By Womaness Editors 5-Minute Read
In a world where talking about menopause can feel taboo and a society that can make being a woman—especially an aging one—emotionally exhausting, we are so thankful we have books to expand our minds, lift our spirits, and help us connect with deeper parts of ourselves. Whether you're looking for a laugh, answers, solidarity, or a good story, here are ten (more) menopause must-read books to check out now. For more book recs, catch up on our original list of menopause recommended reading right here.
1. Life Makeover: Embrace the Bold, Beautiful, and Blessed You by Dominique Sachse
Embracing your beauty from the outside in? Yes, you read that right! But news anchor turned YouTuber Dominique Sachse doesn’t want you to stop with your outward appearance. Instead, she shows you how to makeover your hair, makeup, and wardrobe to spark a full inner transformation as well, giving you a renewed sense of boldness, confidence, and joy. Sign us up.
2. I'll Show Myself Out: Essays on Midlife and Motherhood by Jessi Klein
You’ll laugh and you’ll cry. But mostly, you’ll laugh. This long-awaited essay collection from comedian Jessi Klein (you might know her if you’ve seen the shows Inside Amy Schumer, Dead to Me, and Transparent), explores the cultural expectations women face from motherhood to midlife in a relatable, moving, and side-splitting way.
3. The Upgrade: How the Female Brain Gets Stronger and Better in Midlife and Beyond by Louann Brizendine
This is just the book we need to change the game and turn ageism on its head. In this completely new outlook on menopause, Dr. Louann Brizendine shows you how to harness the untapped potential of the aging female brain. You might be used to hearing a narrative of brain fog in menopause—but get used to hearing a completely new story on why your brain is BETTER than ever in midlife and beyond.
"Get used to hearing a completely new story on why your brain is BETTER than ever in midlife and beyond."
4. Midlife Bites: Anyone Else Falling Apart, Or Is It Just Me? by Jen Mann
The author of the popular blog People I Want to Punch in the Throat is back with a collection of hilarious essays about being a middle-aged woman. In Midlife Bites, Jen Mann tackles everything from rogue chin hairs to sex after forty to finding your purpose. If you're looking for a funny, relatable read, this is it.
5. What Fresh Hell Is This?: Perimenopause, Menopause, Other Indignities, and You by Heather Corinna
They've done it again. Heather Corinna, the award-winning author of S.E.X., brings us the long overdue inclusive, feminist guide to menopause (as seen in a cameo on the hit series Black-ish). Their straightforward style makes this an enjoyable and easy read and is perfect for anyone who wants to be better informed about this stage of life—and, frankly, more empowered.
6. Still Hot!: 42 Brilliantly Honest Menopause Stories by Kaye Adams & Vicky Allan
The big M—menopause—is the common thread that ties together 42 stories of total honesty in this book. No one's menopause experience is the same, and Still Hot! is the perfect showcase of the bizarre, frustrating, subtle ways menopause impacts one person to another.
"This menopause memoir has us feeling like we're hanging out with a kindred spirit."
7. Older and Wider: A Survivor's Guide to the Menopause by Jenny Eclair
Unapologetic, funny, endearing, and authentic. This menopause memoir has us feeling like we're hanging out with a kindred spirit. If Jenny Eclair can make it through menopause, so can we! In between the more serious reads about what you can do to live with your symptoms, you might need something that can give you a laugh right now. And that’s exactly what you'll find in this lighthearted book.
8. Face: One Square Foot of Skin by Justine Bateman
Face explores the shame that many women feel as they age in our society through the lens of a series of fictional vignettes about women in varying stages and life circumstances. Justine Bateman (yup, Mallory from Family Ties) challenges the idea that women's faces need fixing—and offers validation and solidarity for every woman who has started to feel invisible during her later years.
9. Did I Say That Out Loud?: Midlife Indignities and How to Survive Them by Kristin Van Ogtrop
Our co-founder Michelle gives a copy of this book to all her friends. Here’s why. “This book by the former editor of Real Simple is hilarious and perfect for where my friends are in their lives today (midlife!). I give it to those who’ve raised a family and juggled a crazy job at the same time. For new moms, I still offer up Kristin’s first book, Just Let Me Lie Down, as one of the best working-mom books I’ve ever read.”
10. The Change: A Novel by Kirsten Miller
For fans of Big Little Lies and stories with a touch of stardust, this novel explores menopause as a supernatural power for its main characters. The trio—Nessa, Harriet, and Jo—are all undergoing big life changes (and the transition into menopause, which in this case, comes along with superpowers), and are faced with the chance to solve a major mystery in their coastal beach town. Maybe not as relatable as some of the other reads, but we can't wait to read this one coming out in May. Book club, anyone?
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The Stages of Menopause
