Even before I started this book, I had decided that I will hate it. I was about to watch a rant video on YouTube about this book but decided to read it first and then watch the video. Open Marriage is a subject of curiosity to me and I wanted to know how do people navigate their feelings while being in it. 

I was quite surprised that as I read, I did not become the hater I thought I would be. Molly is messy af but she tries to understand her mess and works to sort it out (somewhat). Though most of the time she’s back to square one with her issues (she acknowledges that too). Don’t get me wrong though. I did scoff at multiple scenes in the book and frankly I don’t like Stewart. They may have a relationship that is based on understanding and love but a lot of their conflicts are written as Molly initiating them and Stewart always resolving by being oh-so-understanding. So I feel this memoir isn’t that truthful. Some fights and issues that had troubled Molly has been glossed over by her. Especially the main point of consternation for her has been how Stewart doesn’t help around the house. His reason for that was written in just a small paragraph and we don’t see him put any effort and just like that this topic gets closed without a proper closure. 

These are very real people so I am trying not to judge them based on a 300 page book but both of them have a LOT of issues!! Molly wants to be with other men and Stewart pounces on that and when he says he wants to be with other women, Molly is like NO!!!! She becomes so jealous of Stewart having a relationship with other women and cries and complains and throws a fit while she wants to be with other men. So infuriating!! The biggest issue was that every time Molly’s relationship ended she wanted to close the marriage and Stewart would not listen to her saying that the moment she finds a guy she will like, she will once again want to be in an open marriage and THAT IS SO TRUE!! How did they not want a divorce I wonder! 

Towards the end of the book I still feel that open marriage ain’t worth the trouble. But I am glad that Molly was able to find herself through all of this (hopefully). I do feel she (sometimes) hated being a wife and mother and wanted to feel her younger childless self. That’s a valid feeling I guess. So again I do feel this memoir isn’t truthful.