Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

I have been surprised by how many books I have come across that fulfill this prompt. Expected it to be difficult but many more options than I expected. Even in books I was reading for something else - just never noticed before I guess.

"Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up" by Alexandra Potter

I started reading The Mermaid That Came Between Them, which was supposed to be about a mermaid on her last egg, which I guess is the mermaid equivalent of menopause. But the book disappeared online so I couldn't finish. Then I read Hometown Ties . The first book in the series had some menopause discussion so I thought this one would too. It was about a page. But I refuse to read a third book.

I'm halfway through The Change by Kirsten Miller, and I am loving it!

I finished The Change by Kirsten Miller, and I think this is the contender for best book I've read in 2025!
I loved each of 3 MCs, and found each of them relatable in their own. Ngl, Harriet is my spirit animal and/or my patron saint. The plot is gripping, and it was hard to put down. Not necessarily an easy read, as there are some trigger warnings, but the plot is masterful.

How great is it that there are books that finally center menopause and its gifts! I don't know many qallunat who looked forward to menstruating, but in our culture, there were gifts to be acquired and earned. I knew I would be what Western culture call "psychic", and while I did not really know what that would entail, I knew it was good, and I knew I wanted it. Menarche surpassed my hopes.

While we honor the wisdom that comes with menopause, we don't have the same centering of the gifts we shall receive.
I just wanted to crawl into this novel, and, if not live there, stay for a long while.

Lilith, I am definitely considering reading that book for this prompt. I'm almost done with her newest release, Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books, and I agree, her plotting, characters and pacing are excellent!

HAH - I'm reading this now too Jennifer! I loved The Change on audio last year and giggling along to her newest. This author has a knack for snark.

Jennifer W wrote: "Lilith, I am definitely considering reading that book for this prompt. I'm almost done with her newest release, Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books, and I agree, her plottin..."

Jennifer, it's such a worthwhile book! I will definitely check out the Lula Dean title. I really enjoyed Miller's writing style, and she builds marvelous relatable characters.

Britany wrote: "HAH - I'm reading this now too Jennifer! I loved The Change on audio last year and giggling along to her newest. This author has a knack for snark."

Britany, I am a new Kirsten Miller fan ! I hope to read her new title soon. Just have some holds to finish first.

Lilith wrote: "Britany wrote: "HAH - I'm reading this now too Jennifer! I loved The Change on audio last year and giggling along to her newest. This author has a knack for snark."

Britany, I am a new [author:Kir..."

Yes! If I don't get to The Change this year, it will definitely be one I get to at some point because I thoroughly enjoyed Lula Dean!

Sasha wrote: "I'm going to read The New Moon's Arms by Nalo Hopkinson for this. The central character is a grandmother in her 50s going through the menopause, which I can very much re..."

I just finished this and really enjoyed it. It weaves in Afro-Caribbean folklore in very evocative ways, and I did relate strongly to the menopausal character. There is just one episode where she behaves extremely offensively to another character, which was difficult to read and did not feel entirely necessary. Other than that, it was really, really good, and I'm glad I read it. I've only read short stories by Hopkinson in the past, but I've now added a few more of her novels to my TBR.

I read Sandwich

I thought I'd found some good titles here but I have discovered that they aren't available in my country and they are too expensive to order so I'm back to my starting point - what will I read for this prompt?!

Sherri wrote: "I read Sandwich"

That's what I read too! My library wait list on All Fours was too long and they don't have The Change or Nine Perfect Strangers. It's certainly not going to be my favorite book this year, but it wasn't bad and it was a very quick read.

I’m planning on reading the graphic novel The Change by Whoopi Goldberg for this prompt.

I ended up reading Menopause, Moon Magic, & Cursed Kisses. The main character comes into her magic once she enters menopause. Was pretty entertaining and if you want a quick read, this fits.

I read How to Age Disgracefully Clare Pooley

I am reading Menopause: A Comic Treatment. The blurb reads, "Featuring works by a host of pioneering and up-and-coming comics artists, Menopause is a perfect foil to the simplistic, cheap-joke approach society at large has taken to this much-derided women's health issue. Readers will revel in the sly humor and universal truths found here."

While browsing a book sale, I saw this: It's Getting Hot in Here. It looks like it's more of a romantic comedy than most of what I've run across.

Hangovers and Hot Flashes by Kim Gruenenfelder is fun and funnyHangovers & Hot Flashes

So, the book I just finished, The Martian Contingency = #4 in Mary Robinette Kowal's Lady Astronaut series - surprised me with the fact that the POV character is in the early stages of menopause.

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf - and only 168 pages. I was surprised to discover that menopause was one of this classic's themes, though since it was published in 1925, that word is never mentioned, nor described all that bluntly. Excellent depiction on how differently it was viewed and treated tgen, vs. how much better today.

I just discovered that tbe mystery I am reading has a character going through menopause - Little Tiny Teeth by Aaron Elkins.

That's the 2nd in a row ... what are tbe chances? The first was Mrs. Dalloway which can now get switched back to the original prompt intended - classic never read.

Haven't read it, but ran across a series about menopausal superheroes by Samantha Bryant. First book is Going Through the Change, and it sounds like fun.

Just read Sandwich by Catherine Newman and I really enjoyed it. It had me giggling and crying.

Currently reading The Change by Kirsten Miller. pretty good so far!

This is a super nasty and difficult prompt that I'm questioning the phrasing of. The phrase "going through menopause" means that first year in a biological female's life when they don't menstrate (after, of course, they start). To me, for a book in that year, it has to be a core theme of the book. I'm half wondering if the intention was "been through menopause" encouraging reading older characters.

You could twist the theme and use a transmasc character. They have been through menopause in their way but the side effects and emotions are very different. I am that person that tutors and lecturers hated btw for my ability to twist tasks and assignments to my will.

I read The Madwoman in the Volvo: My Year of Raging Hormones by Sandra Tsing Loh.

I'm currently listening to The Revenge Club. Even if I DNF it I will be counting it. DNFing isn't out of the question, I can see Kathy Lette's voice becoming grating.

Edit: I don't recommend reading The Revenge Club. It has a really poor relationship with gender identity, presentation and pronouns. I see it as insulting to the lgbtq+ community to not at least acknowledge the conflict, especially given the careers the characters are in.

Finished Sandwich by Catherine Newman

My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Hey friends - does City of Girls mention menopause?

Trish wrote: "So, the book I just finished, The Martian Contingency = #4 in Mary Robinette Kowal's Lady Astronaut series - surprised me with the fact that the POV character is in the early stage..."
THANK YOU! I've been struggling to find a book I actually wanted to read for this. Martian Contingency is on my TBR, and I actually started a re-listen of the series yesterday! <3

Fun fact: Mary Robinette Kowal is also a puppeteer and voice actor, so she does her own audiobook narration.