Nine parts in, and we still haven’t run out of things to recommend.
Every time I think, “This is probably the last one,” another book keeps me up too late, another creator earns a permanent spot in my feed, or one of you sends me something that immediately gets added to my list. So here we are again.
A few more books, people, products, and internet finds that have quietly become part of my everyday life lately. Let’s do it!
People We’re Following:
This & That Humor (Audrey) on IG - Everyday life, Long Island style, with a side of sarcasm.
Why We Love Her: Audrey has become one of those creators I’ll stop scrolling for every single time. Marriage. Parenting. Family gatherings. Friendships. She has a way of taking completely ordinary moments and turning them into something ridiculously funny, mainly because they’re so relatable.
Her Long Island personality is part of the charm. Nothing feels overproduced or rehearsed. It’s quick observations, perfect timing, and the kind of humor that makes you immediately think, “Yep, I’ve met that person.”She’s exactly the kind of internet find I end up telling my friends about.
The FxCK Your 50s Podcast - She’s rewriting the rules instead of following them.
Why We Love Her: Andrea doesn’t pretend your 50s are some magical finish line where everything suddenly makes sense.
She talks about hormones, confidence, identity, relationships, career pivots, and the freedom that comes with caring a whole lot less about everyone else’s expectations.I appreciate women who are willing to challenge the script and remind the rest of us that midlife isn’t about becoming smaller. It’s about becoming more yourself.
Mom vs. Boys on IG - Because raising boys is a universal language.
Why We Love Her: Mom vs. Boys is based in Sydney, Australia, which of course caught my attention because of my Aussie Man. But what really hooked me were her boys, James and Jackson.
Watching them instantly takes me back to raising my own three.The endless eating. The wrestling. The mysterious grunts instead of complete sentences. My boys are 23, 20, and 15 now, but James and Jackson remind me that boys are wonderfully, hilariously predictable no matter where they grow up. Turns out boys are boys, whether they’re being raised in Sydney, California or beyond.
That’s Inappropriate on IG - She turns everyday overwhelm into something we can laugh about.
Why We Love Her: Beth has been making women laugh for years because she understands the mental load we all carry.
Marriage. Motherhood. Midlife. The endless to-do lists. The invisible work nobody notices until it doesn’t get done.She has a way of taking those moments that make you want to scream and turns them into anecdotes that remind you you’re not the only one living (through) it. Her stories prove the best therapy is realizing thousands of other women are laughing at the exact same things.
Books We’re Reading
The Grownup by Gillian Flynn - Proof that you don’t need 100 pages to completely mess with someone’s head.
Why We Love It: I don’t know how Gillian Flynn does it, but she packs more suspense, twists, and “Wait… WHAT?” moments into a novella than most authors do in a full-length novel.It’s creepy. It’s smart. It’s unsettling in all the right ways. You’ll finish it in one sitting and immediately want to call someone to talk about the twist at the end of the tale.
Theo of Golden by Allen Levi - A beautiful reminder that second acts can be even better than the first.
Why We Love It: This book hit me in all the right places. It’s about community, belonging, purpose, and discovering that life still has plenty of surprises waiting for us.
Maybe that’s why it resonated so much. So many women arrive in midlife after years of taking care of everyone else, checking all the boxes, and wondering, “Now what?” Theo reminds us there are still new people to meet, new adventures to have, and entirely new chapters waiting to be written. I closed the book feeling hopeful. Those are the stories I always come back to.
You’ll Be Sorry by Liz Alterman - The sequel we’ve all been waiting for.
Why We Love It: If you’ve been around Real Girls Guide for a while, you already know how much we loved You Shouldn’t Have Done That (also written by Liz).
Good news… Liz Alterman is back.
She has become one of my favorite writers because she takes ordinary neighborhoods, ordinary marriages, and ordinary friendships, then quietly reminds you that absolutely everyone is hiding something.
I was thrilled to revisit these characters, and once again Liz had me promising myself, “Just one more chapter.” But, I was lying to myself every single time. I couldn’t put it down.
The Creepy Book Club Retreat - Because books are even better when they come with great people.
Why We Love It: One of the things I admire most about Ashley DeSanto and Emily Reeder is that they didn’t stop at building an online book club.
