An interesting though slightly disjointed memoir about falling in love and negotiating with PMDD. Some parts of this book will be relevant to anyone who gets a period, while other aspects are specific to PMDD and Chloe's own life. I liked it but didn’t love it.

I looooove Chloe Caldwell's funny and relatable and emotional writing. She is one of the greats, truly, and I jumped at the chance to read this. The book follows the author's menstrual cycle and struggle to get a diagnosis of PMDD after years of doubt and shame. I enjoyed reading about the experiences of women outside of just Chloe, and I thought she did an excellent job conveying the importance of education and fighting for yourself. It was dystopian at times and will be eye-opening for anyone who doesn't struggle through their period. Not my favorite book of hers, but definitely loved and appreciated it.

I shrieked with laughter and wept with recognition throughout this delightful memoir. Caldwell relays the quotidian horrors of PMDD with heart and wit and unflinching honesty -- I'm no stranger to feminist-y frank body talk, but I don't think I've ever seen someone have the nerve to be quite so real with their hormone-induced mood rages and debilitating physical symptoms. Put another way: I've never seen before in print such vivid descriptions of period-induced diarrhea. And I loved every second of it! Caldwell is sharp and direct, her emotional hooks as devastating as her narrative structure is effective. She invokes an impressive bibliography of menstrual-y writing but avoids the statistic-heavy info dump paragraphs that many authors would include. What an unforgettable memoir -- it has more than earned its place on our shelves!

I'm feeling so hopeful about all of the new media surrounding menstruation, and this book is a delightful addition to this burgeoning (and much overdue) realm. The writing is lovely and intimate. I'll recommend this book.

I will read anything Chloe Caldwell publishes. Her writing is witty, clever, informative, & nuanced. This book specifically takes a subject that isn't frequently talked about and makes it seem like it's the most prevalent thing in the world. Combining personal experience, factual tidbits, and other people's personal experiences, it gives the reader such a nuanced view of what it can mean to suffer from PMDD. It leaves you with something to think about, leaves you wanting to research and reflect on your own life. Even as someone who doesn't suffer from PMDD or other menstruation disorders, the book is relatable.

I think anyone can love this book, whether you menstruate or not. It's not just a book about periods and PMDD but a personal account of what it means to deal with health problems, form relationships, and learn about your body. And it's definitely engaging.

I was not prepared to like this book as much as I did!
I was expecting something lurid and graphic, but The Red Zone is intimate and beautiful. I can actually see giving it to my daughter some day, when she is a bit older. (And/or Chloe Caldwell should write a book for girls!) The Red Zone shows the sacredness of the female cycle (along with some of the messiness). It's also a lovely portrait of a respectful partnership where both people communicate and listen and TRY HARD even when life is swinging back and forth a bit wildly.
Craft-wise, it's a beautifully written book that appears seamless but I know did not just pour out of the author completely formed :) I had followed Chloe Caldwell's work years ago when she wrote for the Rumpus and am happy to see how her work has grown and changed. A+!

I really appreciated the candid discussion around menstruation and specifically premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in this book. Chloe Caldwell is an honest writer and I applaud her for taking on a topic that is not talked about enough. I think a lot of menstruating individuals would find solace in this book, particularly if you also experience menstruation disorders that affect your daily. I do think she also spends a lot of time talking about her relationships and unique family dynamics (think outside of the standard nuclear family). I don't think this book is quite marketed in that direction, but I think this aspect of it would be quite nice for people who are interested in reading the experiences of what it means to find and make your own family, in an unconventional sense.

I do wish that she talked about other menstruation disorders as that was how I feel like this book was marketed, but perhaps that was my error in expectations.

An interesting memoir anchored in the author’s menstrual cycle. There is, necessarily, a lot going on here to tie things together. Primarily, this is a story about PMDD with the early chapters of under education, shame and silence leading to her coming to a diagnosis later than perhaps she ought. While I’m not 100 percent sure this really works as a cohesive whole, I was interested in different ways, at different times, at the different parts of this memoir.