After spending a year with self-help books, Marianne Power’s next challenge is learning how to have relationships. Society still sets the gold standard for living as a marriage and kids. As Marianne turns forty she wonders why this is still so elusive for her – and whether, in fact, this is what she wants, or just what she feels like she should want. At first, she tries to lean into the alternatives – self-love, self-marriage, sisterhood – but is she avoiding confronting her fears about commitment, relationships and sex? Determined to find out for sure, the indomitable Marianne sets off on a journey to answer the question: can you have a life full of love without marriage and kids? From tantra to Skype-sex, from self-love to sisterhood, Marianne’s quest takes her to some hilarious, scary and moving places – and she discovers that maybe, in these chaotic times, loving thy neighbour is more important than romantic ideals.
