Brooks Shields has been a well-known actor/model my entire life. She’s 9 years older than me and this book about growing older resonated with me in several ways.

Yes, Brooke Shields is famous and beautiful and can afford fancy clothes, but she’s also funny and down to earth and relatable. She shares personal anecdotes and mixes in observation on society and statistics that back up her points. She discusses gaining confidence as she gets older, about worrying less about others’ opinions and finding joy in middle age. But also about being overlooked and undervalued as a “woman of a certain age.”

Shields discusses her recent interactions with the healthcare system and how we need to advocate for ourselves, even if we’re sometimes (often) seen as difficult. She points out, from personal experience and research studies, that there is a definite lack of knowledge surrounding perimenopause and menopause and considering how many women are in those life stages, that’s ridiculous.

Shields narrates the book herself, which was a perfect choice. She can laugh at herself and allow her emotions to come through. I like that she is purposefully still growing, learning, strengthening her body, and focusing on what makes her happy and fulfilled.