A Pretty Woman tale turns toxic and deadly in this provocative thriller of sex, obsession, and murder from Robyn Harding, the “master of domestic suspense” (Kathleen Barber) and the USA TODAY bestselling author of The Swap and Her Pretty Face. Natalie, a young art student in New York City, is struggling to pay her bills when a friend makes a suggestion: Why not go online and find a sugar … suggestion: Why not go online and find a sugar daddy–a wealthy, older man who will pay her for dates and even give her a monthly allowance? Lots of girls do it, Nat learns. All that’s required is to look pretty and hang on his every word. Sexual favors are optional.
Though more than thirty years her senior, Gabe, a handsome corporate finance attorney, seems like the perfect candidate, and within a month, they are madly in love. At least, Nat is…Gabe already has a family, whom he has no intention of leaving.
So when he abruptly ends things, Nat can’t let go. But Gabe’s not about to let his sugar baby destroy his perfect life. What was supposed to be a mutually beneficial arrangement devolves into a nightmare of deception, obsession, and, when a body is found near Gabe’s posh Upper East Side apartment, murder.
Emotionally powerful and packed with page-turning suspense, The Arrangement delves into the sordid, all-too-real world of shadowy relationships between wealthy, powerful men and the young women who are caught in their web.
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An insider’s look into the world of sugar daddies . . . full of shocking revelations, volatile characters, and vice. Look out: THE ARRANGEMENT will blow your mind.
Several years ago I read and enjoyed my first book by Robyn Harding. For some unknown reason, I didn’t continue to read them, but a new one was released this year. After receiving a copy through NetGalley, I realized I needed to catch up… and so, my quest began and is almost done now that I’ve finished this weekend’s read of The Arrangement. I have one more to complete and then I will be current and ready for her next release. Yay!
In this thriller, Natalie is desperately in need of money. She’s in college and moved across the country, and she hardly sees her family. Dad abandoned them when she was a young girl. Mom remarried and had two more kids whom she dotes on. Natalie hears about a pseudo-prostitution role where she doesn’t have to have sex with the client, unless she wants to. Mostly, she’s paid for friendship and dates. After a few bad ones, she meets Gabe, and all seems to go swimmingly. But readers see the other side of the story: Gabe’s still married and doesn’t want anything serious. But he is kind and supportive, and he does a lot for Natalie.
Truly, it seems like Gabe is the only good person (despite cheating on his wife); he has valid reasons (some not so valid), and in the end, he is a bit sleazy about it. But Natalie, what a character turnabout! She’s definitely got many issues, and they show throughout the story, but the author does such a wonderful job of helping us basically root for Natalie to scheme some money and get on her with life. It doesn’t work that way, though. Her ex-boyfriend is out for vengeance. She’s a bit mentally unstable. Her roommates kick her out. She causes her own problems for the most part, and that’s what made the story so much fun.
I couldn’t stop reading. I was addicted, and while the plot had a few flaws, overall, I loved it and definitely give it 5 stars. The writing alone makes you want to invest in the people and the places. I highly recommend the author for handling a challenging subject and displaying both sides of this troubled, age-old profession that has caused so many problems over the years. This time, one of them is murder, and you have to read until the very last chapter to find out who died and who killed him/her. It’s mostly easy to guess, but there’s a lot of potential what-ifs to sort thru first. Loved it!
Pretty Woman meets Fatal Attraction, with a twist . . . or three. A riveting look into the world of sugar dating, Robyn Harding’s The Arrangement is deliciously seductive from start to finish. Hang on for the ride, because this tantalizing thriller will knock you sideways.
The most compelling, gripping, and entertaining book I’ve read in a long time. Nobody writes about young people and their obsessions as authentically as Robyn. The Arrangement is her best yet. I absolutely loved this book.
Natalie Murphy, an art student in New York City, is a small hometown girl with big dreams. Only, living in New York City is way harder than she ever thought it would be. Between paying bills, rent and other necessities Natalie is barely keeping her head above water. When a friend suggests she goes online and find a sugar daddy, someone who can make life a little easier in exchange for companionship, Natalie hesitates but finally agrees. In walks Gabe, an experienced older sugar daddy. In his 50’s, Gabe seems to have it all. He is a ruthless corporate lawyer who gets what he wants and he wants Natalie to be his exclusive sugar baby. But, when feelings get in the way their relationship turns toxic. When someone winds up dead, Natalie has a new fight on her hands. Will Natalie ever be able to get her life back?
