To preface this review, I read this trilogy in a matter of 6 days while my dad was in the hospital last October. I didn’t take the time then to write a review, not that I would have had a clue on how to write a review……LOL. So, this is one of my older reads I am working on catching up on from my GoodReads list. I have decided I will work on getting 2024 caught up then work backwards until I’ve reviewed all the books I’ve read – although I may need to refresh my memory by doing a quick read through of some of them again (I had to do this with this trilogy). I hope to get the second and third book reviewed over the next couple weeks and posted but until then, enjoy a long overdue review of The Arrangment by Kiersten Modglin.

The Arrangment

~ Kiersten Modglin Read 10/30/2024 – 10/31/2024

“What could go wrong with a few rules?”

I have to admit, this quote makes me laugh. Anytime you start with “what could go wrong” you definitely know something is about to go haywire! The Arrangement is no exception! Modglin grabs you by the hair and takes you on a gripping, emotionally explosive ride through love, trust and secrets from a marriage in crisis.

I have heard SO MANY mixed opinions on this book and after reading it I decided, you will either finish this book obsessed in love with it, absolutely disgusted and hate it, or simply confused and not really sure what to think. But, one thing is for certain – you WILL feel something.

Regardless of whether you hate it or love it, Modglin knows how to stir some sh*t up and create controversy! The Arrangement offers the reader both an eerie reflection on love and the realization that even those closest to us can be a stranger among us.

Ainsley (FMC) and Peter (MMC) Greenburg are desperate to reignite the fire that once burned all night long in their marriage. In a last-minute ditch attempt to save their marriage, Ainsley makes a bold suggestion to Peter: open the marriage to dating. When Peter is quick to agree, Ainsley is a little surprised but ready to give it a go.

The only catch, they must abide by the rules agreed upon before they begin. One night per week they are allowed to date someone new. The rules. They cannot date on the same night. They can only use the app to meet people – no exchanging of personal information. They must use protection. They are not to speak about their dates with each other. The other 5 nights per week are to be spent as a family, in a “normal” routine.

As The Arrangement unfolds and rules are broken, the entire dynamic is shaken up. Manipulation, resentment, lies, and betrayal all come to surface making things take a turn from bad to worse. Trust is a casualty of the fallout. Love is tested and secrets fester.

How far are you willing to go for love? Will Ainsley and Peter be able to pick up the pieces before the end comes? What or who will pay the price for their lack of better judgment?

Modglin builds her characters with razor-sharp precision – they are complex and beautifully flawed drawing readers in from the beginning. Told in dual PoV, both Ainsley and Peter are fully developed characters – vulnerable, unpredictable, real and more often than not, unlikeable. This couple is crafted to do one thing, provoke emotions and boy, do they succeed. You will side with one, then the other throughout the chaotic relationship to discover they are both swimming in the same morally gray waters. Honestly, this shows the power of a skilled author when they can evoke such strong emotions from their readers.

Their journey is far from pleasant to experience. Neither is innocent, but both are human which makes their descent agonizing to watch – kind of like a train wreck, you just can’t tear your eyes away. Part of Modglin’s brilliance is she writes people, then dares you to judge them being compelled to read just one more page…..next thing you know, the book is finished. You sit wondering WTF you just read.

The Arrangement’s pacing matches the emotional tension throughout. The story starts out as a slow-burn, domestic drama quickly shifting into a fast-paced psychological thriller. Short, punchy chapters keep you engaged long after you intended to stop for the night. Every interaction peels back another layer of manipulation, deceit, psychological abuse, violence, or desire, never wasting a scene. Controversial issues seem to be a favorite of Modglin, she doesn’t shy away from them either, she faces them head-on with a purpose. Tension builds steadily until you are off kilter then she throws in twist after twist that knocks you flat on your arse.

This is definitely not a story for the weak. It is layered with heavy themes such as infidelity, emotional manipulation, psychological abuse, gaslighting, and violence to name just a few, woven throughout. If you are sensitive to depictions of domestic or physical abuse, please proceed with caution. This isn’t just a story for entertainment purposes – it crawls beneath your skin and gets into your soul. Take care of your mental health, if you choose to read this just be sure and take breaks when needed.

If you’re in the mood for a quick read packed with toxicity, twisted logic, and jaw-dropping reveals, this book hits all the marks. It’s disturbing, compulsively readable, and will leave you wondering how well you really know the people you love. Want more chaos? The Arrangement is just the beginning—follow it up with The Amendment and The Atonement for the full, wild trilogy.

As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition. I have not been promised any compensation by the author, present or future, in exchange for my honest and fair review.

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