Love and relationships are not one-size-fits-all. Good thing we have options!

Most people assume that healthy or serious relationships that involve romance and sex are supposed to follow these steps: from attraction and dating, through exclusivity and living together, to marriage that ideally lasts a lifetime. That's what's called the traditional Relationship Escalator.

However, there are plenty of other great ways to do relationships. Options that don't involve lying, cheating, affairs, infidelity, avoiding dating or relationships, swearing off sex or love, or not being true to yourself or others.

WHO SHOULD READ THIS BOOK:

This book is a fun, intriguing, practical introduction to less-common relationship options.

For yourself. If you want to explore unconventional relationships, or simply to understand your options, you'll find guidance here.

For others. This is a friendly starting point to help anyone understand relationships that don't follow the norm, and why some people prefer them.

WHY THIS BOOK IS WORTH READING:

It's not just one person's opinion. Journalist Amy Gahran surveyed 1500 people about their unconventional intimate relationships: how those relationships work and feel. They shared moving personal stories and insights. More than 300 people are quoted in this nonfiction book.

Stepping Off the Relationship Escalator showcases real-life 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 maintain personal autonomy within relationships, or to remain single by choice.

Avoiding hierarchy: Not prioritizing a particular adult relationship by default, simply because it includes sex/romance or started first.

Asexual and aromantic love, which emphasize forms of intimacy and bonding that our society often discounts.

Relationship anarchy: Where all aspects of a relationship are based on negotiation and consent.

Valuing relationships that often get discounted: Ones that don't feel very intense, are uninterrupted, or last forever.

The Relationship Escalator is a fine option that works well for many people. And: relationships are always a choice. Isn't it better to make important choices consciously, rather than by default?

More information about this ongoing project, and future books in this series, see: OffEscalator.com

Journalist Amy Gahran lives in Boulder, Colorado. But, having been raised in South Jersey, she still occasionally says “wutter.” Her writing has appeared in CNN.com, Entrepreneur.com and many other venues. But that's just her day job.

Amy's passion is, well, passion -- all the ways that people share love, intimacy, commitment, support and life. For several years she authored a blog about unconventional relationships using the pen name Aggie Sez, which has since stuck as a nickname. She answers to both names now. And to her feline overlords.