Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Private Arrangements

by Sherry Thomas (Goodreads Author)

3.81 of 5 stars 3.81 · rating details · 2,250 ratings · 317 reviews

Love has designs of its own.…

To all of London society, Lord and Lady Tremaine had the ideal arrangement: a marriage based on civility, courteousness, and freedom—by all accounts, a perfect marriage. The reason? For the last ten years, husband and wife have resided on separate continents.

But once upon a time, things were quite different for the Tremaines….When Gigi Rowland...more

ebook, 0 pages

Published March 25th 2008 by Bantam (first published 2008)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen

I have Loved you for years....

91st out of 95 books — 21 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Mar 10, 2011 KatLynne rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: g-historical-romance, kindle-lendable, hero-virgin, mild-steam, 2011-reads

3.5 Stars
My first book by Sherry Thomas. It is very well written and includes "flashbacks" that enhanced my reading pleasure. I enjoyed the secondary love story and liked both the hero, Camden and heroine, Gigi Rowland.

It's definitely a good book and well worth the read. I look forward to reading more by this author.

like 11 likes · see review

Sep 21, 2012 Rachel (BAVR) rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: buddy-read, angst-city, blame-bavr, boring, brooding-mcbroody-hero, constanticrap, historical-romance, hr-challenge-to-finish, screw-this-world, too-wtf-to-resist, victorian-romance, virgin-heroine, when-stupid-things-are-stupid, worst-person-ever-hero

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Warning: GIFs and major spoilers ahead!

Private Arrangements is the tedious story of horrible people being horrible to each other in horrible circumstances. After reading Sherry Thomas's Ravishing the Heiress, I figured that wangst was her schtick. I hate wangst. I'd rather read about things happening than about people complaining all the time. But since Sherry Thomas has so many glowing reviews, I thought, "Well, maybe some of her wangst is more tolerable than the wangst I just read. Everyone de...more

like 22 likes · see review

Dec 23, 2012 Kinga rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sexy-and-lovely, special-place-in-my-heart

This is the best historical romance novel I have read in my entire life ever. If all historical romances were like this one I would just apply for an unemployment benefit, sit at home and read them all day every day. I wouldn’t even have showers. And I’d only eat what hungryhouse.co.uk can deliver to my door. I really would need nothing else in my life, so maybe it’s a good thing not all historical romance novels are like this one.

If you are to read only one historical romance, because, I don’t...more

like 13 likes · see review

Dec 28, 2008 new_user rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of understated romance, reunion romance

Shelves: historical

Jane Feather called this book, "enchanting...An extraordinary, unputdownable love story." You would think a fellow author could conjure up better praise than "unputdownable," but Mary Balogh puts it better. She calls Private Arrangements "a love story of remarkable depth," and that's certainly true.

In fact, the first half of Private Arrangements reads very much like a beautiful, artistic indie film. The first moments glimpsed between Gigi and Camden are intimate and sweet and summon a tone of ma...more Jane Feather called this book, "enchanting...An extraordinary, unputdownable love story." You would think a fellow author could conjure up better praise than "unputdownable," but Mary Balogh puts it better. She calls Private Arrangements "a love story of remarkable depth," and that's certainly true.

In fact, the first half of Private Arrangements reads very much like a beautiful, artistic indie film. The first moments glimpsed between Gigi and Camden are intimate and sweet and summon a tone of magic. From the moment these two meet we feel the impression that they are soulmates, the kind of kindred spirits who finish each other's sentences and share silent exchanges. Sherry Thomas skillfully conveys their bond by capturing the real life nuances between a man and a woman, the instant connection that a man and a woman feel when they can share a joke in a glance. The silences are as telling as the words. This act in the story is possibly the most romantic I've seen in a romance. So I loved these flashes back. They're integral to the rest of the story, and they were placed ideally in the book to describe current events. (Don't worry, the flashbacks stop, they're not endless, LOL.)

So it's all the more tragic when that communion is shattered. Both parties are to blame, but when we see, as we must, the sad straits to which the Tremaines come, two people once in love now unable to stop hurting each other, we feel the pain that Gigi and Camden must feel.

Again, the author is brilliant at proving all her claims (aka "showing"). Gigi is meant to be intelligent and strong, and we see this in her actions and words, in the vulnerable heart of her that she protects so carefully. She is a real woman that we have all met at one point, not a manufactured heroine too stubborn or stupid to live or ridiculously naive. She is a proud woman, at once her strength and weakness. Likewise, we come to know Camden with his intelligence and calm, his humility and humor, his quiet dignity and strength. He's not arrogant or overbearing (though he can surely be aggressive/firm when the needs calls for it) and not led by the nose into the heroine's tricks or drama. At one point, he even makes light of a man flying into a jealous rage when a rival for the heroine's attentions is dangled before him-- which I found amusing, because we all have seen that device in historical romance. He is a very real hero, whom we probably all have met at one point or another. He makes mistakes and despite himself he's not invulnerable, though he's not a rake or resistant to love for the sake of resistance. Their histories have made the characters who they are, and they are not overdramatic or contrived.

The ice between Camden and Gigi, the cold, polite relationship is Victorian British to the core and the barbs traded between them intelligent and biting. This is the first time I've seen this done right. This is the cut direct delivered with a smile, but the book is prevented from becoming too bleak or depressing because not only we do read about the longing and undying attraction, despite all, between these two, but we're promised an end in sight, a HEA.

Needless to say, Thomas has done her research-- if you need proof, she drops a paragraph on the economics of the times, the only point in the novel where she reveals her research outright. She also roots us in the period with little windows into the time in a way that we can relate. We read a telegram from Camden to his mother-in-law, and it is as long-suffering as any modern man could be. At another point, instead of a description, we read a building plaque directly, Thomas illustrating the story herself.

However, she remains firmly in the period. I particularly like that she doesn't try to make Gigi a modern woman from 2008 suffering the 1800s. In fact, Camden even looks back at medieval times as we would his time, saying something along the lines of, "Too bad we've made so much progress." That was a brilliant touch. Gigi exploits her advantages as much as he. Thomas also reminds us that the Victorians were human. Many authors research the strict accepted social norms of the times, but few realize they were flaunted just as the norms of today are. They laughed, they loved. Oscar Wilde would have approved.

Thomas' style is another point in favor. She has a very elegant, spare style that suits the story far better than the purple prose we often find in romance. She is concise without verging into colloquial or informal, she's succinct in the way that Hemingway was, never too wordy. I also loved her physical descriptions of the characters because instead of using vague descriptors like "deep-set eyes" or a "bright eyes," she tells us a character has a chin like "Michelangelo's David" and we immediately have a concrete visual. She writes clever dialogue too, if I haven't mentioned that yet, that modern readers can understand without feeling dumbed down or too anachronistic.

As for the plot, this is a relationship drama. There is no suspense or action to power the plot, but Thomas makes smashing-good drama of these characters' lives. The book is emotional not because of any manufactured devices, but because of the real pains that these characters suffer, the depths to which they plumb the human character when they're breaking up, when they're loving, hurting, parting, all of it, almost like Susan Wiggs if she wrote historical.

In short, Thomas brings subtlety, a touch of realism, and human drama back into romance. She's a breath of fresh air in the romance genre, and I just hope I enjoy her next book as much.

I should also mention that there's a current of heated tension between Gigi and Camden. However, while there are bedroom scenes, they are short and sensual. They are definitely not pages long, but enough details are conveyed to move the story as they are meant to do (and satisfy most readers, LOL). ;)(less)

like 38 likes · see review

May 29, 2010 FlibBityFLooB rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: era-victorian, historical, coercion-blackmail, read-in-2009, witty-i-am-not, infidelity-cheating

4.5/5 stars. Have you ever read a book where you hoped for a melancholy ending? Not that I wanted an unhappy story, but something in tune with the rest of the book. This book started out as a tragic comedy of bad-timing, misunderstandings, and deception. It was a tale of a woman who deceived a man into marriage, only to find him gone for the next 10 years out of anger.

The book was witty and quite good. I loved the author's humor whenever Lord Frederick was compared to the dessert-du-jour. I beli...more

like 3 likes · see review

Sep 29, 2010 Quinn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library-book, regency-victorian-romance, aar-top-100-2010, favourites, i-own

This is not your typical Regency/Victorian romance, and it will not appeal to all readers of this genre.

It is not a heart-warming story of two people falling in love and making a life together, but rather a story of the devastation that can occur when the happily-ever-after is shattered and seems forever out of reach.

Gigi Rowland is young, rich and uncompromising. Her experience with fortune-hunters, coupled with her mother's unswerving determination to see her marry a duke, has left her pragmat...more

like 21 likes · see review

Jun 02, 2011 .þµŋψà. [Punya Reviews...] rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sherry-thomas, favorites, brilliant-cover, virgin-hero-what-is-that, oh-honey-shag-me-silly

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book. This one's got 2 parts.

So, already finished reading 17 chapters of the book. Yah, I have, I'm gulping it down. And, how do I feel about it? Amazing in one word! The book is a revelation and so is Sherry Thomas. And, here I am, her newest fan. I love her writing style, her narrative's so flowing, so thoughtfully structured, I never quite felt I'm reading someone's debut novel. I've done my MA in Literature, so I k...more

like 3 likes · see review

Sep 27, 2010 Bekah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010-reads, ebook-copy

I LOVED this book. It made you feel so much. These two people just loved each other so much you just wanted to yell at them to admit it to each other already! But at the same time you understood the reasons behind the hurt. I was really sucked in to the story and the characters and I really just loved the book. The only complaint I would have is that I'm not fond of secondary romances taking up so much of the book, however this one wasn't that bad at all. It's just that it came in whole chapters...more

like 2 likes · see review

Oct 14, 2010 Lady Rutledge rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, my-first-book-of, widow, admire-this-heroine, married-no-love

I like it! This is my first book of Sherry Thomas, and it made me curious about her other books. For an author which English is their 2nd language, it's really great!

When the other historical romance talk about the beginning of a relationship (the first step), for me this book tells the next step (2nd step) of a married couple. How they realize the problem between them, and try to get over it. Then they found that the love is never gone. So, don't blame 'fate' today.

The hero here, Camden is just...more

like 2 likes · see review

Sep 18, 2010 Katherine St. Vincent rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

Menurut saya, ini sih namanya selingkuh sama suami sendiri. LOL. Kesalahan mrk sendiri yg menyebabkan penyia-nyiaan 10 tahun. Mereka berdua sama-sama plin-plan. Yg bagus dari ini novel adalah kedua belah pihak berusaha membangun kembali relationship mrk yg sudah rusak parah dan menyadari kesalahan masing-masing.
Salut kpd Sherry Thomas dgn penggambaran kalimat-kalimatnya yg walaupun sering hiperbola namun sungguh menggambarkan kekacauan dari novel ini.
Banyak yg bisa dipelajari dari novel ini. Umu...more

like 2 likes · see review

Oct 23, 2010 Beth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, bodice-rippers, read-in-2009, romance

Holy crap, I could not put this down. It's the story of a married couple that has lived apart for 10 years, and when the wife wants to get a divorce, her husband says he will grant it if she gives him an heir (this is 1893 England). It had the right amount of sluttiness without going over the top. Plus, I like how the author incorporated the mystery of why Camden and Gigi broke up -- I was glued to the pages. It was worth a Saturday in bed!

like 2 likes · see review

Aug 25, 2012 Victoria Vane rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

While struggling with my current "work in progress" which is as much of a prequel as a sequel to THE HIGHEST STAKES, I asked a friend if she had read any really good novels that employed flashbacks to tell the backstory story.

She recommended Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas, which I immediately ordered. It arrived yesterday and I finished it late last night in a solitary sitting. It was incredible! I won't go into any plot details but just offer my overall impression.

I loved her employment...more

like 3 likes · see review

Apr 24, 2011 Adi (Reading in the Windowseat) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-read-list, genre-regency, class-adult, genre-romance, lovehate-lovesong

Very unique and dramatic.

This book was unlike any of the other regency/Victorian age books I've read. The plot was uniquely woven and intriguing, with mysteries and drama and a good doze of potent angst, but also sweet in the right places. The characters were well-structured and well-flawed, otherwise said - real and believable. The main hero and heroine were supported by an enthralling array of other men and women, complicated and deep in their own right.

The love story was so very real. It grew...more

like 1 like · see review

Apr 20, 2010 Hortencia rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: author-thomas-s

I have mixed feelings about this one. I couldn't warm to the two main characters, Lord and Lady Tremaine, not in their past incarnation, not in their present one. And yet I liked the fact that these people, as well as other characters in the book (including poor Freddy, who seemed blind to Gigi's real character), acted in a very human, flawed manner, from the Lady who deceived her husband, to the ambitious mother who tried to lure the Duke into an acquaintance, to the Lord who treated his wife d...more

like 1 like · see review

Aug 12, 2008 Hirondelle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, don´t-own

It´s August. Half the country is on holiday and the other half is feeling sorry for themselves and pretending they are on holiday. That is probably the reason I am really craving some good romance novels. I gave a few tries to a few things which are just too hatefully bad to mention here ( forgetfulness is the best course for feelings of being suffocated by gigantic pink cotton candy. Artificially strawberry flavoured cotton candy. Very badly written. This genre can be so dangerous sometimes) bu...more

like 2 likes · see review

Apr 09, 2008 Kaelie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Kaelie by: Elizabeth

