What Fresh Hell Is This?

Perimenopause, Menopause, Other Indignities, and You

By: Heather Corinna

Narrated by: Heather Corinna, Aria Baci

What to Expect When You’re Not Expected to Expect Anything Anymore

Did you see the title and flame-filled cover of this book, and did your weary, sweaty, confused, and exasperated soul scream, That one! That is the book for me!!? If so, I’d first like to extend my deepest sympathies, an ice pack, and some of these very helpful edibles. If it’s three in the morning as you’re reading this, as it may well be, you likely want those more than a book. But since I can’t really give you the other stuff, I can at least offer you this book. . . .

Perimenopause and menopause experiences are as unique as all of us who move through them. While there’s no one-size-fits-all, Heather Corinna tells you what can happen and what you can do to take care of yourself, all the while busting pernicious myths, offering real self-care tips—the kind that won’t break the bank or your soul—and running the gamut from hot flashes to hormone therapy. With big-tent, practical, clear information and support, and inclusive of so many who have long been left out of the discussion—people with disabilities; queer, transgender, nonbinary, and other gender-diverse people; BIPOC; working class and other folks—What Fresh Hell Is This? is the cooling pillow and empathetic best friend to help you through the fire.

Critic reviews

“I have loved Heather Corinna's work for twenty years, and What Fresh Hell Is This is their best yet. This book feels like your best friend talking to you over drinks–if your best friend is a shit-talking, patriarchy-smashing, intersectionally feminist professor of the history of reproductive medicine and also an endocrinologist with a side hustle as a comedian. Please read this book.”—Emily Nagoski, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Come As You Are

Praise for S.E.X.
"The best book about sex and sexuality: It covers everything from puberty to sex to social and emotional health. It also addresses more complicated issues such as relationship dynamics as well as topics around sexual abuse. S.E.X. is also an excellent text for LGBTQ+ teens, as it covers sexual and gender identity and outlines different ways of being physically intimate, from kissing to anal and vaginal intercourse."—The 10 Best Books About Adolescence, According to Psychologists, New York Magazine, March 2019

"In high school and college, the bible is Heather Corinna's S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-To-Know Sexuality Guide to Get You Through Your Teens and Twenties."—Peggy Orenstein, Goop

"S.E.X. is, literally, a lifesaving book. Corinna's vast commonsense wisdom--especially on topics relating to gender roles, queer sexuality and gender identities--has the potential to improve the physical and emotional health of anyone who reads it, and to help heal our culture's unhealthy, conflicted approaches to sex, sexuality and gender."—Lisa Jervis, Bitch magazine co-founder

"I think this is the most comprehensive, honest sex-ed book I have ever seen."—Carol Schramm, First Thursday Book Reviews

"The book that I like most for high school kids is by Heather Corinna: S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-to-Know Progressive Sexuality Guide to Get You Through High School and College. It's very straightforward and provides lots and lots of information, but it talks about how that particular information relates to relationship issues or values or communication issues. That's what kids need more than anything."—Deborah Roffman, author, Sex and Sensibility and Talk to Me First: Everything You Need to Know to Become Your Kids' 'Go-To' Person About Sex

"S.E.X. is a positive and informative all-embracing guide to sexuality by a dedicated author. Heather Corinna challenges adolescents and young adults alike to be proactive in owning their sexuality by being true to themselves, all the while laying the foundation of knowledge and acceptance key factors for the development of a healthy sexuality."—Dr. Lynn Ponton, author, The Sex Lives of Teenagers

Perfect for me!!!

I so needed this! Heather (they/their) affirmed my concerns and realities of perimenopause. They spoke to my soul about this normal event of millions of women around the world. I feel normal, validated, and understood because of this book by Heather Corinna.

PS: It's okay to skip chapter 2. It's the gruesome history of menopause and the treatments for it. They cover the concepts in less upchucking ways in other chapters.

I just needed to hear this -

This hit the spot - I just need to hear that someone else is going through metaphase and I am going to come out the other side and be OKAY -
It was like talking to a friend.

Awesome.

It takes a lot to make this raging, crying, perimenopausal person laugh, and I laughed actually out loud multiple times. When Heather cracked up at one point while narrating, I almost peed my pants. Granted it's not that hard to do these days, but still. All while learning a lot of pertinent and timely stuff, and getting all the validation.

Hilarious and informative

Heather’s humor has made peri a whole lot more digestible to me. I learned a ton and laughed a ton.

Everything they should’ve already taught us

It will educate you, infuriate you (at the history) and validate your experience. Incredibly well researched and inclusive! While the rest of your life, job, doctors, family, the world is oblivious and therefore dismissive of what’s going on with your body this book sees you (us). It is not a diet or “self help” book. It will however teach you what you need to know to advocate for yourself. Corinna is a Gen Xer so expect a bit of cussing and extreme honesty, but you should have expected that from the title. I laughed out loud lots and also cursed “you’re f*ing kidding me” plenty. I’m badgering all my friends to read it and even shared it with the gynecologist at my last appointment.