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thathappyreader's review against another edition
4.0
This was such an interesting read. The whole concept of meeting your ideal mate by using a set of highly intimate assessments sounds far-fetched yet believable. All through the book, it felt as though the creators of this company were going to let Ursula and Rafael know that this was all an experiment to see how far a couple would go to find their perfect match. But they did not.
The central characters were well developed. Both were educated and career-driven individuals who had experienced previous relationships but had never felt they had found “the one”. Through The Arc, the two meet and fall fast for one another. They couldn’t believe what a great job The Arc had done in pairing them together. But no relationship is perfect and the two find challenges along the way.
The Arc company itself was well presented and futuristic. The descriptions of the surroundings and the week-long assessments their clients go through before matching was fascinating. It was surprising to me that neither Ursula nor Rafael questioned the need for some of these intimate assessments and simply went along with what was requested.
There is a twist to the story which I won’t get into so as not to give too much away, but this was a significant part of the story and mindset of this couple. It was well presented and was a highlight.
I listened to the audiobook version of The Arc which was narrated by Mary Elizabeth Kelly. I enjoyed her performance - particularly how she portrays the Doctor at The Arc. Her voice almost feels computer generated which portrays the clinician behind The Arc’s algorithm. I would highly recommend this format of the book to those that enjoy audiobooks.
The central characters were well developed. Both were educated and career-driven individuals who had experienced previous relationships but had never felt they had found “the one”. Through The Arc, the two meet and fall fast for one another. They couldn’t believe what a great job The Arc had done in pairing them together. But no relationship is perfect and the two find challenges along the way.
The Arc company itself was well presented and futuristic. The descriptions of the surroundings and the week-long assessments their clients go through before matching was fascinating. It was surprising to me that neither Ursula nor Rafael questioned the need for some of these intimate assessments and simply went along with what was requested.
There is a twist to the story which I won’t get into so as not to give too much away, but this was a significant part of the story and mindset of this couple. It was well presented and was a highlight.
I listened to the audiobook version of The Arc which was narrated by Mary Elizabeth Kelly. I enjoyed her performance - particularly how she portrays the Doctor at The Arc. Her voice almost feels computer generated which portrays the clinician behind The Arc’s algorithm. I would highly recommend this format of the book to those that enjoy audiobooks.
fransbooks's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
hailskp's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Hmmm. It’s a very interesting concept. Follows the line of a romance with more literary fiction so hard to get truly into it. I found the reconciling and the relationship to be so so real and was cathartic to my own relationship fears. I felt Ursula deeply and truly enjoyed their love story. But it’s somewhat forgettable and I don’t quiet understand the overlap.
mzdeb's review against another edition
2.0
I received a digital ARC from Netgalley.
Stopped at 20% before skimming the rest.
I think the cover is indicative of the tone of this book--a romance, but off-kilter. It skewers modern dating but also skewers the struggles of professional women functioning among the jargon of tech innovation/ startup-bro culture and commodified self-actualization. Hoen's too on-the-nose descriptions of bogus job titles and bizarre spa treatments and characters' self-obsessed styling doesn't allow the romance to shine through. Ursula is already hard to connect to, so all her musings and neuroses on top of the minutiae of her work and dating life, while at times entertaining or downright funny, were ultimately clinically dry and bored me. And then, because the Arc's hefty fees and extensive testing are supposed to pretty much guarantee instalove, there are discussions about if it's real or not, if there's something wrong in questioning it, and then questioning that questioning. All that leads to a plot that's neurotic, not enticing.
And those last few sentences...GRRRR.
Stopped at 20% before skimming the rest.
I think the cover is indicative of the tone of this book--a romance, but off-kilter. It skewers modern dating but also skewers the struggles of professional women functioning among the jargon of tech innovation/ startup-bro culture and commodified self-actualization. Hoen's too on-the-nose descriptions of bogus job titles and bizarre spa treatments and characters' self-obsessed styling doesn't allow the romance to shine through. Ursula is already hard to connect to, so all her musings and neuroses on top of the minutiae of her work and dating life, while at times entertaining or downright funny, were ultimately clinically dry and bored me. And then, because the Arc's hefty fees and extensive testing are supposed to pretty much guarantee instalove, there are discussions about if it's real or not, if there's something wrong in questioning it, and then questioning that questioning. All that leads to a plot that's neurotic, not enticing.
And those last few sentences...GRRRR.
rmurphy22002's review against another edition
4.0
Honestly the last chapter saved this book from being the same story of all mixing technology with romance. The world seems to believe that romance and relationships are a choice but maybe everything can be orchestrated better with enough data
beccamfreeman's review against another edition
4.0
A satire of the NYC startup scene with a complex romantic plotline? Sign me up. The writing was so sharp, it reminded me of Ghosts by Dolly Alderton. I feel like this book should be getting a lot more hype!
kp2022's review against another edition
3.0
I️ fully read this book just because I️ saw so many people on goodreads struggle to finish it. I️ wanted to decide if I️ like it and it was good! Well good enough. I️ think there were parts that had detail where we didn’t need there to be, like a random run down of an outfit. I️t pulled my heart strings and showed a breakup that was realistic for the sci fi experiment they put themselves through.
Rafa and Ursula make a cute couple.
This book further solidifies my belief that when couples fight it’s really about the emotions underlying that fight.
I️ will probably forget the premise of this book within a year.
Rafa and Ursula make a cute couple.
This book further solidifies my belief that when couples fight it’s really about the emotions underlying that fight.
I️ will probably forget the premise of this book within a year.