauer kind of psycho special agent who can torture him for days and nights. So you can imagine how I hated this character’s stinky guts!
But my main problem is with Natalie or Nate. I understood and somewhat empathized her decisions. I knew how hard, challenging, soul absorbing experience to live or even exist in the jungle of NYC. Her roommates’ treating and attitudes around her disrespectful, they could be the definition of assholes. Her relationship with estranged father and long distance relationship with her mother who has her own new family forced her to find a way to survive in the jungle for chasing her dreams to be an artist. So she applied for the sugar daddies website and as soon as she met Gabe and fell in love with him, sh*t hits the fan.
I stopped to empathize with the character as soon as she chose to go to the dark side and acted like illegitimate daughter of Darth Vader.
She turned into stalker of Gabe’s family, finding out he lied to her about his divorce. She befriended her daughter and kissed both daughter and father at the same party as she attended his daughter’s new girlfriend.
WHAAATTT? Yes, you read it, right. I could understand her motives to become Fatal Attraction’s Glen Close, after she was losing her place to become Vivian of Pretty Woman and have a happily ever after with her older knight in shining armor. But she didn’t have a plan. She was reckless, unpredictable, self-destructive, self-harming and always drunk. So it was hard to connect with this kind of character.
Problematic daughter Violet seemed like a spoiled, lost brat with daddy issues. I couldn’t emotionally connect with her sorrows, too.
Only decent and tough, survivor, likable character was Celeste, Gabe’s wife. I wish there were more parts about her because she is also one of the victims of this story.
And I had some questions about Nate’s ex-boyfriend who turned into an obsessive stalker. I know he is already out of the equation but some parts of book made me think, Nate didn’t tell his story objectively. There are some unwritten facts about their relationship which made me question deeper about the psychological well-being of Nate one more time!
The ending was predictable, solid, not surprising but at least partly satisfying.
So as a summary: Smart-fast pacing writing but the plot could be more interesting because this book was a dramatic family fiction about daddy issues. Thrilling parts are overshadowed by problematic and broken characters. I was expecting more! But you can’t always win! Not bad but not so good, one of my mediocre reads.
Somehow I thought I was a little tough grader about this book.
Well if you asked me to those questions above:
Is this one of your fastest reading because of its intriguing, attention alerting, riveting story-telling method? My answer: YES!
Is this character driven story focused on three different women and man who connects them? YES
And aren’t you fan of great developed character driven stories? YES YES YES
BUT… Here comes my big, badass, bold BUT…
If I have a chance I named Gabe ( shortened of Gabriel) as Luci ( shortened of Lucifer) or Bas( you know the full word) or As, or Douch… The list goes on and on…
One my favorite GR friend will laugh at me to write this because she knows I liked to give good slap shows to the characters I disliked with my whole heart, soul and brain cells. Bu when it comes to Gabe, I didn’t want only slap him across his face, kick him in the shins or punching his despicable face with rope-a dope as Ali did to George Foreman. I wanted to surrender him to the mercy of Jack Bauer kind of psycho special agent who can torture him for days and nights. So you can imagine how I hated this character’s stinky guts!
But my main problem is with Natalie or Nate. I understood and somewhat empathized her decisions. I knew how hard, challenging, soul absorbing experience to live or even exist in the jungle of NYC. Her roommates’ treating and attitudes around her disrespectful, they could be the definition of assholes. Her relationship with estranged father and long distance relationship with her mother who has her own new family forced her to find a way to survive in the jungle for chasing her dreams to be an artist. So she applied for the sugar daddies website and as soon as she met Gabe and fell in love with him, sh*t hits the fan.
I stopped to empathize with the character as soon as she chose to go to the dark side and acted like illegitimate daughter of Darth Vader.
She turned into stalker of Gabe’s family, finding out he lied to her about his divorce. She befriended her daughter and kissed both daughter and father at the same party as she attended his daughter’s new girlfriend.
WHAAATTT? Yes, you read it, right. I could understand her motives to become Fatal Attraction’s Glen Close, after she was losing her place to become Vivian of Pretty Woman and have a happily ever after with her older knight in shining armor. But she didn’t have a plan. She was reckless, unpredictable, self-destructive, self-harming and always drunk. So it was hard to connect with this kind of character.
Problematic daughter Violet seemed like a spoiled, lost brat with daddy issues. I couldn’t emotionally connect with her sorrows, too.
Only decent and tough, survivor, likable character was Celeste, Gabe’s wife. I wish there were more parts about her because she is also one of the victims of this story.
And I had some questions about Nate’s ex-boyfriend who turned into an obsessive stalker. I know he is already out of the equation but some parts of book made me think, Nate didn’t tell his story objectively. There are some unwritten facts about their relationship which made me question deeper about the psychological well-being of Nate one more time!
The ending was predictable, solid, not surprising but at least partly satisfying.
So as a summary: Smart-fast pacing writing but the plot could be more interesting because this book was a dramatic family fiction about daddy issues. Thrilling parts are overshadowed by problematic and broken characters. I was expecting more! But you can’t always win! Not bad but not so good, one of my mediocre reads.
July 30, 2019
Sugar baby vs. Sugar daddy
Such an intriguing premise of the wealthy man/ gorgeous woman sugar "arrangement". Here are some definitions I became aware of whilst reading this novel... I had to look it up.
A Sugar Daddy is a boyfriend who comes with financial benefits. Sugar benefactors can help to cover tuition, bills, and frequently enjoy bestowing gifts upon their partners. Sugar Daddies exist on three levels - Honey (highest), Sugar (wealthy) and Splenda (on a budget). Who knew?
Natalie is an art student struggling with her bills and living in New York City is expensive. One of her college friends introduces her to the sugar daddy website and "benefits". Natalie decides to take the plunge.
I was hooked from the beginning chapter when a phone call is made from the police precinct in Chelsea. I was drawn right into all the sugar daddy drama, the believable situation of a student who is struggling to make ends meet and the overall theme and pace of the story- throw in some red-herrings along the way.
What fell a bit flat was the ending! Why?
I wanted to figure out the ending or have it suggested, not explained. Show/ not tell. Instead of a explosive, crash ending, it was more of a smooth landing. Came close though!
I read this in 2 days racing to the end.
Thanks to NG/ publisher for my review copy!
Such an intriguing premise of the wealthy man/ gorgeous woman sugar "arrangement". Here are some definitions I became aware of whilst reading this novel... I had to look it up.
A Sugar Daddy is a boyfriend who comes with financial benefits. Sugar benefactors can help to cover tuition, bills, and frequently enjoy bestowing gifts upon their partners. Sugar Daddies exist on three levels - Honey (highest), Sugar (wealthy) and Splenda (on a budget). Who knew?
Natalie is an art student struggling with her bills and living in New York City is expensive. One of her college friends introduces her to the sugar daddy website and "benefits". Natalie decides to take the plunge.
I was hooked from the beginning chapter when a phone call is made from the police precinct in Chelsea. I was drawn right into all the sugar daddy drama, the believable situation of a student who is struggling to make ends meet and the overall theme and pace of the story- throw in some red-herrings along the way.
What fell a bit flat was the ending! Why?
I wanted to figure out the ending or have it suggested, not explained. Show/ not tell. Instead of a explosive, crash ending, it was more of a smooth landing. Came close though!
I read this in 2 days racing to the end.
Thanks to NG/ publisher for my review copy!
August 7, 2019
If something looks or feels too good to be true, then it probably is....
Quick money, spending a little time, getting spoiled, good food, travel, clothes...ahh.... the perks of being a Sugar Baby....
Adoration, sex, power, companionship, calling all the shots...the perks of being a Sugar Daddy
But what happens when those lines get blurred, when feelings get in the way, when the truth behind the lies comes out and when sugar no longer tastes so sweet????? Then you have a HOT mess on your hands.
Struggling to pay her bills while attending art school, Nat meets another young woman named Ava who has an affluent lifestyle and shares with Natalie how she can afford her pricey apartment and designer wardrobe. Natalie decides to give it the old college try and soon meets with a man name Gabe. A wealthy lawyer who tells her, he is single and wants to take care of her, keep her on a monthly allowance. This is love, isn't it? Or is it? Then things take a drastic turn and Nat is blind sighted and things go from bad to worse – much, much worse.
I found this to be a fast read and I did guess the "whodunit" before the reveal but still found this book to be enjoyable escapism reading. I do wish the ending had a little more of a punch to it, but still, this was a fun one. Didn't require much thought - except about the Sugar Baby/Sugar Daddy arrangement. Secrets, lies, deception, heartbreak, anger, fear, guilt - they are all here which makes for a juicy tale.
*This was a Traveling Sisters group read
*teetered around a 3.5 and 4 for me so I rounded up.
Thank you to Gallery/Scout Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Quick money, spending a little time, getting spoiled, good food, travel, clothes...ahh.... the perks of being a Sugar Baby....
Adoration, sex, power, companionship, calling all the shots...the perks of being a Sugar Daddy
But what happens when those lines get blurred, when feelings get in the way, when the truth behind the lies comes out and when sugar no longer tastes so sweet????? Then you have a HOT mess on your hands.
Struggling to pay her bills while attending art school, Nat meets another young woman named Ava who has an affluent lifestyle and shares with Natalie how she can afford her pricey apartment and designer wardrobe. Natalie decides to give it the old college try and soon meets with a man name Gabe. A wealthy lawyer who tells her, he is single and wants to take care of her, keep her on a monthly allowance. This is love, isn't it? Or is it? Then things take a drastic turn and Nat is blind sighted and things go from bad to worse – much, much worse.
I found this to be a fast read and I did guess the "whodunit" before the reveal but still found this book to be enjoyable escapism reading. I do wish the ending had a little more of a punch to it, but still, this was a fun one. Didn't require much thought - except about the Sugar Baby/Sugar Daddy arrangement. Secrets, lies, deception, heartbreak, anger, fear, guilt - they are all here which makes for a juicy tale.
*This was a Traveling Sisters group read
*teetered around a 3.5 and 4 for me so I rounded up.
Thank you to Gallery/Scout Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 24, 2020
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I’ve always been really intrigued by the Sugar lifestyle (Daddy, Momma, and Baby). As soon as I read the description for “The Arrangement”, I knew I had to get my hands on this book.
Twenty-one year old, Natalie (Nat) is on the phone with her father. This is the first time they have spoken in years. Unfortunately, she has no one else she can turn to. Nat tells her father that she’s been arrested.
A few months earlier:
Nat hasn’t been in New York very long but she loves it. She’s a young art student with big plans.
After a night out, Nat wakes up hung-over and has to deal with her angry roommates. They are always upset with her about something and since her name isn’t on the lease, they have the power to kick her out at any time.
Nat knows it’s not supposed to be easy, especially for an artist. But money is getting very tight. Her classmate, Ava sure doesn’t seem to have the same financial issues that Nat does. She doesn’t understand how Ava can afford to live in such a fancy apartment and wear such fancy clothing.
Ava tells her about a website that matches young women with rich older men. Men who will happily pay for fancy dinners and beautiful gifts. They will even help with bills and rent. The website is called “The Sugar Bowl“. Nat had heard of sugar babies but she didn’t think it was that common. She had no idea Ava was a Sugar Baby. It’s a mutually beneficial agreement for both parties. Ava tells her that all she has to do is look pretty. When Nat asks about sex, Ava tells her that sexual favors are optional.
One night, Nat is completely overwhelmed with the fact that her rent and tuition are coming due and she doesn’t have the money to pay them. She recalls her conversation with Ava and sends her a text…
“I want in“
Before she knows it she has a Sugar Baby profile. Ava warns her that the lifestyle is addictive, but Nat decides she's just going to go out on a couple of dates or “pay per meets”.
It’s not long before she meets fifty-five-year-old Gabe Turnmill. Gabe is a good looking corporate finance attorney. He is the perfect sugar daddy.
With Gabe, Nat feels safe and protected. She knows this isn’t a real relationship because Gabe is paying her, but her feelings for him are growing stronger. At the same time, Nat worries that someone will find out about her “arrangement” with Gabe. She starts feeling like someone is watching her.
Things are becoming VERY complicated.
What happens if the arrangement isn’t working out anymore?
Things take a very dark turn…
Wow! What a thought-provoking and entertaining read!
I’ve watched a couple of documentaries about this lifestyle and how common it is becoming. There was so much I'd never even heard of ( like Salt or SPLENDA daddies!). It’s easy to see that Robyn Harding has done her research.
I liked reading Gabe’s perspective too. Learning more about his life and why he became involved with “The Sugar Bowl”. Not everything was completely realistic but it wasn’t a big deal for me. I suspended my disbelief and really enjoyed this intriguing story.
I thought this was a wicked domestic suspense novel filled with sex, obsession, envy, revenge and more!
Another thrilling read for this summer!!
I'd like to thank the publisher and Gallery/Scout Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
I’ve always been really intrigued by the Sugar lifestyle (Daddy, Momma, and Baby). As soon as I read the description for “The Arrangement”, I knew I had to get my hands on this book.
Twenty-one year old, Natalie (Nat) is on the phone with her father. This is the first time they have spoken in years. Unfortunately, she has no one else she can turn to. Nat tells her father that she’s been arrested.
A few months earlier:
Nat hasn’t been in New York very long but she loves it. She’s a young art student with big plans.
After a night out, Nat wakes up hung-over and has to deal with her angry roommates. They are always upset with her about something and since her name isn’t on the lease, they have the power to kick her out at any time.
Nat knows it’s not supposed to be easy, especially for an artist. But money is getting very tight. Her classmate, Ava sure doesn’t seem to have the same financial issues that Nat does. She doesn’t understand how Ava can afford to live in such a fancy apartment and wear such fancy clothing.
Ava tells her about a website that matches young women with rich older men. Men who will happily pay for fancy dinners and beautiful gifts. They will even help with bills and rent. The website is called “The Sugar Bowl“. Nat had heard of sugar babies but she didn’t think it was that common. She had no idea Ava was a Sugar Baby. It’s a mutually beneficial agreement for both parties. Ava tells her that all she has to do is look pretty. When Nat asks about sex, Ava tells her that sexual favors are optional.
One night, Nat is completely overwhelmed with the fact that her rent and tuition are coming due and she doesn’t have the money to pay them. She recalls her conversation with Ava and sends her a text…
“I want in“
Before she knows it she has a Sugar Baby profile. Ava warns her that the lifestyle is addictive, but Nat decides she's just going to go out on a couple of dates or “pay per meets”.
It’s not long before she meets fifty-five-year-old Gabe Turnmill. Gabe is a good looking corporate finance attorney. He is the perfect sugar daddy.
With Gabe, Nat feels safe and protected. She knows this isn’t a real relationship because Gabe is paying her, but her feelings for him are growing stronger. At the same time, Nat worries that someone will find out about her “arrangement” with Gabe. She starts feeling like someone is watching her.
Things are becoming VERY complicated.
What happens if the arrangement isn’t working out anymore?
Things take a very dark turn…
Wow! What a thought-provoking and entertaining read!
I’ve watched a couple of documentaries about this lifestyle and how common it is becoming. There was so much I'd never even heard of ( like Salt or SPLENDA daddies!). It’s easy to see that Robyn Harding has done her research.
I liked reading Gabe’s perspective too. Learning more about his life and why he became involved with “The Sugar Bowl”. Not everything was completely realistic but it wasn’t a big deal for me. I suspended my disbelief and really enjoyed this intriguing story.
I thought this was a wicked domestic suspense novel filled with sex, obsession, envy, revenge and more!
Another thrilling read for this summer!!
I'd like to thank the publisher and Gallery/Scout Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
August 11, 2019
If you enjoy a story-line where you love to hate the lead character...this is the perfect read for you!
Natalie recently moved across country from the west coast to the bright lights of Broadway. That’s right, New York City!
She’s pursuing her dream of becoming an artist and has just been accepted to an Art College in the heart of the city. But it comes at great sacrifice - it means living dollar to dollar.
And now, after losing her job and being evicted by her uncaring roommates, Natalie is desperate to make enough money to stay in New York.
Just how desperate is she? Enough to become a sugar baby? To find herself a sugar daddy to look after all her expenses? What could possibly go wrong with a well thought-out plan like that? What if it becomes far more complicated than Natalie ever imagined? Leaving one person dead!
Oh my gosh! I was absolutely enthralled with this book! Natalie was such a fabulous character! I loved her and was rooting for her. But Wait! Now I loath her and hope she gets what she deserves. Hold on... the tides are about to turn again! You go girl!!
My head was spinning. Be prepared! This book is going to take you on a true roller-coaster ride!
I only wish the ending would have been on par with the rest of the book. It seemed to come apart at 93%. WHY!!?? The ending was too hurried! As though there was a big rush to wrap things up in the final 7% with a bow on top! NO! I want more!!
Until this point it was a five star read. One star knocked off for the wrap up!
A fun, crazy buddy read with Susanne!
Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Threshold Pocket Books. and Robyn Harding for an ARC to read and review.
Natalie recently moved across country from the west coast to the bright lights of Broadway. That’s right, New York City!
She’s pursuing her dream of becoming an artist and has just been accepted to an Art College in the heart of the city. But it comes at great sacrifice - it means living dollar to dollar.
And now, after losing her job and being evicted by her uncaring roommates, Natalie is desperate to make enough money to stay in New York.
Just how desperate is she? Enough to become a sugar baby? To find herself a sugar daddy to look after all her expenses? What could possibly go wrong with a well thought-out plan like that? What if it becomes far more complicated than Natalie ever imagined? Leaving one person dead!
Oh my gosh! I was absolutely enthralled with this book! Natalie was such a fabulous character! I loved her and was rooting for her. But Wait! Now I loath her and hope she gets what she deserves. Hold on... the tides are about to turn again! You go girl!!
My head was spinning. Be prepared! This book is going to take you on a true roller-coaster ride!
I only wish the ending would have been on par with the rest of the book. It seemed to come apart at 93%. WHY!!?? The ending was too hurried! As though there was a big rush to wrap things up in the final 7% with a bow on top! NO! I want more!!
Until this point it was a five star read. One star knocked off for the wrap up!
A fun, crazy buddy read with Susanne!
Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Threshold Pocket Books. and Robyn Harding for an ARC to read and review.
August 13, 2019
Seductive, alluring, and wickedly entertaining!
A modern day and sinister version of Pretty Woman right here folks! I didn’t even realize that this was a thing, what’s a Sugar Baby & Sugar Daddy? Well I know now and I definitely fell for this hook, line, and sinker.
THE ARRANGEMENT by ROBYN HARDING is a fascinating, dark, twisted, and gritty tale that was such an irresistible, entertaining and fun book to read. I was immediately pulled into the story, totally intrigued by the premise, and fully absorbed in this suspenseful page-turner.
Norma’s Stats:
Cover: Arresting, intriguing, eye-catching, electrifying, and a fitting representation to storyline. I definitely love the cover art and find it aesthetically pleasing.
Title: A perfectly perfect, suspenseful, intriguing and fitting representation to storyline. I absolutely love how the title played so perfectly into storyline.
Writing/Prose: Compulsively readable, well-written, entertaining, engaging, and suspenseful.
Plot: Fascinating, suspenseful, gritty, unique, riveting, brisk, engrossing, dark, thrilling, seductive, sinister, captivating, twisty, and entertaining.
Ending: Well that was an extremely satisfying end that I absolutely loved! So good!! A neat ending that wraps things up smoothly & perfectly.
Overall: I absolutely loved this one and devoured every single page of this dark, sexy, sinister, and thrilling tale! Would highly recommend!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Robyn Harding for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy of this book.
Review can also be found on Two Sisters Lost in a Coulee Reading:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
A modern day and sinister version of Pretty Woman right here folks! I didn’t even realize that this was a thing, what’s a Sugar Baby & Sugar Daddy? Well I know now and I definitely fell for this hook, line, and sinker.
THE ARRANGEMENT by ROBYN HARDING is a fascinating, dark, twisted, and gritty tale that was such an irresistible, entertaining and fun book to read. I was immediately pulled into the story, totally intrigued by the premise, and fully absorbed in this suspenseful page-turner.
Norma’s Stats:
Cover: Arresting, intriguing, eye-catching, electrifying, and a fitting representation to storyline. I definitely love the cover art and find it aesthetically pleasing.
Title: A perfectly perfect, suspenseful, intriguing and fitting representation to storyline. I absolutely love how the title played so perfectly into storyline.
Writing/Prose: Compulsively readable, well-written, entertaining, engaging, and suspenseful.
Plot: Fascinating, suspenseful, gritty, unique, riveting, brisk, engrossing, dark, thrilling, seductive, sinister, captivating, twisty, and entertaining.
Ending: Well that was an extremely satisfying end that I absolutely loved! So good!! A neat ending that wraps things up smoothly & perfectly.
Overall: I absolutely loved this one and devoured every single page of this dark, sexy, sinister, and thrilling tale! Would highly recommend!
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and Robyn Harding for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy of this book.
Review can also be found on Two Sisters Lost in a Coulee Reading:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
August 12, 2019
I read The Arrangement with a few of my Traveling Sisters and after reading this one we need to know more about Sugar Bowls.
Robyn Harding has joined us in our new group Behind the Pages with The Traveling Friends to answer a few spoiler-free questions about The Arrangement. To see what she has to say you can find the group here
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
The Arrangement is an instant Canadian bestseller!!
Candy Bar and Jelly Beans!! Yipee! I might be on a Tootsie Roll here with another winning thriller for me! My groove is back.
Are you ready to rumble here in this sugar bowl? Wondering what a sugar bowl is or curious to take a look into one. Well, Robyn Harding has got you covered here with her intriguing, entertaining yet unsettling fast, easy-paced story that left me wanting to talk about it.
Things are not so sweet as sugar here between this arrangement with our main characters and Robyn Harding delivers a unique take here with the premise to the story and adds some twists and turns that had me totally entertained from start to finish. I highly recommend!
Our blog post
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
Robyn Harding has joined us in our new group Behind the Pages with The Traveling Friends to answer a few spoiler-free questions about The Arrangement. To see what she has to say you can find the group here
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
The Arrangement is an instant Canadian bestseller!!
Candy Bar and Jelly Beans!! Yipee! I might be on a Tootsie Roll here with another winning thriller for me! My groove is back.
Are you ready to rumble here in this sugar bowl? Wondering what a sugar bowl is or curious to take a look into one. Well, Robyn Harding has got you covered here with her intriguing, entertaining yet unsettling fast, easy-paced story that left me wanting to talk about it.
Things are not so sweet as sugar here between this arrangement with our main characters and Robyn Harding delivers a unique take here with the premise to the story and adds some twists and turns that had me totally entertained from start to finish. I highly recommend!
Our blog post
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/2...
October 9, 2019
So I didn't love this one. I didn't hate it either. It was entertaining but there was definitely something missing here for me.
It was a quick read but I unfortunately expected more. My expectations definitely affected my enjoyment but with so many glowing reviews I thought I'd get a sexier, grittier read. NOPE - dare I admit at times I found it a little too cliche and boring? This was definitely one of those times where I wondered if I was reading the same book as everyone else. 🤷🏻♀️
The little twist at the end was probably my favorite part. Oh well, onto my next read...
It was a quick read but I unfortunately expected more. My expectations definitely affected my enjoyment but with so many glowing reviews I thought I'd get a sexier, grittier read. NOPE - dare I admit at times I found it a little too cliche and boring? This was definitely one of those times where I wondered if I was reading the same book as everyone else. 🤷🏻♀️
The little twist at the end was probably my favorite part. Oh well, onto my next read...
August 27, 2019
A tale of obsession, deceit and betrayal, The Arrangement looks at the world of sugar daddies and sugar babies. It's a subject that most people are aware of, yet don't know or care to know the full details of. We have Natalie, a struggling art student in New York, getting by on bar jobs and copious amounts of alcohol, until one day a friend introduces her to the lucrative world of sugar babies.
Soon Natalie meets Gabe, a handsome, and older, financial lawyer, and they soon come to an arrangement, as long as Natalie realises his daughter and his work will always come before her. Natalie is sucked in to a seductive world of theater trips, high class restaurants and weekends in the country. Then suddenly Gabe puts his family first and ends the arrangement, leaving Natalie devastated and heart broken...and determined to get Gabe back. And she will stop at nothing...
An eye-opening book, The Arrangement is a look into the life of a working class girl who is swept up in a life of glamour, then finds it crashing down on her. The plot sucks you in, as seductive as the world itself, and you'll find yourself unable to put this one down. The short chapters give thoughts to 'just one more' and you find yourself reading long into the night. Though the end did show some serious plot holes, it was still satisfying enough. I recommend this book to all who want to have a look into this glamourous lifestyle, albeit one that will always be judged harshly.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia for an uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own.
Soon Natalie meets Gabe, a handsome, and older, financial lawyer, and they soon come to an arrangement, as long as Natalie realises his daughter and his work will always come before her. Natalie is sucked in to a seductive world of theater trips, high class restaurants and weekends in the country. Then suddenly Gabe puts his family first and ends the arrangement, leaving Natalie devastated and heart broken...and determined to get Gabe back. And she will stop at nothing...
An eye-opening book, The Arrangement is a look into the life of a working class girl who is swept up in a life of glamour, then finds it crashing down on her. The plot sucks you in, as seductive as the world itself, and you'll find yourself unable to put this one down. The short chapters give thoughts to 'just one more' and you find yourself reading long into the night. Though the end did show some serious plot holes, it was still satisfying enough. I recommend this book to all who want to have a look into this glamourous lifestyle, albeit one that will always be judged harshly.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia for an uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own.
September 17, 2019
Blahhhhhhhhhhhh. I really hated this and I am BUMMED.
TW: rape, self harm, emotional manipulation
TW: rape, self harm, emotional manipulation
August 6, 2019
Wow! The author certainly knocked it out of the park with this one! Five flipping scandalous stars from me. This book will leave you with your mouth hanging open. I loved it! I was submersed into a world that I had no idea that existed until a recent news segment and of course this book! Up until this point sugar babies were just a candy I had enjoyed as a child!
Natalie is 21 and is your typical college student, struggling each day to make ends meet. She is working as a waitress and must endure the endless raunchy comments and put on a smile in order to get tips and pay the bills. Yet she likes to party and makes some bad choices in the men department when she has her "beer goggles" on. Often waking up to regret her choices and wonder why she continues in this cycle.
Natalie ends up befriending a fellow student named Ava, unbeknownst to her, Ava has it all. The best zip code, clothes, possessions. Except Ava doesn't work and didn't come from money. Well Nat...welcome to the sugar bowl baby! Life here means you can have it all. As Ava introduces Natalie to the sugar baby lifestyle things start to heat up. Can Natalie handle this lifestyle? Can she deal with her inner self saying, hey girl you are making yourself a prostitute just without a pimp? One wrong decision and you could pay with your life in this profession....
I found myself absolutely fascinated and yet disturbed with this. It is so far removed from any reality that I have known, that I kept thinking what a great imagination that the author had. Except that this apparently is reality people! The author did a great deal of in depth research for this book and in my mind that made this even more intriguing. It was like a guilty pleasure to read this book. You know, you really shouldn't enjoy reading about stuff like this but my goodness I did! I couldn't put this down, it kept me up to the early hours of the morning. I was lucky enough to have some great book people to read this with - Traveling Sisters, as there was much to chat about!
Thank you so much to Scout Press for this ARC that I loved! Thank you to Robyn Harding for this fantastic tantalizing book!
Natalie is 21 and is your typical college student, struggling each day to make ends meet. She is working as a waitress and must endure the endless raunchy comments and put on a smile in order to get tips and pay the bills. Yet she likes to party and makes some bad choices in the men department when she has her "beer goggles" on. Often waking up to regret her choices and wonder why she continues in this cycle.
Natalie ends up befriending a fellow student named Ava, unbeknownst to her, Ava has it all. The best zip code, clothes, possessions. Except Ava doesn't work and didn't come from money. Well Nat...welcome to the sugar bowl baby! Life here means you can have it all. As Ava introduces Natalie to the sugar baby lifestyle things start to heat up. Can Natalie handle this lifestyle? Can she deal with her inner self saying, hey girl you are making yourself a prostitute just without a pimp? One wrong decision and you could pay with your life in this profession....
I found myself absolutely fascinated and yet disturbed with this. It is so far removed from any reality that I have known, that I kept thinking what a great imagination that the author had. Except that this apparently is reality people! The author did a great deal of in depth research for this book and in my mind that made this even more intriguing. It was like a guilty pleasure to read this book. You know, you really shouldn't enjoy reading about stuff like this but my goodness I did! I couldn't put this down, it kept me up to the early hours of the morning. I was lucky enough to have some great book people to read this with - Traveling Sisters, as there was much to chat about!
Thank you so much to Scout Press for this ARC that I loved! Thank you to Robyn Harding for this fantastic tantalizing book!
August 2, 2019
cli·ché
• a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought.
• a very predictable or unoriginal thing or person.
Based on the description, this is not a book I would normally pick up. Based solely on my Goodreads friends reviews (y'all suck), I picked it up anyway.
I will never question my gut again.
My hope was that this story would offer some depth and grit that is so often absent in books with similar plots. Sadly, my hopes were dashed.
** I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. **
• a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought.
• a very predictable or unoriginal thing or person.
Based on the description, this is not a book I would normally pick up. Based solely on my Goodreads friends reviews (y'all suck), I picked it up anyway.
I will never question my gut again.
My hope was that this story would offer some depth and grit that is so often absent in books with similar plots. Sadly, my hopes were dashed.
** I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. **
October 18, 2019
I am so excited to share this book with all of you. I hope you'll enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thank you!
January 31, 2020
Oh my goodness! Sugar daddy and sugar baby?! Let me say I just love that cover and was so intrigued by the premise of the story.
I have heard amazing things about this author and can finally say that I have experienced her talent myself! Wow.. I devoured this book in over a few days!
What a fast paced and addicting thriller that blew my mind! It's pretty hard to please this thriller lover right here but Harding you have done it girl!!
Ok.. can I just say that I loved Nat's crazy ass!! Talk about unpredictable characters to the max!
The plot was dark, intense, and creepy to the max. This is like jumping in a cool pool after being in the hot weather!
Incredible and highly recommend putting this on your summer thriller TBR!!!
4.5 stars!!!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Gallery/Scout Press for the advanced arc in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 7/30/19
Published to GR/IG: 7/28/19
I have heard amazing things about this author and can finally say that I have experienced her talent myself! Wow.. I devoured this book in over a few days!
What a fast paced and addicting thriller that blew my mind! It's pretty hard to please this thriller lover right here but Harding you have done it girl!!
Ok.. can I just say that I loved Nat's crazy ass!! Talk about unpredictable characters to the max!
The plot was dark, intense, and creepy to the max. This is like jumping in a cool pool after being in the hot weather!
Incredible and highly recommend putting this on your summer thriller TBR!!!
4.5 stars!!!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Gallery/Scout Press for the advanced arc in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 7/30/19
Published to GR/IG: 7/28/19
September 6, 2019
I'm between 4 and 4.5 stars.
Natalie has always wanted to be an artist, perhaps even an illustrator of children's books. She's proud of herself for moving from her small town in Washington to New York City to study, finally getting away from her mother and stepfather and their perfect children, and the possessive boyfriend who wanted to control her.
She loves New York City but is struggling financially. Between tuition, rent, and regular expenses, she can never seem to get her head above water, and in fact, is more in debt than she'd care to be, which doesn't please her two difficult, judgmental roommates, who are searching for any excuse to kick her out. She's working as hard as she can but she doesn't know how it's all going to work.
One day, when discussing her financial woes, a classmate of hers shares a suggestion that has worked for her: become a sugar baby. Nat can put up a profile on a website geared for men looking for attractive younger women to pay for dates and companionship. She could control what she does (and how much she'd get paid for it), and perhaps she could even find a man willing to pay her a monthly allowance to be exclusive.
At first, Nat is absolutely horrified by this concept. There's no way she would find an older man attractive or be willing to do anything, no matter how badly she needs the money. But her opinion changes quickly when she meets Gabe Turnmill, a handsome, powerful attorney who is 30 years Nat's senior. Even though Gabe is paying her to go out with him, she feels like he understands her and views her as more than a sugar baby.
As they spend more time with each other, Nat begins falling in love with Gabe, and she's sure that he feels the same way. But she doesn't know that Gabe hasn't told her the whole truth—that he's actually still married—and he has no intention of walking away from his marriage and his teenage daughter, no matter how attractive he finds Nat and how much she seems to need him.
When Gabe breaks it off with Nat, he expects she'll walk away like all of the other women before her have. He isn't counting on how strongly she feels for him, and how angry she is that he is trying to simply discard her. She thought, despite their arrangement, that things were different, and she vows to make him pay, even while she begs him to take her back. But Gabe isn't going to let anyone jeopardize the life he has built—no matter what that requires.
The Arrangement is a fast-paced, completely addictive story about the thin line between love and obsession, and how easy it is to put aside all logical thought for the sake of sex, love, and/or money. It's the story of protecting yourself and not letting anyone get the best of you, while at the same time it's an insightful commentary on the sugar daddy/sugar baby relationship which is very real in our society today.
While I wouldn't call this a thriller per se, it definitely has some twists and turns, some I saw coming and some I didn't. Robyn Harding doesn't pull any punches when she gives her characters flaws, yet in some small way you feel badly for them when things don't quite go their way. This was one of those books I didn't want to put down, and if I were on a plane I would have easily finished it in one sitting—it's that compelling.
This is the first of Harding's books I've read and it certainly won't be the last. It's a bit of a cross between Pretty Woman and Fatal Attraction , although it's still very much its own book. Pick it up and you probably won't want to put it down!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2018 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.
You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Natalie has always wanted to be an artist, perhaps even an illustrator of children's books. She's proud of herself for moving from her small town in Washington to New York City to study, finally getting away from her mother and stepfather and their perfect children, and the possessive boyfriend who wanted to control her.
She loves New York City but is struggling financially. Between tuition, rent, and regular expenses, she can never seem to get her head above water, and in fact, is more in debt than she'd care to be, which doesn't please her two difficult, judgmental roommates, who are searching for any excuse to kick her out. She's working as hard as she can but she doesn't know how it's all going to work.
One day, when discussing her financial woes, a classmate of hers shares a suggestion that has worked for her: become a sugar baby. Nat can put up a profile on a website geared for men looking for attractive younger women to pay for dates and companionship. She could control what she does (and how much she'd get paid for it), and perhaps she could even find a man willing to pay her a monthly allowance to be exclusive.
At first, Nat is absolutely horrified by this concept. There's no way she would find an older man attractive or be willing to do anything, no matter how badly she needs the money. But her opinion changes quickly when she meets Gabe Turnmill, a handsome, powerful attorney who is 30 years Nat's senior. Even though Gabe is paying her to go out with him, she feels like he understands her and views her as more than a sugar baby.
As they spend more time with each other, Nat begins falling in love with Gabe, and she's sure that he feels the same way. But she doesn't know that Gabe hasn't told her the whole truth—that he's actually still married—and he has no intention of walking away from his marriage and his teenage daughter, no matter how attractive he finds Nat and how much she seems to need him.
When Gabe breaks it off with Nat, he expects she'll walk away like all of the other women before her have. He isn't counting on how strongly she feels for him, and how angry she is that he is trying to simply discard her. She thought, despite their arrangement, that things were different, and she vows to make him pay, even while she begs him to take her back. But Gabe isn't going to let anyone jeopardize the life he has built—no matter what that requires.
The Arrangement is a fast-paced, completely addictive story about the thin line between love and obsession, and how easy it is to put aside all logical thought for the sake of sex, love, and/or money. It's the story of protecting yourself and not letting anyone get the best of you, while at the same time it's an insightful commentary on the sugar daddy/sugar baby relationship which is very real in our society today.
While I wouldn't call this a thriller per se, it definitely has some twists and turns, some I saw coming and some I didn't. Robyn Harding doesn't pull any punches when she gives her characters flaws, yet in some small way you feel badly for them when things don't quite go their way. This was one of those books I didn't want to put down, and if I were on a plane I would have easily finished it in one sitting—it's that compelling.
This is the first of Harding's books I've read and it certainly won't be the last. It's a bit of a cross between Pretty Woman and Fatal Attraction , although it's still very much its own book. Pick it up and you probably won't want to put it down!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2018 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.
You can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
August 4, 2019
4 Stars
There are books that make me cover my eyes in embarrassment and then there is “The Arrangement.” My oh my, this one was a doozy!
There is a website that young women can go to, one that will change their lives forever. Young women login to find a “Sugar Daddy” - a wealthy older man who will pay her for companionship - coffee dates or dinner, which can lead to even more, spending nights together and even a monthly allowance. She then becomes a “Sugar Baby.” Can you say cringeworthy?!
Natalie is a young college woman who is having trouble making ends meet. She is literally destitute and is afraid her roommates are about to kick her out when she meets Ava, a girl in one of her classes who lives in a gorgeous apartment and seems to have it all. Natalie can’t help but ask how. Turns out Ava is a Sugar Baby. Natalie decides to give it a try and there, she meets Gabe. Thirty years her senior, he gives her everything she needs. Soon, she falls in love with him. Little does she know that he’s married. Tsk Tsk Natalie!
The beauty of “The Arrangement” is that Gabe can call it off at any time. Sorry Gabe.. that’s not what Natalie had in mind. Ahh, relationships these days, they are oh so complicated!
What a crazy read “The Arrangement” turned out to be! I was all in right up until about the ¾ mark - when unfortunately, I guessed the ending and felt like things went off the rails a little. All in all however, I thought this was a fun and completely wild read (even though I had to cover my eyes at the outset!).
Another fun buddy read with Kaceey!
Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Threshold Pocket Books and Robyn Harding for an arc of this novel one exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 8.3.19.
There are books that make me cover my eyes in embarrassment and then there is “The Arrangement.” My oh my, this one was a doozy!
There is a website that young women can go to, one that will change their lives forever. Young women login to find a “Sugar Daddy” - a wealthy older man who will pay her for companionship - coffee dates or dinner, which can lead to even more, spending nights together and even a monthly allowance. She then becomes a “Sugar Baby.” Can you say cringeworthy?!
Natalie is a young college woman who is having trouble making ends meet. She is literally destitute and is afraid her roommates are about to kick her out when she meets Ava, a girl in one of her classes who lives in a gorgeous apartment and seems to have it all. Natalie can’t help but ask how. Turns out Ava is a Sugar Baby. Natalie decides to give it a try and there, she meets Gabe. Thirty years her senior, he gives her everything she needs. Soon, she falls in love with him. Little does she know that he’s married. Tsk Tsk Natalie!
The beauty of “The Arrangement” is that Gabe can call it off at any time. Sorry Gabe.. that’s not what Natalie had in mind. Ahh, relationships these days, they are oh so complicated!
What a crazy read “The Arrangement” turned out to be! I was all in right up until about the ¾ mark - when unfortunately, I guessed the ending and felt like things went off the rails a little. All in all however, I thought this was a fun and completely wild read (even though I had to cover my eyes at the outset!).
Another fun buddy read with Kaceey!
Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery Threshold Pocket Books and Robyn Harding for an arc of this novel one exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 8.3.19.
December 4, 2023
I ate this UP. I’m obsessed with Harding’s writing style, so compulsive and bingeable, this was such a fun and messy thriller and I neeeed more like it!
August 3, 2019
LOVED IT!!! And if you love fast-paced entertaining stories with characters that go completely off the rails you are going to LOVE! IT! TOO!
sugar Daddy vs Sugar Baby! In this corner weighing in at 120 pounds in the slutty dress we have 21-year-old naïve struggling student Natalie. And in the other corner weighing in at 185 pounds in the expensive suit we have wealthy manipulative narcissistic 55-year-old Gabe. Ding ding ding let the fight begin, let the punches begin flying! Just like a boxing match this book is a little messy, a little bloody, will make you a little uncomfortable, but it is oh SO much fun!
Robyn Harding Took me on one wild and crazy ride. Natalie is a struggling art student in New York. So when a classmate tells her about this website where she can become a sugarbaby for a wealthy older man four A lot of money she is extremely intrigued. Gabe is her very first sugar daddy, and even though he is 30 years older than Natalie she is entranced. Soon they enter into an “arrangement“ and Natalie is convinced that they are in love. So when the relationship/arrangement ends Natalie is heartbroken. What follows is stalking, obsession, revenge, and so much juicy goodness! Gabe had really underestimated Natalie’s crazy and he seriously got absolutely everything he deserved. My only tiny complaint with this book is that it didn’t get to the crazy part quicker (but that might just be me). I thought the ending was perfection and so appropriate! TKO! Karma is a bitch!
*** thank you to Gallery for my copy of this book ***
sugar Daddy vs Sugar Baby! In this corner weighing in at 120 pounds in the slutty dress we have 21-year-old naïve struggling student Natalie. And in the other corner weighing in at 185 pounds in the expensive suit we have wealthy manipulative narcissistic 55-year-old Gabe. Ding ding ding let the fight begin, let the punches begin flying! Just like a boxing match this book is a little messy, a little bloody, will make you a little uncomfortable, but it is oh SO much fun!
Robyn Harding Took me on one wild and crazy ride. Natalie is a struggling art student in New York. So when a classmate tells her about this website where she can become a sugarbaby for a wealthy older man four A lot of money she is extremely intrigued. Gabe is her very first sugar daddy, and even though he is 30 years older than Natalie she is entranced. Soon they enter into an “arrangement“ and Natalie is convinced that they are in love. So when the relationship/arrangement ends Natalie is heartbroken. What follows is stalking, obsession, revenge, and so much juicy goodness! Gabe had really underestimated Natalie’s crazy and he seriously got absolutely everything he deserved. My only tiny complaint with this book is that it didn’t get to the crazy part quicker (but that might just be me). I thought the ending was perfection and so appropriate! TKO! Karma is a bitch!
*** thank you to Gallery for my copy of this book ***
August 28, 2021
An interesting premise BUT... too many things that turned me off
Nat a 22 year old art student loses her job, she has two choices take a student loan (Yuck) or take on a job as a sugar baby... she chooses the latter unfortunately she didn't look at the job advertisements properly being a sex toy for rich business men she thought would be easy money, but alas it was only company she wanted to give, pity she didn't go into the fine print on the website. the only reason she did is because she owed her housemates money, her Housemate Ava told her it was easy money but she broke all the rules & in the end she paid.
I really didn't like this book by Miss Harding as i am not really into bondage etc so in a way it bored me too tears didn't care for the characters at all even though the pacing was good 2.5 stars
Nat a 22 year old art student loses her job, she has two choices take a student loan (Yuck) or take on a job as a sugar baby... she chooses the latter unfortunately she didn't look at the job advertisements properly being a sex toy for rich business men she thought would be easy money, but alas it was only company she wanted to give, pity she didn't go into the fine print on the website. the only reason she did is because she owed her housemates money, her Housemate Ava told her it was easy money but she broke all the rules & in the end she paid.
I really didn't like this book by Miss Harding as i am not really into bondage etc so in a way it bored me too tears didn't care for the characters at all even though the pacing was good 2.5 stars
August 26, 2019
5 Stars!
I always look forward to Robyn Harding books when they come out. They're so fun to read and usually very bingeable. This one was no exception!
Natalie is young and in New York. She is trying to get through school while also trying to pay her rent and have some food to eat. She meets a friend who tells her about sugar daddies and sugar babies. Natalie isn't sure about the idea but realizes that it may give her the financial freedom that she has been craving. She ends up meeting Gabe on the site, who is married but not satisfied and they start to form the SD/SB relationship but it ends up being more than both were bargaining for.
Suddenly the arrangement that they had agreed on ends and Natalie just cannot seem to get over it. She has developed feelings for this man and can't understand why he has just given up so easily. One night, it all goes very very very wrong and Natalie has to try to remember exactly what happened....
I binged this book in basically one sitting. I needed to know what was going to happen with Natalie and Gabe the entire time. Their relationship was very interesting. I didn't know much about sugar baby and sugar daddy relationships going into this book and I found it to be a very interesting subject to read about. I imagine it happens everywhere but an interesting concept nonetheless.
I loved how fast paced this book was. It was a definite page turner and the book kept me engaged the entire time. I think it showed how real these SB/SD relationships can get and how it can make people go crazy when it doesn't end in a mutual way. I also think the story shows the lengths that some people will go for love, or what they think is love.
Thank you to Gallery books for my ARC of this book - really looking forward to Harding's next book!
She pressed her mouth to the phone, kept her voice low in the crowded frenetic room, the worlds, when they came sounded surprisingly calm. Flat even. Oddly devoid of emotion. "I killed someone," she said.
I always look forward to Robyn Harding books when they come out. They're so fun to read and usually very bingeable. This one was no exception!
Natalie is young and in New York. She is trying to get through school while also trying to pay her rent and have some food to eat. She meets a friend who tells her about sugar daddies and sugar babies. Natalie isn't sure about the idea but realizes that it may give her the financial freedom that she has been craving. She ends up meeting Gabe on the site, who is married but not satisfied and they start to form the SD/SB relationship but it ends up being more than both were bargaining for.
Suddenly the arrangement that they had agreed on ends and Natalie just cannot seem to get over it. She has developed feelings for this man and can't understand why he has just given up so easily. One night, it all goes very very very wrong and Natalie has to try to remember exactly what happened....
I binged this book in basically one sitting. I needed to know what was going to happen with Natalie and Gabe the entire time. Their relationship was very interesting. I didn't know much about sugar baby and sugar daddy relationships going into this book and I found it to be a very interesting subject to read about. I imagine it happens everywhere but an interesting concept nonetheless.
I loved how fast paced this book was. It was a definite page turner and the book kept me engaged the entire time. I think it showed how real these SB/SD relationships can get and how it can make people go crazy when it doesn't end in a mutual way. I also think the story shows the lengths that some people will go for love, or what they think is love.
Thank you to Gallery books for my ARC of this book - really looking forward to Harding's next book!
February 22, 2023
The start of the book was promising. I was drawn in by the desperation of the main character and the enticing opportunity. When the story progressed however, I felt a bit annoyed by the naivety of the main characters. Her behavior became so erratic in the end and it became cringeworthy. The ending was interesting though.
February 20, 2020
“Sometimes, we do things we don’t feel good about to survive. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad person.” ― Robyn Harding, The Arrangement
Review to follow shortly. Love it!
This book is gritty. I loved that about it and the NYC atmosphere added so much to it.
OK..so far this year I have read two thrillers by this author. I did not think it could get any better then "her pretty face" but it has.
So it seems everyone on here has gone over the plot. I will just write my thoughts on the book.
Terrific! And I do not say that lightly. So many thrillers have let me down this year. Some have been bad, some just OK, some have been good. And a few..a rare few..have been jewels.
This year "Jane Doe", "The woman in the window", and "Her pretty face" have been among my favorite thrillers. Now I must add this one.
So the world of sugar daddies is a fascinating one. So many on here say they are fascinated with it. I too found the subject matter hard to resist. In less capable hands, this could easily have been a disaster. But Harding really takes you into the brains of her characters. It is not always a pleasant place to be but it IS a fascinating one.
SPOILERS:
Nat..and how she changes..was, for me, at the heart of this book. I LOVE LOVE LOVE thrillers that also mix human psychology. This author does that. Her last book dealt with Sociopathy. Here not only do we get a book about sugar babies and sugar daddies but we get to see the complete morphing of the main character into someone completely different then we started out with.
And that is fascinating to me. Mystery mixed with the kind of characters whom you get to see change before your eyes makes for a book you can't tear your eyes from.
Nat starts out the book as a relationship phobic and cold girl and turns into that which she has always disliked in others. There is a saying that goes something like: what you hate in others are usually the qualities you yourself have and this book really does advance that theory.
As for the twists? Well..here I have to say:
More Book spoilers and The film The Sixth Sense spoilers:
The Sixth Sense..what does that have to do with the book? Well, let me say I am not always good at figuring out the twists in books and movies. And that is completely unlike my friend "Louise".
"Louise" is one of my best friends going back over twenty years(I am "Thelma") and is also a Goodreads friend. She is a twists genius.
She is also the one who, while watching Sixth sense with me, screamed out: "OH MY GOSH..HE'S DEAD! !" about a quarter of the way through. Luckily "Louise" did not spoil the film for me as it was my second time watching.
But I did figure out most of the twists in this book. I do not think this book is about the twists although some would certainly say different. But for me, although I often love twists, I like Harding's book because of the characters themselves. They nearly always have some type of personality disorder and are always so vividly fleshed out and unique..that is the aspect I adore.
I knew Nat could not have done it because it would have been to easy. And I was pretty sure Violet was involved. I wish though I could have seen more of Nat's friend, the girl from Ohio, in the book. I briefly thought it might be her and that she was one of Gabriel's ex sugar babies but that was not the case and the ending was satisfying.
So I would give this a solid five stars. I hope this becomes a movie but NOT on Lifetime because they would shred it and take out all the depth. This was a wild ride and I loved reading the writer's note about her interviews with people in the industry. Highly recommended as a great Psychological thriller!
Review to follow shortly. Love it!
This book is gritty. I loved that about it and the NYC atmosphere added so much to it.
OK..so far this year I have read two thrillers by this author. I did not think it could get any better then "her pretty face" but it has.
So it seems everyone on here has gone over the plot. I will just write my thoughts on the book.
Terrific! And I do not say that lightly. So many thrillers have let me down this year. Some have been bad, some just OK, some have been good. And a few..a rare few..have been jewels.
This year "Jane Doe", "The woman in the window", and "Her pretty face" have been among my favorite thrillers. Now I must add this one.
So the world of sugar daddies is a fascinating one. So many on here say they are fascinated with it. I too found the subject matter hard to resist. In less capable hands, this could easily have been a disaster. But Harding really takes you into the brains of her characters. It is not always a pleasant place to be but it IS a fascinating one.
SPOILERS:
Nat..and how she changes..was, for me, at the heart of this book. I LOVE LOVE LOVE thrillers that also mix human psychology. This author does that. Her last book dealt with Sociopathy. Here not only do we get a book about sugar babies and sugar daddies but we get to see the complete morphing of the main character into someone completely different then we started out with.
And that is fascinating to me. Mystery mixed with the kind of characters whom you get to see change before your eyes makes for a book you can't tear your eyes from.
Nat starts out the book as a relationship phobic and cold girl and turns into that which she has always disliked in others. There is a saying that goes something like: what you hate in others are usually the qualities you yourself have and this book really does advance that theory.
As for the twists? Well..here I have to say:
More Book spoilers and The film The Sixth Sense spoilers:
The Sixth Sense..what does that have to do with the book? Well, let me say I am not always good at figuring out the twists in books and movies. And that is completely unlike my friend "Louise".
"Louise" is one of my best friends going back over twenty years(I am "Thelma") and is also a Goodreads friend. She is a twists genius.
She is also the one who, while watching Sixth sense with me, screamed out: "OH MY GOSH..HE'S DEAD! !" about a quarter of the way through. Luckily "Louise" did not spoil the film for me as it was my second time watching.
But I did figure out most of the twists in this book. I do not think this book is about the twists although some would certainly say different. But for me, although I often love twists, I like Harding's book because of the characters themselves. They nearly always have some type of personality disorder and are always so vividly fleshed out and unique..that is the aspect I adore.
I knew Nat could not have done it because it would have been to easy. And I was pretty sure Violet was involved. I wish though I could have seen more of Nat's friend, the girl from Ohio, in the book. I briefly thought it might be her and that she was one of Gabriel's ex sugar babies but that was not the case and the ending was satisfying.
So I would give this a solid five stars. I hope this becomes a movie but NOT on Lifetime because they would shred it and take out all the depth. This was a wild ride and I loved reading the writer's note about her interviews with people in the industry. Highly recommended as a great Psychological thriller!
August 12, 2019
4 Stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The synopsis of this book grabbed my attention immediately! A book about Sugar Daddies and Sugar Babies? OKAY! I just knew it would be a rollercoaster of a read! It did not disappoint - it was better than I had anticipated!
Natalie is a poor, naive college girl who is struggling to pay her bills. When she discovers a website that connects rich older men (Sugar Daddies) with young women looking to be spoiled and pampered with financial benefits (Sugar Babies), she’s hesitant at first, but desperation to make some money gets the best of her.
Meet Gabe - a Sugar Daddy (who also happens to be the biggest scum of the earth, in my opinion) who’s looking for a hot, young thing to spoil (nevermind that he’s married with a daughter - PIG). Anyway, shortly after Natalie and Gabe begin their shenanigans, things start to go south. Let me put it like this: if there were a glossary at the end of this book and you looked up the word “psycho”, the definition would read “Natalie”.
The Arrangement is a fun, dark, twisted, messed up read that I found difficult to put down. It’s full of lies, secrets, obsession and revenge with characters that are so vile, yet so entertaining at the same time. How could you not want to read it?
Highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books and Robyn Harding for the advanced copy in exchange for my review.
The synopsis of this book grabbed my attention immediately! A book about Sugar Daddies and Sugar Babies? OKAY! I just knew it would be a rollercoaster of a read! It did not disappoint - it was better than I had anticipated!
Natalie is a poor, naive college girl who is struggling to pay her bills. When she discovers a website that connects rich older men (Sugar Daddies) with young women looking to be spoiled and pampered with financial benefits (Sugar Babies), she’s hesitant at first, but desperation to make some money gets the best of her.
Meet Gabe - a Sugar Daddy (who also happens to be the biggest scum of the earth, in my opinion) who’s looking for a hot, young thing to spoil (nevermind that he’s married with a daughter - PIG). Anyway, shortly after Natalie and Gabe begin their shenanigans, things start to go south. Let me put it like this: if there were a glossary at the end of this book and you looked up the word “psycho”, the definition would read “Natalie”.
The Arrangement is a fun, dark, twisted, messed up read that I found difficult to put down. It’s full of lies, secrets, obsession and revenge with characters that are so vile, yet so entertaining at the same time. How could you not want to read it?
Highly recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books and Robyn Harding for the advanced copy in exchange for my review.
September 3, 2019
Closer to a 3.5 but rounding down because of that ending
This was okay. This was my buddy read with my BFF Jacqueline! This thriller started off so promising and it was so interesting because this girl is living in New York and she becomes so desperate that it seems like getting a sugar daddy and becoming a “sugar baby” is the only way to survive. I was kind of hoping for more drama surrounding the whole sugar daddy aspect of this book, but it ended up being more of a thriller about her past, and this abusive ex that she had, which was fine but kind of boring.
It started to get really interesting though towards the end, but then the ending reveal was so lame and predictable and it also didn’t really make sense.
Overall this was okay, I expected more. But I’m still really looking forward to reading the other books this author has published, this was my first one!
This was okay. This was my buddy read with my BFF Jacqueline! This thriller started off so promising and it was so interesting because this girl is living in New York and she becomes so desperate that it seems like getting a sugar daddy and becoming a “sugar baby” is the only way to survive. I was kind of hoping for more drama surrounding the whole sugar daddy aspect of this book, but it ended up being more of a thriller about her past, and this abusive ex that she had, which was fine but kind of boring.
It started to get really interesting though towards the end, but then the ending reveal was so lame and predictable and it also didn’t really make sense.
Overall this was okay, I expected more. But I’m still really looking forward to reading the other books this author has published, this was my first one!
August 4, 2019
What a dark and twisted tale Robyn Harding wove! I found this book to be a read-in-a-day book for me, because I couldn’t put it down! This should be on your summer thriller list for sure. It is such a unique concept and executed flawlessly. Incredible!!!
Natalie is a struggling art student in NYC. Her roommates are looking for any excuse to evict her, and not paying her rent on time is one of them. She was sleeping with the bartender at work, but he is upset when she tells him she isn’t looking for more. And she isn’t that close to her parents—her mother has moved on and her father left.
So in a desperate and low moment, she approaches her friend from college Ava. How does Ava do it? They are both from poor backgrounds and struggling students, but while Natalie is in goodwill clothes and can’t afford basic proteins for her meals, Ava is living in a penthouse apartment with fabulous clothes and an expensive haircut. Ava let’s her in on the secret—she’s a sugar baby.
Natalie is appalled at first. Is that basically an escort? But soon she learns that there are all sorts of dynamics for sugar babies. Some men just want a pretty girl to have dinner with, or a regular date to the opera. Natalie is willing to try anything to survive. So Natalie finds herself a sugar daddy—a man who will pay her a monthly allowance to be available for dates with him a few nights per week.
Gabe is a gentleman. He takes care of Natalie and cares about her. Though he is thirty years older than her, they connect on so many levels. And it isn’t long until they fall in love. Well, at least Natalie does. Gabe is still married, unbeknownst to Natalie, and he has no plans to leave his family for her. So when things get to be too much with Natalie and he is needed more at home, Gabe breaks off the arrangement. He’s done this before, no problem. But Natalie is different. Natalie is in love. And Natalie won’t accept the ending of their arrangement so easily…
A web of secrets, deception, torment, and lies is wound so tightly, and Natalie is at the center of it all. And then a dead body is found near Gabe’s apartment, and Natalie may be to blame…
What a book! What a story! I was completely invested in this one. For the first half everything is built up so well, and then suddenly everything starts to derail. I don’t want to say too much though so let’s get into safer topics!
Natalie is a fascinating character, and it is hard not to sympathize with her but also sometimes want to shake her. She is truly alone, naïve, and vulnerable, all of which make her a prime candidate for someone like Gabe to both care for and dismiss. Natalie isn’t the typical sugar baby. She is a feelings girl and she doesn’t accept the transactional nature of the situation as easily as the other girls. For Natalie, developing feelings is how she rationalizes what she is doing. It needs to feel like more than a paycheck. But that is also why she is set to be destroyed by the way it ends.
There are lots of other interesting characters. Gabe, for instance, is truly fascinating. I loved that we got some chapters from his perspective. Her roommates Mara and Toni are also truly befuddling. They are very uptight and judgmental, but of course, we see that from Natalie’s perspective. At times I had to check myself to remember that I don’t know if I would do well having a roommate like Natalie, who doesn’t pay her bills on time and has random guys in the apartment.
I could go on about the characters, but I don’t want to spoil it! Suffice it to say that this book is filled with people and stories that will intrigue the mind!
Thank you to Gallery Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.
Natalie is a struggling art student in NYC. Her roommates are looking for any excuse to evict her, and not paying her rent on time is one of them. She was sleeping with the bartender at work, but he is upset when she tells him she isn’t looking for more. And she isn’t that close to her parents—her mother has moved on and her father left.
So in a desperate and low moment, she approaches her friend from college Ava. How does Ava do it? They are both from poor backgrounds and struggling students, but while Natalie is in goodwill clothes and can’t afford basic proteins for her meals, Ava is living in a penthouse apartment with fabulous clothes and an expensive haircut. Ava let’s her in on the secret—she’s a sugar baby.
Natalie is appalled at first. Is that basically an escort? But soon she learns that there are all sorts of dynamics for sugar babies. Some men just want a pretty girl to have dinner with, or a regular date to the opera. Natalie is willing to try anything to survive. So Natalie finds herself a sugar daddy—a man who will pay her a monthly allowance to be available for dates with him a few nights per week.
Gabe is a gentleman. He takes care of Natalie and cares about her. Though he is thirty years older than her, they connect on so many levels. And it isn’t long until they fall in love. Well, at least Natalie does. Gabe is still married, unbeknownst to Natalie, and he has no plans to leave his family for her. So when things get to be too much with Natalie and he is needed more at home, Gabe breaks off the arrangement. He’s done this before, no problem. But Natalie is different. Natalie is in love. And Natalie won’t accept the ending of their arrangement so easily…
A web of secrets, deception, torment, and lies is wound so tightly, and Natalie is at the center of it all. And then a dead body is found near Gabe’s apartment, and Natalie may be to blame…
What a book! What a story! I was completely invested in this one. For the first half everything is built up so well, and then suddenly everything starts to derail. I don’t want to say too much though so let’s get into safer topics!
Natalie is a fascinating character, and it is hard not to sympathize with her but also sometimes want to shake her. She is truly alone, naïve, and vulnerable, all of which make her a prime candidate for someone like Gabe to both care for and dismiss. Natalie isn’t the typical sugar baby. She is a feelings girl and she doesn’t accept the transactional nature of the situation as easily as the other girls. For Natalie, developing feelings is how she rationalizes what she is doing. It needs to feel like more than a paycheck. But that is also why she is set to be destroyed by the way it ends.
There are lots of other interesting characters. Gabe, for instance, is truly fascinating. I loved that we got some chapters from his perspective. Her roommates Mara and Toni are also truly befuddling. They are very uptight and judgmental, but of course, we see that from Natalie’s perspective. At times I had to check myself to remember that I don’t know if I would do well having a roommate like Natalie, who doesn’t pay her bills on time and has random guys in the apartment.
I could go on about the characters, but I don’t want to spoil it! Suffice it to say that this book is filled with people and stories that will intrigue the mind!
Thank you to Gallery Books for my copy. Opinions are my own.
September 28, 2019
Natalie (Nat) Murphy is a 21-year old art student, really struggling financially to make school work as well as survive in New York. As she reaches a desperate point, one of her fellow students who seems to be living well beyond her means suggests that she consider her solution...become a “Sugar Baby” and find herself a safe “Sugar Daddy.” After some soul searching, she decides to give it a try and connects with Gabe Turnmill, a wealthy, fifty-ish lawyer who is handsome and powerful.
One of the reasons I wanted to read this story is because I’ve struggled to understand how young, intelligent women turn to this kind of solution and I trusted this author to give me that insight. Well, mission accomplished as Nat’s descent from a young, talented and idealistic student to the mess she found herself embroiled in was well chronicled and ultimately inevitable. While we have all heard the stories, what resounded for me was just how much Nat was a victim, even though she was the one shunned and judged. The manipulation of young women by powerful older men is so clearly illustrated without filter...it’s that eye opening, even as Nat isn’t always portrayed sympathetically. It’s just tough getting around the predatory behavior.
I also chose to listen to this story and found the narrator wonderful. I thought it challenging to effectively capture both Nat and Gabe but Amanda Dolan pulled it off nicely. I'll definitely be on the lookout for her future book performances.
Some may consider this journey predictable but it’s the subtleties throughout that demand attention...Nat’s interpretations of Gabe’s lies and attentions and his dependence on manipulation. It is a part of who he is and most others like him who create Sugar Babies (note I lay their creation squarely at the feet of these men). You’ll even find yourself liking him. Nat isn’t completely innocent but she certainly was a victim and that’s something that came through loudly. I’ll never look at these young girls the same way again and for that I’m grateful to this story.
(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
One of the reasons I wanted to read this story is because I’ve struggled to understand how young, intelligent women turn to this kind of solution and I trusted this author to give me that insight. Well, mission accomplished as Nat’s descent from a young, talented and idealistic student to the mess she found herself embroiled in was well chronicled and ultimately inevitable. While we have all heard the stories, what resounded for me was just how much Nat was a victim, even though she was the one shunned and judged. The manipulation of young women by powerful older men is so clearly illustrated without filter...it’s that eye opening, even as Nat isn’t always portrayed sympathetically. It’s just tough getting around the predatory behavior.
I also chose to listen to this story and found the narrator wonderful. I thought it challenging to effectively capture both Nat and Gabe but Amanda Dolan pulled it off nicely. I'll definitely be on the lookout for her future book performances.
Some may consider this journey predictable but it’s the subtleties throughout that demand attention...Nat’s interpretations of Gabe’s lies and attentions and his dependence on manipulation. It is a part of who he is and most others like him who create Sugar Babies (note I lay their creation squarely at the feet of these men). You’ll even find yourself liking him. Nat isn’t completely innocent but she certainly was a victim and that’s something that came through loudly. I’ll never look at these young girls the same way again and for that I’m grateful to this story.
(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
October 2, 2019
Art student Natalie Murphy is finding it difficult to make ends meet and things don’t look like they will improve anytime soon. Her job at a local bar pays very little and with rent and bills needing to be paid, Natalie has no idea what she will do. Matters are made even worse when her housemates inform her she needs to pay up or she will have to find somewhere else to live.
Ava a fellow art student suggests that Natalie should sign up to a website that she uses as this could help her with her money troubles. Natalie wondered how Ava was able to afford designer clothes and a very nice apartment and now she knew, but Natalie couldn’t see herself becoming a sugar baby. Getting paid to spend time with men she’d never met before just wasn’t something Natalie could do or was it? If Natalie didn’t get money soon she would be homeless, thus she decides to sign up. Will finding a sugar daddy be the answers to Natalie’s problems?
The Arrangement by Robyn Harding was an engrossing thriller which kept me intrigued right to the end. With thanks to the publishers for my uncorrected proof copy to read and review.
Ava a fellow art student suggests that Natalie should sign up to a website that she uses as this could help her with her money troubles. Natalie wondered how Ava was able to afford designer clothes and a very nice apartment and now she knew, but Natalie couldn’t see herself becoming a sugar baby. Getting paid to spend time with men she’d never met before just wasn’t something Natalie could do or was it? If Natalie didn’t get money soon she would be homeless, thus she decides to sign up. Will finding a sugar daddy be the answers to Natalie’s problems?
The Arrangement by Robyn Harding was an engrossing thriller which kept me intrigued right to the end. With thanks to the publishers for my uncorrected proof copy to read and review.
July 29, 2019
The description on this one sounded too good to pass up. After looking at it a few times, I had to hit the request button.
Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery/Scout Press, and Robyn Harding for this ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
This was a fun read that brought back some of those teenage memories and bad decisions....back when I knew everything 🤣. Nat was a character that I couldn’t help but like, even though I knew she was a train wreck...a very slow one that I couldn’t look away from. Her behavior and choices were absolutely crazy at times, but I couldn’t stop reading!
The author didn’t waste any time. It begins with Nat calling her estranged father, asking for help after she tells him she killed someone. Then it jumps back four months earlier and the juicy parts begin!
We get all the background info on how Nat ends up in NYC at art school...her abandonment by her father, her mother’s remarriage and new family, her stepfather’s non-support of her art school dream, etc.
She becomes art student, struggling to make ends meet by working while attending school. Living in a grubby apartment with two condescending roommates, she can barely afford food and rent. Then Ava, a fellow student and “sugar baby”, has a solution. With the fear of eviction and returning home right around the corner, Nat decides to give the questionable lifestyle a try. Just a few dates, to get caught up on bills. Going out with older men completely grosses her out. Yea, right! She meets Gabe and forgets the biggest rule...it’s an arrangement, you don’t fall in love. Nat is young and naive...Gabe is a self-indulgent, narcissist who takes advantage of her innocence, until she’s no longer needed.
A great weekend read. This was my first book by Robyn Harding. It has everything...sex, obsession, betrayal, deceit and murder. I loved it!
My Rating: 4 ⭐️’s
Published: July 30th 2019 by Gallery/Scout Press
Pages: 352
Recommend: Yes
Thank you to NetGalley, Gallery/Scout Press, and Robyn Harding for this ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
This was a fun read that brought back some of those teenage memories and bad decisions....back when I knew everything 🤣. Nat was a character that I couldn’t help but like, even though I knew she was a train wreck...a very slow one that I couldn’t look away from. Her behavior and choices were absolutely crazy at times, but I couldn’t stop reading!
The author didn’t waste any time. It begins with Nat calling her estranged father, asking for help after she tells him she killed someone. Then it jumps back four months earlier and the juicy parts begin!
We get all the background info on how Nat ends up in NYC at art school...her abandonment by her father, her mother’s remarriage and new family, her stepfather’s non-support of her art school dream, etc.
She becomes art student, struggling to make ends meet by working while attending school. Living in a grubby apartment with two condescending roommates, she can barely afford food and rent. Then Ava, a fellow student and “sugar baby”, has a solution. With the fear of eviction and returning home right around the corner, Nat decides to give the questionable lifestyle a try. Just a few dates, to get caught up on bills. Going out with older men completely grosses her out. Yea, right! She meets Gabe and forgets the biggest rule...it’s an arrangement, you don’t fall in love. Nat is young and naive...Gabe is a self-indulgent, narcissist who takes advantage of her innocence, until she’s no longer needed.
A great weekend read. This was my first book by Robyn Harding. It has everything...sex, obsession, betrayal, deceit and murder. I loved it!
My Rating: 4 ⭐️’s
Published: July 30th 2019 by Gallery/Scout Press
Pages: 352
Recommend: Yes
August 27, 2019
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
So, you know, 100% a Sugar Daddy/Sugar Baby story.
Meet Natalie . . . .
Barely able to keep her head above water by waiting tables while attending art school, she really finds herself in a bind when she’s fired from her job and her roommates start demanding all the back rent/bill money she owes them. Welcome to the SUGAR BOWL! A potentially lucrative new venture a classmate introduces Natalie to where wealthy gentlemen pay attractive young women for their companionship. It’s there Natalie meets (and promptly falls for) Gabe. But rather than this . . . .
This is a story that goes a little more like this . . . . .
Despite the fact that this sits on a shelf named “Guilty Pleasure” – please note it is only due to lack of a better term . . . . .
It is, however, a Lifetime Stabs and Stabbies for Women type of drama. The story (aside from the Sugar Daddy angle) isn’t particularly fresh, the characters are all halfway developed and fully uggo, and the twists and turns aren’t too hard to spot. But that’s the reason it works. Basically . . . .
I saw more than one mom at the pool with this over the summer. We all a bunch of trashy hos!
So, you know, 100% a Sugar Daddy/Sugar Baby story.
Meet Natalie . . . .
Barely able to keep her head above water by waiting tables while attending art school, she really finds herself in a bind when she’s fired from her job and her roommates start demanding all the back rent/bill money she owes them. Welcome to the SUGAR BOWL! A potentially lucrative new venture a classmate introduces Natalie to where wealthy gentlemen pay attractive young women for their companionship. It’s there Natalie meets (and promptly falls for) Gabe. But rather than this . . . .
This is a story that goes a little more like this . . . . .
Despite the fact that this sits on a shelf named “Guilty Pleasure” – please note it is only due to lack of a better term . . . . .
It is, however, a Lifetime Stabs and Stabbies for Women type of drama. The story (aside from the Sugar Daddy angle) isn’t particularly fresh, the characters are all halfway developed and fully uggo, and the twists and turns aren’t too hard to spot. But that’s the reason it works. Basically . . . .
I saw more than one mom at the pool with this over the summer. We all a bunch of trashy hos!
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