A review by isabella322
The Red Zone by Chloe Caldwell

5.0

I’m obsessed with all of Chloe Caldwell’s writing. I would have read this book regardless of what it was about, but of all things I’m glad she chose to write about periods. More than anything, this book made me feel empowered and unashamed about talking about my period. I grew up in a family that never talked about it. I remember my dad taking the trash out when I was younger and he saw in the trash a wrapper for one of my mom’s pads, and he was like “what the hell is this?” It wasn’t supposed to be talked about it even though it encompassed so much of our reality for people who menstruate. Over the years, I’ve worked to overcome this shame I felt but it’s still there. This book has really opened the door for me to be able to talk about periods, as just a fact of life. When people ask me what I’ve read lately or what my favorite books are I’m able to bring this book up and start a conversation. When Chloe talks about how everyone who menstruates has a different reality every day because of where they are in their cycle, that felt validating, like even though I don’t have PMDD, I can reflect on my mood and my behavior in correlation with my cycle