Ultra Meital Reviews: Arrange Us (The Arranged Duo, #2) by Katy Regnery

I've written a review and decided to change it up completely.. So if you've been here and it suddenly looks different, yep there's a reason for it. I'm known as being totally and absolutely blunt yet I HATE being unnecessarily mean so I hope you'll take my review as my PERSONAL opinion and nothing else. This book rubbed me the wrong way as it deals with a subject I feel STRONGLY about and though I've love SO MANY of Katy's books (I've read them ALL) this one in my personal opinion is HORRIBLE in the way it glorifies deception when it's for the "right" reasons (that's all I'm willing to say while staying spoiler free..).

While I had my issues with the previous installment, it was mostly "personal taste" and though I wasn't pleased I accepted Courtney's decisions as her own, even if I HIGHLY disagreed with most of them if not ALL of them. A lot of people found the story to be quite unique and REALLY enjoyed it. I guess I'm too "modern" in my thinking to romanticize arranged marriages (the problems Courtney and Josh dealt with in this one were EXACTLY why I thought it was a bad idea from the start... just saying..).

For me this one was absolutely NOT A ROMANCE NOVEL. To say I disliked this book would be an understatement. I was RAVING MAD most of the book. I highlighted like crazy all those HORRIBLE thoughts and discussions between Courtney and Josh that showed how this is NOT WORKING and for good reasons. I was truly WAITING for them to break up because I think it would have been the best solution as they are CLEARLY not looking for the same things in life (though the sex is great..).

I actually haven't even finished reading the whole thing.. I've read 95% - leaving out the Epilogue - as I just didn't want to read them "finding HEA" as it would have been a total unbelievable lie the way I see it. I don't think these two CAN have a happy life together with a shattered foundation filled with selfishness, lies and deception. There is no trust, no respect. So how could there be ANY future?

I know I haven't really written anything about the plot and I'm not going to.. instead I'll add a pretty line and after it I'm going to ramble with EXACTLY what made me so mad. It's going to be long, it's going to contain HUGE spoilers so be advised..

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What does consent means? Is it something that we can chose to give or take if it's REALLY important to us. If a guy REALLY wants kids is he allowed to rape his wife? Wait, but if a woman really wants kids is SHE allowed to trick her spouse into having a kid he doesn't want?

What's the difference? Is it the rape itself? Let's say the guy DIDN'T rape the woman but he gave her "placebo" pills so the sexual act WAS consensual but the conceiving of the kid sort of wasn't.. So is what he did okay? He DECEIVED her yet it was for a "great cause" / something that meant the WORLD to him. he just CHOSE not to discuss the matter with his significant other and trick her into dealing with something she was unready or unwilling to do. Yeah, there is always abortion. Right?

Well.. if you trick your significant other into thinking everything is simply great and nothing is going on, then tell him when it's impossible to extremely complected to have the abortion you basically RAPED YOUR SPOUSE so you can have the baby you wanted.

So for the fun of it, let's play a game. How much of a say a girl has over guy for having kids? Is it 100% woman, 0% man? Isn't it a "bit" unconsentual to look at it this way? Even if you say 90% - 10% I'll somewhat accept but MAKING someone a father without the simplest discussing over it is nothing else than RAPE.

As a woman I'm the first to admit I don't actually want to have kids. I don't mind going out / being with someone who already has kids but if he wants more kids - from me - he will know right from the start it's not something I want so if I DO get pregnant he'll already know I DON'T want the kid and would probably get an abortion. PROBABLY. That's an important word.

If I date someone who I love and adore, the kind I want to spend the rest of my life with and I get pregnant we'll HAVE to TALK about it. I'll say listen, you know I don't want it - I want to have an abortion. He will say his part whatever it is.. and you know what? I MIGHT CHANGE MY MIND. I don't hate kids, don't have anything against them but it's simply something I don't see myself having personally. But for someone special who REALLY wants the child I'm willing to have an adult conversation about it because it's MY body but it's HIS kid as well.

Except for REAL rape I don't see ANY reason to lead a guy on and NOT tell him you got pregnant from him. He is going to be a father, first he should know - as soon as possible. There are many decisions to make during and surely after the pregnancy, the guy SHOULD have a say about it. It's not "worth the discussion" it's a MUST to have it in the first place regardless if he's going to stay in the picture or not. Naturally if the woman decides she wants an abortion it's HER decision as it's HER body, but if she decides to HAVE the kid she isn't alone in this show anymore..

No matter what - the important thing as I see it - a kid is conceived from two people. There are two people here that are involved. It's not just about the woman because she is carrying the kid. because in 9 months she won't be anymore and the father would still be the father till the end of his life.

There is NO excuse for Courtney's actions. If I was Josh I would feel more than betrayed. I would have divorced her (with all the love for her). This is NOT the way to treat your significant other. If she can lie about THAT she can lie about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING and it also shows she sees that his opinion means ZERO in their relationship. I DO think he should and would be a part of the baby's life but not as Courtney's husband.

I've read reviews saying "he should have groveled more" and I was truly baffled. REALLY? HE was the one who PLAYED Courtney? NO. He was USED by her. her conversation with her friend from college should have showed her how WRONG SHE WAS. How much she has TAKEN from him. I get she forgot the pills at home. No problem. Talk to Josh and tell him - listen, I'm sorry, but we'll have to use condoms this weekend.. Be FRANK with him, he deserves it. Don't lie to him and keep lying to him then give him an ultimatum - either you are WITH me (and the baby) or not (and I'll be raising the kid without you).

I was APPALLED by her behavior. I think he would be better off with Sammy (his ex). At least she called him RIGHT AFTER she cheated on him.. Unlike Courtney who thought she could HIDE a pregnancy from him and then be "accepting" if she "has" to throw him and their relationship out the window if he is somewhat reluctant about her pregnancy. Jesus girl, maybe give him like, more than 10 minutes to come to terms with what you just said? and maybe give him a chance to actually SAY what HE is thinking and ACCEPT his opinion instead of deeming it IRRELEVANT if it's not what YOU had in mind?

I'm sorry Katy for this review but I'm REALLY ANGRY. This was suppose to be a ROMANCE novel. It was a testament to EVERYTHING that is WRONG with women who TRULY BELIEVE men have NO SAY in having (or not having) kids. In my personal opinion women who accept Courtney's behavior as legitimate should also feel the same about being raped. CONSENT IS NEVER ONE-SIDED.