4.5/5

What a fun twist on a detective type novel! Kind of like a Charlie's Angels, but with super powers? I am having trouble trying to find a way to describe this book since it is so unique.

Jo, Nessa, and Harriet are three unlikely neighbors brought together due to their special gifts. Nessa can see the dead and she needs to the help of Jo (the muscle) and Harriet (the witch) to help uncover who killed the dead young women she finds. Walking together along a beach, they women first stumble across their first body of a young girl. Then there are more. Who is killing these young women and is there a serial killer on the loose?

Each of the main women are a force to be reckoned with. All three are very different, but come together with their special gifts to support one another and help women as a whole. It is a very moving and powerful book. Definitely in the thriller category, the book kept you guessing until the end. Harriet was my favorite character and I just loved her charisma and her self confidence. Jo was probably my least at the beginning (kind of crude for crude sakes) but definitely grew on my towards the end. Loved the three together and I hope the author continues their story and allows them to solve more mysteries together.

Great thrilling read! And go girl power!

Thank you to William Morrow & Company and NetGalley for granting me a free copy in exchange for my honest review!

Marketed as a mix between Big Little Lies and The Witches of Eastwick, this novel was definitely one that I wanted to read. And, although the marketing did hold up for the most part, the novel fell a bit flat for me.

The three main characters — Harriet, Jo and Nessa — are all middle-aged and have all been taken advantage of in their careers by men. After they discover the body of a young girl and begin to try to figure out what happened, each comes into her own and discovers formerly unknown powers that leads them to flesh out the evil that lurks in their community. Revenge, some magic, and a bit of murder swirl through this novel, and the characters are definitely likable. What made this less than a 4- or 5-star read for me was the severe putdown of all things male that seemed to take place through much of the first half of this novel. Yes, the feminist message here is a good and interesting one, but I found it too strong and a bit overboard — especially at the beginning. Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable read, one whose mantra could be “revenge is sweet!”

This is the story of 3 strong women who discover their individual super powers after menopause. They’ve bonded together to solve the mysterious disappearances of young girls in their town. It’s a little quirky, but I enjoyed the story, their friendship and the message of female empowerment. Recommend!

The Change by Kirsten Miller is a unique fantasy novel that captivates readers with a murderous plot. Nessa James, Harriett Osborne, and Jo Levison, a trio of delightful mid-age women, set out to solve a mystery against the forces that control their upper-class community.

Nessa possesses the ability to hear the voices of those that have passed away. Assisted by the cries of the dead only Nessa hears, the women proceed to the murdered bodies of young girls. Will Nessa, Harriett, and Jo be able to respond to the cries for help from the young girls despite the odds?

The Change is my first book by Kirsten Miller. The use of humor and vivid descriptions is intriguing to readers. The story is a well-written, enchanting journey. In the blurb, the book description is "Big Little Lies meets The Witches of Eastwick." Fantasy bookworms will love this stunning tale of magic and mystery.

The Change is available for purchase on May 3rd.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for the privilege of reviewing this charming mystery. Your kindness is appreciated.

I really enjoyed this book! It had me hooked from the first chapter, and kept me on my toes the entire time!

This book may be close to 600 pages but I still managed to binge it in 24 hour. While not entirely what I was expecting, this genre-defying book is easily a five star read!

Harriett, recently divorced and let go from her advertising job, hasn’t been seen in month. Her house especially her garden, once the showpiece of the neighborhood, is out of control. For the first time in her life, she is taking control and cares little of what men think of her. Her ‘green thumb’ has grown her the reputation as being the Witch of the island.

Nessa, a retired nurse has recently become an empty nester. As a widow and with her girls gone, her life has gone quite. She’s entering her third phase of life and coming into her gift of hearing the dead and helping them be at peace.

Jo, once running one of the largest hotels in NYC, now owns her own women’s only gym. After years in the corporate world and of being passed up by men less deserving of their positions, Jo is filled with rage. Mixed with menopause, this rage fuels her and gives her physicals powers to protect the women around her.

While all three women are extremely different from each other, they were meant to be friends. The balance they bring to each other makes them a force to be reckoned with. I thoroughly enjoy their friendship and the dynamic between the three women. I also found it refreshing to have three badass main characters going through menopause. The discussions around menopause was enlightening and I loved the way Miller framed it in the story but also these women were the best reminder that a women’s life isn’t over when they hit menopause.

