The Red Zone: A Love Story

by Chloé Caldwell

A searching, galvanizing memoir about blood and how learning more about her period, PMS, PMDD, and the effects of hormones on moods transformed her relationships—to a new partner, to family, to non-blood kin, and to her own body—from the beloved essayist and author of WomenChloe Caldwell’s period has often felt inconvenient, uncomfortable, or even painful. It’s only once she’s in her thirties, as she’s falling in love with Tony, a musician and single dad, that its effects on her mood start to dominate her life. Spurred by the intensity and seriousness of her new relationship, it strikes her outbursts of anxiety and rage match her hormonal cycle.  Compelled to understand the truth of what’s happening to her, Chloe documents attitudes toward menstruation among her peers and family, reads Reddit threads about PMS, attends a conference called Break the Cycle, and learns about premenstrual dysphoric disorder, PMDD, which helps her name what she’s been going through. For Chloe, healing isn’t about finding a single cure. It means reflecting on underlying patterns in her her feelings about her queer identity and writing persona in the context of a heterosexual relationship; how her parents’ divorce contributed to her issues with trust; and what it means to blend a family.  The Red Zone is a candid, revelatory memoir for anyone grappling with controversial medical diagnoses and labels of all kinds. It’s about coming to terms with the fact that—along with proper treatment—self-acceptance, self-compassion, and transcending shame are the ultimate keys to relief. It’s also about how challenging it can be, how it reveals your weaknesses and wounds, and how, if you allow it, it will push you to grow and change.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Health, Feminism, LGBT, Biography Memoir, Psychology

265 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 19, 2022

About the author

Chloé Caldwell is the author of the national bestseller, WOMEN (Harper Perennial, 2024).

Her book TRYING will be published by Graywolf Press on August 5th, 2025.

She is also the author of the essay collections I'll Tell You in Person, Legs Get Led Astray, and the memoir The Red Zone: A Love Story.

Chloe's work has been published in The New York Times, Bon Appétit, The Cut, Vogue, and many anthologies, including SLUTS, Without a Net, and Goodbye To All That.

Chloe teaches creative nonfiction online and hosts retreats and offers writing support at scrappyliterary.com.

Reviews

[Katie Dillon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was honestly like a 2.5. I recommend this to essentially no one. I finished it because I bought it! It was extremely disjointed and I felt little empathy for the author. I appreciated that she tried to shine a light on a very taboo subject and I related to her musings about her parents' divorce, as we were roughly the same age when our respective parental units separated, but I just couldn't connect to the material. I do feel bad rating this so low because I also experience symptoms of PMDD and I felt for her, but I couldn't quite understand her aversion to medication, nor could I understand how all the threads of her life wove together to create this book. Idk! If you are interested in this subject, I guess I recommend it, but I found it a bit of a chore

[Laura Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

In reading this, I expected to learn more about PMDD but found that the mood disorder for which this book is titled is more of a framework she uses to discuss the nuance of family (bio and chosen). PMDD symptoms being most triggered by interpersonal issues, it makes sense that Caldwell writes about her experience insofar as it relates to the people she cares about the most. Although I was expecting to learn more about PMDD, I was surprised (and delighted) to find I was perhaps reading a menstrual version of Bluets by Maggie Nelson. I love Caldwell's writing style and I am continually awed by how much in common I have with her. I'll keep reading.

[Alanna Why · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a book about periods, this was a really breezy read. I couldn't put it down. Felt like chatting with a friend. Lovely book!

[Chelsea Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally (finally!) someone wrote a book about struggling to understand your body and your heart and finding the answers on the internet. This book is moving, funny, and impossible to put down. Caldwell reveals the messiness of life in a way few writers can pull off.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE RED ZONE: A Love Story by Chloe Caldwell is an amazing memoir! Chloe shares her experiences with her period, PMS and PMDD and how they affect her relationships. It was great to read about someone openly discussing their period and things like blood clots, going on prescription medication, and how her cycle affected her moods. I especially liked the section sharing stories of people’s first periods. It made me reminisce about getting my first period and how it changes as we age. It was touching to read about Chloe’s relationship with her partner and how her new found love was so impactful in her life. I liked the humour and ease in this writing. It really felt like a friend was just chatting to you about her life and family. A really enjoyable read and I found myself super engaged in this book! I loved it!
.
Thank you to Soft Skull Press for my gifted review copy!

