diff --git a/hangouts_parser.py b/hangouts_parser.py
index bbd6daa..cd59857 100644
--- a/hangouts_parser.py
+++ b/hangouts_parser.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ def parse_input_file(self, hangouts_file_name, user_phone_number):
         """
         conversations = []
         self_gaia_id = None  # gaia_id for the phone owner
-        with open(hangouts_file_name, 'rb') as data_file:
+        with open(hangouts_file_name, 'r') as data_file:
             # Read the Hangouts JSON file and turn into objects
             data = json.load(data_file, object_hook=lambda d: Namespace(**d))
             # Iterate through each conversation in the list