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The Arrangement #1
The Arrangement
Ainsley Greenburg is a fixer.
It’s what she prides herself on.
So, when she realizes her marriage is at its breaking point, she makes a decision to repair it, no matter the cost. Approaching her husband to propose the arrangement is supposed to be the hard part, but Peter agrees to the salacious plan almost immediately.
The rules are simple:
They will each date someone new once a week.
They will never discuss what happens on the dates.
Soon, though, the rules are broken, turning terrible mistakes into unspeakable consequences.
When the only person they can count on to keep their darkest secret is each other, new questions and deceits surface. Can they truly trust the person they share a life with, or will the vicious lies that have mounted over the years destroy everything they’ve built?
Once, Peter and Ainsley vowed to stand together forever, but as they push boundaries of deception, suspicion, and temptation, each begins to wonder if ’til death do us part may come sooner than they’d intended.
It’s what she prides herself on.
So, when she realizes her marriage is at its breaking point, she makes a decision to repair it, no matter the cost. Approaching her husband to propose the arrangement is supposed to be the hard part, but Peter agrees to the salacious plan almost immediately.
The rules are simple:
They will each date someone new once a week.
They will never discuss what happens on the dates.
Soon, though, the rules are broken, turning terrible mistakes into unspeakable consequences.
When the only person they can count on to keep their darkest secret is each other, new questions and deceits surface. Can they truly trust the person they share a life with, or will the vicious lies that have mounted over the years destroy everything they’ve built?
Once, Peter and Ainsley vowed to stand together forever, but as they push boundaries of deception, suspicion, and temptation, each begins to wonder if ’til death do us part may come sooner than they’d intended.
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 28, 2021
About the author
Kiersten Modglin
59 books7,865 followersKIERSTEN MODGLIN is a #1 bestselling author of psychological thrillers. Her books have sold over 1.5 million copies and been translated into multiple languages. Kiersten is a member of International Thriller Writers, Novelists, Inc., and the Alliance of Independent Authors. She is a KDP Select All-Star and a recipient of ThrillerFix's Best Psychological Thriller Award, Suspense Magazine's Best Book of 2021 Award, a 2022 Silver Falchion for Best Suspense, and a 2022 Silver Falchion for Best Overall Book of 2021. Kiersten grew up in rural western Kentucky and later relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where she now lives with her family. Kiersten's readers across the world lovingly refer to her as "KMod." A binge-watching expert, psychology fanatic, and indoor enthusiast, Kiersten enjoys rainy days spent with her favorite people and evenings with her nose in a book.
CONNECT WITH KIERSTEN:
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➜ TEXT ALERTS: kierstenmodglinauthor.com/textalerts
Kiersten Modglin may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:
➜ kierstenmodglinauthor.com/events
CONNECT WITH KIERSTEN:
➜ WEBSITE: kierstenmodglinauthor.com
➜ NEWSLETTER: kierstenmodglinauthor.com/nlsignup
➜ FACEBOOK: facebook.com/kierstenmodglinauthor
➜ KMOD SQUAD: facebook.com/groups/kmodsquad
➜ INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/kierstenmodglinauthor
➜ THREADS: threads.net/@kierstenmodglinauthor
➜ TIKTOK: tiktok.com/@kierstenmodglinauthor
➜ TEXT ALERTS: kierstenmodglinauthor.com/textalerts
Kiersten Modglin may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:
➜ kierstenmodglinauthor.com/events
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,103 reviews
February 12, 2022
Sorry, honey.
Rules are rules.
OMG, hahaha!
The Arrangement packs a lot of punch for a 200 page book. It screams entertainment!
A successful couple, Ainsley and Peter have a rocky marriage. They've been trying different things to make the marriage work. Their last avenue is to see if meeting other people once a week would reignite their marriage. What could go wrong? 😉
Ainsley found a dating app and both of them found a match without any problem. The arrangement is that she'll make connections on Tuesdays and he Thursdays. They aren't allowed to know who the other is meeting or what happens on a date. It's a total secret, especially from their three children. Those are the rules.
Oh, my word. I thought I hate it when a book has too many twists, but I welcome all that Kiersten Modglin threw at me. This is my second novel by her and you can bet on it that I'll be reading more.
Easy, quick, and fun read - on KU and Hoopla.
April 4, 2021
Always happy to discover new thriller authors! I'm certainly going to read other books from Modglin when I need a short, fast-paced read full of twists.
The first half was amazing! I could have read a book only about Ainsley and Peter's relationship and their attempt to have an open marriage.The characters were a bit flat, but the premise was definitely interesting. Then, in the second half, I thought there were too many twists, but sometimes you're just in the mood for an entertaining book!
Thanks to Kindle Unlimited, I can now easily read Modglin other books! Three of them are already on my TBR.
3.5 because the ending was a bit far-fetched...
The first half was amazing! I could have read a book only about Ainsley and Peter's relationship and their attempt to have an open marriage.The characters were a bit flat, but the premise was definitely interesting. Then, in the second half, I thought there were too many twists, but sometimes you're just in the mood for an entertaining book!
Thanks to Kindle Unlimited, I can now easily read Modglin other books! Three of them are already on my TBR.
3.5 because the ending was a bit far-fetched...
