Instalove is so not my jam!! I think I could have related to the characters better had this developed over time and not after the 1st 30 seconds. The concept of the book was great, but I just didn’t like the way it came together unfortunately. This book just didn’t work for me. The mystery just really wasn’t a mystery to me.

TW: self harm, emotional manipulation and rape.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Natalie is a young art student in NYC with the usual money woes. She becomes friendly with fellow student Ava, and is in awe of her beautiful clothes and lovely apartment. When the subject of money comes up, and Nat confides her problems with her roommates and making her rent, Ava lets Nat in on her secret. Ava has a "sugar daddy". She explains the arrangements to Nat, including helping her set up her own page on the "sugar babies" website. Ava also warns Nat about how to protect herself in a "sugar baby" arrangement. Nat gets over her fear of the whole idea of getting paid to spend time with a stranger and takes the plunge. She begins to see Gabe, an older, rich and successful attorney. The story of how Nat gets involved with Gabe and how the arrangement evolves is a well written and interesting read. I loved it and couldn't wait to get back to the book whenever real life called. This was a solid page-turner, right up to the very end.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author Robyn Harding, and the publisher Gallery/Scout Press for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was very excited to read this book by Robyn Harding as I read The Party by her and loved it. This book has it all – deceit, betrayal and obsession! This book will leave you wanting to hate the main character Natalie. You will want to stay up late so you can see what happens next. Don’t delay read this book today!

Author scored high in my book for creating two loathsome characters. Although the plot was a tad bit overdramatized it was fitting given the ‘sugar bowl’ world.

I wasn’t surprised by the tense relationship between Gabe and Nat, passion was their curse and blessing. The relationship was doomed but their equal desire for more made it all so realistic given the circumstances.

I saw the ending coming a mile away, which isn’t a bad thing at all. The author tossed in a few calculated red herrings attempting to throw the reader off course but this reader stuck to her guns in suspicions.

Fast read, definitely sucks the reader into an intriguing world with angst in how it will end for all parties involved.

I will add the authoress did not glamorize the sugar bowl world but rather exposed it for what it really is ...brutal, dangerous and toxic.

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I was afraid that it would be silly or predictable but I ended up really enjoying the storylines and the protagonists. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a well written, light read.

I read this thriller in one sitting. Having zero previous knowledge of the world of sugar babies and sugar daddys, this was a compulsive, fascinating read. The tension was expertly built as Natalie, trying to keep herself afloat in an expensive city, turns to what she believes will be a temporary and safe way to add a little income. As she gets in deeper and involves her emotions, the sinister side of this underworld is revealed. This was scandalous, fast-paced, uncomfortable and just so good. What a wild ride!

I'm from Atlanta, and sugar babies and sugar daddies are actually quite common.....so much so that I, a 36 year old married mother of 3, actually personally know both daddies and babies . I was surprised at how well the characters were developed and at how well these.people were represented. Overall, a pretty good thriller.

Literally couldn’t put this down. Highly, addictive thriller. Good character development and an excellent ending. Would highly recommend.

This book had a very unique premise that immediately drew me in. I tend to greatly enjoy books that have have heroines with questionable morals. Natalie definitely falls under that bracket. She is a woman that I found intriguing and conflicted. Although I didn't agree with many of her decisions, it was quite the ride seeing how her story ended up.

The majority of the book was perfect. My only complaint would be with the ending. It ended a little too clean cut for my liking. Other than that, I was still grateful that I got the opportunity to read this novel.

Natalie is a 21-year-old art student that moved to NYC to go to art school and pursue her dream of becoming an artist. She's in a dead end job that pays poorly - and rent and bills are piling up and she has no idea what to do!
Then a fellow student suggests a solution - give the sugar baby lifestyle a try! Become a "companion" of an older man - the rules are varied depending on the man! Even though Natalie is wary - isn't that basically an escort?- the fear of eviction and being dead broke wins and out and Nat decides to give the questionable lifestyle a try. She meets Gabe - 30 years her senior - and forgets the biggest rule - you don’t fall in love. While Nat is head over heels, Gabe is a selfish narcissist who takes advantage of her naivety, until she’s no longer needed. That's when the story takes on more of a "Fatal Attraction" vibe. While the prologue of the book informs us that someone has been murdered, it's unclear until later in the book who the victim is - and who killed him/her.
This was a great read - so many twists and turns that kept me guessing! I was really invested in the story until the very end! Very engrossing and enjoyable!
Thanks to Robyn Harding, Gallery/Scout Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this good book!

3.25 stars rounded down to 3.*

This is the first book I've read by Robyn Harding. I enjoyed the breezy style and quick pace of this thriller but the protagonist annoyed me so much that it took away from what otherwise was a really well crafted story.

The Arrangement is the story of Natalie-a 21 year old art student from small town USA who moved to New York City to break away from the norms of small town. She's barely keeping her head above water financially, drinking too much and making bad decisions. Her roommates want to kick her out and when she gets fired from her waitressing job she's desperate. She discovers her classmate is making big money as a "sugar baby", essentially an escort to high powered older men. Initially disgusted, Natalie becomes so desperate to stay in New York she decides to place an ad just to make enough money to pay back her roommates. Despite all of her classmate's warnings, Natalie falls for her very first "sugar daddy" and winds up in a kept woman situation. Her naivete, youth, and impressionability make her the perfect target for a narcissist and she falls hard.

When faced with trouble at home (because of course he's married), her sugar daddy dumps her and she does not take it well. One part single-white-female, one part feminist war cry, The Arrangement is a good story. I enjoyed it and would look for more by Robyn Harding.

