I went into The Change by Kirsten Miller with 0 expectations, and I am completely blown away! This is a genre-bending novel that has everything from mystery to women's fiction to magical realism/supernatural elements. The best part about the book is the 3 female MCs because they aren't afraid to say it like it is and they are all kickass in their own right. The story is mainly told from Nessa, Harriett, and Jo's viewpoints, with the occasional chapter from someone else as well. This reminded me a tiny bit of Malibu Rising, but don't worry people, it wasn't near as much, and it definitely enhanced the story each time. I loved that Miller was able to mix in each of the women's backstories as well, so the reader found out how they each ended up where they were.

Since this is a longer book, I decided it would be best to listen to it as an audiobook, and I was not wrong. Even though the audio is almost 15.5 hours long, it never for one second felt like it, and having January LaVoy narrate was the best decision they could have made in terms of a narrator. She was fantastic for every single viewpoint and just like every other time I have listened to her, she didn't disappoint in any way. I will say, almost every single one of the men is completely terrible in this book, but luckily Miller did throw us a bone with a couple of great guys. Some of the content is tough, I won't lie about that, but there is also an inspirational aspect as well, and it was just so great to see these women excel in their special powers. The Change is a story about very real things and we just so happen to have some magical realism mixed in, so if you're ok with elements that wouldn't *actually* happen in real life, I highly HIGHLY, recommend this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I've never read a book like The Change. The subject of menopause while not "taboo", is not mainstream either, and Miller's decision to couple that with the supernatural, well it grabbed me from page 1. Strong Harriett, fiery Jo, and quiet Nessa could not be more different from each other. In fact they don't even know each other at the start. All 3 are middle aged women with a different story to tell, but the have all been in some way screwed over by men and "the patriarchy". As they enter "the change", untold powers begin to emerge, and gravitate to one another and form a special bond of friendship and sisterhood. They work together to solve a string of murders in that the police can't or won't solve. I loved the writing style, the characters, and the story. I raged with them, cried for them, and cheered for them. 10/10

I was a little hesitant to pick up and read The Change by Kirsten Miller but I am so glad I did! Noted as one of the Good Morning America Book Club Picks I can certainly understand why. Miller takes us to the east coast community of Mattauk and introduces us to a group of women that have lived long enough to know life gets better as you get older. As these women get closer to "the change" their womanly powers take over. Harriet, Jo, and Nessa come together as a powerful collection of women saving young women from danger and punishing those who misuse and abuse women. Young girls are disappearing and turning up dead. No one seems to notice or care, especially the police force. But that ends now, Harriet, Nessa, and Jo will no longer tolerate this happening around their town. They won't stop until the young women can be laid to rest, peacefully.
I was really surprised by how much I really enjoyed The Change. I love Harriet! She is one of my favorite characters I have met so far this year. I'd love for her to get her own story and to hear more from her. I can also see this being made into a series for television---Hulu? Netflix? Anyone? I would definitely watch this! The Change by Kirsten Miller was a fast paced, easy to follow read. Miller draws your attention in with in the first few pages and doesn't let your attention go until the last chapter. I will definitely be recommending The Change to all my friends and would love to check out other works by Miller. Special thanks to Kirsten Miller, NetGalley, and William Morrow books for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. 4.5 stars for me.
#TheChange #NetGalley

LOVED!! This book was all over bookstagram and I’ll be honest not my usual kind of book but it peaked my interest and my goal this year was to read outside my norm. This book did not disappoint. It was a beast over 470 pages and I could not wait every night to go up and read another chunk. Practical Magic, Big Little Lies and Witches of Eastwick vibes! Feminist fantasy revenge with incredibly written characters! Must read!

This book started off strong but lost steam 3/4 of the way through. What started off as enjoyable feminist snark turned judgmental and heavy handed as the action started to peak. Still an enjoyable read, but I was disappointed that the ending relied so heavily on black and white thinking. There was a lot of room for nuance that got lost.

I loved this book. I read it slowly, not because I wasn't engaged, but because I wanted to savor every last chapter.

It's a feminist revenge fantasy featuring three middle-aged women coming into their powers. But it's also a heartbreaking tale of women who deserved better, and an investigation into a possible serial killer.

The writing's snappy at times, which forever works for me -- I just love a story that pulls you in alongside writing that hits.

I didn't personally care for a plot point or two but I see why the author wrote them that way.

Recommended if you like books featuring powerful women, fighting misogyny, and murder mysteries. It's labeled fantasy but I felt that it was very much set in our world (read: even if you, too, rarely read fantasy, you may well love this one like I did). And it's the rare book I was grateful was close to 500 pages.

One of the best fantasy books I've read in years. It is a little long, but other than that, there's not a single thing I would change about this book. If you are feeling ragey at the world right now, read The Change!!

This book caught me by surprise because this usually isn't my genre of choice, but what a great, well-paced story!
I would describe it more magical realism than fantasy, as its a story of three strong women who use their superpowers for good. Although it's a long book at just under 500 pages, the story is well developed and interesting enough with plenty of twists to keep you turning the pages!
If you're a fan of mystery solving, witchy characters and girl power, I would highly recommend!
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC.