February 25, 2022
Wow! This book was CRAZY! There were so many twists and they all took me by surprise. Even though some of the characters’ actions were somewhat implausible, this thriller was suspenseful, fast paced and extremely entertaining. The narration of the audiobook brought the characters to life and added an extra layer of intrigue. This was my introduction to Kiersten Modglin and I can’t wait to read more of her thrillers!
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my audiobook. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my audiobook. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 9, 2021
Did I get immediately hooked? Yes. Did I keep turning the pages because I had to know what would happen? Absolutely yes. Did I blow thru this in a couple hours in one setting? Again, yes. Usually that’s a recipe for a great book with all the stars. Except it wasn’t.
This book reminded me of a writing exercise my elementary teacher had us do in fifth grade. She had paper bags for each element of the story. We each wrote down ideas for the different elements on slips of paper, then dropped them in each bag. She shook up each bag, then we each pulled out a slip. We were left with a random collection of story elements that we then had to find a way to weave together into one story.
That’s what this book feels like to me. The author brainstormed a ton of twisty ideas from various psychological thriller tropes, then said, “Let’s make this fit!” Except it doesn’t fit at all. So instead of being blindsided by the twists with your chin dropped, you’re left confused and scratching your head like WHAT? I also have zero empathy for any characters once the story is over. Well, I do have it for their kids. I mean WTF. Someone call Children’s Services, please.
This book reminded me of a writing exercise my elementary teacher had us do in fifth grade. She had paper bags for each element of the story. We each wrote down ideas for the different elements on slips of paper, then dropped them in each bag. She shook up each bag, then we each pulled out a slip. We were left with a random collection of story elements that we then had to find a way to weave together into one story.
That’s what this book feels like to me. The author brainstormed a ton of twisty ideas from various psychological thriller tropes, then said, “Let’s make this fit!” Except it doesn’t fit at all. So instead of being blindsided by the twists with your chin dropped, you’re left confused and scratching your head like WHAT? I also have zero empathy for any characters once the story is over. Well, I do have it for their kids. I mean WTF. Someone call Children’s Services, please.
February 26, 2022
I'm not going to review this one, but overall, it did not work for me. The plot did keep me reading until the end, although I was close to ditching it several times.
Convoluted, twisty (t0o twisted), and couldn't get onboard!
This author just doesn't work for me.
Convoluted, twisty (t0o twisted), and couldn't get onboard!
This author just doesn't work for me.
March 6, 2022
Rating ⭐⭐⭐.5
~ Quick Summary ~
Peter and Ainsley’s marriage is breaking apart. As a last resort, Ainsley proposes a new arrangement where they can casually date other people and to never discuss it. What could possibly go wrong?
~ Pick this up if you enjoy/don’t mind the following ~
😲Crazy twists that don’t stop! (And I’m a hard person to surprise!)
📙Focus is solely on the plot
🤯 Be ready to suspend belief
⏩ Quick, easy and mindless read
🏃 Fast paced
~ What I Enjoyed ~
The first part felt like a pretty ordinary domestic drama, then the first small twist happened and I was already feeling entertained and hooked. And then OH MY it escalated quickly and did not stop! I’ve read a lot of mystery thrillers and not much surprises me but this sure did!
~ What I didn’t enjoy ~
This isn’t the type of book that leaves clues or hints, the twists are thrown right at your face and out of nowhere. While it did have the shock factor there was no development or build up to each of the twists.
One of the characters had such a drastic change in the end I got whiplash. I was definitely shocked but my reaction wasn’t “woh didn’t see that coming, but yes that made sense”. Instead I was thinking “Woh didn’t see that coming, but wtf?” Haha!
Other head scratching moments:
.
~ Quick Summary ~
Peter and Ainsley’s marriage is breaking apart. As a last resort, Ainsley proposes a new arrangement where they can casually date other people and to never discuss it. What could possibly go wrong?
~ Pick this up if you enjoy/don’t mind the following ~
😲Crazy twists that don’t stop! (And I’m a hard person to surprise!)
📙Focus is solely on the plot
🤯 Be ready to suspend belief
⏩ Quick, easy and mindless read
🏃 Fast paced
~ What I Enjoyed ~
The first part felt like a pretty ordinary domestic drama, then the first small twist happened and I was already feeling entertained and hooked. And then OH MY it escalated quickly and did not stop! I’ve read a lot of mystery thrillers and not much surprises me but this sure did!
~ What I didn’t enjoy ~
This isn’t the type of book that leaves clues or hints, the twists are thrown right at your face and out of nowhere. While it did have the shock factor there was no development or build up to each of the twists.
One of the characters had such a drastic change in the end I got whiplash. I was definitely shocked but my reaction wasn’t “woh didn’t see that coming, but yes that made sense”. Instead I was thinking “Woh didn’t see that coming, but wtf?” Haha!
Other head scratching moments:
.
August 15, 2022
What. Just. Happened?! Kiersten Modglin has my attention after twisting my mind into a pretzel. Peter and Ainsley are probably the most messed up couple I have read about in a book since I met Nick & Amy in Gone Girl. The comparisons to books by Samantha Downing and Robyn Harding are also spot on. This is a book you will read in a day or two, but it will remain in your mind much longer. For better or worse? You decide.
This is where it all started. If you have not read this series yet, be sure to buckle up before jumping in. It is quite a ride.
