The Arrangement

A Novel

De: Sarah Dunn

Narrado por: Ellen Archer

National best seller: A hilarious and emotionally charged novel about a couple who embark on an open marriage-what could possibly go wrong?

Lucy and Owen, ambitious, thoroughly-therapized New Yorkers, have taken the plunge, trading in their crazy life in a cramped apartment for Beekman, a bucolic Hudson Valley exurb. They've got a 200-year-old house, an autistic son obsessed with the Titanic, and 17 chickens, at last count. It's the kind of paradise where stay-at-home moms team up to cook the school's "hot lunch", dads grill grass-fed burgers, and, as Lucy observes, "chopping kale has become a certain kind of American housewife's version of chopping wood".

When friends at a wine-soaked dinner party reveal they've made their marriage open, sensible Lucy balks. There's a part of her, though-the part that worries she's become too comfortable being invisible - that's intrigued. Why not try a short marital experiment? Six months, clear ground rules, zero questions asked. When an affair with a man in the city begins to seem more enticing than the happily-ever-after she's known for the past nine years, Lucy must decide what truly makes her happy: "Real life", or the "experiment"?

©2017 Sarah Dunn (P)2017 Hachette Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Dunn ( The Big Love) again plumbs the messiness and fallibility of romantic relationships....with hilarious results." ( Publishers Weekly)

Fabulously Written and Performed!

There are no words to describe how much I enjoyed this book it was addictive and I even woke up earlier to listen to my book while I drank my coffee in the morning.

Awesome Narration

Ellen Archer gave a stunning and entertaining narrative. She Kees the listener engaged with her talent.

Love love loved it!! I couldn't stop listening.

Truly a captivating story. Addictive. Hilarious. A work of art. Anyone & everyone will love this book.

Interesting examination of marriage

The first few chapters I was thinking "this book is really improbable." That may be true, but I did enjoy it. The narrator is amazing! The characters were well-drawn and held my interest. I have to say I wasn't sure how it would end, but I wasn't surprised when I got there. Still--a good read.

Funny and ultimately redeeming

This book is Wisteria Lane meets Parenthood. It is a meditation on modern marriage and parenting that at times seems like it is destined to end in tragedy, but pulls off an optimistic, perfectly imperfect ending. If you're looking for a "hot/sexy" romance novel, this book may disappoint a bit. There is sex and romance, but most encounters are more humorous than titillating. But if you're in the middle of your life and marriage, navigating parenthood, careers, economics, adult friendships, physical changes, and if you're feeling in a romantic rut and wondering if this is all there is, this novel may hit the spot.

Every emotion impacted

This excellent story and narration took me through it--amused, happiness, sadness, disappointment. I need to recoup before I'm able to enter so fully into another story again. But, I'm looking forward to it. It's all too rare.

The story centers on the marriage between and parenting by Lucy and Owen. But we also get close looks at 2 or 3 other marriages and get to know some great additional characters. It was all so well done. I feel like I know the folk in Beekman. I liked that all the characters weren't white, per the usual focus, though race and ethnicity was in no way a focus. It was just so refreshing for an author to acknowledge that all American society isn't white and to acknowledge, very minimally, how race impacts society. Additionally, having a side trans female character and the community’s varying responses was good and held true to many places in the U.S., even Beekman, NY.

Though this story focuses on adult relationships, there were no sex scenes, just a bit of noted acts (ex. where a hand went) and blandly saying what occurred without detail. And this wasn't often because it's not the focus. It was talked about mildly--though fu** was used--instead of being shown.

It was nice to listen to a story focused on middle-aged folk without perfect lives, beauty and wealth. Though all were solidly middle-class and higher.

Each chapter started with a quote primarily focused on relationships and individuals in them. I didn't find all of them helpful though still, usually, thought-provoking.

A funny look at middle age sex and marriage

Any additional comments?

A great and fresh premise for a novel: a married couple tries an open marriage for six months. At times laugh-out-loud funny with quirky, likable characters who have depth and a plot that's something new. A great, entertaining read.

really good read!

surprisingly good and could not stop listening to. So relatable in the world we live in today in regards to the marital arrangement. I would definitely recommend for a good listen to anyone interested in this particular topic. The synopsis does not do this book justice. Give it a listen. You won't regret the time you took to do so.

Great Book

Great take on an intriguing ideology. Storylines were woven together perfectly. Only a few audio-editorial misses, otherwise a good performance.

Great Audio Book

The narrator was excellent. Very engaging. Story line and character development was awesome. and the ending was great. Wish there were a part 2!