The Heroine: Anne
Blythe, a journalist and aspiring author who suddenly finds herself
single at thirty-three after discovering that her boyfriend has been
cheating on her. Lonely and longing for partnership and a family,
Anne decides to take a chance on Blythe & Company, a dating
service whose card she happened to pick up off the street. Only after
meeting with the company does she discover that their true service is
arranged marriages. In a bold move, Anne flys off to Mexico to marry
Jack, a man she has never met until the day before their wedding. In
the sand and surf paradise of Mexico, Anne discovers that her new
husband may actually be her perfect match after all. Or is he?
Arranged
follows Anne's unconventional love story and her journey to
self-discovery.
The Highs: Reading
Arranged
was really a breath of fresh air (if you'll excuse the cliche). This
novel is completely original, unexpected and unique, three things you
rarely find in romance – and I say that with affection, as a
devoted lover of all things, well, love.
Catherine McKenzie's unconventional take on a love story really pays
off and thanks to her excellent plot and talent with words, I
devoured this book in a single sitting.
The
protagonist, Anne Blythe, is extremely lovable and relateable. While
those girls who complain endlessly about the woes of the single life
("Why can't I find a man?")
can get annoying fast, Anne walks the fine line between mopey and
proactive with ease, taking control of her own destiny. While her
judgement can be questionable, I admire her tenacity and her
boldness. I was really rooting for her throughout the story and by
the end, I felt as if she was a close friend.
The romance between Anne and Jack is the real highlight in this
novel. Perfectly paced and realistically narrated, their scenes are
sometimes sweet and sometimes sexy, but always interesting. Anne and
Jack really do seem like a real life perfect match – neither of
them are perfect, but they compliment each other well and help each
other become better people.
Arranged
is more than just a love story. It is a tale of a woman's search for
self-discovery, self-acceptance and self-love. This book made me
question a lot of things I'm not sure I really understand yet. Like
what makes a good marriage? Is love or friendship more important?
What kind of person do I want to spend my life with? As I am only
just turning 20, I think it will be quite awhile before I ever
discover the answers to these questions!
The Lows: One
cliche in Arranged
that has persisted, despite the unconventional plot, is the evil
journalist that tricks the members of the opposite sex into liking
them so they can write about it. Remember Matthew Maconahey from How
to Lose a Guy in Ten Days?
Remember Eva Mendes from Hitch?
Yeah, well, you'll find one of them in this book, too. As a writer,
I'm often attracted to other creative types...this long-standing
cliche makes me wonder if I should worry guys are using me as
content!
Final Thoughts: A
love story with a twist, Arranged
is perfect for anyone looking for a little romance in their lives.
Rating: Arranged
earns eight margaritas out of ten.
Buy 'Arranged' on the Book Depository here
Connect with author Catherine McKenzie here
Photo from here
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