While these three characters and their background stories are vital to the plot, the actual plot starts after they discover the body of a young girl. When the police write her off as being a sex worker who over dosed, the three women take it upon themselves to investigate further. With Nessa’s gift confirming that there was foul play, the women soon discover there may be a serial killer in their beachside community.

Miller does an amazing job of creating complex, interesting, and relatable characters. Not only to we get to know so much about our leading ladies, we also get small character chapters on other girls and women vital to the story. Almost everyone we meet in this story gets a small backstory, This really puts a focus on our victims whose powerful stories really stand out.

I would most certainly call this book a work of feminist literature and while you can feel the rage in the pages, it’s (in my opinion) entirely realistic. From Miller’s depictions of Jo and Harriett losing out on jobs to men less qualified to how much a rich man can get away with will really resonates with readers. Miller does an excellent job of also include men who stand apart and don’t fall into classic stereotypes. One of my favorite conversations in the story is when Harriett is pointing out the irony, that the only opinion that seemed mattered for an AD targeting middle aged women was from men.

This book had me laughing one minute and outraged the next. I had so many conflicting feelings throughout the entire story and I’m obsessed with our three main characters. I want to be just like Harriett, Jo, and Nessa when I’m grown up! While this story is 100% entertaining, it also is a thought provoking story about how women are ‘suppose’ to be according to society.

I could go on and on about how much I loved this book. I already know it’s going to be one of my favorite reads of 2022. The Change comes out next Tuesday, run don’t walk to grab a copy of this one!


The Change comes out May 3, 2022! Huge thank you to William Morrow for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof_books.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel. This is my unbiased review.

What an entertaining and atmospheric read! Although there are many hard and real truths being explored in this book, there is also humor and hope. I’m a woman of a certain age, and I had forgotten how much I love characters who are in my age group that are not behaving like they are one step away from the nursing home. Thank you to the author for seeing us too!

Al and all just a great read with a feminist flare and it never hurts to throw in a little witchcraft!

"The Change" by Kirsten Miller
No love, BUT Mystery Aplenty
Well, there is the mother's love for her child. Yes I think this is a 5-STAR read. Yes, this is a scary story. Yes, I believe there are monsters in our real world. Thus this story could give you nightmares, or not; but it sure did interfere with my good nights sleep. I am not a fan of self-appointed avengers in the real world but in a book – HOORAY !! Happy Reading !!
NOTE: I received an ARC of this story via a 'Read Now offer' email from NetGalley.
This review expresses my honest opinion.

WOW! Get ready for a read you simply can't put down. Marketed as Big Little Lies meets The Witches of Eastwick - this book delivers a tale that will leave you spellbound.

The short version: Three women from a diverse set of backgrounds in Mattauk, NY discover the body of a young woman and set off on a mission to uncover who she was and who exactly is behind her death. Fueled by their unique gifts and a burning determination to right the wrong done to not only this young girl but to all women in general and ensure the person sees justice. Harriet, Jo, and Nessa are all characters that embody what it means to truly embrace the wisdom and changes that come with aging and will stay with me for some time.

As a reader, I was sucked into the story and found myself dying to grab a few more minutes every chance I could get, and easily will be in my Top Books for 2022. Order it now and block your calendar for a couple of days. You've been warned!

Thank you to William Morrow for the free review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is powerful and I loved it! It tells the story of Harriet, Jo and Nessa on their quest to solve local mysteries. It showcases the power in women, especially when they work together.

Intriguing read that deals with misogyny, SA, revenge and murder. I liked that the characters were older and the theme that women over 40 are powerful. The main characters were well-developed and balanced each other. Most of the men in this book are very unlikeable but I liked that the author included a few redeemable male characters. Be aware though- triggers abound.

The Change by Kirsten Miller out 05/03

A book about women who develop special powers in menopause?! Menopausal witches?! SIGN. ME. UP.

The basic premise: Jo, Nessa, and Harriet are three badass, powerful women out to seek vengeance on a serial killer terrorizing their community. What they uncover - and how they deal with it - is truly something to behold.

My thoughts: I was struck by how I could be laughing at something hilarious one minute only to be sobered by a truly disturbing turn of events the next. This story will take you through many emotions, and it will shock you along the way - you aren’t going to want to put it down. The twists in the story are engaging and unpredictable, and you’ll come to cheer for the female protagonists from page one.

I absolutely adored this book from start to finish. The different POVs were fantastic - I loved every female character in this book and thought that Miller expertly wove in themes of empowerment and burning down the patriarchy.

If you consider yourself a feminist, I absolutely recommend picking up this book.

Thank you @harpercollinsca for a digital review copy!

