Seed

by Elisabeth Easther

Seed is raw, hilarious and so lifelike I kept forgetting I wasn’t reading about real people. I felt every frustration, every high and every low as if these women were my friends. A heartfelt, funny, unforgettable read. I loved it. - Rachael Johns


Four friends, two pregnancies and the mother of all awkward situations...

Hillary and her partner are eager for a baby, their sex life dictated by the automated texts from their fertility agency, MotherWorld.

Her best friend Maggie is a single mother living her best life, enjoying a healthy relationship with her ex, and a healthy appetite on the dating apps.

With her youngest now at school, Shelley is returning to the office, hoping to prove her value at the gold-star advertising agency she works for.

Meanwhile, midwife Virginia has made a career of helping other people have babies, but is suddenly yearning for one of her own. With no partner in sight, she cooks up an unhinged plan...

Hilarious and wise, this new novel from the publishers of Marian Keyes and Dolly Alderton asks the how far would you go to get a life?

Genres: Audiobook, Fiction, Contemporary

485 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 3, 2026

Reviews

[Shelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hated this book. Again, if not a book club pick, I would have never read this. I really did not want to read a book about women and pregnancy. — As a teenager reading romcoms, I remember picking up an “older audience” book once and wondering, with horror, if all that awaited me in the romance genre were books about divorce and kids.

Oh. That’s why it’s called Seed. Despite the title, it really annoyed me that all the women who started the book not wanting kids converted into child enthusiasts. Virginia was particularly annoying. I would have cut friendships with her had she been so insensitive as my friend — but, book magic, everything is all right by the end! Friends for life!

Maggie, sigh, this book is weird as multiple characters have had abortions. So many women in this book casually mention their (sometime multiple) past abortions that I wondered, is this secretly what we’re all doing?? And this is exactly what conservatives fear: abortions by young women out of “inconvenience”. So it’s fucking weird when this book is so casual about abortions but the one character who is so sure she will abort suddenly does a 180.

Hilary. I don’t get it. She has a kid already. I spent part of this book confused as to whether it was George’s kid or hers — nope, it’s hers. So why was she so adamant about another child? Her scenes were hard to read because it (deliberately, I think) showed the worst of her. She was irritable all the time, ungrateful for any kindness or concession shown to her, and ultimately shifted the blame onto George for “forcing” these fertility treatments onto her (when he’s trying to tell her to pause or stop because it’s ruining their relationship). She also could not show generosity to her closest friend. I get it, this was not easy on Hilary. But I really just couldn’t relate to her character so I didn’t find her that pleasant to sympathise with.

And finally, there is, of course, fictional Shelley. The one character who did not want a (further) child and stuck to it. It was very much not okay to see a character who shared my name have her objections to childbirth rejected by both her partner and her closest friend. Halfway through, I remember thinking I would lose it if fictional Shelley is forced to carry a child she does not want. Especially! After the book reveals the reason for this is post-partum depression and suicidal ideation — a reason she never gets to tell her friend, and one she shares in the briefest of words with her partner before he walks out on her. I don’t agree with what she did — and my other massive pet peeve with books is where the conflict stems from characters in long term relationships being unable to talk to each other — but I needed her partner to appreciate the depth of reason why she could not have another kid. And I wanted him to own that delaying getting the snip was his manipulative way to force more kids on her. Argh. This whole situation was frustrating.

I say that I’m ambivalent to kids. But then I have experiences like this, where I do not relate at all to the characters who so desperately want kids — find them annoying in fact, and find myself instead rooting for the characters who choose not to have children. What does that say about me?? And I’m annoyed that this isn’t an issue I want to engage with, but now feel I’ve been forced to confront because of book club.

[Natalie M]

DNF

I’m really not the right person to read this novel. I tried, but the generational gap and vocab did not sit well with me.

[Tracy Plane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This isn’t always an easy read. One thing the author nailed is how fertility / hormones / grief makes women bat sh*t crazy. I appreciated the NZ setting but felt there could have been a bit more of a sense of place, I think they are in Auckland, but not sure?

