Konstellationen: Roman | Provokantes amerikanisches Debüt über Polyamorie und offene Beziehungen

by Elisa Faison, Maria Hummitzsch (Translator)

Was suchen wir im Glück oder Freiheit, Erfüllung oder Kompromisse?

Niemand darf glauben, dass sich nur Kleinigkeiten ändern, wenn sich ein Detail ändert. Ben und Frances öffnen ihre Ehe. Bevor sie ein Kind bekommen und bürgerlich werden. Das ist der Gedanke. Doch die Erschütterungen, die diese Entscheidung auslöst, treffen beide mit Wucht und vollkommen unvorbereitet. »Konstellationen« erkundet ihre Sexualität und ihre verborgenen Neigungen, navigiert sie durch Eifersucht, Verrat, Verlangen und Besessenheit. – Dies ist der Roman eines modernen, kultivierten Paares, das nach dem schwer fassbaren Etwas sucht, das ihm Zufriedenheit und Glück bringen könnte.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, LGBT, Romance, Literary Fiction, Queer, Adult

322 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 23, 2026

Reviews

[emma]

me when i want to sound chic at a restaurant

[maria ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t think from the synopsis alone that I would enjoy this book as much as I did, but I did!

Skin Contact is a book about romance, not really a romance book. It deals with themes of monogamy and non-monogamy, lost chances, second chances, unrequited crushes, family bonds, what it really means to love someone. It has a very interesting non-linear way of telling the story, changing timelines and povs as it goes on, always around the subject of love. We get to know a little bit of everyone in this story, which I really liked. I don’t think the story(ies) would’ve been as interesting if told in a traditional, chronological, single-pov way; the episodic nature of them felt more natural, sort of soap opera-ish, which my Brazilian mind adheres easily to. I read some people saying that the constant shift between povs was confusing or distracting but to me it made sense, and it made the story easier to follow actually, since I paid more intense attention to its details.

My favourite thing about the book was its nuance. There’s no right or wrong relationship, no right or wrong behaviour, no right or wrong decision. Characters get hurt and hurt, apologize and forgive, explain and confuse, but apart from a few moments of “woke discourse” (which would probably feel forced if not for the fact that real people actually do speak and think in “woke speech” nowadays lol) the book refused to give a clear perspective on what “it” believed to be the right answer. By offering many different, conflicting povs, the book remained relatively neutral, sort of a mediator in a debate among its characters that never reaches a definite conclusion, except perhaps that love is about constant communicating because love, solid as it is, is ever-changing. There’s no end point to loving; it’s not a destination one reaches but rather a path one walks on. But maybe this is just my own point of view, since I’m such a lover; the book reminded me of that nevertheless. ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

[V · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry, but I kinda didn't like the writing. From the start, the book feels a bit unfocused, like it keeps circling around feelings and small moments about 'open marriage' instead of really digging into the main problem. The story promises big emotional conflicts, but a lot of the time it feels distracted.

The first three chapters also really threw me off. Chapter one uses I, chapter two uses we, and chapter three suddenly switches to third person. I honestly don't know what the point of that was, especially since they're still the same characters. It felt unnecessary and confusing, not meaningful.

I also felt like the way the characters speak is kind of weird. It's like they just say whatever pops into their heads with no filter. It comes off childish, and it kept pulling me out of the story instead of pulling me in. Overall, the idea is interesting, but the execution didn't work for me.

[gracie · Rating 1 out of 5]

You could not pay me to give a fuck about anything that happened in this book. The writing is annoying, the characters even more so, the constant pov changes does nothing for the writing and are all so similar with no distinction that they begin to bleed into each other.

The sigh of relief I let out when I turned the last page...what a mess.

[Zoe Giles · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

one of my favourite lit fics I’ve read in a long time

[Chelsea Knowles · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.*

Skin Contact follows Frances who at age thirty-two decides to open her marriage. Her husband, Ben agrees because he will do anything to make Frances happy and she has really been struggling after the death of her mother which has led to a lack of purpose in her life. They meet a waitress at a restaurant, end up giving her their number and arrange to meet her. This is the first time they have opened their marriage and over the next two years they get on the dating apps and start to meet people together. Frances falls in love with many people but it isn’t until Ben reconnects with a woman and falls in love with her that they have to confront what they have been doing and decide how their future will look especially as Frances wants a baby.

