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The Freedom Clause: A Novel
What happens if you find your true love too soon? Could one night off a year save your marriage—or destroy it? In this bold and sexy debut, a young couple discovers that a little freedom has surprising consequences.
“A delicious novel . . . Nora Ephron fans will delight in this debut.”—Amanda Eyre Ward, New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters
Dominic and Daphne met in their first week of college, and they’ve been happily married for three years. They love each other deeply but perhaps have become too comfortable, and their sex life isn’t what anyone would call thrilling. So, on New Year’s Day, Dominic blurts out a suggestion before it’s fully worked out in his what if they open up their marriage?
Daphne reluctantly agrees—with conditions. They can sleep with one other person, one night a year, and the agreement has a five-year expiration date. It’s not a total free-for-all on their vows, but an amendment. They call it the Freedom Clause.
It isn’t long before Daphne and Dominic find themselves—and their marriage—altered in unexpected ways. Embracing the spirit of the Clause, Daphne pushes herself to be more assertive in asking for what she wants. She begins chronicling her journey of self-discovery in an anonymous newsletter, sharing recipes inspired by her conquests, and soon realizes that one night off a year isn’t a small change . . . it’s a seismic one.
Eventually, Daphne and Dominic are reconsidering everything—each other, their relationship, and themselves. Can they survive the Freedom Clause? Do they even want to?
“A delicious novel . . . Nora Ephron fans will delight in this debut.”—Amanda Eyre Ward, New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters
Dominic and Daphne met in their first week of college, and they’ve been happily married for three years. They love each other deeply but perhaps have become too comfortable, and their sex life isn’t what anyone would call thrilling. So, on New Year’s Day, Dominic blurts out a suggestion before it’s fully worked out in his what if they open up their marriage?
Daphne reluctantly agrees—with conditions. They can sleep with one other person, one night a year, and the agreement has a five-year expiration date. It’s not a total free-for-all on their vows, but an amendment. They call it the Freedom Clause.
It isn’t long before Daphne and Dominic find themselves—and their marriage—altered in unexpected ways. Embracing the spirit of the Clause, Daphne pushes herself to be more assertive in asking for what she wants. She begins chronicling her journey of self-discovery in an anonymous newsletter, sharing recipes inspired by her conquests, and soon realizes that one night off a year isn’t a small change . . . it’s a seismic one.
Eventually, Daphne and Dominic are reconsidering everything—each other, their relationship, and themselves. Can they survive the Freedom Clause? Do they even want to?
328 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2023
56 people are currently reading
12270 people want to read
About the author
Hannah Sloane
3 books83 followersHannah Sloane grew up in England. She read History at the University of Bristol. She is the author of THE FREEDOM CLAUSE, her debut novel, which was named a Best Book of Summer by the New York Post. She has dual citizenship and she lives in Brooklyn with her partner, Sam.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 388 reviews
May 16, 2023
What happens to two people who met when they were only 18, being each other's first for everything including commitment, sex, and friendship, and jumping into marriage after the end of college? At the age of 25, they realized their sex life was already dead. Could counseling or special rituals to spice things up save their marriage? Dominic, the devoted husband of Daphne, had a creative idea called the Freedom Clause, which included one night of casual sex with a stranger throughout five years to save their marriage.
The rules were simple: they had the freedom for only one night a year for the rest of their marriage with just one person. They could not sleep with people in their close circle, including family and friends. They would choose a different person each year to avoid affairs, practice safe sex, and never ask questions about each other's sexual encounters. They would never talk about this freedom clause with their friends.
Daphne had second thoughts about accepting this freedom clause, even though the excitement of dating someone new and discovering herself tempted her. She reluctantly accepted the offer. But the biggest question still distracted her mind. Would one night out save her marriage or destroy everything they had worked for over the years?
I won't give spoilers, but I can honestly say it was impossible not to root for Daphne - her fears, struggles, evolution, and inner fights. It was so inspiring to see her literally roar, rise from her ashes, sharpen her claws, stand up for herself and her needs. I just fist pumped and screamed, "Go girl!"
Throughout each year, she changed, grew up, and learned what kind of person she wanted to be! The parts of "Confessions of a Highly Emotional Cook" were so honest and direct! She poured out her heart into words. Those were the most poetic, genuine, and inspirational parts of the book.
Mostly, I loved the ending. It was well-executed, realistic, and extremely satisfying.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Dial Press Trade Paperback for sharing this powerful book's digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
The rules were simple: they had the freedom for only one night a year for the rest of their marriage with just one person. They could not sleep with people in their close circle, including family and friends. They would choose a different person each year to avoid affairs, practice safe sex, and never ask questions about each other's sexual encounters. They would never talk about this freedom clause with their friends.
Daphne had second thoughts about accepting this freedom clause, even though the excitement of dating someone new and discovering herself tempted her. She reluctantly accepted the offer. But the biggest question still distracted her mind. Would one night out save her marriage or destroy everything they had worked for over the years?
I won't give spoilers, but I can honestly say it was impossible not to root for Daphne - her fears, struggles, evolution, and inner fights. It was so inspiring to see her literally roar, rise from her ashes, sharpen her claws, stand up for herself and her needs. I just fist pumped and screamed, "Go girl!"
Throughout each year, she changed, grew up, and learned what kind of person she wanted to be! The parts of "Confessions of a Highly Emotional Cook" were so honest and direct! She poured out her heart into words. Those were the most poetic, genuine, and inspirational parts of the book.
Mostly, I loved the ending. It was well-executed, realistic, and extremely satisfying.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Dial Press Trade Paperback for sharing this powerful book's digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
November 3, 2024
i am so fucking angry and so fucking proud.
August 13, 2023
Here’s the Freedom Clause, every year for five years you get to sleep with one person and you cannot tell anyone else about it…
In The Freedom Clause we meet married couple Dominic and Daphne they met when they were in college and got married after. They were each other’s firsts and have been married for three years. During a conversation they talked about the fact that they haven’t had sex in months, that their marriage has hit a roadblock. To remedy the situation, Dominic suggests the Freedom Clause.
What is the Freedom Clause? Well both Dominica and Daphne gets one night off every year for five years to sleep with someone. Yes, there are rules:
It cannot be the same person, you know they don’t want to have an affair.
They can’t tell each other about it.
They can’t tell their friends about it.
After the five years, they will come back together and decide if they want to continue or see how it changed or improved their marriage.
Of course, when Dominic suggests this, Daphne was taken aback and did not know if she agreed but she slowly warms up to the idea with the rules in place. The first freedom happens with and both Dominic and Daphne did not expect it to be so hard and eventful. Daphne, not being able to tell her friends about the clause starts a blog that details everything that does down, the blog goes viral. We see how the Freedowm Clause changes both Dominic and Daphne for better and for worse… while the Freedom Clause make or break their marriage?
