survivalwhorror's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
nerdygnome's review
3.0
2.5 stars rounded up -- Kiersten Modglin has quite the cult following and goodness how I wanted to sign up to be a part of that cult. This is the first book I've read from her, so maybe after trying another one, I'll find my seat at that table. But for me, "The Arrangement" missed the mark.
Ainsley and Peter have a struggling marriage. When date nights and counseling have failed to fix the distance between them, Ainsley proposes a new arrangement: an open marriage where each can take a weekly date night with someone else. They set themselves up on a dating app, and things soon begin to spiral fatally out of control.
The pros: at a quick 220 pages, this was a very fast listen on audiobook, and it drew me right into the characters, even if I couldn't quite catch the buzz of action right away. There are a lot of twists that keep it from being predictable.
The cons: Honestly, this book's strong points were also in many ways its weaknesses. The brevity meant that the character development wasn't as deep as we needed to carry the weight of, frankly, the level of depravity. I also felt there were too many twists, so it went from being surprising to just flat-out unbelievable.
I know every author has their good days, and I'll definitely give her a second chance to see if another of her books delivers what I'm looking for. I fear, though, that I may just not be Modglin's "people."
Ainsley and Peter have a struggling marriage. When date nights and counseling have failed to fix the distance between them, Ainsley proposes a new arrangement: an open marriage where each can take a weekly date night with someone else. They set themselves up on a dating app, and things soon begin to spiral fatally out of control.
The pros: at a quick 220 pages, this was a very fast listen on audiobook, and it drew me right into the characters, even if I couldn't quite catch the buzz of action right away. There are a lot of twists that keep it from being predictable.
The cons: Honestly, this book's strong points were also in many ways its weaknesses. The brevity meant that the character development wasn't as deep as we needed to carry the weight of, frankly, the level of depravity. I also felt there were too many twists, so it went from being surprising to just flat-out unbelievable.
I know every author has their good days, and I'll definitely give her a second chance to see if another of her books delivers what I'm looking for. I fear, though, that I may just not be Modglin's "people."
alexisnhughes's review
4.0
4⭐️ / POTENTIAL SPOILERS
My criteria for 4 stars: very good and really enjoyed.
This is the story of Ainsley and Peter, a married couple with 3 children who are having marital issues. In order to try to repair their marriage, they decided to try dating other people through dating apps. Secrets start to come out and the marriage is tested in a way that you couldn’t possibly guess.
I loved getting to read this story and was very intrigued the entire time. I have never seen a story with a similar plot line, which made it all the more interesting to read. I also really enjoyed how the story was written. The author does a really great job of probably a lot of detail and making the story interesting, without providing too much information. The story flowed very well and felt as if you were listening to a friend tell you a story. By the end of the story, there are too many twists and turns that I was not expecting. Over the course of the last 20-30 minutes of the book, my jaw was on the floor during the entire. One twist after another had me saying “what the heck” out loud. The twists are so unexpected and unique.
I gave this book 4 stars, rather than 5, because this isn’t a book I am likely to re-read. Although I really enjoyed it, the plot twists were the best part of the story and now that I already know them, I likely won’t re-read.
This book is perfect for thriller lovers and anyone else who loves some good twists and turns.
My criteria for 4 stars: very good and really enjoyed.
This is the story of Ainsley and Peter, a married couple with 3 children who are having marital issues. In order to try to repair their marriage, they decided to try dating other people through dating apps. Secrets start to come out and the marriage is tested in a way that you couldn’t possibly guess.
I loved getting to read this story and was very intrigued the entire time. I have never seen a story with a similar plot line, which made it all the more interesting to read. I also really enjoyed how the story was written. The author does a really great job of probably a lot of detail and making the story interesting, without providing too much information. The story flowed very well and felt as if you were listening to a friend tell you a story. By the end of the story, there are too many twists and turns that I was not expecting. Over the course of the last 20-30 minutes of the book, my jaw was on the floor during the entire. One twist after another had me saying “what the heck” out loud. The twists are so unexpected and unique.
I gave this book 4 stars, rather than 5, because this isn’t a book I am likely to re-read. Although I really enjoyed it, the plot twists were the best part of the story and now that I already know them, I likely won’t re-read.
This book is perfect for thriller lovers and anyone else who loves some good twists and turns.
lschuchman's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Infidelity, and Death
Minor: Rape
miareads98's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.75
acmaltby's review
5.0
First half of this book I wasn’t so sure I was liking it, but then it got better and then BAM… That Ending… WOW!! Didn’t see that coming! Loved it!
ambers_always_reading's review
5.0
Sometimes you just need a good ol domestic thriller where both people are such a hot mess it makes you feel better about your life
abigail0630's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
tash_turns_pages's review against another edition
4.0
#bookstagrammademereadit. I never heard of this author before bookstagram. I loved this book for the short chapters and just over 200 page count. It wasn’t what I expected at all. I found the first half a little slow then half way through I couldn’t put it down! The ending was