Unfortunately, this just didn’t work for me, mainly because of the way this book is written. It is told from multiple POV’s such as Frances, Ben, the waitress they meet up with, Frances’ mother and grandmother. It is not clear whose point of view it is and it took awhile for me to work out who was who. This meant the narrative was significantly disrupted and this would have been much better if it was told from Frances’ POV particularly as so much of Frances’ story is about grief after the death of her mother. As I didn’t like the way this is written that meant I struggled to enjoy the story as I kept loosing interest when the POV switched. There were some interesting moments as Frances and Ben explored their open marriage but this just felt a little uninspired and due to the POV’s this didn’t give much insight into an open marriage. I think it was a very strange choice to write the book this way but this will work for some readers so I think it’s worth a read if you like multiple POV’s and short story collections.

[Ava F · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC copy March 2026: Every couple years, a trendy new novel about open marriage drops and “Skin Contact” is the one for 2026. While I was initially drawn in, this book quickly fell flat. Every other chapter or so focuses on a character outside of the main couple, each less relevant than the last. Several of the chapters were originally published as short stories, and they read like it: they feel completely disconnected from the main narrative. Overall, I found this book to be ambitious but ultimately disappointing.

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting premise - one would think - that turned out to be basically interconnected short stories with one central couple. As a result it was hard for me to latch on to what was going on and I was bummed it wasn’t the erotic-ish novel I thought I was going to read! The writing was also a little simplistic at times which really stood out when you’d be introduced to a new character and have to explain how they were related to the main couple.

[cursedb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a genuinely enjoyable read, mainly because I finished it in one sitting. That alone says a lot about how engaging I found it. I’ve always been interested in books that explore unconventional relationship dynamics, whether that involves open relationships or other forms of non-traditional intimacy, especially when those dynamics unfold within long-term relationships. They tend to raise interesting questions about trust, desire, jealousy, and commitment. And, honestly, these stories almost never end well. At this point, I’ve come to expect that, so I wasn’t surprised by where this one ultimately went. The ending itself felt fairly predictable, but that never bothered me. What kept me invested was seeing how the situation would gradually unravel. The tension came from watching the characters make increasingly complicated choices rather than wondering what the final outcome would be. The shifting points of view were slightly confusing at first. It took me a couple of chapters to adjust to the structure, but once I did, I actually thought it was one of the book’s strengths. Writing multiple perspectives is difficult because every voice needs to contribute something meaningful without becoming repetitive or confusing. Here, I think the author handled that challenge exceptionally well. Once I became immersed in the story, I stopped paying attention to who was narrating because every perspective added another layer to the characters and the overall narrative. Overall, it took a little time to settle into the structure, but by the third chapter I was completely hooked. Even though the destination was never much of a mystery, the journey there made the novel thoroughly enjoyable.

[Eileen Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐

this book was unlike ANYTHING i’ve ever read!! istg it felt like i was reading about real people!!! it follows a married couple, Frances and Ben who decide to open their marriage👀 their journey is raw and messy af. it's full of all the ups and downs of them trying to make it work but also trying to figure out wtf they want and who they are as adults(mostly the fmc tho😅) ngl, i was spiraling SO many times because this book did NOT lack drama🤣 my heart was in my throat wondering how it was gonna end!!! after finishing it... i want more!! this author's writing is kinda addictive and i will definitely be checking out her future books🤭🙌🏻

[Kendall · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was not good I’m sorry. It was difficult to follow because there were multiple POVs that were hard to decipher what character was talking. It reminded me of Cleopatra and Frankenstein (one of the worst books I’ve ever read). And why did it have to switch from third person to first person and sometimes even second person?

This felt like a bunch of short stories mushed together into one bad book. It felt very surface level and the writing wasn’t great. The way some characters spoke was annoying. Specifically the diary entry, I assume, from one of the characters.

Also I am BEGGING authors to stop mentioning Covid in their books. Please stop!!!!

[Patty Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could barely put this book down once I started it. I've read novels about open marriages before and I must say that this is the one that has hooked me the most!

That being said, there were a couple of chapters that dealt with the people surrounding Ben and Frances that to me just felt like filler and were a bit confusing when it came to connecting to the story.

But, do not skip this one, this story is worth it!

Thank you to Cardinal and the author for providing a free copy of this book through NetGalley.

