The Freedom Clause

The Agreement

New Year s Day. Dominic wakes up and his hangover greets him immediately. His back sticks to the sheets, coated in a sheen of sweat. His breaths are soft and shallow. With closed eyes, his hand skims blindly along the bedside table, landing on a familiar shape. But there are no texts, no interesting emails to read. He opens and closes Twitter, followed by Instagram and, in a fleeting fit of boredom, LinkedIn. It s noon, and he feels a familiar twinge of guilt. Daphne has been up for hours. He hears the spin of a laundry cycle nearing completion. Dirty plates scrubbed clean. The kettle s high and angry whistle. His wife s productivity puts his own to shame. He should help, Dominic thinks, swinging his legs off the bed. He reaches for a discarded sweatshirt, navy and hooded, and pulls it over his head. Opening the door, the scent of lunch wafts toward him. His stomach rumbles happily.

Daph-ne, he calls out, aiming for singsongy, but his voice is a low croak.

He finds her leaning over the kitchen counter in a faded white top, denim jeans that hug her curves. She doesn t see him. Humming along to Spotify, clutching a pen delicately in her right hand, she s absorbed in her notepad. Dog-eared and tattered, it contains recipes she s crafted over the years, annotated with painstaking precision. Her damp hair hangs in loose curls. Small beads of water drip down her back. She looks fresh and energetic, the opposite of him. The kitchen surfaces gleam and sparkle, the heavy scent of synthetic lemon and lavender hangs in the air. He feels clammy and parched and gross but he can t help himself; he hugs her from behind, pecking her neck with small kisses and breathing in her scent, a mix of honeysuckle and citrus. His hands glide over her hips, and lower, toward her thighs. He nuzzles his nose and lips into the back of her neck in what he hopes is a seductive manner.

Morning, sunshine! He attempts a sexy drawl, but it s a hoarse bellow.

God,

Hannah Sloane was born and raised in England. She read history at the University of Bristol. She moved to New York in her twenties and she lives in Brooklyn with her partner, Sam. The Freedom Clause is her debut novel.

The Freedom Clause is a delicious novel featuring rich, complex characters exploring deep questions: How can we love fully and remain true to ourselves? What happens when lovers bound by marriage try one night of freedom per year? I couldn t put the book down and cheered at the perfect conclusion. Nora Ephron fans will delight in this debut. Amanda Eyre Ward, New York Times bestselling author of The Jetsetters

You ll want second helpings of this delectable, sexy debut about a woman learning how to prioritize her pleasure. I ate it right up. Courtney Maum, author of The Year of the Horses

A raw and propulsive portrait of a marriage on the brink, Sloane s novel is fun, surprising, and nuanced. The Freedom Clause will expand your perspective on what true fulfillment can look like with an exciting, unique bonus: delicious recipes! Caitlin Barasch, author of A Novel Obsession

An honest, empowering, and sexy tale of a young woman finding her voice, finding her strength, and finding great orgasms along the way. Taylor Hahn, author of The Lifestyle

The Freedom Clause is a bold, honest examination of a young marriage that hooked me from its first page. Creative in concept, rich in self-discovery, and written with warmth and nuance, Sloane s is a saucy and smart debut you won t want to miss. Carola Lovering, author of Tell Me Lies and Can t Look Away

As surprising as the proposal itself, The Freedom Clause is a beautifully written deep dive into marriage and the critical importance of finding one s own voice. This novel is an emotional journey that reads like a thriller I couldn t put it down. Annabel Monaghan, author of Nora Goes Off Script