[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book releases next week on May 25, 2021.]
Summary and Review
This is a straight-talking exploration of menopause from the author of The Vagina Bible. The author is an OB/GYN who has gone through the menopause transition, so she has both personal experience as well as professional. She covers everything from the history of the thinking about menopause to the biological processes and common symptoms and also the not-so-obvious health changes associated with aging and the hormonal changes of menopause.
The thing I appreciated most about this was the feeling that I was sitting down for coffee with someone who would pull no punches, but who also had no agenda. The author very clearly calls out the darker, bleaker parts of women’s health and the patriarchy. I loved that honesty (although the information was also infuriating). And while the medical pieces may feel technical at times there is also some humor to balance it out.
This is too technical to be a “favorite” book for me, but at the same time it feels perfectly positioned to be read by millions of people who menstruate – those approaching middle age and wondering what’s coming, those in the transition wondering what’s normal, and those who have reached menopause who are now considering how it will impact their future health. This could be the weirdest, or the most brilliant, book club selection ever! If you are “of a certain age,” I recommend you pick this one up! (Some language, frank conversation about biology and biological processes)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*
*♥♥♥♥½ = Excellent resource