An Open Marriage

by Tess Stimson, Laurence Bouvard (Narrator)

Mia Allen has never adjusted to living in England. She misses the States , but her husband Kit loves the sense of community. Like Mia, Kit's boss Charlie is looking for more excitement in her life. So when she and her husband are invited to dinner, she jumps at the chance to make new friends. The increasing attraction between all of them is intense. Can any of their relationships survive this unconventional arrangement?

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Romance

Audible Audio

First published July 1, 2014

About the author

Tess Stimson is the author of fifteen novels - including international bestseller The New House - which have been translated into dozens of languages, plus two non-fiction books. Her new book, The Perfect Accident, will be published in April 2026.
A former British journalist and reporter, Stimson was appointed Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Florida in 2002 and moved to the US. In addition to writing fiction, she continues to work as a journalist and teaches reporting for media and creative writing at a university in the Northeastern US. She now lives in Vermont with her husband, and is visited intermittently by her three grown-up children whenever they need their laundry done.
For more information, visit Tess's website or follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

Reviews

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this is my first novel by Tess Stimson and it was really completely out of my reading comfort zone…I’m not a huge fan it has to be said of any type of erotic fiction and also mostly not drawn to relationship fiction or love stories. For me, if you are going to write a sexy book, the sex STILL needs to be secondary to the plot and the characters – otherwise, well frankly, you might as well just watch a bit of soft porn - Which I never really feel the need to do either…

Tess Stimson however has walked the line perfectly – yes there are some very erotic moments in this novel, but they are moments and they are absolutely part of a much larger and more intriguing plot. Mia and Charlie are two women who when they meet through Mia’s husband develop an immediate friendship chemistry. When the two couples start getting together socially this develops into a strong sexual attraction. But can the concept of an “Open Marriage” ever really work? That is at the heart of this story and I was fascinated throughout.

I really liked the two very different relationships Ms Timson has drawn here – that of Mia and Kit, who are a true love match and Charlie and Rob who have been having problems before this new social interaction began. It is cleverly done, we are told the story from both Mia and Charlie’s perspectives, both looking at things from a very different viewpoint and having very different agenda’s. Having two extremely strong yet contrasting female protagonists makes for some terrific reading – and my sympathies ebbed and flowed between the pair of them with every new chapter. As things get darker, the line between truth and memory blur, it is truly compelling.

This is not all about the women – Kit and Rob are again very different and yet very intriguing characters and although we only ever really see them from the female perspective, their personality traits shine through – and again my sympathies ebbed and flowed. Rob especially for me was extremely captivating psychologically speaking and all of the four are intelligently drawn and very easy to follow along with.

So yep, I rather loved it. Unexpectedly – which is ALWAYS the best thing that can happen when you open a book and what I live for.

Happy Reading Folks!

[Sian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book , shows how things can change so rapidly, shock at the end , didn't expect that ! Loved it, want to read more of her books .

[Tony · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest, it is not that good a book. Some raunchy parts to it which were a little unbelievable and almost humorous, but then I thought it had a real opportunity to explore the issue of non consensual sex but it failed to really address it. Then came some really corny parts and an ending that defies belief. Anyway, it won't ever be considered a classic but I suppose there are some people who might enjoy this style of book.

[Joyce Ellis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Basically soft porn wrapped up as chic lit. Im no prude, but I just couldnt be bothered with any of the characters. Both woman tall, slim, beautiful. Both husbands sexy and handsome. Come on. Dnf

[Kobby Gyampoh · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY SYNOPSIS

Imagine this: You are happily married for eight years. A husband who’s calm, and collected. A seven-year old daughter. You left your career as a fast-track journalist to settle with him, renounce the American Flag and accept the Queen and the Union Jack. You are happy, you keep telling yourself. But really, you are. It’s just sometimes it gets boring after doing the same work-at-home blogger for eight years, in a new country with no friends.

Then you meet Charlie, who’s the exact type of woman you’d love to befriend. She’s your husband’s boss, she’s married and also has a kid. For nineteen years she’s also been doing this marriage thing after giving up her career for a more settled life with a husband who nags too much.

