The Panic Years cover art

The Panic Years

dates, doubts and the mother of all decisions

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The Panic Years

By: Nell Frizzell
Narrated by: Nell Frizzell
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

The Panic Years: something between adolescence and menopause, a personal crisis, a transformation.

The panic years can hit at any time but they are most commonly triggered somewhere between the ages of 25 and 40. During this time, every decision a woman makes - from postcode to partner, friends to family, work to weekends - will be impacted by the urgency of the one decision with a deadline, the one decision that is impossible to take back: whether or not to have a baby.

But how to stay sane in such a maddening time?

How to understand who you are and what you might want from life?

How to know if you're making the right decisions?

Raw, hilarious and beguilingly honest, Nell Frizzell's account of her panic years is both an arm around the shoulder and a campaign to start a conversation. This affects us all - women, men, mothers, children, partners, friends, colleagues - so it's time we started talking about it with a little more candour.

©2019 Nell Frizzell (P)2019 Penguin Audio Gender Studies Social Sciences Women Inspiring Witty Thought-Provoking Comedy

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Critic reviews

"Every millennial woman should have it on her bookshelf." (Pandora Sykes, journalist and cohost of The High Low Podcast)

"Vital reading. Nell Frizzell is a master." (Rob Delaney, cowriter and costar of Catastrophe)
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This is a beautifully and honest written book and a must read for any woman aged 25-35 in particular! It was so comforting to know all my thoughts and feelings about the flux are felt by so many others - will recommend to all my friends! Thanks for putting this into the world Nell - I feel less alone!

Must read for all women!

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This took me back 20 years to age 30, very well observed and pretty intimate! Loved hearing about her family and I particularly liked the catch up at the very end- a nice touch!

Really enjoyed this, especially as it was read by the author.

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I recommend this to anyone considering or beginning their journey into motherhood, it is humorous, entertaining and raw.

Honest and wonderfully written

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Thank you for writing this book and for your honesty, it was exactly what I needed to hear at the moment.

Loved it

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I found this book exactly when I needed it - at the beginning of my own ‘panic years.’ I was so glad to know that what I was feeling was normal and that I wasn’t alone. My friends had just surprised me by starting to have babies and so as they were researching how to have babies I was researching what happens when your friends have babies. I felt such a feeling of panic and disillusionment but when I voiced it to other people they just shrugged and said ‘that’s life.’ I am so glad that I listened to this book although I’m still not sure if I want to have a baby…

The panic is real… and normal

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This is a wonderful book- it provides insight and discussion around the topics and questions that dominate the flux but aren’t often talked about so openly. It is at times confronting yet provides reassurance and comfort that there is no right answer and that each path of life has beauty and value. I’ve found parts of this book have stuck with me for days, prompting self-reflection. Also, I have developed a deeper understanding of what my friends may be experiencing through this period of life, relationships, fertility, careers and parenthood - encouraging me to be more curious about their individual experiences and vulnerable with my own.

Insightful and thought-provoking

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What a wonderful book. I laughed, cried and resonated with so much of this. When a writer not only shines a mirror to your own life but helps you make sense of it, you feel heard. Gosh and the chapter describing what it’s like giving birth - think that should be included in all NCT classes! A masterclass in describing the indescribable.

Loved it!

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As someone in the panic years, thank you!! Your words have been so comforting and helpful I felt like you read my mind!

Amazing

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It started off well and it does touch on some good points but then it was just about her life and her pregnancy/life with a baby - which I think in itself would be triggering for the supposed audience. by the end I found it really difficult to listen too in places. I also found the book full of privilege so found it hard to relate too.

got a bit boring

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Great read as a young women it gave me insights I could relate to and others I couldn't which is the beauty of this book. It highlights different and similar experiences women face. I did find it slightly repetitive. Well performance and easy to listen to.

Great read provides real insight

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