This is where it all started. If you have not read this series yet, be sure to buckle up before jumping in. It is quite a ride.
June 28, 2021
A great, twisty, suspenseful story with an ending that goes a bit too far into crazytown. (And this is coming from someone who LOVES crazytown.) But still a great read.
This is the story of a marriage in crisis. Ainsley and her husband Peter have what appears to outsiders to be a great marriage, but in reality it's been floundering for awhile. There is no excitement anymore, no sex really, no danger or thrills. So the couple decides on an "arrangement" for each of them to see other people, following very specific rules. This arrangement, of course, does not fix the marriage, but results in disaster, murder, and deception. Will the couple's foray into the forbidden fix their marriage or destroy it?
I really enjoyed the audiobook and the two narrators. Modglin does a fantastic job of revealing twists and shockers all the way through. I was fully invested in, and intrigued by, the story, and was surprised by a great many of the twists. The story of the two characters and the secrets they keep in the marriage was always intriguing. One of the ending twists (the second-to last one) was a bit over the top for my tastes, and did not really have a valid reason or motive to back it up. But I could forgive that, because the rest of the book was so much fun to listen to. And the FINAL final twist (which I had guessed) was a great one and very clever.
This was my first book by Kiersten Modglin and I'm definitely excited to read another one. She knows how to bring the suspense and the surprising twists.
Thanks to Dreamscape Media, NetGalley, and the author for this advance audiobook. 4 plus stars for lots of wicked fun.
This is the story of a marriage in crisis. Ainsley and her husband Peter have what appears to outsiders to be a great marriage, but in reality it's been floundering for awhile. There is no excitement anymore, no sex really, no danger or thrills. So the couple decides on an "arrangement" for each of them to see other people, following very specific rules. This arrangement, of course, does not fix the marriage, but results in disaster, murder, and deception. Will the couple's foray into the forbidden fix their marriage or destroy it?
I really enjoyed the audiobook and the two narrators. Modglin does a fantastic job of revealing twists and shockers all the way through. I was fully invested in, and intrigued by, the story, and was surprised by a great many of the twists. The story of the two characters and the secrets they keep in the marriage was always intriguing. One of the ending twists (the second-to last one) was a bit over the top for my tastes, and did not really have a valid reason or motive to back it up. But I could forgive that, because the rest of the book was so much fun to listen to. And the FINAL final twist (which I had guessed) was a great one and very clever.
This was my first book by Kiersten Modglin and I'm definitely excited to read another one. She knows how to bring the suspense and the surprising twists.
Thanks to Dreamscape Media, NetGalley, and the author for this advance audiobook. 4 plus stars for lots of wicked fun.
June 28, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up. I think there were a few too many twists, I'm not a fan of lying to the reader with first person POV. It was engaging and very surprising though, so extra points for that.
This is the story of a couple whose relationship has become lackluster and boring. Ainsley finds herself longing for the days when her children were younger and needed her and when she and her husband Peter connected fully. So she proposes an "arrangement" where they each have one night each week to go on dates with other people, possibly more, in order to spice up their marriage. Things don't exactly go as planned though...
The setup for this tale immediately reminded me of Last Couple Standing by Matthew Norman. I'm NOT a fan of cheating in books, even when the couple agrees to it. The only reason I had decided to continue with the book knowing this is that I recently read another book by this author (The Missing) and loved the twists she threw in, so I was expecting more of the same with this one and wasn't disappointed. There are definitely some shocking twists in this book and the ultimate ending, although really far-fetched, was great.
Like I mentioned above, I did knock a half point off of the rating due to the first person characters lying to the reader. It doesn't work for me--leave the information out if you must, but except for rare instances, people don't lie in their own heads and if they do it is definitely not to the extent this book carries it.
I started out listening to this book as an audiobook and enjoyed the dual narrators for both Ainsley and Peter. This novel is incredibly fast paced and although I was thoroughly engaged with listening to the story, I switched over to the e-book so I could find out what happened. Fortunately it was available via KU, so that was a bonus to be able to switch back and forth between the formats.
I will definitely check out further books by this author in the future, I love the way she crafts twists and surprises.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this audiobook from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
This is the story of a couple whose relationship has become lackluster and boring. Ainsley finds herself longing for the days when her children were younger and needed her and when she and her husband Peter connected fully. So she proposes an "arrangement" where they each have one night each week to go on dates with other people, possibly more, in order to spice up their marriage. Things don't exactly go as planned though...
The setup for this tale immediately reminded me of Last Couple Standing by Matthew Norman. I'm NOT a fan of cheating in books, even when the couple agrees to it. The only reason I had decided to continue with the book knowing this is that I recently read another book by this author (The Missing) and loved the twists she threw in, so I was expecting more of the same with this one and wasn't disappointed. There are definitely some shocking twists in this book and the ultimate ending, although really far-fetched, was great.
Like I mentioned above, I did knock a half point off of the rating due to the first person characters lying to the reader. It doesn't work for me--leave the information out if you must, but except for rare instances, people don't lie in their own heads and if they do it is definitely not to the extent this book carries it.
I started out listening to this book as an audiobook and enjoyed the dual narrators for both Ainsley and Peter. This novel is incredibly fast paced and although I was thoroughly engaged with listening to the story, I switched over to the e-book so I could find out what happened. Fortunately it was available via KU, so that was a bonus to be able to switch back and forth between the formats.