Set up play-dates for the kids, and make weekends couples dating. You are loving this whole foursome friendship thing. Food, wine, laughter, then one (really-drunken) night truth and dare and sex on the same couch.

Strange but sextastic. Your husband says don’t think too much of this. But really, how does this foursome thing go? It’s nice doing it with your husband, but locking eyes with another woman’s husband as you come (while he makes his wife come) is… fucking amazing! Yet, strange.

Rules are to be set. What are the limitations? No one said twosomes, or threesomes, or pushing your husband off you as things are getting more exciting. Before you know it all lines have been crossed. Your relationship with your husband, your friend, and his husband is at stake. Every couple is fighting. Then you begin to think, really, was it all worth it?

Mia and Charlie lives summed up for your delight in their very open friendship.

MY REVIEW
I loved, loved this book. So you know in this review, I’ll be screaming at you to get it!

(I was reading this book with a permanent smile on my face, then, “Oh, oh, oh, really? Wow.” I began lowering in my seat).The storyline is amazing! You all know I’m such a sucker for never-been-done storylines. Woman leaves career for another country, married for eight years, happy but marriage is in a rut, bored for monotony, seeks variety, meets husband’s boss who seeks variety too, couples on couch, couples on bed, dysfunctional relationships, disintegrating marriage…. Freaking fantabulous! It’s so new. I’m sure even if is there is a book (on this topic), there can’t be any book well-executed like Tess Stimson did this. I just jumped the band-wagon into Tess Stimson’s fan base (realizing she writes very unique Women’s Fiction). Throw clichés out the door!── ★

(There are some characters you’d love to watch. There are other characters you’d love to do. There are also other characters you’d love to watch do.) I so freaking loved Mia and Charlie if all friendships were like this, I do not know what would become of the world. But sometimes people have weird bonds (or bands for this matter) they share, and I loved how Tess Stimson portrayed the whole shebang of their partly dysfunctional, partly warm friendship. She nailed it when she represented their point-of-views in first-person descriptive. Two different women with different personalities but similar tastes. Tess Stimson splits them apart with first-person descriptive it’s so hard not to like them, and so difficult to even judge them. There’s no ‘Other-woman’, just another couple.── ★★

(Sometimes, men do play a key-role in society, “Atta husbands!”) The other mates of this scrumptious foursome, make this book worth reading. Kit and Rob, both different men. One going all the lengths to please his wife, the other going all the lengths to make his wife please him. I’ve never hated a character, ever, as much as I hated Rob. God, sometimes listening to him rant just made me feel like hitting my head against my study desk repeatedly. It’s amazing how Tess Stimson can portray one character very intensely to make you bloody-boil with anger. A star to fantastic supporting-character development.── ★★★

[Coworker: “Kobby, why are you smiling?”. Me: “It’s a great day after all.” Coworker: “Kobby, why are you smiling into the book and making thrusting moves with your pen’s flicker?” Me: “Gee, can anyone have some privacy in this office for once?” (storm out of the office)] The sex deserves a star. Really, it does. I’m the king of appreciating a good experimentation. ── ★★★★

I was practically on the edge of my seat from the suspense (what with the great sex and all too?). You never see any part of this book coming, Tess throws them at you so skilfully you never get to recover before another punch comes your way.
The lessons in this book, are off the roof! So many lessons Tess Stimson imparts with this story, and the very depressing thing she teaches that you just have to go along with because you have no choice (thanks to her excellent writing), is that no one should judge another. She lets you deduce your own lessons from this book with your own understanding/ life-experiences, but she kind of makes it difficult for you to judge anyone in such marital position because you really never know what’s with someone unless you be them. (And she makes you ‘be’ her two main characters by presenting the story in their point-of-views in first description). This is the book you women would all be discussing at your brunches, trying to shed more insights under hushed tones so people at the neighbouring tables don’t give you strange stares.── ★★★★★

I could go on and on, on reasons why you all should rush for a copy of this book. But aren’t the above reasons enough to tell you, you need a paperback of this book on amazon. Kindle really doesn’t do it justice. It’s the kind of book you would need to pick up from your shelf and hug once more.

