Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! I really enjoyed this read and found it to have a fun, fresh, and unique premise (+ I love when stories incorporate recipes)!

Dominic and Daphne have been together since college and happily married for three years. But like many couples, they hit a bit of a rut in their sex life. So, Dominic suggests something radical: opening up their marriage with one night off a year to be with someone else. They call it the Freedom Clause.

What really hooked me was how this seemingly simple agreement led to such profound changes. Daphne’s transformation is especially captivating. She becomes more assertive, starts an anonymous newsletter chronicling her journey, and shares recipes inspired by her new experiences. It’s not just about the physical freedom; it’s about self-discovery and growth.

The book doesn't shy away from the emotional rollercoaster that comes with such a bold decision. Watching Daphne and Dominic navigate their new reality, reconsider their relationship, and ultimately themselves was both gripping and thought-provoking. The character growth was fantastic, and the ending was incredibly satisfying. I think opening the conversation about differing relationship styles in literature is so important, and Hannah Sloane successfully navigated that in this novel.

Thanks so much to Random House, Hannah Sloane, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest thoughts!

This started out cute but also infuriating. I ended up not finishing because of the premise — which I really should have picked up from the synopsis. If the idea behind the book doesn’t bother you, the writing was good and I’m sure it would have been a decent read.

A longtime couple, Daphne and Dominic, decide to open up their relationship for one night a year, for five years. However, both parties find that this arrangement comes with some unexpected consequences. I liked Daphne and loved seeing her character development throughout the novel. With that being said, this plot was all over the place and I would have enjoyed this title more with some slight editing. Overall, The Freedom Clause was good, but not great.

I love a book that has recipes! Reminds me of Heartburn by Nora Ephron.

The Freedom Clause was such an enjoyable book to read! Two people who meet at 18 and then get married and then have a once a year pass to sleep with someone else.

I loved seeing the growth of Daphne throughout the years.

This was a quick, fun and unique book that I enjoyed reading. I really loved how the recipes were mixed into the plot at the end of each chapter... very clever.

Not sure I like the idea of a night off a year in a marriage, but this was written well and I truly enjoyed it. Can't say I've read a book like this before, which is hard to say when I mainly read romance and all the tropes are done over so many times. Well done.

This one was fun. I love that non-monogamy is becoming more popular however, I have yet to find one that does it justice.

I loved the recipes that were shared at the end of each chapter. The rest of the novel, not so much. It had a fast pace but I just couldn’t relate to the open marriage aspect.

This book was predictable and the main characters were unlikable. Two stars because I finished it and the idea behind the book is interesting, if not a little outside many people's comfort zone.

Daphne and Dominic were college sweethearts who got married after graduation. Now they are in their mid-twenties and their marriage is in a slump. Dominic suggests The Freedom Clause: one night a year, they each can have sex with a stranger, no questions asked. Daphne adds a few rules, but agrees to it.

I'm sure we can all see where this is going. Dominic has one mishap after another; the clause sure didn't work out the way he thought it would. Daphne has an amazing 5 years: great sex with strangers, a dream job, a successful cooking column. She really came into her own, while Dominic kept sinking.

Neither of the main characters are pleasant people. They are both self-involved and shallow. I'm sure the book was supposed to show us what can happen when we come out of our shells and ask for what we want. It was pretty heavy-handed.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book has such a great premise - it was so ridiculous that I had to keep reading to see how it would all turn out for the main characters! I went into this book completely blind and was so not expecting what I got myself into!

I was rooting for Daphne the whole time and seeing how she grew and changed year over year was fascinating. Dominic gave me slimy vibes from page one and I loved how their pact turned out by the end of the book.

I really enjoyed this book, it was like nothing I’ve ever read before! It also has some hilarious recipes to follow along with as you read!

Read this if you:
- Have ever thought about having a hall pass
- Read the blurbs before a recipe on a food blog
- Married your first love

Dominic and Daphne have been together since college and although they’ve only been married for 3 years, they’ve lost the spark in their relationship despite being completely in love. When Dominic brings his idea of opening up their marriage to Daphne, she agrees with conditions - one person, one night per year, for the next 5 years. This becomes The Freedom Clause and it brings big changes to their relationship and to themselves.

