This book was a lot more than just about sex and that is what I hoped for. There was a lot of emotional depth explored in the story, as well as the physical aspects, and so I found the book really thought provoking. Fay and Steve also have a young daughter and so the exploration of them both as parents as well as partners was interesting in the dynamic of an open relationship. Permission would be a great book to discuss at a book club or similar, but is generally just a good gripping read that will get you thinking and feeling quite emotional in places!

I thought this was an interesting read, about other people’s marriages and bringing more people into the relationship.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

I absolutely loved Permission, a novel about the relationship between Fay and Steve, a couple who have been together for over 20 years and have two children. When Fay suggests that having an open relationship could bring a spark back into their marriage, Steve is initially reluctant but then draws up some ground rules and agrees.
This was such a compelling read with believable characters and scenarios. The author sensitively and empathically portrays both of the characters, and we are given real insight into how their relationships with their parents have impacted on them.
This was a novel that made me think deeply about relationships and I would highly recommend it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

I switched between the Kindle edition and the Audio version of this book, due to my own commitments, but this has not impacted my review.

As the blurb suggests this story follows Faye and Steve as they embark on an open relationship. Considering the topic of the storyline, this was moderately spicy and does not contain anything offensive or graphic.

Unfortunately, I didn't really like either character. I thought Faye was very eager to enter the new relationship status and was focused on her own desires, rather than her marriage to Steve. I just couldn't connect with Steve, as there were elements of his character that made me cringe, but I can't put my finger on it. Despite this, I did enjoy the concept of the implications on their family dynamics.

After reading this, I don't think I will be watching the BBC Drama adaption.

Overall, an average read for my preferences but recommended to anyone who likes to explore relationships and marriages.

What do you do when your spouse proposes that you explore outside the confines of monogamy and open up your marital relationship? After 20 years of marriage, Fay poses this very question to Steve in attempt to spice things up. Steve reluctantly agrees, but is this the answer that will reignite their spark or ignite a new flame they can't put out? This is an intimate read about alternate relationship structures and the challenges attached to them.

Thank you to Legend Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Imagine you are married to the same person over years have two beautiful children and life seems to be going well or so it seems. Your mate approaches you with a proposal to practice an open marriage to spice up your sex life even though it is pretty good already. You reluctantly agree and try to justify and feel good about the possibilities it can bring for you. This is the case for Steve and Fay. But you know how they say careful what you wish for as you just might get it. They agree to a set of rules to follow, do you find yourself having doubts or bouts of jealousy every time your mates phone receives a call or text message? Or every time they leave the house especially in the evening or come home at 3 am. You get to explore all these scenarios with this couple as they move through life. Understanding the premise of this story the main focus almost becomes a secondary subject also if you are concerned
whether this story is graphic I would say it is mildly graphic. The one issue I had with this story is the male character Steve as the best way i could put was as his mother does in the story that he is just too touchy, and I don't mean by physical touch. This story does have a couple of twist or surprises in it. All in all, this was a little better than average. I would rates this 3 3/4 stars out of 5.

A fairly standard domestic drama about infidelity and open relationships - not much else to say about this. Everything is about what you'd expect.

Beautiful. Poignant. Phenomenal.
This was a beautiful read and I learnt so much. I cried and I smiled and there was nothing more that I wanted from this book. Truly a gem.

A very different take for a romance story especially one that’s published as trad pub.
I found it very interesting overall. It talk more openly than any other story that I’ve read about similar plots. What I found more interesting was actually the way the author has put a big spotlight on the relationship after they agreed to an open one.
However, I couldn’t connect with any of the characters unfortunately. She seems too selfish and self-centred while wanting the best from both lifestyle even if it hurts her marriage and her daughter.
The ending? Was a big deal for me as I was expecting something totally different but I guess I’ll take it as it is and move on as the couple did.

Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley

Thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for the advanced reader copy.

This week’s headline? You have permission to proceed.

Why this book? I needed another ARC for July.

Which book format? ARC

Primary reading environment? Couch and public transit

Any preconceived notions? Not really expecting much since it was a last minute addition.

Identify most with? “old-fashioned coyness”

Three little words? “a soft halo”

Goes well with? Candles, burner cell phones

Recommend this to? People considering opening their relationship.

Other cultural accompaniments: https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-have-an-open-marriage-successfully-5204975

Grade: 3.5/5

I leave you with this: “I hate artificial conversation. What happened to old-fashioned awkwardness? Is it so bad if we stumble through a few pauses or talk over each other?”

“It was too easy to become part of someone else’s problems when they were out of control.”

📚📚📚

Permission is about a middle-aged couple who’ve been together for twenty years who decides to open their marriage. While this isn’t a new concept for a novel about marriages in recent years, it doesn’t feel slow like others I’ve read. Oddly enough, it’s a page turner. It’s thought provoking and the dialogue feels real.

