Series Review: Arranged by Stella Gray

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

Synopsis for The Deal (from Goodreads):

On my eighteenth birthday my father, the senator, gives me the gift he thinks every little girl dreams of.

The man of my dreams, and the wedding to match.

Stefan Zoric is heir to an elite worldwide modeling agency. Practically a prince.

My arrangement is simple, as far as sham marriages go.

I give him my virginity, behave as the perfect wife and he’ll pay for the college degree my father found irrelevant.

But I don’t want to be the perfect wife.

I want him to want me the way I want him.

I want him to confide in me.

But Stefan has secrets that he holds close, dangerous secrets.

And soon I’m wondering what kind of devil have I made a deal with?

SERIESous’ Top Picks: Must Read Author
Author: Stella Gray
Series: Arranged; Zorics #1

There are two spin-off series: Convenience Trilogy and Charade Trilogy

# of Books: 3 (Full Reading Order Here)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Yes
Genre: New Adult, Dark, Contemporary, Romance
Heat Rating: Hot
Point of View: First Person, Alternating
Publication Dates: September – November 2019
Source & Format: Kindle Unlimited–eBook

Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:

Stella Gray has quickly become a must read author for me over the last few years after reading some of her newer works. So this backlog series has always been on my list. I loved the concept of a sham marriage and couldn’t wait to dive in–especially when I had just DNF’d a not so great novel right before this!

The Plot:

One things that really sucked me into this trilogy was the suspenseful plotline. Trying to uncover the motives of the various characters had me flipping pages to see what would happen next. It also made the romance have an edge to it as well that I appreciated.

The Characters:

It took me a while to appreciate Tori’s character. She had seemed so mature at the start but then became a little wishy-washy in her actions in the middle. But once I reminded myself that she is only 18 and trying to break out of the box her family has trapped her in, I appreciated her making mistakes and growing from them.

Stefan also grew on me as we start to peel back his character over the course of the books. So overall, I thought the character development throughout the series was excellent considering where these two start!

The Romance:

I loved the chemistry between Stefan and Tori. Only getting a few POV chapters from Stefan made him an enigma that kept things suspenseful and exciting when we got those little moments when he’d drop his guard. Swoon. I really enjoyed watching their relationship develop and grow through various ups and downs they endure.

Series Rating: 4/5

The Deal 4.5/5 | The Secret 4/5 | The Choice 4/5

Perfect for fans who want to dip their toes into the world of darker romance without fully crossing the line. A great blend of character growth, heated romance and a touch of dramatic suspense!

Read if You Like: darker romance, fake marriage
Avoid if You: dislike darker contemporary romance