Wow! Where do I even begin? Well, first let me say I did not like either Natalie or Gabe. Natalie is very needy and gullible, but she is sympathetic whereas Gabe is just a complete narcissistic jerk! What makes Natalie sympathetic is her back story. Abandoned by her father at the age of ten, Natalie never really feels like she belongs especially once her mother remarries and has two more “perfect” children. Natalie feels like an outsider to her family. Getting away from her hometown afforded Natalie the ability to finally be herself and out on her own even though she is still young at twenty-one years old. Natalie is also relatable because of her struggles especially financially which I am sure many of us can relate to. Gabe, right from the start, is a successful and wealthy lawyer who has the world right at his fingertips. He is not easily likable and as a matter of fact, he really doesn’t have any redeeming qualities I can even list. But, he sure does make for some good storytelling!
Right from the first chapter we learn someone is dead, but who is it is the big question? The deeper you go into reading this story you come to realize that there may be multiple suspects along with some red herrings thrown in the way to keep you guessing up until the very end with the final reveal which was quite a shocker!
I can see all of the research the author, Robyn Harding, has done when it comes to sugar daddy/sugar baby relationships especially when it comes to the lingo as well as terms that are even used today like “woke.” I really did have a laugh at “splenda daddy” though. I do admit when I was a college student, I don’t think sugar daddy/sugar baby relationships were so highly recognized as they are today. This is going back 20 years ago *cough.* I may not agree with this sort of relationship, but if its not hurting anyone, and you are above the age of consent, I think its a personal decision to go into this line of sex work. You have to do what you have to do, I guess.
I really enjoyed this story and found it to be pretty fast paced with a level of crazy I have not seen since the days of the movie Fatal Attraction. All we needed is a boiling bunny and you could have just stuck a fork in me! I couldn’t help but notice the irony of Natalie, with a crazy ex-boyfriend, when she turns out to be the same type of crazy and stalkerish. Natalie’s spiraling really took center stage when the lines between what is real and what is not were blurred, I do have one little negative thing to say and this is just something personal for me, perhaps because I am in my 40’s. There is a huge emphasis on Gabe being older, or having sex with someone older and wrinkly or any other term you want to insert meaning “old.” This was just hit on so many times throughout the story that I started to roll my eyes. But, I had to try to get out of my own mind and think more like a 21 year old when it came to “dating” an older man.
If you are “ahem” older like me and remember the good ole days (heh!) of Fatal Attraction, then you will definitely love The Arrangement. I highly recommend!
5 Stars
“No matter how uncomfortable her commute, how tight her budget, or how lonely she sometimes felt in the giant, anonymous city, Nat never regretted her cross-country move. Living in New York wasn’t supposed to be easy. It was hard, but it was worth it. Especially for an artist, like Natalie. She fed off the creativity running rampant through these hallowed streets, drawing inspiration from the artists who came before her. The city nourished her soul, stimulated her mind, filled her entire body with a humming, vibrating, energy. New York meant possibility.”
The Arrangement by Robyn Harding is a fascinating and intricately woven story of obsession, passion, secrets, and murder. I was hooked right from the get-go and was pulled into the story, losing all sense of time and place as I followed along on this intriguing read.
The characters were all really well developed and interesting, with some being more likeable than others, but I think this was always the authors intent. The story has obviously had a lot of time, planning, energy, attention to detail, and research put into it- and it shows in the polished end result.
Natalie is a struggling art student- a small town girl trying to make her way in the big city of New York. She’s barely making ends meet and is behind on everything. She’s just been fired from her part-time job and is afraid she will get evicted soon- not to mention her studies are suffering from all the stress she’s under. It’s all becoming too much. So, when a friend tells her about the “Sugar Bowl” Nat can’t help but give it some thought. She’s not sure she’s really cut out to be a “Sugar Baby”, but if she could just earn enough money to get her out of immediate trouble, she really shouldn’t reject the opportunity. And so it begins.