The old woman who lives in the overgrown house. The successful gym owner. The woman who can see the dead. They all have a strange something inside of them that brings them together in an unexpected but powerful way when young girls in their area start turning up dead.

I'm not sure if I have anything to add that hasn't been mentioned in the kazillion reviews that popped up for this book overnight. This is going to be the book of the summer! The Change has garnered huge popularity since its release date AND FOR GOOD REASON! We love a hyped-book that holds up to the adoration!

The Change is best described as a supernatural mystery with strong female empowerment themes. There are so many different plot-threads and magical elements to this multi-layered, supercharged, story. Miller seemed to decide why not edit out some cool shit when you can have it all. I felt nervous for Miller at around the halfway point. There were a lot of balls in the air and I didn't know if this ambitious debut novel was going to go down in flames or rise to the occasion! In the end, I felt that the many different flavors of story elements came together in a seamless and unexpected way. I need the change to be the first book in a series because I didn't want to leave these characters behind.

The most succesful part of this novel was the dazzling characterization that brought effortless chemistry to the book. The mystery wasn't difficult to sniff out, but because the characters were done so well, I didn't mind a couple predictable "twists"

I'm on board for whatever Miller has up her sleeve next, but I also just want this book to be the start of a series. Imagine multiple supernatural mystery books with a host of badass, nuanced, female leads? Its been a rough couple years Miller, WE DESERVE THIS!

Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for an advanced copy of of The Change in exchange for an honest review!

The Change is available to readers now!

I absolutely loved the concept of this book, how plants were featured, and the characters coming into their power at menopause. The storyline was fantastic, and I fully enjoyed the twists and turns.

There were, however, some tough things in this book that kept it from perfection. One was the pacing which would ramp up to a big event and slow back down to an utter crawl before revving up again. I did love how things came together but I think more could have been done in the chapter arrangement and length to keep important plot points in the forefront without the predictability.

I still very much enjoyed this and would recommend, particularly for the main characters!

Favorite quote here:

“This is what you were made for,” she told her. “Why do you think women are designed to outlive men? Why do we keep going for thirty years after our bodies can no longer reproduce? Do you think nature meant for those years to be useless? No, of course not. Our lives our designed to have three parts. The first is education. The second, creation. And in part three, we put our experience to use to protect those who are weaker. This third stage, which you have entered, can be one of incredible power.”

The Change by Kirsten Miller is one of the most compelling books I've read all year. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, the characters, and the justice dealt to those who deserved it.

If you have a weak stomach or don't like to talk about menstruation, then this book might not be for you. The author goes into great detail about what it's like for women - Jo in particular - to have a heavy flow and what all that entails. Jo's period seems to be more intense due to the particular talents she possesses, but I do feel like the author was accurate in representing what women have to go through while on their periods.

Harriet was by far my favorite character. I really liked her transformation and the freedom it provided her. She was finally able to be herself without restrictions and being responsible for doling out punishments suited her personality and newly discovered gifts. She always seemed to know what was going to happen before the others did, and I'm not sure if she was able to glimpse it somehow, or if she was just that intuitive. Of the three, she seemed most at home in her new body. She embraced her abilities and newfound connection to the world around her - a true badass.

Nessa was a really sweet and gentle character, and my heart broke for her throughout the book. She's still dealing with the loss of her husband, and seeing dead girls pop up on a beach wasn't easy, especially once they realize the depth and magnitude of the situation. Someone has been taking and hurting girls, but specifically girls that no one will look for. Girls that no one will miss. It was heartbreaking to read about, and I'm glad they received justice at the end.

I know the author was trying to make a point with this book, but not all men are terrible. It felt like every male in this book was flawed in some big way. Other than the detective, it was hard to like anyone other than the women in this book. Jo's husband was okay, but he wasn't the best, you know? He seemed jealous of his wife's accomplishments, lazy and uninterested in helping out around the house, etc. I wanted to see men who weren't scum peppered in throughout the book, but it mostly focuses on women and their bad experiences with the opposite sex. Not knocking it... just an observation and an opinion.

I was also slightly annoyed by some of the character's choices in this book. One of Nessa's daughters decided to go for a run by herself even though girls have disappeared, and people have clearly threated the lives of Nessa, Joe, Harriet and their families. Jo also gets a business opportunity seemingly out of nowhere, and I didn't like how easily everything fell into place. She should have had more questions, or at the very least been hesitant about the offer. Additionally, the ending was a tad too obvious for my liking, and I wish it had been a little more unpredictable.

I think The Change brings attention to a lot of "taboo" topics and realistically shows how women are perceived in the world. It's still very much a "man's world" that women are having to claw their way through just to be seen and heard. Even now, with everyone discussing abortion rights and what women are allowed to do with their bodies, women are fighting just to have a choice. Miller doesn't paint a pretty picture; she shares the harsh truths that people would rather avoid, and for that alone I would wholeheartedly recommend this book. It might be fictional, but its frankness was refreshing and really makes this book one worth reading. (★★★★☆)

Quotes I liked:

"'The Commandments only apply to humans,' said the older woman. 'Nobody goes to hell for killing a monster.'"