I loved the concept of this book and overall I really enjoyed it. I do wish that Dominic's storyline didn't rely on him become the villain.

I read the blurb and instantly thought 'Well nothing good can come from this".

A couple who needs a little spice has a freedom clause which means that one night, once a year for 5 years, they can each sleep with someone else. But they can't tell each other or their friends about it. It sounds like a recipe for disaster.

I will say this was a quick read. it wasn't my favorite, but it was a good book.

4.5 stars!

WOW! What a debut novel!

I picked this ARC because the premise sounds absolutely thrilling to me. I can honestly say that I cannot wait for whatever Hannah Sloane writes next!

Dominic and Daphne meet their first week of college and immediately get married after graduation. It's three year into their marriage and things have stalled out for them sexually. Having only been with each other their entire lives, Dominic proposes they open up with marriage to explore sexually with other people. Daphne at first feels like this is Dominics way out of their marriage and is against the idea. Slowly, she agrees but with conditions. They are allowed one night a year, one person, no repeats or friends/family, they tell no ones, and they have a 5 year time-frame where they will reassess the terms.

This book fascinated me because we start off by feeling empathy for Dominic. He clearly is portrayed as this patient, kind, thoughtful husband who wants to be connected with his wife and feels that the lack of sex in their life is a reflection upon himself. We can empathize with him on his feelings of insecurity as he believes Daphne is far out of his league and if he cannot please her sexually, someone else will. He also shows his hand a bit in being eager to explore sexually when his first encounter is with a young coworker that goes terribly wrong and he is forced out of his job.

Daphne represents women in marriages as a whole. I felt so strongly connected to her as the story went on but in the beginning she states she just isn't into sex. She doesn't know what to do, doesn't know how to orgasm, and cannot speak with Dominic about what she wants because she's never experienced anything outside of him. Her first night with a stranger at a hotel felt so painful as the observer, but as a woman, we have all had a similar experience. She takes to writing about her life and mixes in her passion for cooking on a blogging website as a way to express her feelings during all of this change. Since she cannot tell her friends about what is going on, she turns toward her blogging and it eventually gains a strong following as the years go on.

It felt like a peek into any young 20 year olds life as they try to find themselves and become who they want to be, but with more to risk due to the marriage. Both Dominic and Daphne go through so much internal and external change during the course of the 5 years. Daphne grows to love herself, become more confident, take more risks, changes careers, and eventually publishes her own book about the whole experience and cooking. Dominic in many ways, found himself at a great life cost. He states it plainly when he tells Daphne that the Freedom Clause worked for her and not for him. And that is sort of the point of the novel.

Women are often told how to feel and base their value on the opinion of men. Daphne was able to find her true self, her true voice, and despite overcoming her fear and trust issues with Dominic, grew into and accepted herself within the freedom of the freedom clause. Dominic, like many men, took advantage again and again of the clause and paid the ultimate price, his marriage.

Beautifully written, wonderfully done. Thank you Netgalley for the eARC & PRH Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Okay, so I’m the type of person that loves playing the “what if?” Game with my friends, often making up weird questions about our relationships and friendships and what limits each person has. Then I found this book and it hooked me from that perspective. I love the story idea of a relationship with set rules, which may be totally weird to most people, and how those lines change and the tension it created. Great read!

I appreciated the almost taboo nature of this book, I do love a story that pushes the envelope. While I can't relate to the characters, I can appreciate the story for what it is.

I loved the unique plot and I enjoyed the book so much. And I hope to read more books from this author.

The Freedom clause gives this couple the option to sleep with someone else once a year, with rules. After three years Dominic and Daphne create this for their marriage. What happens when the rules are broken, or when they grow in their own lives. It is an interesting idea for a book. It was also fun to read. It has some emotions in there as well. It is an all over well rounded good book.

This book ended up being much deeper than the fluffy romance I was expecting, but I enjoyed it! The main characters were ones I wanted to befriend and support, and this was an easy and fast paced read. Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

What a premise of a story.

A couple who are each others’ firsts in everything end up plateauing too quickly add an amendment to their marriage vows, that one night a year to have their freedom with a stranger.

I enjoyed it but was not very much invested in the characters but still a good read overall.