Hardships in your relationship? Well you didn’t think so until your best friend called asking your husband how men feel towards lack of sex. Apparently the lack of can really affect your relationship.
But who goes to therapy now a days? Nope instead you try the Freedom Clause, which Daphne wasn’t even interested in at first and was worried about the affects it would further cause on her relationship.
1 night off per year for 5 years, sex with 1 person 1 night only and no repeats. Simple? Apparently not.
This book goes through so many hurdles. Family relationship, personal relationships, self worth, self love, growing, becoming the real you and sometimes growing out of a relationship you thought would last forever.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would, I thought it may end up a bit cheesy or far fetched. But no, it’s so raw and real. It’s real life, it happens. Maybe not the same clause, but the tiffs in the relationship and growing apart. Becoming your own person. And not only is it focused on the romantic aspect but you see old friends new friends come together as well as career goals growing too.

I would really recommend this is anyone going through tough times whether it’s in their relationships or need some ideas on how to grow. It really is a beautiful beautiful book. One I think everyone should read.

The Freedom Clause by Hannah Sloane was a very interesting and enjoyable story.

Dominic and Daphne have been together since college, and they’ve been happily married for three years. They both have realized that their marriage has lost it’s spark and both agree to an open marriage.
But with some conditions. They can sleep with one other person, one night a year, and the agreement has a five-year expiration date. It’s not a total free-for-all on their vows, but an amendment. They call it the Freedom Clause.
Over the course of this Freedom Clause Daphne and Dominic re-evaluate everything and each other, their relationship, and themselves. Can they survive the Freedom Clause? Do they even want to?
Is this what they want and will this be the thing that saves this marriage?

I really enjoyed this debut. It was fresh and actually a bit different.
The writing was great and I found myself picking this book a lot.
I enjoyed these characters and their journey. I found myself rooting for them and wanting them both to be happy.
I thought this was intriguing and thought-provoking. And most definitely will pick up Hannah Sloane’s next title.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Random House/Dial Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

First off, I would like to thank Hannah Sloane, The Dial Press, & NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC copy of The Freedom Clause.

Oh, my gosh. So, I was hooked from just the synopsis of this book. Then I saw the cover, and that drew me in further. The concept of a long-term relationship couple taking one night off a year to sleep with another individual of their choice (no friends, family, etc) absolutely intrigued me. I applied to obtain an ARC copy immediately as well as DMed the author (who was so sweet and happy to assist in getting me a copy). I was THRILLED when I got approved, and started reading almost immediately.

I freaking love this book. I am happy to say it is already a favorite of mine, and I cannot wait to hold the hard copy in my hands when I purchase it in August. I will keep this review vague as I don't want to hide it due to spoilers. I absolutely adored getting to go on Daphne & Dominic's journey. The character growth is exceptional. The humor and cleverness that's in this novel is insane. Daphen's recipe cards are freaking brilliant. The lead up to the straw that breaks the camel back- is jaw dropping. Honestly, I just loved this story. I couldn't stop thinking about what was coming next when I had to put it down (for things like silly work or eating). The amount of passages I highlighted because I related so much to them..... too many to count. The pride I felt in watching our main female character grow- overwhelming. :) The passages that touch on the struggles of women- making me feel not alone, and confirming I am not crazy. :)

Oh, and the way time passes in this book? Super easy to follow, and I applaud her for that. Even though sometimes a passage can skip to a few months ahead, it's never sudden or confusing (and moving time can easily confuse me). It's always clear and organic. Absolutely applaud her ability to make that so smooth. :)

And this is Hannah's debut novel?? Come on.... it definitely doesn't feel that way. I absolutely look forward to seeing what she comes up with next. :D

Ugh, guys, just get this book in August, okay?

This book had an interesting premise but I quickly found out I don’t like reading about open marriages. I found all the characters besides Ash to be unlikeable. Dominic disrespected Daphne over and over again but there was never enough communication after these incidents. I wanted Daphne to punch him in the face so badly that I was just mad when the book ended and that didn’t happen. I was happy that Daphne got to be happy or at least left that awful marriage, but I definitely wanted more revenge plot to make up for Dom’s action. I assumed this would dive into the struggles of marriage and being in a relationship since you were young, but instead it was another man not valuing or respecting his wife. Dom reminds me of why I don’t want to get married or spend time around men.

