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

by Mary Claire Haver

Brought to you by Penguin.

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of The New Menopause explains everything a woman needs to know to thrive during the often-misdiagnosed and medically ignored perimenopausal years

I’m just not feeling like myself! This is the battle cry of the perimenopausal woman.

Though menstrual cycle changes and the emotional rollercoaster that accompanies them are the hallmarks of the transition to menopause, many women with regular periods as young as 35 can also start to feel irregular, with symptoms that include anxiety, fatigue, joint pain, brain fog, sexual symptoms and volatile moods. This can be hugely disruptive – all the more so when a doctor dismisses a woman’s complaints as all in her head or prescribes unnecessary and potentially harmful treatment.

In The New Perimenopause, Dr Mary Claire Haver – the trailblazing voice behind the movement to revolutionise health care for women – sets things straight. She explains that the numerous and varied symptoms of perimenopause occur in direct response to normal endocrine changes; this is the hormonal 'zone of chaos.'

A comprehensive, authoritative book of science-backed information and lived experience, The New Perimenopause


Clear, science-backed explanations of what's going on in your body, from changes in your menstrual cycle to energy levels, mood, sleep and sexual issues.How and why dealing with these changes now is preventative medicine for your later years.Checklists, questions for your doctor and how to insist on good care.The very latest research on the benefits and side effects of progesterone therapy to help ease your hormonal transition.Whether you have symptoms or not, The New Perimenopause helps remove the mystery around this time of change, putting women in control of their health going forward.

'Don’t tolerate shrugged shoulders from your doctor during your perimenopausal journey. Get ahead of the issues and your potential symptoms with this important, empowering and scientifically dependable book.' – Dr Vonda Wright, author of Unbreakable

© Mary Claire Haver 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Self Help, Science, Audiobook, Medical, Mental Health

368 pages, Hardcover

Published April 7, 2026

Reviews

[Bharath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an important book which many should read – women to cope with a difficult period which they go through; and possibly also men so that they can understand and offer support.

As the book points out, data statistics tell us that women live longer on average but spend 25% more of their lives in poor health compared to males. Perimenopause is a difficult period when women typically experience - hot flashes and night sweats, weight gain & redistribution, anxiety - depression & panic attacks, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and quite a few other very difficult symptoms - brain fog, digestion issues, etc. Irritability is one of the most detrimental symptoms affecting relationships. Perimenopause finds cursory treatment in medical school and is low on research funding. Hormonal changes lead to the brain struggling to react appropriately. This is not a gradual change making it overwhelming.

This book has detailed descriptions of the typical symptoms and options which women have (such as hormone therapy). There are ways to cope and minimize the impact with a combination of medicine/supplements, diet and lifestyle changes. Most of these are good for overall health, in any case. The diet plan included at the end isn’t very suited to many regional cuisines though.

The author mentions in her foreword that she wrote the book with her daughters in mind. Sometimes, similarly, in rare cases, we readers read books with someone else in mind. I did that with this one.

My rating: 4.5 / 5.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher Convergent | Rodale Books and the author for a free electronic review copy.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

The New Perimenopause by Dr. Mary Claire Haver is an incredibly informative, helpful, and educational read. Even as a healthcare professional, I learned far more than I expected … which really highlights how little depth we’re often given in training when it comes to perimenopause and women’s health overall.

At times, the book felt repetitive, with a strong emphasis on encouragement and reassurance. While I personally didn’t need as much of that, I recognize that many women will find it validating and empowering.

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, and I would absolutely recommend it to all women. The education alone makes it a valuable resource, especially for anyone wanting a deeper understanding of perimenopause

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, The New Perimenopause, by Mary Claire Haver, MD, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is about Perimenopause, and how it affects women's bodies. This is a helpful book on what women can look forward to in menopause.

[Marlana Pagano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

I’ve just finished it, and honestly? It’s a game-changer. I walked away feeling less like I’m heading toward a biological cliff and more like I’m armed with a tactical map for the years ahead.
There is a lot of jargon which sometimes makes it difficult to follow. However, it seems like the jargon is thoughtfully included so that readers know exactly what to ask for at their doctors appointments. The science shared in these pages is so compelling that I didn't just take notes—I took action. I immediately went out and purchased a weighted vest. Dr. Haver makes a bulletproof case for the necessity of resistance training and bone density preservation during this transition. I’ll admit, the irony isn't lost on me that her Pause company sells the very vests and supplements she recommends. However, I’m choosing to believe that her intentions are genuine and rooted in a desire to provide quality tools for women. The underlying science she presents is robust enough to stand on its own, regardless of where you buy your gear.
The book replaces "shrugged shoulders" from the medical community with hard data. I finally feel prepared and empowered for what’s coming next.