This was recommended by a friend who generally dislikes romance novels, but loved this book, and I also enjoyed it. This is not your usual romance boilerplate, and bravo to the author for that. The main character, Gigi, is deceptive and coldly ambitious, and the man, Camden, is self-righteous and obsessive. But somehow these people are still interesting and winning, as are the surrounding characters, and the plot and historical details are very fine. Often moving, often hilarious, this was a ver...more

like 3 likes · see review

Sep 22, 2012 Naima rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"Accordi privati" �� il vero, azzeccato titolo di questo libro, tradotto invece infelicemente in Italiano (e non �� l'unica pecca della traduzione ahim��!). Questo romance �� diverso dal solito: la protagonista femminile �� orgogliosa e spietata ed il protagonista maschile �� insieme sensibile, crudele e tormentato. Non c�� il destino a dividerli, ma terribili errori che hanno commesso, dettati dal disperato sentimento che li lega. La trama �� piuttosto realistica e cos�� anche l��atteggiame...more

like · see review

Apr 12, 2013 Miraphora rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance-storico

Come creare dipendenza. La Leggereditore dovrebbe scriverci un manuale: "Come indottrinare decine e decine di lettrici, proponendo romanzi che danno dipendenza". Farebbero soldoni. Insomma, parliamoci chiaro, ormai devo girare alla larga dal sito della Leggere perché ogni volta scopro che sta per uscire un romanzo che mi intriga. Finisco sempre per prenderlo e poi - aimé - mi piace pure. Dico aimé perchè così sono ben disposta nei confronti dell'editore e delle sue proposte. La mia colpa è quell...more Come creare dipendenza. La Leggereditore dovrebbe scriverci un manuale: "Come indottrinare decine e decine di lettrici, proponendo romanzi che danno dipendenza". Farebbero soldoni. Insomma, parliamoci chiaro, ormai devo girare alla larga dal sito della Leggere perché ogni volta scopro che sta per uscire un romanzo che mi intriga. Finisco sempre per prenderlo e poi - aimé - mi piace pure. Dico aimé perchè così sono ben disposta nei confronti dell'editore e delle sue proposte. La mia colpa è quella di cedere, ogni volta, appena scopro le novità. Anche in questo caso la mia resistenza è stata nulla: il libro era così acclamato che non poteva passare inosservato, in più lo avevo letto anni fa in inglese...ero spacciata. L'ho preso, ma ho aspettato qualche tempo prima di leggerlo. Quanto mai. La storia si è insediata subdolamente nel mio subconscio e, dopo il primo capitolo, non sono più riuscita a metterlo giù. Maledetta la Thomas e il suo stile. Eh sì, non è stata la trama, quanto il modo in cui viene narrata a tramortirmi. L'autrice è brava, sa scrivere, sa creare tensione ma soprattutto sa usare le parole nella formazione di una storia semplice quanto particolare. I romance, di solito, hanno protagonisti che 1) si conoscono ma non stanno assiem o 2) non si conoscono: qua abbiamo una coppia - addirittura - già sposata! L'ammore è nato nel passato, si è consumato nel passato e nel presente c'è solo un matrimonio di facciata e un sacco di tensione. Queste sono le trame che mi intrigano di più, perché partono da una situazione 'difficile' che stimola quella parte masochista della nostra personalità. La protagonista è forte e indipendente, certo, ma è soprattutto una donna che soffre per la sua situazione. Il marito, che amava, l'ha mollata come una patata bollente subito dopo la cerimonia per una questione di 'poca chiarezza' che ha rovinato il sentimento. Il marito, il protagonista, è un uomo tutto d'un pezzo di quelli che dici 'marrrrrooooo' perchè ti stordisce con la sua freddezza ma poi ti scioglie con il suo saper trovare un punto d'incontro. Per la serie 'sei stata una carogna, ma io non ero da meno quindi facciamo pace'. Ci piace, ci piace assai. La storia si delinea in modo fluido, senza fronzoli inutili, senza pause o momenti morti, con pochi personaggi secondari - ma quei pochi sono molto buoni - e nessun giallo/mistero di sorta, thank God. Mi ha lasciata un pò indifferente il cosidetto happy ending, perché ho trovato più gustosa tutta la parte precedente...mi piace soffrire, che vi posso dire. Insomma...5 stelline, che non davo da tempo, perché me lo sono divorato e non ho avuto problemi di digestione. Bello nella sua semplicità, cosa che purtroppo manca nelle librerie. Tutti tendono a sovracaricare le trame, quando basta veramente poco per appassionare un lettore.(less)

like · see review

Feb 16, 2013 Vmontgzz rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Un libro muy diferente me gusto mucho aunque no es lo que me gustaria leer siempre, demasiados nudos en la garganta y esas sensaciones que se asocian con la emociones para mi gusto, pero esta muy bien para cambiar lo que acostumbro leer.