I love a book with a great premise and I loved this one because it is absolutely ridiculous. Yes, I’ve never been married but if you decide to do a Freedom Clause you are absolutely asking for trouble and trouble is what this couple got! Did I love this book? No. Did I enjoy reading this book? There were some enjoyable parts. Would I recommend this book? I think so. What I enjoyed was seeing how the Freedom Clause pans out because there will be drama and drama there was.
I think the author was very heavy handed and wanted Daphne to “win” from the start. I felt that the author’s writing of Dominic was one-dimensional, we literally see him starting out as a great boyfriend and husband to becoming a villain and it just felt like she wanted to highlight Daphne’s character arc more. Yes, I enjoyed Daphne coming into her own but I think it could have been done without making Dominic a villain.
Either, way, a get exploration of the Freedom Clause.
In The Freedom Clause we meet married couple Dominic and Daphne they met when they were in college and got married after. They were each other’s firsts and have been married for three years. During a conversation they talked about the fact that they haven’t had sex in months, that their marriage has hit a roadblock. To remedy the situation, Dominic suggests the Freedom Clause.
What is the Freedom Clause? Well both Dominica and Daphne gets one night off every year for five years to sleep with someone. Yes, there are rules:
It cannot be the same person, you know they don’t want to have an affair.
They can’t tell each other about it.
They can’t tell their friends about it.
After the five years, they will come back together and decide if they want to continue or see how it changed or improved their marriage.
Of course, when Dominic suggests this, Daphne was taken aback and did not know if she agreed but she slowly warms up to the idea with the rules in place. The first freedom happens with and both Dominic and Daphne did not expect it to be so hard and eventful. Daphne, not being able to tell her friends about the clause starts a blog that details everything that does down, the blog goes viral. We see how the Freedowm Clause changes both Dominic and Daphne for better and for worse… while the Freedom Clause make or break their marriage?
I love a book with a great premise and I loved this one because it is absolutely ridiculous. Yes, I’ve never been married but if you decide to do a Freedom Clause you are absolutely asking for trouble and trouble is what this couple got! Did I love this book? No. Did I enjoy reading this book? There were some enjoyable parts. Would I recommend this book? I think so. What I enjoyed was seeing how the Freedom Clause pans out because there will be drama and drama there was.
I think the author was very heavy handed and wanted Daphne to “win” from the start. I felt that the author’s writing of Dominic was one-dimensional, we literally see him starting out as a great boyfriend and husband to becoming a villain and it just felt like she wanted to highlight Daphne’s character arc more. Yes, I enjoyed Daphne coming into her own but I think it could have been done without making Dominic a villain.
Either, way, a get exploration of the Freedom Clause.
May 4, 2023
Truly one of the biggest disappointments. Which is a shame because I found the writing to be so enchantingly vivid and emotional. I loved the structure of the scenes themselves. Hannah Sloane did a wonderful job of describing the details in gorgeous clips. Small bits like the slow strum of an acoustic guitar, a bird over a fence, a still and cloudless sky drop us directly into the interactions between the characters and their escapades. But ultimately, In the beginning it's easy to be charmed by the innocence of the two protagonists, and how easily they fall into each other. But they soon become completely insufferable. Everything that happens to them is completely situational. Almost all the unfortunate instances fall on Dominic while the amazing moments of self discovery happen to Daphne. Dominic is constantly stuck with writer’s block. He gets rejected when he attempts to make use of the Freedom Clause, and, in one instance, his luck is so awful that a misunderstanding forces him to quit his job. And he has to deal with friends that don’t genuinely care about him. On the other end, Daphne has a lot of success with the Freedom Clause, and four out of her five sexual escapades end in cathartic orgasms. Her run in with a random stranger ends up in an encouraging and supportive friendship from (mainly from their end because we rarely see Daphne tending to him). She lands a job at the first food magazine she interviews for, and easily moves into editorial after her first meeting with the editor-in-chief, which she didn’t even request. Her cooking blog becomes a national sensation within two years of its creation. And she’s easily able to replace all her sour childhood memories with the discovery of her birth father, who instantly cozies up to her and invites her into his life. Their roles could easily reverse and it wouldn’t make a difference in plot. Naturally, whoever is dealt the unlucky hand will wallow in self doubt and insecurity, while whoever walks away with the stacked deck will flourish and blossom. By the last forty to thirty percent of the novel, it feels that the world is just packing punches against Dominic, constantly leaving him to feel even more lousy and insignificant. If he had gotten a few publishing offers and high altitude orgasms then this easily could have been about his journey to self confidence.
More so, the characters of color, particularly Ash and Aparna, are treated as plot support for Daphne rather than actual well-rounded characters. Ash is the gay best friend, who encourages spontaneity without any filter or inhibition. Most of his dialogue is centered around Daphne’s confidence, either by helping her change or emphasizing her growth towards the second half of the novel. Aside from two instances in the beginning, Aparna only shows up every so often to worry about Daphne or to lament about her marriage with Dominic. In addition, there’s Rafael, who Daphne sleeps with in Mexico. He solely exists to be a young, attractive, Mexican man, who is unable to speak English but is still capable of eliciting mind-numbing orgasms.
It’s clear that Hannah Sloane intended for the message of her novel to encourage women to gain confidence and refuse to settle for anything mediocre. But unfortunately she completely misses the mark and ignores the multi-dimensionality of women. Confident women can still make mistakes and apologize for their transgressions. Empowered women are capable of hurting others and being ignorant. Confident women are capable of going into phases of insecurity and toxicity. And empowered women don’t always dress to the nines and look conventionally attractive. I wish that feminism and gender equality was as simple as getting a makeover, traveling to Mexico for an “Eat, Pray, Love” revelation, and having a few orgasms. I wish those makeovers and orgasms can blow away misogynistic men in positions of power, pay inequality, and systematic industries that cater and favor white men. I wish a simple trip to Mexico would fix all the women who destroy and knock down other women to get ahead. But it’s not that simple. And building self-confidence is genuine work. It’s about facing your demons, and sometimes accepting that said demons will be ugly. It’s about accepting the negative sides of yourself, and learning to apologize and forgive. It’s about learning to accept rejection and taking all the punches that life throws at you with your head held high. It’s about boldly facing sexism that comes in packages of micro-aggressions and systematic institutions that won’t be fixed by telling off your egotistical boss just once. And most importantly, it’s learning to treat others with compassion and staying humble.
In the end, the basic half-baked feminism is what holds “The Freedom Clause” back. Both the men and the women are one note and predictable. There aren’t any solutions presented to real world issues to help women who may be experiencing discrimination or harassment in the work place. And there aren’t any suggestions for men who are struggling to find their footing in their own relationships or suffering from their own forms of sexism. Instead, all we end up with is the story of one woman’s happenstance with confidence, and her husband’s inability to deal with miscommunication. Nothing else and certainly nothing more.
