Seed is a warm, funny and deeply relatable debut from the publishers of Marian Keyes and Dolly Alderton.
Seed is a warm, funny and deeply relatable debut from the publishers of Marian Keyes and Dolly Alderton. Following four women as they juggle friendship, ambition, desire and the sometimes-messy pursuit of motherhood, it’s a story packed with moments we’ve all witnessed, either first-hand or from afar.
While fertility and motherhood sit at the heart of the novel, Seed isn’t a guidebook on reproductive health. Instead, it delivers big laughs, honest conversations and a few moments that hit unexpectedly close to home - making it an ideal pick for your next book club.
Discussion points and questions
- Which moments in the novel made you laugh the most? Which moments struck you as the saddest and why?
- Of the four women, Hillary, Maggie, Shelley and Virginia, who did you relate to most? What made their story resonate with you?
- If you could give one piece of advice to any of the four women, what would it be?
- The novel is described as “raw, hilarious and lifelike”. Did it feel true to your own experiences of female friendship or motherhood?
- Think about a time when your own friendships were tested by life’s ‘choppy waters’. How did you navigate those moments? Did anything in the book reflect your experiences?
- All four women use coping mechanisms, from running and knitting to dating apps, denial or a glass of wine. Which were helpful, and which held them back?
- Fertility, whether it was wanted, unwanted, delayed, or complicated, is threaded through the story. How did the novel shape or expand your understanding of fertility-related pressures?
- Virginia’s journey seeking motherhood was particularly unconventional. Describe how it made you feel - empathy, frustration, high levels of cringe?
- Shelley’s return to work and Maggie’s co-parenting/dating life both explore modern family structures. How did you respond to these depictions?
- How did you feel about the male characters and the way they coped with things that were beyond their control?
- What do you think happens next for these characters?
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