The Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy dominated publishing in 2011 and the film adaptations of the erotic novels kept us tied up in the series. But Ana and Christian's love story isn't over yet: Freed by E.L. James just landed in bookstores, much to the delight of both romantics and those looking for something a little hotter. Is it getting warmer, or is it just our favorite fictional businessman?
Nearly 10 years ago, romance readers were introduced to the most significant gentleman since Fabio—Christian Grey. Author E.L. James took readers on a whirlwind ride with her sensual, NSFW debut, causing mouths to drop everywhere. The super-popular book to movie adaptations follow an entrepreneur who falls for his college intern. The results? A steamy love affair that catapulted into the charts and now reigns as one of the most popular romance books, ever.
Now, the Fifty Shades saga continues with its sixth installment, Freed: Fifty Shades Freed as Told by Christian. Yes, that's right—the new Fifty Shades book invites readers into the mind of the domineering millionaire as he embarks on one of his biggest ventures yet: marriage. Still interested? Read on—we've got everything you need to know about the highly-anticipated release.
What is the Fifty Shades of Grey new book about?
Freed: Fifty Shades Freed As Told By Christian sees Christian Grey take center stage as he takes on his biggest role yet—being a husband.
Narrated by the man himself, the novel gives readers a raw insight into the broody business mogul's thoughts and dreams in the run-up to his wedding to Anastasia Steele. What should be a celebratory affair turns into an existentialist crisis for Christian, as he grapples with intense self-doubt on his ability to fully commit to a lifetime of loving matrimony.
Ana's unyielding defiance continues to unnerve him and rattle his controlling nature, prompting him to question if he can withstand the inevitable challenges that come with marriage.
Christian also faces pressure from his father, Carrick, who shares his concerns about his potential to be a loyal husband. If that wasn't stressful enough, his brother, Elliot, wants him to throw a wild bachelor party to mark the last days of being single. With little family support to lean on, Christian is forced to look inwards to overcome his demons and make those ever-important vows.
When will Freed: Fifty Shades Freed as Told by Christian be out?
Freed: Fifty Shades Freed as Told by Christian hit shelves Tuesday, June 1. You can opt for a paperback, or download it as an audiobook, or on your Kindle or eReader.
Who wrote the Fifty Shades of Grey series?
The Fifty Shades of Grey series is the brainchild of British author E.L. James. The erotic fiction writer blew up in 2011 with the release of Fifty Shades of Grey, the first book of the now wildly successful six-part series.
Where can I see Fifty Shades Freed, the original movie?
Fifty Shades Freed can be found on several video streaming services, including Amazon, Apple TV, and YouTube.
Fifty Shades Freed is unfortunately not available to watch on Netflix right now.
What is the correct Fifty Shades of Grey order?
We know, with all these tongue-twisting titles, it can be hard to keep up. There are now six Fifty Shades of Grey books, with Freed marking the final installment in the popular franchise.
Its initial trilogy started with Fifty Shades of Grey, the massively popular erotica novel that hit shelves in 2011. The second and third installments, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed, were both released in 2012.
James revived the story three years later with the Retold By Christian series. Like Freed, Grey (2015) and Darker (2017) are both narrated from the perspective of the CEO business tycoon.
Why you should read Freed: Fifty Shades Freed as Told by Christian
This proves an extraordinarily good time to read—and perhaps even write—erotic fiction. Not only is the genre more popular than ever, but sex stories are such a turn-on for women that there's even scientific evidence to support the claim.
"According to a scientific study by researcher Harold Leitenberg of The Journal of Sex Research, women who read romance or erotic novels have 74% more sex with their partners than those who don't," says author and relationship expert Jessica Leoni.
Looks like we'll be hitting our local indie bookshop ASAP. We probably won't need a bookmark for this—we'll finish it all in one sitting.