[Chamidae Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really fucking awesome for me. I was actually reading it while pmsing and then starting my period! AND WOW! learned so much about my body and about myself through shared experiences with chloe. I had always had a very tumultuous pms but since getting in a relationship i found myself turning on my partner in ways that i couldn't control. I was doing it while reading the book! never in my life had i heard of PMDD and seeing a lot of my symptoms reflected back at me was really powerful. very very thankful to have read this and felt like a really great way to start the year. Also just such a speedy read which is nice when the topic can feel medicinal and a bit intimidating.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up at my local bookstore just because I loved Chloe's novella Women and did not know that this memoir would prove to be an entirely relatable guide to menstruating in my mid-30s.

[Heather Hendrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This brilliant book sheds light on something oft kept to the shadows in our society: menstruation.
The insight this deeply intimate memoir provides into hormone-related mood disorders is so needed in our world today. Thank you Choe!

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY GOD SHE’S DONE IT AGAIN

[amanda macchiarola · Rating 5 out of 5]

i feel a very deep connection to chloe and her writing. as i sat and read this book about periods, hormones, pmdd, and cystic acne, i was actively beginning my period and picking at my incredibly painful cystic chin acne. it was a very kismet experience and as i’ve always said, chloe really has a way of transforming these everyday instances into such poignant and beautiful literature. a book like this is a GIFT!! im so grateful that theres such an open, honest, and transparent book about periods and pmdd. chloe has done a massive service.

[Abbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

i feel like i have been waiting for a book like this since i started getting a period.

[Emily Carlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

won’t be eagerly pressing this into people’s hands the way i did with Women circa 2015. that being said, really enjoyed / learned a lot / glad this exists. if i have a daughter i’ll give this to her.

final comment: love to read a book that engages w the experience of starting one’s search for Truth on reddit.com.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will read anything Chloe Caldwell publishes. Her writing is witty, clever, informative, & nuanced. This book takes a subject that isn't frequently talked about and makes it seem like it's the most prevalent thing in the world. Combining personal experience, factual tidbits, and other people's personal experiences, it gives the reader such a nuanced view of what it can mean to suffer from PMDD. It leaves you with something to think about, leaves you wanting to research and reflect on your own life. Even as someone who doesn't suffer from PMDD or other menstruation disorders, the book is relatable.

I think anyone can love this book, whether you menstruate or not. It's not just a book about periods and PMDD but a personal account of what it means to deal with health problems, form relationships, and learn about your body. And it's definitely engaging.

[Swhite · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me want to read for “fun” again. Which is saying something. Because many times I’m reading for information and self-improvement, ironically about PMDD which is central to this memoir. But it’s not grating or overwhrlming, like PMDD actually is. Chloe responds to the onset of this new moodiness iwith curiosity and self-reflection. This is really the key to her journey to making peace with the chaos it throws her into. I loved how at the same time this new diagnosis dawns on her she in faced with transformation in other areas of her life: a steady relationship, step-otherhood and writing this book. The Universe hands her this conundrum and she comes off conqueror; not by force but by doing her research, examining her history, bravely surrendering and meekly embracing. Chloe sets up her story very well in the first chapter. I laughed out loud, I nodded my head in empathy and I may have felt warm and fuzzy . Thank you Chloe Caldwell!

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been obsessed with Chloe Caldwell's writing since her first essay collection debuted in 2012, and my appreciation for her only grew while reading THE RED ZONE. This is a book for people who have periods and people who love people who have periods---that is to say, everyone. The first page made me burst out laughing; I read it aloud to several people. My favorite parts were about Caldwell's foray into deep and true love and the creation of her beautiful blended family. Her love for them radiated off the page. Caldwell doesn't shy away from the pain and difficulties PMDD has brought to her life, but her story is imbued with hope. (Thanks so much for the Soft Skull team for this ARC. Review cross posted from Edelweiss.)

[Sunni | vanreads]

I really appreciated the candid discussion around menstruation and specifically premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in this book. Chloe Caldwell is an honest writer and I applaud her for taking on a topic that is not talked about enough. I think a lot of menstruating individuals would find solace in this book, particularly if you also experience menstruation disorders that affect your daily. I do think she also spends a lot of time talking about her relationships and unique family dynamics (think outside of the standard nuclear family). I don't think this book is quite marketed in that direction, but I think this aspect of it would be quite nice for people who are interested in reading the experiences of what it means to find and make your own family, in an unconventional sense.

I do wish that she talked about other menstruation disorders as that was how I feel like this book was marketed, but perhaps that was my error in expectations.

