I was obsessed with this book and couldn't stop reading it! I loved the pacing and the characters, and how intriguing teh whole story was. I didn't like the reveal so much, though, but it was still an amazing book that I would recommend for anyone who likes thrillers.

This was a quick and easy entertaining read!

The Arrangement is a story about the sugar baby world, and its infatuation, deception, and betrayal. I thought the premise was quite creative, I’d never read a book so far that revolved around sugar babies/sugar daddies.

I ended up really liking Gabe’s character, even more than Natalie’s character. I tend to get annoyed when character because really obsessed in books, so I was getting a tad annoyed with her character, but overall was really fascinated at where the story was going.

The ending for me fell a bit flat and left me with many questions remaining. Overall, great fascinating story, and includes a few twists! For me, it was just missing a bit more ending development to cover those plot holes.

RATING: 3.5 STARS
2020; Simon & Schuster Canada

The Arrangement was a hard novel to rate. The writing was excellent, and I was hooked overall by the story. This is my second novel by Robyn Harding, and I am so happy that I found her books. Yes, I am doing all the good stuff first before I say why this was 3.5, rounded up to 4, stars book. I was invested in the characters, even when they were not likeable, but something about Natalie turned me off.I could not feel bad for her, or her decisions. It had nothing to do with her being a sugar baby, but I think it was her attitude about everything. And Gabe was a bit of a male version of Natalie. I was more interested in Natalie's friend, Ava and Gabe's former sugar baby, Emily. The other reason I rated it a bit lower is the ending which I can't discuss here. I will say that I knew the killer and agreed with it, but how it all went down, I was a bit sad with. I cannot wait to read Harding's newest novel, Swap which sis waiting on eLibrary app.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

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.

First off I want to thank @netgalley, @gallerybooks & @robynharding for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. But I also do have a hardback copy !
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I thoroughly enjoyed this sugar baby, sugar daddy book. It was an extremely fast paced, easy read, once I started I didn't want to stop I needed to know what would happen.
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There were a lot of cliches of course in this book, but that was to be known because of the subject of the book. I did feel the characters did miss some depth for me, I feel they will be forgettable. Nathalie was kind of annoying at times, I would've just wanted to shake her lol. But honestly, even with that said the book is very well written, it's engaging from beginning to end and you'll be hooked.
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I know some people have said they knew the punch, but I didn't and I was surprised at the ending, which I loved even more. If you're looking for a fast paced thriller pick this one up!

Absorbing and dark with a twisted ending. A psychological thriller about the toxic underside of sugar babies and sugar daddies.

When Nat, a 21-year-old struggling art student trying to make ends meet financially, gets invited into the sugar baby lifestyle, things go seriously wrong.

I thought this was a solid thriller that kept me invested. It was a story that was unpredictable in where it was going although the reader knows things will not end well. Definitely worth the read!

Thank you to publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a page turner. I love when books has characters that are not completly white or black, never too good or too bad. There is a complexity in humans tha tthe author captured in this book...all the while keeping the intensity of the story alive.

I want to thank NetGalley for my honest review. When I picked up this book I had heard about the basic story and looked forward to a psychological thriller. I hoped that the premise of a teen taking the easy way to get money would be believable. It turned out the first half was less then hoped for, the last half almost saved the book for me. I cant put my finger on what was missing? Depth to characters? Worth the read but only 3.5 stars

This is my third novel from the author and I have to say I absolutely love her writing style and every book I have read from her.

This new novel has to be my top favourite novel from her. The concept of the plot I enjoyed and found very exciting to read about and learn about the sugar daddy/sugar baby relationship because it really is something that happens a lot.
The author mixing a real-life situation with murder made for the perfect noveL and one that turned out to be a fast paced ”whodunnit” with everything from, obsession, lies, and murder and it's all a recipe for a fantastic thriller. I will say I end up did guessing early on who the murderer was but it didn't deter me from not loving this novel and giving it all the stars I feel it deserves.

I didn't really know much about the sugar daddy/baby life until I read this book.. This book provides a glimpse into that world. To be honest, it's a little bit of a cliché. This story is about a not so well off struggling art student trying to figure out a way to get access to quick money. Her friend "introduces" her to the sugar daddy/baby world and Natalie decides to try it out. She ends up finding a sugar daddy and falls in love with him. Things end badly and someone gets murdered.

This book has it all: murder, love, a plot twist. Definitely worth the read!

What a fabulous insight into the world of sugar babies and sugar daddies. This was not only a suspense thriller but also a thought provoking read for me. It definitely gives you perspective into this unique lifestyle and makes you understand all sides while enjoying the thrilling nature of this novel. The characters are deeply flawed, and dysfunctional but they all very interesting to read about and so well written and developed. The drama that ensued throughout the book and the unpredictability of some of the characters was what made it hard for me to put this down. There was never a shortage of entertainment. The ending was amazing and Robyn Harding is a definite new favorite of mine. and I look so forward to her future work. I highly recommend this to my fellow thriller lovers!

This is about a struggling artist looking for some fast money and who gets stuck in a situation that you know will end badly. I’ve read everything by this author and she has yet to disappoint. But I fount this book to be more predictable. You know the relationships would end up badly. But when there is a death, you would never expect who was behind it and why. Great book. Just looking for more suspense.

It seems easy enough, post a profile on a website, find a sugar daddy who isn’t too scary, go have a drink or two then go home with a few hundred dollars in her pockets. No strings attached. For financially strapped Nat it’s perfect. Then she meets Gabe and and Arrangement is made. He will pay her a monthly allowance and she goes on dates and spends time with him when he asks.
Nat breaks one of the most crucial rules when it comes to this lifestyle, she lets herself fall in love with Gabe. So when he unexpectedly breaks off the arrangement, what follows is a whirlwind of jealousy, deceit, obsession and even murder...
This one was different and interesting for sure. It took me into a world that I honestly didn’t really know anything about. Thank you to Netgalley, Robyn Harding and Gallery/Scout Press for the gifted e-ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Natalie is a broke college girl whose bad situation turns worse with a job loss and disagreeable roommates. She has a friend, though, who is able to afford anything she wants. Natalie wants to know how this is possible. Turns out, she just needs to become a sugar baby, and find a sugar daddy. Natalie decides to do it. She becomes well acquainted with a handsome affluent older man. Obviously, he's her sugar daddy. Natalie, stupidly, falls in love with him, but he's married and will never ruin his great life for her. Natalie can't process this rejection, and she's very upset. The Arrangement tells a suspenseful and entirely plausible story about what happens when the sugar baby will not let go of the sugar daddy. It's entertaining for sure, and I enjoyed the drama. It's a great read overall. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


Natalie is a struggling art student trying to juggle school, work and a couple of room mates looking for any reason to evict her. When Nat is fired from her job she has no idea what she is going to do to cover her present debts and upcoming tuition. That is until she talks to a fellow student she thinks is wealthy and finds out she is actually a sugar baby. After getting some information about how it works and fighting with her conscience about the moral consequences, she decides that maybe she can just set up a few dates just to make enough to cover her current money troubles. Then she meets Gabe on one of her dates and everything changes.

A good storyline with believable characters that shows the dark side of relationships that are bought and paid for.

4.5/5

The Arrangement by Robyn Harding is a taut, highly enjoyable thriller that pairs biting suspense with the seedy and morally ambiguous underworld of money for companionship.

Tired of struggling to pay her Bills, and at odds with her two roommates, Natalie can't help but wonder how her fellow art student and friend Ava can afford high-end salon treatments, expensive designer clothes, and a sleek apartment.

When her financial and living situation goes from bad to worse she follows Ava's lead and joins "The sugar bowl", an online dating site for matching young women - "sugar babies", with "sugar daddies" - rich older men willing to pay for their company (sex optional), and sometimes even pay a healthy monthly allowance.

Natalie quickly finds such an arrangement with Gabe, an attractive, older man who is a highly successful corporate lawyer. Soon she is completely head over heels in love with with her rich benefactor. Gabe is a married man though, and he is not going to risk his family for her. When Gabe sees her infatuation getting out of control he tries to end it, but Natalie won't let go. Soon things spin out of control, and the result is murder.

This book had me drawn in right from the start. Well developed characters, and a well timed and suspenseful plot, made this a very engaging thriller. Harding has a knack for creating thrillers based on issues that we sometimes see in real world headlines. This makes her work feel believable and easy to feel invested in. The Arrangement is well worth reading for fans of suspense.


Happy Reading,
Christine

The Arrangement had me sucked in from the first page. Sugar daddy,sugar baby, love, betrayal and murder keep you turning quickly to the next page. Twists and turns make this the perfect psychological thriller and an awesome summer read.

A shocking, eye opening, intriguing thriller steeped in sex, lies, obsession and murder! Fantastic read and I enjoyed learning about the Sugar Daddy world and how prevalent it’s becoming

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.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of ‘The Arrangement’ by Robyn Harding in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t know much about the world of Sugar Daddies and Sugar Babies before picking up this book. I’m thoroughly shocked at the industry in general. That said, I found this book fascinating. I flew through it and couldn’t believe that I hadn’t picked it up earlier. A great suspense and mystery with some good twists and turns. I figured out the ending , but there was still some good shock value.