They’ve taken that community into the real world with their Creepy Book Club retreats, bringing readers together for a few days of books, conversations, laughs, and the kind of friendships that start because everyone showed up loving the same stories. There’s something really special about watching an online community become an in-person one.
And let’s be honest, spending a long weekend talking about books with people who love them as much as you do sounds pretty close to the perfect getaway.
Products Actually Worth Buying
Supergoop! Glowscreen - Amanda got us… again!
Why We Love It: Remember Amanda from Parts 7 and 8?
Well, it seems she’s determined to improve all of our skincare routines one amazing product at a time.
This time it was Supergoop! Glowscreen, and I completely understand why it’s become such a favorite. It gives your skin that healthy, glowy look while doing the grown-up job of protecting it from the sun. Anything that makes me look a little more awake while helping prevent future sun damage is a win in my book. Amanda’s recommendations continue to be undefeated.
e.l.f. Vitamin C Serum - Great skincare doesn’t have to cost a fortune!
Why We Love It: You guessed it, Amanda strikes again.
This serum quietly worked its way into my morning routine without any dramatic promises or over-the-top claims.
It’s lightweight, brightening, layers beautifully under moisturizer, and somehow costs less than most of my coffee orders.
I love finding products that simply do what they say they’re going to do.
This one earned its spot.
Things We’re Wearing
Menopawsy Robe, Pajamas & Necklace - Midlife merchandise that doesn’t take midlife too seriously.
Why We Love It: Our favorite overheated calico cat is back. The robe is ridiculously soft.
The pajamas somehow make bedtime a little more fun. And the necklace has become one of those little conversation starters that instantly brings a smile from another woman who gets it.
I still love that Menopawsy makes menopause something we can laugh about instead of something we whisper about.
Salty Crew Graphic Tees - You all convinced me I wasn’t the only one.
Why We Love Them: One thing these Obsessions posts have taught me is that we have a collective appreciation for a great graphic tee.
Every time one sneaks into a reel or a photo, someone asks where it’s from. And then the recommendations start flying in. Apparently we all have opinions on vintage bands, funny sayings, oversized fits, perfectly worn-in cotton, and the hunt for the one you’ll wear until it falls apart. And if graphic tees are another thing midlife women are supposedly too old to wear, I seem to have missed the memo, too. I love that.
Give me a graphic tee, a pair of jeans, and I’m happy.
Trucker Hats - We’re absolutely not too old!
Why We Love Them: If you’ve been around RGG for a while, you already know where I stand on trucker hats.
They’ve become part of my unofficial uniform. My collection is growing, too. Our girl Keesha Scott from Cake for Dinner gave me the cutest one, and my girls’ weekend produced another that is wildly NSFW, deeply embarrassing to my boys, and funny as shit–which obviously means I’ll be wearing it!
They rescue bad hair days, beach days, airport days, pickleball mornings, coffee runs, and pretty much any day I don’t feel like doing my hair. I’ve heard every version of “Aren’t you a little old for those?”
Respectfully…
No. I’ll keep wearing them for as long as I want.
Bonus Obsession: The Real Girls Guide Spotify Playlist - Because every woman deserves a runway song
Why We Love It: One of my favorite things we’ve created together is our Real Girls Guide Spotify playlist.It started because I became slightly obsessed with the idea that every woman needs a runway song—something that makes you walk a little taller, drive a little louder, dance around the kitchen or remember a version of yourself you never want to lose.
Now it’s filled with songs from this community.
Some make us laugh…
Some take us back…
Some just make us want to roll the windows down and sing at the top of our lungs.
If you haven’t added your song yet, consider this your invitation.
That’s a Wrap for Part 9
The full running list of Real Girls Obsessions can be found here.
And if you’ve found something lately that’s earned a permanent spot on your bookshelf, in your bathroom drawer, on your playlist, in your closet, or in your everyday routine, send it my way. Some of the best finds in this series have come from all of you.
Let’s keep the list growing.
#RealGirlsGuidetoMidlife #MidlifeBooks #MidlifeObsessions
We’ve earned every wrinkle. Might as well make more laugh lines together.
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And if you’ve read my first book and loved it, a quick review on Amazon helps keep it moving!