Love and relationships are not onesizefitsall. Good thing we have options Most people assume that healthy or serious relationships which involve romance and sex are supposed to follow this path from attraction and dating through exclusivity and living together to marriage that ideally lasts a lifetime. However there are plenty of other great ways to do relationships. Options that dont involve lying cheating affairs infidelity avoiding dating or relationships swearing off sex or love or not being true to yourself or others. The Relationship Escalator is the traditional bundle of social norms for intimate relationships monogamy cohabitation and much more ideally until death do you part. Beyond this it might not be obvious what other options exist.WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOKThis book is a fun intriguing introduction to unusual relationship options.If you want to explore unconventional relationships or simply to understand your options youll find guidance here.If you want to help people you know understand relationships that dont follow the norm this is a friendly starting point. WHAT MAKES THIS BOOK WORTH READING This isnt just one persons opinion. Journalist Amy Gahran surveyed 1500 people about their unconventional intimate relationships how those relationships work and feel. They shared moving indepth personal stories and insights. More than 300 people are quoted in this nonfiction book. Stepping Off the Relationship Escalator showcases reallife experiences of Consensual nonmonogamy Polyamory swinging open relationships or being monogamish. Going solo Choosing to live alone or at least not with intimate partners to not surrender individuality to couplehood or to remain single by choice. Avoiding hierarchy Not prioritizing a particular adult relationship by default simply because it includes sexromance or started first. Asexual and aromantic love which emphasize forms of intimacy and bonding that our society often discounts. Relationship anarchy Where all aspects o