skin contact

synopsis

A newly open marriage brings discovery, excitement, and upheaval to a young couple, and to the friends and lovers in their orbit.

Thirty years old and reeling from her mother’s recent death, Frances feels as if she’s lost her sense of purpose, her joy; her husband, Ben, will do anything to help her. So when she suggests that they open their marriage, he’s willing—and even a little intrigued. They invite a young woman into their bedroom, create a joint dating profile, and go on dates with other exploring couples, with mixed but often exciting results. Over the next five years, they explore their sexualities, navigating through jealousy, betrayal, desire, and obsession—and the friends and lovers in their circle find themselves asking new questions about their own lives and relationships. But when each is pulled in a new and unexpected direction, Ben and Frances are forced to confront the consequences of their experiment.

With warmth, humor, and sharp insight, Elisa Faison explores marriage’s many forms and possibilities—and announces herself as an exciting new voice in fiction.

Listed as a Novel Everyone Will Be Reading in Summer 2026 by The New York Times.

Named one of the 40 most exciting books to read in 2026 by The BBC.

Listed as a book to bring on vacaction by The New Yorker.

Named a most anticipated queer book by Autostraddle and Bookshop.org.

Named a most anticipated debut by Audible.

Named a must-read LGBTQ+ Book by Pink News.

“Faison cleverly mirrors the phases of the couple’s open relationship with shifts in tone, moving from sexy and exciting to increased emotional intensity and vulnerability. Readers will find it an intimate and insightful story of modern romance.” - Publishers Weekly

“A kaleidoscopic exploration of polyamory with the experiences of a young intellectual couple at its center…The novel is at its best when examining the intersection of Frances’ grief and her romantic life—and how that creates shrapnel through her marriage—and its understanding of all the different versions of ourselves that make up our experiences as lovers. A clever and zippy first novel.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Sexy and self-assured, Skin Contact is irresistible. While exploring the boundaries of desire and fidelity, Elisa Faison's characters ask big questions about the choices we make and how to negotiate what's beyond our control.” - Ada Calhoun, New York Times-bestselling author of Crush

“Elisa Faison's enthralling and unflinching Skin Contact gives us an intimate view of an intricately bound cast of characters, finding the hidden places where the real story lies. Shifting between the emptiness and uncertainty of loss along with the frightening and enthralling sensation of discovery, Faison has crafted a story that surprises us with its honesty, its passion, and its intensity.” - Kevin Wilson, New York Times-bestselling author of Nothing to See Here

“Skin Contact is so much more than a sharply observed portrait of a marriage, though it is that too. This novel sharply observes us: our petty thoughts and hidden lusts, our late-night fantasies and deepest hopes, all on display, laid loving yet unflinchingly bare. Faison has created a vibrant cast of characters, with each point-of-view richly developed yet effortlessly engaging. This book is the party of the year and I wanted to join in, opening the next door and the next, getting a bit gossip, sharing just one more story, stealing one more kiss. An absolute knockout of a debut.” - Gwen E. Kirby, author of Shit Cassandra Saw

“Elisa Faison’s debut novel will captivate you: lucid prose, delicious sexual tension, bursts of heartbreaking intimacy. I loved these characters, their stories, this book!” - Jean Chen Ho, author of Fiona and Jane

Skin Contact is a book that’s all hot and bothered, examining intimacy, fidelity, sexuality, and motherhood with a backdrop of grief. It explores a network of desire, with peripheral characters intercepting the narrative to take center stage as they share their own slice of sexy, complicated life in chapters that feel akin to short stories. Deeply readable, this will be the hottest, sluttiest book of the summer.” - Alice Slater, Sunday Times-bestselling author of Death of a Bookseller.

“A young married couple decides to open their marriage, only to find the experiment has led them to drastically different conclusions—and contradictory future plans. We’ve heard this story before (in print and from friends), but what elevates this take is Faison’s own clear-eyed and sensitive prose. Ada Calhoun (Crush) says it’s ‘irresistible,’ and who are we to argue?” - Boston Globe

“Told through a variety of perspectives, readers gain a front-row seat to the beginning of Frances and Ben’s relationship, while also hearing from some of the lovers they bring into their current dynamic. For fans of The Fates and Furies, Gunk or Perfection, this multi-narrative is one not to miss.” - Marie Claire

“The ripple effects of Miranda July's hugely successful All Fours can be seen in several debuts this year that address sex, desire and monogamy . . . In Elisa Faison's Skin Contact, a 30-something couple try out an open marriage.” - The BBC

“A smart, involving debut written with an empathy and insight that ensures it never feels passé . . . Faison's narrative moves freely in time, and between perspectives, as she pursues themes including ageing, motherhood and loss, taking in everything from the marital sacrifices made by earlier generations to the sensual deprivation imposed by lockdowns during Covid.” - The Daily Mail

“Faison tackles her subject without peremptory judgments or ideological baggage, creating a contemporary romance that's sexy and melodramatic. Yet it's anchored by a convincing emotional landscape, with astute portrayals of psychological armour and vulnerability that keep you invested in the characters.” - The Sydney Morning Herald

“Skin Contact is acute and witty on female desire.” - Financial Times