No se me paso el leve parecido con Duquesa Enamorada de Eloisa James, desde la premisa de la historia hasta los nombres de los personajes, los protagonistas masculinos comparten el nombre Camdem y ellas pues casi porque una es Gina y la otra Gigi.

Respecto a la re...more

like · see review

Feb 03, 2013 La Mala rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Tengo la teoría , forjada tras años de leer romances históricos , de que la gran mayoría de las autoras del género son fieles fanáticas de "Lo que el viento se llevó" . Aman tanto el libro , les angustia tanto el final , que hoy , en todos sus escritos deciden hacer una suerte de fanfic anual para darle a Rhett y Scarlett el final que nunca pudieron tener (y que supongo ,todos queríamos) .

Este libro no es la excepción .

Hay una Scarlett , hay una Melanie y hay un ASHLEY que después se convierte...more

like · see review

Dec 16, 2012 Spanglemaker9 rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: period-romance

I bought this as soon as I finished Not Quite a Husband because I wanted more messed up characters, more angst, more of what I found in the first and I wasn't disappointed!

What I like best about Thomas's writing is that her characters, even while magnetic and interesting, are a long way from perfect. I read romance novels, so I have nothing against a strong, handsome, forthright perfect leading man. But I also like them flawed, with very human weak spots that they fall prey to. Likewise, strong,...more I bought this as soon as I finished Not Quite a Husband because I wanted more messed up characters, more angst, more of what I found in the first and I wasn't disappointed!

What I like best about Thomas's writing is that her characters, even while magnetic and interesting, are a long way from perfect. I read romance novels, so I have nothing against a strong, handsome, forthright perfect leading man. But I also like them flawed, with very human weak spots that they fall prey to. Likewise, strong, kind, lovely leading ladies are all well and good, but honestly, I had a lot more fun reading about Gigi. Brash, smart, self-reliant and unsentimental. Falling in love was not on her radar and she's completely unprepared for it when it happens. Unfortunately for her, she approaches obstacles in love the same way she approaches all other obstacles in her life: take no prisoners. She makes a mistake, one that seems fatal for her marriage, and TEN YEARS go by when they don't see or speak to each other.

That set up has all the angst potential an emotional masochist like me could ever hope for. I think what I like best about Thomas's books (the two I've read) is that even when the relationship is slowly being repaired and the lovers are finding their way back to each other, they're not transforming into perfect people. Gigi and Camden are still the same people at the end of this book that they were at the beginning. They just learned to love each other AND those perceived flaws. Also, both character's "weaknesses" turned out to be strengths in different contexts.

Another thing I appreciate about her books are the slight changes in locales, periods, and nobility. This wasn't Regency (I love Regency, but every single book is set then now). And Camden wasn't an English Duke, his title dates back to the Holy Roman Empire. It led to some refreshing changes in the usual scenarios.

I can't say enough good things about her writing. She's my new current favorite and I hope she comes back from her historical romance hiatus and writes us a million more books. I'll read them all.(less)

like · see review

Aug 21, 2012 Yellow Rose rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The story is about Camden and Gigi, they have been married for a while and Camden left Gigi right after the wedding night. Therefore, for 10 plus years they lived separately. Camden lived in the states while Gigi stayed in England. I liked how the author went back and forth in time, to explain what had happened before the wedding to cause the split, and also show what is happening currently. Camden comes back with a request; he will grant Gigi a divorce if she produces a heir. Now we are suppose...more

like · see review

Jul 29, 2012 Michelle Robinson rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: wallbangers

What I could not get past with this book was total willingness to get a divorce at a time in history when it was still considered a great taboo to divorce.
I did not care for the author's attempt to justify and excuse inexcusable behavior on the part of Gigi. A person willing to lie scheme and manipulate to gain her goal is pretty much an antihero that I am sure many people are interested in reading about. I like flawed characters but she never seemed to really feel badly about what she had done...more What I could not get past with this book was total willingness to get a divorce at a time in history when it was still considered a great taboo to divorce.
I did not care for the author's attempt to justify and excuse inexcusable behavior on the part of Gigi. A person willing to lie scheme and manipulate to gain her goal is pretty much an antihero that I am sure many people are interested in reading about. I like flawed characters but she never seemed to really feel badly about what she had done and basically blamed him for not accepting what she had done and just moving forward.

I also really disliked this idea that her husband would come back after such a long absence and bargain with her by offering to give her divorce if she would give him a child. This made no sense to me for many reasons. If they actually had a child,complications would be innumerable. She would n to likely want to leave the child with him. I also could not believe that any woman would so willingly or quickly fall into bed with someone they had not seen in 10 years, even when she did not expect to get pregnant. Ugh
I thought both of them were really unlikable people. He with his propositions and she with her obvious continuing inability to be honest.

I am sure there are reasons to love this book but I cannot get past the issues that I have with the whole divorce. I also just did not care for these people. Even if it was easier to divorce by this time in history, I do not believe many would be as cavalier about it as Gigi seems. I the divorce would have social stigma and consequences that we are asked to believe she was not at all concerned about the same can be said about the man she hopes to marry. I don't ever remember reading of his concerns for what marrying a divorced woman, at this time in history could mean for him.

I think I have read other things by this author. I will try her again but this falls into the category of one of my least favorite books ever. Had it been set in a different time period I probably would have disliked it a little less.(less)

like 2 likes · see review

Jul 28, 2012 Limau Nipis rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-books-save-trees, 2012-reads, historical-romance

This is my first read by Sherry Thomas,who is a Chinese American, btw (what a nice surprise), because from this book alone, we know she did her research well, especially on the economies of British and America at that particular time.

I expected the usual fare of historical romance plot, but boy, how wrong I was! This book truly sizzles from the start and it has strong plot with strong hero and heroine to boot.

The low rating for this book, I think, must be contributed to the fact that most heroin...more

like · see review

Jul 18, 2012 Montse rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Montse by: Kath S

Shelves: favorites

Me gustó mucho el libro en general...

Los primero 25 capítulos, fueron lo máximo, me mantenían al borde de la desesperación jajaja me hicieron sufrir, lloré pataleé quise pegarle a los protagonistas, suspiré...

Fue triste, desesperante y aveces desilusionador, constantemente me encontraba esperando el peor de los desenlaces (no sería el primero con el que pasa). Me transmitió de todo y me encantó.

Amé toda la angustia que me hizo pasar!!!<3<3<3

Ahora, están los capis restantes, que no son m...more

like · see review

Jul 12, 2012 Felita rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, adult

komen :

# pengen deh punya karakter "pintar" seperti gigy. dididik sang ibu u/ jadi duchess mendorong gigy mencari calon suami bangsawan sementara dia menawarkan mas kawin yg besar. stlh pilihan pertamanya gagal dimana sang calon mati konyol, pilihan jatuh ke sepupu sang mendiang calon. gigy menemukan kesamaan dlm diri camden, sayang camden sdh berjanji menikah dg perempuan yg menurut gigy ga banget. jadinya, gigy "menipu" camden. walopun hati nuraninya memberontak, gigy tetap melanjutkan aksiny...more

like · see review

Mar 07, 2012 J rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: hero-cold-reticent, hero-duke, heroine-i-like, heroine-heiress, heroine-intelligent, hh-cheating-infidelity, hh-separated, romance-historical, hero-honorable, second-romance-amazing, i-laughed

Gigi is a wealthy heiress who unfortunately comes from new money. Past experiences with fortune hunters have made her ruthless in getting what she wants. Camden is an impoverished heir to a dukedom and has pledged his love to someone else. Gigi proceeds to make a set of decisions so Camden will marry her, and in the process she ruins whatever feelings he had for her. This begins a 10 year estrangement. At the beginning of the novel, Gigi has petitioned Camden for a divorce in order to marry some...more Gigi is a wealthy heiress who unfortunately comes from new money. Past experiences with fortune hunters have made her ruthless in getting what she wants. Camden is an impoverished heir to a dukedom and has pledged his love to someone else. Gigi proceeds to make a set of decisions so Camden will marry her, and in the process she ruins whatever feelings he had for her. This begins a 10 year estrangement. At the beginning of the novel, Gigi has petitioned Camden for a divorce in order to marry someone else.

