I was very interested to read this book, hoping it would offer some thought provoking arguments on the open-relationship vs monogamy debate. Is monogamy a social contsruct? Can an open relationship work and ensure everyone is happy? The story is funny and we follow Holly and Fliss as they both have to grapple with a change in their respective relationship statuses neither of them wanted or were mentally or emotionally prepeared for. Both characters are quite likable and some of the events are deliciously entertaining but I can't say overall I found the book particularly mamorable. I would recommend it as a light, beachside read but perhaps I needed a bit more in terms of the overarching theme.

This was an interesting and fun one: told from the perspective of the two protagonist going through opposit experiences: monogamy for the girl in the open relationship and an open relationship for the monogamous one, we see both sides of the coin. I'd say I found Holly a little annooying and wet at times but overall I enjoyed this read.

"Open Minded" by Chloe Seager is a refreshing and candid exploration of relationships, identity, and self-discovery. The characters are beautifully crafted, and the themes resonate long after the final page.

Where do I start? I loved this one from the first page, I couldn’t put it down. Open Minded explores different relationships, parental, sibling, friendship, romantic and workplaces and the many facets of them. Fliss and Holly meet in a bathroom after their respective dates go badly and become friends and help each other to adjust to monogamous/open relationship respectively.

This is the first book I’ve read about an open relationship becoming monogamous and vice versa, this element alone sold me on it. I was intrigued by the concept and how the characters would navigate the change, I was not disappointed. It was complicated, sometimes messy and the realisation that there’s no one “one size fits all” relationship and doing what works for them instead of others was my favourite part of the book. The other favourite part being Fliss’ relationship with her brother. Henry is my favourite and I will not be convinced to change my mind.

I definitely recommend giving Open Minded a read, this will still be on my favourites list come December, It’s so, so good!

4/5 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book.
An excellent concept and a good exploration of open relationships.
But honestly it was a 3 star book until the last 20% where things finally came together,
For the rest of the book I just wanted to shake all the characters and tell them COMMUNICATE.
I’m very happy with the ending for our main girls though, it’s what they deserve.

What an excellent read!

Before going into this I didn’t know the first thing about an open relationship but I now feel I have a good grasp on how they can be very positive for some couples. I also liked the exploration of how they can be doomed to go wrong from the start if not all parties agree.

Holly and Fliss were great MCs. I loved how they were so different but how they made such good friends. Strong female friendship is definitely something I like to see. Women empowerment was also a focus of the book that I liked and felt the positive message of doing things that feel right to you was palpable.

I really enjoyed the easy writing style and differing POVs. It allowed for strong character development and distinguished Holly and Fliss perfectly. I also loved the humour and nods to popular culture - I laughed out loud a couple of times!

I wonder how many of us are truly as open minded as we think we are. I think we only really know when our belief system is challenged. Have you ever been in a situation where your belief system has been challenged? Let me rephrase that. Have you given yourself the opportunity to be in a situation where your belief system has been challenged? 😉

And that brings us to this book. Open Minded brings a unique perspective into modern relationships and it had everything I want from what can be classified as a light-hearted read/a rom-com. We’ve got:
· Character development
· Gorgeous friendships and dialogue
· A diverse cast
· Conversations around emotions and really listening to each other
· And of course an insight into open-relationships

I literally hid in the bathtub for an hour to binge read the second half of this book. Chloe Seager, you’ve got a fan for life.

I was intrigued by the description of Open Minded as I thought it would be interested to read what it's like being in an open relationship. Unfortunately, the story didn't really hit the mark for me. There was no depth to the characters and the relationships felt very immature, I skimmed read to the end to get throught it.

<b>4 Stars!</b>

Thank you to Netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Genuinely this was such a good read, it was really interesting to see different outlets from an Open Relationship on people going to and coming out of them. The different dynamics really were interesting to see and I think especially from Hollys side of things.

I found both Fliss and Holly pretty likeable from the offset (along with Henry and Liam) and it was so intriguing to see both sides.

What I did find I wanted more of was more of an open dialogue in the respective relationships. I wanted to know the whys especially between Holly and Will and why Will wanted to open the relationship in the first place. I think because there was so much miscommunication in different areas a few things that I'd of liked to have found out just kind of passed by.

Overall an interesting read, some things I do feel slightly unsatisfied by (BUT this is purely a personal front because I was rooting for someone SO BADLY). I think if there had been a bit more explanation I would of adored this but it was still very very enjoyable and I would highly recommend!

Open Minded by Chloe Seager is a contemporary book exploring relationships. It was an absorbing read that I read mostly in one sitting – pausing only to sleep!
We see that there are many types of relationships – parents, siblings, partners, friends. One size does not fit all. We follow the two main characters and their interactions with others, their work and each other. They meet in unusual circumstances but a friendship develops.
At work, we see the bully in the workplace. Others tiptoe around the bully until one awards evening when – the mouse roars! And the reader applauds.
It is important to be true to oneself. Too often we try to fit into the mold that others, or the world, have created for us. Sooner or later, it will all come crashing down. To your own self be true.
We witness true friendship that loves, cares, celebrates and supports. In contrast there is a partner who doesn’t listen, belittles and rides rough-shod at every opportunity.
There is a sibling love that is steadfast and true. Both give support when it is needed.
All the characters were well drawn and realistic. My responses to them were guided by Chloe Seager’s pen – two characters were definitely not on my ‘like’ list! Whereas the leading ladies were easy to like and empathise with.
Open Minded is a marvellous novel looking at life and relationships.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

The title of this book and the synopsis of it really caught my attention but I just couldn't get into the book at all once I started reading. Not sure if it was the storyline itself or the characters that meant I just couldn't get into it and found myself skim reading it just to get to the end.

