Catherine McKenzie's Arranged explores the possibility of arranged marriages, American-style. Anne Blythe is in her 30s and desperate to get married. She has been in several long-term relationships is crushed knowing that all those men are now settled down and happily married. What is wrong with her?She finds a business card at her feet one day for a marriage broker and decides to give it a whirl. This is more than eHarmony or other matchmaking websites; this is a thorough, incredibly expensive brokerage service. (How does a woman in her mid-30s who writes for a magazine come up with $10,000 to pay for this, by the way? I do not live in that world.) The story takes off from there when she meets Jack, her guaranteed husband. The book description alerted me that there was a "but..." to their happily-ever-after. I wish I hadn't known that because I never took their relationship seriously, waiting for him to be a serial killer or something.
Does Jack turn out to be a serial killer? Do they live happily ever after? Should you read this book and find out? Well, if you need something to fill the time and happen to come across this is a used book store, sure. The novel isn't throw-against-the-wall annoying. Anne and Jack's story is kind of sweet. But too much was missing for this to be particularly memorable and engaging for me. Maybe you'll like it more.
*FTC Full Disclosure - The publisher sent me a copy of the book, in hopes I would review it.
3 comments:
It's a shame you didn't love the book, because it has an interesting premise.
Anne Blythe? Okay, I would be set up for SOMETHING memorable (probably to hate it!--how dare anyone steal her name? ;-) ) on the name alone!
Amy--There is a whole Anne of Green Gables theme throughout the whole book--don't worry! Her parents named her after the book. ;)
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