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The Arrangement #1
The Arrangement
Ainsley Greenburg is a fixer.
It’s what she prides herself on.
So, when she realizes her marriage is at its breaking point, she makes a decision to repair it, no matter the cost. Approaching her husband to propose the arrangement is supposed to be the hard part, but Peter agrees to the salacious plan almost immediately.
The rules are simple:
They will each date someone new once a week.
They will never discuss what happens on the dates.
Soon, though, the rules are broken, turning terrible mistakes into unspeakable consequences.
When the only person they can count on to keep their darkest secret is each other, new questions and deceits surface. Can they truly trust the person they share a life with, or will the vicious lies that have mounted over the years destroy everything they’ve built?
Once, Peter and Ainsley vowed to stand together forever, but as they push boundaries of deception, suspicion, and temptation, each begins to wonder if ’til death do us part may come sooner than they’d intended.
It’s what she prides herself on.
So, when she realizes her marriage is at its breaking point, she makes a decision to repair it, no matter the cost. Approaching her husband to propose the arrangement is supposed to be the hard part, but Peter agrees to the salacious plan almost immediately.
The rules are simple:
They will each date someone new once a week.
They will never discuss what happens on the dates.
Soon, though, the rules are broken, turning terrible mistakes into unspeakable consequences.
When the only person they can count on to keep their darkest secret is each other, new questions and deceits surface. Can they truly trust the person they share a life with, or will the vicious lies that have mounted over the years destroy everything they’ve built?
Once, Peter and Ainsley vowed to stand together forever, but as they push boundaries of deception, suspicion, and temptation, each begins to wonder if ’til death do us part may come sooner than they’d intended.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 28, 2021
18629 people are currently reading
113930 people want to read
About the author
Kiersten Modglin
57 books14.3k followersKIERSTEN MODGLIN is a #1 bestselling author of psychological thrillers. Her books have sold over two million copies and been translated into multiple languages. Kiersten is a member of International Thriller Writers, Novelists, Inc., and the Alliance of Independent Authors. She is a KDP Select All-Star and a recipient of ThrillerFix's Best Psychological Thriller Award, Suspense Magazine's Best Book of 2021 Award, a 2022 Silver Falchion for Best Suspense, and a 2022 Silver Falchion for Best Overall Book of 2021. Kiersten grew up in rural western Kentucky and later relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where she now lives with her family. Kiersten's readers across the world lovingly refer to her as "KMod." A binge-watching expert, psychology fanatic, and indoor enthusiast, Kiersten enjoys rainy days spent with her favorite people and evenings with her nose in a book.
CONNECT WITH KIERSTEN:
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Kiersten Modglin may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:
➜ kierstenmodglinauthor.com/events
CONNECT WITH KIERSTEN:
➜ WEBSITE: kierstenmodglinauthor.com
➜ NEWSLETTER: kierstenmodglinauthor.com/nlsignup
➜ FACEBOOK: facebook.com/kierstenmodglinauthor
➜ KMOD SQUAD: facebook.com/groups/kmodsquad
➜ INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/kierstenmodglinauthor
➜ THREADS: threads.net/@kierstenmodglinauthor
➜ TIKTOK: tiktok.com/@kierstenmodglinauthor
➜ TEXT ALERTS: kierstenmodglinauthor.com/textalerts
Kiersten Modglin may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:
➜ kierstenmodglinauthor.com/events
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 12,842 reviews
February 12, 2022
Sorry, honey.
Rules are rules.
OMG, hahaha!
The Arrangement packs a lot of punch for a 200 page book. It screams entertainment!
A successful couple, Ainsley and Peter have a rocky marriage. They've been trying different things to make the marriage work. Their last avenue is to see if meeting other people once a week would reignite their marriage. What could go wrong? 😉
Ainsley found a dating app and both of them found a match without any problem. The arrangement is that she'll make connections on Tuesdays and he Thursdays. They aren't allowed to know who the other is meeting or what happens on a date. It's a total secret, especially from their three children. Those are the rules.
Oh, my word. I thought I hate it when a book has too many twists, but I welcome all that Kiersten Modglin threw at me. This is my second novel by her and you can bet on it that I'll be reading more.
Easy, quick, and fun read - on KU and Hoopla.
July 9, 2021
Did I get immediately hooked? Yes. Did I keep turning the pages because I had to know what would happen? Absolutely yes. Did I blow thru this in a couple hours in one setting? Again, yes. Usually that’s a recipe for a great book with all the stars. Except it wasn’t.
This book reminded me of a writing exercise my elementary teacher had us do in fifth grade. She had paper bags for each element of the story. We each wrote down ideas for the different elements on slips of paper, then dropped them in each bag. She shook up each bag, then we each pulled out a slip. We were left with a random collection of story elements that we then had to find a way to weave together into one story.
That’s what this book feels like to me. The author brainstormed a ton of twisty ideas from various psychological thriller tropes, then said, “Let’s make this fit!” Except it doesn’t fit at all. So instead of being blindsided by the twists with your chin dropped, you’re left confused and scratching your head like WHAT? I also have zero empathy for any characters once the story is over. Well, I do have it for their kids. I mean WTF. Someone call Children’s Services, please.
This book reminded me of a writing exercise my elementary teacher had us do in fifth grade. She had paper bags for each element of the story. We each wrote down ideas for the different elements on slips of paper, then dropped them in each bag. She shook up each bag, then we each pulled out a slip. We were left with a random collection of story elements that we then had to find a way to weave together into one story.
That’s what this book feels like to me. The author brainstormed a ton of twisty ideas from various psychological thriller tropes, then said, “Let’s make this fit!” Except it doesn’t fit at all. So instead of being blindsided by the twists with your chin dropped, you’re left confused and scratching your head like WHAT? I also have zero empathy for any characters once the story is over. Well, I do have it for their kids. I mean WTF. Someone call Children’s Services, please.
May 14, 2025
Ok wow yeah I inhaled this
April 4, 2021
Always happy to discover new thriller authors! I'm certainly going to read other books from Modglin when I need a short, fast-paced read full of twists.
The first half was amazing! I could have read a book only about Ainsley and Peter's relationship and their attempt to have an open marriage.The characters were a bit flat, but the premise was definitely interesting. Then, in the second half, I thought there were too many twists, but sometimes you're just in the mood for an entertaining book!
Thanks to Kindle Unlimited, I can now easily read Modglin other books! Three of them are already on my TBR.
3.5 because the ending was a bit far-fetched...
The first half was amazing! I could have read a book only about Ainsley and Peter's relationship and their attempt to have an open marriage.The characters were a bit flat, but the premise was definitely interesting. Then, in the second half, I thought there were too many twists, but sometimes you're just in the mood for an entertaining book!
Thanks to Kindle Unlimited, I can now easily read Modglin other books! Three of them are already on my TBR.
3.5 because the ending was a bit far-fetched...
February 25, 2022
Wow! This book was CRAZY! There were so many twists and they all took me by surprise. Even though some of the characters’ actions were somewhat implausible, this thriller was suspenseful, fast paced and extremely entertaining. The narration of the audiobook brought the characters to life and added an extra layer of intrigue. This was my introduction to Kiersten Modglin and I can’t wait to read more of her thrillers!
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my audiobook. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my audiobook. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 26, 2022
I'm not going to review this one, but overall, it did not work for me. The plot did keep me reading until the end, although I was close to ditching it several times.
Convoluted, twisty (t0o twisted), and couldn't get onboard!
This author just doesn't work for me.
Convoluted, twisty (t0o twisted), and couldn't get onboard!
This author just doesn't work for me.
March 6, 2022
Rating ⭐⭐⭐.5
~ Quick Summary ~
Peter and Ainsley’s marriage is breaking apart. As a last resort, Ainsley proposes a new arrangement where they can casually date other people and to never discuss it. What could possibly go wrong?
~ Pick this up if you enjoy/don’t mind the following ~
😲Crazy twists that don’t stop! (And I’m a hard person to surprise!)
📙Focus is solely on the plot
🤯 Be ready to suspend belief
⏩ Quick, easy and mindless read
🏃 Fast paced
~ What I Enjoyed ~
The first part felt like a pretty ordinary domestic drama, then the first small twist happened and I was already feeling entertained and hooked. And then OH MY it escalated quickly and did not stop! I’ve read a lot of mystery thrillers and not much surprises me but this sure did!
~ What I didn’t enjoy ~
This isn’t the type of book that leaves clues or hints, the twists are thrown right at your face and out of nowhere. While it did have the shock factor there was no development or build up to each of the twists.
One of the characters had such a drastic change in the end I got whiplash. I was definitely shocked but my reaction wasn’t “woh didn’t see that coming, but yes that made sense”. Instead I was thinking “Woh didn’t see that coming, but wtf?” Haha!
Other head scratching moments:
.
~ Quick Summary ~
Peter and Ainsley’s marriage is breaking apart. As a last resort, Ainsley proposes a new arrangement where they can casually date other people and to never discuss it. What could possibly go wrong?
~ Pick this up if you enjoy/don’t mind the following ~
😲Crazy twists that don’t stop! (And I’m a hard person to surprise!)
📙Focus is solely on the plot
🤯 Be ready to suspend belief
⏩ Quick, easy and mindless read
🏃 Fast paced
~ What I Enjoyed ~
The first part felt like a pretty ordinary domestic drama, then the first small twist happened and I was already feeling entertained and hooked. And then OH MY it escalated quickly and did not stop! I’ve read a lot of mystery thrillers and not much surprises me but this sure did!
~ What I didn’t enjoy ~
This isn’t the type of book that leaves clues or hints, the twists are thrown right at your face and out of nowhere. While it did have the shock factor there was no development or build up to each of the twists.
One of the characters had such a drastic change in the end I got whiplash. I was definitely shocked but my reaction wasn’t “woh didn’t see that coming, but yes that made sense”. Instead I was thinking “Woh didn’t see that coming, but wtf?” Haha!
Other head scratching moments:
.
March 20, 2021
This is an incredibly unbelievable book. I’m rethinking my two stars as I type, because one might be more appropriate. I know that domestic thrillers can have an improbable event or actions, but this novels strings implausiblities like a child strings beads on a necklace. But, when a character acts out of character-and the two main characters do this multiple times-it’s not working for me.
Honestly, if this had not been a selection for my book club, I definitely would have bailed out and read a good book.
Honestly, if this had not been a selection for my book club, I definitely would have bailed out and read a good book.
August 6, 2022
When u think u know whats going on with these fuckers i promise u … u do not 😂😂😂😂
June 28, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up. I think there were a few too many twists, I'm not a fan of lying to the reader with first person POV. It was engaging and very surprising though, so extra points for that.
This is the story of a couple whose relationship has become lackluster and boring. Ainsley finds herself longing for the days when her children were younger and needed her and when she and her husband Peter connected fully. So she proposes an "arrangement" where they each have one night each week to go on dates with other people, possibly more, in order to spice up their marriage. Things don't exactly go as planned though...
The setup for this tale immediately reminded me of Last Couple Standing by Matthew Norman. I'm NOT a fan of cheating in books, even when the couple agrees to it. The only reason I had decided to continue with the book knowing this is that I recently read another book by this author (The Missing) and loved the twists she threw in, so I was expecting more of the same with this one and wasn't disappointed. There are definitely some shocking twists in this book and the ultimate ending, although really far-fetched, was great.
