Free Love: Adventures in Marriage and Polyamory

by Michelle Tea

A revelatory and wildly entertaining chronicle of polyamory, from PEN/America Award winner, Guggenheim fellow, and beloved literary and tarot icon Michelle Tea.


In recent years, polyamory has become a topic of fascination for the general public, but it has long enjoyed a great deal of popularity in many subcultures formerly deemed “underground” or “alternative.” Having been a member of these communities for years, Michelle Tea explores the complexity, beauty and affirmation of this practice with candor, humor, and deep appreciation. Combining her prodigious skills as a storyteller, deep research, and the kind of gonzo reporting that has earned her scores of dedicated readers, Tea takes us into the lives and hearts of those who are creating new relationship systems and forms of honest, ethical communication.
Infused with the warmth and introspection that inform all of her various artistic practices, Free Love is Tea’s clarion call for greater visibility, acceptance, and a kinder, more sensual world. It is an unforgettable narrative from one of our most spirited ethnographers.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 17, 2026

About the author

Michelle Tea (born Michelle Tomasik) is an American author, poet, and literary arts organizer whose autobiographical works explore queer culture, feminism, race, class, prostitution, and other topics. She is originally from Chelsea, Massachusetts and currently lives in San Francisco. Her books, mostly memoirs, are known for their views into the queercore community. In 2012 Tea partnered with City Lights Publishers to form the Sister Spit imprint.

Reviews

[KR · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading Michelle Tea's writing for a long time, including her gritty and evocative memoir Valencia, and later her compelling series about trying to get pregnant (which was also turned into a memoir). She has documented a large portion of her life and I'm always grateful to read her witty observations. This book was about her reconciling being a wife and mother with her sexuality and longing for new adventures. It's full of interesting observations and relatable asides, but overall it didn't totally land for me. I'm just not particularly interested in polyamory so I skimmed a lot of the interviews with other couples. Those interested in exploring non-monogamy will find a lot to like though. Unlike the recent Lindy West memoir about her experience with polyamory (which seemed to strike people more as a sad cry for help) this seems a lot more empowering and inspiring. I'll continue to follow Tea's writing and career though this book will probably not end up on my permanent shelf.

[Zach Strassburger · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
Lots of my friends love Michelle Tea. I have read her articles but never any of her books, so when I saw this one on NetGalley, on a topic of interest to me, I requested it immediately.
It turns out I don’t love Michelle Tea as a writer as much as my friends do.
I don’t care about tarot or zodiac signs, and there’s no direction to the book. It’s a lot of musings, which is fine, but they didn’t go anywhere. Michelle Tea tried out polyamory. It was wonderful for her in some ways and hard in others. She’s glad she and her husband were brave enough to try.
I appreciate her take! I have read a number of books about polyamory before, and I do think it’s good to have this one that isn’t trying to tell people what to do but instead just says hey, this is how I did it and what happened next. I just didn’t enjoy her writing and had to force myself to keep picking it up.
I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for a free e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Aaron · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

This was an entertaining, informative, and downright funny book. I dislike referring to books as “romps” . It makes me feel like a grandparent or a 1940’s newscaster, but this book was indeed a bit of a romp, it felt rompy!

Tea’s writing style is largely responsible for the ebullient character of this book. It’s conversational, witty, and raw. It blends just the right mix of personal anecdote, interviews and research. This effect is heightened in the audiobook format narrated by the author. While there were some brief moments I didn’t vibe with, mainly the numerous digressions about astrology, they were brief enough to not seriously impact my experience. You probably need some basic familiarity with the concept of polyamory beforehand to get the most out of this book.

[Margaret Heller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed for Library Journal. My Goodreads rating isn't related to my professional review.