Meeting her first Sugar Daddy is an eye opening experience, and she’s soon caught up in a game of obsession, chemistry, secrets, danger, and revenge. Things get really complicated, and desperate measures are taken by both parties. Our characters unravel, declining into some madness- with revenge being the order of the day! But when that results in murder, the story really gets interesting- trying to figure out who did what. The story has a few surprising twists that I certainly didn’t see coming- and I was kept guessing for much of the time. The ending was definitely unexpected.
My only (minor) issue is that the story was a little slow to get going- but it wasn’t too long before things really took off.
An engrossing tale!
Thank you, Robyn Harding!
A nightmarish deep dive into the underbelly of a secret world. Rivetingly dark, THE ARRANGEMENT delivers on every level – a shocking premise, a forbidden obsession, and a plot that builds slowly and masterfully escalates to a chilling end. Prepare to be blindsided.
A real page-turner! This 340 paged novel took me 5 days to read. If you ever wonder what it would be like to have a sugar daddy, this book’s for you! Harding explains in detail the pros and cons. She beautifully described the characters who evoked commiseration and indignation at the same time. I found the ending very satisfying. Overall this was a great read by one of my new favorite authors. 🙂
An interesting delve into the world of Sugar Daddies/Babies taken too far.
A fast paced and suspenseful who done what to who that kept me wanting to not stop reading.
Add in some love, obsession, deceit, betrayal and even dysfunctional families and you have a bumpy ride of a read with a bang up ending.
My second read from this Author and definitely won’t be my last.
A good, solid suspense yarn. A “sugar baby” gets out of her emotional depth with her “sugar daddy” and someone winds up dead. This was a fast-paced, completely believable suspense plot, delivered well. The main character, Natalie, is completely recognizable as one of those starry-eyed, pretty girls from Anytown USA who go to NYC with big dreams and half-baked plans for how to achieve them. All it takes is a friend’s suggestion for how she might make a little extra money, and Natalie is catapulted into a world she is ill-equipped to handle. Meeting Gabe, a powerful, handsome man who wants to enter into an “arrangement” with her, Natalie is delighted. He is nothing like her worst fears for what sugar daddies might be like, and despite herself, Natalie falls into deep infatuation. After that, things very quickly spiral out of control.
Recommended for a fast-paced, entertaining and easy read (or listen).
Audible note: The narrator was pretty good, but not exceptional. Didn’t take away from enjoyment of the story.
My gosh, I devoured this book. Robyn Harding is a master at developing unlikable characters and, paradoxically perhaps, I absolutely loved them. This was a fast-paced, twisty story, and it was so easy to get caught up in Nat and Gabe’s lives. Highly recommended!
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 really enjoyed the story and finished it in a day. It was a quick read!
Trying to decide whether I’d rather spend time with Gabe or Natalie is like asking whether I’d rather be shot or stabbed. Both of these people are hideous and it’s fabulous.
This book is like a Lifetime movie on a Saturday afternoon with a big bowl of popcorn, some Hot Tamales, my kids doing something else and my husband off golfing. It’s indulgent and “too much” but in that great way that goes so well with slouchy socks and sweatpants.
Gabe is a vile, disgusting “1 percenter” looking for a young side piece and Natalie is a desperate 21 year old with a hot body, no real world common sense, and an arguable sense of self. They meet on a site where Sugar Daddies and Sugar Babies connect and, well, everything goes wrong.
I really enjoyed this twisted tale of stalking, obsession, and revenge. I even had popcorn and Hot Tamales.
Thank you to Robyn Harding, Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books Gallery/Scout Press and NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book! It’s a fast paced thrill ride!
It follows the progress of Nat, an art school student in NYC, who is struggling to make ends meet. Another student suggests that she try being a Sugar Baby. Nat goes through all the arguing with herself over morals versus desperation to pay her bills.
Eventually her Sugar Daddy cuts her off and winds up dead. But WhoDunnit? There are lots of red herrings in the story: Nat’s obsessive ex-boyfriend, several of Sugar Daddy’s previous Sugar Babies, a creepy guy with green eyes….and the list goes on!
This is the story of a starving art student who finds a sugar daddy and becomes enraged when he drops her suddenly. The characters are all broken, so none of them is likable. The book is a combination of mystery, suspense and thriller and fans of these genres may enjoy the book.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Natalie is a broke college girl whose bad situation turns worse with a job loss and disagreeable roommates. She has a friend, though, who is able to afford anything she wants. Natalie wants to know how this is possible. Turns out, she just needs to become a sugar baby, and find a sugar daddy. Natalie decides to do it. She becomes well acquainted with a handsome affluent older man. Obviously, he’s her sugar daddy. Natalie, stupidly, falls in love with him, but he’s married and will never ruin his great life for her. Natalie can’t process this rejection, and she’s very upset. The Arrangement tells a suspenseful and entirely plausible story about what happens when the sugar baby will not let go of the sugar daddy. It’s entertaining for sure, and I enjoyed the drama. It’s a great read overall. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I met Robyn at the Surrey International Writers Conference a few years ago, and I have been reading her books and following her ever since. She is an enormously talented writer, who I turn to when I feel like something along the lines of psychological suspense thrillers. This story about sugar daddies and sugar babies delves deep into the psychology of Natalie, the main character, and Gabe, her sugar daddy. The characters surprise and continue to shock us. Compulsively readable.
A shocking, eye opening, intriguing thriller steeped in sex, lies, obsession and murder! Fantastic read and I enjoyed learning about the Sugar Daddy world and how prevalent it’s becoming
Twenty-one-year-old Natalie gratefully escaped her small-town life in Washington state, including an obsessive ex-boyfriend who broke into her house when she told him she was leaving for art school in New York City. But now the glamorous life she dreamed of is anything but: even with a partial scholarship, she’s struggling to pay her tuition and rent. So when her friend tells her of a possible solution–go online and find an older sugar daddy: a wealthy man who pays her for dates–Natalie is intrigued. She figures it is a temporary solution until she gets back on her feet. But then she meets Gabe Turnmill, a handsome lawyer, more than thirty years older her senior. Soon she’s madly in love with Gabe, who gives her a monthly allowance and helps her find her own apartment. But Gabe has his own family and life, and when he ends things with Natalie, she’s devastated, unable to let things go. She begins stalking Gabe and his family. Gabe is a powerful man, however, and he’s not going to let his sugar baby ruin his life.
Wow, this book was utterly captivating! I totally loved HER PRETTY FACE, and I felt the same about this one! This novel starts out with Natalie calling her long-estranged father, who abandoned her family when she was ten. “I killed someone,” she says. From there, we flash back four months, learning more about Natalie’s life as an art student and how she winds up as a sugar baby. It’s utterly fascinating–learning about this life and how Natalie becomes tied up in it. She’s convinced she will only go on a couple of dates, but her life becomes a series of unfortunate incidents. Then she falls for Gabe.
“But this was not a real relationship. Gabe was paying her. Now, Nat was afraid of falling for a man she could never really have.”
The characters in this book are spot-on. Talk about creepy, obsessive, and utter trainwrecks. These two are so messed up. And I loved them! I could not put this book down! I picked it up on Sunday afternoon and had to finish it Sunday night before I went to bed. I simply could not look away from Natalie and Gabe and their absolutely bizarre relationship.
“Gabe liked situations he could control, people he could manage.”
This book is a crazy mix of thriller, mystery, and romantic suspense. It’s really interesting to think that these sugar baby/daddy relationships actually exist (hopefully without some of the other insanity that occurs in this book). Harding does such a wonderful job with her main characters and their utterly twisted minds. The point of view switches between the two, and we hear from some of the supporting cast, too. It helps up the drama and suspense, for sure. New York City is a great backdrop for all that goes down. I sort of had an inkling how it would all play out near the end, but I definitely couldn’t put the book down.
Overall, totally loved this one. Definitely one of my favorite thrillers this year–just a really fun, captivating book with a different storyline and awesome, crazy characters. 4.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Gallery/Scout Press and Netgalley in return for an honest review.