Coach Kary’s Favorite Reads for Women Navigating Menopause

As I navigated through my own perimenopause journey a few years ago I realized there was a gap on the bookshelves for information around a life transition that all women will go through one day. Fast forward a few years and there has been an explosion of experts and materials to help women thrive in this prime time of life. Most of the books on my shelves are there because someone I trusted or respected recommended them to me. So here is my recommended reading list for women navigating the journey from perimenopause through menopause and beyond.

The New Menopause — Dr. Mary Claire Haver

Synopsis:
A comprehensive guide to navigating menopause with evidence-based strategies that go beyond symptom relief. Dr. Haver covers everything from hormonal changes and common symptoms (sleep, mood, sexual health) to long-term health risks like cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. The book blends medical science, practical tools (e.g., questions to ask your clinician), lifestyle advice, and advocacy to help women thrive, not just endure, this life transition.

The Galveston Diet — Dr. Mary Claire Haver

Synopsis:
A lifestyle and nutrition plan tailored to women in midlife that addresses hormonal shifts contributing to weight gain and metabolic change during perimenopause/menopause. The program combines Fuel Refocus (macronutrient balance), intermittent fasting, and anti-inflammatory nutrition to reduce belly fat, improve energy, enhance sleep, and ease common menopausal symptoms. This book includes meal plans and recipes.

Author Credentials:
Dr. Mary Claire Haver is a board-certified OB/GYN, Certified Menopause Provider, and Certified Culinary Medicine Specialist. She developed a menopause weight-loss protocol and has helped over 120,000 women with her Galveston Diet approach; she also teaches and practices women’s midlife care. She combines clinical insight with her own midlife health journey.

The Menopause Reset — Dr. Mindy Pelz

Synopsis:
A compact, functional-medicine-informed guide outlining how hormonal changes drive menopause symptoms (mood shifts, weight gain, brain fog, sleep issues) and how to “reset” your system through nutrition, fasting, gut health, and lifestyle shifts. The goal is to help women reclaim metabolic balance, reduce symptoms, and feel more resilient without necessarily relying on medications. This book is for you if you are looking to explore all of the options available to you before you have the HRT conversation with your healthcare provider.

Fast Like a Girl — Dr. Mindy Pelz

Synopsis:
A women-specific fasting manual that explains why conventional fasting advice often doesn’t fit female physiology and how to structure fasting around hormonal cycles (even post-cycle) to improve metabolic health, boost energy, balance hormones, and support weight management. Includes a 30-day fasting reset, multiple fasting protocols, and over 50 recipes tailored to women’s hormonal needs.

Author Credentials:
Dr. Mindy Pelz is a nutrition and functional health expert and best-selling author known for her work on fasting and women’s hormonal health. She has guided thousands through her programs and has multiple books on wellness topics.

Unbreakable — Dr. Vonda Wright

Synopsis:
A proactive guide focused on building musculoskeletal strength and resilience through menopause and beyond. Dr. Wright frames menopause-related changes (like muscle and bone loss) as preventable and manageable with targeted exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle practices. The book provides strategic plans to support mobility, bone density, metabolic health, and overall vitality as women age. The book includes an excellent strength training progression and recipes.

Author Credentials:
Dr. Vonda Wright is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and longevity specialist. She focuses on how women can use strength training, anti-inflammatory nutrition, and movement to counteract age-related musculoskeletal risks.

How to Menopause — Tamsen Fadal

Synopsis:
A wide-angle, practical handbook co-designed with insights from dozens of medical and wellness experts. Fadal’s book decodes symptoms, offers lifestyle and health-care advocacy tools (e.g., what to ask clinicians), and blends personal stories with evidence-backed strategies for managing sleep, weight, intimacy, mood, skincare, and career during perimenopause/menopause. It’s written in an accessible, conversational style aiming to normalize the experience and empower women.

Author Credentials:
Tamsen Fadal is an Emmy-award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker turned menopause advocate. She’s not a clinician, but she draws on interviews with 42+ experts (OB-GYNs, neuroscientists, sleep specialists, etc.), plus her own midlife experience, to curate evidence-based guidance and real stories for readers.

Quick Comparisons

I sincerely hope one or more of these books will resonate with you on your journey through perimenopause, menopause and beyond!