[Shilo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book of essays chronicles one woman's experience with premenstrual dysphoric disorder, from the first troubling signs, through all the classic cycles of grief, and on into healing which is, like grief & for all whose lives are thrown upside down by chronic conditions, cyclical and unending. This was such a brilliant read and I think everyone with a uterus should go out and buy a copy. Reading it during all this scotus bullshit was actually uplifting, to read a woman so openly owning her own rage and experience with something that is thought of, STILL, as taboo to talk about. I loved Caldwell's book Women & loved this as well, so it's probably time to purchase her other two books, cause I can bet I'm going to love them.

[Carolee Wheeler · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Caldwell writes about her struggle with PMDD and connects it to her relationships with given and chosen family. Hormones really affect one’s relationship to self; I’d love it if more menstruating people kept and shared such detailed notes about their cycle; I find it all fascinating. I don’t know how old she is but I dearly hope she gives as much or more attention to her perimenopause.

[Erica Hersh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came away from this book thinking "well at least I've never thrown anything at my significant other." Parts of this book definitely resonated with me, but it was ultimately frustrating. I got the sense she found all her PMDD symptoms interesting to analyze but not particularly interesting to do something about, despite the impact they have on those around her.

Ultimately though, PMDD is just the framework, not really what the book is about. It was a perfectly good book about how one builds a family, but that didn't necessarily connect with the PMDD framework, nor was it what I expected.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book truly shows how much Chloe Caldwell has grown as a writer; i read it right after rereading I'll tell you in person for about the thousandth time. The Red Zone reminded me yet again what I love about her writing: it's funny, raw, magical and insightful at all the right moments, yet retains the right amount of humility and honesty that makes her voice consistently stand out from the rest. I really enjoyed this opportunity to reflect on my own relationship with my period and I actually learned a lot I didn't know. I wish Chloe the best of luck with all her future endeavors and, hopefully, that means more books for me to devour! :)

[hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

bubbled like a baby at the part where chloe said she chooses sadie! contrary to other reviews here, i actually learned so much, given that i embarrassingly had almost zero knowledge about the topic before delving into this book. it’s still so mind-boggling to me how chloe and i are so much alike. maybe that’s why i can’t get enough of her books hehe

[Ria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps not the most eloquent book I’ve ever read, but a very important topic! As a person with PMDD, I felt this book did a great job of explaining it, portraying its nuances, and providing advice and support. I think it’s a book all women should read!

[The Reading Lantern · Rating 3 out of 5]

could have been a lot shorter but still a vibe

[Stacy Stremlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

audiobook. more books like this please - women voicing our unique lived experiences ❤️

[Roxy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Period.
The equivalent of saying Voldemort's name in society.
Caldwell does an amazing job breaking down the stigmas surrounding periods and discussing important topics that no one seems to discuss, even medical professionals.
The book flows effortlessly between her personal experiences with her period, PMDD, and how it interferes with her relationship while sharing other people's experiences with their first period, stigmas, ignorance, learning to use a tampon, etc.

This book is relatable for all women and a must read for men who need to understand more about mensuration. It is a topic misunderstood and unexplored. Caldwell's experiences reminds readers they are not alone and shares her coping skills. She also shares intimate conversations with her friends, family, and therapist which allows the reader to truly understand the battle, even if they never had a period in their life.

All this to say: a must read for everyone. An amazing memoir that I devoured in a few hours but has now changed my entire perspective of my monthly visitor.

[Sarah Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe this book sat on my shelf for years before I finally decided to read it. Poignant, vulnerable, and stunning. Easiest 5-star rating I’ve given all year.

[Kelsey Weekman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I looooove Chloe Caldwell's funny and relatable and emotional writing. She is one of the greats, truly, and I jumped at the chance to read this. The book follows the author's menstrual cycle and struggle to get a diagnosis of PMDD after years of doubt and shame. I enjoyed reading about the experiences of women outside of just Chloe, and I thought she did an excellent job conveying the importance of education and fighting for yourself. It was dystopian at times and will be eye-opening for anyone who doesn't struggle through their period. Not my favorite book of hers, but definitely loved and appreciated it.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Jana Fritz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book definitely hit home for me! It was enjoyable to read a book written by someone so open about their physical and mental health struggles exacerbated by PMDD. Period talk shouldn't be taboo, especially since that could be attributed to cis white hetero patriarchy. Would recommend to anyone— menstruators and non-menstruators alike.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

found myself photographing a lot of passages from this book

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a brilliant book. Why aren’t their more memoirs about periods out there?