More so, the characters of color, particularly Ash and Aparna, are treated as plot support for Daphne rather than actual well-rounded characters. Ash is the gay best friend, who encourages spontaneity without any filter or inhibition. Most of his dialogue is centered around Daphne’s confidence, either by helping her change or emphasizing her growth towards the second half of the novel. Aside from two instances in the beginning, Aparna only shows up every so often to worry about Daphne or to lament about her marriage with Dominic. In addition, there’s Rafael, who Daphne sleeps with in Mexico. He solely exists to be a young, attractive, Mexican man, who is unable to speak English but is still capable of eliciting mind-numbing orgasms.
It’s clear that Hannah Sloane intended for the message of her novel to encourage women to gain confidence and refuse to settle for anything mediocre. But unfortunately she completely misses the mark and ignores the multi-dimensionality of women. Confident women can still make mistakes and apologize for their transgressions. Empowered women are capable of hurting others and being ignorant. Confident women are capable of going into phases of insecurity and toxicity. And empowered women don’t always dress to the nines and look conventionally attractive. I wish that feminism and gender equality was as simple as getting a makeover, traveling to Mexico for an “Eat, Pray, Love” revelation, and having a few orgasms. I wish those makeovers and orgasms can blow away misogynistic men in positions of power, pay inequality, and systematic industries that cater and favor white men. I wish a simple trip to Mexico would fix all the women who destroy and knock down other women to get ahead. But it’s not that simple. And building self-confidence is genuine work. It’s about facing your demons, and sometimes accepting that said demons will be ugly. It’s about accepting the negative sides of yourself, and learning to apologize and forgive. It’s about learning to accept rejection and taking all the punches that life throws at you with your head held high. It’s about boldly facing sexism that comes in packages of micro-aggressions and systematic institutions that won’t be fixed by telling off your egotistical boss just once. And most importantly, it’s learning to treat others with compassion and staying humble.
In the end, the basic half-baked feminism is what holds “The Freedom Clause” back. Both the men and the women are one note and predictable. There aren’t any solutions presented to real world issues to help women who may be experiencing discrimination or harassment in the work place. And there aren’t any suggestions for men who are struggling to find their footing in their own relationships or suffering from their own forms of sexism. Instead, all we end up with is the story of one woman’s happenstance with confidence, and her husband’s inability to deal with miscommunication. Nothing else and certainly nothing more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2023
Do you cook at home or eat out more? Do you enjoy reading books that include recipes?
The Freedom Clause
By Hannah Sloane
Pub Date: 01 Aug 2023
Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback
After meeting and graduating from college, Dominic and Daphne marry. She is a talented chef and Dominic aspires to publish a book. Dominic proposes a Freedom Clause that allows each of them to have a safe sexual relationship outside of the marriage once a year without being questioned. It is a free pass to cheat...or is it?
Insecurities, family history, and infidelity play a large role in The Freedom Clause. As I read this book, I was captivated by its attention-grabbing nature! It moves along nicely and is a pleasant read. Recipes were also incorporated into the plot, which I enjoyed.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback for the opportunity to review this book. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an original and engaging read. I'm sure I'll make the Chocolate Lava Cake soon!
#TheFreedomClause #NetGalley #RandomHouse #Netgalleyapprovals #Netgalleyapproval @advancedreaderscopy #tbrbooks #tbrpile #bookaddict #bookreviewer #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra
The Freedom Clause
By Hannah Sloane
Pub Date: 01 Aug 2023
Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback
After meeting and graduating from college, Dominic and Daphne marry. She is a talented chef and Dominic aspires to publish a book. Dominic proposes a Freedom Clause that allows each of them to have a safe sexual relationship outside of the marriage once a year without being questioned. It is a free pass to cheat...or is it?
Insecurities, family history, and infidelity play a large role in The Freedom Clause. As I read this book, I was captivated by its attention-grabbing nature! It moves along nicely and is a pleasant read. Recipes were also incorporated into the plot, which I enjoyed.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback for the opportunity to review this book. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an original and engaging read. I'm sure I'll make the Chocolate Lava Cake soon!
#TheFreedomClause #NetGalley #RandomHouse #Netgalleyapprovals #Netgalleyapproval @advancedreaderscopy #tbrbooks #tbrpile #bookaddict #bookreviewer #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra
March 20, 2023
This was so not what I was expecting when I picked up this book but wow I devoured this like one of Daphne’s recipes. When Daphne and her husband made the decision to open their marriage I expected it to be a world of hurt for her but it was amazing seeing Daphne unfurl for lack of a better world. Highly recommend this book and I have to try her salad
October 25, 2023
What in the realistic relationship is this?? I binged in less than a day. The story flows smoothly so it’s easy to start and not want to stop. The major plus -recipes are included and I must say I’m dying to try the oh so famous salad.
At the age of 18, Daphne had her life figured out. Date all through her 20s get married in her 30s. That all changes the first week of college when she meets Dominic. Now married in their 20s, they are learning how different they are. The two are struggling and are looking for a way to keep their marriage alive by giving themselves a single night 1 day a year for five years. What could go wrong?
Throughout the story it amazes me how we see Daphne change. In the beginning she lacks confidence and picks herself apart and we watch her blossom into her own skin. She finds her own sexuality and in it she finds a new career path.
Dominic on the other hand … well… read the story to find out- trust me I have a lot to say about him.
Sloane did an incredible job showing how much growth the two went through during this experiment and just how much a relationship changes over time. I rate this 4.5
Thank you to NetGalley, Hannah Sloane and Random House Publishing Group for a copy of The Freedom Clause in exchange for an honest review.
At the age of 18, Daphne had her life figured out. Date all through her 20s get married in her 30s. That all changes the first week of college when she meets Dominic. Now married in their 20s, they are learning how different they are. The two are struggling and are looking for a way to keep their marriage alive by giving themselves a single night 1 day a year for five years. What could go wrong?
Throughout the story it amazes me how we see Daphne change. In the beginning she lacks confidence and picks herself apart and we watch her blossom into her own skin. She finds her own sexuality and in it she finds a new career path.
Dominic on the other hand … well… read the story to find out- trust me I have a lot to say about him.
Sloane did an incredible job showing how much growth the two went through during this experiment and just how much a relationship changes over time. I rate this 4.5
Thank you to NetGalley, Hannah Sloane and Random House Publishing Group for a copy of The Freedom Clause in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2023
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.
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.
April 30, 2023
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!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
October 3, 2023
one star for daphne. one star for lava cake.
February 24, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
The Freedom Clause.
You just know with a premise like this, it won't end well for the couple in question.
** Minor non-monogamous spoilers ahead **
Daphne and Dominic met in college. Got married.
And now their marriage is in a rut.
When Dominic suggests the freedom clause, with stipulations from Daphne, the couple embarks on a whirlwind journey to discovering themselves.
This is really Daphne's story; a quiet introvert, the freedom clause empowers and helps her discover and explore her sexuality.
The clause teaches her not to be afraid to seek pleasure for herself and to change her life.
Dominic is a dud. Simple as that.
I like the premise, but I had a lot of issues with it, namely that the narrative read as if sex was causing the marriage to feel stale.
A marriage is between two people; if you're having intimacy issues, it's not sex that's the problem, it's you and your partner.
