Brooke Shields is Not Allowed to Get Old and yet she is, and doing so with determination, authenticity, humor and strength!

I am only slightly older than she is, and I remember so much of her career. But it was when she stood up for herself after Tom Cruise attacked her for speaking about and treating her post-partum depression, that I became a fan. She gave women the message that they were okay. And that if they weren't okay they could get help. And, that they weren't alone. If this beautiful woman could fight depression, and need help, then we could too.

This book allowed me to see the vibrant, intelligent feminist woman. I loved her discussions of menopause and how it changes us, and that she talks with heart about her own insecurities. I loved that she has grown into her power, becoming more comfortable in her own skin as she ages, because I feel the same. I love that she treasures the women in her life, empowering them and rooting for them.

I found her relatable, likable and admirable. The book is written in a chatty style that allowed me to feel as though we had spent the day together, chatting, laughing and sharing.

Thank you to @netgalley & the publisher for my #gifted copy!

In her latest book, Brooke Shields offers her genuine perspective on mature womanhood, aging, and how society views women in these changing times. I appreciated how Brooke draws from her own life experiences to strengthen the narrative that women are treated differently as they age. She shares her first-hand experiences as she navigates this new phase of her life, providing relatable insights for many readers. This book is written with an authentic voice as she examines what happens when women begin to pave their own path in the second half of their lives.

I enjoyed the parts of the book where Brooke reflects on her career—examining the choices she made and those made for her—ultimately finding her own power. Many women at a certain age will find this particularly relatable. I found her exploration of the healthcare system especially engaging. Frequently, medical professionals dictate how we should feel about our bodies, and when we question this, it is often dismissed as us being challenging.

Several aspects of Brooke’s story truly hit home with me. As we age, we may gain confidence, but she is right to point out that there is also a newfound freedom from worrying about others' opinions when expressing our own. This is not a new issue. A confident older woman should not be seen as a threat, yet society often views her that way.

I would recommend this book to many of my friends over forty and suggest listening to the audio production. Brooke does a fantastic job with her narration, and her passion for various women’s health and wellness issues shines through. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and are based on my personal experiences and background.

I'm not exactly in the generation of women that Brooke Shields is campaigning to help but I think reading this book in my 30's will help me grow into my 40's and beyond better. I feel prepared to age and I'm not scared of turning 40, 50, 60, etc.

I love that Brooke uses her voice to help other women. We all need more of that in the world and especially in the celebrity world. I think she comes off as educated, compassionate, and down to earth. She shares statistics about the disadvantages towards females that will blow your mind. The title of the book couldn't be more real with how women (especially celebrities) are treated when it comes to growing older. There is a reason the movie, The Substance, has resonated with so many.

I haven't seen much of Brooke's work, but I like what I heard, and I will have to read her other books now to find out more about her. Her voice is calm and enthusiastic at the same time. I enjoyed hearing her speak.

Thank you to NetGalley, Brooke Shields, Macmillan Audio and Flatiron Books for the opportunity. I have written this review voluntarily and honestly!

Being a woman in my (cough cough) 40s, I really enjoyed this book. I have not read any of her other books, but I did see her documentary last year when it came out and of course I knew who she was (my fav of her roles was Joey’s crazy stalker Erika 🤪 on Friends, she really nailed it!). In this book, she speaks with such an openness and boldness that is inspiring. Some points I picked out that resonate with me:

✨Don’t be a should of, could of, would of person
✨Ask yourself positive questions so you give yourself positive answers

Overall, I enjoyed her book and recommend it to others; not just women approaching middle age, but also younger women so they too can learn to ask questions and realize that there’s joy in all the different stages of life.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC of this book.

I enjoyed having the author as the narrator. I thought it was a good book about the aging process, but didn’t feel like I learned a lot from it.

Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old by Brooke Shields
Audio Version
Overall Grade: A-
Information: A-
Writing/Organization: A-
Narration: A-
Best Aspect: Very real and will be helpful to many women.
Worst Aspect: A little repetitive.
Recommend: Yes.

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.

I haven't read any of Brooke Shield's previous memoirs, nor seen her documentary Pretty Baby (although I want to now). That being said, this was an eye opening read. I was expecting anecdotes about mid-life, and yes, there were quite a few. But, it also read, at times, like a research paper, full of statistics and facts. I understand she felt she needed to back up her commentary, but it felt a bit dry at times. I do like her advice about facing this phase of life head on with confidence.

I listened to this book simply because I love Brooke Shields and it did not disappoint. Although targeted for women over 40, I think it’s a must-read for women of all ages. This book is encouraging, empowering, thought-provoking and hilarious! I highly recommend choosing the audio version as Brooke Shield’s narration adds so much to the book! This was honestly such a joy to listen to.

This title immediately caught my eye and when I saw the audiobook was available through NetGalley, I was very excited to get listening to Brooke Shields talk about her life as a woman today. Since she is a mere 3 months younger than me, I could relate to a lot of the menopause-related stuff that she wrote about. On the other hand, since I haven't been in the public eye since I was a small child, as she was, I can't relate to that but I can feel sympathy for what it must be like when people expect her to still be young and look the way they remember her looking in a particular film or ad campaign, never thinking that as we the public ages, so does she.

I will definitely recommend this title to readers at the library although I'm sure that she will do just fine with this memoir without me encouraging my patrons.

Fantastic! Wise and witty, with a down-to-earth style of writing that really spoke to me. Covering topics including relationships, careers, menopause, healthcare, and the empty-nest years, the audio version, narrated by Brooke Shields herself, was exceptionally well done. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book and highly recommend it, especially to women of "a certain age,' but also to those approaching it.

