Necessary to Life

Vilified by the media for her outspoken non-monogamous lifestyle, Louisa Leontiades is, unbeknownst to the outside world, being defeated by mundanity. Four years of caring for toddlers and living in tracksuits has left her anxious, exhausted, and virtually celibate. Her partner, Morten, falls in love with Yasmin, whose family will never allow their relationship unless he leaves Louisa. Louisa falls for Janus, a terminal cancer patient looking for a mother for his children before he dies. As Louisa and Morten seem poised to be torn apart, Louisa learns she has a potentially fatal tumour. Should she start a family with Janus (if she lives)? Would Yasmin make a good stepmother for her children (if she dies)? Necessary to Life takes an unflinching look at the importance of seizing the moment and the costs of following your heart.

“Louisa weaves her own transformative tale of loving in such intense but vastly different ways. Her struggles led her to better, but it was only through taking the unmarked path... Louisa shines only because she has become transparent. Despite her anxiety, she continually seeks to stretch towards the sun.” —from the foreword by Michón Neal

"Won INDIES silver award for autobiography and memoir." —www.forewordreviews.com

Louisa Leontiades is a contributor to Huffington Post, Salon, Nerve, Jezebel and the Guardian. Originally from the United Kingdom, she lives in Sweden.