My rating: Five stars.



I recommend this book to anyone who wants to try something new. Anyone who loves their Women’s Fiction steamy and packed with lessons all women could relate to. Anyone who has even considered doing the Open thing or not. Anyone who’s a Tess Stimson fan as she doesn’t disappoint in this title too.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely love this author and this novel is no exception. Finished it in a few days which is pretty impressive since I'm in a total reading slump this year! Twist towards the end which I wasn't expecting either.

[Maggie61 · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Tess Stimson's novels the theme is often very similar, often Dealing with affairs and cheating. This one has a different slant, when two couples become involved in a sexual situation. Is it cheating if your spouse is okay with it? Is it cheating if he was there? What starts as two couples that are in the same room, each having sex with their own spouse, develops into more involvement with all of them. What are the rules? Once you've crossed that line, how do you go back to having a normal relationship after that? And what happens when things are assumed, intentions and understanding of this relationship are not the same and it all spirals out of control.
I personally cannot wrap my head around being in this kind of relationship. Isn't it generally just one spouse in a relationship that's unhappy with their sex life and the other "allowing" them to cheat? I don't think both parts of the two couples had the same idea. They all participated, but the line became fuzzy. You risk it all, friendships and marriages and someone will end up getting more than they bargained for.
I also do not believe that Rob, being such a selfish ass would all of a sudden In a month or so, become someone that Charlie should take back. Some things are not forgiveable and even Mia, agreeing to keep seeing them after the incident with Rob, made me want to slap her. What is wrong with her!! And then to imply at the end, they'd name their baby after him? Way beyond the realm of my thinking.
Nonetheless, I think the characters were idiots but the book was entertaining.

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from Tess Stimson. Hard to put down and did not end the way I was expecting. would recommend. !!!

[Mel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very sexually graphic! Similar to 50 Shades in the respect of lots of sex and not too much plot.

[Kiran · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this interesting and enjoyed it. Rob is a total piece of shit, and I found the ending disappointing.

[Irmina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary

Mia, a journalist from the US, is adjusting to life in England alongside Kit, her steady English husband who works as a schoolteacher. Though Mia loves Kit, she struggles with loneliness and feeling out of place... until she meets Charlie. Elegant and intelligent - she's exactly the friend Mia needs to feel at home. She also happens to be Kit's boss, and to complicate things even further, her marriage is faltering. Charlie's husband Rob is emotionally distant and has a wondering eye... which now lands on Mia. Desperate to preserve her marriage, Charlie starts a dangerous game, drawing Mia, Kit, and Rob into an unconventional arrangement.

Is an open marriage a demonstration of ultimate love, or is it the first step toward unraveling everything? And are Mia and Kit, along with Charlie and Rob, ready to confront the consequences of their choices?


My opinion

I picked up Tess Stimson’s novel seeking a reprieve from my usual self-development reads. The narrative captivated me immediately, thanks to the use of multiple narrators, a technique I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate for its ability to reveal the complexities and nuances of life beyond black-and-white simplicity.

While I enjoyed the book, I think its a pity that the explicit sexual themes overshadow the richer, more complex discourse on sustaining long-term relationships, navigating gender roles, and the convoluted realities of sexual abuse.

[jaroiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zezačátku se zdá, že knížka je hodně o sexu, ale za mě je to víc o tom, co ještě dokáže vztah manželů přežít. Po dočtení se mi zdá, že je to víc o vzájemných vztazích.
Dost se mi líbí hodnocení Liz Barnsley níže, že to bylo mimo její komfortní zónu. Mám podobný pocit... místy to bylo hodně mimo mou komfortní zónu, asi proto, že jsem v podobném věku, jako jsou hlavní postavy a šlo by možná najít více paralel (naštěstí ne těch pro příběh zásadních). Vidím v příběhu snahu o řešení krize středního věku nebo manželské krize způsobem, který předznamenává spíš ještě víc problémů, než které by se vyřešily.
Líbil se mi dvojí pohled na věc - střídavé kapitoly z pohledu Mii a Charlie. Možná by se mi ještě víc líbil i pohled z nějakého mužského úhlu pohledu, ale i toto střídání bylo osvěžením toku textu.

[Stana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jednoduche cteni, na odpocinek a vycisteni hlavy dobry :)

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well - I was certainly out of my comfort zone with this tale of two couples getting a bit too close in their foursome. I suppose it could be called an erotic novel, but the sex scenes came out of the characters and were the focus of the story, rather than suddenly appearing in chapter 3, as if the publishers decided arbitrarily "it's time to add a steamy scene". A very different read for me, but It kept my interest with strong characters and twists and turns to the plot. The only sour note was the implication that Mia and Kit were going to call their baby son after Rob - that did not ring true for me, given what had gone on before. A good discussion book on the themes of marriage, friends and fidelity. I will be looking for more books by Tessa Stimson. Gt

[kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. The characters are relatable, both likeable with a seedy male loitering in the chapters. I won't be a spoil sport and re write the plot. If you like an easy, relatable rom com book with a bit of sex this is for you. There is a twist that I didn't see coming but it just added to the likeability of the book. I didn't give it 5 stars as there were 2 chapters that bored me a tad, after reading more kink books than a local brothel thats probably more to do with me than Tess Stimsons writing. I do love reading her work and she is most definitely one of my long term favourites that I would pay full price for. I would read this if you just need a easy read with a bit of blue, a girly romance then please read this. 😁

[Kiru Taye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. Blooming fantastic storytelling. Told from two POVs Mia's and Charlie's both married women who get involved in a complicated friendship. I loved both of them and Kit is just adorable.
If you are married, read this book. Even if you're not married, read it anyway. You've got to have an open mind though. The story is compelling and intriguing. I listened to the audio book in one sitting. Couldn't put it down. Did all my chores with it plugged into my headset.

I should add that the narration is absolutely faultless.

A keeper! I will read this again and again.

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit I love Tess Stimson's writing style, even if I hate the prose of the storyline and she loves to write about adultery, but her style has you hooked from the dry first sentence, which is what happened for me here. I loved all the characters and the storylines, hated the situations with shared beds, but this is what this was all about wasn't it, I just had to be an adult and read through it. It has an ending that will leave you breathless. Enjoy I did.

[Florida Uzoaru · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful book. Perhaps a little bit more sex scenes, a little bit more graphic description of the scenes already written, and I might have overlooked the awfulness of the writing.

Well it wasn't as indigestible as Fifty Shades of Grey tho, so it at least got that going for it.

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous book thoroughly enjoyable, so well written, just could not put it down and didn't want it to end.

I absolutely love this authors books and I'm currently working my way through all of her books :-)

[Tereza M · Rating 1 out of 5]

Já to nedávám. Kdybych chtěla porno, jdu na redtube. Doufala jsem, že se to bude moct aspoň číst a najdu tam nějaký zajímavý myšlenky o otevřeném manželství, a ne jen sex :D Takže díky, odkládám na dobu až budu potřebovat číst péčko. Navíc teda dost nablble napsané.

[Pavelina · Rating 2 out of 5]

The traditional story, an attempt to eroticism, sympathetic main character-woman. The plot was bored me a happyend (it was necessary?) was as a deus ex machina for me.
But good reading for time-out ;)

[Kristie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Otevřené manželství není pro každého a otevírá dveře do "zakázaných míst". Občas se těmi dveřmi ale nemůžete vrátit zpátky.

[Vendea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moje třetí kniha od Tess dopadla na výbornou. Autorčin styl je stejně jako vždy velmi čtivý, zápletka zajímavá, místy až depresivní. Další Tess, prosím.

4/5*

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining enough - read it quickly

[Kay Graves · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hated this book sorry not really my thing found the characters shallow and self centered.

[Quanti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mno. Trochu moc vyfantazírované, hlavně Rob v obou extrémech. Znám lepší.