According to Marie Sophocle’s book, “The Bedroom Gap,” there are 80 million women experiencing menopause right now, a combination of baby boomers and Generation X. An additional 6,000 women hit menopause every day. Staggering numbers! That’s a lot of hot flashes, emotional moments during the day and waking up at 2 am.
At Roundabout Books, we’ve seen a trend of women buying books about menopause over the past year, so our weekly restock includes stacks of these books. Sometimes, a customer leans over the counter and whispers, “Do you have books on menopause?” Others buy four fiction books with one menopause book tucked in the middle of the stack. Recently, a gentleman came in to buy a book about menopause because he wanted to understand what his wife is going through.
Be brave and purchase a book that will help you understand and thrive during this stage of your life! “Dare I Say It” by actor Naomi Watts is an honest and entertaining book of her account of entering perimenopause at age 36, just as she was trying to start a family. From her hilarious attempt to remove the adhesive from an estrogen patch that was stuck to her skin right before a romantic evening with Billy Crudup, to navigating the array of medications on offer, it will have readers feeling hopeful while also taking notes on potential medication options. She consulted with doctors and experts to answer our questions about libido, sleep and discomfort during intimate moments.
Two other books I recommend are “Next Level: Your Guide to Kicking Ass, Feeling Great, and Crushing Goals Through Menopause and Beyond” by Stacy T. Sims, PhD, and “The New Menopause” by Mary Claire Haver, MD. Both books offer science-backed information, with tips on nutrition, how to maximize your fitness, and how to communicate confidently with your doctor. Sims points out that menopause can hit hard, and your body suddenly seems different from weight gain and losing strength. This doesn’t have to be the way life is; don’t let menopause win.
I recently selected “Floored” by Sara Reardon for our Staff Picks shelf in the store. It shares tips and resources for pelvic floor health from menstruation to menopause. Education on your pelvic floor is critical to overall health. One of my takeaways was learning the correct way to pee. There’s nothing like admitting that to the thousands of readers of the Source. Psst! See page 86 in the book.
The answer to why you’re not feeling like yourself, why you cry in your car before walking into work or why annoying brain fog happens at the most inopportune times is addressed in “The New Perimenopause.” She addresses mood changes, anxiety, joint pain and more. Learn how dealing with these changes now becomes preventative medicine later.
In May, Iris & Stout hosted a community wellness gathering titled “In My Menopause Era.” The shop was packed with attendees who learned about navigating through perimenopause and beyond. Some memorable advice from presenter Dr. Tara Hulbert Burke was to just buy bigger pants and to aim for seven hours of sleep at night. There was lots of laughter and knowing looks between the women in the room as symptoms were explained, along with groans when they learned how long perimenopause could potentially last. Burke explained hormone therapy and other options, along with encouraging attendees to take charge of their health and not just suffer through this transition.
You may have missed that event, but we have two upcoming events on this hot, pardon the pun, topic. Roundabout Books is hosting Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 6:30 p.m. They will talk about their book, “Estrogen, Interrupted,” which covers evidence-based treatments and emphasizes nutrition, stress levels, mental health, exercise and physical health.
On Thursday, Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m., we’ve partnered with the Source to host Dr. Sarah Hellmann and Dr. Erin Legrand from “Wine with Your Gyn” podcast. They’ll answer questions and talk through common myths of menopause. Come feel supported by everyone in attendance, laugh through the brain fog, and find a solution to all the tearful moments that happen with zero notice. Count these events as self-care!
Visit roundaboutbookshop.com’s events page to reserve your seat for these two upcoming events. We’re thankful to all these presenters for their time and guidance. Round up your fellow girlfriends, order a cold drink from the Washington bar, and settle in. We’ll make sure the air conditioning is on full blast for you!
Estrogen, Interrupted Author Event
Tue., Sept. 15, 6:30pm
Roundabout Books & Cafe
900 NW Mt. Washington Dr. Suite 110. Bend
$5 or purchase of “Estrogen, Interrupted”
Demystifying Menopause Event
Thu., Sept. 17, 6:30pm
Roundabout Books & Cafe
900 NW Mt. Washington Dr. Suite 110. Bend
$5 or purchase of “Estrogen, Interrupted”
What Cassie’s Reading:
“Sleeping Beauties” by David Byrne
Discoveries as diverse as dark matter, lichen and continental drift… technologies from solar panels to the steam engine… artists from Bach to Bruegel, Vermeer to Melville… all were sleeping beauties. Why did they fall asleep? How did they wake back up? David Byrne arrives at important conclusions. “Sleeping Beauties” is a master class in how not to be blind to the next great thing. These stories encourage us to try new things and to embrace them.
This article appears in the Source August 27, 2026.
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