Lack of intimacy is a symptom something is fundamentally wrong with your marriage.
Daphne and Dominic are not likable characters. They both possess little confidence and self esteem, stemming from troubled (and traumatic childhoods).
Dominic is the saddest sack of them all.
His views on marriage and love and being loved are pathetic, yet honest because I know a couple of people (who shall remain nameless) who view marriage in this way; marriage means you're loved.
Wrong! People get married for a lot of reasons, and, if you're lucky, it's for love.
Dominic's idea of the freedom clause didn't ring true.
The author describes a man who adores and worships Daphne, thinks the sun and the moon of her but is quick to suggest one day out of the year in which anything sex-wise goes?
Not buying it.
I understand why Dominic and Daphne got together; they're both lonely and have similar lonely childhoods, but there was no chemistry between them. Their relationship was almost perfunctory.
I didn't like Dominic or Daphne, even after Daphne was empowered, became a literary sensation and got the job she wanted.
I thought they were doormats, spineless, and weak in character and personality.
Dominic, no surprise, is described as a weak and pathetic man who breaks most of the rules of the clause.
I wonder if the author is trying to say something about men in general.
The only decent man is Daphne's biological dad, and he only shows up at the end of the novel.
I knew Daphne and Dominic wouldn't remain together by the end of the story and I liked the open ended ending.
But I had hoped the main male character wasn't such a sleazebag.
You just know with a premise like this, it won't end well for the couple in question.
** Minor non-monogamous spoilers ahead **
Daphne and Dominic met in college. Got married.
And now their marriage is in a rut.
When Dominic suggests the freedom clause, with stipulations from Daphne, the couple embarks on a whirlwind journey to discovering themselves.
This is really Daphne's story; a quiet introvert, the freedom clause empowers and helps her discover and explore her sexuality.
The clause teaches her not to be afraid to seek pleasure for herself and to change her life.
Dominic is a dud. Simple as that.
I like the premise, but I had a lot of issues with it, namely that the narrative read as if sex was causing the marriage to feel stale.
A marriage is between two people; if you're having intimacy issues, it's not sex that's the problem, it's you and your partner.
Lack of intimacy is a symptom something is fundamentally wrong with your marriage.
Daphne and Dominic are not likable characters. They both possess little confidence and self esteem, stemming from troubled (and traumatic childhoods).
Dominic is the saddest sack of them all.
His views on marriage and love and being loved are pathetic, yet honest because I know a couple of people (who shall remain nameless) who view marriage in this way; marriage means you're loved.
Wrong! People get married for a lot of reasons, and, if you're lucky, it's for love.
Dominic's idea of the freedom clause didn't ring true.
The author describes a man who adores and worships Daphne, thinks the sun and the moon of her but is quick to suggest one day out of the year in which anything sex-wise goes?
Not buying it.
I understand why Dominic and Daphne got together; they're both lonely and have similar lonely childhoods, but there was no chemistry between them. Their relationship was almost perfunctory.
I didn't like Dominic or Daphne, even after Daphne was empowered, became a literary sensation and got the job she wanted.
I thought they were doormats, spineless, and weak in character and personality.
Dominic, no surprise, is described as a weak and pathetic man who breaks most of the rules of the clause.
I wonder if the author is trying to say something about men in general.
The only decent man is Daphne's biological dad, and he only shows up at the end of the novel.
I knew Daphne and Dominic wouldn't remain together by the end of the story and I liked the open ended ending.
But I had hoped the main male character wasn't such a sleazebag.
May 19, 2023
4.5/5
This book explores the ways we lose ourselves in a relationship and how we settle for less or become comfortable with putting our partners needs ahead of our own. This couple chooses to allow the other to have one night of sexual freedom a year in order to keep things alive.
I think this book is important because many women unfortunately wind up making themselves small in order to make more room for men in their lives, but at what cost?
I would highly recommend this book to others.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity read and review this ARC.
This book explores the ways we lose ourselves in a relationship and how we settle for less or become comfortable with putting our partners needs ahead of our own. This couple chooses to allow the other to have one night of sexual freedom a year in order to keep things alive.
I think this book is important because many women unfortunately wind up making themselves small in order to make more room for men in their lives, but at what cost?
I would highly recommend this book to others.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity read and review this ARC.
March 19, 2023
This book was amazing! I sat down to start it and looked up when I was about 30% through it. I wound up finishing it in a little over 24 hours.
The story was fascinating. Daphne was such a powerful character. Impossible not to love. Dominic was…. Less lovable for me.
The story is original and easy to get into. There was so much of this story and it’s written over 5 years. You would think there may be some details missing but there wasn’t!
Thank you for my advanced copy!
The story was fascinating. Daphne was such a powerful character. Impossible not to love. Dominic was…. Less lovable for me.
The story is original and easy to get into. There was so much of this story and it’s written over 5 years. You would think there may be some details missing but there wasn’t!
Thank you for my advanced copy!
October 28, 2023
What a concept for a book. Married super young and only each other as a partner for their entire lives. What they invent is a Freedom Clause that allows each of them one night to do whatever they want with whomever they want. They set up rules and decide to do it. What ensues is how each partner values and respects each other and the Freedom Clause and how it alters and changes their marriage. Such an interesting book.
March 22, 2025
Ein unterhaltsames Buch, das einen guten Punkt macht (Frauen können auch ohne Männer glücklich sein). Aber für diesen Punkt nutzt es sehr eindimensionale Charaktere. Alles ist super on the nose und polished. Da kommt dann auch noch eine verlorene Familie aus den USA dazu, um wirklich jeden Strang der Story fairy tale like zu beenden. Fand ich schade, weil die Idee super ist. Einer Frau bei ihrem Lernprozess zuzuschauen ist toll, aber auch der bleibt so shallow und beim girl Boss Feminismus ohne Substanz.
August 27, 2023
The Freedom Clause was entertaining, fun, and flirty. It was an easy read which is perfect for a relaxing day. Thank you to NetGalley.
September 7, 2023
3.5 Stars
I honestly had no idea what to expect from this book and although it didnt blow me away, I was actually very pleasantly surprised by it.
The Freedom Clause is about a young married couple in their mid twenties. Daphnw and Dominic met at University, married not long after and are very much in love three years later, however there are a few cracks starting to show and grow in their relationship. The main one is the lack of sex and after a few uncomfortable conversations they decide to enact The Freedom Clause. This clause gives them one night off each year for the next 5 years to have sex with one new person. They can't get with anyone they know or with the same person twice. The story shows both characters as they go through enacting this clause and the changes it creates in their relationship and for them personally.
For me, the best part of this book was how open it is about the fact that so many women have terrible sex and have never had a real orgasm. Daphne is one of these women to the point she hates sex, but the Freedom Clause helps her understand her wants and needs and gives her more confidence which was lovely to see. Daphne also starts writing an anonymous blog about her situation and linking these feelings to different recipes. As Daphne goes from self concious and quiet to confident, Dominic goes from confident to needy and a but obsessive.
