Thirty-something Anne Blythe is living the American dream. With a close circle of friends, a supportive family, and the impending sale of her first novel, Anne is truly lucky. Yet despite all of her successes, something is missing in her life... the right man. Regrettably, she keeps falling for the wrong kind of guy. On the verge of her latest break-up, she is beginning to doubt if she'll ever find Mr. Right.

Things go from bad to worse for Anne when her best friend Sarah announces her engagement. Of course she is happy for her dear friend; however, it just makes Anne feel even more upset about her situation or lack thereof. As luck would have it, on her way home one day she happens to find a business card on the street bearing her name, Blythe and Company. Thinking it's a dating service, she makes an appointment in hopes of finding her match.

As is typical in Anne's not so ordinary life, Blythe and Company is not a dating service. Rather, this posh company is a provider of arranged marriages. With a steep fee and a barrage of interview questions, the company promises to find her the perfect man. Thinking she has exhausted all of her options, Anne decides to take a chance and signs up for their services. A few months later, she is on a plane to Mexico to meet her future husband.

ARRANGED is the second novel by Canadian writer Catherine McKenzie. Like her debut release Spin, her latest endeavor is just as captivating. What I like best about her writing is the raw vulnerability she exposes in each of her characters. Her choice of topics is off the beaten path making her books fresh and addictive. Rather than stick to the typical romance formula, she dares to shake things up a bit and delivers an unforgettable story worth every last cent.

Book Summary

Anne Blythe has a great life: a good job, close friends, and a potential book deal for her first novel. When it comes to finding someone to share her life with, however, she just can't seem to get it right. When her latest relationship implodes, and her best friend announces she's engaged, Anne impulsively calls what she thinks is a dating service—only to discover that it's actually an exclusive, and pricey, arranged marriage service. Anne initially rejects the idea, but the more she learns about the service, the more she thinks: Why not? After all, arranged marriages are the norm for millions of women around the world; maybe it could work for her.

A few months later, Anne is traveling to a Mexican resort, where, over the course of a weekend, she meets and then marries Jack. And initially, everything seems to be working out. . . .