I will definitely check out further books by this author in the future, I love the way she crafts twists and surprises.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this audiobook from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
March 20, 2021
This is an incredibly unbelievable book. I’m rethinking my two stars as I type, because one might be more appropriate. I know that domestic thrillers can have an improbable event or actions, but this novels strings implausiblities like a child strings beads on a necklace. But, when a character acts out of character-and the two main characters do this multiple times-it’s not working for me.
Honestly, if this had not been a selection for my book club, I definitely would have bailed out and read a good book.
Honestly, if this had not been a selection for my book club, I definitely would have bailed out and read a good book.
February 25, 2022
4.5 stars
This was so good. Fast-paced from the beginning to the end, twist after twist, layer after layer until the whole story is revealed. It might not be one hundred percent realistic, but it was cleverly done. I love it when an author manages to give the clues but still lead me into wrong conclusion.
Maybe there were a bit too many little twists and I sort of wish the story ended with the chapter before the last, but it made sense in the end, so I'm not complaining much.
5 stars for the audiobook. Both narrators were excellent. Sarah Mollo-Christensen's voice for male characters is amazing.
This was so good. Fast-paced from the beginning to the end, twist after twist, layer after layer until the whole story is revealed. It might not be one hundred percent realistic, but it was cleverly done. I love it when an author manages to give the clues but still lead me into wrong conclusion.
Maybe there were a bit too many little twists and I sort of wish the story ended with the chapter before the last, but it made sense in the end, so I'm not complaining much.
5 stars for the audiobook. Both narrators were excellent. Sarah Mollo-Christensen's voice for male characters is amazing.
February 5, 2022
Jaw Dropping, Shocking, Crazy, Deranged, Unbelievable, twist after twist.................DEFIANTLY NOT MY SORT OF THING........and yet I could not stop reading and for that I am awarding it 3.5 Stars just for its madness.
I downloaded this book in a hurry for a weekend away with my husband and thought, Psychological thriller, fast paced, 5 hours perfect for the road trip. Oh Man! it was..... and it wasn't.... the most bizarre choice as it was so far fetched, unbelievable and yet we were caught up in the madness as to what the heck was going to happen.
Certainly not everyone's cup of tea and I could very easily have abandoned after the first few chapters but just every now and then its good to read something that shocks and keeps you guessing and trust me this is one you need to be prepared to suspend disbelief and just go with the flow.
I can defiantly see this one turned into a crazy movie.
I downloaded this book in a hurry for a weekend away with my husband and thought, Psychological thriller, fast paced, 5 hours perfect for the road trip. Oh Man! it was..... and it wasn't.... the most bizarre choice as it was so far fetched, unbelievable and yet we were caught up in the madness as to what the heck was going to happen.
Certainly not everyone's cup of tea and I could very easily have abandoned after the first few chapters but just every now and then its good to read something that shocks and keeps you guessing and trust me this is one you need to be prepared to suspend disbelief and just go with the flow.
I can defiantly see this one turned into a crazy movie.
February 6, 2023
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DNF @ 35%
I was so excited when Heather wanted to buddy-read this book because I have such a thing for domestic dramas. I was a little leery, though, when I found out that this book revolved around an open marriage and parenthood, neither of which are subjects that I'm particularly into, although they can work. The first red flag was when I found out that the open marriage is something they are introducing into their marriage to "fix" it because they don't have time for date nights or therapy. I'm sorry, but if you're having sex with people who finish faster than it takes to eat a meal at a cheap diner, then the open marriage shit is an excuse, not a reason. You're just bad at sex and, apparently, bad at planning.
Anyway, the couple is named Peter and Ainsley but I'm going to refer to them as Douche and Moron, because that is what they are. Peter is like the portrait Nice Guy who isn't actually all that nice, and Ainsley is an idiot who is more concerned with "winning" at their fake open marriage scheme than she is about anything else, be it her children's safety or her own well-being. (Douche asks her, quite reasonably, to leave behind contact info in case something happens to her and she agrees-- but he finds out she wrote in the envelope the equivalent of "haha JK SIKE").
The pacing is good and I guess the story-telling is fine. I can see why it hooked people because these two are so awful that there's no telling what they do next. The downside is that, with people this awful and this unrelatable, I don't really care what they do next, because I have no investment in them as people I care about. The writing style is also a little clunky, which is a nitpick and not something that really put me off. If I'd liked the story more, I could have glossed over it, although I probably still would have mentioned it. This book was not for me. Sorry, Heather, for bailing.
2 to 2.5 stars
July 14, 2021
The ending. The ending. The ending....
Spoiler:
Spoiler:
January 14, 2022
I loved this audiobook! A quick read, it kept me wondering where it was going the whole way through.
Ainsley and Peter Greenburg are at a crossroads in their marriage. In an attempt to repair their relationship, they come to an arrangement where each of them can sleep with other people, no strings attached. What started as an innocent arrangement with clear rules turns into a messy situation with numerous secrets revealed.
Told in alternating chapters you get both Ainsley and Peter’s perspective this is definitely a book you will not be able to put down.
The audio narrators do an amazing job of telling this story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media LLC for this ARC
Ainsley and Peter Greenburg are at a crossroads in their marriage. In an attempt to repair their relationship, they come to an arrangement where each of them can sleep with other people, no strings attached. What started as an innocent arrangement with clear rules turns into a messy situation with numerous secrets revealed.
Told in alternating chapters you get both Ainsley and Peter’s perspective this is definitely a book you will not be able to put down.
The audio narrators do an amazing job of telling this story.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media LLC for this ARC
August 23, 2021
"I own your secret now, Peter. I own you.”
The Arrangement
by Kiersten Modglin
You know I feel a bit hypocritical. The reason for that is because often I give a low rating to books like this, with so many twists.
You have to suspend disbelief.
Twist after twist after twist.
OH-HOW I LOVED IT!
Maybe this writer just does it the best. I have seen others say it too. But it is true that on paper -- this would not seem to be my thing. I like domestic thrillers but this one had more twists then Politics has liars. Seriously--there is a heck of a lot of twists!
But somehow I read straight through.And it was excellent.
The only reason for no five star is because I really do think the first half was better than the second.
This book is about a couple whose relationship is falling apart through neglect. They still love each other, just not the way they did before. And they are desperate to get that passion back. So, in the spirit of bad decisions, they decide to fix their relationship by sleeping with other people.
I said the book was good -- I didn't say the characters were smart.
Well of coarse it all goes wrong. But the first half is about their experience trying to make matches. And it was unexpectedly fascinating.
Peter, the pu##ywhipped Husband, is alternatively scared and excited. He is smart, hard working and a bit of a wuss. He also doesn't know how to feel about this experiment. (Don't worry--old man Pete makes a decision on that pretty soon.)
Ainsley (Gosh, I love that name) is loving but sad. All she wants to do is -- sob -- get Petey to love her again.
Which is why she has to sleep with someone else.
I liked the first part because it was so psychological. You see both of these married folks trying to be cool and with-it on the modern dating site and there is a feeling of sinister creepiness because the reader KNOWS something is going to happen.....
The second half is where the twists start. Like high tide, they just keep rolling and rolling...one actually had me hysterical with laughter. But the thing is--I was so deeply invested by this point I had to know what would happen.
No spoilers here -- this book will not be for everyone and yes it is so not plausible on any level but I have been down lately and this book really helped bring me back up. I must do something I rarely do--mention the author. Her tribute in the beginning found its way into my heart. If I had gone to school with this author I am pretty sure we'd have been friends. I am a fiery person with messy hair which will not make much sense to you unless you read the tribute.
Oh--part two please!!!!!
So--four stars. Anybody out there looking for a quick, fun and crazy read? You've found your book.
The Arrangement
by Kiersten Modglin
You know I feel a bit hypocritical. The reason for that is because often I give a low rating to books like this, with so many twists.
You have to suspend disbelief.
Twist after twist after twist.
OH-HOW I LOVED IT!
Maybe this writer just does it the best. I have seen others say it too. But it is true that on paper -- this would not seem to be my thing. I like domestic thrillers but this one had more twists then Politics has liars. Seriously--there is a heck of a lot of twists!
But somehow I read straight through.And it was excellent.
The only reason for no five star is because I really do think the first half was better than the second.
This book is about a couple whose relationship is falling apart through neglect. They still love each other, just not the way they did before. And they are desperate to get that passion back. So, in the spirit of bad decisions, they decide to fix their relationship by sleeping with other people.
I said the book was good -- I didn't say the characters were smart.
Well of coarse it all goes wrong. But the first half is about their experience trying to make matches. And it was unexpectedly fascinating.
Peter, the pu##ywhipped Husband, is alternatively scared and excited. He is smart, hard working and a bit of a wuss. He also doesn't know how to feel about this experiment. (Don't worry--old man Pete makes a decision on that pretty soon.)
Ainsley (Gosh, I love that name) is loving but sad. All she wants to do is -- sob -- get Petey to love her again.
Which is why she has to sleep with someone else.
I liked the first part because it was so psychological. You see both of these married folks trying to be cool and with-it on the modern dating site and there is a feeling of sinister creepiness because the reader KNOWS something is going to happen.....
The second half is where the twists start. Like high tide, they just keep rolling and rolling...one actually had me hysterical with laughter. But the thing is--I was so deeply invested by this point I had to know what would happen.
No spoilers here -- this book will not be for everyone and yes it is so not plausible on any level but I have been down lately and this book really helped bring me back up. I must do something I rarely do--mention the author. Her tribute in the beginning found its way into my heart. If I had gone to school with this author I am pretty sure we'd have been friends. I am a fiery person with messy hair which will not make much sense to you unless you read the tribute.
Oh--part two please!!!!!
So--four stars. Anybody out there looking for a quick, fun and crazy read? You've found your book.
August 18, 2022
Oh my goodness was this a wild ride of a book! I know everyone told me I would love this series, but no one told me how 🦇💩 crazy it is.
I picked this one for book club, and we all devoured it. The twists in this book were non-stop, each one bigger than the last. And talk about unreliable narrators. Phew. I finished this book wondering if anything I had read in it was true. Do these two even have children?? Modglin had me questioning everything and I loved it.
I cannot wait to read the remaining books in this series and hopefully fill in some of the blanks from book one. I hope they are as twisty as this one was.
