Let me start by saying that if you don't like to read about the privileged elite then you might want to skip it. This story seems to be a satire on society but also on dating habits, the wanting to find the love of our lives but also not wanting to work for it once we have it because we want more. I originally was interested in this book because it was a bit identical to the Soulmate Equation and although I suppose the general idea might be similar the delivery was completely different.

I had a hard time with the book up to the point when Ursula meets Rafael but even then there were moments when I could feel myself wanting to eyeroll. There was a certain air of pretentiousness in the story, especially at the beginning but that was to be expected since both characters are successful in their careers and are supposed to be able to afford a 45-50 K service.. yes they spent thousands to find their perfect match. The idea that there is a mathematical equation that can tell us exactly who would be our perfect match for life was both fascinating and a bit depressing. But it also brings to question how much would you be willing to spend if you were promised to meet the love of your life who had everything you want in a partner. Ursula at first is reluctant to use the services, because who really spends that much money, but of course she just happens to be at the right place and is able to secure a side job that pays 100 K. Even though there was a lot that I didn't like there was also a lot that I did enjoy. The first portion of the book was annoying yet so interesting, i'm not sure how the author was able to do that but she did a great job of keeping the reader hooked to the story. I for one found myself wanting to know more and more about the The Stake, the women’s club that Ursula and her best friend belong to, attempting to reclaim the image from all the women burned at the stake for being witches. It's sort of poking fun at white feminist culture , it was completely over-the-top (a lavender-scented steam room named Purple Rain, a swaddle room and hoenstly some other really odd activities with equally odd names) but If i was given the chance i would definetly want to join.

Let's talk a little about Ursula, so her character is very contradicting at times but I think it does a good job at showing the struggles that women face today, the wanting to be a feminsit but also conforming to the standards that are placed on women. The struggle between wanting to be successful in a man's industry but also knowing that you have to play your part. At times she's very anti-the man but then she goes on work trips with tech-bros to further career. Through the story we see her struggle with the idea that she HAS to be independent and her own person but also wanting to have someone be there for her and give her the things that she wants but cant say because it would go against her feminist idealogies. Towards the end of the book we see the shift in her character, finally being able to accept that she can choose something that will bring her happiness and towards what she really wants instead of what she thinks she should want. We also see her finally being able to open up to a relationship that isn't perfect but one that she also needs to work at. I think that might have been something that was created because in her life she strived for perfection, if she wasn't perfect then she felt that people in her industry wouldn't take her seriously so that also transferred to her relationships. If she saw something that didn't fit in her life or that was causing her stress then instead of fixing it with her partner she would sweep it under the rug and when things didn't improve she would leave. I would have liked that she would have realized her errors when Rafael was still there but I suppose he was the thing that shaked her world enough for her to realize that she needed to change her way of thinking. Again she's supposed to be afeminist so having a man be the reason why she changes isn't really in sync with that but this is also mainly a contemporary romance so i will overlook that.

Rafael on the other hand is, in my opinion, the more stable one in the relationship which was also probably because of this personality. While Ursula had more issues that she needed to work on he was just kind of there trying to make her life a little easier. All he wanted was someone to be there for him. They mention that he is hispanic but was adopted, illegally, by a white rich couple that used their influence to get him citizenship. This was one of those eye roll moments for me. I don't think he was perfect though, obviously he also had some trust issues when he immediately started to assume that she was cheating on him just because she was spending time with her mentor on a business trip. Even though she didn't really give him any reasons to think this. He was at times overly passive, instead of saying what was bothering him he waited until there was no other choice but to choose to leave or stay together.

The plot twist at the end was kind of expected but at the same time totally not. I can see where there were instances in the story line that were leading up to it but there are different things going around that you could miss if you're not paying attention. But I think this was also because there were some very unnecessary things added. The Arc still allowed them to have some semblance of choosing each other so what they did was honestly pretty manipulative but also so smart. I guess that at that price point they should be willing to do anything to ensure a couple has their happily ever after.

