The Girlfriends' Guide to Empty Nesting

by Allie Hill

After so many years of early morning alarms and never-ending laundry, many moms expect to feel incredibly liberated when their kids leave home. But what happens when the Land of Empty Nesting isn’t all it’s cracked up to be—when you suddenly feel like a ship without a rudder? A bird without a flock?

That’s what Allie Hill was contending with after her daughter left for college. While she thought she was alone in those feelings, Allie soon discovered that was far from true. Many women were silently struggling right alongside her, as finding purpose after kids and enjoying life after the kids are grown (and flown) isn't always as easy as we expect it to be.

That’s why she created this relatable and humorous guide to help you discover realistic tips and strategies to rediscover your passions, purpose, and, most importantly, yourself so you can stop feeling alone and purposeless and begin to enjoy life as an empty nester.

TOPICS

★ Saying goodbye to your offspring (sans breakdown)

★ The surprisingly uplifting truth about your shifting role

★ The ultimate “what not to do” playbook (Allie’s been there, tried them all)

★ Dealing with menopause and other rude curveballs

★ Making phenomenal new friends and connections

★ Finding joy in empty nesting

So grab a cup of whatever makes you happy, and get ready to embark on your empty-nest journey with a smile, a laugh, and the wisdom of a best friend who’s been through it all (and lived to tell the tale).

149 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 20, 2024

Reviews

[Kelly Pramberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book! My son is a junior in high school and my only child. This book was highly informative and very relatable. I’m so glad I read it now so I can put the author’s advice into practice before my son graduates from high school. I found many passages to underline and share with other mom friends and even my husband! Five big stars! Well done and organized.

[Terri Frank · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I was expecting my kids, I absolutely loved "The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy" and later "The Girlfriends' Guide to Surviving the First Year" by Vicki Iovine. Although this book is by a different author, I thought it would be written in the same style and be equally as helpful. I also enjoy the author's Instagram posts. However, I could barely get through this. It was almost like reading a pamphlet with a few bullet points, lots of white space, and repetitive statements such as "I had a friend who...". It also seemed very elitist in some parts. The author had the luxury of not working and choosing how to fill up her days after her daughter left for college. So, she chose to get a life coach certification. Long stories about her travels have little to do with the topic at hand. While there is one chapter on single parents, it is only a couple of pages long and quite generic ("be glad you can pick out your own furniture now" is one of the suggestions). This will not be a book I refer back to unlike the previous titles mentioned.