This book was really interesting to read. The storyline was new to me, not the concept itself, but seeing it written about in this way.

I'm a jealous person, in all aspects of my life. There's no way I could ever have an open relationship, but man, it was fascinating to read about the relationships in this book. The true open relationship and the wannabe one.

I think the author did a really good job exploring the fallback from both kinds of relationships, with family and friends. And how it's really about knowing yourself that matters.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this story more than I expected to. It’s not something I’d typically be drawn to but I really liked the story and friendships/relationships. I feel like I gained a new perspective on open relationships and have a new respect for the different kinds of relationships people choose. Fliss and Holly felt very relatable. The storyline with Holly’s job was a bit predictable but I still appreciated it.

REVIEW: Open Minded by Chloe Seager

Open Minded by Chloe Seager takes place in London and focuses on two women, Holly and Fliss. Holly has been with the same man, Will, for many years and expects a wedding proposal. Instead, he asks if they can open up their relationship to make their own stronger. Fliss has been with Ash for three years in an open relationship. With trust and guidelines, they have made it work. Ash then asks Fliss if they can close their relationship and be exclusive. Holly and Fliss meet in a restaurant's bathroom and open up about their situations. They decide to help each other out.

I loved the characters in this book. Each chapter switches between Holly's and Fliss's points of view, which helps the reader get to know them better. Holly and Fliss go through significant character arcs that help them discover themselves. It is interesting to see how their thoughts on love and relationships change throughout the story. Each woman was unique, and I loved how Chloe Seager has written their voice. They were funny and sweet throughout. The characters also have some great friends and lovers, and there is chemistry and connection between them. It was interesting to see their relationships and situations being parallel to one another. It was a great way to open the reader's perspective on relationships, primarily when open relationships are written less.

I wasn't a big fan of miscommunication or not talking about it as a trope. Sometimes, I wanted to shake the characters and say, "Talk to each other!"

Overall, I enjoyed Open Minded. It still felt like a rom-com book but with a different twist.

Thank you, Netgalley and William Morrow, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!

4.5/5⭐️
Super cute book about a couple opening their relationship and a couple closing their relationship. The girls meet and become bffs. A book about stepping up for yourself and what you need. Bonus half star for the many Taylor Swift references!

I enjoyed reading this book and going on this journey of discovery with these characters. It opened my mind to explore new avenues of friendship with people and to be compassionate to others.

In Open Minded, Holly thinks her boyfriend of almost a decade is taking her out to a fancy dinner to propose. Instead, he wants for them to open up their relationship. Fliss, who is in an open relationship with her boyfriend, is taken a bit off guard when he wants them to become exclusive. They meet in a bathroom when Holly is crying on her first date during this new stage of her relationship. They quickly become friends and are able to give each other advice as they are each navigating new lifestyles.

This book is told from both main characters' POVs in alternating chapters. While both characters feel like they know what they want out of life and their relationships, they learn that they may not know themselves as well as they think. I found Holly to be incredibly meek in the beginning and was really invested in her growth throughout the book. Fliss seemed to be much more sure of herself in the beginning but loses her confidence as her relationship becomes more traditional. On top of loving the main characters, I absolutely adored a lot of the secondary characters as well - Tomi, Liam, and Jenny were my favorites. The book also explores both main characters' relatioinships with their families and helps them realize where some of their thoughts and behaviors originate. This book was really easy to read with a lot of humor tossed in, making it a lot of fun. I highly recommend it and plan to check out more from this author.

I was unable to finish this book because I was really not liking the plot, characters, development, or writing style. I wanted to try out a book about open relationships but no one in this book was happy with that situation.

Expected Publication Date: November 12, 2024

Holly's boyfriend wants an open relationship. Fliss's boyfriend wants to close theirs and become monogamous. Holly and Fliss's lives intersect in the ladies room of a restaurant. They form a fast friendship and help one another navigate these new changes in their lives.

Both women find themselves struggling with these changes which results in you becoming very invested in the characters. You want them both to be happy. The character development is well done and so is the friendship. I feel as though these women could easily be found in my friend group.

Open minded is a light read that covers a subject some might find controversial. It just might give new perspective and open your mind to the lives of those who are different than yours.

I enjoyed this read and think you will too!

Open Minded by Chloe Seager was a delightful and engaging read.
A different and unique story that once I started I literally could not stop!
The writing was done so well and held my attention.
This story has heart humor and engaging characters.

Thank you NetGalley, publisher William Morrow, and author Chloe Seager for providing a copy of this eARC! All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
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Sometimes, you pick up a book and realize "Oh my god, every character is severely flawed," but when each severely flawed character is also relatable, entertaining, and at times infuriating, damn you've got a good book.

Told in dual POVs, FMCs Flissy (Felicity) and Holly are two extremely British women living two extremely different lives with extremely different views on monogamy. As serial-monogamist Holly dips her (very reluctant) toes into the world of ethical non-monogamy or open relationships, Flissy grapples with her transition from ENM to strict monogamy. Each woman guides the other through the messes of their respective romantic entanglements, and hijinks ensue. Hijinks are also, at times, avoided at all costs, because British. Why talk about feelings or complicated matters when we could just have tea instead?

Somehow I found myself rooting for both ladies, but especially for Holly and she discovers her likes and dislikes, and uses her newfound confidence to improve other aspects of her life, such as with her mother and at work. In a way, Holly is many of us: a chronic people pleaser. When she begins breaking the bonds that shackle her, I had to keep pausing to read passages out loud to my husband, which he eagerly responded with things such as, "Oh hell yes, we stan Holly!" and "She did what at the company event?" Another character even accuses Holly of having "some kind of breakdown" but, honestly, after so many years of making herself smaller, Holly just refuses to make herself bite-size anymore; she'll stay whole and they can choke.

Flissy's journey is less relatable for me but was still immensely enjoyable to read, watching her challenge her own beliefs and preconceived notions about what monogamy is and what it means to her, and what ethical non-monogamy is and what that means to her. Flissy is really big on boundaries, both in her relationship(s) and in other areas of life. At one point, she is too overwhelmed with her situation to be able to support a friend through a difficult time, and honestly, I commend it. It takes awareness to know when you're at your limit, and a certain kind of bravery to tell a friend "Sorry, I can't be there for you right now, I have to be there for myself, first."

While this is a "romance" book, it's probably better categorized as "women's fiction" first. The romance and different flavors of relationships are just the vehicles for the two women and their stories. It's a subtle difference, but an important one. Readers won't find a swoony love story here, just two women trying to figure out what they want with a partner(s), with work, with their family, with their friends, with their lives.

Still, most of the book is humorous and well-told. The epilogue is a bit confusing, given that there's a POV shift with no warning, and suddenly the character speaking is different, but it could be made clearer in the final version of the book (since I read an ARC). I feel like both Flissy and Holly's storylines were concluded in a way that was both satisfying and made sense for them, each getting their girl-power moment and continuing to highlight that "happily ever after" looks different for everybody. I really think most fans of women's fiction will enjoy this title, particularly if they enjoy a little schadenfreude paired with British emotional unavailability.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

I will say I’m not entirely sure what attracted to me to this book. I have no interest in open relationships or “sharing” my significant other, however, I found that I did not mind reading about it. These kinds of relationships are not made for everyone and I was able to feel that when going through the beginning motions of trying something like this out. It opens the intimacies of your relationship and can make you question where you stand. If you can get past that part then I think that is awesome for you and your partner. I am not sure how I feel about the material but I enjoyed the multiple POV and the different characters and the connection.

📙Open Minded-a standalone

✍🏾 By: Chloe Seager-new to me author

📅 Publication: 11-12-24, Read 11-9-24

🌎 Setting: London

📄Page Count: 304

Genre/Tropes:
♡ Contemporary Romance
♡ Adult Fic
♡ relationships-open and monogamous (closed)
♡ cheating
♡ dating advice-Fliss/Holly
♡ friends with benefits
♡ LGBTQIA+ rep

This book had a unique premise exploring open and closed relationships. I learned a lot about what being non-exclusive meant because I thought it was a lot of hooking up. Felicity and Ash had the rules down to a science with a schedule and what to share with each other. Holly and Will were doomed from the start because Holly didn't want to change things between them, but didn't speak up. Will seemed to want everything his way. Liam was Will's opposite and gave Holly the voice she didn't have with her boyfriend. I loved Tomi as Holly's supportive friend, and of course Fliss and Holly's dating advice to each other. The minor plots were powerful with Henry getting divorced and Holly's boss taking credit for her work.

⚠️: cheating-Fliss, fighting

🌶️Steam level: 3/5 no explicit scenes

⭐Rating: 4/5

Thanks for the e-ARC provided by NetGalley, William Morrow, and Chloe Seager. I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own!

This book was my guilty pleasure for the duration of my reading experience. Think Sex in the City 2024, not the super proper and correct version we have right now, but the Samantha and Charlotte we first knew. Think that they would try to exchange their lives, but not by choice; that is the book's premise—the journey to experiment with something that perhaps is not your comfort zone. The journey is funny, reflective, and inspirational, and overall, I found myself canceling things just to read, which is always a great sign. I highly recommend this book if you want to read about an open relationship, a self-discovery journey, and friends and family expectations.

BTW- I struggle with Will, and somewhat with Liam too! I would love to hear other's opinions!

It was okay! I liked it well enough. The depiction of the thoughts and emotions of someone newly entering an open relationship (and newly closing one) were believable, if not annoying to read at times. A lot of the book felt repetitive, and despite the subject matter, this is a closed-door book. Truthfully, I would not actually classify this as a romance at all. All it all, it was decent, but I doubt I will read more from this author.

One of the most unique stories I have ever read. I did not realize going into it that this story is about two couples dealing with the complexities of entering or closing an open relationship. It was still an interesting and fun read as the friendship aspect of the story was great and liked what the author did with the characters. The writing was good and I found myself laughing at times, but I did have some issues with the overall pacing of the story as it wasn't a long story but the end did start to feel like it was dragging a bit. Overall, a good book, but just not the book for me.

3/5 Stars

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for an ARC of Open Minded by Chloe Seager. This book piqued my interest, and I was so glad I could read it. I’m unsure if I would have read it if I hadn't been chosen for it.

Holly and Will have been dating for 9 years. She is sure that Will is about to FINALLY propose, but he ends up asking if they can open their relationship. This is not something Holly wants, but she agrees to make him happy.

Fliss and Ash have been in an open relationship for the three years they have been together. Out of the blue, Ash asks if they can close their relationship and become monogamous. This is not something Fliss wants, but she agrees because she doesn’t want to lose Ash.

Holly and Fliss end up meeting in the bathroom and becoming friends. Throughout their relationship, they support each other on their journeys and teach each other how to be monogamous or in an open relationship.

Throughout the book, many characters grow and learn from their experiences. I disliked Fliss throughout most of the book. I’m not 100% sure why I did. Maybe it was her questionable choices with her ex while in a monogamous relationship with Ash. While she might not have been physically cheating on Ash, she was emotionally cheating and, most importantly, lying. I was glad to see Holly grow up and be more direct with people. She had let people walk all over here, both at home and at work, and she finally realized it was time to stand up for herself.

I recommend this book.

this was such a beautiful book. there were so many incredible lessons inside each character, and the diversity in which love can look like. this was so special.

a cheeky story documenting two women’s journeys with monogamy and open relations.

holly has been in a relationship for nine years and is uncomfortably cornered when her long time boyfriend suddenly proposes an open relationship

fliss has been in an open relationship with her boyfriend for the last three years and finds her independence intruded upon when he suggests they make their relationship exclusive.

a meet cute in a ladies restroom results in our two leading ladies serving as sage voices of wisdom to each other as they navigate the new dynamics of their relationships and determine if this will change the trajectory of their own perspectives

conceptually, i felt like some elements were lackluster, (plot points fell flat, pacing inconsistency, missing character depth) but i rly loved to see the friendship formed between holly & fliss. there are plenty of laughably witty moments and fun media references that kept me thoroughly entertained.

I expected something different from this book and found myself disappointed in reading. This looked more like a rom com but with a twist of characters in open or polyamorous relationships. It just wasn’t for me. I didn’t like the characters and had a hard time getting into the story. Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow for the advanced reader copy.

I don't think this book was for me! But I can see why it would be popular with a certain demographic and certain group of people.