![The Arrangement by [Harding, Robyn]](https://images-fe.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41n4XMp3t%2BL._SY346_.jpg)
5 Stars
“No matter how uncomfortable her commute, how tight her budget, or how lonely she sometimes felt in the giant, anonymous city, Nat never regretted her cross-country move. Living in New York wasn’t supposed to be easy. It was hard, but it was worth it. Especially for an artist, like Natalie. She fed off the creativity running rampant through these hallowed streets, drawing inspiration from the artists who came before her. The city nourished her soul, stimulated her mind, filled her entire body with a humming, vibrating, energy. New York meant possibility.”
The Arrangement by Robyn Harding is a fascinating and intricately woven story of obsession, passion, secrets, and murder. I was hooked right from the get-go and was pulled into the story, losing all sense of time and place as I followed along on this intriguing read.
The characters were all really well developed and interesting, with some being more likeable than others, but I think this was always the authors intent. The story has obviously had a lot of time, planning, energy, attention to detail, and research put into it- and it shows in the polished end result.
Natalie is a struggling art student- a small town girl trying to make her way in the big city of New York. She’s barely making ends meet and is behind on everything. She’s just been fired from her part-time job and is afraid she will get evicted soon- not to mention her studies are suffering from all the stress she’s under. It’s all becoming too much. So, when a friend tells her about the “Sugar Bowl” Nat can’t help but give it some thought. She’s not sure she’s really cut out to be a “Sugar Baby”, but if she could just earn enough money to get her out of immediate trouble, she really shouldn’t reject the opportunity. And so it begins.
Meeting her first Sugar Daddy is an eye opening experience, and she’s soon caught up in a game of obsession, chemistry, secrets, danger, and revenge. Things get really complicated, and desperate measures are taken by both parties. Our characters unravel, declining into some madness- with revenge being the order of the day! But when that results in murder, the story really gets interesting- trying to figure out who did what. The story has a few surprising twists that I certainly didn’t see coming- and I was kept guessing for much of the time. The ending was definitely unexpected.
My only (minor) issue is that the story was a little slow to get going- but it wasn’t too long before things really took off.
An engrossing tale!
Thank you, Robyn Harding!
Review
A complex tale of friendship, parenthood, and long-hidden secrets that forces us to consider whether we can ever truly leave our pasts behind.
--"Kathleen Barber, author of Are You Sleeping, on Her Pretty Face"Harding expertly builds subtle menace...Creepy and compelling.
--"Kirkus Reviews on Her Pretty Face"Product Description
A Pretty Woman tale turns deadly in this provocative tale of sex, obsession and murder from the bestselling author of The Party.
Natalie, an art student in New York City, is struggling to pay her bills when a friend makes a suggestion: Why not find a sugar daddy – a wealthy, older man who will pay her for dates, and a monthly allowance. All that’s required is to look pretty. Sexual favours are optional.
Gabe, a handsome 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, who he has no intention of leaving.
When he abruptly ends things, Nat can’t let go. She begins drinking heavily and stalking Gabe and his family. Their supposedly mutually beneficial arrangement devolves into a nightmare of deception, obsession and, when a body is found near Gabe’s Upper East Side apartment, murder.
‘An insider’s look into the world of sugar daddies … full of shocking revelations, volatile characters, and vice. Look out: The Arrangement will blow your mind.’ Mary Kubica, author of The Good Girl
‘A nightmarish deep dive into the underbelly of a secret world. Rivetingly dark, The Arrangement delivers on every level – a shocking premise, a forbidden obsession, and a plot that builds slowly and masterfully escalates to a chilling end. Prepare to be blindsided.’ Heather Gudenkauf, author of These Things Happen
Natalie, an art student in New York City, is struggling to pay her bills when a friend makes a suggestion: Why not find a sugar daddy – a wealthy, older man who will pay her for dates, and a monthly allowance. All that’s required is to look pretty. Sexual favours are optional.
Gabe, a handsome 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, who he has no intention of leaving.
When he abruptly ends things, Nat can’t let go. She begins drinking heavily and stalking Gabe and his family. Their supposedly mutually beneficial arrangement devolves into a nightmare of deception, obsession and, when a body is found near Gabe’s Upper East Side apartment, murder.
‘An insider’s look into the world of sugar daddies … full of shocking revelations, volatile characters, and vice. Look out: The Arrangement will blow your mind.’ Mary Kubica, author of The Good Girl
‘A nightmarish deep dive into the underbelly of a secret world. Rivetingly dark, The Arrangement delivers on every level – a shocking premise, a forbidden obsession, and a plot that builds slowly and masterfully escalates to a chilling end. Prepare to be blindsided.’ Heather Gudenkauf, author of These Things Happen