I picked this one for book club, and we all devoured it. The twists in this book were non-stop, each one bigger than the last. And talk about unreliable narrators. Phew. I finished this book wondering if anything I had read in it was true. Do these two even have children?? Modglin had me questioning everything and I loved it.
I cannot wait to read the remaining books in this series and hopefully fill in some of the blanks from book one. I hope they are as twisty as this one was.
July 11, 2024
3.5⭐️
Okay… so full transparency here. This book was ridiculous… like, the characters are so repulsive to me… I hated them all. The plot was insane… like completely… but I’ll tell you what… I had no idea what was coming and I flew through it. I’m reading some heavy stuff at the moment so this was the perfect palate cleanser to that. I flew through this sitting by the pool in the Florida sun. So… ridiculous, yes… fun… also yes! I would read the sequels on a beach or on another vacation.
Ainsley and Peter are married with 3 kids. Their marriage has gone stale and they come up with an arrangement in an attempt to bring some spark back. The arrangement goes wrong… in every way possible and in ways I never saw coming. Well leave it at that 😂
Okay… so full transparency here. This book was ridiculous… like, the characters are so repulsive to me… I hated them all. The plot was insane… like completely… but I’ll tell you what… I had no idea what was coming and I flew through it. I’m reading some heavy stuff at the moment so this was the perfect palate cleanser to that. I flew through this sitting by the pool in the Florida sun. So… ridiculous, yes… fun… also yes! I would read the sequels on a beach or on another vacation.
Ainsley and Peter are married with 3 kids. Their marriage has gone stale and they come up with an arrangement in an attempt to bring some spark back. The arrangement goes wrong… in every way possible and in ways I never saw coming. Well leave it at that 😂
July 10, 2021
Audio - 5 ++++ Stars
Story - 5 Stars!
The crazy lengths a wife will go to just to save her marriage!! Wowza!! CRAZY!
I loved the twists. I did manage to guess some of them, but they way they played out had my jaw dropping. Loved it!!!
Story - 5 Stars!
The crazy lengths a wife will go to just to save her marriage!! Wowza!! CRAZY!
I loved the twists. I did manage to guess some of them, but they way they played out had my jaw dropping. Loved it!!!
July 21, 2021
Thrillers are one of my favorite genre and Kiersten Modglin is a new-to-me author! After reading The Arrangement, I’m still wondering why it has taken me so long to read one of her books!! I’m very excited that she has written many other books for me to explore!
I listened to this book in one sitting! I loved how it had a lot of twist and turns and I wasn’t able to figure out what was going to happen next.
Ainsley and Peter will do anything to save their failing marriage. Ainsley presents the idea of an open marriage arrangement and Peter agrees immediately.....with both of them in agreement, what could possibly go wrong?
The two narrators, one male and one female, did a fabulous job telling the story in an engaging way.
I highly recommend this one to anyone that loves a good psychological thriller with twist and turns that will give you whiplash!! For those that have #kindleunlimited, you're in luck because this book is included!!
I listened to this book in one sitting! I loved how it had a lot of twist and turns and I wasn’t able to figure out what was going to happen next.
Ainsley and Peter will do anything to save their failing marriage. Ainsley presents the idea of an open marriage arrangement and Peter agrees immediately.....with both of them in agreement, what could possibly go wrong?
The two narrators, one male and one female, did a fabulous job telling the story in an engaging way.
I highly recommend this one to anyone that loves a good psychological thriller with twist and turns that will give you whiplash!! For those that have #kindleunlimited, you're in luck because this book is included!!
July 28, 2021
Review
I can't believe I have never heard of Kiersten Modglin before this book, but now that I have I need to find all her books. Absolutely stunning book.
I can't believe I have never heard of Kiersten Modglin before this book, but now that I have I need to find all her books. Absolutely stunning book.
August 31, 2021
FIVE FREAKING STARS.
THIS is what a thriller should be like. This book is only 222 pages and its JAM PACKED with twists and turns. I couldn't believe how thrilling it was, all the way up until the very LAST PAGE. This is more of a romantic thriller, but is definitely dark and messed up too.
Could you imagine trying to fix your marriage by each of you going on dates with other people?! That synopsis intrigued me, and now I want to get every single book by Kiersten, because this was GOOD.
Hear my full thoughts in this reading vlog: https://youtu.be/o4v_r2whGZs
THIS is what a thriller should be like. This book is only 222 pages and its JAM PACKED with twists and turns. I couldn't believe how thrilling it was, all the way up until the very LAST PAGE. This is more of a romantic thriller, but is definitely dark and messed up too.
Could you imagine trying to fix your marriage by each of you going on dates with other people?! That synopsis intrigued me, and now I want to get every single book by Kiersten, because this was GOOD.
Hear my full thoughts in this reading vlog: https://youtu.be/o4v_r2whGZs
April 27, 2021
There are twist endings that you don’t see coming and blow your mind. Then there are twist endings you don’t see coming and you roll your eyes. This is the latter.
The plot of the novel felt formulaic and the characters relatively 2D for most of the beginning. When the first twist occurs, there’s a bit of a hook. I certainly wanted to keep going (albeit skimming parts here and there). I wanted a resolution. By the 80% mark, too many changes in the direction of the story took it off the rails.
