The author of the bestselling puberty guide The Care & Keeping of You is returning with a new book aimed at the women who grew up reading it.
Valorie Lee Schaefer’s You Part Two: Aligning Your Head, Heart & Hormones in Middle Life will examine the physical, emotional and social changes associated with adulthood and perimenopause.
The book is due to be published by Penguin Life on April 27, 2027. The publisher describes it as a practical guide for women aged 30 and over, covering changing hormones, metabolism, skincare, fitness, fertility and other aspects of midlife.
It will also address issues including friendships, empty nests, divorce, caring for ageing parents and major career changes, reflecting Schaefer’s view that middle life affects more than just the body.
Schaefer’s original book was first published by American Girl Library in 1998. It spent more than 200 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and has sold more than six million copies, according to the publisher.
The guide became a trusted source of information for girls approaching puberty, explaining subjects such as periods, bras, shaving and acne in an accessible and reassuring style.
Speaking to ELLE, Schaefer said she had seen years of social media posts from women asking where the equivalent guide for adults was. She said many felt “freaked out, stressed, and unprepared” as they entered midlife, just as they had before puberty.
The new book was prompted in part by Schaefer’s own experiences. She told the magazine that she had struggled during the transitional years, particularly in her forties, and wanted to share what she had learned with the help of healthcare practitioners specialising in midlife care.
Rather than offering an exhaustive medical reference, You Part Two is intended as a straightforward starting point for women seeking information about perimenopause and the wider changes of middle life.
Penguin Life said the book would continue the supportive approach of its predecessor, with illustrations and charts accompanying advice on health, relationships and personal change.
