Sex Diaries: Real-life Stories of Non-Monogamy and Polyamory

by Alyssa Shelasky

These captivating, all-new anonymous accounts, compiled by Alyssa Shelasky, in the style of her New York magazine column, pull back the curtain on non-monogamy, answering questions How does it really work? Who’s taking care of the kids? And who’s making breakfast?

Featuring an introduction by Esther Perel, renowned psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author of Mating in Captivity

A HARPER’S BAZAAR MOST ANTICIPATED SUMMER READ

“This glorious, never-before-published collection of diaries will delight, tantalize, console, amuse, and inspire. May they enlarge our understanding of sexual freedom and enhance our relationships, regardless of how we define them.”—Christie Tate, New York Times bestselling author of Group

A sixty-seven-year-old woman keeps a collection of well-endowed lovers in various corners of the world; a restaurant owner is jolted back to life when she gets illicit messages from a married man; an artist attends an overwhelming sex party, only to find themselves feeling reinvigorated after they get to role play as a rock. Some diarists are just beginning to question their relationship with monogamy; others have been polyamorous for a long-time. Some accounts are graphic and dishy, while others focus on the search for lasting connections that feel genuinely liberatory. Every single one is strikingly honest and authentic, inviting us to relish the types of stories we hear in secret—the desires and fantasies that get whispered about to trusted confidantes, or relegated to the pages of a diary.

Sex Diaries lets us peek inside those pages, offering a singular, panoramic view into the world of polyamory, and an unforgettable ode to love, lust, longing, and desire.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Essays, Audiobook

272 pages, Hardcover

Published July 14, 2026

Reviews

[emma · Rating 1.5 out of 5]

at times like these i'm grateful for the anonymity of my kindle.

https://emmareadstoomuch.substack.com...

the best part of sex diaries, like money diaries or grub street diets or any other digital magazine day-in-the-life content equivalent, is the glimpses they can give you into so many lives that are so different from your own, stories of inane time that are completely new to you.

so it is truly inexplicable that this book, the first collection of sex diaries published, would include selections from exclusively one lifestyle.

what a strange choice to publish exclusively diaries about "Ethically Non-Monogamous" people, which the introduction(s) claim will be as varied in gender and sex and location and age and interest as possible. and they are all that. and yet, because all of these people are "Ethically Non-Monogamous," they are exactly the same.

even more interesting: they are all terribly written.

maybe that's part of it. i don't know.

where could've been shocking and diverse and fascinating reading is instead frustration, irritation, all the bad -ations.

bottom line: an unnecessary letdown.

(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)

[Jessica Nason · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and provide my honest review.

I honestly struggled with how to rate this book because these are real people’s lives and experiences. It didn’t feel right to take points away simply because their lifestyles aren’t ones I personally relate to, so I’m settling on 4 stars.

This isn’t a book I would normally pick up, and at times it was a difficult read for me. Not because it wasn’t well written, but because non monogamy and polyamory are so far outside of my own life and experiences. Even so, I couldn’t stop reading. I found myself genuinely curious and wanting to understand the people behind these stories.

What I appreciated most was that it challenged me to see perspectives I hadn’t considered before. It even gave me a better understanding of friends in my own life who practice non monogamy, and I walked away feeling like I could better understand where they’re coming from. That alone made this book worthwhile.

Some stories completely surprised me, and others left me thinking long after I finished the diary entry. Whether I agreed with the choices being made wasn’t really the point. The point was learning about people whose lives look very different from my own.

If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend going into it with a completely open mind. You may not relate to every story, but you’ll almost certainly come away with a broader perspective and a deeper understanding of how differently people experience relationships.

[Patty Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very intimate look at non-monogamy and polyamory told in 7-day diaries by anonymous contributors. This was an educational and eye-opening book for me as someone who is interested in the dynamics of polyamory.

Loved how open and vulnerable the diarists were and I'm now interested in following this series on New York Magazine.

Read this!

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

[Kathrin Passig]

Eigentlich genau das, was mich interessiert: Tagebuchformat! Poly-Beziehungen! Aber die einzelnen Texte klingen alle wie von derselben Person geschrieben. Ich weiß schon, liegt wahrscheinlich an der Bearbeitung durch die Herausgeberin, aber nach acht Kapiteln (von 21) hat es mir gereicht. Außerdem war alles so idyllisch, reiche Leute haben ein perfektes Insta-Leben. Kann ich ja auch verstehen, ein solches Buch ist nicht der Ort für ereignislosen Alltag, Geldverdienfragen oder Zweifel. Aber mich hat es halt gelangweilt.

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m gonna be so honest, the stories weren’t as exciting as I thought they’d be. Maybe for straight people this is all so shocking? Meh boring

[Shannon Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so good and interesting. Definitely not everyone will pick this one up but I loved a peek into 21 different people’s lives. The only thing I didn’t love was the format—not all the diarists are great writers which is fine, but it’s also hard to go deep with these. I didn’t end up feeling much about these stories beyond curiosity, which I don’t love since I think the point of this book was to not make polyamory a spectacle (for the record I don’t think it did, I just wanted to relate more to these writers).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc!

[Elizabeth Mossor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was going to be 3/4 stars until that last chapter that was chock full of AI. DO BETTER!!!

[BookwormBraggings · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Intimate, provocative, disarmingly honest, and endlessly fascinating—a compelling exploration of the many ways human beings seek love, desire, connection, and freedom.**

Alyssa Shelasky's *Sex Diaries: Real-life Stories of Non-Monogamy and Polyamory* is the kind of book that satisfies our curiosity about other people's private lives while offering something considerably more meaningful than the pleasures of voyeurism. Beneath the intimate confessions and deliciously candid revelations lies a fascinating exploration of human relationships in all their contradictions: our longing for intimacy, our fear of confinement, our appetite for novelty, and our enduring desire to be understood.

What makes this collection so compelling is its refusal to present non-monogamy and polyamory as a single, easily defined experience. Through anonymous first-person accounts, Shelasky introduces readers to individuals navigating radically different arrangements, expectations, and emotional landscapes. Some are experienced in consensual non-monogamy; others are exploring unfamiliar possibilities. Their stories illuminate the extraordinary variety of ways people approach sex, romance, companionship, and commitment.

I particularly appreciate the diary format, which gives the collection an immediacy that more conventional discussions of relationships often lack. Instead of presenting abstract theories about how unconventional relationships work, we encounter the practical realities of people's lives: the scheduling, the negotiations, the unexpected attractions, the insecurities, the difficult conversations, and the small moments that reveal far more than grand declarations ever could. Intimacy, after all, does not exist in a theoretical vacuum. It unfolds in the messy, unpredictable particulars of everyday life.

**One of the most fascinating dimensions of this book is its exploration of the relationship between sexual freedom and emotional complexity.** Popular culture sometimes portrays non-monogamy as either an idealized form of liberation or an inevitable recipe for jealousy and heartbreak. The reality, as these accounts suggest, is considerably more nuanced. Opening a relationship does not eliminate insecurity, just as choosing monogamy does not guarantee emotional security. Regardless of the arrangement, people must confront their expectations, communicate their needs, establish boundaries, and reckon with the gap between what they imagine they want and what they actually experience.

This is where the collection becomes particularly thought-provoking. Behind the provocative details are universal questions about human connection. Can we love more than one person without diminishing what we feel for each? How do we distinguish freedom from avoidance, desire from validation, and genuine intimacy from the excitement of being wanted? What happens when the relationship structure we choose exposes emotional needs we have never fully acknowledged?

These questions extend far beyond polyamory. They concern anyone who has ever tried to understand the complicated relationship between independence and attachment, passion and security, individuality and partnership.

I also love the premise of allowing people to tell their own stories without forcing their experiences into a single moral framework. There is something refreshing about a collection that invites curiosity rather than rushing toward judgment. We do not have to identify with every diarist, approve of every decision, or want the same kind of life to recognize the humanity within these accounts. Sometimes the most valuable literary experiences are those that expand our understanding of lives we might otherwise never encounter.

Shelasky's journalistic sensibility is well suited to this material. The candid, conversational approach makes the collection feel immediate and intimate, while the variety of voices prevents any one experience from becoming the definitive account of non-monogamy. The stories range from playful and provocative to vulnerable and searching, revealing that behind even the most unconventional romantic arrangements are people attempting to answer familiar questions about happiness, fulfillment, and belonging.

The introduction by Esther Perel adds another appealing dimension, situating the collection within broader conversations about desire, attachment, and the changing meaning of commitment. Her work on the tensions between security and erotic vitality provides a particularly relevant lens through which to consider these stories.

What ultimately makes *Sex Diaries* so interesting is that it invites us to reconsider our assumptions about what relationships are supposed to look like. We inherit powerful cultural narratives about love, fidelity, romance, and partnership, often absorbing them long before we have the experience to question them. Reading accounts from people who have chosen different paths encourages us to distinguish between the arrangements that genuinely serve us and the expectations we follow simply because they are familiar.

And perhaps that is the collection's greatest achievement: it makes the unfamiliar feel worthy of attention without insisting that it must become universal. Its stories suggest that there is no single formula for intimacy, no arrangement capable of guaranteeing happiness, and no substitute for the honesty required to understand ourselves and the people we love.

Five enthusiastic stars for a candid, illuminating, and wonderfully provocative collection! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

*Sex Diaries* is a fascinating read for anyone interested in relationships, sexuality, contemporary culture, or the endlessly complicated business of being human. It offers the pleasures of intimate storytelling alongside genuine opportunities for reflection, challenging readers to look beyond conventional assumptions and consider the many forms that love and connection can take.

I came away appreciating how much there is to learn from listening to people describe their lives in their own words. Their experiences may differ enormously, but their stories circle around questions that remain remarkably universal: How do we love well? How do we remain honest with ourselves and others? How do we balance our desire for freedom with our need for connection?

Ultimately, this is a book about the courage to explore, the vulnerability involved in intimacy, and the ongoing negotiation between who we are and who we hope to become. Bold, revealing, and deeply human, it reminds us that relationships are never quite as simple as the rules we inherit—and that understanding other people's choices can sometimes teach us something unexpected about our own.

A wonderfully engaging collection that celebrates the complexity of desire and invites us to approach the private lives of others with greater curiosity, openness, and compassion.

[Katherine Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those who are familiar with NY Mag's Sex Diaries series will know the cadence and rhythm of this book: anonymous diarists keep a log of a week of their lives with a focus on sex and relationships. These diaries are themed around people engaged in or curious about ENM, non-monogamy, and polyamory.

I picked up an ARC of this book because, while teaching a Gender Studies course last year, I realized that polyamory and non-monogamy were a gap in my knowledge. Though I know what these relationships entail and have some friends who practice ENM, I'm not often prying into their sex lives and interrogating their day-to-day routines and emotions. This book gave me insight into myriad configurations, approaches, and responses to non-monogamy and polyamory. Some diarists I instinctively liked better than others, and it was interesting to me to see where I noticed myself feeling judgemental, curious, empathetic, or even jealous about the diarists' relationships. All relationships are different and all relationships are, in some ways, the same; however, I appreciated Shelasky's work to include a variety of different kinds of people (straight, queer, cis, trans, nonbinary, gnc, etc.) with varying backgrounds and very different approaches to relationships.

I also quite enjoyed the introduction to the book, where Shelasky detailed how she came to write the column, why she chose this theme for the book, and how she solicits diarists. As a fellow nosy person, I would have been fascinated to read more about the process of writing, editing, selecting, etc. Maybe in her next book?

I struggle to rate a book like this, but I did enjoy the process of reading it and I do think it's quite enlightening! Fellow nosy/curious people would likely enjoy this one, too. My gratitude to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

[Shantell · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

Sex Diaries offers a raw, detailed look into intimacy, desire, and nontraditional relationship structures. What stood out most was the realism of the perspectives. The book does not flatten polyamory or alternative sexual lifestyles into shock value or simple fantasy. Instead, it presents them as lived experiences with emotions, boundaries, discomfort, curiosity, vulnerability, and self-discovery attached.

