Listening to audiobooks has been something that has been a struggle. I find it hard to do many things when it comes to audiobooks; the narrator can be horrible and can ruin the voices. And i never feel like i have the time. Making the time to listen to audiobooks always feels like a chore to me unlike taking the time to read an actual book.

Am I glad that I took that time to listen to The ARC, yes I am. The narrator Mary Elizabeth Kelly captured the essence of both Ursula and Rafael so well. But even more than the concept at the center of the book, The ARC is both a dream and a nightmare.

Ursula and I share many similarities to me. Single and in her mid-30s, questioning her life and her job. She finds a place that promises to find her perfect match. Just the concept of that is something that I would immediately sign up for (only if the service was cheaper than described in the book). So many in securities that she was working through and somehow needed a high end dating service to show her the way. Being single in your mid-30s is a scary thing and being able to find a way to work through your fears can seem to be life threatening. I can tell you that because I am trying to do that myself.

The “love” story of Ursula and Rafael in my mind was not really a love story. It was more of a story of each of them growing and The ARC was just the catalyst for that growth. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending and I think other readers will be too.