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ebc726's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Transphobia
Moderate: Sexual content and Terminal illness
laura_corsi's review against another edition
2.0
Ok surprisingly I really struggled with this one. It is a bunch of New York suburbanites playing at being regular folks who decide all of a sudden to try an open marriage. I find that I disapprove of open marriage. I am personally way too jealous! It was kind of a slog getting through the book but there were some laughs along the way. Also the ending was surprisingly heartwarming and kind of made me like all the crazy people just a little bit more than when we started out.
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Digital audio performed by Ellen Archer
Lucy and Owen have settled in a “perfect” Hudson Valley suburb. They have a large home, an autistic son, and a flock of chickens. Lucy and the other stay-at-home moms even cook the school’s hot lunch. When friends reveal that they’ve decided to have an open marriage, Lucy is stunned. But then she’s intrigued and after talking it over she and Owen agree to a six-month, no-questions-asked experiment with very specific ground rules. But while Lucy and Owen have rules for their arrangement, their potential partners do not.
Somehow, I had the impression that this was going to be a fun, farcical comedy of manners type book. It isn’t. There are some scenes that are quite entertaining (the blessing of the animals fiasco comes to mind), but by and large this is a pretty serious look at modern marriage and the work of commitment – to your partner, to your child, to your values.
I thought it was interesting that Dunn gave the couple the added responsibility / stress of an autistic child. My sympathies changed through the book as a result of how they interacted with their son and each other.
She also peopled the novel with other interesting couples: a gay couple raising children in the suburbs (the original open marriage on which “the arrangement” is modeled); a teacher who transitions from male to female but whose spouse remains with her; a billionaire with a gold-digger wife who seemingly cares nothing for their child.
Ellen Archer did a wonderful job narrating the audiobook. Her voice for Wyatt was particularly effective … with the rapid fire, higher pitch INSISTENCE of a young child … I certainly felt the parents’ stress in dealing with this challenge.
Lucy and Owen have settled in a “perfect” Hudson Valley suburb. They have a large home, an autistic son, and a flock of chickens. Lucy and the other stay-at-home moms even cook the school’s hot lunch. When friends reveal that they’ve decided to have an open marriage, Lucy is stunned. But then she’s intrigued and after talking it over she and Owen agree to a six-month, no-questions-asked experiment with very specific ground rules. But while Lucy and Owen have rules for their arrangement, their potential partners do not.
Somehow, I had the impression that this was going to be a fun, farcical comedy of manners type book. It isn’t. There are some scenes that are quite entertaining (the blessing of the animals fiasco comes to mind), but by and large this is a pretty serious look at modern marriage and the work of commitment – to your partner, to your child, to your values.
I thought it was interesting that Dunn gave the couple the added responsibility / stress of an autistic child. My sympathies changed through the book as a result of how they interacted with their son and each other.
She also peopled the novel with other interesting couples: a gay couple raising children in the suburbs (the original open marriage on which “the arrangement” is modeled); a teacher who transitions from male to female but whose spouse remains with her; a billionaire with a gold-digger wife who seemingly cares nothing for their child.
Ellen Archer did a wonderful job narrating the audiobook. Her voice for Wyatt was particularly effective … with the rapid fire, higher pitch INSISTENCE of a young child … I certainly felt the parents’ stress in dealing with this challenge.
librarydosebykristy's review against another edition
4.0
This was so much fun. Basically, it's about a married couple who decides to have an open marriage for 6 months.
But what really sets this book apart is the author's funny, sarcastic voice and impeccable comic timing. I didn't want to put it down!
But what really sets this book apart is the author's funny, sarcastic voice and impeccable comic timing. I didn't want to put it down!
squirrelsohno's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5
Was this compulsively readable towards the end? Yes. But certain storylines seemed completely tacked on out of nowhere towards the end, like they were added just to beef up the page count, and the ending was a wee bit muddled. But I really enjoyed it.
Was this compulsively readable towards the end? Yes. But certain storylines seemed completely tacked on out of nowhere towards the end, like they were added just to beef up the page count, and the ending was a wee bit muddled. But I really enjoyed it.
mesy_mark's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I liked this book even if I have issues with how it depicts open marriages. Lucy and Owen are having a dinner with friends who had opened their marriage. It gets our couple thinking, could they do it if they followed some ground rules and ended it in 6 months? One thing about ethical nonmonogamy is open communication. There can be don't ask don't tell in the relationships but Lucy and Owen lying to each other about their sides is not ENM. This book also explores other areas in this quaint community this couple lives in/ All the wives do everything and the men are strung along. There is a rich billionaire whose conservative values are brought true when he gets a trans woman teacher who came out mid-year on paid leave because well. transphobia. Some marriages are stale and sexless leading to issues and detanglement making you think all you need is sex to be good in a relationship (when we know there is more than that). It is told in multiple viewpoints, like Little Fires Everywhere, with plots weaving in and out to complete this audiobook read by a feminine voice. I was laughing at some parts, shaking my head saying that it is not ENM, and wondering what if the ending went a different way? It was a good read as I ran to add to the list of books I have read.
drumrollplease1's review against another edition
4.0
So, this book was about a couple who agree to have an open marriage. But it was also heartwarming, well written, and hilarious with a satisfying ending. I would recommend if you're looking for a break from your heavy reading.
thecamilleae's review against another edition
4.0
I have to say that I enjoyed this book...eventually. after the first couple of chapters, I put the book down because I thought it was ridiculous. The only reason I continued was because it was the THE book my book club was reading. About half way in, I was hooked. You can tell the author is a screenwriter. It very much felt like a television melodrama. I would definitely read this author's work again