I definitely enjoyed this book. However, I find it really difficult to review - mostly because everything I liked about the book I also hated. I'm really conflicted.

1) I don't like it when people cheat. Does it make it better that neither one of them cheated until they thought the other did? That being said, Gigi is no typical historical romance simpering miss and I love that about her. She's direct, sensual, and she doesn't apologize for it.

2) I'm not sure I believe that they were in love. The sexual tension between them was definitely smoking and I absolutely loved the characters, especially Gigi, but the author tended to only mention their physical attraction so it was difficult to perceive anything more. Actually, wait I'm going to revise that. It's not that I don't believe the characters were right for each - I do. Only a strong intelligent male would have been able to match well with Gigi, but each character's point of view seemed to focus on how hot the sex was. This left me wanting more.

3) I really liked the secondary romance. Which is weird, I usually hate it when an author takes away from the hero/heroine, but I liked those characters a lot too.

4) Camden was so courteous sometimes, it was down right hilarious. I laughed out loud. My cat ran from me frightened.

(view spoiler)

In the end, I'm giving this 5 (4.5?) stars, because I did love the characters so much. I really wanted them both to be happy, I was just pretty pissed at the decisions they made. This was also the first book I've read by Sherry Thomas. I'll definitely check out her other books.
(less)

like · see review

Dec 06, 2011 Sahana D rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

god.. i really didn't like the hero at all. the "huge mistake" the heroine made wasn't really that terrible. most definitely not worth 10 years of separation.

i loved the heroine, she was a realist and still willing to take outrageous risks for her love. she faced terrible rejection for years, yet didnt give up trying. she was charismatic, and honestly the only reason i bothered to keep reading. she was TOO GOOD for the hero.

the hero sat on his ass and never acted on his feelings- which left bo...more

like 1 like · see review

Sep 12, 2011 Bethany rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, historical, romance

After my grim weekend reading, I rewarded myself with this, a beautifully fluffy romance, set near the end of Victorian Era. And it was seriously delightful. Lord and Lady Tremaine have been married for ten years, and they've gone nearly the entire decade without setting foot in the same city. It has seemed, to many, to be quite the perfect marriage. But now Lady Tremaine has petitioned for divorce, and Lord Tremaine is back, in London, in her home, and even in her bed.

I've never read a better...more

like · see review

Aug 01, 2011 Madame X rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

I should probably give this book five stars, because it's that good. I'm knocking it down a star because it's a romance novel and it really depressed me. Sherry Thomas is an amazing writer, which is, basically, the problem. She made the characters of Gigi and Camden so real for me, and their pain so vivid, that reading the book was kind of like walking on a bed of nails.

We have two stories here. There's the story of Gigi and Camden's young romance, which starts out sweet and breathless and wond...more I should probably give this book five stars, because it's that good. I'm knocking it down a star because it's a romance novel and it really depressed me. Sherry Thomas is an amazing writer, which is, basically, the problem. She made the characters of Gigi and Camden so real for me, and their pain so vivid, that reading the book was kind of like walking on a bed of nails.

We have two stories here. There's the story of Gigi and Camden's young romance, which starts out sweet and breathless and wonderful. I really believed, as I read these flashback scenes, that Gigi and Camden were meant for one another, a perfect match.

But the flashback story is interwoven with the present-day story, so we know from the get-go that something very, very bad is going to happen. Present-day Camden and Gigi aren't just distant, they're cold and cruel with one another. We know that Gigi wants a divorce, and Camden agrees to grant the divorce if she'll give him a year to impregnate her. That could go a lot of ways; in most romance novels, Camden and Gigi would probably have blazing hot sex that quickly develops elements of sweetness and tenderness, and then the good feelings would gradually spread to the rest of their relationship. PRIVATE ARRANGEMENTS is not most romance novels. For example - when discussing the prospect of having sex with Gigi, Camden tells her flat out that he finds sex with her disgusting, mocks her behavior in bed, and then announces he'll probably have to retreat to his room to vomit after he's done. Now, in reality, he's insanely attracted to her and loves having sex with her, but the dude's pretty committed to his role...and he STAYS committed. ALL the sex scenes in this book made me cringe.

While present-day Camden and Gigi are kind of, sort of working through their problems and putting the past behind them, the reader gets more and more of the flashback story. Gigi betrays Camden in a pretty major way, and when Camden explains why he's so hurt by her behavior his reasons are good and sound. But then he sets out to get revenge, and he's...really, really good at it. So I'm reading all these scenes where flashback Camden is basically taking a knife to Gigi's heart and twisting it, and getting such a clear sense of how deeply in love with him she is, and how very, very vulnerable she is, and it made the tension of the present-day scenes almost unbearable. It takes her years of separation to pick up the pieces and move on, and here he is, storming back into her life and re-opening all the old wounds.

I'm not the kind of person who likes to see heros grovel. I know some people dig groveling scenes and I generally hate them. But in PRIVATE ARRANGEMENTS it seemed like Gigi was the one expected to apologize, to make up for the wrong she'd done him, when I thought it had been the reverse. I thought he was the one who needed to make amends and prove that he could be a better man. I wanted some grand gesture from him, at a bare minimum - I don't think any single act could really make up for all the pain he caused her, and continues to cause her through most of the book.

We get our requisite happily ever after at the end, and like I said at the beginning, it was easy to believe that Camden and Gigi were really meant for one another...but the scenes of emotional violence in this book are just SO MUCH more powerful than the scenes of peace and joy, and so much more NUMEROUS, that the happily ever after couldn't bring me back to a tonic note. I didn't close the book with a warm fuzzy feeling, like I generally do with a romance. Even at the end, Camden and Gigi's story seemed sort of tragic to me, and I felt sad.

I read NOT QUITE A HUSBAND just before I picked up PRIVATE ARRANGEMENTS and I have to say, that was one of the most lovely, wonderful, bittersweet at times but ultimately joyful romances I have read in ages, really moving and excellent. I have every confidence in Sherry Thomas' talent, but PRIVATE ARRANGEMENTS is pretty dark and if many more of her books are like this I might stop buying them and settle for wishing her great success from afar.
(less)

like 3 likes · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (21)

More editions...

Videos About This Book

Add a comment

Genres

Romance > Historical Romance

262 users

Romance

212 users

Historical Fiction

21 users

Regency

13 users

Adult

11 users

European Literature > British Literature

6 users

Historical Romance > Regency Romance

5 users

Historical Romance > Victorian Romance

4 users

Marriage

4 users

Adult Fiction

4 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Sherry Thomas

Sherry Thomas writes both historical romance and young adult fantasy.

On the romance side, she is one of the most acclaimed authors working in the genre today, her books regularly receiving starred reviews and best-of-the-year honors from trade publications. She is also a two-time winner of Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® Award.

On the young adult fantasy side, there isn't much to sa...more

More about Sherry Thomas...

Books by Sherry Thomas

Ravishing the Heiress (Fitzhugh Trilogy, #2)

Beguiling the Beauty (Fitzhugh Trilogy, #1)

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Private Arrangements

5 trivia questions

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from Private Arrangements

“Tenderness, that most alien and disconcerting of emotions, swelled and billowed in her. She picked up a cherry and stared down at the soft, bright-red fruit. “I love you.”
The last time she'd declared her love he'd thrown it right back in her face. She waited uncertainly for his response. She didn't even have to wait a second. He leaned over and kissed her on the mouth. “I love you more.”

- Gigi and Camden” — 14 people liked it

“«She sat at the bow of a pleasure craft a stone's throw away, under the shade of a white parasol, a diligent tourist out to reap all the beauty and charm Copenhagen had to offer. She studied him with a distressed concentration, as if she couldn't quite remember who he was. As if she didn't want to. He looked different. His hair reached down to his nape, and he'd sported a full beard for the past two years. Their eyes met. She bolted upright from the chair. The parasol fell from her hand, clanking against the deck. She stared at him, her face pale, her gaze haunted. He'd never seen her like this, not even on the day he left her. She was stunned, her composure flayed, her vulnerability visible for miles. As her boat glided past him, she picked up her skirts and ran along the port rail, her eyes never leaving his. She stumbled over a line in her path and fell hard. His heart clenched in alarm, but she barely noticed, scrambling to her feet. She kept running until she was at the stern and could not move another inch closer to him (…) Gigi didn't move from her rigid pose at the rail, but she suddenly looked worn down, as if she'd been standing there, in that same spot, for all the eighteen hundred and some days since she'd last seen him. She still loved him. The thought echoed wildly in his head, making him hot and dizzy. She still loved him.»” — 7 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Private Arrangements
avg rating	preview: Private Arrangements Goodreads rating: 3.81 (2250 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7109944-private-arrangements?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1267250319l/7109944.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7109944-private-arrangements?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Private Arrangements by Sherry Thomas[/url]

Private Arrangements

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website