A middle age reading round up

I've been reading books about menopause for perhaps obvious reasons but I'm also interested in transformations at this age/stage of life (sometimes called “coming-of-rage” books). I’ve been talking with friends and colleagues about changing and making changes, and was inspired to put together this reading list – and invite your recommendations.

These are books I got something out of or enjoyed reading. What would you add?

(updated October 6, 2024)

LInking to Amazon so you can “look inside” or “read sample.”

Nonfiction about Menopause from Medical Experts

• The New Rules of Menopause: A Mayo Clinic Guide to Perimenopause and Beyond by Stephanie Faubion

• The New Menpause: Navigating Your Path Through Hormonal Change with Purpose, Power, and Facts by Mary Claire Haver

• The Menopause Brain: New Science Empowers Women to Navigate the Pivotal Transition with Knowledge and Confidence by Lisa Mosconi

• The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism by Jen Gunther

Nonfiction about Menopause

• Wise Power: Discover the Liberating Power of Menopause to Awaken Authority, Purpose and Belonging by Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer

• This one was a little too woo-woo for me (if you can’t get on board with their term “menstruality” you won’t like this book) but I did like Part III that broke down the “mystery of menopause” into phases

• Hagitude: Reimagining the Second Half of Life by Sharon Blackie

• Break of Day by Colette

• Flash Count Diary: Menopause and the Vindication of Natural Life by Darcy Steinke

• Second Spring: The Self-Care Guide to Menopause by Kate Codrington

• Hot and Bothered: What No One Tells You About Menopause and How to Feel Like Yourself Again by Jancee Dunn

Nonfiction about Women and Transformations

• Women and Power: A Manifesto by Mary Beard

• Pandora’s Jar: Women in the Greek Myths by Natalie Haynes

• Women and Other Monsters: Building a New Mythology by Jess Zimmerman

Novels About Transformation

• Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes

• When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill

• The Harpy by Megan Hunter

• Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder

• Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth (note: feminist horror)

• Come Closer by Sara Gran (note: horror)

• The Change by Kirsten Miller

• Mary: An Awakening of Terror by Nat Cassidy (note: horror)

Novels with Middle-Age or Better Female Protagonists

• Queen Bee by Ciara Geraghty

• The Change by Kirsten Miller

• The Society of Shame by Jane Roper

• Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

• Death in Her Hands by Ottessa Moshfegh

• An Elderly Lady is Uo to No Good and An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed by Helene Tursten

• Mary: An Awakening of Terror by Nat Cassidy (note: horror novel)

• Neena Lee is Seeing Things by Sheila Athens

• The Mystery of the Smoldering Mattress by Kathryn Crabtree

I would love to hear about books you’ve encountered along these lines that you enjoyed!