2.5 stars rounded to 3

I love literary novels about messy marriages, and from the description it seemed right up alley. This did not work for me at all unfortunately, however I fully admit I am not the target audience. The Freedom Clause is bucketed as "Literary Fiction", which it certainly is not. This is mass market/commercial fiction, similar to Colleen Hoover and Lucy Score.

I quickly realized the genre mistake but decided to let my expectations go and just enjoy the story. The first 30% or so was promising as we saw Daphne and Dominic fall in love in college, get married, and ultimately decide to open their marriage for one night a year. Once the story moved into the happenings of the titular "Freedom Clause", it quickly fell off. Let me explain:

Stylistically I found it tedious - there are section breaks constantly (like, sometimes every other paragraph) to denote when we were in Daphne or Dominics head. Sometimes we would switch mid-scene, and other times we would jump months ahead. It was jarring, I never quite understood how time was progressing, and there is no tone shift or style difference between Daphne and Dominic's POVs, so I would have to go back and re-read the opening sentences of a section once I realized who's head I was in.

I couldn't connect to either character. They are both insufferable and child-like, yet oddly self-aware (example, Dominic literally though to himself at one point "I'm too selfish to put Daphne first, it's no wonder our marriage is failing!"). The constant telling rather than showing not only pulled me out of the story but rendered the characters completely unbelievable, and left me uninvested.

And finally, the plot: if I were to lay out the plot points (which I wont, no spoilers) this would sound like an entertaining read. Unfortunately, we didn't linger long enough in any one scene or feel the ramifications of any betrayals, embarrassments, wins or heartbreaks - it was rushed through and glossed over. A scene would end as soon as the action did, without reflection or interiority, and was not revisited later on. By the end it, when some seriously scandalous things happen and we fade to black before the characters react, I was fed up. I had no patience left for the characters jumping to insane conclusions, or the crazy miscommunications that lead to even crazier plot points - the story had already lost credibility, and I couldn't suspend my disbelief any further.

I would say "this works as a mindless, fun read" but there's so much half-baked feminism throughout that it doesn't qualify as an escapist beach read. The feminist topics Daphne engages with are worthwhile: sexism in the workplace, how women are disadvantaged by being raised to people please, the outsized burden of domestic and emotional labor that women bear; however, the exploration is heavy-handed (and often spurred on by comically sexist men) and lacks the proper gravitas these topics deserved. Of all my gripes with The Freedom Clause, my biggest was its unintentional trivialization of feminism.

When I read the blurb for this book, I immediately thought of a sexual version of "The Purge." Well, this wasn't that ;) I quite enjoyed this. I was drawn into the couple's relationship in an interesting way. To be fair the whole premise seemed a little far-fetched to me, but I was able to put aside my questions and just enjoy the tale. I appreciated the insights and humor in the Substack entries. For a first novel, this was quite impressive. Well done!

I could see this as movie, and my guess is it will be picked up.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When Daphne and her husband made the decision to open their marriage I expected it to be a world of hurt for her but it was amazing seeing Daphne unfurl for lack of a better world.
The story was fascinating. Daphne was such a powerful character. Impossible not to love. Dominic was…. Less lovable for me.
The story is original and easy to get into. There was so much of this story and it’s written over 5 years. You would think there may be some details missing but there wasn’t!

This book was amazing! I sat down to start it and looked up when I was about 30% through it. I wound up finishing it in a little over 24 hours.

The story was fascinating. Daphne was such a powerful character. Impossible not to love. Dominic was…. Less lovable for me.

The story is original and easy to get into. There was so much of this story and it’s written over 5 years. You would think there may be some details missing but there wasn’t!
Thank you for my advanced copy!

The Freedom Clause caught my eye because of its atypical relationship plot line. I was worried it would end up reinforcing relationship expectations but the feminist arc of the story was delightful. I wish some of the characters and secondary plot lines had had the opportunity to be built out more. Definitely would recommend, especially for a (hot girl) summer read.