"'But the truth is, Ms. Rocca--and I suspect deep down, you know this--every recipe is a spell. And all cooks are witches.'"

"'Anyone who needs a reward to be good isn't good. They just like rewards. Good people do the right thing because it's the right thing to do.'"

"'Nothing ages a person like poverty and misery,' Harriet said. 'Despite what all the ads claim, it's not skin cream that helps some women keep their glow. The only true youth serum has two ingredients--luck and money.'"

"'Seriously, Max. I grew up watching stuff that taught me that women who enjoyed sex were whores. That we should try to be who men wanted us to be--not who we really were. It fucked me up. It fucked up a lot of women I know. Is that what you want for your kid?'"

"The problem was the companies that sold shitty sanitary pads. Otherwise reasonable adults who believed tampons stole a girl's virginity. Doctors who didn't bother to solve common problems. Birth control that could kill you. Boys who were told that they couldn't control themselves. A society that couldn't handle the fact that roughly half of all humans will menstruate."

I also really liked the author's version of the Garden of Eden. It's better than the original, honestly. 😉

"'God may have dictated the Bible, but it was put down on paper by men. And over the years, men have changed things that don't make them look good. In the original story, Eve was the hero, and this snake was her friend.'"

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

The Change, by Kirsten Miller, is about three women who find their strength and gain special powers while undergoing menopause. They unite and use their powers to defend other women and to solve a rash of murders that are occurring in their area.

Overall I thought that this was an unique story and I really enjoyed reading it.

The Change by Kirsten Miller. Pub Date: May 3rd, 2022. Rating: 3 stars. When Big Little Lies is mixed with feminism, mid life crises, mystery and magical powers, you get this novel. Centered around a group of three women who as they age, they develop "gifts" of a magical nature, this book is a wild ride with a touch of intrigue due to the mystery that needs to be solved and how the women use their powers to help in the process. They are powerful and firm in their strive for justice. The women definitely hold the forefront of this novel and men are not viewed in the most promising and loving light, but I think the author really wanted to create a story full of womanhood, female friendship and dominance. I found this novel to be a tad too long, but commend the author for finding a way to weave magical realism into a drama filled book. This was definitely a unique story and a breath of fresh air in the current book market. Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #netgalley #williammorrow #thechange

Obsessed with any title that has strong feminist characters.

I will say I did not expect the "supernatural" aspect of this book, and I was a little over the descriptions of the women's cycles, but other than that, it was a great read.

I loved watching the journeys of the three women, and how they came together to solve the mystery.

Don't let the thickness of this book scare you off, it's worth the read.

Unique and uplifting - a bit of magic- and quite the story! Hidden strengths revealed, and the power of friendship and women who find inner strength, and more, Interwoven with each other, with history, with each other, and together solving a long-time mystery and murders - of course using their new "powers" for good! Can't decide which one I'd like to be!

This book took on misogyny, violence against women, race, class, and ageism but managed to do it in a way that felt exhilarating and fun. Jo, Harriet, and Nessa are all in their late forties from a variety of backgrounds. They find themselves brought together by the potential that a serial killer is active in their sleepy island town. When they discover the body of a unnamed girl, they set off to figure out who the girl is and what happened to her. Interspersed with the main plot, we get chapters that give us more insight into the backgrounds of the three women as well as some of the young girls who’s deaths these women are attempting to avenge. A perfect blend of a thriller with a much deeper message about what it’s like to be a woman in the workplace, a girl from a family of low economic standing, and the dangers all women still face simply by being women. This book felt like an anthem to girl power and I didn’t want it to end.

THIS WAS INCREDIBLE! I couldn’t put it down! This is the story of three women finding their own super powers and using them to bring light to the murders of young women in their beach town. It’s so much more than that description but if that’s not enough to get you interested, I don’t know what will.

When women get to a certain age, they tend to become invisible. This book is for those women, and to let them know they don't need to accept that invisibility. I really loved this book, and it's one I've been waiting to see written for some time. Granted, some of the women make some morally questionable choices, but it's about middle aged women standing up to the crap that affects so many of us. There were times reading this that were almost too hard to read, because I could so relate to a lot of this.

I've seen it written that this is a feminist revenge fantasy, and I think that diminishes the story. Also most of the men in this novel are a bit over the top evil, but still, this is a terrific novel that I thoroughly enjoyed, about women showing they don't have to be put out to pasture just because they hit middle age.

I took one star because I found the ending a little rushed and also I hate twists, and this had a twist. I think that can be a bit lazy at times. But these are relatively minor quibbles for how good I thought this book was otherwise.

The title refers to menopause and also to the freedoms we give ourselves when we age. A feminist fairy tale, a revenge satire, a change of pace. However you categorize this novel, the result is the same. Three totally fabulous and powerful women team up to find a killer of young women. Really shout out loud sequences followed by emotional testimony of being a woman, in all shapes, sizes and ages.

Wow! Quite a revenge story. Three lovely women discover powers that they have discovered later in life. The use their unique gifts to punish those deserving it the have gotten away with it for far to long. Magical and unpredictable and what a shock at the ending. I enjoyed my magical escape into this book very much.