So Hot Right Now: Authors Taking on Perimenopause and Menopause

Perimenopause and menopause is a hot topic right now, especially in the world of books. This situation has been heating up for a few years now — in 2022, global publisher HarperCollins declared that it was on the hunt for works that dig deep into this life stage, seeking tales that described menopausal women as they really are: “smart, funny, powerful characters who are liberated, walk tall and fight back”. Laura Wilson, book critic from the Guardian, even gave it a name: “hot-flush noir”. 

While some may still talk about menopause in hushed tones or ominous euphemisms (e.g. ‘The Change’ is a classic of this genre), a long list of authors are encouraging people to be loud about their experiences. It’s refreshing to see. It’s almost as if this part of our lifelong biological journey is worthy of our consideration and care. Imagine that. 

So, in celebrating women and gender diverse folks in all their complexity and lived experience, here’s a shortlist of recent books that elevate perimenopause and menopause to a central plot point: 

All Fours by Miranda July (Allen & Unwin, 2024)

All Fours has to be the unofficial book club favourite of 2024; everyone has either read it and can’t stop talking about it or is about to read it. Written by bestselling author Miranda July, this is a novel about turning your life upside down in search of yourself. Maybe it’s a midlife crisis, maybe it’s perimenopause, but whatever it is, the central character seeks to be seen, to play with the boundaries of intimacy, and create a new narrative for herself, beyond the confines of gender and motherhood. Wryly funny, thoughtful and sexy, this is definitely a must-read. 

Beatrix and Fred by Emily Spurr  (Text Publishing, 2023)

A warm and funny second novel from Australian author Emily Spurr, musing on love, loneliness and ageing. As the back cover reads: “Beatrix & Fred is an off-kilter love story wrapped in a satisfying layer of moral complexity and tied up with a ribbon of sheer fun”. The Weekend Australian called it “one the most unique and curious novels of 2023, and that is precisely what makes it one of the best.” Highly recommended.

Broken Light by Joanne Harris (Hatchette, 2023)

Written by UK novelist Joanne Harris, Broken Light takes inspiration from Stephen King’s seminal horror text Carrie. Penned when she was undergoing chemotherapy, Harris shifts the premise to give the main character the power of telekinesis as she moves through menopause (horror fans will remember that in King’s novel, it was puberty that triggered such forces in Carrie). Part magical realism, part tale of feminist rage and revenge, Broken Light is a reimagining of the world as we know it.

Amazing Grace Adams by Fran Littlewood (Penguin, 2024)

Amazing Grace Adams is a debut novel from UK writer Fran Littlewood, boldly taking the reader on a trip through a day in the life of a middle aged woman. She’s angry, bewildered by her hormones, feels the loss of her ‘old self’ keenly, and her life is coming apart at the seams. Inspired by the 1993 Michael Douglas film, Falling Down, Amazing Grace Adams is about persevering, even when it feels as though society — and your body — are conspiring against you.

The Change by Kirsten Miller (William Morrow, 2022)

Another entry in the vein of feminist-fantasy-rage-revenge tales, The Change is the story of three women in their forties who also develop super powers with the onset of menopause. Sharply satirical and fast-paced, US novelist Kirsten Miller deftly weaves together themes of crime, sexism, and ageing into a satisfying narrative.

If you’re still hungry for more, here are a few other brilliant reads that explore the complexity of midlife and beyond:

• Fried Green Tomatoes and the Whistle Stop Café by Fannie Flagg
• The Color Purple by Alice Walker
• Hot Mother by Nancy Peach 
• How Hard Can it Be? By Allison Pearson
• Hormones, Hexes and Exes by J.C Blake 
• What Would LaVonda Robinette Do? By Kirsten Maron
• Overgrown by Betsy Price

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Want to continue the conversation?

Join us on Friday 18 October 2024 for a free lunch webinar, ‘The Second Spring: Navigating Perimenopause and Menopause’ with Jane Bennett (Menstrual educator and author, WorkCycle); Prof Jayashri Kulkarni (professor of psychiatry, Monash University) and journalist Gina Rushton (moderator).

Moderated by journalist and author Gina Rushton, our panel will explore the silence surrounding these topics, examining how societal perceptions impact individual experiences, and focusing on the theme for World Menopause Day 2024: hormone therapy.

How important is reproductive leave? Is it possible to break the taboo and focus on wellbeing? And what role does our mindset play?

Speakers: 

• Jane Bennett author, facilitator, menstrual and menopausal educator, WorkCycle
• Prof Jayashri Kulkarni professor of psychiatry, Monash University
• Moderator: Gina Rushton, journalist, reporter and author

Panel discussion to be followed by a short Q&A. Bring a cuppa and your curiosity, and join us for a wide ranging discussion about this pivotal life stage. Register now.