Open All the Way: Confessions From My Open Marriage

by Sadie Smythe, Lisa Madeleine Boone (Editor), Brad Walton (Illustrator)

Open All the Way marks Sadie Smythe’s foray into long-range storytelling. Most well known for her outspoken commentary on her blog, about relationship paradigms and the navigation through her own alternative arrangement with her husband Scott, Sadie is very excited to offer her loyal readers a larger-lensed view into her openly married life. Each chapter of Open All the Way is an individual story in itself. But the combined ensemble compellingly chronicles her journey. Sadie, in her straightforward style, discusses openly and honestly the numerous pitfalls she and her husband encountered along the way while intellectually and entertainingly supporting her choices. It’s sexy, smart, and provocative prose; a full, fascinating glimpse into an untraditional relationship.

Genres: Polyamory, Sexuality, Nonfiction

235 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 14, 2011

Reviews

[Beverly Diehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This memoir of a woman opening up her marriage isn't for everyone. Most of it is written in a light, often humorous style, easy to read. What I especially liked is the author was very frank about her own shortcomings and failures, including her battle with booze. She didn't try to portray herself as an angel, but as a very human woman who was never cut out for monogamy, and decided not to pretend she was. The last section is VERY sexy, but most of it is about the emotions, not the genitals.

[Esther · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was well written at times, but it does no favors for the open marriage movement; the author is clearly a selfish moron.

[Sam Holstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m glad I read this book, but it does throw me off that the author ended up getting a divorce and becoming a lesbian. The book concluded in 2011 with the author singing the praises of her marriage. As of 2018, the author is now divorced, and a lesbian, and all this. I guess it just makes me wonder what the author would say about all that happened in the book, seven years down the road.

[Brett Wedlund · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was nowhere near what I expected. I thinking it might be a narrative about the authors lifestyle but it quickly turned into a retelling of sexual exploits without much reflection or discussion beyond that.

[Joli Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but not my style.