Overall I think it was written well but it is meant for a specific audience of people so i would recommend it to someone but only if they have similar reading taste as me.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the alc and St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

For me, this book was similar to the Soulmate Equation, just a more intense adult version with less humor. Mary Elizabeth Kelly does a wonderful job with the narration and the story still kept my attention even if I felt like I had heard it before.

Our MC, Ursula, is tired of disastrous dates so when she hears about the Arc, a matchmaking service that guarantees to find the perfect match, she signs up and true to their mission she is matched with someone she instantly hits it off with. You also get Rafael’s POV, the man she is matched with.

I feel like it was trying to do a sophisticated and hipster or maybe new age sex and the city but it fell short. It came across as stuffy and boring. If I were to use words from the book I would describe it as pretentious, vapid, and derivative. It did not fit me at all. But I will say the audiobook narrator was good.

This was a debut novel by Tory Henwood Hoen. I was sure how I was going to feel about this one, but I was hopeful it was going to be great. The beginning was a jumping off point for the main characters. We have to see who they are right? Well I started it and it felt like I was getting to much info but I was compelled to continue. So the beginning felt like a 2 star. But having said that I arrived at the actual meeting up and fell in love with the characters. They were interesting and different. It was a pleasure watching all of it unfold and I couldn’t get enough. They had wonderful silly moments and I loved the chemistry. I have to say that I really fell for this book!
Quirky, unconventional and very entertaining. If you love a great romance then I highly recommend this.
I chose to listen to this book on audio and loved Mary Elizabeth Kelly narrating. She was perfect for this book.
Thanks Macmillan Audio via NetGalley.

How far would you go, or how much would you pay, to find your soulmate? While at The Stake (a wellness center with over the top services to meet women's physical, mental and emotional needs) Ursula is given a business card for The Arc. What she finds at The Arc is a pledge to find her her perfect soulmate for the low cost of $40,500 ($50,000 for men to make up for the wage gap). At her wits end with dating and trying to find her life's path she decides to go for it. She negotiates a new side hustle to finance the endeavor and off she goes to be submersed in The Arc for a full week so that they can learn everything about her and find her perfect match.

When she is matched with Rafael, a 42-year-old lawyer she is a bit skeptical. After their first date, however, she is optimistic. Rafael just seems to get her and they just fit. I mean when he gives the nickname of Viggo Mortenson to her lady parts, and she thinks its the best thing ever I think it just shows what a perfect match they are ;)

But is finding one's true match so easy? Could a week at The Arc and the fee really be enough to build a foundation for a lifetime?

This book is quirky, it will not be for everyone. The feminism is there with the sarcasm and sometimes its all just a bit over the top. For me this one worked but I feel you have to go into it with the right mindset to fully appreciate the experience that is The Arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Ursula Byrne is 35 years old, VP of Strategic Audacity a Manhattan branding agency, a member of several book clubs and a fancy feminist club. She has lots of friends, a nice apartment and a cat that she adores, but she’s still single. She has tried all the dating apps in the market, but she hasn’t found “the one” yet.

One day, Ursula receives an invitation to try a secret and very expensive matchmaking service that guarantees to find a person perfect for you based on a series of physiological, psychological and emotional assessments. It costs $40.5 for women and $50 for men, because of the gender pay gap, of course.

Ursula has given up on dating apps, but this service intrigues her, so she decides to give it a chance. That’s how she ends up meeting a 42-year-old lawyer named Rafael Banks.

Ursula and Rafael are very happy with each other. They are both successful and career-driven. The chemistry between them is great and they fall in love after just a few dates. Everything is bright and perfect, until it isn’t.

I liked that we get to see their relationship evolve as they get to know each other, their flaws and their annoying quirks and that relationships are not perfect, not even a match made in heaven.