I was thrilled to find a selection of recipes in the back! Though I have not made them yet. They seem flavorful, hormone-conscious, and easy to follow. While the recipes included seem to be fantastic, I found myself wanting so much more. I know she has The Galveston Diet book, but I would love to see a dedicated, standalone recipe book specifically tailored to the principles in The New PeriMenopause. A compact kitchen companion would be the perfect "part two" to this guide.

Final Verdict: If you are in your 30's or anywhere near perimenopause, buy this book. It’s an essential toolkit for navigating midlife with your health, strength, and sanity intact.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am disappointed in this book when comparing it to “The New Menopause” by the same author. This book was repetitive and very scientific with very little layman terms. I have a doctorate in a medical field and still felt bogged down by all of the chapters. I skimmed a lot! I also felt a lot of the book was the author discussing woman’s health disparity issues, which is accurate and needs to be addressed, but the author spent many, many paragraphs saying the same things about it.
My suggestion would be to read “The New Menopause” instead. It is written with easier to digest wording, has a better overall structure (especially when it comes to symptoms and how to treat), and is less repetitive. This book offers little to no additional information that is specific to perimenopause versus menopause.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The New Perimenopause, Dr. Haver breaks down this major life change for women in an approachable way. She provides a description of exactly what is going on in a woman's anatomy during this time, and she expands by explaining what functions of the body are affected by perimenopause (pretty much all of them). The last section describes what avenues women can take to improve their health, including hormone therapy, lifestyle changes, and how to prepare for a doctor's visit.
I am so glad there are healthcare providers like Dr. Haver who genuinely want to enhance women's health outcomes. This is an excellent resource for someone who is just beginning to learn about this topic, although for readers who are more interested in non-HRT holistic therapies, they might find this book lacking. All in all, it's an encouraging and hopeful book for women who may have felt dismissed or hopeless about their physical and mental health.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

[Kimmy Sue Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t read self help books very often but this was exactly what I needed as a 43 year old woman in the thick of this perimenopause storm. I feel seen 🙏🏻 Loved all the entries of other women’s stories at the start of each chapter. Helped me to feel less alone on this journey. This was very informative and I love how Dr Mary Claire broke everything down and explained the WHY behind the science and offered solutions.

Also her letter to herself at the end brought me to tears

[Alissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I own The New Menopause and requested this book for review to see if it differed much from the first book, or if it was a rehash of the original. It’s different enough from the first book and between the two, is the one I would recommend if you are in the thick of perimenopause, or if you are in your late thirties or above and not quite there yet, so you can be proactive about this (terrible) upcoming stage in your life. Had these books been available side-by-side when my body first went awry, this would have been the better one to choose.

If you’ve read the other book, this one does differ significantly. It focuses a lot on the misdiagnoses you may experience, and how to differentiate peri symptoms from these other, similar issues. Half of the first book was “a symptom based resource system” and additional appendices, this book is less of an encyclopedia of symptoms and treatments. It discusses the failure of the medical system to adequately train physicians in this and other women’s issues. It spends a lot of time on the brain issues in peri, both cognitive and mood. And it gives advice on how to prevent/ameliorate symptoms. It discusses GLP-1 as a tool to lose weight (among other benefits), which was absent from the first book.

I’d recommend this book. After you get through the first section about how thoroughly we have all been ignored/belittled/gaslit by the medical system, take a breather, then read about what we can demand and what we can do (and what’s safe and what is a gimmick).

Dr. Haver has a thriving online presence, she has written multiple books, appears on many social media platforms, has an online clinic, and sells supplements. I was worried there would be a lot of self-promotion in this book, but aside from mentioning her clinicians lists and having her brand of supplements listed as ingredients in a smoothie recipe, the book was mostly grift-free.

I requested this book for review from NetGalley, and thank them, Convergent, and the author for the opportunity to read.