The final chapter before the “epilogue” of 6 months later would have been a much better ending to the story. The final section brings in a totally unnecessary twist that is meant to shock the reader - and perhaps initially it may have had a stronger connection to the plot earlier - but it serves only to cheapen the novel. It goes from somewhat unbelievable but flawed characters to outright parody.
Two stars because I DID finish it and found myself wanting to see how it ended, but ultimately wishing I had chosen something else to read.
The plot of the novel felt formulaic and the characters relatively 2D for most of the beginning. When the first twist occurs, there’s a bit of a hook. I certainly wanted to keep going (albeit skimming parts here and there). I wanted a resolution. By the 80% mark, too many changes in the direction of the story took it off the rails.
The final chapter before the “epilogue” of 6 months later would have been a much better ending to the story. The final section brings in a totally unnecessary twist that is meant to shock the reader - and perhaps initially it may have had a stronger connection to the plot earlier - but it serves only to cheapen the novel. It goes from somewhat unbelievable but flawed characters to outright parody.
Two stars because I DID finish it and found myself wanting to see how it ended, but ultimately wishing I had chosen something else to read.
September 26, 2021
4.25 Stars
Ainsley & Peter’s marriage is fizzled out and it needs to be fixed. They used to be whole people without each other and without the kids. They want to find out what parts of those people still exist. So they come to an arrangement and Ainsley takes it on herself to make sure that everything would be better than ever. So the deal is on the table but when the rules are broken and mistakes are made, can they trust each other…
My first read by this author and definitely not the last one! This was a crazy read. Loved the ending. In the last chapter, I didn’t see it coming! It’s good-written, fast-paced, and twisty (some predictable and some jaw-dropping). Told in dual POV, 1st person, it’s a standalone novel. Overall, I had a good time reading it and hope you like it as well!
Ps. I’d like to thank my dear friend, Lyn, for this wonderful recommendation! Thank you, enjoyed it a lot!
Ainsley & Peter’s marriage is fizzled out and it needs to be fixed. They used to be whole people without each other and without the kids. They want to find out what parts of those people still exist. So they come to an arrangement and Ainsley takes it on herself to make sure that everything would be better than ever. So the deal is on the table but when the rules are broken and mistakes are made, can they trust each other…
My first read by this author and definitely not the last one! This was a crazy read. Loved the ending. In the last chapter, I didn’t see it coming! It’s good-written, fast-paced, and twisty (some predictable and some jaw-dropping). Told in dual POV, 1st person, it’s a standalone novel. Overall, I had a good time reading it and hope you like it as well!
Ps. I’d like to thank my dear friend, Lyn, for this wonderful recommendation! Thank you, enjoyed it a lot!
August 15, 2021
Kiersten Modglin has been all the rage lately in the psychological thriller circles on social media and largely that has centered around her most recent book, The Arrangement. I wasn’t sure what to expect—this seems to be one of those buzzy books that the more I heard about it, the more I wondered if it was overhyped or the next Gone Girl.
I’d say this is worth a read if for no other reason than the ending will definitely blindside you with the twists, which after a slower first half truly pop in quick succession through the last 15% and you will certainly not see them coming!
That sounds like a rave review and in some ways it is, but ultimately I found that the twists themselves didn’t fully make sense with the story we were told. I loved the idea for them but I felt we needed a few more hints so that we could later look back and have that delicious aftershock of a good twist where we realize we should have seen it coming all along.
This is one of those books that I’ll admit I have no idea how to review because there’s a lot I’d like to say but I want to be extra cautious to avoid spoilers. I’ve seen a lot of reviews say this drew them straight in, but for me it took a bit longer.
The basic premise is that a woman who is running out of ways to save her marriage decides in a last ditch effort to suggest that they each see other people. The rules are simple, they each get to go on a date one night per week, no questions asked. If you think this sounds like an absolutely terrible way to save your marriage, well you’d be thinking exactly what I was! That said I do love a messy plot so I was intrigued by the concept.
The book is told in alternating chapters between the wife Ainsley and the husband Peter’s perspectives. I thought this was effective particularly though the first half because I got to see how this arrangement was unfolding from each side. The effort to pretend this is something they both want, the worry on each side about what the other is doing, and the concern that someone may find a better partner thn their spouse.
Around the halfway point things really escalate and take an unexpected turn when one of the dates becomes a bit more than a one-night fling. From that point onwards the book veers off into an unexpected direction and the story becomes something completely different than what I thought it would be. And in the last 15% things really take a turn, and the reveals start coming fast and furious. While I sort of loved the twists, I agreed with some reviewers who found frustration in the fact that many of these twists really aren’t set up at all by anything we read in the first 2/3 of the book.
That small but fair criticism aside, this is definitely worth a read if you’re in the mood for something that will absolutely blindside you with the twists!
I’d say this is worth a read if for no other reason than the ending will definitely blindside you with the twists, which after a slower first half truly pop in quick succession through the last 15% and you will certainly not see them coming!
That sounds like a rave review and in some ways it is, but ultimately I found that the twists themselves didn’t fully make sense with the story we were told. I loved the idea for them but I felt we needed a few more hints so that we could later look back and have that delicious aftershock of a good twist where we realize we should have seen it coming all along.
This is one of those books that I’ll admit I have no idea how to review because there’s a lot I’d like to say but I want to be extra cautious to avoid spoilers. I’ve seen a lot of reviews say this drew them straight in, but for me it took a bit longer.
The basic premise is that a woman who is running out of ways to save her marriage decides in a last ditch effort to suggest that they each see other people. The rules are simple, they each get to go on a date one night per week, no questions asked. If you think this sounds like an absolutely terrible way to save your marriage, well you’d be thinking exactly what I was! That said I do love a messy plot so I was intrigued by the concept.
The book is told in alternating chapters between the wife Ainsley and the husband Peter’s perspectives. I thought this was effective particularly though the first half because I got to see how this arrangement was unfolding from each side. The effort to pretend this is something they both want, the worry on each side about what the other is doing, and the concern that someone may find a better partner thn their spouse.
Around the halfway point things really escalate and take an unexpected turn when one of the dates becomes a bit more than a one-night fling. From that point onwards the book veers off into an unexpected direction and the story becomes something completely different than what I thought it would be. And in the last 15% things really take a turn, and the reveals start coming fast and furious. While I sort of loved the twists, I agreed with some reviewers who found frustration in the fact that many of these twists really aren’t set up at all by anything we read in the first 2/3 of the book.
That small but fair criticism aside, this is definitely worth a read if you’re in the mood for something that will absolutely blindside you with the twists!
April 23, 2023
“𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙠 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜.”
“𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙩. 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙄 𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙭𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙢𝙚𝙨𝙨.”
Yup, very messy. My first thought dude why not try marriage counseling like normal people do? Like, what did you expect from this? But then, where's the fun in that, isn't it? Lmao
I'm actually confused to review this because the story is a roller-coaster. There are some parts that are good; I like them; I love the plot twists; and there are some parts that are just too soap opera for a thriller. The drama makes me roll my eyes; it's just stupid.
So I thought maybe I wouldn't be reading the next book, but towards the end it got more interesting, and I'll definitely want to know what happened next.
I gave it 3 stars because I don't feel all that satisfied with how the full story came together, if that makes sense.
I listened to the audiobook; it has two narrators for each point of view of Ainsley and Peter. I enjoyed it, but I had a problem with the narrator who narrated Peter's POV. When the narrator did the other characters voices, they were not that different from the ones the narrator used with Peter. I always lost sometimes, wondering who's this? who's he talking about?
TW: Cheating
3⭐
----------------
another psychological thriller read to brighten the day✌️😀✌️
𝘈𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳'𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘹 𝘪𝘵, 𝘈𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘥 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘱𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬.
𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘴𝘰 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵.
“𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙩. 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙄 𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙭𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙢𝙚𝙨𝙨.”
Yup, very messy. My first thought dude why not try marriage counseling like normal people do? Like, what did you expect from this? But then, where's the fun in that, isn't it? Lmao
I'm actually confused to review this because the story is a roller-coaster. There are some parts that are good; I like them; I love the plot twists; and there are some parts that are just too soap opera for a thriller. The drama makes me roll my eyes; it's just stupid.
So I thought maybe I wouldn't be reading the next book, but towards the end it got more interesting, and I'll definitely want to know what happened next.
I gave it 3 stars because I don't feel all that satisfied with how the full story came together, if that makes sense.
I listened to the audiobook; it has two narrators for each point of view of Ainsley and Peter. I enjoyed it, but I had a problem with the narrator who narrated Peter's POV. When the narrator did the other characters voices, they were not that different from the ones the narrator used with Peter. I always lost sometimes, wondering who's this? who's he talking about?
TW: Cheating
3⭐
----------------
another psychological thriller read to brighten the day✌️😀✌️
July 15, 2021
I think I’m most angry with this book because of how good it could have been.
The premise is fun and intriguing - a husband and wife with marital issues decide to spice up their marriage by going on dates with other people. Of course, unforeseen events take place causing both of them to have to band together to handle the fall out.
I was hooked and enjoyed the first 75% of this book and then boy did this go off the rails. You’re hit with twist after twist but there’s no satisfaction with it at all and it feels like all of these surprises are there for the shock factor. By the end you���re not even sure who you’re rooting for, why you’re rooting for them or if you should just wash your hands of all of them.
The premise is fun and intriguing - a husband and wife with marital issues decide to spice up their marriage by going on dates with other people. Of course, unforeseen events take place causing both of them to have to band together to handle the fall out.
I was hooked and enjoyed the first 75% of this book and then boy did this go off the rails. You’re hit with twist after twist but there’s no satisfaction with it at all and it feels like all of these surprises are there for the shock factor. By the end you���re not even sure who you’re rooting for, why you’re rooting for them or if you should just wash your hands of all of them.
August 6, 2022
When u think u know whats going on with these fuckers i promise u … u do not 😂😂😂😂
August 23, 2021
I wish I could unread this book. It was that bad.
July 12, 2021
I have read so many great reviews about this book and how “you won’t guess the twists!” And they’re right, I didn’t, because the ending goes against so much of the actual story! It truly makes no sense. You can’t have a book written from a 1st persons perspective and then try to have us believe the absolute non sense that unfolds in the end of this one. I really did like the twists and the ending, but hate that there is zero support for any of them from the text. There is actually so much of this book that directly contradicts this ending along with every twist it throws at us. I’m so frustrated.
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