I won't say much more as there are SO many aspects involved in this book including self discovery, family issues and changes, support from friends along with mistakes, drama and acceptance. It is filled to the brim with interesting storylines too.
I loved Daphne and her growth in this book. As she found her wants and needs and then the confidence to voice them, I wanted to hug her in celebration. She is such a kindhearted woman who works incredibly hard and rarely complains. Her changes during this book are stratospheric in many way but also she still remains the same person at her core. She handles everything with grace.
I started off liking Dominic but that quickly changed. He is said to be like a Golden Retriever and I think that is a little mean to the dogs. They do carry some similar traits including constnantly needing to be around people, loving being the centre of attention but also at the end of the day, being a bit lazy. I can't say much more about Dominic as I don't want to give anything away.
The book was well written and had a reallt good pace. I found it highly addictive and struggled to put it down.
However I do have a few issues which knocked down my rating. Seeing as this book has the cover of what looks like a woman having a climax, I found the sex/smut aspects to be a bit underwhelming. I think Hannah Sloane could have made less of them fade to black especially as I would have liked to see Daphne when she has gained confidence and not just when she starts off. I also don't think a few characters got the comeuppance that they deserved. And finally, I wanted a bit more from the ending/epilogue, I would have loved to see both characters a few years into the future and where they are then.
Overall, a really enjoyable read filled with emotion, drama and excitement. Please note that there are some trigger warnings which I will list below. I definitely recommend this book to contemporary/romance readers.
Please note that I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.
TWs: family bullying and neglect, bullying due to weight, weight/image issues, cheating/affairs, lots of food talk, lack of confidence, sex issues.
I honestly had no idea what to expect from this book and although it didnt blow me away, I was actually very pleasantly surprised by it.
The Freedom Clause is about a young married couple in their mid twenties. Daphnw and Dominic met at University, married not long after and are very much in love three years later, however there are a few cracks starting to show and grow in their relationship. The main one is the lack of sex and after a few uncomfortable conversations they decide to enact The Freedom Clause. This clause gives them one night off each year for the next 5 years to have sex with one new person. They can't get with anyone they know or with the same person twice. The story shows both characters as they go through enacting this clause and the changes it creates in their relationship and for them personally.
For me, the best part of this book was how open it is about the fact that so many women have terrible sex and have never had a real orgasm. Daphne is one of these women to the point she hates sex, but the Freedom Clause helps her understand her wants and needs and gives her more confidence which was lovely to see. Daphne also starts writing an anonymous blog about her situation and linking these feelings to different recipes. As Daphne goes from self concious and quiet to confident, Dominic goes from confident to needy and a but obsessive.
I won't say much more as there are SO many aspects involved in this book including self discovery, family issues and changes, support from friends along with mistakes, drama and acceptance. It is filled to the brim with interesting storylines too.
I loved Daphne and her growth in this book. As she found her wants and needs and then the confidence to voice them, I wanted to hug her in celebration. She is such a kindhearted woman who works incredibly hard and rarely complains. Her changes during this book are stratospheric in many way but also she still remains the same person at her core. She handles everything with grace.
I started off liking Dominic but that quickly changed. He is said to be like a Golden Retriever and I think that is a little mean to the dogs. They do carry some similar traits including constnantly needing to be around people, loving being the centre of attention but also at the end of the day, being a bit lazy. I can't say much more about Dominic as I don't want to give anything away.
The book was well written and had a reallt good pace. I found it highly addictive and struggled to put it down.
However I do have a few issues which knocked down my rating. Seeing as this book has the cover of what looks like a woman having a climax, I found the sex/smut aspects to be a bit underwhelming. I think Hannah Sloane could have made less of them fade to black especially as I would have liked to see Daphne when she has gained confidence and not just when she starts off. I also don't think a few characters got the comeuppance that they deserved. And finally, I wanted a bit more from the ending/epilogue, I would have loved to see both characters a few years into the future and where they are then.
Overall, a really enjoyable read filled with emotion, drama and excitement. Please note that there are some trigger warnings which I will list below. I definitely recommend this book to contemporary/romance readers.
Please note that I was gifted this book in exchange for an honest review.
TWs: family bullying and neglect, bullying due to weight, weight/image issues, cheating/affairs, lots of food talk, lack of confidence, sex issues.
October 14, 2024
A book to remind you you don’t have to have it all figured out in your 20’s… and that your life is what you make of it🩷
May 31, 2025
Lässt sich gut lesen, generell mag ich die Bücher aus dem Pola Verlag sehr gerne 🦋
Am Ende des Buches bleiben bei mir vor allem Mitgefühl und Stolz für Daphne, die ich sehr sympathisch, authentisch und nahbar fand.
Am Ende des Buches bleiben bei mir vor allem Mitgefühl und Stolz für Daphne, die ich sehr sympathisch, authentisch und nahbar fand.
May 26, 2025
„Die Welt wurde so organisiert, dass sie für Männer passt“
Das Buch hat mich total gecatcht, Chuck hat mein Herz und ich fande Daphne und ihre Entwicklung ganz ganz toll!!🌟
Das Buch hat mich total gecatcht, Chuck hat mein Herz und ich fande Daphne und ihre Entwicklung ganz ganz toll!!🌟
November 13, 2024
The Freedom Clause ist definitiv eins meiner Lese-Highlights in diesem Jahr!
Es geht um Daphne und Dominic - ein junges, verheiratetes Paar Mitte 20. Sie haben sich sehr jung kennen- und liebengelernt und hatten beide keine sexuellen Erfahrungen davor. Nun, mit Mitte 20, sind sie immer noch sehr glücklich miteinander, aber ihr Sexleben ist praktisch kaum vorhanden. Aus diesem Grund und auf Initiative Dominics hin beschließen sie ein Experiment zu wagen: 5 Jahre lang darf jeder je einmal im Jahr eine sexuelle Erfahrung mit einem anderen Menschen machen, nicht zweimal mit derselben Person und sie reden nicht miteinander darüber - ihre Freedom Clause.
Wir begleiten nun Daphne und Dominic über die besagten 5 Jahre.
Und die haben es in sich! Auf jeden Fall werden (auch) sexuelle Erfahrungen geschildert, allerdings - zum Glück - stehen diese nicht alleine im Vordergrund oder sind das einzige Thema. Stattdessen werden die persönlichen Entwicklungen der Beiden gezeigt, was sich bei ihnen in der Beziehung verändert, ihre beruflichen Karrierewege, ihre Freundschaften und Familienbande, sowie auch der Umgang mit Verletzungen aus ihrer Kindheit und Jugend.
Vor allem Daphne nutzt die von ihr zunächst abgelehnte Freedom Clause dafür, sich selbst und ihre Bedürfnisse zu erkunden - und weil sie nicht mit ihren Freundinnen darüber reden darf, macht sie sich Luft auf einem Substack Kanal, der dann unerwartet erfolgreich wird.
Ihre Beiträge schreibt sie unter dem Pseudonym "die hochemotionale Köchin" und verbindet ihre Leidenschaft des Kochens und Backens mit ihrem Talent zu schreiben. Sie schreibt darüber, wie sie die Situation in ihrer Ehe mit der Freedom Clause und allem, was daran hängt, wahrnimmt und schildert ihre Erlebnisse.
Dominics Entwicklung ist leider deutlich weniger schön zu lesen als Daphnes.
Ohne zu spoilern - er kommt auf jeden Fall viel schlechter weg als Daphne. Am Ende der Geschichte haben mich "seine" Stellen leider oft ungeduldig gemacht, weil er immer wieder die gleichen Fehler macht und manchmal sogar unsympathisch wirkt, auch wenn die Autorin ihn hin und wieder sein Verhalten auch selbstkritisch reflektieren lässt, was es ein bisschen abmildert, aber eben nur ein bisschen.
Der Roman liest sich wirklich absolut perfekt!
Unterteilt in Prolog und Epilog als Rahmen und den 5 Jahren der Freedom Clause als Inhaltsteil habe ich mir immer vorgenommen, nur noch das aktuelle Jahr noch fertig zu lesen - und bin immer wieder gescheitert. Es gibt nicht wirklich Cliffhanger, aber der Lesefluss ist so da, dass ich immer wissen wollte, wie es weiter geht!
Als Frau konnte ich mich wirklich sehr mit Daphne identifizieren und ich LIEBE es, wie die Autorin ihre Entwicklung auf vielen Ebenen sichtbar macht - die beruflichen Erfolge und Misserfolge, die charakterliche Weiterentwicklung und nicht zuletzt die Veränderung ihres Typs in Bezug auf Styling und Kleidung. Daphne hat rote Locken und da ich ebenfalls lockig bin, konnte ich es soooo mitfühlen, wie sie anfängt, sich beraten zu lassen, wie sie ihr Haar stylen und tragen kann und immer mehr zu ihrer Lockenmähne steht!
Es lohnt sich auch absolut das Nachwort der Autorin zu lesen, in dem sie u.a. schreibt, dass sie dieses Buch auch für sich als junge Frau geschrieben hat. Wir alle kennen wahrscheinlich - leider - die Situation, dass wir eben unerfahren und unsicher sind und "mitmachen" ohne klar zu sagen, was wir wollen - zum Teil auch ganz profan nur, weil wir es einfach nicht wissen! Es ist so wichtig, diese Themen sichtbar zu machen und nicht nur aber auch deswegen ist Freedom Clause eins meiner Highlights 2024 und ich empfehle es uneingeschränkt weiter!!!
March 25, 2023
I love literary novels about messy marriages, and from the description it seemed right up alley. This did not work for me at all unfortunately, however I fully admit I am not the target audience. The Freedom Clause is bucketed as "Literary Fiction", which it certainly is not. This is mass market/commercial fiction, similar to Colleen Hoover and Lucy Score.
I quickly realized the genre mistake but decided to let my expectations go and just enjoy the story. The first 30% or so was promising as we saw Daphne and Dominic fall in love in college, get married, and ultimately decide to open their marriage for one night a year. Once the story moved into the happenings of the titular "Freedom Clause", it quickly fell off. Let me explain:
Stylistically I found it tedious - there are section breaks constantly (like, sometimes every other paragraph) to denote when we were in Daphne or Dominics head. Sometimes we would switch mid-scene, and other times we would jump months ahead. It was jarring, I never quite understood how time was progressing, and there is no tone shift or style difference between Daphne and Dominic's POVs, so I would have to go back and re-read the opening sentences of a section once I realized who's head I was in.
I couldn't connect to either character. They are both insufferable and child-like, yet oddly self-aware (example, Dominic literally though to himself at one point "I'm too selfish to put Daphne first, it's no wonder our marriage is failing!"). The constant telling rather than showing not only pulled me out of the story but rendered the characters completely unbelievable, and left me uninvested.
And finally, the plot: if I were to lay out the plot points (which I wont, no spoilers) this would sound like an entertaining read. Unfortunately, we didn't linger long enough in any one scene or feel the ramifications of any betrayals, embarrassments, wins or heartbreaks - it was rushed through and glossed over. A scene would end as soon as the action did, without reflection or interiority, and was not revisited later on. By the end it, when some seriously scandalous things happen and we fade to black before the characters react, I was fed up. I had no patience left for the characters jumping to insane conclusions, or the crazy miscommunications that lead to even crazier plot points - the story had already lost credibility, and I couldn't suspend my disbelief any further.
I would say "this works as a mindless, fun read" but there's so much half-baked feminism throughout that it doesn't qualify as an escapist beach read. The feminist topics Daphne engages with are worthwhile: sexism in the workplace, how women are disadvantaged by being raised to people please, the outsized burden of domestic and emotional labor that women bear; however, the exploration is heavy-handed (and often spurred on by comically sexist men) and lacks the proper gravitas these topics deserved. Of all my gripes with The Freedom Clause, my biggest was its unintentional trivialization of feminism.
I quickly realized the genre mistake but decided to let my expectations go and just enjoy the story. The first 30% or so was promising as we saw Daphne and Dominic fall in love in college, get married, and ultimately decide to open their marriage for one night a year. Once the story moved into the happenings of the titular "Freedom Clause", it quickly fell off. Let me explain:
Stylistically I found it tedious - there are section breaks constantly (like, sometimes every other paragraph) to denote when we were in Daphne or Dominics head. Sometimes we would switch mid-scene, and other times we would jump months ahead. It was jarring, I never quite understood how time was progressing, and there is no tone shift or style difference between Daphne and Dominic's POVs, so I would have to go back and re-read the opening sentences of a section once I realized who's head I was in.
I couldn't connect to either character. They are both insufferable and child-like, yet oddly self-aware (example, Dominic literally though to himself at one point "I'm too selfish to put Daphne first, it's no wonder our marriage is failing!"). The constant telling rather than showing not only pulled me out of the story but rendered the characters completely unbelievable, and left me uninvested.
And finally, the plot: if I were to lay out the plot points (which I wont, no spoilers) this would sound like an entertaining read. Unfortunately, we didn't linger long enough in any one scene or feel the ramifications of any betrayals, embarrassments, wins or heartbreaks - it was rushed through and glossed over. A scene would end as soon as the action did, without reflection or interiority, and was not revisited later on. By the end it, when some seriously scandalous things happen and we fade to black before the characters react, I was fed up. I had no patience left for the characters jumping to insane conclusions, or the crazy miscommunications that lead to even crazier plot points - the story had already lost credibility, and I couldn't suspend my disbelief any further.
I would say "this works as a mindless, fun read" but there's so much half-baked feminism throughout that it doesn't qualify as an escapist beach read. The feminist topics Daphne engages with are worthwhile: sexism in the workplace, how women are disadvantaged by being raised to people please, the outsized burden of domestic and emotional labor that women bear; however, the exploration is heavy-handed (and often spurred on by comically sexist men) and lacks the proper gravitas these topics deserved. Of all my gripes with The Freedom Clause, my biggest was its unintentional trivialization of feminism.