[Lauren Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Women in their late 30s, I know you think that's too young for you, but thus book is for you! Im glad I started asking questions in my late 30s. The information in this book is very literally life changing for the perimenopausal woman. Seriously, you need to read it. Then you need to share it with your girlfriends. Then, you need to have a frank conversation with your healthcare provider. Gone are the days of white-knuckling it to the end. We deserve better care, and Dr. Haver is our very own Joan of Arc, championing better care and understanding from the healthcare system. Cannot recommend enough.

[Jennifer Redlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

After 35, everything is because of perimenopause. Eat better, build muscle, track your numbers

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, first, to Dr. Haver for writing this book, and second, to Convergent for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I’m really thankful to be in a timeline where women in medicine are choosing to get loud and push for research in what can be a very tumultuous time when going through perimenopause. From a medical standpoint, I think this is a great introductory text that could give a nice starting point to try to understand the experience of women during this stage as well as some treatment options, for clinicians. For the layperson entering perimenopause, this will be a validating text. The only issue I see (which is a problem in healthcare due to insurance and what they will cover/old school mentality/comfort level of prescribing clinician,) is that not everyone has access or the funds to access this type of care. I’m in a rural area and used to work in primary care: my colleagues were not comfortable prescribing MHT. There was mention about the access issue but not really advice other than go to an online provider, about how to solve this issue…and as I stated previously, we don’t talk about whether you have the financial means to receive the most appropriate perimenopause care. I just wish women who already do not feel like themselves didn’t have to fight so hard for the care they deserve. But Dr. Haver is shining a light on the issue and continues to provide many free resources and updates on her site. Thank you for this ARC and good luck to all in their “zone of chaos.”

[Erin Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I’m grateful for the awareness this brings to the perimenopause era, I’m bummed that she discounts helpful tools like urine hormone testing during particular phases. Understanding patterns of estrogen detox completely changed how I approach my cycle, and I wasted a lot of time and money “guessing” before I took an inexpensive lab test that helped me streamline my health. She talks about FDA guidelines with testing and hormone use as if they’re the ultimate deciding factor, yet promotes supplements that aren’t FDA-approved. I wish there was more room for outside-the-box thinking. I also felt like certain sections were repetitive and written using AI phrasing: “it’s not just ____; it’s _____.” Or “you’re not broken; you’re becoming…” I much prefer the open-minded, holistic approach of Dr. Amy Shah and Dr. Mindy Pelz. That being said, this would be a great overview for someone (especially a practitioner) who doesn’t know anything about the changes in this phase. I’d read this, then find a more open-minded functional medicine provider.

[Amber Coones · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.4

[Nicole Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s amazing how little is known about the female body in 2026, in favor of studying the male body and curing their ailments like male pattern baldness.

The New Perimenopause was eye opening in so many regards, and it makes me sad, mad, hopeful, and grateful. This is something all primary care, internal medicine, family medicine, and OB/GYNE students should have to read. At minimum.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

[Kathy Boskind · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-researched book with lots of information about symptoms that women might have during perimenopause. It was much more scientific (less anecdotal) than I anticipated, which made it hard to read at times. Not a bad thing, necessarily, but not what I was expecting.

[Anna Grace Paulovkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read. Lots of medical descriptions but they were helpful to hear in learning more about the signs of perimenopause and periods, etc. I agreed with most of her recommendations except for her semi-strong push for meds in most situations. I generally lean towards less meds unless it is really needed on case by case basis. Some of the main takeaways:

- not feeling like yourself could be a sign of perimenopause (the zone of chaos) as well as a change in your period
- building muscle and strength in your 30’s/40’s/50’s leading into menopause is so important for overall health
- healthcare is not set up to walk us through menopause
- getting good quality sleep as you age as sleep distributions happen much more during perimenopause/menopause
- shift wording in your brain of being thin to being strong, counting calories to balanced nutrition, aging is a privilege

Overall it was a good read, a little too long and a bit repetitive but also very informative. The audio was good.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

Thank you Dr. Haver for writing this book. I've been living in the zone of chaos for atleast 2 years and I wish this book had been available then so I knew what questions to ask and what was available as treatment. I knew something was wrong and sought help over the last 2 years, but I kept getting the brush off, I was too young, needed to exercise more, lose some weight, had anxiety, was stressed, relax more, etc. As Dr. Haver explains these are the common answers women get when they try to seek help in middle age when they don't feel well and can't pinpoint why. She goes on to explain that many women are gaslit at this stage of life either because of lack of training, lack of time, lack of research, and more. My doctors certainly didn't look at all of my symptoms or me as a whole person or even try to understand why my labs suddenly changed after no change in routine and years of them being stable. Dr. Haver explains this is a broad problem that women experience, when treatment is available and can prevent other more debilitating ailments as we age.

