Book Review: The New Perimenopause

Title: The New Perimenopause: An Evidence Based Guide to Surviving the Zone of Chaos and Feeling Like Yourself Again

Author: Mary Claire Haver, MD

Publisher: Rodale Books (An imprint of Harmony/Rondale/Convergent books division of Penguin Random House)

Publication Date: April 7, 2026

I was one of the first to check this book out from the library. I don't know what the original book cover was like, but the one that the library put on it is nice and sturdy. This is a meaty book with lots of pages of information printed in moderately large text on heavy paper stock. The covers are sturdy chipboard. It is obvious that the binding is a combination of sewn and glued. Signatures were sewn together before being glued together and into the binding proper. The paper stock has a hand to it that makes me think that the paper has a high fiber content. I can't identify what typefonts were used, but they have moderately large text that is clear and easy to read. The sidebars and callouts in the text was a slightly smaller typefont from the main text, but equally easy to read. For readability on the basis of the physical characteristics of the book this is a 10/10.

A general overview of the book is a detailed discussion of the symptoms, treatments, and lifestyle options for anyone in perimenopause. There is a combination of anecdotal and statistical evidence presented to support the premises that doctor Haver puts forth. Every chapter covers what the current guidelines and knowledge base discuss on the titular topic, puts forth alternative arguments, and then lays out the evidence to support the alternatives before summarizing each chapter. This structure is well established in scientific writing and when definitions of terms are needed, they're given in sidebars that work to enhance the reading experience.

The really nice thing about this book is the affirmative tone and the approach that perimenopause is not the beginning of the end of life but rather a transition point where you can make decisions that improve your life long health on all fronts. The discussion of symptomology is nuanced and patient (reader) focused. It covers the stereotypical symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings as well as the more obscure symptoms like changes in appetite. Dr. Haver relates not only the stories of patients and participants in studies but also her own experience of perimenopause in plain English. Where technical terms come up, she breaks them down into simple definitions.

This is especially helpful in the chapters where she explains the biological and neurochemical processes of perimenopause, also in the chapter where she details what hormone therapy is and how it works. Dr. Haver comes back to the topic of hormone therapy as a main theme when the discussion of treatment is approached. She does not, however, state that hormone therapy is the only modality that can be used to treat perimenopausal symptoms. She gives detailed synopses of the role of nutrition, exercise, mental health treatment, and supplements in helping perimenopausal people through the chaotic transition period that is perimenopause.

There is some names called out in the field of medicine that Dr. Haver works in (women's health) who have published before her on topics adjacent to perimenopause for the general public and have published academic research that supports the arguments that Dr. Haver put forth in her work. Dr. Haver makes very clear that the traditional approach to perimenopause is woefully inadequate for clinicians and patients. She rightfully pins that lapse of a body of work for people to work with on the bias in medicine and sciences towards the male body as the default through out history. While this book is a guide book for patients and the general public, Dr. Haver doesn't shy away from inviting others in the medical community to the discussion with a repeatedly stated goal of improving women's health beyond their fertile years.

I found this book reassuring as I myself am in this transition period. I learned a lot about how my body works and the interplay between different hormones during this transition. I found validation where I was expecting a fairly dry text about hormone therapy and symptoms. Dr. Haver treats the subject with honesty, delicacy, and a refreshing look at the medical community's evolving approach to perimenopause. It gives me hope that women who are going through 'the change' will have their dignity and health at the forefront of the discussion.