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salimah's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed this one from beginning to end! The author's fresh angle invigorates the premise which is a variation on a theme I've seen a few times over the years. Delightful, funny, with compellingly drawn characters.
peneloperea's review against another edition
2.0
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing the arc of The Arc by Tory Henwood Hoen in exchange for my honest review.
The Arc could be described as a rom-com for people who don’t like rom-coms. It is a love story for the modern age of dating apps and independent women who need to control every aspect of their lives. I mean, I honestly thought this was my kind of love story.
We meet Ursula Byrne, whose job title is literally VP of Strategic Audacity, at a feminist health club in Manhattan. After being introduced to the Club, it took a lot to keep reading, but I pushed forward. Ursula is a fiercely independent 35-year-old woman who’s had terrible luck when it comes to dating. While at the ridiculous Club, she is handed a card for The Arc, a new-age matching-making service for people willing to spend a lot of money to meet their ultimate match.
Ursula decided to give this Arc a try. After a week-long lock-in, she walks away feeling great but questioning if it will work. She is matched with Rafael. They are perfect for each other in every way, or so they thought.
I had such a tough time reading this book. I never connected with Ursula. I found the way she treats people to be rude and disingenuous. Her frustration with her job is entirely understandable, yet she won’t do anything to fix it. Then we met Rafael, and I wanted to like him. I wanted to like them together, but I found myself rolling my eyes. Rolling my eyes a couple of times is fine, but when I took a week off from the book and returned to more eye-rolling, I knew it was time to move on. I raced through the end of the book, hoping something would happen to change my mind. In the end, I didn’t connect with The Arc at all. I know plenty of people will love these characters and their story, but I’m not one of them.
The Arc could be described as a rom-com for people who don’t like rom-coms. It is a love story for the modern age of dating apps and independent women who need to control every aspect of their lives. I mean, I honestly thought this was my kind of love story.
We meet Ursula Byrne, whose job title is literally VP of Strategic Audacity, at a feminist health club in Manhattan. After being introduced to the Club, it took a lot to keep reading, but I pushed forward. Ursula is a fiercely independent 35-year-old woman who’s had terrible luck when it comes to dating. While at the ridiculous Club, she is handed a card for The Arc, a new-age matching-making service for people willing to spend a lot of money to meet their ultimate match.
Ursula decided to give this Arc a try. After a week-long lock-in, she walks away feeling great but questioning if it will work. She is matched with Rafael. They are perfect for each other in every way, or so they thought.
I had such a tough time reading this book. I never connected with Ursula. I found the way she treats people to be rude and disingenuous. Her frustration with her job is entirely understandable, yet she won’t do anything to fix it. Then we met Rafael, and I wanted to like him. I wanted to like them together, but I found myself rolling my eyes. Rolling my eyes a couple of times is fine, but when I took a week off from the book and returned to more eye-rolling, I knew it was time to move on. I raced through the end of the book, hoping something would happen to change my mind. In the end, I didn’t connect with The Arc at all. I know plenty of people will love these characters and their story, but I’m not one of them.
hisparks23's review against another edition
4.0
3.5–This was fun. It won’t be for everyone, and I’m not even sure it’s a book I’d always enjoy depending on when I read it, but I picked it up at exactly the right time that I just needed something escapism to pull me out of a slump and this delivered. It’s kind of a brain candy read, but not too sugary sweet or cheesy that you feel sick(unfulfilled)after eating(reading) it. The wit and satire were smart and quirky and completely in line with my millennial sense of humor. I’m not one to hype up “banter” in books very often because usually I find the banter that everyone is excited about underwhelming, but Ursula and Rafael legitimately had great banter.
I struggled with the inevitable conflict because I hate conflict in real life and in books and almost always find in unnecessary, but I know editors and authors would disagree. I also never found myself really interested in the chapters about Ursula’s job or her occasional cringey antics related to it, but mostly I just let myself enjoy this and laugh at the satirical commentary, as well as the weird bits and tangents these two would go on. (That aspect reminded me of my partner and I in real life so maybe I’m biased.)
I found the ending thought-provoking, although I do wish we got to hear more about the mechanisms and science of how the Arc worked because I am fascinated by it. In the meantime, I’ll just be wondering how I can get myself a membership to the Stake to have my hair brushed by a therapist.
ETA: I’m changing my rating from 3.5 to 4 stars because it’s been a month since I finished and I still find myself thinking about how much I enjoyed this one.
I struggled with the inevitable conflict because I hate conflict in real life and in books and almost always find in unnecessary, but I know editors and authors would disagree. I also never found myself really interested in the chapters about Ursula’s job or her occasional cringey antics related to it, but mostly I just let myself enjoy this and laugh at the satirical commentary, as well as the weird bits and tangents these two would go on. (That aspect reminded me of my partner and I in real life so maybe I’m biased.)
I found the ending thought-provoking, although I do wish we got to hear more about the mechanisms and science of how the Arc worked because I am fascinated by it. In the meantime, I’ll just be wondering how I can get myself a membership to the Stake to have my hair brushed by a therapist.
ETA: I’m changing my rating from 3.5 to 4 stars because it’s been a month since I finished and I still find myself thinking about how much I enjoyed this one.
brandy_reads's review against another edition
3.0
I didn’t love this, but I did like it. I found that at times Rafael was almost a side character as a lot of focus was placed on Ursula and her career. I predicted the ending but still really enjoyed how it played out.
Thank you @macmillan.audio @stmartinspress and @librofm for the ALC
Thank you @macmillan.audio @stmartinspress and @librofm for the ALC
zoemsiepert's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
diabianca's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting light read. I just felt like it dragged a bit. I find the concept of this unique dating service and the futuristic nyc setting it paints intriguing. I just found it lacked excitement and chemistry when I was reading it. Overall, I still enjoyed it.
kuyemura's review against another edition
1.0
This book needs to see a therapist for its identity crisis. At first I thought it was satirizing work culture, attitudes towards wellness, and dating in the modern age. But Ursula non-ironically is into all of that stuff and she's a #girlboss soo.
This dating service's business model makes no sense if you're somebody who doesn't seem to offer a lot as a partner. For instance, the Arc measures Ursula's physical reactions to different types of attractive men to match her to a guy she wants to rip the clothes off of. What if she looked like a damp dishrag? Would they have tested Rafael's physical response to all sorts of average-looking women? The Arc makes sure that this person is the perfect fit for you in every way, but Ursula only ever talks about how hotttt Rafael is, and that's the foundation of their love. That, and a sickening, NAUSEATING number of random pet names intended to be endearing and quirky, but that come across as cloying and demented.
Two hot, rich, successful, smart adults having a sizzling romance is great for chick-lit or romance books, but I think this book wanted (in a vague sort of way, like how I want to throw dinner parties every week but who has the time or energy for that, that's HARD) to be incisive. To ask sophisticated questions (Can tech optimize our most intimate relationships? What makes relationships optimal?) and give thought-provoking answers.
But, you know...Rafael and Ursula were turned on by each other's silhouettes or whatever from day one. Want to know the crazy, "unpredictable" arc of their relationship?
Not EVERY SINGLE DAY was that easy. *gasp. Yeah, I know. Take a few seconds to process that, because it's a lot. I myself am still recovering.
This dating service's business model makes no sense if you're somebody who doesn't seem to offer a lot as a partner. For instance, the Arc measures Ursula's physical reactions to different types of attractive men to match her to a guy she wants to rip the clothes off of. What if she looked like a damp dishrag? Would they have tested Rafael's physical response to all sorts of average-looking women? The Arc makes sure that this person is the perfect fit for you in every way, but Ursula only ever talks about how hotttt Rafael is, and that's the foundation of their love. That, and a sickening, NAUSEATING number of random pet names intended to be endearing and quirky, but that come across as cloying and demented.
Two hot, rich, successful, smart adults having a sizzling romance is great for chick-lit or romance books, but I think this book wanted (in a vague sort of way, like how I want to throw dinner parties every week but who has the time or energy for that, that's HARD) to be incisive. To ask sophisticated questions (Can tech optimize our most intimate relationships? What makes relationships optimal?) and give thought-provoking answers.
But, you know...Rafael and Ursula were turned on by each other's silhouettes or whatever from day one. Want to know the crazy, "unpredictable" arc of their relationship?
Not EVERY SINGLE DAY was that easy. *gasp. Yeah, I know. Take a few seconds to process that, because it's a lot. I myself am still recovering.
stephisbooked's review against another edition
3.0
I don’t know what I was expecting with this one but it wasn’t what it actually ended up being. This was a cute story with a interesting take on matchmaking. Ursula is a quirky, highly motivated MC and I found her dating adventures to be silly and fun. I don’t know if I fully bought her and Rafael though. It seemed like they gave up easily on each other and only did well while in the blissful beginning stage. The ending leaves a little something extra for you which I enjoyed. Reviews say it’s a great audiobook so maybe check that out!