This is not simply “threesome porn” dressed up as memoir or erotica. The stronger parts of the book are in how it shows that poly relationships and sexually open dynamics are not only about sex; they are also about communication, identity, negotiation, emotional needs, and lifestyle choices that may be unfamiliar to many readers. For someone curious about polyamory or alternative intimacy, this book can be enlightening because it gives space to perspectives that are often misunderstood, judged, or reduced to stereotypes.

The writing is very candid and extremely detailed, which will work well for readers who appreciate unfiltered accounts of sexual exploration. At the same time, that level of detail may not be for everyone. Some moments can feel overwhelming or intense, depending on the reader’s comfort level with explicit material and unconventional relationship dynamics.

Overall, this is a bold, revealing read that gives voice to experiences outside the mainstream. It may not be universally accessible, but it does offer a realistic and layered perspective on sexuality, polyamory, and the many ways people define intimacy for themselves.

[Allison Pace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a surprisingly hard time settling on a rating for Sex Diaries, which feels appropriate given how mixed my reaction was. In a lot of ways, I liked it but I also felt like something was missing.

The diary-style format was both a strength and a limitation for me. I appreciated how immediate and personal it felt, like getting unfiltered access to people’s daily lives. It kept me engaged and made the book easy to read in short bursts. At the same time, that format often left me unsatisfied. I kept wanting more context; more about each person’s background, how they came to practice ENM, and especially what happened beyond the seven days we’re given.

Each entry was interesting, and I was consistently curious about the people featured, but I never quite felt like I got the full picture. Just as I started to feel invested in someone’s story, it would end. That sense of incompleteness stayed with me throughout.

Overall, this was an engaging and thought-provoking read, even if it didn’t fully deliver on the depth I was hoping for. I don’t have any strong negatives, but I also don’t have anything overwhelmingly positive to point to either. It just sits somewhere in the middle for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for my opinion!

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A raw and sexy anthology of personal accounts of intimate relationshipts. Feels like something that would be included in Carrie Bradshaw's column in Season 1 (and specifically, season 1 only).

Perfect for readers who, like me, are nosy.

This collection of personal diary entries is focused on individuals who partake in non-monogomany and polyamory. The accounts are very diverse from people with established relationships, and people who are new to the idea. Each relationship is connected by non-monogamy but that is where most of the similarities between each diary entry stop. A topic that seems taboo and salacious is actually presented in a raw and authentic way from each person, that it normalizes the idea of non-monogamy and, in several cases, makes it seem incredibly normalized and mundane (complimentary).

This read is a perfect pick up and put down kind of collection. I, personally, couldn't read it in one go, but rather picked it up in a spare 15 to 20 minutes here and there and took my time reading through it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jessika · Rating 4 out of 5]

The formatting of this one was fun! I liked how it was like diary entries day by day, but was based mostly around what each person did or thought in a relationship sense each day for a whole week of entries. I felt like the variety and types and sexualities and genders of people were diverse and interesting in how each person navigated non monogamy. I mostly listened to this one on audio(thank you library system!) and liked how the voices were different for each story/never the same back to back so it helped keep each set of entries separated. Each person was from a different part of the US and rest of the world and some of them traveled a decent distance as well or met people and had partners from other places. It was great being able to feel like non monogamy was more normalized and also see how each person had similarities with others, but also differences. Even, when something didn’t go as planned for them, it was in the entries so that nothing was ever just sunshine and rainbows. It was real people and their lives and relationships, anonymously.

*Thank you NetGalley, the author, and publishers for the e-book copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Ok I enjoyed Shelasky's ages old book Apron Anxiety and she is one of those writers that when I see her name pop up, I'm always interested in what she is doing though I don't follow her closely. She writes a lot of dating style content for The Cut, which I really enjoy and true confession: I actually love consuming content on social media about dating, dating apps, modern day relationships. It's always entertainingly horrifying and reinforces the feeling I have that being an old married lady is the equivalent of taking the last chopper out of 'nam, ya know? (I know this is a meme somewhere, I'm just not smart enough to link in in Goodreads.)

Tiktok makes me feel certain that I absolutely could. not. EVER DATE AGAIN if something happened to my husband. (Don't even get me started on if I would every get married again.)

ANYWAY, cringey title aside I thought I'd pick this up for fun, and I would just say this leans very much into stories of Polyamory and is pretty graphic so reader beware. I'm not sure I felt like there was a throughline of theme that is compelling enough to make this a recommendation, but it sure was....fascinating????

[Sandrine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not the type of book I usually read but I was definitely very intrigued by this concept. 21 people are sharing a week in their lives as polyamorous or non monogamous. It was very interesting to get a glimpse of their life and lifestyle. As this is so different from my own life, it brought me a lot of questions. I also discussed some of the stories with my friends and it led to some very interesting and animated conversations.
I think it’s best to go into this book with an open mind and just appreciate the vulnerability and openness that these 21 people shared with the readers. All of them have different reasons and perspectives on polyamory or non monogamy which is what makes it so fascinating.
Overall, it’s a thought provoking book for people who are not familiar with this type of relationships. As a very curious person, I quite enjoyed being in the intimacy of these people’s lives and seeing the pros and cons of this relationship choice !

Thank you to the publisher for an arc of this book, opinions are my own.

[Carley Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

Thank you so much NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this deeply intimate look into so many different ways of living, loving, and experiencing things in this world. We are thrown into peoples sensual weeks documented for us to read some of the most intimate parts of these peoples lives. This really opened up my eyes and popped the bubble that I found myself living in. I try to always understand and see others ways of life, and this really allowed me to understand that on such a deep level. Even though some of the experiences and beliefs may have made me uncomfortable I believe it is because it is seen as taboo in society but being able to read this and see people living so freely with themselves was beautiful and eye opening. I appreciated the vulnerability of this book, and as a straight CIS women I loved the insight into peoples lives as it allowed me to understand and respect them even more that I already did, while simultaneously taking me out of my comfort zone.

[Charlsey Dyer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Is there anything more juicy than reading someone else’s diary? For me the answer is no. Add in growing up in 90s purity culture complete with true love waits and Don’t ask, Don’t tell; I went into Sex Diaries with high hopes.

To start I felt like it answers some of the questions you don’t want to admit you have, and that you DEFINITELY don’t want to ask.

I enjoyed the forward by Ester Perel and felt the first few diarists were very interesting.
As it went on though, I felt like I couldn’t really make a connection with the diarist’s or more so that I wasn’t interested in getting to know them/their experience because I felt like they came off as self-absorbed, which is really not my jam.

Not a bad book per se, and I tried several times to pick it back up and keep reading, but ultimately, I decided to DNF.

[Lindsey Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very unique, fun, and spicy read. The combination of personal information, monotonous pieces of life, and sexual escapades was like nothing I've ever seen in non-fiction before. As a true monogamous woman, the exploration of ethical non-monogamy was interesting. Some stories were more scandalous than others but the variety was intriguing and kept me coming back excited to meet each new narrator. I wish we would have defined the narrator a bit more at the beginning of each chapter. We get age and relationship status but gender identity may have been helpful because I was guessing a couple pages in for most chapters.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

[N.J. Gallegos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received this ARC from NetGalley

Admittedly, this topic fascinates me. I first stumbled onto the idea of polyamory watching the Showtime show Polyamory: Married & Dating and binged the series. When I saw this ARC, I knew I needed to check it out.

Alyssa Shelasky had ethically poly folks keep a weeklong diary and these folks run the gamut from financial professionals, sex gurus, and everything in between. We have people with families, comet partners, people traveling to other countries to sex clubs, play parties, and more! The common thread between them is impeccable communication.

While I'm a happily monogamous lesbian, this topic is utterly fascinating to me and maybe there's a bit of a voyeur in me because I rather enjoy a glimpse into lives completely unlike my own.

[Nechama · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know if to give this book 5 stars or 1 star so I’m going to average it out at 3.

Imagine if someone took the concept refinery29 money diaries, except the thing being shared about was sex and not money. The writers are just as believable and likable, ie not at all.

Now, was this book well written? No. Was it informative? Also no. Hence the one star. Alas, it was also incredibly entertaining to read, and to imagine the kind of person who would spend the time making this sort of shit up. It was very clear that much of it, if not all of it, was completely made up.

5 stars for entertainment value, 1 star for literally everything else.

[Cindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book isn’t my usual choice, its concept intrigued me. Twenty-one people share a week from their lives as polyamorous or non-monogamous, offering insight into lifestyles that are quite different from mine. The stories spurred thoughtful discussions and raised many questions for me and my friends. Approaching the book with an open mind helps to appreciate the honesty and diverse reasons behind these relationship choices. Overall, it’s a thought-provoking read for those unfamiliar with polyamory. The 7-day diaries provide an intimate perspective on non-monogamy and polyamory.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What an interesting and engaging structure for a book! I found the “week of diary entries” really engaging and wondered what my own would look like if I chose to write it out. Just like any book of essays or short stories, it’s only as strong as its weakest entry, which means it wasn’t perfect by any means. But this was a great exploration of a topic many still find taboo, and I loved the normalizing and mundanity of the topic.

[Emi Yoshida · Rating 2 out of 5]

This collection, it's not biography, and it's not case studies, not quite erotica; it really is as the title describes, sex diary entries. After the fantastic intro by Ester Perel, I expected to be more captivated but I guess I just felt disconnected, and as if I'd picked up the wrong thing to read. The voices are quite varied, their circumstances differ wildly, but none of them really spoke to me. As The Cookbook Author with Performance Anxiety in Central Park says, "Not my thing but no judgment".

[Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
This is wonderful for the the voyeuristic/curious folk who wonder how exactly do non-monogamous relationships play out. Stories were in indeed diverse from multiple ages, genders, places, incomes, etc. It did feel a bit like each person came across sex obsessed and I would've liked if some entries were edited better, but overall I think it did the job of showing the ups and downs of this lifestyle.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always have a hard time reviewing non-fiction. How can you critique someone else's life? This collection of ENM stories was entertaining and educational. I am in a monogamous relationship and always have been but by reading these accounts was able to see the benefits and problems with this lifestyle. Honestly these individuals seem to have a way to live their lives that suits them and makes them happy. And while some have jealousy issues I think that is true of any relationship open or closed.

I enjoyed this collection. I found it to be educational and entertaining.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC of this ebook. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Z. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-arc!

I went into this completely blind, other than the title and synopsis. I'm not a reader of Alyssa's column so I genuinely didn't really know what to expect.

I didn't love every single chapter and that's ok. I loved the peek into lives of people and their innermost thoughts. The diary format for each chapter makes this for a relatively speedy read!

[Ashleyt · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and raw look at ENM and other forms of polyamory. Through several individual diarist you read about their experiences, emotions and relationships in all forms. The collection focuses more on communication and how polyamory works in everyday life for all participants in the relationships.

It was beautiful to see people living the life they wanted at all ages.

Thank you Netgallery for the ARC.

[Sonee Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was curious about this book because a friend of mine became polyamorous recently and I wanted to understand in a nonjudgmental way, or at least try. I skimmed through many portions but appreciate that each chapter is a 7-day diary from a different person, so it offers a range of perspectives and experiences. It did help me better understand.
Thank you to the publisher for an ARC.

[Penelope Bloom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I plowed through this fascinating, thought-provoking, and often very sexy book. It definitely prompts plenty of reflection about sex, romance, love, companionship, intimacy… also a very interesting glimpse into sexual and romantic relationships that are quite different from your standard monogamous set up.

[Ayannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

My biggest takeaway is that dating is a lot of work, no matter the relationship structure; it’s still as chaotic as traditional dating in ways that don’t always seem as liberating as portrayed.

I appreciated the different ways people navigate non-monogamy across gender, class, and life stages.

Thanks to Random House for the ARC!