November 10, 2024
Her mit den Klischees!
Grundidee: interessant, absolut was anderes, super modern.
Umsetzung: fad, klischeehaft, humorlos.
Diese Rezension kommt eventuell nicht ganz ohne kleine Spoiler aus. Möchtet ihr das Buch also unvoreingenommen lesen, dann hier bitte aufhören.
Daphne und Dominic führen eigentlich eine glückliche Beziehung. Eigentlich. Denn das Sexleben ist nach vielen Jahren der Ehe eingeschlafen, der Alltag eingezogen und beide dümpeln sowohl beruflich, als auch privat so vor sich hin. Doch dann die bahnbrechende Idee: Einmal im Jahr dürfen beide eine Nacht mit einem anderen Partner:in verbringen. Natürlich mit festgelegten Regeln und auf 5 Jahre begrenzt. Was für verheerende Veränderung diese Freiheitsklausel mit sich bringt, verfolgen wir in diesem Roman.
Auf dieses Buch hatte ich mich wirklich sehr grfreut, schon alleine weil ich es so erfrischend fand, dass über ein so modernes Beziehungskonzept geschrieben wird. Und lasst mich gesagt haben: es hatte auch durchaus gute Ansätze, denn es geht nicht nur um die Beziehung der Beiden, es geht auch viel um Selbstliebe, völlig unabhängig vom Parter, von sexueller Freiheit und dem Glauben an deine Lebensträume. Gute Sache!
Nur leider war das ganze verpackt mit zwei Charakteren, die ich unsymphatich und nervig fand und einer Story, die vorhersehbarer kaum sein konnte. Macht Daphne im Laufe des Buches tatsächlich noch eine dringend notwendige charakterliche Entwicklung vom schüchterenen, an sich zweifelnden kleinen Mädchen, hin zum schönen Schwan, der fast schon in die Richtung der arroganten Karrierefrau abdriftet, durch, so entwickelt sich Dominic genau in die entgegengesetzte Rchtung. Und versteht mich nicht falsch, dass Männer ihr Blut auch mal woanders haben, als im Kopf und dann dumme Entscheidung treffen, die OH ÜBERRASCHUNG, gegen die vereinbarten Regeln sind. Okay. Aber braucht es wirkliche einen männlichen Hauptprotagonisten, der vom viel gelobten ,,was hast du nur für ein Glück mit ihm“- Klischee zum „größtes Arschloch der Welt, der dann auf einmal die Schwester der Frau flach legt“-Kerl wird?? Für mich nicht nötig, damit ein feministischer Roman feministisch ist.
Schöne Idee, mir hat’s leider nichts gegeben.
Grundidee: interessant, absolut was anderes, super modern.
Umsetzung: fad, klischeehaft, humorlos.
Diese Rezension kommt eventuell nicht ganz ohne kleine Spoiler aus. Möchtet ihr das Buch also unvoreingenommen lesen, dann hier bitte aufhören.
Daphne und Dominic führen eigentlich eine glückliche Beziehung. Eigentlich. Denn das Sexleben ist nach vielen Jahren der Ehe eingeschlafen, der Alltag eingezogen und beide dümpeln sowohl beruflich, als auch privat so vor sich hin. Doch dann die bahnbrechende Idee: Einmal im Jahr dürfen beide eine Nacht mit einem anderen Partner:in verbringen. Natürlich mit festgelegten Regeln und auf 5 Jahre begrenzt. Was für verheerende Veränderung diese Freiheitsklausel mit sich bringt, verfolgen wir in diesem Roman.
Auf dieses Buch hatte ich mich wirklich sehr grfreut, schon alleine weil ich es so erfrischend fand, dass über ein so modernes Beziehungskonzept geschrieben wird. Und lasst mich gesagt haben: es hatte auch durchaus gute Ansätze, denn es geht nicht nur um die Beziehung der Beiden, es geht auch viel um Selbstliebe, völlig unabhängig vom Parter, von sexueller Freiheit und dem Glauben an deine Lebensträume. Gute Sache!
Nur leider war das ganze verpackt mit zwei Charakteren, die ich unsymphatich und nervig fand und einer Story, die vorhersehbarer kaum sein konnte. Macht Daphne im Laufe des Buches tatsächlich noch eine dringend notwendige charakterliche Entwicklung vom schüchterenen, an sich zweifelnden kleinen Mädchen, hin zum schönen Schwan, der fast schon in die Richtung der arroganten Karrierefrau abdriftet, durch, so entwickelt sich Dominic genau in die entgegengesetzte Rchtung. Und versteht mich nicht falsch, dass Männer ihr Blut auch mal woanders haben, als im Kopf und dann dumme Entscheidung treffen, die OH ÜBERRASCHUNG, gegen die vereinbarten Regeln sind. Okay. Aber braucht es wirkliche einen männlichen Hauptprotagonisten, der vom viel gelobten ,,was hast du nur für ein Glück mit ihm“- Klischee zum „größtes Arschloch der Welt, der dann auf einmal die Schwester der Frau flach legt“-Kerl wird?? Für mich nicht nötig, damit ein feministischer Roman feministisch ist.
Schöne Idee, mir hat’s leider nichts gegeben.
September 10, 2023
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 not 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 a quality orgasm.
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.
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 a quality orgasm.
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.
October 22, 2025
I thought about whether people in relationships want more, whether I want more, and whether a relationship and love are synonymous with monogamy or not.
I asked myself what the definition of a relationship actually is and who defines it.
Because, in the end, don't we all decide that for ourselves?
I am totally fascinated by the story. Super interesting and something very special.
Of course, it's also somehow unusual and probably not realistic for me personally, but that's what makes it so exciting!
The writing style also supports all of this wonderfully and it is simply well done how perspectives are changed and thoughts and feelings are conveyed.
While reading, I questioned every relationship, including my own.
The story of Dominic and Daphne's relationship really captivated me.
I was aware from the beginning that this story has a very feminist plot, but I still think that Dominic really has to take on the role of the villain at the end, and I don't think that was necessary and that it could have been a beautiful story otherwise.
I asked myself what the definition of a relationship actually is and who defines it.
Because, in the end, don't we all decide that for ourselves?
I am totally fascinated by the story. Super interesting and something very special.
Of course, it's also somehow unusual and probably not realistic for me personally, but that's what makes it so exciting!
The writing style also supports all of this wonderfully and it is simply well done how perspectives are changed and thoughts and feelings are conveyed.
While reading, I questioned every relationship, including my own.
The story of Dominic and Daphne's relationship really captivated me.
I was aware from the beginning that this story has a very feminist plot, but I still think that Dominic really has to take on the role of the villain at the end, and I don't think that was necessary and that it could have been a beautiful story otherwise.
May 18, 2023
This turned out to be such a fun read and I really enjoyed the fresh take on this concept of opening up a marriage.
