A book with a strong premise - and so much more! The premise sounded intriguing but a bit gimmicky when I read about it on NetGalley and I was grateful to receive an advance copy. A married couple gives each other an annual day off from their marriage for 5 years since they met when they were so young and inexperienced. Sounds frothy, right? Actually this book is the story of a relationship and of how this experiment changed their lives. What a joy to see Daphne, the wife, blossom - I love when characters change and grow. So happy to have read this. And as an added surprise, the book has recipes!

The description of this novel didn’t grab my attention at first. Then I read it’s a debut by Hannah Sloan, and I’m a sucker for debut novels. They’re a fresh voice, a new perspective, uncharted territory, so to speak.
From the first page, Sloan builds her two main characters, Daphne and Dominic. They’re bored in their marriage, and even though it crushes Daphne’s soul to do it, she agrees to a Freedom Clause. This allows each partner one night a year with someone else.
What develops from this clause is an eye-opening series of events for each of them. But the paths they’re taken down are completely different. One makes a major job-affecting error, the other is offered a ladder to success. One develops a new level of self-respect, the other is amazed at how hard it is to get someone to sleep with them. There’s so much more to know.
I absolutely love the characters in this book, and I snickered at various places due to how their newfound freedom affects each. This is a glorious story of finding oneself, rising above anger, and finally realizing what a wonderful person you’ve always been.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group- Random House for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The publishing date is July 25, 2023.

What if you are happily married, but don't find everything fulfilling? A bold statement made on New Year's gives a couple something to think about. What about a one night a year pass to sleep with someone else? This book takes a daring look at what that might look like. What surprises lay in store for this couple?

When I read the synopsis of this book it intrigued me so much. When I finally started reading it I neglected all my other books! What a powerful story, loved how Daphne found herself and her voice throughout the story.

And the recipes in this book! Love how they were presented and I need to try a few (the salad!!).

If you are reading this review because you are not sure about this book, stop thinking about it and read it!

The Freedom Clause is a book that is hard to rate. The overall writing was really good but I really hated the main character, Dominic. Like really, really hated him. I found him to be extremely childish and selfish and I did not want to see how his story ended. However, I stuck it out and I was really proud to see the other main character, Daphne’s growth throughout the book and I was really rooting for her happiness. Overall, I think this was a unique read and I am glad I stuck it out! I look forward to reading more from this author!

Daphne and Dominic have been married for three years when things start to fizzle out, so they agree to a free pass one night a year for five years. Little did they know the impact that one little night would have on the rest of their lives.

This book really makes you look inward and think about what is truly fulfilling to you as well as your relationship. I’ve read countless marriage-on-the-brink-esque books but loved how this one played out.

Can’t wait to read more from this author!

Never judge a book by its cover and NEVER judge a book by its description. Freedom Clause may be a debut, but it’s a smasheroo! At the beginning, I expected the Jennifer Weiner fat kid story whose mother was constantly telling her what and what no to eat. Wrong! There is such a mother it will seem. But this is not that novel.

From beginning to end, The Freedom Cause is surprising and moves in unexpected directions throughout. Yes, there is lots and lots of sex, graphically detailed and interesting (and funny) and written with a purpose. That purpose is to highlight how women assume the role of people-pleasers who take care of their own needs last.

Hannah Sloane was born in Britain and London is where her story takes place. Daphne meets Dominic early in their university years. By graduation, they are married and their story begins when they are twenty-five. After only three years of marriage, they are both involved in building careers and have practically stopped having sex. Poor Daphne is not sure she’s ever had good sex.

Domenic introduces a plan: Each of them can have one sexual experience per year outside the marriage. The rules include no talking to others about it nor telling each other about it. Also no one they know and never more than once. As you might expect, things do not go as planned. The one benefit, for Daphne, is that she makes a new friend, a gay bartender who, more than anyone, helps her to change.

She becomes a runner and a yoga practitioner, learns about lubricant and opens up to him about her family. The other thing you need to know is that Daphne is a talented cook and ends up as a successful blogger about both her issues, sex and cooking.

