What do you think?
Rate this book
Real Girls Guide to Midlife: Hot Takes, True Stories, and Fearless Advice from Women Who’ve Lived It & Experts Who Get It
Midlife isn’t a crisis. It’s a reckoning. The kind where you look around and think, Wait...whose life have I been starring in and who wrote this script?
If you’ve ever found
• Mentally rage-quitting a conversation while smiling politely.
• Googling, “Is this perimenopause or am I just done tolerating bullsh*t?”
• Rewatching the same TV shows because your nervous system said, “No new stimuli today!”
• Wondering when exactly you disappeared inside your own life...
Then welcome. You’re in the exact right place.
THE REAL GIRLS GUIDE to MIDLIFE is for the funny midlife women who are done being polite, done being quiet, and done making themselves small. It’s not a gentle, soothing, “appreciate your blessings” kind of read.
This is self help by women, for women who have entered their We Do Not Care Club era.
The kind of done where you’
• Done shrinking to keep the peace.
• Done apologizing for wanting more.
• Done pretending the chaos isn’t real.
• Done disappearing in your own damn story.
Inside, you’ll
• Personal essays that name the mess (the real mess, not the curated kind).
• Expert insights that translate your WTF moments into clarity.
• Real-girl stories from women in the thick of it - the ones who didn’t wait until their lives were “tidy” to tell the truth.
• Reframes + reflection prompts to help you take yourself back (no crystals or color-coded journaling system required).
This book won’t tell you to age “gracefully.” It will tell you to age truthfully—with humor, boundaries, desire, and your full damn voice. Consider it part pep talk, part reality check, and part menopause reset for your mind, body, and identity.
If you’re looking for midlife women’s books, books on aging women, or real tips for women about aging—this one doesn’t sugarcoat it. It tells the truth.
You’ll learn how
• Stop abandoning yourself to keep others comfortable.
• Redraw your boundaries without writing a TED Talk explanation for them.
• Make peace with the body you live in now.
• Want more without guilt (yes, you’re allowed).
• Own the authority of your lived experience.
Because midlife is not the end of your story - it’s the first time you’re writing it for yourself.
If you’ve been waiting for permission, a sign, a push, or a cosmic nudge...
This book is it. No more waiting. No more shrinking. No more silence.
Let’s go.
If you’ve ever found
• Mentally rage-quitting a conversation while smiling politely.
• Googling, “Is this perimenopause or am I just done tolerating bullsh*t?”
• Rewatching the same TV shows because your nervous system said, “No new stimuli today!”
• Wondering when exactly you disappeared inside your own life...
Then welcome. You’re in the exact right place.
THE REAL GIRLS GUIDE to MIDLIFE is for the funny midlife women who are done being polite, done being quiet, and done making themselves small. It’s not a gentle, soothing, “appreciate your blessings” kind of read.
This is self help by women, for women who have entered their We Do Not Care Club era.
The kind of done where you’
• Done shrinking to keep the peace.
• Done apologizing for wanting more.
• Done pretending the chaos isn’t real.
• Done disappearing in your own damn story.
Inside, you’ll
• Personal essays that name the mess (the real mess, not the curated kind).
• Expert insights that translate your WTF moments into clarity.
• Real-girl stories from women in the thick of it - the ones who didn’t wait until their lives were “tidy” to tell the truth.
• Reframes + reflection prompts to help you take yourself back (no crystals or color-coded journaling system required).
This book won’t tell you to age “gracefully.” It will tell you to age truthfully—with humor, boundaries, desire, and your full damn voice. Consider it part pep talk, part reality check, and part menopause reset for your mind, body, and identity.
If you’re looking for midlife women’s books, books on aging women, or real tips for women about aging—this one doesn’t sugarcoat it. It tells the truth.
You’ll learn how
• Stop abandoning yourself to keep others comfortable.
• Redraw your boundaries without writing a TED Talk explanation for them.
• Make peace with the body you live in now.
• Want more without guilt (yes, you’re allowed).
• Own the authority of your lived experience.
Because midlife is not the end of your story - it’s the first time you’re writing it for yourself.
If you’ve been waiting for permission, a sign, a push, or a cosmic nudge...
This book is it. No more waiting. No more shrinking. No more silence.
Let’s go.
- GenresSelf Help
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 14, 2025
10 people are currently reading
1355 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 26, 2026
I won this book through a Goodreads in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for choosing me.
I loved this book. The writing felt authentic, the advice is great and it was never judgmental. If anything it was a refreshing take on the way women speak to other women.
The entire time I felt like I was sitting across from Angela as I read her book. It is a book I will recommend to anyone who will listen to me. It is a book that made me remember that I have a voice and one that I will think of for a long time to come.
Any woman who comes across this book should spend some time with it.
I loved this book. The writing felt authentic, the advice is great and it was never judgmental. If anything it was a refreshing take on the way women speak to other women.
The entire time I felt like I was sitting across from Angela as I read her book. It is a book I will recommend to anyone who will listen to me. It is a book that made me remember that I have a voice and one that I will think of for a long time to come.