[Victoria Royds · Rating 2 out of 5]

The cover of this book says it’s funny (hilarious, even), heartfelt, unforgettable. I was therefore happily reading along, waiting to laugh, and to feel some fuzzy sort of emotion, but it never happened. Instead I was shocked by what utter fuckwits most of the main characters were. Three of the four female characters made deplorable decisions and were thoroughly unlikeable. They also repeatedly drank shitloads then drove home. I kept waiting for someone to get done drinking and driving, and basically to get their comeuppance, but sadly that never happened. Sprinkled with superfluous detail (do I need to know what was in the crumbs they used a brush and shovel to sweep up??) and random bit-characters (the chapter on the gay couple naming their baby was totally unnecessary), this dragged on far longer than it should have. The male characters were all quite nice guys - they should have ditched the stupid women at an AA meeting and gone off and lived happily ever after together.

[Mel · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF
Listened to the first 3 hours of the audiobook. Really not my style, didn’t enjoy the language, couldn’t like the characters, felt that not a lot happened (outside of vivid sex scenes, and multiple varied descriptions of human anatomy doing things or having things done to them.) Keen to support Kiwi writers - and had high expectations - unfortunately this was not the novel
I was expecting. Not for me.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were glimmers of a good book in this but it suffered from four deeply unlikeable main characters and a very poor edit. You could have lost eighty pages of this and it would have been improved - so much unnecessary detail.

[Josanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up.
The multiple characters in this make the story line jump around and there is only a loose connection point between some of the characters. I found I didn’t fully engage with any of the characters. It’s a story that centres on women challenged by the issue of either being childless and desperately wanting a child or in one case pregnant and desperate not to have another child. I found whilst feeling sympathy for the issues I didn’t relate to some of the choices of these women.

Shelley who has two children aborts a child without telling her husband Matt who desperately wanted another child. She tries to keep it a secret but is of course found out. It’s an almost lethal breach of trust for that relationship and I found it confusing on few counts - the character is portrayed as a not using contraception at the time despite knowing she did not want another child and then when she did fall pregnant never had counselling or sought any help with her decision despite the reason being her postpartum depression after her previous pregnancy. The serious mental health issues are not really addressed or discussed between the couple and she seemed to think it was ok to deceive him, all despite him being a supportive partner and good father. It did involve a child that was also his and that he wanted so this seemed an unethical, highly damaging way to work through this problem.

Then Maggie who also doesn’t want another child and is in a far less secure relationship than Shelly was using contraception (an IUD that failed) and ends up not being able to go through with the termination and bravely becomes a single mother to a second child.

Hillary has the heartbreaking process of fertility treatment and IVF supported by her husband George, a loving, kind guy but I found her somewhat irascible behaviour a tad hard to sympathise with despite the difficulty faced. I actually felt for George more than I did for her. The relationship seemed to fall apart very quickly with no real clarity about how that process happened in the story.

Virginia who is 36 and single wants a child and tries artificial insemination with donor sperm; after two failed attempts sort of resigns herself to the risk she may not meet a man and may remain childless. But she still has some time for a child and at the end of the book we see a glimmer of hope in a fledgling connection with Sean who was the father of Maggie’s baby. However I found Virginia’s drinking to be quite excessive, even a tad concerning given she was a midwife - I think this should have been addressed in the editing of this novel as it seemed to be passing off a rather reckless (if not dangerous level) of drinking as almost normal and ok.

The issues were real and they present fertile territory for an insightful, heart warming and engaging expose of the difficulties women face, but somehow for me this didn’t quite get there.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The characters felt so real, messy, flawed, complicated and completely human. It could be written about my friends and I, and I could totally see bits of my girlfriends in these characters.
I listened to the audiobook and every now and then I'd get a flashback of“evil nurse Carla” which triggered some traumatic memories haha IYKYK. Loved the sprinkling of te reo throughout and the kiwi as references "get some $2 coins from the barman", lol

Aotearoa needs more fiction like this. I’d love a sequel. Excellent work from Elisabeth Easther. He tino pai rawa atu.

[Izzy Valentine · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️3.75 - not my usual read but honestly just saw this book at Kmart and looked good so I gave it a go and was pleasantly surprised! Really just diving into pregnancy/fertility struggles of different women and also love its set in NZ

[Sheena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every character is unlikeable.

