How to describe Sarah Dunn’s new novel The Arrangement? All that is in my head is the Seinfeld episode where Jerry and Elaine decide to break the standards of friends and become friends-with-benefits. They are oh-so-careful with rules and boundaries and are certain they have cracked the code for getting to have sex without becoming involved. Dunn goes one step further in applying this to the Valhalla (for certain people) of open marriage. Owen and Lucy love each other but with a young son on the autism spectrum who gets violent and over a decade together the spark is gone. Lucy is tired.

Earrings were so long gone, the holes in her ears had closed up. Next it was eyeliner, then mascara, then returning phone calls, then going to the dentist, then looking in a full-length mirror before she left the house, then lip gloss…pedicures, flossing, stretching, remembering birthdays, exfoliation. loc 265

When friends share that they’ve moved to an open marriage and it is “fabulous” and “helping our marriage so much” Owen and Lucy carefully craft a plan to do the same thing in order to save their own marriage. They discuss, plan, draw up a list of rules. They even have a beginning and end date for this experiment. Right. Nothing can go wrong with this.

Of course, if nothing did go wrong, The Arrangement would be dull. Instead, with the best of intentions for reinvigorating their marriage Lucy and Owen begin opening their eyes to the potential candidates around them. Soon enough both meet people who seem to be what they need, but while things are fun at first they soon get complicated because the rest of their life continues to clamor with its demands and needs.

I loved Dunn’s previous novel, Secrets to Happiness and so was delighted to see that she writes The Arrangement in the same lighthearted tone. When very early on, she describes one of Lucy’s friends as

She teetered around on her trademark vintage heels, which made her look like she might trip and fall straight into late middle age. Loc 81 friend Victoria

I laughed out loud and knew that barring a massive plot fail this novel would work for me and it did. It’s a realistic look at men and women, the ties that bind, and a lot of other modern day issues told with the kind of humor that deflects, but doesn’t deny the truth. Does the plot veer into the world of zany? Yes, a bit, but with a premise like ‘open marriage as a good idea to save a marriage’, things are bound to get weird. Thankfully, Dunn’s observational skills and wit balance out the crazy and circle The Arrangement back to the less exciting, but no less interesting realities of life.

A novel about open marriage is not one that I’d normally pick up but I’m actually quite glad that I read this one. A normal couple opens their marriage up to see if it works at making things better. It felt a little like fiction about a social experiment. What could go wrong? After 15 years of marriage myself, I understand how complicated the marriage relationship is and I can’t even begin to imagine bringing in the open marriage piece. So, in some ways, this book was interesting in that it explores this fascinating idea of whether or not monogamy is best in a marriage. Some of the narrative about raising children was SPOT ON. It’s hard and it does impact a marriage. I found those aspects to be pretty interesting, particularly how they were explored in concert with monogamy. There is such humor in this novel, alongside the drama and darkness. The author has such wit and it really gives the book a nice punch. At times, I didn’t feel like the book was entirely sure what it was … humor, satire, family drama, parent drama, women’s fiction … but, overall, I really enjoyed the read and am glad that I picked it up, especially since it’s not something I’d normally pick up.

Even though the idea of an open marriage – so being able to sleep with other people – pounded the alarm in my mind, I was quite curious to know how it would affect Lucy and Owen’s relationship. I know how it would affect mine. lol I also enjoyed reading and learning about their son.

THE ARRANGEMENT by Sarah Dunn will appeal to anyone in a relationship, mothers, fathers, husbands and wives; it has a little something for everyone.

I laughed aloud many times while reading this book; the wit, the insight, made it a quick, enjoyable read. Dunn hit on married life and motherhood with such accuracy; the joys and the terrors.

Don't let the theme of an "open marriage" scare you away from this one; yes, Lucy and Owen embark on an open marriage but what they learn along the way is enlightening and often funny.

I believe there will be many sightings of this book cover on beaches everywhere; perfect for a light, easy beachy read.

