Molly and Stuart's specific open marriage is a toxic, manipulative cautionary tale rather than a successful example of the practice.

“if you guys are thinking about polyamory I do think that this book could be a cautionary tale of what it should not be this is literally the stereotypical your husband gaslit you into being in an open relationship that you never actually wanted”

Sean O'Malley argues that his open relationship has strengthened his bond with his partner through honest communication about their mutual freedom.

“so I feel like our love is even deeper because of the mistakes I don't even know if you wanna call mistakes the the stuff I've done where I would hook up with a girl and then I'd like kind of get emotional and like that's when it gets rocky and then I you know that we had broke up before this was ye”