This is quite the standout debut! I loved the unique story line where there is an elite service that promises to match participants with their perfect partner. I loved that the two leads, Ursula and Rafael, were older and a little dismissive about whether the service would work but still optimistic enough to try.

I didn't love how long the story dragged on. It could have been edited much more for my tastes but I kept reading because I had to find out what would happen to the MCs, would they get their happily ever after or was the story going to take a more sinister turn?? This isn't a light rom-com, but much more of a women's fiction/literary story. Overall I enjoyed it and would recommend if you're looking for something different from the norm. Much thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for my advance review copy.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book. It felt original and not so far off from what dating in the future could become. I liked that it was quirky and not the typical rom com. I definitely predicted the ending, but I would expect nothing less from a decent romance. I’m going to gift a copy to my daughter when it releases as I know she’ll enjoy it and there’s nothing too inappropriate for a 15 year old.

This was a interesting book on a type of modern day dating. There’s an organization called “The ARC”. At this organization one spends a week there taking tests and having some spa type experiences. Women and men both go here to find their one true love/life partner. It cost a good chunk of change $40k for women $50k for men (they take into account for the gender pay difference). They guarantee they’ll find you the love of your life. They have never had anything go wrong until now.

A sweet romance novel that has a fresh perspective on the plethora of match-making services that are offered to single people searching for love. I enjoyed the multi-dimentional characters that Tory Henwood Hoen developed. The chemistry and love story between Ursula and Rafael was entertaining, however I felt this went deeper than a simple romance. I really liked how it covered women in the work force and what it is like to be a female in a male dominated industry. This book brings to light what it is like when men support these women and how much harder it is when men limit women to the small parameters they set for their success. I liked how the majority of the male characters championed female success and saw them as valuable asset to companies, but more importantly I liked the self-reflection of "just because I can do it all...does it really make me happy to do so?" I recommend this one!

I don’t exactly know what I was expecting from this book but what I got sure wasn’t it. The book overall was okay but I just couldn’t get into and struggled through it.

2.5 Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and ALC, and Libro.fm for an ALC as well. As you can see from all the advanced request, I was excited to read this. I was expecting a Black Mirror esthetic with a romance that could have gone either way. This was just a run of the mill romance where the couple happened to meet via an advanced matchmaking company. The characters, aside from maybe the leading man, were the definition of the worst. They were all out of touch rich people. “Am I that insufferable?”— yes Ursula, you are! Wish the story had taken more of a gothic turn, with less soapbox preached values. Recommended for fans of The Ramblers by Aidan Donnelley Rowley or The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney. The women characters names were all too similar for audio.

Not your typical romance.

Having found my husband on eHarmony, I had a special interest in this boutique matchmaking service that guaranteed that our main character would be paired with the perfect man.

Ursula is a strong, independent woman. She's a great catch, albeit with a few quirks and baggage issues. (Don't we all). So, naturally, she's not everyone's cup of tea. After coming into some serious cash, she splurges on a dating service that costs $40K!

The! Interview/matching process was crazy and quite clever!

I very much enjoyed this book, which I didn't overthink too much. The audio was fantastic and alternated between the perspectives of both characters.

Special thanks to Macmillan Audio for the advanced listener copy via the NetGalley app.


Special thanks to Macmillan Audio for the early release copy of the audiobook via the NetGalley app.

The Arc a new, super invasive, highly personalized matchmaking service that is guaranteed to find your perfect mate.

I think I understand what this book was suppose to be about, a look at love and what happens when your $100,000 perfect relationship hits some not so perfect bumps. But I saw was more- what happens when your perfect mate is jealous and accusatory, or when your communication skills is so lacking on either side that you can’t even have a discussion about the what kind of dog to get. If these two people were scientifically proven to be perfect for each other why did their relationship feel kind of toxic?

An interesting concept but not a book I will find myself recommending.

I’m a big fan of Sally Rooney and Taylor Jenkins Reid, this book was recommended for fans of these two brilliant yet wildly different authors….. that is a really tall order and a pretty bold statement, unfortunately I saw no similarities to either.

If someone told you they found a perfect match for you based on highly advanced science, would you let yourself fall head over heels for the person they match you with? In this world, with as many dating apps as there are singles, that's how Tory Henwood Hoen got me curious about The Arc.

The story follows 35-year-old Ursula, who—after countless failed attempts to find THE one—is ready to give in to The Arc, a highly sophisticated, science-based matchmaking service that promises an almost certain chance for a long-lasting relationship. From the moment Ursula meets 42-year-old Rafael, the spark between them is nearly tangible. As their relationship progresses, so does their doubt, whether love can truly be based on algorithms.

Following smart and sassy Ursula up until she entered the Arc was entertaining, her story relatable to any single out there. If you ever dated online, you probably felt like Ursula at some point or another (you probably were Ursula). But everything after that felt as if Ursula got recast. No more witty exchanges with her best friend, no decisiveness. Perhaps the pessimistic me just doesn't believe that love could cause such a change in someone. Perhaps the character was truly inconsistent.

And then there were the details. The many details. You know how, as a rule of thumb in story-telling, we all are aware that the protagonists go to the bathroom but don't necessarily need to read about it? I thought about it a lot while reading (well, listening) to this book. To depict the growing intimacy between the couple, the author included details (so many details (dressing to go out, the character put on a jacket, gloves, a hat...)), which felt unnecessary and random for the story as a whole, all the while the characters used cringy pet names for each other.

In the end, the author got me. I was convinced I had the story figured out. It turns out I did not. Although I found myself skipping over paragraphs throughout the story, thanks to the unexpected ending, the book left me on a good note. It wasn't a waste of time.

If you're looking for an easy read, give The Arc a shot.

Thank you to @smpromance for a copy of The Arc. This was a story of high end match making service. This story centers on Ursula and Rafael as they start their dating journey. I thought the pacing was a bit slow with just Ursula’s POV the first 25% of the book. I like the idea of the pressure being off for them as they were perfectly matched by the Arc and they could be themselves. I enjoyed the dual POV and the pacing of the narrator.

The Arc by Tory Henwood Hoen is a unique story. It definitely has you thinking. It was nice to read a imaginative story as this one was and I think it will appeal to many readers. I felt the narrator did a really nice job in this as well. I can’t say that this was one I could totally relate to and did find it was dragging out a little for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for the opportunity to listen to this book for an honest review.

Big thanks to Netgalley, St Martins Press, Macmillan Audio, and the author for an advanced copy of this audiobook. My review contains my own thoughts and opinions and is being left voluntarily.

The Arc was a smart, creative, and captivating debut novel by author Tory Henwood Hoen that asks the question: “is it possible to optimize our most intimate relationships?”

I loved this take on a boutique relationship service that aims to find you your one true love at a steep cost of $40,500 for women or $50,000 for men (to take into account the wage gap, naturally). In a world drifen more and more by technology and algorithms - can true love be predicted and cultivated in the same way?

Ursula Bryne, 35-year old VP of Strategic Audacity for a marketing firm (and cat mother to Mallory) and Rafael Banks, a 42-year old lawyer, are matched after they both attend an intense, weeklong process by The Arc. Their chemistry and connection seems meant to be - but starts to fray. Is this truly meant to be? Or will the outcome be the same as every other relationship they’ve began?

I adored the premise and the way the story was woven by Henwood Hoen. Narration was also suburb and done by Mary Elizabeth Kelly.

The Arc wasn’t just a romance, however. It had sharp and smart commentary in the world we live in today and how women are expected to act; how they are treated in the work environment; and the sometimes over-the-top things we are supposed to do in the name of self-care. I laughed out loud multiple times and loved Ursula and Rafael and all of their weirdness together.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and it was unlike anything else I’ve read before. Highly recommended!

I loved reading the Arc, so I was super excited when I saw the audiobook available! I love the plot of this story. It's so refreshing and a great take on a romance novel. The narration was really well done, which is always such a gamble for me.

The Arc is such a clever thought provoking romance that really makes you think.⁣
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How far would you go to find love ? Would you be willing to put all of your eggs in one basket in hopes for a new system, that’s fairly expensive to find your true love without having to go on multiple dating websites, awkward dates, and awkward conversations to find the one for you? ⁣
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This story wasn’t your typical trope. It was funny, feministic, creative and interesting. It really makes you sit back and think, if I were single would I do something like this?⁣
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Could I go through a 7 day retreat essentially and spill all my deepest feelings to specialists in hopes that they would match me with someone and take out all of the questions and awkwardness out of finding one because if someone else is paying for this, they’re in it 100% too right? No concerns? It’s legit?⁣
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Ursula and Rafael take the leap. Are so quirky and cute and awkward and endearing. Did the ARC get it right or will they fail them? Such a clever debut novel!⁣

I really enjoyed the narrator. I did at times which there were two narrators because I’d occasionally lose track of who was talking but otherwise it was well done!
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
Thank you for an ARC for my honest review! @stmartinspress #netgalley

This book was very intriguing an reminded me of books like The One and Soulmate Equation where science/ modern technology is being used to find someone's lifelong partner.

Premise: Ursula and Rafael are both tired of being single and the modern dating apps. Their friends are all in serious relationships and whenever they are set up on date, they wonder why this late 30 year old is still single like them. Thus, they both join a secretive match-making service called the Arc. While the Arc is expensive, the company promises to find someones 100% ideal partner. Both Ursula and Rafael are a bit skeptical about the program at first. However, after their initial meeting, the chemistry between the two is undeniable and they jump right into a relationship. It seems as though everything between the two is going perfectly, until the Arc calls them in to share that they made a mistake...

Thoughts: I was most interested in the chapters that detailed how the Arc matchmaking process works and the questions that both Ursula and Rafael had to answer as part of the legroom; they are so different than those found on any dating app. There was a point in the middle where I got a little bit bored of the story but do think the end was wrapped up very nicely. I enjoyed Ursula's internal monologue and her thoughts and fears about modern dating/ work/ life. Definitely super different than other contemporary romances you will pick up!!

The Arc [out on 2/8/2022!]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

So excited to have ended my 2021 reading with this upcoming release!! The book follows Ursula, VP of Strategic Audacity (lol) navigate her way through NYC dating… while she’s crushing her career, she is lacking in the relationship dept. Enter the Arc: a high-tech service that matches you to your perfect partner. When Ursula is matched to Raphael, everything seems perfect… but the rest of their arc is still unfolding.

This fun read is more than just your typical romance meet-cute novel. “The Arc” tackles our society’s never-ending App-ification, lack of diversity in VC/PE funding, existential crises for women on our purpose & career coupled with biological timelines for kids. Central to the Raphael / Ursula love story unfolding is Ursula’s soul searching about what she wants to do — this storyline was suuuper relatable to me as a late 20s woman in tech.

My favorite scenes were spent at “The Stake,” the women’s club with its absurd yet also fantastic amenities. 10/10 would go irl. I also loved the ending, even though I had guessed the ‘twist’ or the little surprise bomb at the end. I also love how some of my guesses were incorrect — looking @ you, Mike.

Definitely will be recommending “The Arc” to my friends who are looking for an elevated romance that is not only cute but also witty & smart!

Ursula is a 35-year-old New Yorker who spends most of her days babysitting frat bros-turned-entrepreneurs — she’s a branding specialist for startups — and the rest of her time navigating modern dating. She’s had a handful of relationships in the past and none of them worked out for various reasons, so when a woman approaches her (at her bougie as hell feminist wellness center, btw) with a suggestion to look into a new dating service, she bites.

The Arc is a new service that combines biology, psychology, and technology to match you with your ideal mate. Through this service, Ursula meets Rafael, and it seems like a match made in heaven. But Rafael — and The Arc — might unravel parts of Ursula’s life she was way too wound up in to see clearly.

I freaking loved this book for so many ways. Shall I count them?
1. Ursula is just. So. Fun. She’s kind of a mess? While also being hilarious and a bad ass business lady. I work with startups on the periphery too, so I totally identified with her on that front. Plus she’s a cat lady 😻 Her cat Mallory is inarguably the books third main character.
2. Rafael was the perfect love interest. He’s older (42 — perish the thought!!) and just comfortable in his life (why is this such a quaint idea?!).
3. This ain’t your average rom com. Does this book have romance? Yes. Is it hilarious? Also yes. But this book feels more satirical than most romcoms out there.

Read if.. you’re loving the new SATC reboot, if Laura Hankin is an auto buy author for you, and if you’ve binged a season or two of married at first sight.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced audio.

3.75 ish stars

There is a lot going on in this book. It’s equal parts social commentary, romance, and comedy, but they all blend together nicely. I loved the first section, kind of hated some of the middle, and liked the ending, including the very last scene, which was both sweet and a bit eye-roll-inducing. I was happy when the main characters resolved their issues, but I didn’t love their relationship…or maybe I just wasn’t as invested in it as I would have liked for this kind of story. Either way, it was a fun read, and I’d be interested in checking out other books from the writer in the future.

I am kind of obsessed with this book - there is something so futuristic and yet so simple about it that really drew me in and has remained on my mind.

Ursula Byrne, a big time branding VP in Manhattan, has been grinding her whole life. Her career is thriving but her love life is not and she is ready to find her person. The dating apps/modern dating are not working for her and she's starting to lose hope. Out of nowhere, a woman drops her a business card that introduces her to the Arc: a top secret matchmaking service that guarantees to match you with your person. For $$$ you can enroll in their services and go through a series of physical, mental, emotional, and observational tests that will ultimately lead to your perfect match. It's guaranteed to work, but can you really optimize something as intimate and personal as true love?

I really enjoyed this concept, and the futuristic, tech elements of the Arc drew me in. I loved how descriptive the author was with the Arc in particular. While the characters were certainly flawed and difficult in their ways, I still found myself rooting for them and connecting with them. At the end of the day this is a story about love and how it persists through life's obstacles.

The audiobook narrated by Mary Elizabeth Kelly is excellent. I listen to a lot of audiobooks and I found this narrator in particular to be so consistent and engaging. She was able to seamlessly express different characters, point of view, and emotions. The audio version was very additive to my experience of this story.

Loved! Highly recommend a listen when the book is published on 2/8/22.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

A fun and funny story with an unexpected plot twist. Recommended, if you are into romance.


Review copy provided by publisher.