The subject matter of this book sounded a bit different, which is why I requested it, although the thought of an open relationship fills me with abject horror, it’s sometimes educational to read of lifestyles that one wouldn’t normally hear about.
The storyline: one couple , Holly & Will, who’ve been together for almost a decade and seem on the precipice of marriage and kids, suddenly decide at the guy’s suggestion to try an ‘open relationship’ much to Holly’s horror as she thought they were getting engaged, whilst another couple, Fliss & Ash, who’ve been in an open relationship for three years, decide to become exclusive, again at the guy’s suggestion. Both women just fall in with their boyfriend’s sudden change of heart…….this acceptance of a huge lifestyle change, just because your boyfriend wants it seemed somewhat incongruous to me, especially in the case of Fliss who is portrayed as a sassy confident woman. However, there has to be poetic licence in order to make a story I guess.
So, the book goes on to describe how these two women meet by accident in the loo of a restaurant where Fliss is on a date with a guy who wants her to become his girlfriend despite knowing she’s in an open relationship and Holly is on her first date with a clone of her long term boyfriend and is really struggling with the whole ‘open relationship’ concept. The two become friends.
I found the book quite a refreshing change to the usual romcom given its unusual subject matter but I can’t say I particularly enjoyed it. It was good to see Holly finding her voice and regaining her ‘self’ after almost a decade of being what her overbearing boyfriend wanted her to be. However, I didn’t really get invested in any of the characters.

.My thanks go to the author, the publishers and NetGalley for an advanced e-reader copy of this book. The opinions in the review, however, are entirely my own.

An unconventional perspective on the dynamics of successful relationships unfolds in this narrative. The story revolves around a monogamous couple exploring an open relationship, and conversely, a couple attempting monogamy. As the two women navigate these uncharted waters, they forge a deep friendship, providing mutual support amid the challenges their relationships present. Rather than taking a moralistic approach, the narrative is infused with ample humour, honesty, and emotionally charged moments, offering an entertaining experience that prompts introspection. The review not only examines romantic relationships but also delves into the realms of parental, sibling, and friendships, skillfully employing humour and keen observations to provide a thought-provoking commentary on the way we lead our lives.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

A real different take on what makes relationships work. A monogamous couple that try an open relationship and vice versa. The two women become close friends and support each other as their relationships get tested. This could have been a moral tale but there was plenty of humour, honesty and emotional texts that this was entertaining and made me reflect for a while. All relationships parental, sibling and friends are reviewed with humour and a keen eye making this a review of how we live our lives.

I requested this book as I am in this lifestyle myself. The book is well written but I found myself struggling to get into it mainly due to my feelings towards how the main character is left feeling when her boyfriend asks to start an open relationship. Feeling like he will leave her if she doesn't agree. When the book gets released I will buy it and try read it to the end in the hopes that this lady falls in love with the other girls brother and leaves her boyfriend.

My feelings on the story aside it is a very well written and researched book and I would definitely recommend it

A smart and funny exploration of modern dating and relationships. I especially loved the friendship between Holly and Fliss.

With some absolute killer lines, like "a successful open relationship involves the right amount of honesty and the right amount of tiptoeing around the giant, unholy elephant in the room" and"it's funny how you can not care what most people on planet Earth think about you but still be desperate for your parents to approve of your new cutlery", #OpenMinded is a unique and very different take on the traditional RomCom and I adored Fliss and her relationship with Ash.

I really enjoyed this exploration of relationships and dating. It's funny, smart and fresh in a crowded romance market, and I'd love to see more "nontraditional" relationships represented in the genre!

This isn't my go-to genre, but I was intrigued by the concept, and I do like to have a break from thrillers every now and then! I absolutely would not enjoy an open relationship myself, but it made for fun reading. The writing style was really enjoyable.

I liked both main characters Holly and Fliss and was invested in their respective stories. I found the personal journeys they went on really interesting to read, and I liked that the book didn't just focus on their relationships, but also on their work lives and friendships. Having said that, their dating adventures were definitely the highlight of the book. The side characters were well developed and added value.

My only issue was that I felt the book tried a bit too hard to be inclusive. There was a non-binary character shoehorned in as a reference and we never heard about them again, and the author seemed to have a checklist of races and made sure she had at least one of each in the cast. The constant name-dropping of random TV shows was a bit jarring also.

Overall I really enjoyed reading this.

Personally, this book just wasn't for me. Initially the synopsis intrigued me and I really wanted to give it a go. However, I did end up DNFing this book at 52%.

Unfortunately, the characters did not grab me and I didn't feel like I could connect with them. It seemed like they were a little two dimensional rather than building a world I felt like I could step in.

On reflection I think the subject of it being an open relationship story has potential but I think the characters were just not for me.