{"product_id":"instead-by-maria-coffey-9781771606400","title":"Instead","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA compelling memoir about opting for adventure instead of motherhood, and the lifelong outcomes of that choice.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eInstead\u003c\/em\u003e captures Maria Coffey's adventurous life through her biggest decisions along the way, including the decision not to have children. It's a vivid travelogue, a love story, and a personal commentary on the risks and rewards of choosing unconventional paths.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAfter two traumatic experiences during her twenties—a near-drowning in Morocco and her boyfriend's death on Mount Everest—Maria determines to seize every day and explore the world. Mixed with her desire for freedom is a new fear of loss, which convinces her against parenthood. She falls in love with Dag, who shares her dreams, and they begin creating a life of adventure. There is one snag: he wants children and thinks they could include them in their wild exploits.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eInstead\u003c\/em\u003e follows Maria's trajectory as she shares her guilt-ridden relationship with her Irish Catholic mother; her baby debates with Dag in unlikely situations, like kayaking through a storm; the doubts that rear up in remote cultures where her childfree choice is unfathomable; and how children eventually—and surprisingly—come into her life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAn adventure story with a unique twist, \u003cem\u003eInstead\u003c\/em\u003e tackles the universal themes of choice and consequence, agency versus fate. It is a must read for anyone curious about stepping off the beaten track, and a testament to the power of being open to the unexpected.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46844137046252,"sku":"9781771606400","price":57.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/21107783482818.jpg?v=1758828065","url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/products\/instead-by-maria-coffey-9781771606400","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}