Double Happiness

by Rochelle Siemienowicz

One woman, two men. What if she doesn’t have to choose?
Overcome with guilt about a love affair she can’t give up, Anna confesses to her husband, Brendan. He is shocked and devastated but makes the unusual decision to try to accept the lover, Jeremy, as part of their family.
Told from three perspectives, Double Happiness is a story about sex, honesty and jealousy – and the challenges of forging a new kind of romance.
Set in Melbourne over seven years, this lyrical contemporary love story explores the complexities of non-monogamy with humour and heart, asking what it’s like to love two, or more, people equally but differently. What is the effect of time on erotic love? And what happens when your new lover wants someone else too
'Fascinating, fearless and frank.’ – Paul Dalgarno, author of A Country of Eternal Light
‘Rochelle Siemienowicz dissects with surgical precision the murky territory of the ‘happily ever after’, and does so with wisdom, humour and grace. Her lyrical and oh-so-sexy novel does what best novels do – makes you think deeper about how to live your own life. Double Happiness is a sophisticated, mature debut and Siemienowicz is a dazzling writer.’ – Lee Kofman, author of The Writer Laid Bare, The Dangerous Bride
‘Wise, affecting and damned sexy.’ – Dmetri Kakmi, author of The Door and Other Uncanny Tales

366 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Double Happiness was an intensely compelling read for me. It’s warm, funny and moving. Rochelle explores the deeply human complexities of the characters in a way that made me totally invested in them.
The story reveals the characters failures and flaws, but also the richness and joy that flowed from their commitment to relating to each other from a place of authenticity.

There’s an integrity to this book, I had the feeling nothing was left out or censored. The world needs more stories of unconventional relationships, and this is a cracker with a beautiful Melbourne flavour. For me the ending was some kind of reading perfection.

[Jessica Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have recently had the absolute pleasure of reading Double Happiness by Rochelle Siemienowicz before its release and it was such beautiful, unique story! Double Happiness is lyrical contemporary love story that delves into the complexities of non-monogamy and sexuality, particularly for women in the middle to later stages of life.

This book is written so beautifully and managed to evoke so many emotions from me. You really feel like you’re on this roller coaster with our FMC, Anna, and going through these lessons along side her.

Double Happiness offers a fresh, deeply human exploration of what it means to love multiple people equally yet differently. Raw and at times humorous, this book invites people to challenge their preconceived notions on what ‘traditional’ models of love should look like and the importance of communication at any stage of a relationship.

I highly recommend you pick up a copy of this book, you won’t regret it 💗

[Craig and Phil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big thanks to MidnightSun Publishing for sending us a copy to read and review.
A romantic, contemporary love story that’s slightly left field.
Unique and modern this tale explores sexuality, non monogamy, middle aged women and the happy ever after with a difference.
Anna is married.
She has an affair and chooses not to give it up.
Instead takes an unconventional approach.
Anna reveals all to her husband Brendan.
Brendan, at first, is shocked, upset and not sure what to do.
After some time and many discussions, Jeremy becomes part of the family.
A family of three with a divergent lifestyle emerges.
With a backdrop of Melbourne and spanning the time of seven years love and hope blossoms.
Double Happiness is raw, honest and authentic.
It asks many questions…. and will create many conversations….
The writing is sublime, the plot is fascinating and genteel.
Told from three points of view and glowing from the pages, this debut will stand out in the book crowd.
A novel that’s not scared to tell it how it is.