⚠️TW: rape, rape of a minor, murder, dismemberment, violence, death by poisoning, & abduction.

Will review in the future, was offered as a free book with no review needed. However, as soon as I read this I will review. Thanks for offering free reads for Book Club Girl

Being a woman of a certain age I found this story plot to be quite interesting and unique. The thought of three women gaining specific powers once they reach menopause it’s truly a novel idea. That they use their powers for good to help other women in a very male dominated society seemed a bit cliché and rather unimaginative for such a unique premise. The story was a bit dark for me but I think a lot of readers will enjoy it though the pace can be a bit slow at times.

The Change by Kirsten Miller brings together three women of different backgrounds who are united in their shared experience of menopause and the change it brings to their lives. The book brings a unique view of this stage of life, as it empowers the women with supernatural abilities - powers that they use to defend other women and solve a murder mystery.

A multi-genre tale, at its heart it is a story about the experiences of women in a male dominated society. The situations that the three main characters encountered in life have shaped them and drive their motives with the onset of the “change.” As a commentary on society’s view of women and the trials many face the books brings a lot of discussion points to the table. As the murder mystery the story really didn’t pick up until the 50% mark. Overall the book had an interesting concept but a times was slow moving - making it difficult to fully engage.

Women can do anything they set their minds to do. Post-menopausal women with unique powers are not to be underestimated. Fun to see older women rule the story.

Three women who develop special powers after going through “the change” are out to solve murders and exact revenge. Great premise for a book, right? Or so I thought. It started out well but turned out to be way too long. For me, it completely lost focus and I completely lost interest because the story moved so slowly. I actually feel cheated out of the story I was excited to read.

I see from other reviews that many really enjoyed this book, it just wasn’t for me. I think I would have much preferred to listen to this one as an audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Mattauk, NY: Harriet, Jo, and Nessa are women of a certain age whose menopause has come with some… interesting side effects. Nessa sees (and hears) dead people. Jo channels her hot flashes into energy. And Harriet’s power is too fun for me to spoil in a review.

When the three women find an unidentified dead girl on the beach and the police refuse to take it seriously, they take matters into their own hands. They must find out who she is and what happened to her to put her spirit to rest. What they uncover is a Jeffrey Epstein-esque conspiracy. And friends, they get PISSED OFF.

This is described as Big Little Lies meets The Witches of Eastwick. It’s a magical revenge fantasy, and it is DELICIOUS. The title, I think, refers both to the magical menopause our three heroines undergo, but also the change that the women vow to bring to their community.

I read this 480-page book in less than 24 hours, because I could NOT put it down. I loved our trio of women and I wish I had an aunt Harriet of my own.

For every woman who’s been groped by a man in power, for every woman who’s been talked over in board rooms and whose ideas have been appropriated by men, for every mother who has worried about her daughters being out after dark, for every girl who isn’t believed and for every woman and girl whose bodies are exploited for money, this book is yours.

Thank you to Net Galley and William Morrow for the gifted advanced copy.

The Change by Kirsten Miller is an interesting mix of witch craft, female revenge fantasy and true crime.
Three middle-aged women, Harriet, Nessa and Jo, all in the midst of menopause or “the change”, forge an alliance that is predicated on their common pasts of being wronged by men. They align this common goal of advancing woman power.
There is a lot going on in this story, from the introductions of each woman and her back story. You will learn how each woman was wronged and ends up being a chosen one.


As I read descriptions of this book I heard it compared to Witches of Eastwick and Big Little Lies. While it definitely gave off vibes, I feel like this book deserves to stand on its own. I almost wish it had Witches of Eastwick vibes, but it didn’t really haven’t read anything like it. Unfortunately, this book was not me for. It was very heavy on the feminism realm and as we have learned, putting every man down is not what feminism even is. I was uncomfortable reading parts that made think of the Epstein trial.
Without getting too deep into this one, I will say the themes are quite deep and drug out. This book is almost 500 pages long and there were several parts that were unnecessary and could of been condensed.

Thank you so much to William Morrow for the chance to read and review this book prior to release.

This book was SO good. Unique, compelling, propulsive. The three main characters were well fleshed-out and had fascinating relationships with each other, and the chapters that almost served as asides about supporting characters gave so much more depth to the story. If I had any complaint, it would be that a few loose ends felt like they didn't quite get tied up--but on the whole, I absolutely loved this. Feminist revenge fantasy is apparently one of my favorite weirdly specific genres, haha, and this is a prime example. I definitely plan to buy a finished copy when it comes out!