Any woman who comes across this book should spend some time with it.
January 4, 2026
Midlife, perimenopause, menopause—no woman is spared. Unfortunately, we can’t outrun it. Instead, Angela Burk urges us to embrace it and use this guide to navigate this challenging time (hopefully, unscathed). The author has created a manifesto for surviving (and thriving) midlife—Chock-full of advice from experts and real-life, relatable examples from women in the throes of menopause. Navigating the rage, horror, and hilarity, Burk is right there with you. Solidarity, sisters!
The author explores all things midlife, from sagging knees (yes, it’s a thing), sexual intimacy, finances, divorces, parenting adult children, and everything in between. But it’s not just Burk’s sage advice or the stories from other women that will rejuvenate you; the author has created helpful prompts at the end of every chapter that are meant to spark reflection, and get you thinking about what is no longer serving you—is there a relationship you need to walk away from, or a new career you’d like to run towards?
Reading Real Girl’s Guide to Midlife by Angela Burk feels like having an animated conversation with your best friend. Expect to laugh (fine, and cry, too) hysterically, question and challenge outdated beliefs, and feel a sense of belonging while reading. Burk approaches topics with humor and raw honesty, and the writing is void of judgment and heavy terminology that can feel overwhelming.
Of all the topics Burk explored, the one that resonated most was the fear that, in midlife, it’s too late to make a change, particularly when it comes to career pivoting. As someone who worked in retail for most of my 20s and 30s, I’ll admit that now, at 40, I am terrified of pursuing an education in writing/editing. There is a nagging voice in the back of my mind that I constantly battle. It tells me you’re too old, and it’s too competitive, etc. Burk’s writing has given me the confidence boost to keep the momentum going. Pivoting is terrifying, but staying stuck is so much worse. There’s no greater time than the present to follow your dreams.
Calling all 40+ women, if you feel like you’re fumbling through midlife in the dark (me too), this guide is a beacon of light. Burk explores the good, the bad, and the wrinkly parts of midlife, offering readers advice and easy-to-use strategies. Here’s to thriving in your second act, ladies!
The author explores all things midlife, from sagging knees (yes, it’s a thing), sexual intimacy, finances, divorces, parenting adult children, and everything in between. But it’s not just Burk’s sage advice or the stories from other women that will rejuvenate you; the author has created helpful prompts at the end of every chapter that are meant to spark reflection, and get you thinking about what is no longer serving you—is there a relationship you need to walk away from, or a new career you’d like to run towards?
Reading Real Girl’s Guide to Midlife by Angela Burk feels like having an animated conversation with your best friend. Expect to laugh (fine, and cry, too) hysterically, question and challenge outdated beliefs, and feel a sense of belonging while reading. Burk approaches topics with humor and raw honesty, and the writing is void of judgment and heavy terminology that can feel overwhelming.
Of all the topics Burk explored, the one that resonated most was the fear that, in midlife, it’s too late to make a change, particularly when it comes to career pivoting. As someone who worked in retail for most of my 20s and 30s, I’ll admit that now, at 40, I am terrified of pursuing an education in writing/editing. There is a nagging voice in the back of my mind that I constantly battle. It tells me you’re too old, and it’s too competitive, etc. Burk’s writing has given me the confidence boost to keep the momentum going. Pivoting is terrifying, but staying stuck is so much worse. There’s no greater time than the present to follow your dreams.
Calling all 40+ women, if you feel like you’re fumbling through midlife in the dark (me too), this guide is a beacon of light. Burk explores the good, the bad, and the wrinkly parts of midlife, offering readers advice and easy-to-use strategies. Here’s to thriving in your second act, ladies!
December 14, 2025
Women deserve support, not silence and that is the essence of this book. Being a woman in this world is not easy, and if you’ve ever been dismissed or told “you’re fine” or “it’s all in your head,” this book is for you. It had me screaming “YES, THANK YOU” more times than I can count, because it made me realize I wasn’t alone. This is not a typical self-help book. It feels like a community — full of love, laughter, and truth — and a powerful reminder that you’re not going through this alone. As I’m coming into midlife, Angela isn’t just helping women who are already in the thick of it; she’s also paving the road for future generations like me, so we don’t have to shrink ourselves or silence ourselves the way our mothers and grandmothers did. Trust me, you’ll be glad you read this book. And you’re going to want to tell everyone you know about it. You should.
February 1, 2026
This one's for all of us - especially women, obviously, but there were bits and pieces I took to my partner and he liked what I read to him, too. This is inspirational meets practical meets raw and real. It made me laugh and cry, and evaluate what areas of my life I need to reevaluate. Loved it. Thank you for writing this and sharing it with the world.
Xx
Xx
January 30, 2026
I was so excited when I saw I won this book on Goodreads. I had to crack it open immediately… and it kept me reading from start to finish in a single day, which is not common for me. This has got to be one of the best self-help books I’ve ever read. It was truthful, raw, and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny. Thank you to the author for being so open about your personal experiences. It helped make the book real. It was entertaining, thoughtful, and empowering!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews