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A review by kuyemura
The Arc by Tory Henwood Hoen
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.