Wide Open: A Not-So-Conventional Love Story

(Paperback)

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Grace Comes First is the funny, sexy, and provocative memoir of one woman's journey to find sexual fulfillment and create a new and unconventional family model that really works. From dabbling in polyamory to adopting an open marriage, Grace Walcott shines a fascinating light on life outside the traditional marriage box. When Grace met her husband Hank at the age of twenty-three, their relationship was based on love, mutual interests, and meeting each other's emotional needs. Because their home was so stable and loving, Grace was able to overlook the fact that their marriage was sexually unfulfilling. Twenty-five years and two kids later, and still very much out of sync sexually, Grace found herself unable to ignore what she had been ignoring for so long--the fact that this marriage was not entirely satisfying. Then she met O. Grace wasn't looking for another man--she was committed to making her marriage work. But as her friendship with O grew, she became increasingly sexually attracted to him. As her desire was reawakened, she found herself yearning to stretch the boundaries of her life. What if there was a way to be with O and not destroy her marriage In a world where women often feel pressured to be everything to everyone, Grace Walcott courageously strives to have it all. Grace Comes First is the true story a woman who learns how to put herself first, while still holding together the family she deeply loves. It's the story of a woman who felt sexually deadened by marriage, and who had the courage to form a new relationship dynamic and create a chosen family that included herself, her new lover, her husband, his lover, and their kids.

Reviews

"For anyone who's curious about how to approach polyamory or open relationships with your partner, Wide Open is a must-read. Gracie X graciously lays out her complicated journey in a funny, honest, and relatable way that will inspire others to follow their heart. Redefining the family and relationship model is not an easy task; however, Wide Open gives you hope that through honest communication, emotional maturity, and patience, anything is possible."
--Natalia Garcia, director and creator of Showtime's Polyamory: Married & Dating
"Gracie X has written an honest and engaging memoir about taking one of the biggest risks of her life--opening up her marriage despite warnings from friends and loved ones to not 'rock the boat' and her own fears. While honoring both her deep commitment to her husband and children and her reawakened sexuality, she shows us that, yes, we are capable of loving many people and receiving love back, as well as creating a marriage that is unique to our needs--a valuable lesson for all of us, whether polyamorous, monogamous, or monogamish."
--Vicki Larson, award-winning journalist and coauthor of The New I Do: Reshaping Marriage for Skeptics, Realists and Rebels
"I was moved by Gracie X as she shared a tender, passionate, and vulnerable memoir that inspires as it warns. This book is a must-read, authentic addition to the literature on open relationships and polyamory. As an intimacy counselor, I recommend her book for those who wish to experience the real-life joys, sorrows, challenges, and gifts of alternative relationship."
--Francesca Gentille, contributing author of The Marriage of Sex and Spirit, radio host of "Sex: Tantra and Kama Sutra," and relationship and intimacy counselor
"This is a remarkable book. At a time when liberals and conservatives alike are embracing marriage and the nuclear family, Gracie X sends us a life raft--the bold chronicle of her quest to create a family configuration that works for her, her husband, new lover, and children. Gracie X is not only creative and brave--she is also a consummate storyteller. Be prepared for a riveting tale of her journey into intense new love while her marriage simultaneously evolves and realigns itself. For anyone weary from the dry, didactic tone of poly how-to books, this memoir provides a wealth of information about the triumphs and tribulations of exploring polyamory. And it is an indispensable resource for those seeking to forge a new way with their partners and families, expanding the bounds of even polyamory itself."
--Ann E. Tweedy, poet and author of Beleaguered Oases (CreativePress 2010) and White Out (Green Fuse Poetic Arts 2013)
"To open her kimono and share how one woman and two families made sense of the paradox that is love, sex, family, intimacy, and honesty in our modern lives, is an act of tremendous courage and generosity. Her sassy, relatable, sexy truth-telling burns away the tarnish that convention can leave on our hearts. Even if our journeys look different than Gracie X's (as indeed they should), let us stand up and shout out: Viva the moxie of Gracie X to open her heart and her mouth. Say it, sister!"
-- LiYana Silver, mentor for Women's Embodiment: Bringing Your Feminine Genius to Life (http: //liyanasilver.com)
"Vulnerable and vivacious, Wide Open is a deeply personal, beautifully written tale of one woman's erotic journey to find herself and keep her family together. Gracie X bares her soul in this gripping memoir filled with pain and pleasure, growth, endings, and new beginnings. I couldn't put it down!"
--Elisabeth Sheff, author of The Polyamorists Next Door: Inside Multiple-Partner Relationships and Families (2014), and editor of Stories from the Polycule: Real Life in Polyamorous Families (2015)

Author Bio

Grace Walcott is a writer, actress, and director. She lives in Northern California with her former husband Hank, her current husband O, and their children.