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Reviews
The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center by Rhaina Cohen
aduchene's review
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
I enjoyed the exploration of other types of families, probably because that is my life right now. It was helpful to hear about other people that have chosen platonic life partners and how their lives developed and what it looked like because there were similarities but yet everything was so unique. It makes me angry that our court system and laws value marriage and tying lives together more with that than for people that live together and cohabitate and coparent forever but never marry. It is amazing what one piece of paper can change for mutual benefits (or not)
I think there needs to be more representation of these platonic all encompassing friendship relationships. I think Firefly Lane slightly shows this with Tully and Kate even though Kate also gets married. Tully is still her ride or die, in a way a lot of people don’t maintain after entering into a romantic relationship.
I think there needs to be more representation of these platonic all encompassing friendship relationships. I think Firefly Lane slightly shows this with Tully and Kate even though Kate also gets married. Tully is still her ride or die, in a way a lot of people don’t maintain after entering into a romantic relationship.
bumblero's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This came at the exact right time for me. I found this book from the Multiamory podcast and am so glad I gave it a read. It spoke to so many of the yearnings I’ve had in past friendships for something more intentional/committed, and has now given me some of the perspective I needed to approach those moving forward. I thought the talk about marriage and legally-sanctioned partnerships was lengthier than it needed to be, but I appreciate the author was trying to connect the book to more systemic issues. I would have also liked to see more inclusion of queer and trans perspectives since that’s where a lot of chosen family is these days.
lexistwick's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
This is a journalistic book, an informative and inspiring compilation of research and case studies written by a journalist who has experienced the lifechanging intimacy of a platonic partner and friend - despite also being married - and sets out to find similar stories and thus illuminate the condition of friendship and partnership as it is now in our society and culture. Like any well-researched nonfiction, it includes complex dynamics and characters whose roles aren't necessarily straightforward. Life isn't like a novel, where everyone has a defined and symbiotic role within a romantic heterosexual and monogamous society.
It follows all kinds of partnerships not described neatly by marriage and romantic devotion, and there are a lot. This book does a great job of highlighting how prevalent these "non-normative" relationships are in our world, how necessary they are to our survival and thriving, and how limiting marriage is as the sole legal institution for partnership. Down with marriage, up with friendship!
It follows all kinds of partnerships not described neatly by marriage and romantic devotion, and there are a lot. This book does a great job of highlighting how prevalent these "non-normative" relationships are in our world, how necessary they are to our survival and thriving, and how limiting marriage is as the sole legal institution for partnership. Down with marriage, up with friendship!