[Emily Holland · Rating 1 out of 5]

Genuinely made me want to rip my hair out and gave me anxiety. 1 star for the visceral reaction I guess

[Sue Pratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching, heartwarming story with a touch of comedy making a potentially difficult subject quite compassionate.
4 different women with their own stories. Loved it.

[Bridget Sinclair · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really interesting exploration of fertility issues and female friendships, made all the more relevant as it is written by a kiwi author and set in the motherland!! Didn’t set my world on fire but was a solid read

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really don’t think I’m the target audience for this. I honestly h e no idea how I got through this. Half the time I was wondering when we were going to get past the whining housewives of it all and to the complexities of womanhood and motherhood. But it just never seemed to get there for me. All of these woman should have never become mother or be mothers because none of them seem to actually care about children being actual living, breathing, human being s who need to be looked after and not just a toy.

I really wanted to like this but every damn woman in this book is unlikeable and deplorable. It was tough going at the start and sadly it just got worse the further down the path. By the end I was barely even paying attention and skipping parts to just get to the end.

I really picked this up hoping that I’d get an insight into fertility struggles and motherhood struggles and see a different perspective. They’re my own witches always been. I’ve ever wanted kids. I like reading books that are other perspectives in my own but I walk away from this one, just feeling it because no one in this spot deserved to be a mother. No one in this book treated children or being pregnant. Is anything more than a glorified dull and status symbol and it truly sad to see a female writer perpetrating such a harmful maternal negative stereotypes. I really really was just hoping for more from this instead all I got was disappointment.

[tayla · Rating 1 out of 5]

0.5 ⭐️

I’ve been having such a bad run with books lately, and I haaaated this. If I hadn’t already committed my Spotify listening hours, I would’ve dnf.

This isn’t what I thought it was going to be at all. For some reason I convinced myself this was going to be some sort of psychological thriller type book with people taking someone else’s baby or something, I think it had something to do with the tagline ‘How far would you go to get a life?’ And having just finished watching ‘All Her Fault’.

When I first started reading this I wrote in my notes about how long it was taking for the story to get going, but it never really got going. I fully sympathise with the struggles with fertility, birth, but as a thirty year old woman set in her decision to not have kids, it’s unfortunately not a book that I could connect or relate to. Which obviously isn’t the authors fault, it’s just why I don’t think I got as much out of it as other people could or have. I understand wanting a biological child, but spending tens of thousands of dollars on it when there are so many kids in foster care or waiting to be adopted doesn’t make sense to me.

Every character in this fucking suuuuucks. There’s way too much boring information given about every little thing a character is doing, like if they’re cooking we’re getting every step of the recipe, nobody cares omg.

There’s like a lot of blasé talk about drink driving in this?? And then the one chance there is to show some repercussions for it, it’s blown over? Hated that.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a New Zealander who has lived in the UK for 27 years, I can't remember the last time I read a novel by a contemporary NZ author, so it was a real treat to immerse myself in Seed on a recent holiday. I usually dip in and out of several books at once, but instead I spent most of my days following the lives of four main protagonists, along with their partners, family members, colleagues and friends, as they grappled with conception and all that it entails.

The language took me straight back to New Zealand, and while reading I found myself wondering whether international editions would come with a glossary. The stories are told episodically, and I can easily imagine this being adapted into a TV series, with each episode told from a specific character's point of view. The puns were next level. I loved them, and have already recruited several friends to be my 'Next of Chin'.

As a parent of grown children, the subject matter isn't directly relevant to my life now, but I still found the exploration of these issues earnest, heartfelt and often quite entertaining. One of the characters is 70 and drives an orange muscle car, which gave me a jolt: my stepmother is also 70 and she also drives an orange muscle car. (For the record, hers was purchased after the book went to print.)

Overall, an enjoyable read that will resonate with anyone at the beginning of their fertility journey.

[Gabriela Bourke · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has lots to recommend it - a quickly unfolding narrative peopled by interesting, relatable characters, a contemporary storyline not yet overdone, some pithy observations about modern life cut through with a refreshing, warm and fundamental empathy for others.
HOWEVER….
*spoilers to come*
As with so many novels, this book needed a thorough, unsentimental edit. We have two characters dealing with infertility whose ‘best friends’ become unexpectedly pregnant with (at least at first) unwanted babies. We have frankly far too many descriptions of men wanking into cups (although the scene with Hilary sniggering at George is very well done, and absolutely validates the vague sense of dislike for Hilary I had from the outset). We definitely have too many phone calls and meetings with professionals at the fertility clinic re unsuccessful attempts. I have a specific bugbear as well as to the scene where Virginia decides to ask her patient in the birthing bath to get up and try another labouring position when she JUST said she’d had an epidural. Come on! I also think that for a novel in this genre, would it have been so terrible for either of the women attempting pregnancy to have ended the story with a pregnancy? Morale could definitely have been improved.
All that aside, I enjoyed it and would probably recommend with a few caveats.

[Leanne Webster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seed by Elisabeth Easther follows four women whose lives are all tied up in very different experiences of pregnancy, two who are desperate to have a baby, and two who are just as desperate not to. It’s one of those stories that balances heartbreak and humour really well, which makes it an engaging and emotional read.

I’ll admit I did get a bit mixed up at times keeping track of who was who, especially early on, but it all comes together as the story progresses. And once it clicks, the different perspectives really add to the depth of it.

There’s some pretty heavy material here, particularly around IVF and the emotional toll it takes, alongside the stress it puts on relationships. On the flip side, there’s also an unwanted pregnancy storyline that goes to some intense places. It doesn’t shy away from the messy, complicated realities of these situations.

What stood out most was how relatable the women felt. Their friendships, parenting struggles, fertility challenges, and even a marriage on the brink - it all felt very real. It’s honest, raw, and still manages to have moments of humour throughout.

A thoughtful, emotional read that tackles some big topics while still feeling very human.

[Alyx Casini · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I detested this book. I was hoping for either a lighthearted uplifting story of hope, or a compelling tear jerker. Sadly, it was neither. I found the characters unlikeable and just annoying, who showed very little compassion for their friends. I could understand the two friendships were supposed to be some kind of parallel, but they were far too similar which made it boring. Furthermore, so much of the dialogue by minor characters was just unbelievable. An 8 year old child does not use vocabulary like “perhaps”, whist some of the doctor’s remarks were not professional nor realistic, and the “modern” slang was irritating. It just made the whole topic seem trivialised, making me wonder if the author actually has any experience in infertility or assisted reproduction. It seemed as though there was supposed to be an element of feminism within the book (single mother by choice, pro-choice aka the blatant and random references to multiple abortions from multiple characters), but then Shelley was made to feel like she had to carry a pregnancy she clearly didn’t want for the sake of her husband and his mother’s religious views.
Sorry - I wish I enjoyed this more.

[Ebony Tiffin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seed is one of those reads that I had a real love-hate relationship with. On one hand, the themes are incredibly relevant, especially depending on where you’re at in life and it’s genuinely interesting to see the different perspectives on motherhood, relationships, and identity play out across the four women.

That said, the synopsis really set me up for something a bit more dramatic or “unhinged,” and it never quite delivered on that promise. I kept waiting for a bigger twist or turning point that just didn’t come. While some of the characters were engaging, others felt a little flat, which made it harder to fully invest in their stories.

The ending, unfortunately, felt a bit disjointed and anticlimactic, like everything wrapped up too quickly without the payoff the build-up suggested. Overall, it’s a thought-provoking and relatable read in parts, but it didn’t quite hit the mark in execution.

[Jessica Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is written for at least half of the population, given that there are 49% females on this earth and I’m willing to bet that most of you have had a baby, tried for a baby, actively tried not to have a baby or at the very least been asked if you want a baby! Elisabeth Easther has written a down to earth and relatable yarn that was entertaining from the get go. It follows four women who are on completely different pages fertility wise - Shelley has just gone back to work after her kids start school, Hilary is trying desperately to have a baby without much success, Maggie is a single mother happy to browse the apps for no-strings-attached fun, and Virginia is a midwife who decides that maybe she might actually want a baby of her own. A novel where characters paths cross and lives intersect is always a good time and this is no exception.

