Rosen published an essay in Catapult in 2022 about shedding the shame of adult children living with parents, which sparked her exploration of communal living in the anthology Living, Together: Reimagining Community in the Age of Disconnection.

The anthology features examples from Bed Stuy Strong founder Sarah Thankam Mathews, Rhaina Cohen, and Jonathan Escoffery, illustrating diverse paths to communal living and support networks.

Rosen’s family has embraced multigenerational living, with her parents downsizing to Penn Valley in 2025 and Rosen moving nearby, highlighting practical economic and social considerations of non-nuclear living.

Rosen notes that communal living can be enduring or seasonal and seeks to present both benefits and challenges, not just the positives.

The article situates the anthology amid a broader trend away from traditional nuclear families, citing Pew Research data showing a decline in 25- to 49-year-olds living with a spouse and children from 1970 to today.

Rosen will discuss her book at Head & the Hand in Philadelphia on Aug. 22 as part of Hot Debut Summer, with the book available in digital and print formats.

Her personal experience contrasts with stigma around nontraditional living, illustrating a cultural shift toward interdependence and community-minded lifestyles.

Living, Together gathers 22 American writers who examine non-nuclear living arrangements—multigenerational households, cohousing, and living with friends—focusing on building community and chosen family.

Samantha Paige Rosen left a high-pressure Bethesda job to live with her parents in Bala Cynwyd, a move she says saved her mental health and influenced her later work.