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The Arrangement

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Member Reviews

Nat, an art student, is struggling to pay her bills so a friend recommends going into an arrangement with a sugar daddy. She can make a lot of easy money but she soon finds out that it's not as easy as it seems. She meets Gabe, a powerful attorney, who wines and dines but Nat gets attached. Gabe abruptly ends the arrangement with Nat sending her into a tailspin of drinking and stalking. Twisty and deranged (I mean that in a good way), Robyn Harding's books keep you reading and wanting more.

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The Arrangement is Robyn Harding’s latest thriller that’s received lots of buzz. The premise intrigued me and I enjoyed getting to learn about the sugar baby/sugar daddy lifestyle. I wish we had gotten to see more into what exactly that entails. Aside from that, I didn’t love this one. We never fully saw into Gabe and Natalie’s relationship, so I didn’t see why Natalie became so obsessed with him. Natalie started out as a relatively normal character but did a complete 180 personality shift by the halfway mark. And the twist at the end felt overused. I still enjoyed this quick read, but it didn’t meet my expectations.

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Normally I wouldn’t start a book review off like this, but Gaaaat Damn! this book was so good! Fatal Attraction and Indecent Proposal meet The Arrangement! Yassss, this book had all my personal ingredients to make for an outstanding read! Oh yes, this book was it!

Natalie Murphy was like so many students we know. Hell, I was her at one time in my life. Who hasn’t struggled with paying student loans, trying to make ends meet, while trying to earn a degree so you can make a decent life for yourself? It’s rough trying to further your education, and when you don’t have any family to help you pay your way, it makes for a rather frustrating existence. This was Natalie’s life—working in a bar/restaurant to pay her bills. Her roommates were nagging her for rent and utility bills. They were sick and tired of paying Nat’s way.

Well, Nat was trying to study for her final exams and had these money woes on her mind. It didn’t help that her friend-with-benefits-boyfriend and she got into a heated debate at work, which caused her to lose her job. Ummph, what the hell was Nat supposed to do now? She went and added insult to injury. Life wasn’t working out for her—that is, until an art student friend she had observed living quite well made a suggestion to her. Will wonders ever cease? Why not become a sugar baby? That’s what Ava was doing and why she was living so well. She wasn’t doing anything wrong.

Are you out of your mind, Nat thought? There was no way she was going to sleep with men to make ends meet. Why, she wouldn’t be any different than a prostitute. Nat wasn’t raised like that. But then again, Nat observed the beautiful penthouse her art student friend was living in. The high-priced clothes and the fantastic body her girlfriend had. Ava’s hair and nails always on point. Besides, Ava wasn’t made to sleep with these men. Ava wasn’t a prostitute nor an escort. She was a confidante who spent time with older men to keep them company and listen to them. Go out on a few dates and be there for them when they needed. She would go on elaborate trips around the world and when she wasn’t needed, her life was her own. A no-strings-attached-arrangement. And the best part of all, these sugar daddies would pay her an allowance to keep her relevant.

Wow! No wonder Ava was able to afford a penthouse and buy the freshest clothes and keep her body in check. What was the harm in that, right? Try as Nat might, she struggled with this whole idea. What would her mother think? How could she live with herself? Would she have to sleep with these old men? How old was old? A million questions went through Natalie’s mind. But ultimately, the rent and college tuition won. These things had to be paid or otherwise, Nat wouldn’t survive in New York City much longer. She created a profile as a sugar baby so she could find a sugar daddy, and when she met Gabe, her life would forever be changed. And readers, this is where the story goes completely left! OMG! I! Could! Not! Get! Enough!!!! I loved this story so much!

What I found so mesmerizing was how Harding put you in Nat’s shoes. I was that character. I could feel her thoughts and live in her troubles. It was like I was in the driver seat. It was exciting, yet terrifying with each page I tapped on the Kindle. I remember being a young student in school trying to pay for books. But luckily for me, I had family I could turn to. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case for all students. My God, I kept thinking why on earth would she do this to herself, but she was desperate.

This was one of the most exciting books I’ve read for 2019! I realize that not every reader will feel the way that I do, but I’m telling you, Sexy Nerds, this was such an exhilarating read, you will not be able to get enough. Even though I narrowed it down to two characters I felt was responsible for the way things turned out, I did eventually venture down the correct path. It didn’t matter that I figured it out because this read was that damn good. This story is silver screen worthy! Oh yes, I’d line up to see this in film. And, I’m going to also go out on a limb and say, I’d love to see Richard Gere play Gabe. He could pull that shit off easily! OMG, Richard could so rock that character. He’s the right age and perfect for the role! So, Hollywood, if you ever decide to make this a movie, I’m putting my dibs in for Gere!

The Sexy Nerd gives The Arrangement five agreed upon stars! If I could give more than five stars, trust me I would most certainly do that! This is one of those books that I have to shout from the rooftops! Harding wrote the hell out of this book! She made a believable story and unforgettable characters that you will want to invest your time in. I know I enjoyed this and it’s also going on my all-time favorites list. The Arrangement goes on sale Tues., July 30, 2019. Make sure you pick up your copy and read immediately! Until next time, Sexy Nerds, open a book and get mind blown!

