Review of Hot Flashes Cold Showers

[Gabriela Contreras Gonzalez]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Hot Flashes Cold Showers" by Susan Hannah McCabe.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Hot Flashes – Cold Showers by Susan Hannah McCabe is a collection of essays the author expects will entertain and bring laughter to the reader. They do not follow a specific order, which makes it more interesting. The essays narrate those moments of clarity that appear when one least expects them, sometimes giving you a good moment, making you feel calmer, and others, not so nice, when you realize that maybe you were in the wrong.

I enjoyed this book, as I believe the author’s writing style makes it easy for readers (especially females) to relate to her experiences. The one I related the most with is “The Perfect Life,” a story about how hard it is to live exactly that, a perfect life, that balances everything one wishes to obtain (healthy weight, glowing skin, protecting the environment, for example). I also enjoyed reading “I Live In A Bubble,” as it gave me a deeper sense of the author’s life, community, and life experiences. Another story I enjoyed was “Packing” because that is something I always struggle with. I enjoyed the lack of chronological order (something uncommon with me), as life and its lessons don’t happen in the moments and order we expect them to, so this gave it a sense of realism and made it easier for me to relate to some of the stories the author was sharing (although I must mention, some events seemed confusing because of this lack of chronology, but the book was still understandable).

Not every essay made me laugh; some made me feel like the author was exaggerating and creating more drama in a situation that did not need it. There were also some stories that, at the beginning, gave the incorrect impression of the author’s purpose of sharing it, which made me get upset at her and then at me for being judgmental (was that a hot flash or a cold shower?). I also think that not all the stories and essays are moments of realization, and it was hard for me to identify what all the hot flashes and cold showers were.

I must also mention that the book includes mentions of cannabis, and while the story might have positive or negative teachings depending on how one sees recreational consumption, it is important to mention it and warn readers that might feel triggered by this.

Overall, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The book has been exceptionally well edited, as I did not find a single mistake. While some stories and essays were not to my liking, I enjoyed most of the book, and it would not be fair to deduct stars because I believed drama was unnecessary, as this was a personal preference.

I believe females will enjoy this book the most, but the book is suitable for every type of reader. If you want something to take your mind off the stress of everyday life while realizing that we, as people, are not as different as we thought, this is the perfect book for you.

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Hot Flashes Cold Showers
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[Kibet Hillary]

It is good to read that the stories in the book will entertain and bring laughter to the reader. I can already have a taste of what the book is all about from the story titled "The Perfect Life", and it appears that it is, undoubtedly, informative too. Thank you, @Gabriela Contreras Gonzalez, for the review.

[Yasmine Zaki Muhieddine]

I feel that the author meant for the book to be informative while wrapping the stories in humor. The author also seems to be relatable and I would like to read this book. Thank you for your thorough review.

[Onyemuwa-dave]

Cold Showers! It's great to hear how Susan Hannah McCabe's essays, like "The Perfect Life" and "Packing," resonated with your own experiences, and how the non-chronological order added realism. Your point about the "hot flash or a cold shower" moments is quite clever. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this relatable and well-edited collection – it sounds like a perfect stress reliever.