You will not be able to predict where all this goes as it is a creative and original take on contemporary life. Just be aware that this is a thought-provoking novel that you will enjoy reading every page of.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC copy.

Not quite what i was expecting! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for a review.

This book. Phenomenal. I just loved it. The storyline did such a great job of capturing life—the up’s and down’s, the messiness. I appreciated the fresh take on a “romance novel” from the author, and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the characters develop over five years throughout the novel.

I am just sitting here, soaking in all of the joy this book brought me. Also definitively got into my feelings a bit, but that is to be expected with a great story. Honestly, superb. Bravo. Chef’s kiss. I’m smitten by this novel.

When Dominic met Daphne at university, he was captivated by her. They fell in love quickly and got married soon after. Three years later, they still loved each other, but something was missing. To spice things up, they decided to give themselves one night off a year to explore and sleep with someone else with no questions asked.

This book was not what I expected at all. I really liked it! I know, I didn't like the idea of a marriage with an open relationship and I was pretty sure it was going to go off the rails even if they didn't think it would. But I immediately fell in love with Daphne; her growth throughout the novel kept me reading until I couldn't keep my eyes open. I loved watching her learn about herself and grow personally and professionally.

Daphne and Dominic first meet as freshmen in college. They date through senior year and then marry. A few years into the relationship, it grows stale. They wonder if they married too young. Are they missing out on the fun of being single in their twenties? And so, Dominic suggests this: How about allowing them each to have a one night stand for each of the next five years? Daphne surprises herself by agreeing. As readers, we go along for the ride on this five-year life's journey. We learn details of their childhoods and the imprints they've made on their respective self-images and social vulnerabilities. We follow their marriage highs and lows, their enlightening sexual encounters, and the unexpected changes in their career paths. I won't tell you how it ended except to say that it was surprisingly Daphne who gained self confidence and self worth, while Dominic struggled to maintain his equilibrium.

I found this book to flow nicely. It was easy to follow. I really liked the passages where the author showed each spouse's point of view while reacting to the same sequence of events.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for allowing me the opportunity to read and review.

At the outset, I suppose I should say that this premise will not be for everyone. Daphne and Dominic meet during the first week of college and instantly hit it off. Now out of college and working adults, they've been happily married for three years. Then, one day, Dominic poses a question -- can they open the marriage? Daphne is skeptical, unsure why Dominic would want to do this. The compromise that follows is "the freedom clause," which permits one night that each of them can sleep with other people. The terms? One night off from the monogamy of marriage, once a year, for the next five years of the marriage. There are rules, as there must be, and the rules seem reasonable, but the skepticism from Daphne, and the reader, persists.

The novel dedicates one long chapter to each of the fives years of the clause and the reader follows along, watching as rules are established and broken, as the main characters drift apart and come back together, as the main characters grow and regress and grow again, and as the clause because more and less central to the marriage. The clause is a vehicle for showing who the characters are at their cores and also a vehicle for exploration, growth, and discovery.

I thought this book was very interesting and well-executed. I think it asks questions far more complex than "Why do people want to sleep with people they're not committed to?" or "What constitutes a breach of trust?" Rather, this novel splits open relationships and looks at their very murky, muddled centers. I appreciated how the story evolved and the trajectory felt very authentic.

I definitely recommend with the caveat that readers who don't like character-driven stories, "unlikeable" character stories, or stories with infidelity may want to skip this one.

