Amidst a 21st century world slammed with apps, start ups and all things commercially glossed we find Ursula Byrne, VP of Strategic Audacity (!) in a New York branding agency. Ursula is dissatisfied with her life, her job and most importantly her single status, as she yearns for fulfilment that she is too scared to leap for.
The Arc is a new type of dating agency that calls itself a relationship architect and states "Lasting love is in the details. It's time to be more particular."
Ursula decides to take a leap and signs up to The Arc, and is subsequently matched to Rafael Banks. Initially it feels like a dream come true, dreamy dates, sexual tension, and what seems like the perfect man…
The Arc is Tory Henwood Horn’s debut novel, and this is felt in the initial pacing, world-building and introduction to Ursula and her life, but as the book progresses and the pace flows more seamlessly, this all falls into place as we travel Ursula and Rafael’s relationship journey.
Initially, I was very unsure about this book, I am definitely not a carry your cat in a bubble back pack sort of person, but Hoen’s inciteful, amusing, accurate and cutting insights into corporate life, modern-day dating, wellness consumerism, male dominated insane venture capitalism and lip service to #metoo are totally perfect.
I found myself becoming more invested in The Arc, Rafael and Ursula’s journey and the challenges of modern womanhood and enjoyed the resulting questions about free will, personal choice and influence that this book both asks and answers.
This book definitely isn’t one that I’d normally pick up, but I enjoyed this take on a contemporary romance and the self-reflection that it’s triggered for me.
The Arc is a new type of dating agency that calls itself a relationship architect and states "Lasting love is in the details. It's time to be more particular."
Ursula decides to take a leap and signs up to The Arc, and is subsequently matched to Rafael Banks. Initially it feels like a dream come true, dreamy dates, sexual tension, and what seems like the perfect man…
The Arc is Tory Henwood Horn’s debut novel, and this is felt in the initial pacing, world-building and introduction to Ursula and her life, but as the book progresses and the pace flows more seamlessly, this all falls into place as we travel Ursula and Rafael’s relationship journey.
Initially, I was very unsure about this book, I am definitely not a carry your cat in a bubble back pack sort of person, but Hoen’s inciteful, amusing, accurate and cutting insights into corporate life, modern-day dating, wellness consumerism, male dominated insane venture capitalism and lip service to #metoo are totally perfect.
I found myself becoming more invested in The Arc, Rafael and Ursula’s journey and the challenges of modern womanhood and enjoyed the resulting questions about free will, personal choice and influence that this book both asks and answers.
This book definitely isn’t one that I’d normally pick up, but I enjoyed this take on a contemporary romance and the self-reflection that it’s triggered for me.