This is a great view into an open marriage, funny and warm. Anyone who has been married long enough has wondered what it would be like and this gives you the answers that you always wanted!

The town of Beekman, outside of New York, is a lovely, idyllic place. It’s perfect to raise your family. Lucy and Owen are raising their son Wyatt there. Wyatt is on the autism spectrum and it is all consuming for them both. When friends come over one night and talk about having an “open” marriage, at first, they joke about it. They start a list of rules. They decide why not? For six months, they can sleep with whomever they choose. They cannot discuss it and must follow their rules. At the end of six months, they will resume their family life, hopefully the better for it. Riiiigghhttt….

Owen starts up with Izzy, a woman in town who runs a local store. Izzy is crazy as a loon. (Who really ends up the voice of reason, go figure.) What starts off as sex, becomes having Owen do all the things her husband might do around the house. She is off the rails and I had to wonder why he was sticking around with her. Lucy begins an affair with Ben, a friend of a friend. Good old Sunny Bang. (Gotta love that name) Sunny knows what’s going on with Lucy and Owen and figures she can help out. Lucy feels invigorated. Lucy starts to fall in love. Isn’t that what they say about men and women? It is about the sex for the men but it’s about the intimacy for the women. Lucy feels noticed. She feels like a person again, not just a wife and mother.

Marriage is a work in progress and in this town, Lucy and Owen are not alone. A billionaire and his trophy wife have hit the skids. (I don’t think they were ever on the same page) A man dreams of the women before his wife. The kids’ teacher is transitioning into becoming a woman. And in between all of this, they are raising their kids in the best way they know how.

Well, well, well, what a tangled web we weave. You know you are into a good book when you are actually talking out loud to it. (Or you are just crazy?) I was saying “Why are you still with her?” and “Don’t fall in love with him!” You knew from the start that this could not be a good idea and I read it with a sense of dread. But, I think it played itself out perfectly. Even as they were doing what they were doing, I was rooting for Lucy and Owen. The story is filled with lots of truths about marriage and plenty of humor. (The scene in the church for the blessing of the animals is worth the price of admission.) A great read throughout. You will never be disappointed with a book by Sarah Dunn.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Arrangement could have spent more time on really interesting characters like Sunny Bang instead of attempting to out a fair share of the less interesting townspeople's dirty relationship laundry. Also, there are stabs at an overarching moral message that ultimately felt murky by the end. Overall, a nice contemporary novel with fairly well developed characters and realistic dialogue.

This was a very different book. Some may be turned off just because of the subject matter. Usually, I'm not up for reading a book about cheating. However, I think because both parties decided that they would do this, I did not have a problem with reading the book. On the subject of cheating, while this is about sex, there is not a lot of graphic details for those of you who wish not to read any of that stuff.

So, while this couple decides that they are going to try this for six months and see what happens. They make a list of rules and then they are free to go out into the world. At first, they are surprisingly okay with the fact that their spouse is doing it. (This happens for each spouse at different times, of course.)

While there were a few chuckles and smiles, while all of this going on. I still found myself not believing that they are doing this. I think some of my chuckles were due to the fact that I was laughing because of the fact that they were doing this.

And then, of course, there is the time when it's the end. When they must come back to each other and forget all that's happened outside of their marriage. Can they do it?

I found the book very entertaining. I loved the little boy. He popped up with some humdingers at times. What I really want to say, I can't, because I don't want to spoil it. Let me just say that I wasn't going to request this book. That was due to the subject matter. However, I read a couple of the reviews and they sounded positive for me. So, I said what the heck and I'm really glad that I did. It was definitely a good read and I would definitely recommend it.

Thanks to Little, Brown & Company for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

I had pretty mixed feelings about this book. Thankfully, it did have a very believable and thought-provoking plot, which is what I was really hoping for. In the early stages I liked the characters, but later I just wanted to shake them. Maybe it's because they had started their "arrangement" and I just can't get behind cheating, but more likely because they made such ridiculous decisions that actually seemed out of character with their original characters. If that makes sense. But then that was sort of the point of the arrangement I guess - it just didn't ring true. And I'm not sure how I felt about the ending. But still, it was very readable and brain stimulating, so I'm not sorry I read it. How's that for clear as mud?!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book - I loved it!

