The Other Significant Others (Pre-order June 17, 2025)

PRE-ORDER FOR JUNE 17, 2025

The Other Significant Others by Rhaina Cohen
👯♀️ A groundbreaking exploration of deep platonic partnerships and the power of friendship to fulfill, sustain, and redefine our most meaningful connections.

Why are friendships so often considered secondary to romance? In The Other Significant Others, NPR journalist Rhaina Cohen challenges the cultural script that elevates romantic love above all else—and uncovers the quiet revolution led by people who’ve built their lives around committed, non-romantic partnerships.

Drawing on years of original reporting, personal interviews, and social science research, Cohen profiles individuals from diverse backgrounds who have chosen close friends as life partners. From co-parents to caregivers, chosen families to soul-deep companions, these stories illuminate how friendship can provide the intimacy, stability, and joy we’re taught to seek only in romance.

At a time of increasing loneliness and shifting relationship norms, The Other Significant Others is a powerful call to reimagine connection and ask ourselves: What if friendship was never secondary?

Why readers love The Other Significant Others:

💬 A thought-provoking look at friendship, love, and societal expectations
📖 Rich, real-life stories that defy romantic conventions
🧠 Insightful blend of narrative journalism and social science
❤️ Perfect for anyone rethinking what makes a fulfilling life

Perfect for fans of:
All About Love by bell hooks, Platonic by Marisa G. Franco, Bittersweet by Susan Cain, and readers exploring chosen family, non-traditional partnerships, and modern connection.

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