Thank you @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the advanced audio copy.
The book is narrated by Mary Elizabeth Kelly who did an amazing job with all of the characters. The audio is 11 hours and 30 minutes long.

Not your typical rom-com, as I had expected this to be! I loved the strange twists and perspectives that this unique story brought to the table. As a married person who hasn't dated in ... 15 years ... this really shines the light on the future (present) of dating in a data-obsessed, technology-driven world.

That said, I loved Ursula and Rafael and their silly banter/connection. There were such great takeaways about love: who we choose and whether or not we really even have a choice. The reader is left pondering, "What is a non-negotiable?" and considering just how many of those seemingly-important things really ARE that important in the end.

In summary: this isn't just a gushy romance. It's a really interesting evaluation of our modern world and how to relate to people in an environment that human beings aren't necessarily equipped to thrive in.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance copy of this audio book for review!

THE ARC by Tory Henwood Hoen asks the question:
If you knew you were going to fail is there any reason to do it anyway?

Rafael and Ursula are both looking for THE ONE to share their lives with. The answer to what they are seeking is THE ARC. A tech-based match-making service that costs an armload of money but guarantees an armful of success.

They jump in with both feet but soon find things are NOT as perfect as they seem. People are human and things are much more complicated than simple.

This book was fun and easily served its purpose, keeping my attention while I did household chores. There wasn’t anything groundbreaking here and the love story was a bit weird but overall I enjoyed the lively details of both characters' unique personalities and their story.


Might forget it in a week but it was cute while it lasted.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced alc!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Using state of the art emotional/psychological compatibility metrics, The Arc is an exclusive dating service that essentially promises to find your ideal mate, for a hefty fee of course! Ursula and Rafael are matched and hit it off immediately. Sparks fly, they've never felt like this about anyone, etc... Upon the first disconnect in their relationship, the Arc informs them that there's been a mistake in their being matched. They are given two option, they can choose to uncouple and be re-matched or stay together and try to stick it out knowing that they're match is flawed....oh, and of course, no refunds! What will they choose? If they stay together can they have still have a happily ever after or are they doomed?

There were a good amount of little things that just seemed off to me. Ursula's job is the VP of Strategic Audacity at a branding agency....what is that? She and her friend Issa are members of The Stake, which is an odd feminist club filled with a smash center, a scream den , hush-brushing, a swaddle station, and sobbing pods. If such a place exists I'm not applying for a membership, thanks. I was interested in seeing how things would turn out after they were informed their match was not perfect. (i.e. manufactured relationship/emotions/fate/science vs, human connection/personal choices etc....but that too fell flat for me.)

As for the audiobook, the narration by Mary Elizabeth Kelly was well done and I'd listen to more audiobooks narrated by her in the future. Overall this one was fine, but I didn't love it.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Arc is a fascinating light satire about contemporary love and how we sustain our relationships. The writing reminded me of Laura Hankin’s novels and the show Black Mirror. The story immediately drew me in set in privileged elitist New York City. It follows Ursula, 35, and Rafael, 42; who are both successful in their careers but haven’t found the right person. They each spend $40-50k on the Arc’s service, an intensive matching service that employs technology in matching romantic partners. They’re matched with each other and have an instant, deep connection.

I loved Ursula and Rafael’s characters. The dialogue was so fun and punchy and I loved their connection. A few months in they begin having disagreements and old patterns appear. We soon learns what happens after a perfect match is put together. This book made me ponder questions like, how do we make our relationships successful? What makes people compatible? How do our insecurities and past experiences reflect in our relationships and communication? I also pondered the precarity of all relationships. I listened to the audiobook which was deftly narrated by Mary Elizabeth Kelly who perfectly embodied Ursula and the tone of the book.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press / Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The concept of this novel is vastly appealing. I love a good fated romance. As a woman of similar age, I see the appeal of someone else - a company, in this case - take the guesswork and what if's out of the equation.
The ramp up through the testing and even the first date was intriguing and kept my interest. I didn't love the forced conflict though. While no book is smooth sailing in full and I expected there to be hurdles, this one didn't work for me.
The narration by Mary Elizabeth Kelly was well executed. I enjoyed her performance for the content and she made it easy to keep listening. Overwhelmingly, I recommend listening to the audiobook for anyone wanting to read this book.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the alc and St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Ursula and Rafael are determined to be the perfect love match for each other by the ARC, a very high end matchmaking service, guaranteed to find the one perfect match for you.As expected, they hit it off like nothing they've ever felt before, but is it too good to be true? Can the world's perfect matchmaking service make a mistake? And what does it mean to be a perfect match anyways?

