In this coming-of-old-age story, when 52-year-old Lyndsey Barnes abruptly snaps and quits her job, she finds herself unwittingly stepping aboard a menopause-fueled roller coaster that she clings to for dear life as it plummets to the depths of despair and through life’s twists and turns. It’s not until she trades the rainy Pacific Northwest for the sun-kissed shores of the U.S. Virgin Islands that she discovers what she’s been missing—a progressive and informed doctor, a network of supportive friends and mentors, and the memory of long-lost dreams. With these keys, she’s able to unlock repressed trauma that has held her back, and with a newfound belief in herself, she redefines her “Third Act,” using youthful aspirations to propel her to the pinnacle of life. I must say, I enjoyed every page of this novel by M E Lange. Why? Well, it's different. Different in so much as it's not only a well-written, emotive, family drama, but it also looks at menopause and how it impacts the life of the protagonist. It's the story of a woman who's at a crossroads in life, not just in her family life with her husband Connor, but in her work life, perfectly illustrated by the fact she told her boss to, "Go f*** himself." And underlying this story is the unrelenting impact of menopause on her life - irritability and mood swings, feeling depressed, digestive problems, etc. - it's a very long list. There's a lot to enjoy here, folks. As an insight into the problems women face during menopause, it's highly enlightening. So much so, I'd recommend this book to women who suspect it's on the horizon for them. It might help them to better prepare! Also, for partners of women with menopause, this novel could be an eyeopener, helping them to know what the 'sufferer' - don't know if that's the politically correct word - is going through and, as a result, be better prepared to help them and understand what's happening. There's also the drama element to the story: the protagonist's problems with her husband, her feelings towards work and what she wants to do next, and her wonderful bond with her daughter. This, in itself, is interesting and highly absorbing. So, if you happen to enjoy well-written, character-led dramas with a very 'real' feel to them, this book is for you. I think most readers will find the menopause element of the story enlightening, and they'll be rooting for the MC to find what she's looking for, if she ever works out what that is! Overall, a bit of a gem. A 'Wishing Shelf' Book Review ( Menopause is hot right now—and not just in the hot flash sense. Even a cursory glance at social media reveals that women of a certain age are banding together in the hundreds of thousands—and they are angry. Women who are entering or have recently experienced menopause are justifiably up in arms about the lack of information, medical competency, and overall support that is available for something that is inevitable and life-altering for half the population.   I wrote this book because I was one of those women. I went through menopause—during COVID, nonetheless—while locked down on the Caribbean Island of St. Thomas, where the book (in part) takes place. As a (mostly) retired high-tech professional, I am highly educated. Yet I was completely ignorant about menopause. I suffered silently, confused, and had to piece it all together myself and demand support from a doctor who was ill-informed.   This story, while pure fiction, captures the common symptoms, experiences, and frustrations of most 45+ women and expresses it all in both an educational and entertaining way.  It is similar to Jaclyn Westlake's recent novel, Lucky Break , in that it is a journey of self-discovery set in a quaint beach-type community, written with painful honesty in the first person. It is also like the nonfiction book How to Menopause by Tamsen Fadel, in that her book, like my novel, is aptly described as "the talk you never had."   I hope you find it both an entertaining beach read and informative. If you do, tell all your women friends!   Michelle Erika (M. E.) Lange In this coming-of-old-age story, when 52-year-old Lyndsey Barnes abruptly snaps and quits her job, she finds herself unwittingly stepping aboard a menopause-fueled roller coaster that she clings to for dear life as it plummets to the depths of despair and through life's twists and turns. It's not until she trades the rainy Pacific Northwest for the sun-kissed shores of the U.S. Virgin Islands that she discovers what she's been missing—a progressive and informed doctor, a network of supportive friends and mentors, and the memory of long-lost dreams. With these keys, she's able to unlock repressed trauma that has held her back, and with a newfound belief in herself, she redefines her "Third Act," using youthful aspirations to propel her to the pinnacle of life. Michelle Erika (M. E.) Lange is a semi-retired high-tech consultant and writer. Having written nonfiction technical documents for the pa