In Aotearoa New Zealand there are more couple-without-children families than other family types, and the number of child-free adults is growing, yet the discussion of life without children still feels taboo. Otherhood assembles the perspectives of 36 writers for whom having children isn’t part of their life-path: from those who’ve chosen to remain child-free, those who didn’t get to choose, and those whose version of family life looks a whole lot different to what they first envisioned.

Editors Alie Benge, Kathryn van Beek and Lil O’Brien are joined by contributors Paula Morris and Steff Green in a frank and wide-ranging discussion spanning infertility, blended families, bereavement, queerness, child-free joy (DINK life!) and all that living a life different to society’s expectations holds.