Book Review: “The Girlfriend’s Guide to Menopause”

​If you were pregnant in the late ‘90s or early 2000s, chances are you remember The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy. It was relatable, honest, and surprisingly helpful. I devoured it when I was expecting my boys, and I think there were follow-ups for babies and toddlers too.

So when I saw The Girlfriend’s Guide to Menopause, I was hopeful. This next phase of life deserves the same kind of support, right? Unfortunately, no. I was seriously disappointed.

I’m currently on page 87 and painfully pushing through. It’s not that it’s hard to read. It’s just lacking any real value. The content is light on substance, heavy on fluffy anecdotes and corny one-liners.

A few examples:

• “Night sweats may dampen the sheets, but they cannot dampen your spirit.”

• “When hot flashes hit, it’s like my body’s got its own personal summer vacation itinerary.”

• “Every sneeze becomes a surprise party.”

It’s trying to be funny and relatable, and maybe a few lines are, but overall it just falls flat. It’s not informative, not comprehensive, and not useful.

What makes it even more frustrating is that this book was written in 2024, after the release of The New Menopause by Dr. Mary Claire Haver in 2023. That book is grounded in research and packed with practical information. There’s no excuse for skipping the science, the stats, or the reality of what women are actually going through. This new Girlfriend’s Guide completely misses the mark.

Bottom line: if you’re looking for real guidance, skip the fluff. Read The New Menopause. It’s empowering, data-driven, and actually helpful, everything this book should have been.