I read this book through NetGalley and was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this one. I found myself relating the character Holly more than Fliss but I really liked how both characters developed through the story. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends.

Wow, this book immediately captured my attention after seeing it on Instagram, and the entire story lived up to expectations. First, I must applaud Chloe Seager's skillful writing in distinguishing between the two distinct points of view. Portraying two women in contrasting situations added depth and intrigue to the narrative.

In the book, I was captivated as I followed the lives of Holly and Fliss. Holly was navigating an open relationship with her boyfriend, Will, while Fliss's boyfriend, Ash, decides to transition from their open relationship to being monogamous. This parallel was so interesting to read as it creates a compelling dynamic between the characters. Despite their differing circumstances, the women seek advice from each other, though, in my opinion, they shouldn't have, given they couldn’t even fix their own relationship struggles. 😆

This book provided valuable insights into open relationships, shedding light on their complexities. It challenges conventional judgments, reminding us that monogamous relationships face similar issues. Effective communication, setting boundaries, and understanding personal preferences are crucial in both types of relationships.

Overall, it was a delightful and engaging read. Holly's and Fliss's relationship drama felt like juicy gossip, making the book addictive and entertaining. It offered a glimpse into their lives, leaving me thoroughly entertained. Can’t wait for its release on November! 🤍

I was immediately interested in the synopsis of the story so I requested an ARC and I have to say it exceeded my expectations.

I had no idea where the story was going to go even until the last 10%. The unpredictability had me wrapping this book up in a single day.

The characters are well rounded and authentic, making it easy to connect to them fast. Even the side characters.
Holly and Fliss started with completely different realities and expectations for their lives and a chance encounter resulted in friendship at the perfect time.

I loved seeing them go through the journey of learning who they really are and what they want. Some people realize they had it all along and some need to risk it all for the reward of happiness. Or at least what happiness looks like for them.

It’s a different journey for each person and the way we communicate and grow will make or break us at each new destination. It’s important to be honest, rely on our friends, and never be a doormat. This book was clearly well planned and well written and it all came across beautifully.

I did not what to expect when starting this book, and while it was unexpected, I did not hate it.

While the concept was foreign to me, I did end up liking the characters well enough. Holly and Fliss were likable characters. However, I don’t think I will be reading a book solely based on open relationships again.

"Open Minded" by Chloe Seager is a refreshing and thought-provoking novel that challenges traditional notions of love and relationships. The story follows two women, Holly and Fliss, who find themselves at a crossroads in their respective relationships and decide to explore the concept of open relationships.

Seager's writing is witty and engaging, drawing readers into the lives of Holly and Fliss as they navigate the complexities of modern romance. The novel's exploration of open relationships is handled with sensitivity and nuance, highlighting both the benefits and challenges of this lifestyle choice.

One of the novel's strengths lies in its well-developed characters, particularly Holly and Fliss, who are both relatable and endearing. As they embark on their journey of self-discovery, they learn valuable lessons about love, friendship, and the importance of staying true to oneself.

"Open Minded" is a compelling and insightful novel that will resonate with readers of all ages. With its engaging storyline, relatable characters, and thought-provoking themes, Chloe Seager has crafted a captivating tale that encourages readers to challenge their preconceived notions about relationships and embrace the idea that love comes in many forms. Dive into this delightful novel and discover the true meaning of open-mindedness.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review for my honest opinion.

This book explores ethical non-monogamy through the perspectives of Fliss, Ash, Holly, and Will. Fliss and Ash are "closing" their relationship, while Holly and Will are opening theirs. Despite enjoying the different viewpoints and the dynamics of Fliss and Holly's friendship, I felt the story lacked depth in character backgrounds, particularly regarding Will's and Ash's motivations. While initially hesitant due to personal reservations about open relationships, I found myself engrossed in the narrative. However, the repetitive nature of the storyline and the absence of the partners' perspectives left me wanting more depth and nuance. Overall, it's a thought-provoking read with lessons about the complexities of love and relationships, though it could benefit from further character development and a more satisfying conclusion. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I love seeing more books being written about ethical non-monogomy! I love how this book views dating from both perspectives. I know it can be hard to accept when it's a completely foreign concept, but that is one thing I love about reading books like this. This is a must read for anyone interested in learning more.

I really enjoyed this read. It felt exciting and new. The characters were really dimensional and I loved exploring their newfound territory with them.

Personally, I didn’t know what to expect reading this book, but the description seemed interesting so I thought “Why not?”. Truth be told, I wasn’t immediately sold, and I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that personally, open relationships are off the table for me. It eventually came to a point where I didn’t want to put it down though and I ended up really enjoying it.

I loved that this book gave different view points, one being Fliss and Ash, who are “closing” their relationship and the other being Holly and Will who are opening theirs. I also really enjoyed Fliss and Holly’s friendship and how it molded the two POV’s together. Truthfully the only thing this book is missing is more background. I wanted to know more of Will and Holly and the why behind him wanting an open relationship. I wanted a little of Will’s POV too. I didn’t really enjoy his character too much and I would have loved to see his suffering through dates when he’s the one that wanted to do it! Same with Ash, though I loved his character, I would have enjoyed seeing some of his side through it.

