katieb1034 's review for:

Open: An Uncensored Memoir of Love, Liberation, and Non-Monogamy by Rachel Krantz
4.0
adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced
Upon comparison to Carmen Maria Machado's "In the Dream House," another memoir about domestic abuse, it is clear this is written by a journalist, not a novelist. Krantz rarely interjects her own interpretation, analysis, or even authorial voice, instead presenting the facts as they are and allowing the reader (or comments from mental health professionals interviewed included in footnotes) to do the rest. It is a journalistic interpretation of one's own experience with abuse, which can come off somewhat... detached at times? It's also aggressively "politically correct white woman ally" in a way I found a bit tiring. Not that I dislike political correctness in any capacity, it just gets to be a bit patronizing to your reader when you constantly feel the need to remind them that you are a white woman who knows white supremacy and privilege exist and that you are not the be-all, end-all authority on relational abuse. I thought the ending was a bit rushed and not as emotionally liberating as I wanted it to be, but I find that is typically the case with memoirs. It's difficult to put an end to a story that is still happening (she is still living life, after all), so I don't fault her for that. 

Overall, it's a really engaging read that I finished in two days. It's a great resource for people engaging in non-monogamy who want to know what abusive red flags to look out for, as well as for people who aren't quite sure if non-monogamy is for them. It accurately portrays the level of trust, communication, and love required, and the negative consequences that emerge when those are lacking. 
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