Daphne and Dominic both come from difficult families that were not supportive or warm when they were children and quickly fall in love early during their freshman year at college. When they are 25 and happily married, Dominic suggests after months without physical intimacy that maybe they both need one night off a year where they are able to have a different sexual partner. Daphne isn't really into physical intimacy and struggles to understand why she would want this and is understandably hurt. Dominic suggests that they establish some ground rules-never the same person twice, and don't give your partner the details -among others. The story then progresses over the 5 year period when this "Freedom Clause" is in effect. Both of the characters grow and change through this marital experiment. I will admit to being titillated by the novel's premise and couldn't wait to read it. It's strangely not a sexy work of fiction at all. It's a great "coming-of-age" story-especially for Daphne who I couldn't help but root for as she discovers herself through this agreement. I don't want to say too much more for fear of spoiling some of the plot's twists and turns but just want to say that this was an outstanding book. I'm lucky that I've had a glut of good books lately!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Dominic and Daphne meet each other in the first week of Uni, and after about 10 years they are still together and have been married for 3 years. They are currently in a rut, and their sex life is practically non existent. Dominic suggests something to spice up their marriage. The Freedom Clause, where one night a year for 5 years they are both allowed to sleep with a random stranger. They can't be someone they know, you cannot repeat the same person again, and no details can be shared with anyone not even each other. This experiment changes and challenges their marriage in ways they could not have predicted, and in the end their lives change drastically.

The thing I most appreciated about this book was how empowering it ended up being for Daphne, I was very scared when I started it because the narrative was favouring Dominic, but the message really grew over the span of the novel. Although this was an exploration of a marriage, it was primarily an exploration of Daphne finding her voice, her confidence, and finally doing things for her self and not for other people. The writing was very nice, and I love the inclusion of recipes.

It's very funny, entertaining and I liked the recipes. I found the story a bit weird as I know people in an open marriage and this one seemed a bit weird.
I think it can be read as a fun story and enjoy it.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is a novel unlike anything I've read before but it was so entertaining! Dominic and Daphne get married right out of college and seem happy enough. She's a great cook and he's (sometimes) working on a novel that never goes anywhere. But to spice up their marriage, he offers up the idea of a Freedom Clause where once a year they can each engage in a sexual relationship with someone else. No questions asked or answered. Sounds like a good idea...until it isn't. There are many unique features of this book as we delve into both of their characters, their insecurities, their family upbringing, and their basic ideas about fidelity. It was surprisingly fascinating!

This is a well written novel with many very good recipes so if you are a budding chef or just want to enlarge your range in the kitchen then this is a great book for you. Hannah Sloane has a wonderful way with words and the writing flows well. However, I just could not get into either of the main characters. No matter how far along into the novel I got both of them continued to annoy me. I think the premise of the novel is good, but for me, it felt like a foregone conclusion how the book would end when the freedom clause was written. Dominic was a weak male character who really needed a few years in therapy before he ever considered a relationship. Daphne got so caught up in her own personal growth that she didn't consider her husband, her friends or her coworkers in her pursuit of her own growth. Overall this book is well written and there are parts that are really good. Other readers may have a different impression of the main characters so I don't want you not to read it based on my review.

A fun and enjoyable read, with interesting characters and a fascinating premise. A nice addition to other books about open marriage--mainly non-fiction--that have recently been published.

When Dominic meets Daphne at university, he is immediately drawn to her, and they quickly fall in love and get married. They still love each other three years later, but something feels off. In order to "reawaken" their relationship, they decide to give themselves one night off a year, where they can explore and sleep with someone else - no questions asked.

This book was nothing like I was expecting and I completely loved it. I agree, it's a different kind of set-up for a marriage and I was skeptical right from the beginning - but the story works. I immediately fell in love with Daphne; her growth throughout the novel drove me to turn the pages deep into the night. I loved watching her learn about herself and grow - both personally and professionally. This book will definitely spark a lot of good conversation for book clubs! Definitely check it out.

Daphne and Dominic have been married for five years. They married quite young, and their marriage is floundering with a lackluster sex life. Dominic comes up with an idea that he thinks will help. On one day a year, they will have the freedom to sleep with someone else. There are rules: it can’t be the same person each year, they can’t discuss it with anyone (not even each other), it can’t be an affair and can’t be with anyone they both know. It sounded like an interesting premise for a book, although unrealistic in real life. Daphne has an interest in cooking and her lack of being able to discuss this led her to start a blog. After losing his job, Dominic flounders for a while and then finds he has a talent for working with children. As this experiment unfolds over the next five years, there are many unexpected ramifications, which were interesting. I felt that the main characters weren’t developed enough. It was there but needed to be flushed out a little more.

Also reviewed on B&N (1IrishEyes430) and Kobo (IrishEyes430)