I’m giving it three and a half stars because while I did like it and recommend it to people who are intrigued by the synopsis, I won’t read it again as I feel it’s a one and done situation.

Permission is available now.

This was a simple, fun, easy and quick read. The perfect type of book for your holiday, beach, pool kind of read. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

A very unique story about a couple,Steve and Fay,who ‘decide’ after 20 plus years together to have an ‘open relationship’ this is more on Fay’s wanting than Steve’s although he does after some thought agree
Fay after a false start finds someone she can relate to and wants to have sex with whilst Steve seems for me to choose someone totally wrong for the character we have got to know,the story then goes on to show what happens to their relationship and how things start to affect their daughter
It is intriguing and interesting at times,but I didn’t really engage with any of the characters too much and found Fay at times demanding and wanting the best of all worlds
None the less a very different and readable book exploring a subject that is spoken about much more openly than used to be

7/10
3 Stars

Very interesting premise about a subject that intrigues many of us although most wouldn’t dream of doing. Well written, thought provoking

“I just like the idea of a little sexual adventure. You can understand that, can’t you?”

In Jo Bloom’s novel, Permission, a happily married couple decide to grant each other permission to step out of the confines of monogamy. With clear rules laid out, what could possibly go wrong???


The novel begins explosively with married couple Steve and Fay involved in a fight between friends Mike and Katie In an evening spent between the two married couples, Mike discovers that Katie has been cheating on him; things quickly escalate and Steve and Fay must intervene. The incident leads to a discussion between Fay and Steve regarding monogamy. They’ve been married for over 20 years, finally have a nice home, have 2 kids together, and while sex is good, somehow Fay thinks she is missing out on life. She brings up the idea of giving each other ‘permission’ for extra-marital sex. Steve is reluctant but agrees mainly to keep Fay happy. Big mistake. We all have certain morality boundaries, and those boundaries are sometimes invisible and untested until a situation arises. It’s clear that Steve has no interest in Fay’s suggestion, and it’s an ego blow. Fay meanwhile has her eye on the first extra-marital lover. …

British author Jo Bloom shows how a couple who actually have a decent life together screw it all up when Fay, feeling bored and a bit short-changed by a lack of sexual experience, decides she wants to branch out. Reading Permission is like watching a train wreck. You can see collision ahead and know it won’t be pretty, but your eyes are drawn to it nonetheless.

I don’t think Permission is meant to be funny, but there were sections I found savagely, grubbily funny. Other parts were just sad. There’s Steve gloomily scrolling through Tinder and then actually writing and printing out ‘the rules’ of the arrangement for extra-marital relationships for both he and Fay to sign. Probably not a good analogy here, but imagine writing out rules for animals at the zoo and then letting them out of their cages. That analogy probably says a lot about my opinions of marriage and human nature–two things which are inexorably intertwined. When a monogamous couple decides to step out of the boundaries of marriage or some other exclusive relationship, you can write as many rules as you want. It simply doesn’t matter because whatever rules you dream up, you cannot predict the consequences going forward and the rules are not going to fix things once those boundaries are crossed. Neither Steve nor Fay conceive of the issues they will face post monogamy. So in that sense, this is a cautionary tale.

Review copy

Permission is an unusual but timely book where a couple decides to try an open marriage. Fay and Steve have been married for 20 years but Fay feels that they have lost their spark and wants to try an open relationship with her husband's agreement. Steve is more cautious about the experiment but agrees to go ahead. The idea is thought-provoking as they both try out new relationships based on sex rather than emotions. Will their marriage succeed or fail as a result?

Many thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for the opportunity to read and review Permission.

I struggled with this book - the writing was brilliant, emotive and undeniably compelling. Some of the prose was simply beautiful, and the scene setting was deep and vivid.

But it showed exactly what an open relationship shouldn't be and spent a lot of time painting it out to be something extremely negative and painful which isn't the truth for most people. I was very uncomfortable reading this interpretation so for me, my love for the brilliant writing couldn't cancel out my dislike for the content fully.

An interesting take on the usual books you read about a stale marriage. Fay and Steve decide to try an open relationship, with one person wanting it more than the other. It takes them on different journeys and puts their marriage under the spotlight.

I enjoyed this book. It never vetted into cliches and the dialogue between the two main characters felt real. Some of the side characters felt a bit extraneous (her dad, his mam) to the story. I think it was wrapped up a bit too quickly but it definitely kept me reading.

WOW! This book is about as non-traditional as they come. Bloom takes readers down a journey that goes against all the standards. Definitely not for everyone but a very thought-provoking book on what is truly acceptable in today's culture.

An interesting premise but I found this book difficult to relate to. I don't think it was necessarily because of the content, but I thought the characters were a little one dimensional. There are some parts that are compelling, but I wasn't in a hurry to pick this up when I had time to read.

Books like this make me realise again why I love reading, totally enjoyable with no hassles attached, loved it