I found this book to be super interesting. The idea of a “freedom clause” seems like a recipe for disaster. I truly enjoyed this one though, and loved Daphne!

I'll be thinking of this book for a while yet. Dom and Daphne are like many couples who have been together awhile, and who have settled into the monotony of marriage; they wonder if there's more out there for them. The way they explore the "more" is by agreeing on one night per year for five years of freedom. Freedom to explore one other person sexually, and in order for it to not become an affair, they agree to only sleep with that person one time. The Freedom Clause allows Daphne to finally learn what she wants sexually. It helps her to mature in other ways too, to explore her writing, to really challenge herself and her fears. The Freedom Clause makes Dom insecure. He lies significantly to Daphne, and breaks the rules of their agreement. I like the premise of this book, and I like Daphne. Dom is weak to me, but maybe that's the point? That freedom allows women to really see their potential outside of the institution of marriage, outside of a relationship with a man...that's my biggest takeaway from the book, and it's what makes it very readable.

I went into this book with a very open mind. I am not a fan of cheating. Even though this was agreed upon by both parties, it still set my moral compass way off balance. Although the premise was not my cup of tea, I was very pleasantly surprised by the story and the writing.
After finishing and looking back on the book, I can't help but think this might have been a cautionary tale to those looking to marry young. It was a proponent for living your life before you decide to settle down so you can figure out who you are as a person before you figure out who you are as a couple. This was not your ordinary coming of age story.

I thought this was such an odd book - a semi open relationship and recipes all in one book. The bottom line is that I did not like the characters. I found myself skimming it and just gave up.

***Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing this book for review***


This book was somewhat predictable, more than hilarious, and full of heart. I really enjoyed it!

Dominic and Daphne married young. Both are inexperienced sexually and after a few years their otherwise happy marriage settles into a roommate situation. Dominic suggests an open marriage may be the solution to their quandary and Daphne counters with a parameter of one person, one night, once a year. No one will ever discuss what happens. What could possibly go wrong?! Dominic thinks this is the cure for their marriage, but what he doesn't know is that everything will soon change.
Hannah Sloane's first novel, The Freedom Clause develops the characters, especially Daphne, throughout a multi person narrative and reveals the angst of discovering one's self within a marriage. I look forward to seeing what Sloane does next.

I almost DNF’d this one. The premise of the book was an immediate yes for me; I’ll always be excited for non-monogamous characters/plot lines. However, by the third chapter, I thought to myself, “this isn’t going to work and it’s going to end bad”. I felt like this wasn’t a great representation of non-monogamous relationships, but I also wonder if that was the whole point of the book. I didn’t really care for either of the main characters. However, I did enjoy the character development throughout the book. This one is heavy character-driven and the flaws of the main characters are essentially the entire plot, so if that’s your thing, you might enjoy this! Despite me not loving this one, I’ll always champion books that explore relationships that aren’t traditional (normalize it!) and encourage women empowerment.

I love a good romance, and this one was wonderful! It had witty banter, and lovable characters. I was rooting for them the whole way through!

I expected to hate this after getting through the first chapter or so. But, surprisingly, I couldn't put it down. It is very much a "well what did you expect??" thing throughout, but it was... enjoyable, for lack of a better word.

The Freedom Clause by Hannah Sloane was an interesting novel based on a premise that I had a difficult time with, what if one night a year, a couple had the freedom to be with another person? That is what Dominic and Daphne decided to do within their marriage and so began a great experiment. The question is, would their marriage survive? Definitely a unique perspective on marriage. It's a very good novel and interesting to see what could happen when thoughts vary so far from your own. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

The Freedom Clause by Hannah Sloane starts off with married couple Daphne and Dominic, in order to spice up their marital bed, Dominic comes up with a plan. A plan to open their marriage and call it the Freedom Clause. Now this clause is very specific, the can sleep with one other person, for one night a year. This can happen for the next five years, you cannot sleep with the same person more than once, you cannot ask questions to each other about that person, and you absolutely cannot tell your friends and family about it. Daphne agrees, reluctantly, and since she can’t talk about it with anyone, she marries her love of writing and cooking into a new blog where she can remain anonymous and talk through the hard stuff. She never thought she would go viral! As for Dominic, his first encounter goes nothing like he expects, and he then finds himself looking for a new job. As the years go on, we see how this once a year clause changes both Dominic and Daphne, but in very different ways.

Daphne starts off as a meek character, but with her freedom of the clause, she allows herself to demand what she wants, and how she wants it. She blossoms into a confident, self-assured, viral phenom! As for Dominic, his true self seems to evolve as well, and it’s not a very good look. You will find yourself team Daphne all the way, and I believe that is exactly what the author wanted to accomplish. The book is an easy, light read, nothing too deep, it has some good parts, and not so good ones. The added bonus is Daphne’s blog including many recipes that might be interesting to try.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Dial Press Paperback and Hannah Sloane for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

The Freedom Clause was entertaining, fun, and flirty. It was an easy read which is perfect for a relaxing day. Thank you to NetGalley.

I thought The Freedom Clause was a great book. I like that the story is over a span of time and shows us how things unravel the longer the clause goes on. An open marriage, especially one that was coerced might be triggering to some, but I felt like this was a great storyline that didn't glamorize it at all. Overall, I really enjoyed the book.

The Freedom Clause by Hannah Sloane

I know I say this a lot but I loved this book. This presents two very different reactions to a couple opening their marriage. Dominic goes about his life in pretty much the same manner but now he is allowed to flirt, to give in to the temptations that he might encounter. But Daphne does the exact opposite, she puts herself out there into new situations and blossoms as she becomes happier and living a fuller life. I loved that for her. So often the women in her romance novels are portrayed as a mess or incapable of being on their own and Daphne grows into the complete opposite of that. Now she know what she wants…and how she wants it!

Thanks to @netgalley and @thedialpress for this advanced reader!

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This book is a great example in the lesson of "you are not your relationships and you deserve to love yourself as much as you want to be loved."

I so enjoyed this novel and I felt a deep sense of connection with our main character. I was rooting for her to win the entire way through and I felt like I could empathize with both her struggles and her wins.

Goodness I don’t even know what to say about this book! It was not quite what I was expecting but it was so freaking good!! I can not wait to see more people talking about this book.

The premise of this one – a couple agrees that one night each year they can sleep with someone else (with guidelines of course). This does seem to be a subject that is getting more attention, and one that I'm fascinated by. While there were some things that maybe seemed unbelievable, and at times I was frustrated by both people, I did find it interesting and entertaining. It was nice to see a female lead come into her own, both in her own confidence and in terms of her sexuality. There was something about it though bugged me a bit, and I'm still trying to sit with it and figure out what that was.

#FirstLine ~ Dominic isn't expecting to meet the best thing to ever happen to him during his first week of university.

Hannah Sloane's novel, The Freedom Clause, opens with an intriguing promise that it more than fulfills. Set against the backdrop of the idyllic yet mysterious town of Havenbrook, the story weaves a tapestry of hidden truths, complex relationships, and the pursuit of liberation. Sloane's eloquent prose brings the characters to life, their struggles and aspirations resonating with readers on a deeply human level. As the layers of secrecy begin to unravel, the novel's grip on your imagination only tightens. With each chapter, The Freedom Clause draws you further into its world, navigating a delicate balance between heartache and hope. This is a tale that delves into the intricacies of human connections and the power of unveiling the past. A captivating journey that echoes with the quiet strength of its opening line, Sloane's novel is a compelling testament to the resilience of both individuals and communities.

Wow! This is a book that will really make you think about the role of women in marriage and society.

Daphne and Dominic were university sweethearts who are now married. They were each others' firsts. When Dominic suggests that they open up their marriage - with caveats - they call it the Freedom Clause. One night a year, for 5 years, no repeats, no discussion with friends and family. Af first, Daphne is hurt and humiliated.

Daphne, growing up with a former fashion model mother, has self-esteem issues. But, as she leans into the Freedom Clause, she gains confidence. She creates an online journal of her escapades, along with recipes that fit the mood.

Dominic, on the other hand, is struggling. His weaknesses are on display. His dreams are slipping through his fingers.

I am so conflicted about the way it ended, and I guess that's good because it made me think. Does happily ever after have to be the goal? Can you be happy for now? How do we change the perception and role of women in society?

Thank you to Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback and NetGalley for the digital ARC in return for an honest review.

The Freedom Clause is about just what you'd think. Daphne and Dominic are married, and to sort up "rev up" their sex life, Dominic suggests that they both be allowed to have sex with one person a year. This may sound like it would be exciting, but both find otherwise. The book is predictable. And I really found both characters to be annoying, so it was hard to cheer for either one.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Freedom Clause.