Like I mentioned above, I did knock a half point off of the rating due to the first person characters lying to the reader. It doesn't work for me--leave the information out if you must, but except for rare instances, people don't lie in their own heads and if they do it is definitely not to the extent this book carries it.
I started out listening to this book as an audiobook and enjoyed the dual narrators for both Ainsley and Peter. This novel is incredibly fast paced and although I was thoroughly engaged with listening to the story, I switched over to the e-book so I could find out what happened. Fortunately it was available via KU, so that was a bonus to be able to switch back and forth between the formats.
I will definitely check out further books by this author in the future, I love the way she crafts twists and surprises.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this audiobook from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
This is the story of a couple whose relationship has become lackluster and boring. Ainsley finds herself longing for the days when her children were younger and needed her and when she and her husband Peter connected fully. So she proposes an "arrangement" where they each have one night each week to go on dates with other people, possibly more, in order to spice up their marriage. Things don't exactly go as planned though...
The setup for this tale immediately reminded me of Last Couple Standing by Matthew Norman. I'm NOT a fan of cheating in books, even when the couple agrees to it. The only reason I had decided to continue with the book knowing this is that I recently read another book by this author (The Missing) and loved the twists she threw in, so I was expecting more of the same with this one and wasn't disappointed. There are definitely some shocking twists in this book and the ultimate ending, although really far-fetched, was great.
Like I mentioned above, I did knock a half point off of the rating due to the first person characters lying to the reader. It doesn't work for me--leave the information out if you must, but except for rare instances, people don't lie in their own heads and if they do it is definitely not to the extent this book carries it.
I started out listening to this book as an audiobook and enjoyed the dual narrators for both Ainsley and Peter. This novel is incredibly fast paced and although I was thoroughly engaged with listening to the story, I switched over to the e-book so I could find out what happened. Fortunately it was available via KU, so that was a bonus to be able to switch back and forth between the formats.
I will definitely check out further books by this author in the future, I love the way she crafts twists and surprises.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this audiobook from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
August 15, 2022
What. Just. Happened?! Kiersten Modglin has my attention after twisting my mind into a pretzel. Peter and Ainsley are probably the most messed up couple I have read about in a book since I met Nick & Amy in Gone Girl. The comparisons to books by Samantha Downing and Robyn Harding are also spot on. This is a book you will read in a day or two, but it will remain in your mind much longer. For better or worse? You decide.
This is where it all started. If you have not read this series yet, be sure to buckle up before jumping in. It is quite a ride.
This is where it all started. If you have not read this series yet, be sure to buckle up before jumping in. It is quite a ride.
June 28, 2021
A great, twisty, suspenseful story with an ending that goes a bit too far into crazytown. (And this is coming from someone who LOVES crazytown.) But still a great read.
This is the story of a marriage in crisis. Ainsley and her husband Peter have what appears to outsiders to be a great marriage, but in reality it's been floundering for awhile. There is no excitement anymore, no sex really, no danger or thrills. So the couple decides on an "arrangement" for each of them to see other people, following very specific rules. This arrangement, of course, does not fix the marriage, but results in disaster, murder, and deception. Will the couple's foray into the forbidden fix their marriage or destroy it?
I really enjoyed the audiobook and the two narrators. Modglin does a fantastic job of revealing twists and shockers all the way through. I was fully invested in, and intrigued by, the story, and was surprised by a great many of the twists. The story of the two characters and the secrets they keep in the marriage was always intriguing. One of the ending twists (the second-to last one) was a bit over the top for my tastes, and did not really have a valid reason or motive to back it up. But I could forgive that, because the rest of the book was so much fun to listen to. And the FINAL final twist (which I had guessed) was a great one and very clever.
This was my first book by Kiersten Modglin and I'm definitely excited to read another one. She knows how to bring the suspense and the surprising twists.
Thanks to Dreamscape Media, NetGalley, and the author for this advance audiobook. 4 plus stars for lots of wicked fun.
This is the story of a marriage in crisis. Ainsley and her husband Peter have what appears to outsiders to be a great marriage, but in reality it's been floundering for awhile. There is no excitement anymore, no sex really, no danger or thrills. So the couple decides on an "arrangement" for each of them to see other people, following very specific rules. This arrangement, of course, does not fix the marriage, but results in disaster, murder, and deception. Will the couple's foray into the forbidden fix their marriage or destroy it?
I really enjoyed the audiobook and the two narrators. Modglin does a fantastic job of revealing twists and shockers all the way through. I was fully invested in, and intrigued by, the story, and was surprised by a great many of the twists. The story of the two characters and the secrets they keep in the marriage was always intriguing. One of the ending twists (the second-to last one) was a bit over the top for my tastes, and did not really have a valid reason or motive to back it up. But I could forgive that, because the rest of the book was so much fun to listen to. And the FINAL final twist (which I had guessed) was a great one and very clever.
This was my first book by Kiersten Modglin and I'm definitely excited to read another one. She knows how to bring the suspense and the surprising twists.
Thanks to Dreamscape Media, NetGalley, and the author for this advance audiobook. 4 plus stars for lots of wicked fun.
February 5, 2022
Jaw Dropping, Shocking, Crazy, Deranged, Unbelievable, twist after twist.................DEFIANTLY NOT MY SORT OF THING........and yet I could not stop reading and for that I am awarding it 3.5 Stars just for its madness.
I downloaded this book in a hurry for a weekend away with my husband and thought, Psychological thriller, fast paced, 5 hours perfect for the road trip. Oh Man! it was..... and it wasn't.... the most bizarre choice as it was so far fetched, unbelievable and yet we were caught up in the madness as to what the heck was going to happen.
Certainly not everyone's cup of tea and I could very easily have abandoned after the first few chapters but just every now and then its good to read something that shocks and keeps you guessing and trust me this is one you need to be prepared to suspend disbelief and just go with the flow.
I can defiantly see this one turned into a crazy movie.
I downloaded this book in a hurry for a weekend away with my husband and thought, Psychological thriller, fast paced, 5 hours perfect for the road trip. Oh Man! it was..... and it wasn't.... the most bizarre choice as it was so far fetched, unbelievable and yet we were caught up in the madness as to what the heck was going to happen.
Certainly not everyone's cup of tea and I could very easily have abandoned after the first few chapters but just every now and then its good to read something that shocks and keeps you guessing and trust me this is one you need to be prepared to suspend disbelief and just go with the flow.
I can defiantly see this one turned into a crazy movie.
February 25, 2022
4.5 stars
This was so good. Fast-paced from the beginning to the end, twist after twist, layer after layer until the whole story is revealed. It might not be one hundred percent realistic, but it was cleverly done. I love it when an author manages to give the clues but still lead me into wrong conclusion.
Maybe there were a bit too many little twists and I sort of wish the story ended with the chapter before the last, but it made sense in the end, so I'm not complaining much.
5 stars for the audiobook. Both narrators were excellent. Sarah Mollo-Christensen's voice for male characters is amazing.
This was so good. Fast-paced from the beginning to the end, twist after twist, layer after layer until the whole story is revealed. It might not be one hundred percent realistic, but it was cleverly done. I love it when an author manages to give the clues but still lead me into wrong conclusion.
Maybe there were a bit too many little twists and I sort of wish the story ended with the chapter before the last, but it made sense in the end, so I'm not complaining much.
5 stars for the audiobook. Both narrators were excellent. Sarah Mollo-Christensen's voice for male characters is amazing.
July 14, 2021
The ending. The ending. The ending....
Spoiler:
Spoiler:
January 14, 2022
I loved this audiobook! A quick read, it kept me wondering where it was going the whole way through.
Ainsley and Peter Greenburg are at a crossroads in their marriage. In an attempt to repair their relationship, they come to an arrangement where each of them can sleep with other people, no strings attached. What started as an innocent arrangement with clear rules turns into a messy situation with numerous secrets revealed.
Told in alternating chapters you get both Ainsley and Peter’s perspective this is definitely a book you will not be able to put down.
The audio narrators do an amazing job of telling this story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media LLC for this ARC
Ainsley and Peter Greenburg are at a crossroads in their marriage. In an attempt to repair their relationship, they come to an arrangement where each of them can sleep with other people, no strings attached. What started as an innocent arrangement with clear rules turns into a messy situation with numerous secrets revealed.
Told in alternating chapters you get both Ainsley and Peter’s perspective this is definitely a book you will not be able to put down.
The audio narrators do an amazing job of telling this story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media LLC for this ARC
August 23, 2021
"I own your secret now, Peter. I own you.”
The Arrangement
by Kiersten Modglin
You know I feel a bit hypocritical. The reason for that is because often I give a low rating to books like this, with so many twists.
You have to suspend disbelief.
Twist after twist after twist.
OH-HOW I LOVED IT!
Maybe this writer just does it the best. I have seen others say it too. But it is true that on paper -- this would not seem to be my thing. I like domestic thrillers but this one had more twists then Politics has liars. Seriously--there is a heck of a lot of twists!
But somehow I read straight through.And it was excellent.
The only reason for no five star is because I really do think the first half was better than the second.
This book is about a couple whose relationship is falling apart through neglect. They still love each other, just not the way they did before. And they are desperate to get that passion back. So, in the spirit of bad decisions, they decide to fix their relationship by sleeping with other people.
I said the book was good -- I didn't say the characters were smart.
Well of coarse it all goes wrong. But the first half is about their experience trying to make matches. And it was unexpectedly fascinating.
Peter, the pu##ywhipped Husband, is alternatively scared and excited. He is smart, hard working and a bit of a wuss. He also doesn't know how to feel about this experiment. (Don't worry--old man Pete makes a decision on that pretty soon.)
Ainsley (Gosh, I love that name) is loving but sad. All she wants to do is -- sob -- get Petey to love her again.
Which is why she has to sleep with someone else.
I liked the first part because it was so psychological. You see both of these married folks trying to be cool and with-it on the modern dating site and there is a feeling of sinister creepiness because the reader KNOWS something is going to happen.....
The second half is where the twists start. Like high tide, they just keep rolling and rolling...one actually had me hysterical with laughter. But the thing is--I was so deeply invested by this point I had to know what would happen.
No spoilers here -- this book will not be for everyone and yes it is so not plausible on any level but I have been down lately and this book really helped bring me back up. I must do something I rarely do--mention the author. Her tribute in the beginning found its way into my heart. If I had gone to school with this author I am pretty sure we'd have been friends. I am a fiery person with messy hair which will not make much sense to you unless you read the tribute.
Oh--part two please!!!!!
So--four stars. Anybody out there looking for a quick, fun and crazy read? You've found your book.
The Arrangement
by Kiersten Modglin
You know I feel a bit hypocritical. The reason for that is because often I give a low rating to books like this, with so many twists.
You have to suspend disbelief.
Twist after twist after twist.
OH-HOW I LOVED IT!
Maybe this writer just does it the best. I have seen others say it too. But it is true that on paper -- this would not seem to be my thing. I like domestic thrillers but this one had more twists then Politics has liars. Seriously--there is a heck of a lot of twists!
But somehow I read straight through.And it was excellent.
The only reason for no five star is because I really do think the first half was better than the second.
This book is about a couple whose relationship is falling apart through neglect. They still love each other, just not the way they did before. And they are desperate to get that passion back. So, in the spirit of bad decisions, they decide to fix their relationship by sleeping with other people.
I said the book was good -- I didn't say the characters were smart.
Well of coarse it all goes wrong. But the first half is about their experience trying to make matches. And it was unexpectedly fascinating.
Peter, the pu##ywhipped Husband, is alternatively scared and excited. He is smart, hard working and a bit of a wuss. He also doesn't know how to feel about this experiment. (Don't worry--old man Pete makes a decision on that pretty soon.)
Ainsley (Gosh, I love that name) is loving but sad. All she wants to do is -- sob -- get Petey to love her again.
Which is why she has to sleep with someone else.
I liked the first part because it was so psychological. You see both of these married folks trying to be cool and with-it on the modern dating site and there is a feeling of sinister creepiness because the reader KNOWS something is going to happen.....
The second half is where the twists start. Like high tide, they just keep rolling and rolling...one actually had me hysterical with laughter. But the thing is--I was so deeply invested by this point I had to know what would happen.
No spoilers here -- this book will not be for everyone and yes it is so not plausible on any level but I have been down lately and this book really helped bring me back up. I must do something I rarely do--mention the author. Her tribute in the beginning found its way into my heart. If I had gone to school with this author I am pretty sure we'd have been friends. I am a fiery person with messy hair which will not make much sense to you unless you read the tribute.
Oh--part two please!!!!!
So--four stars. Anybody out there looking for a quick, fun and crazy read? You've found your book.
April 27, 2021
There are twist endings that you don’t see coming and blow your mind. Then there are twist endings you don’t see coming and you roll your eyes. This is the latter.
The plot of the novel felt formulaic and the characters relatively 2D for most of the beginning. When the first twist occurs, there’s a bit of a hook. I certainly wanted to keep going (albeit skimming parts here and there). I wanted a resolution. By the 80% mark, too many changes in the direction of the story took it off the rails.
The final chapter before the “epilogue” of 6 months later would have been a much better ending to the story. The final section brings in a totally unnecessary twist that is meant to shock the reader - and perhaps initially it may have had a stronger connection to the plot earlier - but it serves only to cheapen the novel. It goes from somewhat unbelievable but flawed characters to outright parody.
Two stars because I DID finish it and found myself wanting to see how it ended, but ultimately wishing I had chosen something else to read.
The plot of the novel felt formulaic and the characters relatively 2D for most of the beginning. When the first twist occurs, there’s a bit of a hook. I certainly wanted to keep going (albeit skimming parts here and there). I wanted a resolution. By the 80% mark, too many changes in the direction of the story took it off the rails.
The final chapter before the “epilogue” of 6 months later would have been a much better ending to the story. The final section brings in a totally unnecessary twist that is meant to shock the reader - and perhaps initially it may have had a stronger connection to the plot earlier - but it serves only to cheapen the novel. It goes from somewhat unbelievable but flawed characters to outright parody.
Two stars because I DID finish it and found myself wanting to see how it ended, but ultimately wishing I had chosen something else to read.
August 18, 2022
Oh my goodness was this a wild ride of a book! I know everyone told me I would love this series, but no one told me how 🦇💩 crazy it is.
I picked this one for book club, and we all devoured it. The twists in this book were non-stop, each one bigger than the last. And talk about unreliable narrators. Phew. I finished this book wondering if anything I had read in it was true. Do these two even have children?? Modglin had me questioning everything and I loved it.
I cannot wait to read the remaining books in this series and hopefully fill in some of the blanks from book one. I hope they are as twisty as this one was.
I picked this one for book club, and we all devoured it. The twists in this book were non-stop, each one bigger than the last. And talk about unreliable narrators. Phew. I finished this book wondering if anything I had read in it was true. Do these two even have children?? Modglin had me questioning everything and I loved it.
I cannot wait to read the remaining books in this series and hopefully fill in some of the blanks from book one. I hope they are as twisty as this one was.
August 23, 2021
I wish I could unread this book. It was that bad.
July 12, 2021
I have read so many great reviews about this book and how “you won’t guess the twists!” And they’re right, I didn’t, because the ending goes against so much of the actual story! It truly makes no sense. You can’t have a book written from a 1st persons perspective and then try to have us believe the absolute non sense that unfolds in the end of this one. I really did like the twists and the ending, but hate that there is zero support for any of them from the text. There is actually so much of this book that directly contradicts this ending along with every twist it throws at us. I’m so frustrated.
January 14, 2025
I wouldn’t take marriage advice from these two
Ainsley Greenburg marriage is rocky, and she wants to fix it ASAP. She has an idea. Her and her husband will both date someone new once a week and they can never discuss what happens on their date. Well after one suitor gets a little cray cray, all the rules are broken and secrets and lies get exposed. Can husband and wife stick together or will everything crumble around them.
Ok first off, this was a very quick fast paced read. You get swept into the marriage woes of Ainsley and Peter straight away while scratching your head at their unconventional ways of trying to fix their marriage. The story is told in dual POV’s of the couple and it really helped speed the story along.
I wasn’t quite sure where the story would end up heading but was pleasantly surprised. There was a twist in the story that had me screaming ‘SORRYYYYYYY, WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY!?’ It is a tantalizing popcorn thriller with a lot of humorous moments.
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ Easy to read
➽ Short Chapters
➽ Fast Paced
➽ Dual POVs
➽ Entertaining Twists
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ Not one likeable character
➽ No character development
➽ Caricature characters
➽ Dare I say maybe too many nonsensical twists
The ending is nuts and those two truly deserve one another. I wasn’t aware this is part of a trilogy. So I am definitely going to read the next two as I don’t like to leave a series uncompleted and I’m also curious what’s in store next for the Greenburg family.
3.5 ⭐
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
OK so far my reads this year have been raw and complex
Need a good nonsensical Popcorn Thriller!
I think this will deliver!
Wish me luck! 💙💙💙
Ainsley Greenburg marriage is rocky, and she wants to fix it ASAP. She has an idea. Her and her husband will both date someone new once a week and they can never discuss what happens on their date. Well after one suitor gets a little cray cray, all the rules are broken and secrets and lies get exposed. Can husband and wife stick together or will everything crumble around them.
