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)

While I enjoyed the story, overall, I really didnt like Dominic. I dont agree with the whole open marriage which is why i didnt like when he suggested anfreedom clause. but i liked this story and I would definitely read more by this author.

Thanks to netgalley and publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own and aren’t influenced by anyine else.

I enjoyed some parts but not others. I liked the overall message of the book but not the execution at times. I didn't feel that interested in the characters themselves so was hard to be invested in their relationship issues.

The Freedom Clause by Hannah Sloane leaves the reader examining what a marriage really is. What lengths would you go to to keep your partner happily married to you? Dominic and Daphne have been together since college. They are each other's first loves and serious relationships. Five years into their marriage they decide to try something new to liven things up. This decision leaves them wondering if they'll ever be happy together again. Read and enjoy!

Feeling dissatisfied in their marriage, 20-somethings Daphne and Dominic decide to open up their marriage. They come to an agreement where they get one night a year off from their marriage. Over the course of five years, we get to see how it plays out for them, watching as it influences not only their marriage but who they are as a person.

This was a very respectable debut. While the idea of a freedom clause might sound kind of silly at first, Sloane used it as a jumping point to explore much more in depth concepts. She gave an honest look into what can happen in marriages over time, and how women's need are so often overlooked. I liked seeing Daphne's evolution over the course of the story, and how she showed a different side to typical gender roles in a relationship.

This was a quick read, especially since there are multiple pages of recipes throughout (Daphne's food blog), but the story felt complete and not lacking in depth. The story jumped from person to person a little, but I never found it hard to follow. I commend Sloane for exploring this topic, and for this well-done debut novel!

The Freedom Clause had a pub date of July 25th, so grab it now and let me know what you think!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, NetGalley, and Hannah Sloane for this ARC.

When you get your approved email from @netgalley on a book that hooked you the instant you read the synopsis, you read that book immediately, right? Not exactly, at least in my case.

I thought this was coming out in a week, but was able to also grab the audio to read along. And it made it such a fun experience. I adore listening and following along.

I really enjoyed this one.

A few of my favorite parts:
🍪the use of cooking/baking that was encouraged by the ongoings in Daphne’s life
🍪how Daphne had a realization of how she was being treated; which could be seen as “too late” to some, but it’s never too late to find your worth and move on from those wonky feelings/relationships
🍪how realistic this entire journey felt. I know a lot of people are always trying to find a book they can identify with and I think the Freedom Clause is a book that can be used in any certain situation. Like, I’m almost 32, I’ve never had a relationship, but I could see myself in Daphne.

All in all: what seems to be a nice little “break” for some people, can lead others to know they are better off in the long run. (This is my summary with a large vagueness, so IYKYK)

READ THIS DAMN BOOK. THANKS ☺️

Thank you to: @thedialpress, @netgalley and the one person who did the writing, @hannahsloane for my copy! Can’t wait for the next one 🥰

Daphne and Dominic met in college and married young. At twenty-five, domesticity has settled in. Dominic feels that sex has left their marriage and, in an attempt to revive it, suggests a Freedom Pact: one night once a year to have relations with a stranger, no talking to anyone about it, no affairs, and a different partner each time for five years. Daphne reluctantly agrees to it. The results are enormous for both of them.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Not what I expected from the cover - it's not a trashy romance novel.
I enjoyed this book. I loved Daphne and her recipes.
A fun read :-)

4 stars / This review will be posted on goodreads.com today.


I can tell you this after reading this book. I would never agree to anything even resembling a “freedom clause”. Even if I’d met the man of my dreams at 18, nope. This book proved that it’s a rope to hang your marriage on,

Daphne has always felt that she wasn’t the desirable one. The girl that everyone fell for. She was too bookwormish. Too curvy. Too everything. Until she meets Dominic. And Dominic adores everything about Daphne. Until he doesn’t.

They married very young, before either of them had much romantic experience. When their sex lives go stale, Dominic proposes one day of freedom a year to do whatever with whomever. Daphne is shocked and outraged, but she adores Dominic and doesn’t want her marriage to end. Maybe this is just what their marriage needs.

The book is broken down into before the clause and then the five years following. It is eye opening to see the changes that are affected in their marriage, but also in each of them. For one it is an awakening and a rebirth. For the other not so much. In the end, maybe it’s the right thing, or not.

While I was fully entertained by this book, and adored Daphne, it can also be a cautionary tale. Really well written and quite the page turner, I have nothing bad to say about it. It is a book that is proof that even the strongest marriages sometimes hit speed bumps. I enjoyed every cringe-worthy minute of it. OH and did I mention it’s a cookbook too!

Great novel. Lots of fun.

Daphne and Dominic are married college sweethearts. When they realize they’ve lost that spark, Dominic suggests having one night a year, for five years, where they can sleep with whoever they want (within the rules).

I wanted to love this book. The plot really intrigued me, and I was excited to read it. However it was hard to follow along. Maybe it’s just not the style of writing I prefer. There are weird page breaks throughout the chapters that would switch perspectives/scenes, and sometimes huge chunks of time would go by. I know there was a lot of time that needed to be covered, but it felt like it would skip ahead quite a bit in time with no resolution or follow up to the scene that just played out.

Some of the scenes were very short and would end as soon as something interesting was happening, but others would drag out. I got lost a few times and had to reread the scene. Sometimes I couldn’t differentiate between the voices of Daphne and Dominic.

While I didn’t really connect with any of the characters, the more I read the more I liked Daphne. You can definitely see her growth by the end!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for an arc of this book!

Dominic and Daphne meet while in college and have now been married three years. Already their marriage is a little stale so Dominic suggests a Freedom Clause. The rules are simple and Daphne reluctantly agrees to the terms.

So that’s what it sounds like The Freedom Clause is about—except it isn’t. The Freedom Clause takes place over the five years of the agreement and is about Daphne and how she ends up finding herself over the period of the clause.

You will find yourself cheering Daphne and anxious to see how her life evolves because of the freedom clause.

While I enjoyed the story, overall, I don't believe I have ever disliked a character as much as I do Dominic. I disliked him when he suggested the freedom clause and my dislike only grew through the course of the book. Daphne grew so much over the years of the clause and had so many revelations in her life. The whole idea of opening a marriage to others isn't in my wheelhouse but the subject matter didn't interfere with my wanting to read the story. I would definitely read more by this author.

Daphne and Dominic are both 25 and married right out of college. Their sex lives seem to be dying and wondering what could save the marriage Dominic has an idea. For the next five years, they could each have a different partner for just one night in each year. There were rules such as no repeat partners and no partners among their families or friends. Would this sexual freedom help the marriage to flourish or will it kill it? So entertaining!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.