The beginning felt a tiiiny bit rushed to me and I would have liked to see a little more of Daphne and Dominic before they agree on The Freedom Clause, but once I got to about 30% I didn't want to put it down.
The book was structured a lot different than I am used too but honestly found it very refreshing. I thought the recipes mixed with personal experience pieces were brilliant and would purchase Daphne's cookbook in a heartbeat. I will never forget the i-can't-believe-he-came-in-my-hair-salad and will be adding it to my recipe stash asap.
Many thank yous to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Dial Press Trade Paperback for sharing this digital review copy with me.
The beginning felt a tiiiny bit rushed to me and I would have liked to see a little more of Daphne and Dominic before they agree on The Freedom Clause, but once I got to about 30% I didn't want to put it down.
The book was structured a lot different than I am used too but honestly found it very refreshing. I thought the recipes mixed with personal experience pieces were brilliant and would purchase Daphne's cookbook in a heartbeat. I will never forget the i-can't-believe-he-came-in-my-hair-salad and will be adding it to my recipe stash asap.
Many thank yous to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Dial Press Trade Paperback for sharing this digital review copy with me.
August 13, 2023
This has an intriguing premise: What would happen if a married couple gives each other an out one night a year? Daphne and Dominic create the Freedom Clause, which changes their lives in some unexpected ways.
Thank you to Dial Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you to Dial Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
January 1, 2024
What a premise of a story.
A couple who are each others’ firsts in everything end up plateauing too quickly add an amendment to their marriage vows, that one night a year to have their freedom with a stranger.
I enjoyed it but was not very much invested in the characters but still a good read overall.
A couple who are each others’ firsts in everything end up plateauing too quickly add an amendment to their marriage vows, that one night a year to have their freedom with a stranger.
I enjoyed it but was not very much invested in the characters but still a good read overall.
July 29, 2024
Loved this. I’ve been in such. Reading slump and this was the first book that held my attention in a while! I loved Daphne’s character and all of the drama
February 9, 2024
4.5 stars!
WOW! What a debut novel!
I picked this ARC because the premise sounds absolutely thrilling to me. I can honestly say that I cannot wait for whatever Hannah Sloane writes next!
Dominic and Daphne meet their first week of college and immediately get married after graduation. It's three year into their marriage and things have stalled out for them sexually. Having only been with each other their entire lives, Dominic proposes they open up with marriage to explore sexually with other people. Daphne at first feels like this is Dominics way out of their marriage and is against the idea. Slowly, she agrees but with conditions. They are allowed one night a year, one person, no repeats or friends/family, they tell no ones, and they have a 5 year time-frame where they will reassess the terms.
This book fascinated me because we start off by feeling empathy for Dominic. He clearly is portrayed as this patient, kind, thoughtful husband who wants to be connected with his wife and feels that the lack of sex in their life is a reflection upon himself. We can empathize with him on his feelings of insecurity as he believes Daphne is far out of his league and if he cannot please her sexually, someone else will. He also shows his hand a bit in being eager to explore sexually when his first encounter is with a young coworker that goes terribly wrong and he is forced out of his job.
Daphne represents women in marriages as a whole. I felt so strongly connected to her as the story went on but in the beginning she states she just isn't into sex. She doesn't know what to do, doesn't know how to orgasm, and cannot speak with Dominic about what she wants because she's never experienced anything outside of him. Her first night with a stranger at a hotel felt so painful as the observer, but as a woman, we have all had a similar experience. She takes to writing about her life and mixes in her passion for cooking on a blogging website as a way to express her feelings during all of this change. Since she cannot tell her friends about what is going on, she turns toward her blogging and it eventually gains a strong following as the years go on.
It felt like a peek into any young 20 year olds life as they try to find themselves and become who they want to be, but with more to risk due to the marriage. Both Dominic and Daphne go through so much internal and external change during the course of the 5 years. Daphne grows to love herself, become more confident, take more risks, changes careers, and eventually publishes her own book about the whole experience and cooking. Dominic in many ways, found himself at a great life cost. He states it plainly when he tells Daphne that the Freedom Clause worked for her and not for him. And that is sort of the point of the novel.
Women are often told how to feel and base their value on the opinion of men. Daphne was able to find her true self, her true voice, and despite overcoming her fear and trust issues with Dominic, grew into and accepted herself within the freedom of the freedom clause. Dominic, like many men, took advantage again and again of the clause and paid the ultimate price, his marriage.
Beautifully written, wonderfully done. Thank you Netgalley for the eARC & PRH Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
WOW! What a debut novel!
I picked this ARC because the premise sounds absolutely thrilling to me. I can honestly say that I cannot wait for whatever Hannah Sloane writes next!
Dominic and Daphne meet their first week of college and immediately get married after graduation. It's three year into their marriage and things have stalled out for them sexually. Having only been with each other their entire lives, Dominic proposes they open up with marriage to explore sexually with other people. Daphne at first feels like this is Dominics way out of their marriage and is against the idea. Slowly, she agrees but with conditions. They are allowed one night a year, one person, no repeats or friends/family, they tell no ones, and they have a 5 year time-frame where they will reassess the terms.
This book fascinated me because we start off by feeling empathy for Dominic. He clearly is portrayed as this patient, kind, thoughtful husband who wants to be connected with his wife and feels that the lack of sex in their life is a reflection upon himself. We can empathize with him on his feelings of insecurity as he believes Daphne is far out of his league and if he cannot please her sexually, someone else will. He also shows his hand a bit in being eager to explore sexually when his first encounter is with a young coworker that goes terribly wrong and he is forced out of his job.
Daphne represents women in marriages as a whole. I felt so strongly connected to her as the story went on but in the beginning she states she just isn't into sex. She doesn't know what to do, doesn't know how to orgasm, and cannot speak with Dominic about what she wants because she's never experienced anything outside of him. Her first night with a stranger at a hotel felt so painful as the observer, but as a woman, we have all had a similar experience. She takes to writing about her life and mixes in her passion for cooking on a blogging website as a way to express her feelings during all of this change. Since she cannot tell her friends about what is going on, she turns toward her blogging and it eventually gains a strong following as the years go on.
It felt like a peek into any young 20 year olds life as they try to find themselves and become who they want to be, but with more to risk due to the marriage. Both Dominic and Daphne go through so much internal and external change during the course of the 5 years. Daphne grows to love herself, become more confident, take more risks, changes careers, and eventually publishes her own book about the whole experience and cooking. Dominic in many ways, found himself at a great life cost. He states it plainly when he tells Daphne that the Freedom Clause worked for her and not for him. And that is sort of the point of the novel.
Women are often told how to feel and base their value on the opinion of men. Daphne was able to find her true self, her true voice, and despite overcoming her fear and trust issues with Dominic, grew into and accepted herself within the freedom of the freedom clause. Dominic, like many men, took advantage again and again of the clause and paid the ultimate price, his marriage.
Beautifully written, wonderfully done. Thank you Netgalley for the eARC & PRH Audio for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
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