Book Review, Memoir

Normal at 40? by Kate Mangold


Do you often wonder about other people’s lives and how they compare to your own? Do some people really have it all? Do you choose to age gracefully or disgracefully? And most importantly… does turning forty mean life is over or that it has just begun?


Normal at 40? is a true story of my life journey so far, with hilarious travel tales that will make you laugh, everyday life challenges that we can all relate to, but also devastating and desperate sadness that will make you cry. An easy-going but thought-provoking read that will take you on a roller coaster of emotions and make you think more about your own life – do you really need more or should you appreciate what you already have?


Normal at 40? may change your whole outlook on life, so come along on my journey with me and see what happens…

I enjoy learning about people. When my family and I used to fly, my grandmother and I would people watch and make up stories. When she and I went to see the broadway show Chicago, there was an older woman in her nineties who we enjoyed talking with. She had an interesting life. This book is one of those small gems that is worth finding.

What I like about this book is how it was easy to relate to some of these stories. Even though I, myself, experienced none of these stories, you felt like you were there with her. While reading this, it felt like friends catching up on good times. It reminded me of when my grandmother or uncle telling me stories of their youth.

This book was a good read. The stories held my interest, and I could have stayed and talked all night. The stories wanted me to know more about what stories the author left out. There were some learning journeys and some sadness. The stories made you laugh, smile, and cry (no, I did not cry, but if you are a bawler, you might.) Some of these I could relate to and some I would have loved to have been brave enough to have experienced something similar.

I recommend this book. It was a great read, and you can feel some emotions within the stories. If you love nonfiction, adventure, and memoirs, then this gem is for you.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion.

I give this book a 4/5

Rating: 4 out of 5.

You can purchase this book here!

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