[Remi]

honestly, i'm super curious about open marriages

*thank you to Cardinal for the ARC*

[Molly Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’re going to write a book about an open marriage and the first chapter is an unexpectedly detailed threesome, I don’t understand why you wouldn’t just keep the 0 to 100 energy for the rest of the novel. The really interesting section is the first third where it really gets sticky within the open relationship and this other couple who then completely disappears and then Why is there a murder in the middle section? I also didn’t like how the novel kept diverting the story to give POVs of tangentially relevant people I’m like all I really want is just to see the moral question presented here about what it’s really like to open a marriage and how being in love with multiple people changes a relationship. AND THEN IT ENDS right when it starts to get good again.

However how can I really complain about a book that was good enough I read it in a day

[Ruby Yassen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soooo good, so JUICY, so fun and readable, and simultaneously really heartfelt and emotional. I was very invested! I think this will be a great summer read 🔥

[Sawyer Rials · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shoutout Flyleaf + Chapel Hill 🩵

[Alyssa Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

i really did enjoy what i was reading, but unfortunately the structure and the pacing of this book was its downfall.

the blurb isn’t lying, it is about a couple who begin an open relationship, and yes, she does fall pregnant, but what this blurb also fails to tell you is that a good third of the book is littered with very loosely tied povs that physically draw you away from the page and make u think “huh, who is this”, and while some of them did actually grip me once i had an idea of who was speaking, it still couldn’t make up for the few that really served little point at all, that could’ve been woven in through using the actual two main people of our story, frances and ben.

i hated the mix of third and first. pick one and stick with it, or if you’re going to blend them, at least have it represent a narrative purpose. it felt lazy, like she chose what best suited the current chapter.

i wish this book had been all about frances and ben, the real root of the story doesn’t happen until about 150 pages in, for a just shy of 300 pages book, it was upsetting how little i felt i actually spent with our main characters.

there was definitely tender and beautiful lines woven throughout this book, just felt we could’ve cut all the filler to let these beautiful moments shine. an unfortunate 3 stars since i was hoping for so much more :(

[Ely Ehly]

Elisa Faison’s skin contact is an Impressively intimate and visceral debut exploring a couples decision to introduce polyamory into their marriage. Throughout the novel, Frances and Ben’s relationship felt so tangible to me that at times I felt as if I was gossiping with a friend rather than reading a book. The prose and characterizations were inviting and descriptive.

For the majority of my reading experience, I could not determine if Faison was advocating for or cautioning against polyamory. This was a component of the book I greatly appreciate, because it felt as if the impact of the open marriage on Frances, Ben, and their relationships was fully explored. Some plot lines felt ambitious and intriguing, but left me either wanting more or less. Notably I was left wanting more between Annie & Lily’s relationship as well as Izzy’s feeling for Frances.

Overall, Elisa Faison’s debut was intriguing and fascinating, leaving me excited to see what she does next.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing, NetGalley, and the author for the ARC.

[Erica | wittyreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the formatting with the main story about Frances and Ben being told in between chapters of short stories with people in their orbit. I thought that was a really interesting way to tell a story and give context to the characters that felt unique. I did not like the majority of the actual story being told, though. There was too much focus on motherhood for me personally, and I found myself disengaging during those parts. I did enjoy some of my time with this book, but ultimately if I had known just how much it focused on motherhood, I would have passed.

[B]

10/10 a must read for anyone in their mid twenties onwards who doesn’t own a picket fence

[lily ❣️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

SELFISH PEOPLE DOING SELFISH THINGS !!! loved it more 3.5 stars than 3 but hey. people are inherently selfish and i think there’s something so fun reading about it in a way that doesn’t villainise people for being human ?? idk. also i actually really loved the constant shifting of perspectives i felt way more engaged in my own thoughts like i was constantly being challenged by differing viewpoints #shabang. cool read. i do think men being selfish is just generally more evil for the world but that’s me. probs won’t remember too much about this in a year though still had fun.

[Parisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautifully layered palimpsest exploring platonic and romantic love, plus a secret third thing? the story continued to grow richer and spread to encompass so much as it went on

[whatzoreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

You notice they don’t look anymore.
The compliments slow down.
The second glances disappear.
You don’t miss the attention.
You miss the feeling of existing inside someone else’s eyes.
So, you go looking for another witness.
Because every new pair of eyes briefly convinces you you’re still here.
On paper, Skin Contact is about a couple opening their marriage. In reality, I think it’s actually about something more terrifying. It’s about outsourcing your identity.
She isn’t looking for another partner. She’s looking for another version of herself.
A different reflection. A different story. A fresh pair of eyes to confirm she still exists.
But here’s the problem.
What happens when your husband also discovers another version of himself in somebody else’s gaze?
The relationship isn’t competing with another person; it’s competing with another identity.
That’s what obsessed me about this book. It understands that being desired and being known are two different things.
Who are we when no one is looking? Who are we when the only evidence of our existence comes from somebody else’s desire?
This isn’t a novel about non-monogamy, and it makes me sad to see it reduced to “the sluttiest book of the summer” on the cover.
Skin Contact is so much more than “the slutty threesome book”; it’s about the terrifying possibility that you’ve mistaken attention for selfhood.
This is intimate and quietly devastating.
Five Stars.
No notes.

[BookBabeNails · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, I was super excited to read this book because it sounds like something that would be a perfect fit for me. The concept is unique and the exploration of non monogamy and kinks doesn’t bother me at all. To start with the good, I do think this book is experimental and tries to do something new. For a debut author, that’s something I really respect. It plays around with POVs. And by that I mean perspectives from an array of characters and POV switching between 1st, 2nd, & 3rd person.

Right off the bat, I got pretty annoyed that the MCs are in their early 30s and described as having wrinkles and grey hair… at THIRTY? I think this whole societal outlook of 30 years old being viewed as elderly is toxic and gross so that was just not a good inclusion in the opening chapter for me.

But I pushed on because I really wanted to like this book. I did enjoy watching everything unravel over the span of a couple years as their choices began to have more and more impact on the characters and their relationship. I always love when a story is layered and digs into the complexities of life. I think the writing itself was promising and it read pretty quickly.

Overall, this book just did not end up working for me. It felt so disjointed with the POVs from random characters and all the perspectives required a lot of detangling work on the reader’s part. All the unspooling threads it goes down ultimately take away from the premise of the book and it never seems to pull itself together.

I do think there’s a reader for every book and I know there are readers who will love this one. I just needed a tighter story and a little less acting like we’re 60 when we’re 30.

[Sher (in H-Town) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5-3? Not sure how this one made it to my reading shelf. The title skin contact made me think it was going to be something akin to tales about orange wine from the country of Georgia.. it wasn’t… at all.

I believe this is a debut author and a collection of stories connected by the thread of one couple, Frances and Ben. If the idea of LOTS of alternative love relationships and lite erotica is too much for you, skip this.

I found the multitude of romance and feelings surrounding unconventional marriages including polyamory kind of interesting and also bizarre. If there was a lot of outside the box relationships going on with people in my circles I was definitely unaware of it. That said, I’ve heard women I know a generation younger than me respond much more casually to all manner of alternative love so maybe it’s not so out there.

The writing was all over the place. Different styles and POVs from one story/chapter to the next. With the exception of a few of the stories most felt sort of a cohesive collection but a few seemed to be thrown in and didn’t really fit.

I can definitely say that this story collection is quite outside my normal reading genres but mind expanding none the less.

[jasmine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, mixed feelings.

This was kind of a mess. I loved Frances, and she and Ben’s story was what originally hooked me. But the further into the story you get, the more bizarrely disjointed and confusing it is.

The tense changes from first, to second to sometimes third. Often it would take several pages of a chapter for me to realise which character was even speaking.

At one point towards the end there is a chapter where a woman, who we’ve never met and are not introduced to, is told that her sister has been murdered. The sister’s name is Frances, which she shares with our protagonist, but it appears to be unrelated, and is not mentioned again. To be fair, I did skim the last few chapters because I was desperate for the book to be over.

Overall a difficult and not very enjoyable read. 1.5 ⭐️

[Grace Champagne · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5-- very much in the vein of The Late Americans or Cleopatra and Frankenstein both of which i did not love either. sorta plotless and maybe a little pseudo-intellectual, with brief good moments.

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

i was expecting a more traditional narrative structure and wanted more of ben & frances’ direct story but appreciated how the other povs operated for the overall themes of their story. the shifts in pov did take me out of this a little bit as i tried to map how everyone was related, but i still enjoyed this. honest exploration of nonmonogamy, love/marriage, womanhood, motherhood, grief/isolation, etc

also shoutout to flyleaf books for my signed copy & faison being a former employee there (which i did not even know when i first decided i wanted the book haha). as one of the newest residents of the carrboro/chapel hill area, i love to see that

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Read in one sitting in the sunshine and picked this up after seeing it labelled as ‘the hottest, sluttiest book of the summer’.

Didn’t care for the additional POVS around Ben & Frances but I really loved the writing.

[Ajdana · Rating 2 out of 5]

naja, ich weiß nicht was ich sagen soll. ganz fatal