All in all, great story and lessons to be learned about how vast love can be.

This was beautifully written and pushed on bias I have around relationships and the binary, in some ways. I appreciated the tone and arc of this story.

Thank you to the publisher William Morrow and NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Overall 4/5 star read for me.

Open Minded by Chloe Seager is a book with gumption and heart. Two women, Holly and Fliss, find themselves in each other’s position at the start of the book and bond over their role reversal as they navigate their new relationship status. Holly finds herself begrudgingly beginning an open relationship after her boyfriend of almost a decade says this is how they can move forward, and Fliss finds herself in a newly exclusive relationship after three years in an open relationship. What ensues is a delightful exploration of what constitutes a good relationship and how do we find out what we need for ourselves.

I enjoyed both Holly and Fliss as characters and thought the author did a good job helping them grow throughout the story. These are not perfect women; they are messy and stubborn and kind and anxious which make them feel well rounded and interesting to read about. The romantic leads were intriguing and fulfilled their intended purposes well. I loved the other pieces of both of these women’s lives, like their friends, families, and professional lives that contributed to each of their stories.

The biggest reason this is not a five star read for me is there were a few points throughout the book, especially with Holly’s arc, that felt a bit too obvious. I personally would have enjoyed a bit more unraveling to discover certain truths/reveals. This is truly a personal preference as a reader for an already enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced e-arc and an Honest review. This was an unconventional story that was unexpected as from the synopsis, immediately drew me in. Holly and Fliss decide to be amenable to their partners and give them what they want by engaging in an open relationship (Holly) and a monogamous relationship (Fliss). Holly, having come from a 10 year monogamous relationship becomes the “coach” of Fliss after meeting her one night after her first failed date, which prompts Fliss to be Holly’s “coach” since she has been in an open relationship with her partner Ash for several years. The books focuses on the trials and tribulations of the two as they navigate what it means to be in these new versions of their relationships. For most of the book, the story felt incredibly flat and repetitive and I think what could have really given it some depth was the added perspective of their partners—Will and Ash. It wasn’t really clear why they wanted to change their relationship status, so instead, we got this one-sided narration from both women that left me feeling pretty bored and annoyed for most of the book as you watched them continuously compare the new men to their previous/current partners and make the same mistakes. The ending also felt rushed and while I guess there was a resolution, it still felt pretty flat overall.

Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for this early review ARC of Open Minded by Chloe Seager. Overall, this was a fun read that explored the nitty-gritty of open relationships. Both main characters were likable and both showed lots of growth! There were several times I so wished it would have gone just a little deeper or had a little more of an explanation / backstory. Overall, an easy and relatable read.

This is such a beautiful story of two relationships going through huge changes at the same time. It explores the complexity of relationships, and delves into open relationships. One relationship has someone who wants to open their relationship and try new things, while the other wants to close theirs and move on to the next step in their lives. The two main women meet and realize that they are in parallel situations, so they decide to work together and mentor each other on how to manage different relationship dynamics. This is such a beautiful story and I think it's a must read for everyone. It explores platonic and romantic relationships so well and sends a powerful message. Absolutely loved it.

I enjoyed this e-arc (from NetGalley and HarperCollins) of Open Minded by Chloe Seager!! It’s easy to put differences in relationships out of your mind when it isn’t something you’re necessarily going through. I liked seeing both sides, and reading about both women gaining a better sense of self.

This book is built on an obviously interesting premise but felt so shallow. Like a few clichéd relationship ideas were thrown together to constitute main and supporting characters.
I do think this will be an easy NYT best seller type read that people wanting to read without any depth will enjoy. But it wasn't for me.

Even though the title is with respect as to what relationships a person wants in terms of emotional and physical satisfaction, I really felt that this book was more about the relationship that Holly and Flies had with themselves. Holly had pictured her relationship with Will to be simply perfect but as she stepped aside and through self reflection, realized it was anything but. He made her feel smaller and smaller and constantly apologized for whom she was. As a reader, I applauded her strength and confidence and her approaching Amber on stage was pure genius. Fliss felt she needed to defend why she enjoyed so thoroughly in being in an open relationship but there is a difference between enjoying meeting new people versus enjoying the company of the person she loves which is Ash. I always enjoy books told from different characters perspective and this one didn't disappoint. Highly recommend.

While I liked this book, I did have a hard time keeping track of both storylines. Usually I don’t have a problem with multiple storylines, however I think there was just too much going on.

Overall this was a cute book and I’m happy I read it though.

Love this book. The novel follows two new friends who need to consider changing their relationships in drastic ways to try to make them work. The friends of these ladies are such relatable characters. Such a fun read, yet insightful to learn about open relationships, and thought provoking on monogamy.

The premise of this book quickly made me want to read it. I didn't like that Holly had been roped into an open relationship as is such the case with a ton of novels with this premise-it's always the guy suggesting the open relationship as the women acquiesces. Then there's Fliss who we meet well within her poly lifestyle and although her inner dialogue was well written, the plot didn't exactly do her any favors. I found myself more interested in Fliss' friends than her as a character. Overall, I thought this was a good read, I liked Holly's journey into self sufficiency.