[Rich Castles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have the privilege of knowing Rochelle, and this is Rochelle. So, you could say mission accomplished. Loving, smart, sensuous, expansive, embracing, courageous, and … a writer. The scenes inside a family bent into new shape are thoughtful, tender, honest, and intimate. Even if polyamory is not your thing - I’d probably prefer a cup of tea with a nun myself - good fiction lets you visit other worlds, and I experienced that key end-of-novel performance indicator of feeling like I had been on an adventure of sorts - one that made me think about the nature of love, relationships, writing, and life - and coming out a little changed on the other side.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!! To be honest I didn’t have enormous expectations of this book. It was just sitting there on the table while I was on holiday. And to be brutally honest, I had nothing better to do…. But then as I started to read, I was rather entranced by the way it was written, the fantastic way that things were described and the rhythm of the story. Rochelle has a brilliant way of painting a picture, particularly of the characters. There is almost a poetic way about her writing that leaves you amused that anyone would describe another person in that way, while simultaneously leaving you nodding, knowing exactly who she is talking about. The story is raw and at times frustrating, in that beautiful way where you wish the characters knew what you knew so that they would act differently, be different and reduce some of their own suffering. This tension, however, draws you through the book in a way that simultaneously makes you desperate to finish it while simultaneously wanting it to continue past the last page. One of the absolutely beautiful parts of this book is the way that Rochelle brings an insightful compassion to each character. Don’t be fooled though, there is a raw honesty in the way that Rochelle describes the flaws of each person, but it is done in a way that makes clear to the reader that these flaws are entirely understandable, and that the beauty that sits around it makes it all worthwhile. Beautiful book, exploring a complex and often hidden way of doing relationships.

[Markus Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm reminded of Anais Nin in the way Siemienowicz sets out to explore the intricacies of love and relationships in a very frank and compelling journey through the often challenging landscape of non-monogamy.

The story follows Anna, a Melbourne film-ctiric as she attempts to transition her marriage into ethical non-monogamy, and the trials and tribulations that follow. This in turn, raises thorny questions about how we find meaning in a relationship what ties bind people together and how we navigate honesty and desire in the long-term.

Incisive and insightful, it doesn't shirk from portraying the nitty-gritty of ethical non-monogamy with warmth and intimacy (and more than a little sexiness!).

The themes of honesty, desire, and jealousy present in the book are bound to inspire bigger conversations amongst monogamous and poly folk alike.

Thoughtful, revealing and poignant, Siemienowicz doesn't shy away from using her beautiful prose to shine a light on even the most difficult aspects of love. The characters feel full and rounded, and the story really takes the reader into uncharted territory in a way that feels both fantastic and very real.

Unlike many books that depict the expression of feminine desire, only for the heroine to retreat to the safety of monogamy in the third act, or worse, to find closure in her destruction, the ending of this one was far more satisfying and in keeping with the times.

A beautiful touching book that is one of a kind.

[Michelle Ferrer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deeply introspective exploration of marriage, self-discovery, and the pursuit of fulfillment in life. I’ve always been curious about the dynamics of long-term, non-monogamous relationships, and I found this book to be an immersive experience. It made me feel as though I were right there, living through every emotional high and low alongside Anna and the throuple she becomes part of.

The narrative is compelling in how it challenges traditional ideas of love and marriage, providing insight into navigating personal desires and moral values. It excels in grappling with life’s emotional gray areas, presenting characters and choices that are as flawed and complex as real life.

That said, I found the book emotionally heavy at times. Anna’s journey is filled with trials and tribulations, and the ambiguous ending left me feeling unsatisfied. Instead of a conclusive resolution, the story leaves you questioning whether Anna’s choices ultimately led to happiness or if she merely exchanged one set of compromises for another. Perhaps this lack of resolution is intentional I just didn’t like it

[Hazel Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first question people want to ask of someone polyamorous is ‘how does that work?’ This novel answers that question, warts and all. Despite all the eroticism, at one point it feels like the book’s title should be ‘Double Washing’ due to the extra household chores the arrangement entails (guess who those chores fall to?) You’ll find your sympathies shifting as the relationships are skilfully explored from the viewpoint of the three main characters.This is a compelling story told with unflinching honesty and insight. Completely original, it’s perceptive, unpredictable, and best of all, unputdownable.

[Erin pages_and_prosecco · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝙈𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 - 𝙏𝙤 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙖 𝙝𝙪𝙜𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙨. 𝙁𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝘼𝘾𝙈𝙄 𝙞𝙣 𝙁𝙚𝙙 𝙎𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙢 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙜𝙤, 𝙢𝙮 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙. 𝙏𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙘 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙩𝙨 𝙈𝙚𝙡𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚, 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙖𝙢𝙖𝙯𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮. 𝙏𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙣𝙞𝙘 𝙣𝙤𝙣-𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙖 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙚𝙬𝙡𝙮 𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤. 𝙄 𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙢𝙚 𝙭

[Janet Creaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Double Happiness is delightful change from mundane, middle-aged, middle-suburbia read-and-forget novels that leave me cold.
From the first page I was drenched in inner life, insight, depth and humour.

For me it was a bittersweet read. In the last chapter I cried for myself and my lost love. In the epilogue my tears were for Anna and her loving family, imbued by the author with a palpable warmth.
The words are beautifully formed - whether it’s weaving metaphor, linking actions to feelings, or using the prosaic to illustrate the profound.

It is all heart 💛

[Paula Hodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m giving this book 4 stars because I rarely give 5 stars to any book so 4 stars in my rating scale means that I really enjoyed the book a lot. I picked it up every spare moment I could find, which is pretty good for me as usually I struggle to find time to read at all. Such an interesting love story but not a conventional one. I loved getting a glimpse of what it might look like for some people living in an ethical non monogamous relationship - the joys and struggles of it.

[Colette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not finish. Not my type of book these days. Prefer page turners or books of literary worth. Didn’t want to spend more time reading about a self indulgent woman ‘having her cake and eating it too’. 2.5 stars

[Mandy Rego · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst compelling enough to want to pursue the ending and find a purpose, I found the characters very unlikeable and the main character Anna, completely frustrating representative of a greedy hedonist. Wished I hadn’t read it as it was quite a depressing read overall

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect from Double Happiness, but I got an exciting and sexy read that's perfect for both a summer at the beach or a cozy winter afternoon. It centers around non monogamy, but the themes apply more broadly. It's well written and easy to read.

[Leanne Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deliciously decadent love story that made me smile right from the front cover. The book illustrated the kind of complex turmoil one would expect from a new ‘addition’ to the family, told from an especially interesting multiplicity of points of view. An insightful, intimate and entertaining read.

[Aryani Siti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Double Happiness is a moving and thoughtful story that questions traditional ideas about love and relationships. It encourages readers to think about the different ways people can love each other.

[Gavan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting - a bold and chilling insight into polyamory. The central character (Anna) is a remarkably unlikeable self-centred person who is completely oblivious to the effect of her actions on those around her. Remind me of the definition of "narcissism" ...

She bludgeons her reluctant husband (Brendan) into accepting her many lovers (primarily Jeremy). Brendon ultimately also takes a lover and his relationship with Anna deteriorates to that of housemate. Finally, Anna gets upset when Jeremy also takes a lover. The message is boldly clear - polyamory is ultimately selfish and hurts the other party (but it hurts less over time).

Unfortunately, the male characters are very poorly written - there is no real development of their feelings and thoughts. We get a little bit (e.g. Brendan accepts the situation because the alternative is "existential aloneness") but not enough to sustain a book. For a book so explicit in sex scenes it is disappointingly remote in male characters.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Double Happiness is the engaging debut novel from Aussie author Rochelle Siemienowicz. It’s an honest and intriguing exploration of polyamorous relationships through the eyes of three characters: Anna, her husband Brendan and her lover, Jeremy.

I really enjoyed the uniqueness of this story and the vulnerable realities of each of these characters. When Anna is overcome by guilt about her affair with Jeremy she confesses all to her husband. Brendan is initially devastated but together they make the decision to accept her lover as part of their family.

Looking at the challenges of crafting a new kind of relationship, I enjoyed hearing from the points of view of each of those involved. The raw portrayal of jealousy and honest communication was incredibly powerful and I loved that the more serious challenges were broken up with humorous moments too.

I did have moments where I was quite frustrated with Anna, especially her jealousy of Jeremy, but this just made the story even more real.

I always enjoy a Melbourne setting with its familiar landmarks and culture and this book was no exception.