While at first glance, a book about open marriages wouldn't be at the top of my reading list but this one is not to be missed. The writing about marriage, parenthood, real life is spot on - you'll laugh, sometimes loudly!, you'll commiserate, you'll love these characters.

Owen and Lucy have moved from NYC to scenic Beekman, where life is more storybook and a great place to raise their on-the-spectrum son, Wyatt. After a night with friends and too much alcohol, the idea of an open marriage - albeit one with a written list of rules and a time period - transforms from an idea to a reality. What could possibly go wrong?

Really a fun read with a great ending - kudos to the author!

The Arrangement is set in the realm of contemporary, affluent suburbia, where survival depends on emotional and familial connections. The core premise--young parents embark on six month experiment in open marriage--is interesting. However the narrative failed to fully exploit the emotional rollercoaster of the situation. That said, there are some brilliant scenes in this well-plotted page turner. One of the most compelling aspects of this novel is focus on the incredible challenges of raising a high-needs/special-needs child. I could definitely picture this working as episodic television, which is one of Sarah Dunn's areas of expertise. Some of the secondary characters were stereotypes. Will appeal to fans of the films 'American Beauty' and 'Little Children'.

Lucy and Owen fled Brooklyn for the suburbs not long after their son, Wyatt, came along. In the perfect little town of Beekman, they have a beautiful old house, a yard full of chickens, and interact with a cast full of eclectic characters. Lucy also has her hands full with Wyatt, a challenging kid with autism. One evening, when some friends come over and the drinks flow freely, they mention their open marriage. At first, Lucy and Own are a bit shocked. But as the exhausted duo look around at their life, they begin to consider "the arrangement." Owen grabs a pad and a pen and they eke out some rules. It still seems like a joke, until Lucy says she wants to give the arrangement--a six-month experience where they each have an ongoing, no questions asked free pass in their marriage--a go. Surely nothing will go wrong, right?

This novel is a different, oddly intriguing read, offering an extremely realistic portrayal of marriage and raising children. Warm and fuzzy it is not, yet it's still engaging and features relatable characters. Lucy and Owen's exhaustion is palatable, as is Lucy's frustration and love for Wyatt, who is an intelligent, fun, and extremely challenging special needs kid. (You will grow to love him, even as you completely empathize with why poor Lucy might need a break--one of the definite strengths of the book.) For a good early portion of the novel, I found myself thinking I would be reading a quite grim look at parenthood and marriage. And it is, in many ways. After all, why are Lucy and Owen so willing to embark on the arrangement, you wonder? Are they bored with their life, with each other? Are they simply tired parents? What causes them to choose this? As the arrangement begins, their reactions to its ongoing presence in their lives is surprising, and Dunn does a good job at capturing some nuance in their character that you might not expect. These are real married people, with real issues.

Still, there are definitely some odd bits and pieces stuck into the story. It seems disjointed at times, and some of the characters and their stories seem to pop up at weird times, forcing you to remind yourself how they fit into Lucy and Owen's life and the town of Beekman (for we don't hear just from our main couple, but several others who live in town). The novel meanders at times, and I wouldn't call the ending closure, per se, though it falls in line with the realism of the novel.

Where Dunn shines is her humor, which slips through even some of the darker moments. Moments with Wyatt are perfectly captured. Lucy's friend, Sunny Bang, is one of the best things about this book, and you'll love every second featuring her. There's a scene at the town church with many of the local kids (and their pets) that is solely worth purchasing the entire book. Seriously, Dunn writes with a sharp wit, and it's one of the main reasons my rating upped to 3.5 stars. The book is often smartly funny and feminist, even if it has its depressing, wandering moments. It's a fascinating look at marriage, for sure, and I was certainly intrigued to see how the arrangement would play out. It was also a welcome break from all the thrillers I'd been reading lately, so thanks! If you like sharp and witty characters coupled with a psychological inside look at modern-day marriage, you'll find this one quite compelling. 3.5 stars.

