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Other People's Bodies
A powerful and compelling new novel about friendship, false prophets and the lure of belonging— from the bestselling author of One of Those Mothers.
'Other People's Bodies is a tender exploration of the complex boundaries between love, desire, trust and control, and the healing power of female friendship. Megan Nicol Reed's sophomore novel is thought-provoking, insightful and full of heart.' - Rachel Paris, See How They Fall
When five very different women join a gym run by the magnetic Lars and his elusive wife Priya, they are convinced they've found more than a fitness regime. Within its glass walls, wrapped around the branches of a ginkgo tree, they discover kinship, camaraderie and the promise of transformation.
But as the group's devotion deepens, the lines between empowerment and obedience begin to blur. Lars's ideas — once enthralling — grow darker, more coercive, and the women's sense of self starts to erode beneath the weight of his influence.
Watching from the margins, Priya begins to see what the others cannot. Long accustomed to silence, she must decide whether to remain in her husband's shadow or intervene — despite the cost.
Incisive, astute and unflinchingly honest, Other People's Bodies lays bare the quiet slide from strength to submission, from belief to blindness — and how when combined with a desire to be part of something, the pursuit of wellness can become the most insidious form of control.
'Other People's Bodies is a tender exploration of the complex boundaries between love, desire, trust and control, and the healing power of female friendship. Megan Nicol Reed's sophomore novel is thought-provoking, insightful and full of heart.' - Rachel Paris, See How They Fall
When five very different women join a gym run by the magnetic Lars and his elusive wife Priya, they are convinced they've found more than a fitness regime. Within its glass walls, wrapped around the branches of a ginkgo tree, they discover kinship, camaraderie and the promise of transformation.
But as the group's devotion deepens, the lines between empowerment and obedience begin to blur. Lars's ideas — once enthralling — grow darker, more coercive, and the women's sense of self starts to erode beneath the weight of his influence.
Watching from the margins, Priya begins to see what the others cannot. Long accustomed to silence, she must decide whether to remain in her husband's shadow or intervene — despite the cost.
Incisive, astute and unflinchingly honest, Other People's Bodies lays bare the quiet slide from strength to submission, from belief to blindness — and how when combined with a desire to be part of something, the pursuit of wellness can become the most insidious form of control.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 5, 2026
Megan Nicol Reed’s, Other People’s Bodies, is one of those rare novels that quietly takes hold of you from the very first page, and never quite lets go.
The opening scene alone is extraordinary. A character pauses to watch ants, and in lesser hands this might feel incidental, even mundane. However, Nicol Reed transforms it into something intimate and luminous. Her prose is so precise, so observant, that the moment becomes a meditation on attention, fragility, and what it means to inhabit a body in the world. It’s a perfect introduction to her gift: finding depth in the smallest details.
Nicol Reed’s background as a columnist, thrice nominated for New Zealand’s best, shines through in the clarity and elegance of her writing, but this novel goes further. Where her columns distilled life into sharp insights, ‘Other People’s Bodies’ expands those instincts into a deeply immersive narrative. Every sentence feels considered, but never laboured.
The characterisation is exceptional. Nicol Reed draws her characters with such psychological acuity that they feel entirely real: complex, flawed, and achingly human. She has a remarkable ability to sit with discomfort, allowing her characters to reveal themselves gradually rather than forcing resolution. You don’t just observe them; you come to understand them, sometimes uncomfortably so.
Thematically, this novel is rich and resonant. It explores embodiment, identity, friendship, motherhood, desire, and the subtle negotiations we make between ourselves and others. There’s a quiet but persistent questioning of how we relate to our own bodies, and to other people’s, and how much of ourselves we give away, consciously or not. Nicol Reed handles these themes with nuance and sensitivity, never veering into cliché or easy answers.
There are echoes here of her bestselling debut, ‘One of Those Mothers’, particularly in the emotional honesty and sharp observational lens. Set against the texture of everyday life in NZ, the novel carries a distinctly Kiwi sensibility while remaining universally relatable. It’s introspective without being insular, and quietly profound without ever feeling heavy-handed.
This is a beautifully written book and one that rewards slow reading and lingers long after the final page. Megan Nicol Reed has delivered something truly special with ‘Other People’s Bodies’. A five-star read in every sense.
The opening scene alone is extraordinary. A character pauses to watch ants, and in lesser hands this might feel incidental, even mundane. However, Nicol Reed transforms it into something intimate and luminous. Her prose is so precise, so observant, that the moment becomes a meditation on attention, fragility, and what it means to inhabit a body in the world. It’s a perfect introduction to her gift: finding depth in the smallest details.
Nicol Reed’s background as a columnist, thrice nominated for New Zealand’s best, shines through in the clarity and elegance of her writing, but this novel goes further. Where her columns distilled life into sharp insights, ‘Other People’s Bodies’ expands those instincts into a deeply immersive narrative. Every sentence feels considered, but never laboured.
The characterisation is exceptional. Nicol Reed draws her characters with such psychological acuity that they feel entirely real: complex, flawed, and achingly human. She has a remarkable ability to sit with discomfort, allowing her characters to reveal themselves gradually rather than forcing resolution. You don’t just observe them; you come to understand them, sometimes uncomfortably so.
Thematically, this novel is rich and resonant. It explores embodiment, identity, friendship, motherhood, desire, and the subtle negotiations we make between ourselves and others. There’s a quiet but persistent questioning of how we relate to our own bodies, and to other people’s, and how much of ourselves we give away, consciously or not. Nicol Reed handles these themes with nuance and sensitivity, never veering into cliché or easy answers.
There are echoes here of her bestselling debut, ‘One of Those Mothers’, particularly in the emotional honesty and sharp observational lens. Set against the texture of everyday life in NZ, the novel carries a distinctly Kiwi sensibility while remaining universally relatable. It’s introspective without being insular, and quietly profound without ever feeling heavy-handed.
This is a beautifully written book and one that rewards slow reading and lingers long after the final page. Megan Nicol Reed has delivered something truly special with ‘Other People’s Bodies’. A five-star read in every sense.
April 24, 2026
3.5 rounded up. A group of five very different women become friends when they join a gym run by Lars - a magnetic man interested in the benefit of others through more traditional means. The women all get something from his classes whether it be physical, spiritual or just a general sense of belonging. But some lessons are taken too far and filter into their personal lives and relationships.
I thought this was an interesting read, but it wasn’t what I expected it to be. I was thinking it was going to be quite cult like, but I didn’t really get that vibe. Lars was eccentric, but I didn’t feel like he was like a cult leader. The general idea of groupthink was super interesting though, and I liked seeing everyone’s different perspectives. It was a bit confusing at times though to remember who was who! I could absolutely understand all the characters desire to feel like a part of something though and I could see how being part of a gym class like this could feel all encompassing. This book also really made me want to plant a ginkgo tree 😂 overall an enjoyable read that made me ponder how the influence of others can make us act in our own lives.
Huge thanks to @allenandunwinnz for sending this my way - we love a kiwi author!
I thought this was an interesting read, but it wasn’t what I expected it to be. I was thinking it was going to be quite cult like, but I didn’t really get that vibe. Lars was eccentric, but I didn’t feel like he was like a cult leader. The general idea of groupthink was super interesting though, and I liked seeing everyone’s different perspectives. It was a bit confusing at times though to remember who was who! I could absolutely understand all the characters desire to feel like a part of something though and I could see how being part of a gym class like this could feel all encompassing. This book also really made me want to plant a ginkgo tree 😂 overall an enjoyable read that made me ponder how the influence of others can make us act in our own lives.
Huge thanks to @allenandunwinnz for sending this my way - we love a kiwi author!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
'Other People's Bodies' is a tender exploration of the complex boundaries between love, desire, trust and control, and the healing power of female friendship. Megan Nicol Reed's sophomore novel is thought-provoking, insightful and full of heart.
April 19, 2026
This one just did not do it for me at all.
April 20, 2026
I enjoyed this but felt like the ending could have been, I don't know - dramatic? Also I am still puzzling over the last sentence and feel like Priya's character could have been explored more.
May 2, 2026
I’m on the fence about this one - probably more 3.5 stars. Interesting enough to want to finish the book but not one I will necessarily recommend.
May 16, 2026
Monotone and anticlimactic.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews