5 Books Every Woman Should Read Before, During, and After Menopause
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Have you ever wondered why nobody prepared us for what menopause actually feels like? Are you trying to understand the changes happening in your body—or prepare before they begin? And wouldn’t it be wonderful to find honest answers, practical guidance, and a few good laughs along the way?
These five books bring together science, personal stories, expert advice, and much-needed humor for every stage of the journey—from perimenopause to menopause and the bold years beyond.
Why Buy Books Instead of Relying on the Internet?
I use the internet for almost everything, and I love how easy it makes my life. However, when it comes to menopause, one quick search can leave you more confused than when you started.
One article tells you hormone therapy is wonderful. The next one warns you about it. Then, before you know it, someone is promising to make you feel 25 again with a supplement that comes in a beige bottle. You know the one.
So, a good book written by a qualified author is a great start. However, you should check its publication date because new breakthroughs in medicine emerge constantly.
How We Chose These Books. We selected these titles based on their relevance to perimenopause and menopause, author expertise where applicable, reader feedback, recent popularity, and their ability to offer useful information, honest experiences, or much-needed humor. Inclusion does not necessarily mean every book was personally read in full unless otherwise stated.
Books Every Woman Should Read Before, During, and After Menopause
1. The New Perimenopause
by Mary Claire Haver, MD
Best for: Before menopause
This book was published in April 7, 2026, and I think it’s the newest science-focused book choice about menopause. Actually, it is already a New York Times bestseller. It was written by a board-certified OB-GYN and certified menopause provider.
The book covers all those crazy early symptoms, such as brain fog, sleep, mood, joint discomfort, sexual health, cycle changes, progesterone therapy, and all the questions women can bring to their doctors.
It’s super useful because menopause symptoms can appear while we still have our periods regularly. So beginning around age 35 is the right time to read this book.
2. How to Menopause
by Tamsen Fadal
Best for: During menopause
Next we have How to Menopause by Tamsen Fadal who Published it in March 2025, and not surprise this book became an instant New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller.
What I love is that the book combines Tamsen Fadal’s personal experience with guidance from 42 specialists, including menopause physicians, neuroscientists, sleep doctors, and relationship experts. The Hachette Book Group.
It’s so easy to read mostly because the book’s tone is accessible and conversational—more like receiving excellent advice from an informed friend than opening a medical textbook.
3. The Official We Do Not Care Club Handbook
by Melani Sanders
Best for: Menopause and beyond—and definitely the funniest
Published January 13, 2026, this incredible book grew from Sanders’s viral “We Do Not Care Club” movement. She built an audience of roughly two million Instagram followers by humorously describing the moment midlife women run out of energy for impossible expectations, unnecessary guilt, shaving schedules, and everyone else’s nonsense.
Its subtitle says it beautifully:
“A Hot-Mess Guide for Women in Perimenopause, Menopause, and Beyond Who Are Over It.”
Excellent combination of humor, solidarity, survival advice, and the glorious liberation of no longer caring about things that never deserved our cortisol.
4. Dare I Say It
by Naomi Watts
Best for: Honest stories, reassurance, and celebrity candor
Published in January 2025, and its paperback released in February 2026. Yay!
This precious became a New York Times bestseller. Why? Because Naomi Watts combines her experience with early menopause, funny and vulnerable stories, and guidance from doctors and hormone specialists. Mary Claire Haver, MD, wrote the foreword.
The book covers questions women may hesitate to ask aloud: hormone therapy, sleep, libido, skin changes, confidence, identity, and whether they will ever feel like themselves again.
5. Hormone Havoc
by Amy Shah, MD
Best for: Sleep, energy, metabolism, and practical health strategies
My favorite book this year. It was published February 24, 2026, and it is one of the newest menopause books currently available. Its full subtitle is:
Hormone Havoc: A Science-Backed Protocol for Perimenopause and Menopause—Sleep Better. Think Better. Feel Better.
The book concentrates on symptoms that often collide during the transition, including poor sleep, brain fog, changing energy, gut health, and metabolic changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best books about menopause?
I would say The New Perimenopause, How to Menopause, and Hormone Havoc. They offer science-backed guidance. Book such as Dare I Say It and The Official We Do Not Care Club Handbook bring personal stories and the humor we all need.
When should I start reading about menopause?
I would start before symptoms appear; ideally in your late 30s or early 40s. It’s so important to understand perimenopause early, because it can help you recognize changes and prepare questions for your doctor.
Are menopause books a substitute for medical advice?
No. I think books would help you understand symptoms and all treatment options, but all your personal medical decisions should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional. There is a reason why they studied for 10 years.
Are these books helpful after menopause?
Yes, definitely. These books also address long-term health, changing relationships, emotional well-being, confidence, and the life after the menopausal transition. Very important points.
Menopause can feel confusing. I think that happens because no one told us what to expect. I guess that it's because our moms were too busy dealing with their bodies, right?
These books will not have every single answer. However, I believe they definitely help us understand our bodies. We can ask better questions of the health provider. Some of these books will show the science. Some books give personal stories, and others will help us laugh. Trust me, laughter is the best medicine for a hormonal mess.
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Medical disclaimer: This collection is for informational purposes only. Books about menopause cannot replace personalized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional.
Affiliate disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links, Midlife Accent may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