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An wonderful story that will captivate your attention until the end! You’ll forget the world is going on around you as you immerse yourself in this story.

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BOOK REVIEW: The Arrangement by Robyn Harding

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

T.I.M.E. Book Review: The Arrangement is one of those books that completely turned my opinion on its’ end from what I expected the book to be to what it is. Isn’t that exciting when that happens?!

The core subject matter here is the “sugar baby/daddy” culture that exists between college-age girls (or twenty-somethings) looking for financial support in challenging circumstances and older men with wealth to burn.

Before you say, "this book is not for me"… I will tell you that it is not an erotic exploration of this culture, which would only sensationalize a culture that needs to be addressed as damaging rather than sexual fantasy.

I actually had an opportunity to participate in a discussion of The Arrangement with Robyn Harding. When asked why she chose this subject matter, she responded…

“I am hoping readers get some insight and understanding into why a young woman might do this. It's a cautionary tale but I also hope people will be more accepting of sex workers in general in an effort to make it safer for women (to come forward).”

The Arrangement is wonderfully written as a great thriller, while cloaking the story with moral ambiguity, the ever-changing line of fact vs fiction and ultimately the hard decisions of responsibility and forgiveness.

I hope you give it a go… ✨😎✨

Pages: 352
Genre: Thriller
Sub-Genre: Psychological Thriller
Location: NYC

IF YOU LIKE THIS BOOK THEN TRY…
Book: The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine
Movie: Klute

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All my reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at www.thisismyeverybody.com

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

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I absolutely loved this book! I was so engrossed by the characters right off the bat. Her writing is out of this world, if you've been in a reading slump this is a great place to start, it absolutely blew me away!

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I enjoyed this book. The characters were interesting, and the plot was something I am interested in - the kind of subject that is not talked about often. The ending was a little predictable but overall, I still thought it was a good story.

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Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The Arrangement. Every time I went to write something about this book, I had to backtrack so I didn't spoil anything. So, without going into detail, let me just say that this book was fast-paced, sexy, entertaining, and held a hint of intrigue due to the murder that takes place towards the end. There! I didn't spoil anything! The only thing that felt a little off with this story was that Natalie was so hesitant to enter the sugar baby lifestyle, and then later her personality did a complete 180 and suddenly she was thrust into a situation that really didn't fit initial first impressions. Isn't life that way sometimes, though? Great read! Go ahead and put this one on hold.

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Good, steamy, enthralling read. Fascinating premise. Good, descriptive writing that drew me in. Would love to read more like this.

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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!!!

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Thank you Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a quite a ride and really enjoyed it. Exploring the world of Sugar Daddy/Baby relationships set in the backdrop of NYC it really reeled me in. I think I read it in one sitting. Los of twists and turns and I am afraid I will spoil it if I divulge any details. Check this one out.

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I loved the characters and the storyline development of this book. It was absolutely one of my favorites so far and I can't wait to delve in to the next one that this author writes. The storyline was simple, enjoyable, and entertaining.

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The more I thought about this book the more I decided it was a flop. I felt The Whole plot of Cole the ex boyfriend stalking her was kind of thrown in there just to give it something extra but didn’t actually mesh with the rest of the story nicely

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I’m conflicted on this book. It was most definitely a fast read. It kept me wanting more. It seemed like a crazy roller coaster ride. I liked Nat for the most part. But she seems to be exactly what she wasn’t looking for in a partner. She was very naive. She kept saying how she didn’t want a relationship or someone to be clingy, etc. Then she turned out that way. I wanted to grab her and shake her. Everything progressed very quickly. Then the daughter?! Omg. I was so aggravated at all of the characters except for Celeste. I have read plenty of books where the husband or wife cheats and the girlfriend or boyfriend goes psycho when they get dumped. But the arrangement and money threw an added flair into the mix.
Overall I enjoyed the book, the characters were iffy, and I loved the short chapters! The ending was great. Perfectly wrapped up in my opinion. I wasn’t left with any questions or the feeling of being left in the dark.

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I should have known going in that this book was not my cup of tea and so I feel bad for giving it a negative review, I will say that writing and character insight is more important to me than plot, so if you love a fast paced book with twists you did not see coming, you may love this one! It certainly was an interesting read.

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I really loved this book in a new to me author. The characters and location really and to the story. I can't wait to read the next one. This book keeps you guessing until the end.

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5 Stars!

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!

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The premise was interesting. But the writing style was awkward and it took away from the intensity and suspense of what would happen next. And other than Oleg, no character in the book seemed redeeming, making it hard to care about how things turned out.

2.5 stars for me.

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This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

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A page turning suspense novel with everything you could want in a thriller - sex, love and murder! Don’t miss out on this intoxicating read!

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