Family secrets shape our lives before we even know they exist, as Carmen Rita Wong reveals in her memoir "Why Didn't You Tell Me?" After learning at age 31 that her Chinese father wasn't her biological parent, Carmen set off on a quest to uncover both her true origins and her mother's motivations for concealing such a fundamental truth. Part detective story, part emotional excavation—host Katie Fogarty and Carmen explore the layers of a story built on secrets and now told with unflinching honesty. We dive into the intricate terrain of mother-daughter relationships, cultural identity across Dominican and Chinese heritage, the pressures of assimilation in 1980s America, and why, as Carmen puts it, "when you bury the truth, you bury it alive." A powerful exploration on finding peace without forgiveness, breaking generational patterns as a parent, and how memoir brings a wide-angle lens to universal themes of identity, the tangle of family relationships, and the search for belonging and clarity in midlife.

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Bestselling author Claire Lombardo knows drama lurks behind every family's closed doors. Join host Katie Fogarty for an engaging dive into Lombardo's latest novel "Same As It Ever Was," which deftly explores long-term marriage, motherhood, and how our lives both change and stay exactly the same over decades. A writing teacher and indie bookseller turned literary star (and Reese Witherspoon book club pick), Lombardo shares her secrets for building rich characters through "emotional homework" and reveals why the most authentic relationships are often the messiest. A must-listen for readers navigating midlife transitions, empty nesting, and anyone who loves peering into the complexities of imperfect relationships and shifting family dynamics. Plus, tips for novel writing, character dialogue and how to overcome writing paralysis.

Find our midlife book content 24/7 on social @themidlifebookclub and on our website: www.themidlifebookclub.com

Shop all books: The Midlife Book Club Shop.

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What happens when we look back at our coming-of-age stories from the vantage point of midlife? Bestselling author Joanna Rakoff (My Salinger Year, A Fortunate Age) joins host Katie Fogarty to explore how we define and find our way in the world through the dual lenses of memoir and fiction. The conversation sparkles with insights about the electric, messy brilliance of being young and how time reshapes our understanding of our younger selves. We dive deep into the creative process, examining how writing from a place of love shapes authentic characters and why some stories are better told as memoir while others flourish as fiction. Plus, Rakoff shares an insider's view of the literary world and explores how J.D. Salinger's influence ripples through her work and life. This show proves that while youth may be fleeting, brilliant stories, beautifully told are forever.

Find our midlife book content 24/7 on social @themidlifebookclub and on our website: www.themidlifebookclub.com.

Shop all books: The Midlife Book Club Shop.

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Getting (and staying) healthy in midlife looks waaay different than in our 20s and 30s.

One of the country’s top docs, Dr. Sharon Malone pulls out a prescription pad of straight talk for getting and staying healthy at midlife and beyond from her NYT-bestseller, “Grown Woman Talk.”

We dive into the intersection of aging and health, the top health concerns she hears again and again, and why our fast-changing healthcare system means you need to become your own primary caregiver. You and only you are in the driver’s seat of your health. Are you ready?

Plus, the moment Dr. Malone learned she hit the NYT-bestseller list, why she is a “one and done” author, and what’s on the top of her TBR stack. Stick around to hear host Katie Fogarty and Dr. Malone share what they would name their midlife memoirs. You may want to steal these titles yourself!

Find our midlife book content 24/7 on social @themidlifebookclub and on our website: www.themidlifebookclub.com.

Shop all books: The Midlife Book Club Shop.

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Mixed feelings about midlife? Do not miss this jolt of inspiration from midlife OG and NYT bestselling author Chip Conley.

We explore Chip’s latest book, “Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Life Gets Better with Age,” an optimistic blueprint for making your 40s to 70s the best decades of your life. Drawing on fascinating social science research, inspiring stories, and timeless wisdom across cultures and perspectives, Chip will convince you that aging is a superpower and that you are poised, not on the brink of a crisis, but on the precipice of joy and transformation.

Host Katie Fogarty and Chip explore how to navigate midlife turbulence, the power of curiosity, and why pop culture gets midlife so wrong—forget crisis, think renaissance. Plus, hear Chip offer practical, actionable strategies for thriving in the face of change and creating the life you want, powered by insights gleaned as a co-founder of The Modern Elder Academy and a life of serial reinvention.

Find our midlife book content 24/7 on social @themidlifebookclub and on our website: www.themidlifebookclub.com.

Shop all books: The Midlife Book Club Shop.

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Need a summer escape? Grab your sunblock and pull up a beach chair for our chat with bestselling author Annabel Monaghan. We're diving into her latest rom-com, “Summer Romance,” which follows Ali Morris, a professional organizer whose life is anything but organized. Smart, bingeable, and laugh-out-loud funny, “Summer Romance” is a refreshingly cold dunk into a smart and steamy summer read. Join host Katie Fogarty and Annabel as they explore the magic of second chances, the power of decluttering our homes (and midlife mindsets), and the surprising benefits of a chaotic writing process.

Find our midlife book content 24/7 on social @themidlifebookclub and on our website: www.themidlifebookclub.com.

Shop all books: The Midlife Book Club Shop.

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Welcome to The Midlife Book Club! In our debut show, author Catherine Newman brings us to Cape Cod's salty, sandy shores to crack open her instant New York Times bestseller Sandwich. The book unspools over a weeklong family vacation as the main character, Rocky, navigates memories, menopause, and the push and pull of life sandwiched between her half-grown kids and fully aging parents. Evocative, hilarious, and tender, this coming-of-middle-age story bursts with insights into what it means to be a woman, why we keep secrets from our families, and how we can learn to love our people better. Host Katie Fogarty and Catherine talk about menopausal rage, the bittersweetness of midlife, anticipatory grief, and why getting to midlife is the right time to admit we *might* be wrong about things. Catherine also shares a look at her writing process and how she balances the yin and yang of creative and editorial writing.

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