A Debut Novel

Open

A novel about the courage it takes to dismantle your defenses

For twelve years, Catherine Reed has built the perfect defense: a successful law practice dismantling other people's romantic delusions, an immaculate apartment where nothing is out of place, and a heart so carefully guarded that feeling anything at all has become impossible.

Then she meets James and Matteo.

About Open

What begins as a professional consultation becomes an invitation into a life Catherine never imagined—and a challenge to everything she believes about love, control, and what it means to truly surrender.

As Catherine learns to open herself to both men, she discovers that vulnerability isn't weakness. It's the bravest thing she's ever done.

But just as Catherine finally learns to live instead of simply exist, a devastating diagnosis forces all three of them to confront what it means to love fiercely when time is running out.

Content note: This novel contains explicit sexual content, polyamorous relationships, and themes of terminal illness.

About the Author

RM Blake writes literary fiction that explores the spaces between desire and vulnerability, control and surrender. Their work sits at the intersection of sophisticated storytelling and intimate examination of unconventional relationships.

Drawing inspiration from authors like Sally Rooney, Garth Greenwell, and Carmen Maria Machado, Blake crafts emotionally complex narratives that challenge conventional ideas about love, connection, and what it means to truly open yourself to another person.

Open is their debut novel.

Read more about the author →