Dare I Say It

Everything I Wish I’d Known About Menopause

by Naomi Watts
foreword by Mary Claire Haver, MD

A frank, funny, and informative guide to menopause and aging by beloved actress Naomi Watts, one of the leading voices in menopause awareness

At thirty-six, Naomi Watts had just completed filming King Kong and was trying to start a family when she was told that she was on the brink of menopause. It is estimated that seventy-five million women in the United States are currently dealing with menopause symptoms (dry, itchy skin, raging hormones, night sweats), and yet the very word “menopause” continues to be associated with stigma and confusion. With so little information, many women feel unprepared, ashamed, and deeply alone when the time comes.

This is the book Naomi Watts wishes she had when she first started experiencing symptoms. Like sitting down over coffee and having an intimate chat with your girlfriend, Dare I Say It blends funny and poignant stories from Naomi and her friends with advice from doctors, hormone experts, and nutritionists to take the secrecy and shame out of menopause and aging. Answering questions such as: What’s hormone therapy and should I be on it? Will I ever sleep again? Will I get myself back? What happened to my libido? Do I need eighteen serums for my aging skin? Whose body is this anyway? Who am I now? Naomi Watts shares the most up-to-date research on how to manage menopause symptoms and tackle the physical and emotional challenges we encounter as we age.

Irreverent, bold, and reassuring, Dare I Say It is the companion every woman needs to embrace the best version of herself as she moves into what can be the most powerful and satisfying period of her life.

Hardcover | 4256 pages | Crown | 2025

Naomi Watts is a renowned actor and producer. She has Academy Award nominations for her performances in 21 Grams and The Impossible, and is also known for starring in critically acclaimed projects such as Mulholland Drive, King Kong, and, more recently, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans. She is the founder and chief creative officer of Stripes Beauty, a company dedicated to raising menopause awareness and providing women with education, community, and solutions for a holistic approach to menopause.

Mary Claire Haver, MD, is a board-certified OB/GYN, a Certified Culinary Medicine Specialist, a Certified Menopause Provider, and the founder of Mary Claire Wellness, a private medical practice that focuses on women in midlife. Her bestselling book, The Galveston Diet, is based on the groundbreaking nutritional protocol she developed as an online subscriber program for women going through perimenopause and menopause. She lives in Galveston, Texas.