An unprecedented exploration of polyamory and gaslighting, from an award-winning journalist chronicling her first open relationship with unflinching candor as she explores this fast-growing movement
“[A] sincere and curious reckoning with the cultural messaging we all receive about gendered expectations and power dynamics in romantic and sexual relationships.”—NPR
FINALIST FOR THE LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD • ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: PopSugar, Them
Can we have both freedom and love? Comfort and lust? Is a relationship ever equal? And is the pleasure worth the pain?
When Rachel Krantz met and fell for Adam, he told her that he was looking for a committed partnership—just one that did not include exclusivity. Intrigued and more than a little nervous, Rachel decided to see whether their love could be open and coexist with the freedom to date other people. Could they strike an exquisite balance between intimacy and independence, and find a way to feel passion for one another once the honeymoon phase ended?
For Open, her extraordinary debut memoir, Rachel interviewed scientists, psychologists, and people living and loving outside the mainstream as she searched to understand what non-monogamy would do to her heart, her mind, and her life. From exploring Brooklyn sex parties to the wider swinger and polyamory communities, Rachel and Adam attempt to write a new plot for their love story. But as the miscommunications and power imbalances mount, Rachel finds herself anxious, emotionally isolated, and seeking solid ground in a relationship where the rules seem to be ever-shifting. In Open, Rachel casts new light on the unique ways coercion and gaslighting manifest in open relationships, and finds herself wondering what liberation really looks like.
With an unflinching eye and page-turning storytelling, Open is groundbreaking in both its documentarian approach to polyamory and its explicit subject matter. From debilitating anxiety spirals to heart-opening connections with the men and women she dates, Rachel puts her whole self on the line as she attempts to redefine what a relationship is—or could be.
An unprecedented exploration of polyamory and gaslighting, from an award-winning journalist chronicling her first open relationship with unflinching candor as she explores this fast-growing movement
“[A] sincere and curious reckoning with the cultural messaging we all receive about gendered expectations and power dynamics in romantic and sexual relationships.”—NPR
FINALIST FOR THE LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD • ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: PopSugar, Them
Can we have both freedom and love? Comfort and lust? Is a relationship ever equal? And is the pleasure worth the pain?
When Rachel Krantz met and fell for Adam, he told her that he was looking for a committed partnership—just one that did not include exclusivity. Intrigued and more than a little nervous, Rachel decided to see whether their love could be open and coexist with the freedom to date other people. Could they strike an exquisite balance between intimacy and independence, and find a way to feel passion for one another once the honeymoon phase ended?
For Open, her extraordinary debut memoir, Rachel interviewed scientists, psychologists, and people living and loving outside the mainstream as she searched to understand what non-monogamy would do to her heart, her mind, and her life. From exploring Brooklyn sex parties to the wider swinger and polyamory communities, Rachel and Adam attempt to write a new plot for their love story. But as the miscommunications and power imbalances mount, Rachel finds herself anxious, emotionally isolated, and seeking solid ground in a relationship where the rules seem to be ever-shifting. In Open, Rachel casts new light on the unique ways coercion and gaslighting manifest in open relationships, and finds herself wondering what liberation really looks like.
With an unflinching eye and page-turning storytelling, Open is groundbreaking in both its documentarian approach to polyamory and its explicit subject matter. From debilitating anxiety spirals to heart-opening connections with the men and women she dates, Rachel puts her whole self on the line as she attempts to redefine what a relationship is—or could be.
Rachel Krantz is a journalist and one of the founding editors of Bustle, where she served as senior features editor for three years. Her work has been featured on NPR, The Guardian, Vox, Vice, and many other outlets. She’s the recipient of the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, the Investigative Reporters and Editors Radio Award, the Edward R. Murrow Award, and the Peabody Award for her work as an investigative reporter with YR Media. Open is her first book.
“Open is . . . neither a manifesto of polyamorous ideals nor an
argument against it. Instead, it’s Krantz’s sincere and curious
reckoning with the cultural messaging we all receive about gendered
expectations and power dynamics in romantic and sexual
relationships in general . . .”—NPR
“Open has all the makings of a juicy beach read—romance, sex,
deception, and twists—except that it’s an ‘obsessively documented’
account, per Krantz, of her real-life open relationship.”—Vogue
“[Krantz’s] breathtaking honesty in probing the serious downsides
of polyamory while eschewing outmoded patriarchal codes of morality
should allow for an overdue dialogue about what makes any
relationship work.”—Los Angeles Times
“A sexy, messy, necessary look at polyamory.”—The Advocate
“Heavily researched and incredibly vulnerable.”—Shondaland
“Generous and fearless . . . Open is an insightful and
compassionate reminder that nonmonogamy—like any other intimate
relationship—is only as viable as the humans involved make
it.”—Bitch
“Krantz’s experiences with non-monogamy are plenty engrossing in
and of themselves. But she doesn’t stop there. Instead, Krantz uses
her considerable journalistic talents to widen her lens, including
perspectives that are too often marginalized. A valuable
contribution to the growing body of work on non-monogamous
relationships.”—Molly Roden Winter, author of the New York Times
bestseller More: A Memoir of Open Marriage
Open is a raw and courageous exploration of the complexities of
non-monogamous relationships. I couldn’t put it down! Through
meticulous documentation and unflinching honesty, Krantz navigates
the highs and lows of her journey, offering readers a deeply
personal and thought-provoking look at love, sex, power dynamics,
and self-discovery.”—Jessica Fern, author of Polysecure
“Open is a smart, original, ambitious, and deeply absorbing memoir,
in part because Krantz wants no less than to help us rethink the
concepts of love, sex, and power as we know them. She succeeds by
bringing us deftly and irresistibly into her most intimate pains
and joys, stretching our understanding of what commitment and
autonomy mean.”—Dr. Wednesday Martin, author of Untrue and Primates
of Park Avenue
“Seamlessly shifting from a critique of evolutionary biology to the
first touch of his hand on her thigh, this polyamorous
coming-of-age story crackles with equal parts erotic energy and
searching commentary. A perfect guide to our new world, the only
problem I had picking up this book was putting it back
down.”—Terrence Real, bestselling author of Us: Getting Past You
and Me to Build a More Loving Relationship
“Krantz offers an unflinchingly honest account of the highs
and lows of non-monogamous relationships, beautifully illustrating
the ways that opening up one’s relationship can offer tremendous
freedom and painful imprisonment.”—Lux Alptraum, author of Faking
It: The Lies Women Tell About Sex —And the Truths They Reveal
“Titillating . . . Krantz sweeps readers into a narrative that
seduces and educates in equal measure . . . [Open] offers an
alluring and insightful look at a life lived outside of
conventional structures.”—Publishers Weekly
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