[Carrie Walshe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes I don’t know why I do it to myself and read these kind of books. To be proved right, to be proved wrong? Like a train crash you can’t look away from, but you know you should cos it’s no good for you? Probably equal parts love hate for this book considering the subject matter, but I did it to myself. Loved Hillary’s account as probably being the closest to accurate I’ve read in a book of what really actually happens during Fertility treatment & navigating others pregnancy’s. All the feels. Loved most of the characters & their stories regardless of how awful but also wondered what’s the point most of the time? But then I think maybe there isn’t actually one & that’s just life. Unfair, non sensical & everyone is a little fkd up all the time matter what path really. 3.5 stars. Comme ci, comme ca

[Grace Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have slightly mixed feelings about this book, although overall I did enjoy it. Starting with the positives: I always enjoy a book set in NZ (especially if it incorporates te reo), I really enjoyed the variety of perspectives we are offered, as well as the normality and neutrality with which reproductive health care is approached. I like that we are able to see the same situation explored through so many different circumstances and head-spaces.

At points I did feel the story telling was a little clunky. However, my biggest gripe is that there were moments where I felt that characters behaviours in tense moments were not properly delved into and explained. These stories leave a lot of space for complex and competing emotions, yet I feel at points those weren't explored when doing so would have added to the book massively.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Following the lives of 4 women on their pregnancy journeys, the premise appealed and the beginning of the book was engaging. Unfortunately, as the characters revealed themselves, my interest waned. The miserable, totally self absorbed Hilary who treated her partner like a door mat, the screeching Shelley whose only communication with her children was to yell at them, the alcoholic Virginia whose only hobby seemed to be to drink herself into a coma and finally Maggie who was quite lovely. I could have done without the last 100 pages where nothing much actually happened and it all felt a bit anticlimactic. I found this to be a very odd book.

[Bianca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is about four women in their thirties and forties and their tribulations about pregnancies - some desperately wanted, one desperately unwanted and one - oopsie - I'll see.

This novel covers the spectrum of issues that affect women, their careers, life choices, partner choices and so on. The female characters were realistic, the male characters - a bit too good to be true - I guess that was the fictional aspect of this novel. ;-)

I had no moral judgements or objections towards the women's choices whatsoever.

Not a bad read, but it didn't meet my expectations created by the marketing hype.

[Anna Loder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not the demographic or age bracket for seed; it’s fertility and relationships now and my extra 10 years just saw me screaming from the sidelines in frustration, but I was acting like these are real people and their struggles with conceiving are real…that has got to be a good sign! The friendships felt real, and the banter was next level..I think I’ve definitely had enough labour stories for now too hahaha

[Fiona Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up for excellent audiobook narration. It’s a kind of light take on serious issues, a story about four women going through various fertility issues with banter and humour sprinkled throughout. There are a lot of threads to this book - some unnecessary- and they didn’t quite come together. Still very readable (well, listenable).

[Richard Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Audiobook]
I guess I’d always known that lots of us are challenged by having a child. Some find it easy, some hard, some want the kid(s), some don’t. This book, a series of parallel experiences, with overlapping story arcs, was solely about the having a child journey. I found it an easy listen, not always fun, but compelling. The NZ angle was familiar too.

[Safia van der Zwan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious, heartfelt, one to share and discuss with all your pals. Elisabeth is Aotearoa’s answer to Marian Keyes, but even funnier! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and all its endearing, relatable characters - couldn’t put it down. Sequel and TV adaptation please!

[Jas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read as part of a book club, otherwise I wouldn't have picked it up and I am (sorta?) glad I did. The characters had elements that made them feel like real people but it was frustrating not having greater expansion and exploration of their emotions to the key moments. The banter was alright and the small amount of NZ references were nice. While the constantly changing perspectives and stories sometimes had me questioning who was who for the first quarter of the book, I did like the odd crossover of characters that happend in very natural ways. While the book gave me insight to fertility and kids in a way I hadn't considered much overall it wasn't really for me, granted I am also not the demographic it was targeting.