An interesting connection of short stories written by Australian author Lucy Nelson about women and their relationship with motherhood - women who have had children, who want or don't want children, who are unable to have children and those who have not been faced with the opportunity to have them.

I loved that these stories were set in Australia - while this isn't obvious, there are subtle references which allude to the setting . The unique, bold stories are character-driven, capturing the emotions and circumstances of the protagonists well. My favourites include:
📖Chances Are, We Were High As Kites - elderly sisters make a pact regarding their deaths

📖 Wait Here - a woman sitting in the waiting room to see her therapist creates stories to avoid what she's there to talk about - the loss of her baby

📖Ghost Baby - a woman sees her baby everywhere and imagines the baby's life, after choosing to undergo a termination

📖I Am 5, I Am 12, I Am 20 - a woman considers the possibility of motherhood at various stages of her life

I really enjoyed Wait Here. It’s a quiet, reflective book that leans more into emotional depth and character than plot — but that’s what made it stand out. The writing is subtle and tender, capturing what it feels like to be caught in that strange space of not knowing what comes next.

I especially liked that it’s set in Australia. Even though the story doesn’t focus heavily on the landscape, the Australian setting still felt present in the tone and environment — and as an Australian reader, it was nice to see that kind of familiar backdrop and cultural detail woven into the story.

At times the pacing was a bit slow, but it suited the feeling of the book. It’s one of those reads that asks you to sit in the stillness and reflect. If you’re into character-driven stories that explore emotional uncertainty with quiet strength, this one’s definitely worth picking up.