Review by Booklist Review
Fliss and Holly are each at a crossroads in their romantic relationships when a chance meeting in a restaurant bathroom results in an instant friendship between the two young women. Holly has been dating her boyfriend for nearly a decade when, instead of the marriage proposal she expects, he suggests that they try an open relationship. Meanwhile, Fliss thought that she and her partner were on the same page in their committed open relationship when he tells her he wants to be monogamous. The newfound friendship between Fliss and Holly is exactly what the other needs as they respond to these recent developments. Navigating evolving relationship dynamics proves to be a bumpy ride, but with their friends providing steadying advice, each woman discovers quite a bit more about herself than she'd ever imagined. Told with humor and empathy for each woman's situation, Seager's adult debut features two likeable heroines that readers will root for as the women figure out what they want, not just in their romantic lives, but in their careers, friendships, and familial relationships.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Seager (the Emma Nash novels), a literary agent and YA author, makes her adult debut with an effervescent chronicle of two women's inverse dating lives and their illuminating friendship. Holly, an aspiring fashion designer in London, suspects her boyfriend of nine years, Will, is finally ready to propose. Much to her dismay, he instead suggests they open their relationship. Fliss, a free-spirited translator, has been in a happily open relationship for three years. Then her boyfriend suggests they become exclusive. Holly and Fliss meet in a restaurant bathroom while Holly is on her first date with a carbon copy of Will, and they decide to have dinner together. Holly ditches her date, and Fliss dispenses advice on how to handle seeing new people. Their fledgling friendship is cemented in their subsequent text thread, as Holly dates different types of men and Fliss emotionally cheats on her now-exclusive boyfriend with an ex. Seager creates a natural chemistry between her leads, playing the naive Holly off the wise and witty Fliss ("You don't have to explain yourself to random women in bathrooms," Fliss says to Holly twice, as Holly proceeds to unload on her). As the narrative unfolds, both women confront society's expectations for a "typical" relationship and come to terms with what they need for themselves. Readers will fall in love with this one. Agent: Ginger Clark, Ginger Clark Literary. (Nov.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A rom-com highlighting the intricacies of exploring ethical non-monogamy. Holly and Fliss have plenty in common: the two women are young, white, straight millennials living in London, working steady jobs, and enjoying loving relationships with their long-term partners. Holly, a fashion design assistant, has been with her boyfriend, Will, for nearly a decade. When he plans a rare date night, she feels nearly certain he'll propose. To her dismay, she leaves dinner ringless and damn near devastated--Will wants to open their relationship. Holly feels "like [she's] just been hit in the back of the head with a really fast, hard ball." She finds the prospect of dating other people repulsive, but agrees to try it temporarily. On the other hand, Fliss, a translator, can't imagine committing to monogamy. Her and her boyfriend, Ash, have been open for the entirety of their three-year relationship, and it works well for them. She's taken aback when Ash asks her to close their relationship--she enjoys having the freedom to make new connections and sleep with whomever she likes--but, as she loves Ash, she agrees to give it a shot. When Holly and Fliss meet by chance in a restaurant bathroom, they strike up a friendship and agree to guide the other through their new relationship dynamics. What does and doesn't make relationships ethical and healthy is a critical question posed in this novel. Seager presents plenty of realistic depictions of the tension and even turbulence that can rock a relationship when one partner desires monogamy and one doesn't, especially when faulty communication burdens the relationship further. "He's magnificent," Fliss thinks of Ash, "but can he be everything I need? Can anyone?" The writing tilts young--this is Seager's first novel for adults--but Holly and Fliss are charming protagonists with impressive force of character. Their stories demonstrate that it's unwise to elevate monogamous romantic relationships over all other forms of connection, including friendships, which can be just as precious. A worthwhile read for those interested in open relationships. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