Ok first off, this was a very quick fast paced read. You get swept into the marriage woes of Ainsley and Peter straight away while scratching your head at their unconventional ways of trying to fix their marriage. The story is told in dual POV’s of the couple and it really helped speed the story along.
I wasn’t quite sure where the story would end up heading but was pleasantly surprised. There was a twist in the story that had me screaming ‘SORRYYYYYYY, WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY!?’ It is a tantalizing popcorn thriller with a lot of humorous moments.
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ Easy to read
➽ Short Chapters
➽ Fast Paced
➽ Dual POVs
➽ Entertaining Twists
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ Not one likeable character
➽ No character development
➽ Caricature characters
➽ Dare I say maybe too many nonsensical twists
The ending is nuts and those two truly deserve one another. I wasn’t aware this is part of a trilogy. So I am definitely going to read the next two as I don’t like to leave a series uncompleted and I’m also curious what’s in store next for the Greenburg family.
3.5 ⭐
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
OK so far my reads this year have been raw and complex
Need a good nonsensical Popcorn Thriller!
I think this will deliver!
Wish me luck! 💙💙💙
July 11, 2024
3.5⭐️
Okay… so full transparency here. This book was ridiculous… like, the characters are so repulsive to me… I hated them all. The plot was insane… like completely… but I’ll tell you what… I had no idea what was coming and I flew through it. I’m reading some heavy stuff at the moment so this was the perfect palate cleanser to that. I flew through this sitting by the pool in the Florida sun. So… ridiculous, yes… fun… also yes! I would read the sequels on a beach or on another vacation.
Ainsley and Peter are married with 3 kids. Their marriage has gone stale and they come up with an arrangement in an attempt to bring some spark back. The arrangement goes wrong… in every way possible and in ways I never saw coming. Well leave it at that 😂
Okay… so full transparency here. This book was ridiculous… like, the characters are so repulsive to me… I hated them all. The plot was insane… like completely… but I’ll tell you what… I had no idea what was coming and I flew through it. I’m reading some heavy stuff at the moment so this was the perfect palate cleanser to that. I flew through this sitting by the pool in the Florida sun. So… ridiculous, yes… fun… also yes! I would read the sequels on a beach or on another vacation.
Ainsley and Peter are married with 3 kids. Their marriage has gone stale and they come up with an arrangement in an attempt to bring some spark back. The arrangement goes wrong… in every way possible and in ways I never saw coming. Well leave it at that 😂
August 31, 2021
FIVE FREAKING STARS.
THIS is what a thriller should be like. This book is only 222 pages and its JAM PACKED with twists and turns. I couldn't believe how thrilling it was, all the way up until the very LAST PAGE. This is more of a romantic thriller, but is definitely dark and messed up too.
Could you imagine trying to fix your marriage by each of you going on dates with other people?! That synopsis intrigued me, and now I want to get every single book by Kiersten, because this was GOOD.
Hear my full thoughts in this reading vlog: https://youtu.be/o4v_r2whGZs
THIS is what a thriller should be like. This book is only 222 pages and its JAM PACKED with twists and turns. I couldn't believe how thrilling it was, all the way up until the very LAST PAGE. This is more of a romantic thriller, but is definitely dark and messed up too.
Could you imagine trying to fix your marriage by each of you going on dates with other people?! That synopsis intrigued me, and now I want to get every single book by Kiersten, because this was GOOD.
Hear my full thoughts in this reading vlog: https://youtu.be/o4v_r2whGZs
February 4, 2023
Buddy read with Nenia! Unfortunately, she DNFed and I hated every second of it.
I just got done reading a book that annoyed the crap out of me, and I really didn't want to read another annoying book right afterward. Alas, my wish would not be granted. Everything about this book was SO annoying. And utterly baffling! I finished it at night and am writing this review in the morning, and now, in the clear light of day, I almost feel like what transpired on those pages was actually some sort of wine-induced hallucination. I texted all about it to Nenia, since she opted out early on, and her responses were all somewhere along the lines of "WHHAAAAT." Each bizarre reveal that I texted just kept one-upping the last in terms of crazy.
So I didn't form any emotional connection to the characters, unless by "emotional connection" you mean "I hate them so much and think they're stupid." These people are absolute PSYCHOPATHS. First, they should never have married. They don't know how to be happy with each other and their family. At one point, Ainsley, the wife, laments that on beach vacations her two boys go into the ocean and her daughter sits on the sand and reads, and since they no longer build sandcastles together or whatever, their family is no longer close. I don't understand this. They don't know how to communicate. They don't even know how to be themselves, I guess? I guess they're one of those couples who lose their entire individual identity inside their family and marriage.
Anyway, the Arrangement (tm) happens. Peter is an asshole who sleeps with his first date immediately. Here's where I'm going to put things in spoiler tags. *pauses to crack knuckles* Buckle up, friends, it's going to be a bumpy ride!
All this in less than 300 pages. The fact that I'm writing this review is, I suppose, a testament to this book's entertainment value, because I totally should have DNFed but it was so, so easy to read that I knew I could finish it in one evening. There was nothing outstanding about the writing except that it allowed me to easily skim the duller parts. But damn, I cannot root for these people, and I have no problem rooting for toxic characters. It's just that these two SUCK so bad, and yes, it has a lot to do with Peter's activities when he "works late," but also the fact that they have no redeeming qualities. And Peter is such an absolute loser in his POVs that I can't believe he's .
My final gripe is that the twists came out of nowhere. This book was told in alternating first person POVs, and that's tricky to pull off when you're going to break out insane twists later. Nothing in their actions, thoughts, or reactions suggested what was actually going on. So there definitely was no nuance or foreshadowing here. It was all just very shallow.
I had fun texting all the reveals to my reading partner, and I just wrote my first lengthy ranting review in ages, so this book wasn't a total loss I guess. That's why it gets two stars instead of one. But I definitely won't be reading the sequels.
I just got done reading a book that annoyed the crap out of me, and I really didn't want to read another annoying book right afterward. Alas, my wish would not be granted. Everything about this book was SO annoying. And utterly baffling! I finished it at night and am writing this review in the morning, and now, in the clear light of day, I almost feel like what transpired on those pages was actually some sort of wine-induced hallucination. I texted all about it to Nenia, since she opted out early on, and her responses were all somewhere along the lines of "WHHAAAAT." Each bizarre reveal that I texted just kept one-upping the last in terms of crazy.
So I didn't form any emotional connection to the characters, unless by "emotional connection" you mean "I hate them so much and think they're stupid." These people are absolute PSYCHOPATHS. First, they should never have married. They don't know how to be happy with each other and their family. At one point, Ainsley, the wife, laments that on beach vacations her two boys go into the ocean and her daughter sits on the sand and reads, and since they no longer build sandcastles together or whatever, their family is no longer close. I don't understand this. They don't know how to communicate. They don't even know how to be themselves, I guess? I guess they're one of those couples who lose their entire individual identity inside their family and marriage.
Anyway, the Arrangement (tm) happens. Peter is an asshole who sleeps with his first date immediately. Here's where I'm going to put things in spoiler tags. *pauses to crack knuckles* Buckle up, friends, it's going to be a bumpy ride!
All this in less than 300 pages. The fact that I'm writing this review is, I suppose, a testament to this book's entertainment value, because I totally should have DNFed but it was so, so easy to read that I knew I could finish it in one evening. There was nothing outstanding about the writing except that it allowed me to easily skim the duller parts. But damn, I cannot root for these people, and I have no problem rooting for toxic characters. It's just that these two SUCK so bad, and yes, it has a lot to do with Peter's activities when he "works late," but also the fact that they have no redeeming qualities. And Peter is such an absolute loser in his POVs that I can't believe he's .
My final gripe is that the twists came out of nowhere. This book was told in alternating first person POVs, and that's tricky to pull off when you're going to break out insane twists later. Nothing in their actions, thoughts, or reactions suggested what was actually going on. So there definitely was no nuance or foreshadowing here. It was all just very shallow.
I had fun texting all the reveals to my reading partner, and I just wrote my first lengthy ranting review in ages, so this book wasn't a total loss I guess. That's why it gets two stars instead of one. But I definitely won't be reading the sequels.
March 19, 2025
see now THIS is why I can’t DNF a book…
I’m so glad I’m not a quitter. The first thirteen chapters of this thirty-four chapter book are so slow and boring. We are introduced to a couple and given almost no context, no description, no reason to care for them. Their marriage isn’t working out so they decide to see other people once a week. A fun concept, but by chapter 10 I was ready to give up on it.
THANK GOD I DIDN’T LMAOOOOO I WAS GIGGLING AND KICKING MY FEET AT THOSE PLOT TWISTS - and every single one I didn’t guess. Jaw was hitting the floor constantly towards the end there.
This was soooooo camp. You just gotta push through that first slog. No wonder it’s rated pretty well. It’s an easy 200ish page read, you could knock it out real fast.
Definitely recommend this thriller!
I’m so glad I’m not a quitter. The first thirteen chapters of this thirty-four chapter book are so slow and boring. We are introduced to a couple and given almost no context, no description, no reason to care for them. Their marriage isn’t working out so they decide to see other people once a week. A fun concept, but by chapter 10 I was ready to give up on it.
THANK GOD I DIDN’T LMAOOOOO I WAS GIGGLING AND KICKING MY FEET AT THOSE PLOT TWISTS - and every single one I didn’t guess. Jaw was hitting the floor constantly towards the end there.
This was soooooo camp. You just gotta push through that first slog. No wonder it’s rated pretty well. It’s an easy 200ish page read, you could knock it out real fast.
Definitely recommend this thriller!
July 28, 2021
Review
I can't believe I have never heard of Kiersten Modglin before this book, but now that I have I need to find all her books. Absolutely stunning book.
I can't believe I have never heard of Kiersten Modglin before this book, but now that I have I need to find all her books. Absolutely stunning book.
July 10, 2021
Audio - 5 ++++ Stars
Story - 5 Stars!
The crazy lengths a wife will go to just to save her marriage!! Wowza!! CRAZY!
I loved the twists. I did manage to guess some of them, but they way they played out had my jaw dropping. Loved it!!!
Story - 5 Stars!
The crazy lengths a wife will go to just to save her marriage!! Wowza!! CRAZY!
I loved the twists. I did manage to guess some of them, but they way they played out had my jaw dropping. Loved it!!!
June 18, 2022
I’m so tired of authors believing that shock factor is the only thing that constitutes a good thriller, when said twists are asinine and nonsensical. For their big reveal to work, they put the onus on the reader to suspend their disbelief, rather than crafting an intricate – and rational – resolution.
I spent the first half of The Arrangement confused because I kept waiting for the thriller to appear. But once Peter killed Ainsley’s date, Stefan, the plot twists wouldn’t stop coming. In the final chapter, which took place 6 months after the couple had successfully gotten away with the murder, it was revealed that Peter was a serial murderer and rapist, and that Ainsley had known all along. Ainsley had planted his evidence (aka the mementos that he had kept from each rape) in Stefan’s car so that the authorities would stop suspecting their involvement in his death. Besides the fact that Stefan being a rapist – wrongfully accused or not – shouldn’t have made the couple any less guilty (they were after all, the last ones to have seen him and Peter did have a compelling motive), the messages that this ending evoked were both disturbing and farcical. For one, it suggested that women were so desperate that Ainsley would willingly stay with a serial killer and rapist. What was even more absurd was that she had supposedly set up the whole situation (including proposing an open marriage, picking a cop for her date and lying that Steve was stalking her so that Peter would kill him) because she wanted to have something to hold against him. Didn’t she already have at least 12 material worth of blackmail, as she had supposedly known all along that her husband had killed at least a dozen women? Why would Ainsley’s reveal about her complicity mean that her psychopath of a husband would suddenly start being faithful and stop murdering other women?
The gay representation in this novel was also terrible. Readers were led to believe that Peter had been cheating with Ainsley’s best friend, when it turned out to be her husband, Seth (the only thing that Ainsley did not know). Seth and Glennon may have had a sham marriage (as Seth was gay and wouldn’t receive an inheritance if he didn’t marry a woman), but both parties were well aware before they entered the arrangement. In fact, Glennon knew and was fine with Seth using his frequent business trips to see men. Before the novel ended, Peter made sure to qualify that he had “only” slept with a man because Seth had found out about his true nature. This was problematic enough, but the other message that Seth was apparently so desperate for sex that he would trade the lives of women for THREE measly fucks was absolutely wild.
Outside of these asinine plot twists and what they implied, it was aggravating how calculated they were. For instance, at the beginning of the novel, the author had written about how nervous Peter was for his date, as he had been with one woman for the past 17 years. At one point, he even stated that he wondered if sex was somehow different, like if there was a new move that people were doing that he wasn’t aware of. Later on, however, Peter would go on to reveal that he had been cheating on Ainsley for years, of which he would murder/rape some of these women on a whim. Contradictory characterization to purposefully lead the readers astray – in this case, making Peter seem unsuspecting – only makes the writing feel lazy to me. Unlike the general consensus, I wasn’t blown away by the novel's unpredictability because the only thing I could think about was how it didn’t make any fucking sense.
I spent the first half of The Arrangement confused because I kept waiting for the thriller to appear. But once Peter killed Ainsley’s date, Stefan, the plot twists wouldn’t stop coming. In the final chapter, which took place 6 months after the couple had successfully gotten away with the murder, it was revealed that Peter was a serial murderer and rapist, and that Ainsley had known all along. Ainsley had planted his evidence (aka the mementos that he had kept from each rape) in Stefan’s car so that the authorities would stop suspecting their involvement in his death. Besides the fact that Stefan being a rapist – wrongfully accused or not – shouldn’t have made the couple any less guilty (they were after all, the last ones to have seen him and Peter did have a compelling motive), the messages that this ending evoked were both disturbing and farcical. For one, it suggested that women were so desperate that Ainsley would willingly stay with a serial killer and rapist. What was even more absurd was that she had supposedly set up the whole situation (including proposing an open marriage, picking a cop for her date and lying that Steve was stalking her so that Peter would kill him) because she wanted to have something to hold against him. Didn’t she already have at least 12 material worth of blackmail, as she had supposedly known all along that her husband had killed at least a dozen women? Why would Ainsley’s reveal about her complicity mean that her psychopath of a husband would suddenly start being faithful and stop murdering other women?
The gay representation in this novel was also terrible. Readers were led to believe that Peter had been cheating with Ainsley’s best friend, when it turned out to be her husband, Seth (the only thing that Ainsley did not know). Seth and Glennon may have had a sham marriage (as Seth was gay and wouldn’t receive an inheritance if he didn’t marry a woman), but both parties were well aware before they entered the arrangement. In fact, Glennon knew and was fine with Seth using his frequent business trips to see men. Before the novel ended, Peter made sure to qualify that he had “only” slept with a man because Seth had found out about his true nature. This was problematic enough, but the other message that Seth was apparently so desperate for sex that he would trade the lives of women for THREE measly fucks was absolutely wild.
Outside of these asinine plot twists and what they implied, it was aggravating how calculated they were. For instance, at the beginning of the novel, the author had written about how nervous Peter was for his date, as he had been with one woman for the past 17 years. At one point, he even stated that he wondered if sex was somehow different, like if there was a new move that people were doing that he wasn’t aware of. Later on, however, Peter would go on to reveal that he had been cheating on Ainsley for years, of which he would murder/rape some of these women on a whim. Contradictory characterization to purposefully lead the readers astray – in this case, making Peter seem unsuspecting – only makes the writing feel lazy to me. Unlike the general consensus, I wasn’t blown away by the novel's unpredictability because the only thing I could think about was how it didn’t make any fucking sense.
July 21, 2021
Thrillers are one of my favorite genre and Kiersten Modglin is a new-to-me author! After reading The Arrangement, I’m still wondering why it has taken me so long to read one of her books!! I’m very excited that she has written many other books for me to explore!
I listened to this book in one sitting! I loved how it had a lot of twist and turns and I wasn’t able to figure out what was going to happen next.
Ainsley and Peter will do anything to save their failing marriage. Ainsley presents the idea of an open marriage arrangement and Peter agrees immediately.....with both of them in agreement, what could possibly go wrong?
The two narrators, one male and one female, did a fabulous job telling the story in an engaging way.
I highly recommend this one to anyone that loves a good psychological thriller with twist and turns that will give you whiplash!! For those that have #kindleunlimited, you're in luck because this book is included!!
I listened to this book in one sitting! I loved how it had a lot of twist and turns and I wasn’t able to figure out what was going to happen next.
Ainsley and Peter will do anything to save their failing marriage. Ainsley presents the idea of an open marriage arrangement and Peter agrees immediately.....with both of them in agreement, what could possibly go wrong?
The two narrators, one male and one female, did a fabulous job telling the story in an engaging way.
I highly recommend this one to anyone that loves a good psychological thriller with twist and turns that will give you whiplash!! For those that have #kindleunlimited, you're in luck because this book is included!!
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