Dominic and Daphne met in college, fell in love and married. After three years, their sex life seemed stale so Dominic suggested a very brief open marriage - one night a year they could sleep with someone else. The freedom clause came with a plethora of rules - they can't tell the other one when they do this - no questions asked - don't share their plan with any friends or family, etc. What could possibly go wrong? Plenty!

I'll let you read the novel and find out for yourself how each of them tackles this attempt at an open marriage. But I do recommend the book.

The theme of the story seems to be how the freedom clause affects so many other aspects of their lives including their careers. It appears Sloane had some fun with this title. She managed to work in a cookbook and social media without either of them seeming abrupt.

My reason for 4 stars instead of five had to do with my confusion with all the names of their friends and relatives. I could not keep them all straight. Otherwise, it is well written, contains humor and flows smoothly.

The cover design is terrible and doesn’t give a good preview of anything in the book. At. All.

The novel itself is ok. There were things in it that I liked. The Daphne writing pieces were really enjoyable. The rest was just okay. I did not like Dominic, I did not like the Freedom Clause, and while I did like Daphne, I did not like many of the things the author put her through. Ditto for Dominic as well; that guy went through a LOT of childhood stuff.

No more details so as not to give spoilers.

Thank you to NetGalley for a review copy of the ebook. All opinions are mine.

I'm going to be a bit of an outlier on this book. I really had trouble liking both main characters at times and I really, really could not stand Dominic at all. Feeling this way made it hard to keep reading- I put it down a number of times in frustration. It did pull together toward the end for me, at least as far as Daphne's character goes, but by and large it was just not for me.

This book wasn't for me. I did enjoy the self-empowering journey that Daphne experiences and I love the new BFF that The Freedom Clause brought her, but otherwise, I found myself more frustrated than anything and absolutely hating Dominic's character.

What an interesting plot. After several years into a marriage, each partner gets one night to have sex with anyone not in their close circle. They would choose a different person each year to avoid affairs, practice safe sex, and never ask each other questions about their sexual encounters. Also, the clause was never discussed with friends.

It shows how the characters grow and mature with each year and for Daphne, to put her needs first.

A very very good read. Highly recommend.

Book Description:
The Freedom Clause by Hannah Sloane is a dual POV story about Dominic and Daphne. They met early on in college, and they seemed to be a perfect fit. Now after just a few years of marriage, both have gotten comfortable, and the sex is almost nonexistent.

Introduce "the Freedom Clause" - one sexual encounter per year with a stranger, no questions asked. Daphne is hesitant, but of course, Dominic thinks this is just the thing to save their marriage. Since the rules state they aren't allowed to talk about the Freedom Clause to any friends or family, Daphne turns to the anonymity of the internet to express her feelings.

My Thoughts:
I have to admit, I was taken aback by the idea of a "freedom clause," but I was intrigued by the idea and wanted to see how it played out. Hannah Sloane does a great job dissecting their marriage and exploring Dominic's and Daphne's motivations. Sloane offers commentary on the modern day marriage and society's expectations. I loved seeing the changes and Daphne's growth, and I was delightfully surprised by Daphne's recipes! I can't wait to make some "Life Is Messy and So Is This Chocolate Lava Cake." If you're in the mood for one last summer read, add The Freedom Clause to your list!

Read this if you like:
• Sexually empowering stories
• Books with recipes
• Women's fiction

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.