After finishing this book I feel so seen and validated. I feel better prepared to have a real conversation with my providers and not back down with regards to my own care. I am only 45 and have alot of life left and alot of things I still want to do. You put the medical terms and science into examples that I could understand. You reference real studies and give recommendations of things to try and discussions to have with your personal provider. There are diagrams and charts for the visual learner to understand what is going on. There are lists of blood tests and why and what they are looking for that you can take to your doctor and discuss. This process doesn't need to be so hard and while there is more research and training needed there are things we can do now. This phase of life can make us feel out of control and it isn't something we can control, however there are things we can do to make it easier. I appreciate Dr. Haver laying out the options and discussions we can have with our providers

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by Dr. Mary Claire Haver who is an OBGYN. She lays out the current climate with research and guidelines in women’s health, specifically perimenopause. She teaches the readers about the issues of this being understudied as of right now—lack of funding, lack of studies, lack of change in guidelines in a timely manner bc on average it takes about 17years from evidence based science to make it to practice. We know far too little about certain diseases bc of lack of funding. Reproductive transitions and aging fall lowest on the finding priority list.

She is very intentionally about being sympathetic to mental health struggles as well as many other symptoms and pauses to give resources.

Much of the book did seem repetitive but I believe she was trying to be thorough. The last part is helpful in understanding the current practice and the areas that need improvement. I found this to be helpful in understanding where we are in practice in the U.S.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Aggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“There is nothing wrong with you. Your body is going through complex hormonal transition. You’re not defective… you’re still whole, you’re still you.”

This book was very helpful in recognizing early neurological symptoms, identifying biological changes, understanding treatment options, implement preventative habits, and manage physical, sexual, and mental health.

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend just recommended this book and I’m glad I jumped on it early as it was recently published & I was able to get it from my library. I did the audiobook and every single thing Dr. Haver discusses is on point for a woman going through perimenopause. I took a lot of notes for myself and she also has a website and a podcast where she discusses all topics for women in “the pause” part of their life. Highly recommend.

[Natalie Kleiber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good info. How great to be a member of this club. 🤪
Wish Dr Haver didn’t have conflict of interest. Ex: Recommending supplements that she sells.
Pro tip: you can DO all the things & somedays will still be tough.

[Debbie Grigg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wish this book was around 15 years ago. Definitely recommend to all women to read prior to perimenopause. I knew I just wasn’t myself and wished I had this research available to me.

[Elisabeth]

I may come back to this one eventually, but it is just too jargon-y and the amount of info was truly overwhelming. It is information I want to learn from, but maybe not at this time.

[Alysia Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

So glad I read this book! Lots of great information. A must read for any woman 35 and over!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This should be required reading for women in midlife! Dr. Mary Claire has done it again with great information and it’s delivered in an empowering manner. At least that was my impression of the audiobook. Quick and very important listen.

[Emily Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic and filled with helpful information to help you understand the craziness that perimenopause brings into your life. There are many helpful and insightful tools and resources within. I wish I had this book 7 years ago!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

I’m so glad I read this book. As a woman potentially entering my perimenopause-era, I have realized that there aren’t enough resources for women who may suddenly begin to think they’re going crazy - you’re/were not. This book provided incredible education and can be applied practically when seeking care. I feel empowered to advocate for myself and I’ll have this book to reference.

[Ashley McNeese · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Gosh, I wish I could have read this two years ago! 😭 Recommending it to every female friend! Thorough, honest, kind, practical, and validating. If you’ve ever been dismissed by a medical professional because of your very real symptoms, this will heal you a little. ❤️

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Perimenopause is much like her first book, The New Menopause. There is so much information that is helpful for women as they enter Perimenopause. She examined different approaches which I liked, and not just her preference. Many are going to love this book.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for an advanced reading copy.

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative