Other People's Bodies

by Megan Nicol Reed

A powerful and compelling novel about friendship, false prophets, and the seductive lure of belonging, from the bestselling author of One of Those Mothers .When five very different women join a boutique gym run by the charismatic Lars and his enigmatic wife, Priya, they believe they've found more than a fitness program.Within its glass walls, nestled around the branches of a ginkgo tree, they discover friendship, community, and the promise of transformation.But as their devotion to the gym deepens, the line between empowerment and obedience begins to blur.Lars's philosophy―once inspiring and intoxicating―grows increasingly controlling. His influence seeps into every aspect of the women's lives, slowly eroding their confidence, independence, and sense of self.Watching from the sidelines, Priya sees what the others cannot. Accustomed to living in her husband's shadow, she must decide whether to remain silent or risk everything to expose the truth.Incisive, thought-provoking, and unflinchingly honest, Other People's Bodies explores the subtle slide from strength to submission, from belief to blind devotion. It is a compelling examination of female friendship, manipulation, and the dangerous ways the pursuit of wellness and belonging can become a powerful 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, author of See How They Fall'Readable and fast-moving... fascinating.' ― New Zealand Listener

288 pages, Paperback

Expected publication February 16, 2027

Reviews

[Eleanor McEwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good! It’s hard with multiple perspectives books to identify and be invested in each character- this was done really well here. A cool narrative exploring cult like influences and the way we grapple with internal subversions. also an nz author ❤️

Oh! And! Annoying that it’s not more visible in literature- novel following women! Over 40! Leading lives, being complex, not centered around the home, having desires, hobbies and not written in the margins⭐️

[Lakinloveslit · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

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!

[Sally Ratapu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very relatable exploration of women’s friendships, insecurities and ultimate resilience, with an enjoyably local flavour.

[Kate Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was OK. It was engaging enough to keep reading and the end was good. I did enjoy the different characters. It was good, not great.

[Coralie Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book on the whole. It was an interesting exploration of how women relate to each other, themselves, and their partners. I also enjoyed the way each character interacted with Lars and his ideas, from scepticism to full buy in. This book intersected the rise of the wellness industry and the way that social media is serving up divisive/regressive content about gender and sexuality, all with the promise of taking us back to a supposedly simpler times. It did a good job of how easily led we can be in the face of someone who tells us they have all the answers.
Where it fell down a bit was the ending. I found Priya's story interesting but couldn't quite figure out the final chapter and what her role really was in the whole saga.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this but felt like the ending could have been more, 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.

[Liana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Monotone and anticlimactic.

[Elizabeth Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[A · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oooosh I REALLY wanted to love this before I started, and I’m wondering if I read a different book from all these other glowing reviews. I found it awful. The relationships between the women were so wooden - in a NOVEL! - and seemed such a caricature of the ‘typical woman’ trope. I’ve NEVER experienced social interactions such as those between this group of characters and thus was unable to relate. There also seemed to be a need to be everything to everyone and then everyone basically ends up feeling short changed. The characters were undeveloped on the whole, with it sometimes smacking of tokenism.
The story was an interesting concept but delivered in a less than ideal way. The writing style was easily readable and had good pacing.

[Helen Cummings · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just didn’t feel that the plot was entirely believable and that the dangers of the wellness industry that were exposed in the story were undermined by a lack of deep analysis. I suppose a group of supposedly intelligent women could get sucked in by a creepy character like Lars?
A lot of issues were raised in the course of the story but the resolution often seemed too simple to be believed. I also found it hard to relate or get to know the characters too as they were fairly superficially treated apart from Sally, whose family problems and financial issues were very credible.

[Rachel Paris · Rating 5 out of 5]

'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.

[Melissa Gibson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one just did not do it for me at all.

[Sonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Caron King · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Mags Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Difficult at first with all the characters at once trying to distinguish who was who. Second half was a better read. There was punch for me.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a thriller that provides a lot of social commentary on lots of different areas: the collective trauma experienced from COVID; the harmful return to misogynistic values with the trad-wife trend; the potential for harm in the pursuit of wellness; and the healing power of feminine friendships.

I found myself enjoying some character’s perspectives more than others. I sympathised with those whose home life was overwhelming and they were just looking for a place to belong.

My struggle with this book was the representation of a child and neurodivergence. There was also an event involving that child that had me put the book down and taking a moment before I could continue.

Definitely one to read and then ponder on after. Please do look online for trigger warnings if you are sensitive to certain topics.

Thanks so much to Allen and Unwin NZ for gifting me a copy to review!