Brooke Shields newest book is a must read for women approaching middle age. She tells her story of getting to a certain age (59) with refreshing humor, honesty and great joy. She is definitely a very intelligent, funny woman and entertainer who has had her share of life hacks and is now very openly sharing them with the rest of us. There is a lot of backup data that she shares regarding being a woman in this day and age as well. I loved listening to her narration of her reading her own book, lots of fun. Very Highly recommended. 5 stars.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for a chance to listen/read an ARC version of this delightful book. All opinions are my own.

Brooke Shields and I are almost the same age and going through a lot of similar female issues as we age. What she has to say about menopause, being an empty nester, and the female sex drive as we get older certainly resonates with me. I grew up with Brooke Shields and of course, had Calvins. She starred in 'Endless Love' with a friend of mine and I was a big fan of hers,.I loved 'Suddenly Susan' and her comedic side. She narrates her story well, I enjoyed listening to it, and wish her the best in all her endeavors.

This book is a must read for everyone. I even think men should read it for insight regarding women they love and their struggles. Author Brooke Shields has written and put together a great book that touches on so many topics that women deal with throughout their lives. She does it with humour, bluntness and fairness. I had no idea how funny she was and I must say my respect for her grew with this book. Though to be fair I have always loved her.

Within the storyline of this book you will find a part of yourself but listening to the audio you will feel like you are sitting across the table from your BFF disussing your struggles and truimphs. It was very rewarding and fulfilling to listen to.

This is an audio that I will listen to again and again.

Don't sleep on this book, especially if you are woman of a "certain age." Hard for those of us in our older years to believe that Brooke Shields is now approaching 60, and what she has gone through and the way that she has handled it is illuminating.

Frankly, I'd just about forgotten about her.! But this book offers a real look at a woman who is aging, and given her fame as a child and youth, she has suffered with the public not allowing her to age. In this book, she tells of the many levels of poor care she received from doctors, (including one who was operating on her for labial pain and without her consent, gave her a "tightening up), Moreover, she offers her insights on how it feels to age, and how to do so with grace and dignity, without feeling the need to "do something about it tit."

I identified fully with everything that she said (especially the parts about thinning hair, cellulite and other not so nice changes that befall our bodies. She talks about her changing relationship with her husband, her now grown daughters, and the power and confidence that she has gained over the years.

She narrates the audiobook, and tells her story with honesty and candor. Highly recommend!

#netgalleyaudio

The title alone sets the tone of this witty and introspective narrative from a Hollywood icon as she ages and the perception of others as she does so. Women who are peri-menopausal, menopausal, or post-menopausal will enjoy Brooke's take on what it means to age as a woman. She weaves clinical studies and personal anecdotes into her account and offers optimism as a woman in midlife.

offers a candid and engaging exploration of her life, blending humor with poignant reflections on aging and identity. Shields' warm and relatable narration invites listeners into her world, where she shares both the struggles and triumphs of navigating fame and personal challenges. The audiobook stands out for its authenticity, as Shields addresses societal expectations and her own journey with a refreshing honesty that resonates deeply. This heartfelt performance makes it a compelling listen for anyone interested in the complexities of growing older in the public eye.

I really enjoyed this. Brooke tells it like it is in her story of battling age and the people who think women should quietly slink off after 40. She expounds on the discrimination she has faced, the medical issues she has overcome, and starting a company. Most of all though, she is joyful through all of it.

In her newest work, Brooke Shields offers a candid perspective on mature womanhood, aging, and how society views women in these contexts. This insightful book draws from her own life experiences to strengthen the narrative that women are systematically treated differently as they age. She shares her first-hand experiences as she navigates this new phase of her life, providing relatable insights for many readers. It's a coming-of-age story, but the script is flipped, as she examines what happens when women begin to define their own goals in the second half of their lives.

Several aspects of Brooke’s story resonated with me. As we age, we may gain confidence, but she is right to point out that there is also a newfound freedom from worrying about others' opinions when expressing our own. This can come across as uncomfortably confrontational to the patriarchal system, especially when it comes from an older woman considered past her “prime.” Brooke defines this as an age beyond childbearing. This is not a new issue; we can trace it back to the Middle Ages, when the age bracket most associated with witch accusations often included mature women. A confident older woman should not be seen as a threat, yet society often views her that way.

Brooke also reflects on her career—examining the choices she made and those made for her—ultimately finding her own power. This journey is accompanied by thoughts on mortality, not from a morbid perspective, but rather as an exploration of making it one-third of the way through her life while still seeking validation. Many women at a certain age will find this particularly relatable, especially as their children reach maturity and become less reliant on daily parenting.

I found her exploration of the healthcare system especially engaging. Frequently, medical professionals dictate how we should feel about our bodies, and when we question this, it is often dismissed as us being “difficult”. The lack of knowledge surrounding perimenopause and menopause is astonishing, and advocating for oneself can be an overwhelming task. For many women, particularly those with less privilege, this advocacy is an impossibility.

While I enjoyed most of the book, I found the inclusion of statistics to be off-putting. It felt inauthentic for her to share her personal experiences only to follow them up with generic statistics about how other women feel. Brooke's truth should stand on its own; if I found her relatable despite my vastly different background, many other women likely will too. Presenting statistics to validate her points felt like another nod to patriarchal expectations, as if her experiences weren't enough without evidence that others share them.

I would recommend this book to many of my friends over forty and suggest listening to the audio production. Brooke does a fantastic job with her narration, and her passion for various women’s health and wellness issues shines through.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for my gifted audiobook in exchange for an honest review.


I always enjoy celebrity memoirs about celebrities I don’t know much about. Brooke talks about growing up as a model, her pregnancies and her interactions with Tom Cruise after talking about postpartum depression and her career in acting.