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A review by caseythereader
Open: An Uncensored Memoir of Love, Liberation, and Non-Monogamy by Rachel Krantz
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Thanks to PRH Audio for the free copy of this book.
- I know it’s a cliche to call a memoir “unflinching,” but that’s exactly what OPEN is. Krantz explores and reports on the many iterations of nonmonogamy while at the same time being enmeshed in an open relationship that quickly turned toxic and abusive.
- This book shows that every type of relationship can be rewarding, and every type can be damaging: it’s not the relationship style doing the harm, it’s the people in the relationship.
- This book is very thoughtful and informative, but it’s also a really tough read. Krantz is explicit in describing both her domestic abuse experience and her sexual encounters (the latter veering a bit into gratuitous territory for me, but ymmv). She gets some incredible stories and reporting out of it, though, in particular the annotated argument near the end of the book will stay with me for a long time.
- I know it’s a cliche to call a memoir “unflinching,” but that’s exactly what OPEN is. Krantz explores and reports on the many iterations of nonmonogamy while at the same time being enmeshed in an open relationship that quickly turned toxic and abusive.
- This book shows that every type of relationship can be rewarding, and every type can be damaging: it’s not the relationship style doing the harm, it’s the people in the relationship.
- This book is very thoughtful and informative, but it’s also a really tough read. Krantz is explicit in describing both her domestic abuse experience and her sexual encounters (the latter veering a bit into gratuitous territory for me, but ymmv). She gets some incredible stories and reporting out of it, though, in particular the annotated argument near the end of the book will stay with me for a long time.
Graphic: Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Biphobia, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Cursing, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Eating disorder and Cancer