Next Year, For Sure: A Novel

I loved this book about an unconventional relationship. Chris and Kathryn have been together for nine years. They have a wonderful relationship, filled with kindness and love and respect and comfort and inside jokes.Then one day Chris meets Emily and decides that he thinks he might want to date her. Kathryn, to his surprise, encourages him to do so, genuinely wanting him to be happy.What follows is so much more beautiful and complex than what you might expect from a novel about a couple experimenting with an open relationship. I'll admit that the choices they made made me very uncomfortable at times and felt so foreign to me, and yet I still felt like I could relate to many of their ideas about love and companionship. There's a universality here in that anyone in any kind of relationship makes sacrifices and compromises for the ones they love.Peterson writes with such emotional honesty and insight. Are Chris and Kathryn slowly drifting apart as a romantic couple, or will an open relationship turn out to be their new normal? There's something so melancholy about the reality of discovering that the person you love more than anything may not be enough for you.Chris and Kathryn are both so complicated and likable for different reasons. I especially enjoyed reading about Chris, as it's rare to find an introverted character written so perfectly.I just really loved this book and how wistful and sincere and empathetic it was. I would've read another 200 pages.

I am not normally a novel reader, and tend to prefer memoirs, food, travel and history-related non-fiction but a friend suggested we read this in tandem and I feel touched by it. It was a quick read and the story is not plot-based, but rather a well-written study of three people trying to understand the differences between commitment, love, friendship and companionship. I am a 41 year old woman who just celebrated 15 years of marriage and I found the complex relationships relate-able. There is no villain, no hero, but regular 30 somethings who crave english muffins, enjoy past issues of The New Yorker, want their partners to be happy. These are people who are intellectually, socially and emotionally finding themselves through each other. Some of the phrasing was especially perceptive. Fundamentally, the short novel explores what makes each of us seek greener grass, while savoring the comfort of routine. How we make decisions based on those compulsions is the story of many of our lives and that makes this novel resonant.

I enjoyed this book. I thought it was well written. I (personally) couldn't grasp the premise, but it was interesting to read about it and imagine (what I would describe as) the agony of it. I thought about it for days afterward. It made me feel a bit sad , just imagining something like that happening in my life (i.e. the emotion attached with having an "open" relationship). It was thought provoking - sometimes I felt annoyed by the story. I would recommend the book however.

I like the short chapters and easy read. It kept you wanting to see what happened next. Although, I was expecting a more exciting and definitive ending. Overall it was good. First time reading for this author.

This book was just okay. It was sort of a rambling, vague story in which you never really feel like you fully know the characters. It's more of a 'slice of life' than a true story. And it ends so abruptly that you sit there and go, 'what?'

This book was just ok. Hard to follow in terms of characters especially those who live with Emily. Also author should use quotations when someone is speaking. I would have wanted a better ending for sure

This book kinda dragged in the middle and then abruptly ended?Not the best but not the worst book I've ever read?

This author has a way with imagery, words, and birthing ideas and thoughts into prose so yummy you can't help but let it sit in your mouth and slowly melt. She takes the ideal of happily ever after and explores its death with fearless poetic abandon. I couldn't put it down.

Like most really good books the summary does not do this book justice. I have to admit that I was a little hesitant about the polyamory aspect. But you totally understand why things develop the way they do and yet it upends all your expectations. I don't want to spoil anything by being less cryptic. You will just have to read it and find out. You won't be disappointed.

Speaks more to a mainstream audience than a poly one, most likely. But a beautiful capturing of inner dialogue, and many true accounts of the discovery of love. Wonderfully written.

I really enjoyed this novel. It took me outside of my personal understanding/experiences of relationships and helped me to open my mind. I would definitely read this author's next book.

very compassionate look at a couple's life together and exploring an open relationship - quite enjoyed it

Perhaps one of my favourite books of the year! An interesting and rarely-explored perspective in non-monogamy/polyamory beautifully captivated by Peterson’s wonderful prose.