Small note- Tabitha is referred to as “precious” a few times, but based on context I think it’s supposed to be “precocious”

Some interesting thoughts but I couldn't get into it. I found the characters not very likable and couldn't care what happened to them so I didn't finish this book. However I found it had a few interesting twists.

I had a hard time with this. I didn't finish it but I got about 75% before I couldn't do it anymore. It wasn't sexy or interesting. The writing was oddly childlike for a book about open marriage. I couldn't understand how they got together in the first place, I know they were young but they acted like 12 year olds who barely knew each other. What a slog.

I walked into The Freedom Clause because of the compelling and juicy premise: a struggling married couple decides to add a “freedom clause” to their wedding vows granting each spouse a hall pass for one night a year to sleep with anyone else, no questions asked, no problem.

The book takes place over five years which is divided up into sections. The author uses an almost distanced language to evoke the feeling of a case-study on a marriage while also creating a mood of simmering tension like someone might learn your deepest secret at any moment. I found myself sucked into reading and kept having to turn the page because the twists and turns surprised me.

In the end, the conclusion is satisfying but this book is not what I expected, it ended up being deeper, it asked questions that I’m still thinking about.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in return for an honest review

I really liked this book that explores an alternative to open marriage. I think it is safe to say that both Dominic and Daphne are in a rut and they find an extremely creative way to try to open up and explore new realms all in the supposed sanctity of their marriage. The book follows them through their five year experiment and offers some great recipes along the way. It was fairly obvious from the beginning that one was thriving and growing and one just remained in the same holding pattern even though they were the one that suggested this in the first place. This was a really interesting ride and it was pretty obvious early in the book what the ending would be, however this was definitely worth the time.

Daphne and Dominic have a meet cute moment courtesy of Chaucer in their first university lecture. They soon become inseparable and marry young. A few years later, they both seem to privately question how happy they truly are in their marriage. Things really take a turn when Dominic suggests they sleep with other people. Daphne is heartbroken but eventually agrees with some stipulations. For one day each year over the next five years, they can each sleep with one person. No questions asked. No details given. As they could have expected, their relationship will never be the same…

Despite not being totally drawn to the open marriage plot, I requested The Freedom Clause and am so glad I did. From the opening moment when Dominic spots Daphne to the triumphant last line, I was captivated by the writing and how the story progressed in unexpected ways. It was gripping, emotional, surprising, and ultimately uplifting. A warm and thoughtful exploration of finding yourself after you thought you may have figured it all out already.

I loved this and will be thinking about it for a long time. Definitely on Team Daphne over here! I look forward to reading whatever Hannah Sloane writes next. Thank you very much to Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

I wanted to read this book because open relationships have become more mainstream in recent years, and I liked the idea of being a fly-on-the-wall while the benefits and consequences of intimacy outside of marriage played out. The author completely delivered on this. She explored the topic with honesty and most importantly, with neutrality.

But really, this book is so much more than a story about an open marriage. It’s an exploration of relationships and gender roles and what it means to be a woman today. It sung to my feminist heart.

Through Daphne, we get to experience what happens when a woman prioritizes what’s right for her instead of what society says she should be happy with. I want to say so much more about her story of personal growth, but I don’t want to give away any spoilers.

While this book delves into heavy topics, the writer’s style is straightforward, making it a surprisingly quick read. The format of the story is so fun – there’s a bunch of sassy recipes thrown in.

I got this book for free in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley and Random House, so my expectations weren’t high (I figured I’d get what I paid for) but I’m shocked to say, this is my new favourite book. I haven’t read anything else that captures many of my experiences, with family, relationships, divorce and at work so well . I also appreciated how positively female sexuality is portrayed.

This was an easy 5 out of 5 stars for me.

What happens to two people who met when they were only 18, being each other's first for everything including commitment, sex, and friendship, and jumping into marriage after the end of college? At the age of 25, they realized their sex life was already dead. Could counseling or special rituals to spice things up save their marriage? Dominic, the devoted husband of Daphne, had a creative idea called the Freedom Clause, which included one night of casual sex with a stranger throughout five years to save their marriage. The rules were simple: they had the freedom for only one night a year for the rest of their marriage with just one person. They could not sleep with people in their close circle, including family and friends. They would choose a different person each year to avoid affairs, practice safe sex, and never ask questions about each other's sexual encounters. They would never talk about this freedom clause with their friends.

Daphne had second thoughts about accepting this freedom clause, even though the excitement of dating someone new and discovering herself tempted her. She reluctantly accepted the offer. But the biggest question still distracted her mind. Would one night out save her marriage or destroy everything they had worked for over the years.

I won't give spoilers, but I can honestly say it was impossible not to root for Daphne - her fears, struggles, evolution, and inner fights. It was so inspiring to see her literally roar, rise from her ashes, sharpen her claws, stand up for herself and her needs. I just fist pumped and screamed, "Go girl!"

Throughout each year, she changed, grew up, and learned what kind of person she wanted to be! The parts of "Confessions of a Highly Emotional Cook" were so honest and direct! She poured out her heart into words. Those were the most poetic, genuine, and inspirational parts of the book.

Mostly, I loved the ending. It was well-executed, realistic, and extremely satisfying.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Dial Press Trade Paperback for sharing this powerful book's digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This book is a wonderful character study. It portrays relationship growth, changes, and choices with an unusual depth of understanding. Daphne is convincing to slip into the head of and grow alongside, and Dominic offers a rare compassionate POV towards what leads to frustrating and frustrated choices. Both of their voices felt very believeable and I ended up wolfing down the book with ease because of it. Ms. Sloane has clearly been through some shit, and I respect what it has lent to her writing.

The only major sin it commits is that it feels a little too close to a wish-fulfillment scenario for one of the characters, which is a bit twisted once you know and consider what happened to them. But the consequences of what trips them always lends itself to their circumstances, and I couldn't help but feel less invested in their side by the end of it. Altogether a very solid debut novel, though, and one I might push as a cautionary tale for couples that should've probably communicated before their engagement.

I really enjoyed The Freedom Clause and it's interesting premise. Daphne and Dominic have been together since their first week of college. They love each other but things have become boring and comfortable. Dominic proposes to open up their marriage and Daphne agrees to one other person, one night a year and the agreement has a 5 yr expiration date. The question is: Can they survive the Freedom Clause and will they even want to?

The novel took an interesting turn with Daphne's empowerment through cooking. I'm a fan of books with recipes, so I liked their inclusion. I also liked that these two flawed characters found what they needed to be happy. Thanks to #Netgalley and #RandomHousePublishing for allowing me the opportunity to read an eARC of #TheFreedomClause in exchange for an honest review.

This was so not what I was expecting when I picked up this book but wow I devoured this like one of Daphne’s recipes. When Daphne and her husband made the decision to open their marriage I expected it to be a world of hurt for her but it was amazing seeing Daphne unfurl for lack of a better world. Highly recommend this book and I have to try her salad

The Freedom Clause is a book about empowerment at its heart. Daphne and Dominic met in college, married young, and barely ever have sex. Daphne’s believes maybe she just isn’t a sexual person, but that turns out not to be the problem at all. Dominic proposes a freedom clause, where each partner can sleep with one person outside of their marriage once each year. Daphne reluctantly agrees, and her first sexual encounter is absolutely terrible, to put it mildly. When she begins to do some work on herself, her confidence grows, and good things begin happening in her life.

I couldn’t stand Dominic, who I felt pressured his wife into the clause in the beginning. He is the definition of a sad boy who screws things up time and again, and I was honestly thrilled watching Daphne grow as he floundered. Daphne’s personal empowerment was inspiring. She found happiness all by herself by learning more about herself and the things she loved.

At the start of the book, I found the writing to be a bit dry. It did improve throughout the book, but my favorite tone by far was the tone of Daphne’s substack writings. She was irreverent, funny, and entertaining. The pacing is great and obviously I loved the main female character.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House, Dial Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.