Midlife Bites

November 1, 2021
When Mann (People I Want to Punch in the Throat)—a self-proclaimed “late bloomer,” blogger, and suburban mom—hit her mid-40s, she began to wonder if she was having a midlife crisis: “is that it?”­ she asked herself, “Was watching the entire series of Friends twice really worth it?” In this snarky yet sincere account, she worries that her problems are first world in nature, but her struggles with marriage, money, health problems, and a culture that focuses on women as caretakers but then discards them when their nests become empty will ring as quite real to many readers of her set. Witnessing the self-care boom (and predictable backlash), Mann eschews yoga and meditation in favor of “reading , writing, and napping” as her route to becoming “more empathetic and open minded.” Mann is at her sharpest in storytelling anecdotes (such as the distracted “pat” her ob-gyn offers with the news that perimenopausal emotional dysregulation may last five to 15 years), but is decidedly less so when dispensing the flip prescriptive “Jen’s Gems” (such as “definitely try crying alone in the garage”). This lighthearted manual feels like a friend to chat with in the corner at an overwhelming party. Erin Niumata & Steve Troha, Folio Literary Management.

December 1, 2021

Best-selling essayist Mann (People I Want To Punch in the Throat) issues a rallying cry for women to boldly live their lives during a midlife crisis. At age 47, feeling dissatisfied with her life, Mann sought out information about midlife crises from women's perspectives. When her search yielded no helpful results, she created an online community called Midlife Bites and received a resounding wave of support and empathy. In this book, inspired by the confessions disclosed within the group, Mann shares her own midlife experiences, in humorous and honest anecdotes peppered with "Jen's Gems" of advice. She addresses many aspects of women's physical, mental, and emotional well-being, including making friends, dealing with health issues, finding gratitude, maintaining sexual relationships, and bolstering self-confidence. Mann encourages readers to find their own ways to voice their difficulties, noting "We all have our struggles, but they're worse when we hide them." VERDICT Mann's acerbic and unfiltered style will have readers laughing from start to finish. This is an entertaining and enjoyable complement to medicine-focused books on menopause and a refreshing change of pace from heavier self-help works. Recommended for collections where humorous nonfiction is in demand.--Anitra Gates, Erie Cty. P.L., PA

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 30, 2021
Midlife Bites"" started with a post by popular blogger Mann in July 2019. Now the author of the bestselling People I Want to Punch in the Throat series is pushing out an amplified version. This smorgasbord of Mann's wit, wisdom, and grit is geared toward women hitting midlife, or in this instance, midlife crisis. And like her other titles, it's full of laugh-out-loud moments. While her work is funny, it also contains an equally vital component: truth. Mann is willing to write about challenges she has faced head-on, including making friends as an adult, loneliness, body changes (for those who can't afford round-the-clock personal trainers), relationships, and sex. She does it all with her signature voice and plenty of f-bombs, even in the cute ""Jen's Gems"" spread throughout the text. Books on women and aging are popular, and Midlife Bites stands out for its hilarity. Highly recommended for public libraries.

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