When it comes to choosing a fiction story to read and review I tend to look for books that are unique and offer the reader a story that you can really get your teeth into. This new book by Ashley Warlick is the perfect example of an in depth love story before its time. I was pleased to be asked to review a copy.
THE ARRANGEMENT by Ashley Warlick
Publisher: Viking (February 9, 2016)
ISBN-13: 978-0525429661
She’d made it sound as though her husband would be joining them for dinner. She’d made it sound that way on purpose, and then she arrived alone.
Los Angeles, 1934. Mary Frances is young, restlessly married, and returning from her first sojourn in France. She is hungry, and not just for food: she wants Tim, her husband Al’s charming friend, who encourages her writing and seems to understand her better than anyone. After a night’s transgression, it’s only a matter of time before Mary Frances claims what she truly desires, plunging all three of them into a tangled triangle of affection that will have far-reaching effects on their families, their careers, and their lives.
Set in California, France, and the Swiss Alps, The Arrangement is a sparkling, sensual novel that explores the complexities of a marriage and the many different ways in which we love. Writing at the top of her game, Ashley Warlick gives us a completely mesmerizing story about a woman well ahead of her time, who would go on to become the legendary food writer M. F. K. Fisher.
My Thoughts:
There seems to be interesting trend in writing about real life characters but in a fictional setting. This new book takes creative license with M.F.K. Fisher and brings you into the story about her love for husband’s best friend and her torn feelings about the need to care for her husband.
A little shocking for the time, this book explores the love M.F.K. Fisher and Tim had for each other even though they’re both married to other people. A story before their time, the bravery she dealt with, and the love and passion she realized she needed in her life. You also feel the ramifications this love and given the fact that her husband Al is withdrawing from their relationship, you cannot help but want to cheer her on.
The author has a wonderful way with prose. You can definitely sink into a comfy chair and read this for hours. A love story for the ages.
Hi! I’m Chris! Just a Midlife Wife sharing about life’s journey; screaming and kicking through it while supposedly aging gracefully…
Focusing on healthy living, low carb & keto, things I am loving right now, and life in general.