by Glynnis MacNicol
Released July 10, 2018
Published by Simon & Schuster
No One Tells You This is a memoir in which Glynnis MacNicol explores what it means to be a woman at age 40 who is unmarried and without children.
In U.S. society, it is often "understood" that women will marry and have children, and those who don't tend to receive assurances that it can still happen, as if being happy alone is not an option.
MacNicol's exploration of her own experiences as a single woman approaching then turning 40 years old is a narrative we don't get to see enough of. Her perspective is refreshing as she realizes that she never questioned her path previously, but then begins to do so. After so many people in her life, including strangers, offer "you'll be okay" sentiments, she realizes it never occurred to her that she wouldn't be.
At the same time that she is strengthening her identity, her mother is battling her own identity as dementia takes hold. In this way, MacNicol covers quite a lot of ground.
I enjoyed reading this memoir and appreciated MacNicol's refreshing perspective. As a divorced woman of the same age, I am often assured that I can get married again -- a statement that makes me bristle. I don't want another marriage. Although my circumstances are somewhat different than the author's (I have been married and I am a mother), she and I share some basic beliefs. It was nice to see how someone else navigated the world as a single woman in her 40s.
Disclaimer: I received an advance-read copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I used Amazon affiliate links in this post. Should you choose to buy something through those links, you will not pay any extra, but they will send me a small fee, which I will likely add to my book fund. Thank you. Please see my Book Review Disclaimer for more information.
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