The Arrangement is a wise, warm, funny, intelligent novel about what happens when two people decide to open their marriage. The idea sounds sordid to many, and when Lucy and Owen are entertaining their friends from New York, their friends reveal that’s just what they have done. Lucy is appalled by the idea. But the thought doesn’t go away.

Lucy and Owen are a happily married couple, together nine years, now ensconced the suburban enclave of Beekman. They have an autistic son, Wyatt, and Lucy stays home to be with him. Surrounded by suburban conventions, opening their marriage is the last ting they’d be expected to do. And yet… they decide to open their marriage up for six months of experimentation: they will tell each other if they are seeing anyone else and will not discuss it. At the end of six months, that’s it, experiment closed.

And this is what happens when two people step out of the traditional strictures of monogamy, and surprise, there’s nothing sordid at all in this delightful, charming read. Instead, Dunn throws a strong light on marriage and its shortfalls, in the process locating both its strengths and weaknesses through this charming story. The warmth of intimacy has its downsides, as Lucy ponders in this passage: “Marriage changes the kissing, Lucy found herself thinking later. Why is that? The kissing had almost stopped. And when it did happen, it felt different than it used to. It felt— well, weird wasn’t quite the right word, but it was the closest one Lucy could come up with. Kissing without all the fireworks that used to be there; it was a strange activity. Marriage doesn’t hurt the cuddling or even change the sex all that much, but it does do something very bad to kissing, Lucy thought. It does. And it’s a shame.”

It’s a shame – and when they step out of that, something happens to both Lucy and Owen, changing them both. This delightful, fun and yet thought-provoking novel is also filled with a range of characters of those who also inhabit the suburbs, and add to the spice of this story. To reveal what happens would be a spoiler indeed – but Dunn weaves a story of possibilities while showing that marriage and commitment is something you have to work hard at, it doesn’t come with any guarantees. I loved reading of this couple’s adventures – Lucy and Owen are likeable and ordinary people, and the empathy felt towards them is one of the many strengths of this novel. Very highly recommended.

Excellent story with well developed characters. It's one of those "what would it be like to be in that situation and what would I do" type stories, that you don't think of that often in a relationship. Unique and captivating!

I thought the premise of the book was interesting but the story was not engaging.

This book surprised me. Based on the title and topic, many readers might assume this would be a sexy, red-hot book. There is actually very little sex and far more about what it means to be human. The basic premise is that a couple decides to see if they can improve their marriage by making it an open one. Crazy, right? Well, it's an interesting read. Very funny, somewhat honest, and a little crazy. If you enjoy Liane Moriarty, you'd likely enjoy this one.

Here’s what is on my radar this week!

The Arrangement by Sarah Dunn captured my attention because it’s described as being “hilarious and emotionally charged” which sounds like a good time to me. I really enjoy a smartly written novel that has a sense of humor, those are pretty hard to come by. Here’s the premise for this story:

Lucy and Owen, ambitious, thoroughly-therapized New Yorkers, have taken the plunge, trading in their crazy life in a cramped apartment for Beekman, a bucolic Hudson Valley exurb. They’ve got a two hundred year-old house, an autistic son obsessed with the Titanic, and 17 chickens, at last count. It’s the kind of paradise where stay-at-home moms team up to cook the school’s “hot lunch,” dads grill grass-fed burgers, and, as Lucy observes, “chopping kale has become a certain kind of American housewife’s version of chopping wood.”

When friends at a wine-soaked dinner party reveal they’ve made their marriage open, sensible Lucy balks. There’s a part of her, though-the part that worries she’s become too comfortable being invisible-that’s intrigued. Why not try a short marital experiment? Six months, clear ground rules, zero questions asked. When an affair with a man in the city begins to seem more enticing than the happily-ever-after she’s known for the past nine years, Lucy must decide what truly makes her happy-“real life,” or the “experiment?”