This book had an interesting premise, but the book was just OK for me. I did like the idea of finding your perfect match, I do wish they explored a little more about what that would actually mean to someone. The flow of the story was also a little off. Just when I felt like I was getting onto the main storyline, time and time again some side story would come along and take over a chapter or two. I enjoyed the fireworks between the 2 characters, I would have like to have read more of that, less of the side stuff!

Overall an OK book, I'm not sure I would compare it to Taylor Jenkins Reid, Sally Rooney, and Rebecca Serle though.

Thanks you to NetGalley for an ARC copy of The Arc in exchange for an honest review!

The concept of this book was amazing. This is coming out just in time for Valentine's Day and I definitely recommend it. I loved watching Ursula find herself throughout this book. Her character was incredibly relatable and I enjoyed seeing things from her perspective. I did predict the ending pretty soon after starting the book. It was still a great experience and left me so happy at the end. Also, can we talk about this cover art? I just think it is so gorgeous!

This was such an interesting read.  The whole concept of meeting your ideal mate by using a set of highly intimate assessments sounds far-fetched yet believable.  All through the book, it felt as though the creators of this company were going to let Ursula and Rafael know that this was all an experiment to see how far a couple would go to find their perfect match.  But they did not.

The central characters were well developed.   Both were educated and career-driven individuals who had experienced previous relationships but had never felt they had found “the one”.  Through The Arc, the two meet and fall fast for one another.  They couldn’t believe what a great job The Arc had done in pairing them together.  But no relationship is perfect and the two find challenges along the way.

The Arc company itself was well presented and futuristic.  The descriptions of the surroundings and the week-long assessments their clients go through before matching was fascinating.  It was surprising to me that neither Ursula nor Rafael questioned the need for some of these intimate assessments and simply went along with what was requested.

There is a twist to the story which I won’t get into so as not to give too much away, but this was a significant part of the story and mindset of this couple.  It was well presented and was a highlight.

I listened to the audiobook version of The Arc which was narrated by Mary Elizabeth Kelly.  I enjoyed her performance - particularly how she portrays the Doctor at The Arc.  Her voice almost feels computer generated which portrays the clinician behind The Arc’s algorithm.  I would highly recommend this format of the book to those that enjoy audiobooks.

First off, thank you to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC audio 🎧 of The Arc.

Do you ever read a book and then struggle like crazy to rate it 🤷‍♀️? That is what I have going on at the moment with The Arc. So, setting aside the star rating for a second, some of the things I liked.

I ❤️ Ursula. I feel like her character just spoke to me, like her angst was my angst in so many ways! The struggles between career and a personal life or fitting in with the “guys” professionally versus championing women in the workplace are so real and I felt like they were dealt with so expertly throughout the novel. If I based a star rating on her character alone ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ all the way. Thank you Tory Henwood Hoen for such a relatable character👏.

The premise was also super fun 🤩. Who isn’t intrigued by an organization offering up the one person you’re most compatible with!

I really felt the romance side of things fell a bit flat for me. Although I was interested in the trajectory of the couples relationship I never found myself rooting for them. I think that in itself says something was missing.

I listened to the audio version of this novel and enjoyed it for the most part. I found some sections, like those at The Stake and when the characters were particularly upset a little grating to listen to and I feel like it may have been more enjoyable to read through those sections.