*with thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for this honest review.

I loved the story here. The idea of a young art student struggling in New York City and becoming a sugar baby to make ends meet was something I haven't seen before.

Was the book the most exciting from beginning to end? No. It was actually on the basic side in terms of how the story unfolded. But it was a very fast read and kept my attention the entire time.

If I had to compare the two, I did like this one more than Robyn Harding's last book Her Pretty Face. And although I saw the ending coming from a mile away, I still liked the thought the author put into the story's final twist.

Overall, this was a successful thriller but nothing mind blowing. I would recommend it to my thriller readers out there. It's worth the time investment.

-I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Robyn Harding, and Gallery Books for the opportunity to review.-

A real page turner.
I enjoyed the story.
The book was written well.
The characters were well developed.
I give it 4 stars.

Natalie becomes a sugar baby to be able to pay the bills and afford college. In the beginning, her ‘relationship’ with her very first sugar daddy Gabe is all roses, but when she falls in love with him, things start crumbling very quickly. A very intriguing psychological thriller. The ending was a little rushed but expected.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

I was able to read this book thanks to NetGalley. It was a super easy, fast thriller and I greatly enjoyed it. What I found most interesting about this book is how you could like and then dislike the characters so much, especially the main character Natalie.
Natalie is a struggling art student in New York City with a stalker ex boyfriend who is about to be evicted from her apartment. Her classmate tells her about a website where she can find a “sugar daddy”. She meets Gabe and they enter a pretty serious relationship and Natalie falls for him hard. He then breaks up with her to focus on his family and craziness ensues. Natalie goes crazy with jealousy. This book was a fun read and I will recommend it. Thanks again to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Natalie Murphy is a young and beautiful art student. She is struggling financially and is desperate for cash for tuition, rent and even food. She looses her part time job and she senses her roommates are about to evict her. When a new friend tells her about an escort service website she is intrigued but cautious. She is assured that sex is optional.
With the help of her friend she joins the website and weeds through the date requests. One middle aged man, who is willing to pay her big money for a drink at a bar and conversation, does catch her eye. She agrees to meet him and he turns out to be handsome, wealthy and a single man. Much to Natalie’s surprise, she is very attracted to him.
What started out as a sugar daddy arrangement soon turns bitter. Natalie finds herself emotionally involved and in a horrible predicament that soon turns deadly.
From the very beginning I was drawn into this story. As I got further along into the story, I was unable to stop reading. When I did need to put the book down, I was looking forward to picking the book back up again. This was my first Robyn Harding book and I certainly plan to read more.
I received a digital copy of the book from the publisher, and Netgalley. This is my unbiased and honest review.

I had enjoyed Robyn Harding's previous domestic thrillers, so I was excited to check out The Arrangement. It definitely lived up to my expectations and is her best thriller yet!

The story kept me on my toes throughout. I liked reading the perspectives of both Nat and Gabe. I was stressed out with and scared for Nat at times, and frustrated with her at other times. It was interesting to learn what a sugar daddy and sugar baby arrangement entails. Robyn did a great job creating a captivating novel with this concept at the base. I definitely had trouble putting it down!

I already can't wait for whatever Robyn has in store for next year.

Movie casting ideas:
Nat: Zoey Deutch
Gabe: Dermot Mulroney
Cole: Dacre Montgomery
Ava: Jessica Amlee
Violet: Halle Bailey
Celeste: Garcelle Beauvais

This was such a good book. Natalie drew me in and I couldn’t put it down. I’ve never read books by Robyn Harding but I will now.

I super enjoyed this twisty tale of sugar babies, betrayal, toxic relationships, and downright debauchery. #thearrangement by @rhardingwriter was fantastic, fast-paced, and the ending was unexpected!! Shout out to @netgalley and @gallerybooks for the #arc!! This book is out on shelves now- make sure to pick up and read ASAP!!

This was my second book by Robyn Harding. The Arrangement was published by Scout Press on July 30, 2019. I received my copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Natalie is a broke college student in NYC, struggling to provide for basic needs when her friend suggests she should go online and find a sugar daddy for herself. Ava tells her about all of the great benefits while they study in Ava's completely furnished penthouse apartment, and Natalie doesn't see any harm in it.

She meets Gabe, and he seems like the dream man. He's a successful lawyer and Nat falls in love. She thinks Gabe is also in love with her. She has no idea Gabe is actually married with a family, and has no plans to abandon them.

When he cuts off the relationship, this girl loses her ever-loving mind. She drinks constantly and stalks him. She spies on his wife and inserts herself into his daughter's life. Gabe now has to figure out how to deal with her to avoid letting his sugar baby ruin his picture perfect life. A murder takes place near his Upper East Side apartment-question is, who's the victim?

I loved this book. I was hooked from chapter 1. Natalie is a nut job, but she's so easy to pity and follow through her story. I remember my life as a college student, worried about how I'll eat...let alone pay my rent. It's a HARD place to be, especially alone. I knew the moment she met Gabe that this was going to be a hot mess and I was there for every second of it. I knew she was going to fall for him, and I knew it wasn't going to be reciprocated. I had my guess on the ending, but I was wrong. I've never been so excited to be wrong in my life. The ending is the perfect karmic twist. I love when bad people get what they deserve. Gabe certainly did.

This would have been a 5 star read for me, but I wanted a little bit more when it came to her friend Ava, along with a couple of other relationships. I know that Nat and Gabe were the most important story line, but I would have liked resolution/closure on some of the background characters brought into her story in a way that didn't feel as rushed.

🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars