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Rating: 
Summary: Excellent read for the summer - or any time of year
Review: I buy too many books and lately have tried to borrow more from the library. The borrow can save me a good $20 or so. This time, I wish I'd bought instead of borrowed. There were pages and pages I wanted to highlight. Oh well. I'll just have to buy it and read it again. This book perfectly captures the mounting and messy pressures we voluntarily assume with marriage, work and family; how these pressures can overwhelm us and lead -- as Berne says -- to a life "guided by hurry, guided by hope, counting on other chances for every chance" we take. This book tells the story of a likable, flawed and very real couple, Mirella and Howard, a married lawyer and architect couple who, by outside appearance, seem to have it all. But "it all" comes with a big price tag -- two very imperfect, difficult children and a juggling act that threatens to fall apart at any moment. And fall apart it does, starting with the hiring of nanny Randy, who -- like Mirella and Howard -- ostensibly looks perfect. Randy has both a dark side and a dark past which Berne tantalizingly reveals bit by bit. And Randy isn't the only one with secrets to hide. But, don't worry, the news isn't all bad. Many have written about the constant duel of tension and satisfaction inherent in the "have it all" battle, but never so well as here. Berne is a wonderful writer. I was mesmerized for the entire book and went to sleep way too late, unwilling to put it down. Berne's writing is entirely fresh, un-cliche'd and breezy, suspenseful and profound, all at the same time. A rare find; well worth the read and the price.
Rating: 
Summary: certain things not explained
Review: I enjoyed A Perfect Arrangement, but there were a couple of issues I felt were not explained enough. For one, how did Mirella find out her husband had an affair? Did she get a letter? Did Randi say something? It was never explained. Did I miss something?
Second, what was the deal with Randi? I know she was getting overly attatched to Jacob, but I thought before the story ended I would get some sort of explanation as to why she acted that way. Seems like there was more to Randi that never was explained.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific Novel
Review: I picked up this novel because of the great reviews everywhere, but was a little concerned that it would turn out to be The Hand that Rocks the Cradle in novel form. It's not. A Perfect Arrangement is an excellent novel, about a family that looks perfect from the outside, but is actually crumbling on the inside. Mirella and Howard, husband and wife, are actually keeping horrible secrets from one another--before the so-called perfect nanny starts watching their children. Randi, the nanny, has her own problems, as do the children. A story like this could easily fall into overdone melodrama, but Berne carries it off very, very successfully. The characters, flaws and all, are completely believable. The plot is surprising without ever being over the top. The dialogue is true and flows naturally and while this is a serious novel, it is not without touches of humor. All in all, A Perfect Arrangement is an excellent, well done novel that I highly recommend.
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