So, I ended up giving this title 3.5 stars. It’s definitely worth the read!

Love the uniqueness of the characters. They were quirky and hot messes. It was so enjoyable to see characters like that. It made the story more real in a way and relatable. The ARC storyline of this company matching to your perfect mate seemed pretty sketchy and you think that the whole time until the end. I really enjoyed listening to the audio of this too.

The Arc started slow and (for me at least) ended just as slowly. I debated between 2 and 3 stars, but when it came down to it, I had to go with 2, because I wouldn't necessarily recommend this book to anyone else. I think some people will LOVE it, but it's a bit misleading to be promoted as perfect for people who love TJR, Sally Rooney, etc... But if it sounds interesting to you, I wouldn't stop you from trying it out!

I'll start with the positives, though. Because there were some!
-The concept is interesting, no matter how many times it's been done.
-Their struggle did seem very real, and I enjoyed how the book ended.
-The Stake, the over-the-top feminist health club made me laugh every time they spent time there.
-Specifically, when Ursula asked "But do I want to be like Gwyneth Paltrow, or do I want to be the OPPOSITE of Gwyneth Paltrow??" and her friend replied "That is the question of our time." I felt that.

What I didn't love:
-Rafael and Ursula are both kind of weird an insufferable, a couple you would HATE if you knew them in person.
-Their weird pet names for each other were so cringey, and their arguments were mind-numbing.
-It was so slow. You probably could have gotten rid of at least a quarter of it without losing anything.
-I didn't really care about her career storyline? I didn't really need a lecture on the inequality of venture capitalist culture, and I got like...three.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc (also, a little confusing because at first I thought this book was going to be about advanced reader copies, but oh well.) in exchange for my honest review.

When I first started this book, I was a bit skeptical - it felt like it was starting off slow. However, it quickly picked up and I really quite enjoyed it!

It is a bit of a quirky book - simply just based on the premise - but I genuinely did enjoy going on the journey with Ursula and Rafael. I was eager to see if this relationship architecture worked and how their relationship would change along the way.

And the ending - woah. I'm so so intrigued and have been left pondering if we saw the company covering for themselves...or if that truly was in their master plan all along.

For the audiobook, I did enjoy the narration; it was easy to follow along - even with the switch in POVs.

A cool premise. Ursula Byrne is looking for love but as a busy 35 year-old New Yorker, who has the time? She takes a plunge and turns to the Arc, a highly sophisticated "matching" service that promises you will be with your intended 18 months after sign-up. It's very pricy and you must agree to the week-long evaluation they have set up in their facilities, but it's all worth it for love, right? Ursula is paired w/ Raphael Banks and everything seems to go off without a hitch from the start. Except...one little argument leads to the Arc saying they should detach themselves because they didn't account for some margin of error and now Ursula and Raphael don't know how to proceed. Are they perfect for each other or not? Is the Arc messing with them? Will they end up together?
I really enjoyed this novel. The protagonist is quirky and has legitimate concerns for a feminist in her 30s with a career & trying to find "the one."

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced e-audio book.*

Have you ever watched Married at First sight? Would you pay thousands of dollars for a matchmaking service that puts you through rigorous testing, psychological and physiological with the promise of matching you with the one. “The Arc will find your ideal mate.”

Ursula is close to giving up on the dating world when she finds The Arc and is set up with Rafael. She is happy that the hard part is out of the way and now she gets to live the rest of her life with her perfect match. But is Rafael really her soul mate and is the hard part really out of the way?

This was such a unique story and I loved the concept of matchmaking using modern technology. This isn’t your typical romance story and I must admit it took me a while to get into; however without revealing any spoilers, my favorite part of this book was the second half. What’s that quote .. “If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it is yours. If it doesn't, it never was.”

“I’m curious to hear your thoughts. Would you pay $50k for The Arc?”