Open Wide

A Novel

De: Jessica Gross

Narrado por: Alice Way

An increasingly obsessive radio host tests the boundaries of her boyfriend's love in this unforgettable dark comedy that is by turns romantic, horrific, and profound

Olive is desperate to get close to Theo—really, really close. She’s always struggled to connect with people. And now she’s in her thirties, single, and so flustered by relationships that she secretly records her conversations, hoping to decipher social cues and find a way to be less alone.

Then Theo turns up for a shift at the same food pantry where she volunteers. He’s a surgeon fascinated by human organs, a former soccer player, and possibly as weird as Olive. For the first time, someone seems to crave and understand her. Every recording of Theo is a balm, which just makes Olive more afraid of losing him. The only solution seems to be to bind him to her forever. Luckily, the gap between Theo’s front teeth is just wide enough for something—or someone—to slip inside.

Arresting and immersive, Open Wide explores the complexities of intimacy, love, and consent, as universal human impulses bleed into the surreal.

©2025 Jessica Gross (P)2025 Dreamscape Media

Absolutely unhinged

Story about an unhinged woman, family and partner. I loved how the relationship with the mother was explored, the mom’s voice/tone/inflections I probably found the most convincing and so eery at times.

I don’t blame anyone for skipping out after the dog stuff in the beginning, and quite frankly may agree with some that this does seem smuttier than advertised. But not in a sexy/hot way, more in an incredibly sex heavy and descriptive way.

Lastly, the way the narrator spoke I did not enjoy overall. It almost seemed robotic at times and occasionally ends words would just cut off? She also went in and out of this mild southern accent that I found confusing at times (sure I get it pooping up around the family, but sometimes it would just show up out of nowhere). But once again, the way the mother was voiced was fantastic so I’m a bit sorry for being harsh on the overall performance.

Bored me…

It’s boring…what can I say? I loss interest in the audiobook halfway through. Something can be really messed up and boring at the same time. It’s so boring, again, that I’m struggling to come up with anything to say.

Well acted narration made me hate this book even more

First off, this is smut, which I feel like it wasn't presented as anywhere I read a blurb about it online. Like pornographic levels of detail. The narrator did a good job in my opinion and it made it so much cringier. I think pretty much every review online also kind of hated it. I didn't see anyone say they actually liked this book and they generally said it was gross (no pun intended) and story kind of lacking so I guess that's my fault for choosing it but I love body horror and it sounded interesting. It also all boils down to obsession and violating boundaries. That and the smut aspect are what made this book gross to me, not the body horror. I thought it was interesting though in a way and liked the surrealism as a concept. I think if the smut aspects were way toned down and the storyline fleshed out more it might have been a good read.

Light spoilers and trigger warnings:




This book contains weird sexual stuff with her dog very early on that is never brought up again.
There is suggested sexual abuse by a parent.
Consent is a strong theme in a variety of contexts.

Ending...eh. It just emphasizes that the main character is the way she is with an escalation of her behavior without any actual closure.

Interesting story the absolute WORST narration

The narrator needs to stick cleaning product ads and not books. The story is very interesting but her voice just feels so hard to listen to for the characters that i think they need to genuinely re-record this because i almost stopped listening the first minute and they might be bleeding listeners due to this.

2 chp couldn't sit through it

can't, anyone that behaves this was with a dog or any animal should not be a pet owner.
tw. self pleasure with animals 😰🤢