News flash – the book made it to an Amazon Bestseller on the day of release!
I really do believe that beyond age 50 can be the very best time of our lives. And I have met many people who agree with me.
It is time to rewrite the narrative about ageing. We’ve been led to believe it is all doom and gloom, but Your Joyful Years reframes life postmenopause as a time of possibility, freedom and growth.
Aged 50+ is a pivotal stage in many women’s lives. We are entering post-menopause—free from reproductive hormones, periods, and contraception. Children may be leaving home, careers may be shifting or winding down, and there is the dawning realisation that we may have 20 or 30 healthy years ahead of us. This is not an ending, but a powerful new beginning. This stage of life offers an opportunity to reconnect with yourselves, to rediscover what truly matters, and to prioritise self-love and self-care without guilt.
In Your Joyful Years I bring you the wisdom of 50 inspiring women who share their lived experiences with honesty and generosity. Their stories offer guidance, reassurance, and permission to live authentically on your own terms. Together, they show how this stage of life can be rich with meaning, purpose, freedom, and joy. These are Your Joyful Years.
But there is no quick fix. I explore the pillars of health, including nutrition, exercise, sleep, mental health and friendships and community, alongside the pillars of happiness, such as hobbies, creativity, relaxation, adventures and challenges, quality time alone, purpose, retirement, and sex and love. Each chapter offers accessible takeaways designed to help readers make small, realistic changes that add up over time.
Importantly, the book focuses on healthspan, not just lifespan. It shows how everyday habits can help women protect energy, strength, cognitive health and emotional resilience, supporting a longer period of good health and independence. Rather than chasing perfection, it encourages sustainable routines that are enjoyable, evidence-based and realistic in busy lives.
I wrote this book because so many women are navigating midlife and beyond without clear, trustworthy support. With the right information, community, and self-care, it can become richer, freer, and more joyful. Many of the women said this was the best time of their lives – including me!
The book comes at a moment when more women are asking for practical, evidence-based guidance on living well as they age, not just managing symptoms, but building a life that feels meaningful, connected, and energising. Your Joyful Years is designed for women who want both the science and the lived experience: tools to add to their wellbeing toolkit.
A huge thank you to Wendy Yorke, my agent and friend, who has been with me throughout this journey. And to all the women who I interviewed. Thanks also to my sponsors – Almond Blossoms Fertility and Wellbeing Center, Dubai, UAE; ISIS Clinic, Cyprus; IVF London, UK; MV.Health; SECJ Investments Ltd, UK. And to Mercy Eade for her beautiful book cover.
You can order the book now on Amazon. Just search Your Joyful Years and please write a review. I am taking bookings for small gatherings of women to discuss the topics in the book – get in contact.
And you can watch the book launch on YouTube – https://youtu.be/ODLM7bKFizQ
Praise for the book
“I approached this book as a 47-year-old man with a personal and clinical curiosity – perhaps it would make me a better husband or physician. By the end of it – and I hope I can say this without trivialising what anyone else goes through – I almost wanted to be a woman in my 50s! Talk about empowering. It is a big dose of very good medicine – in fact much more than medicine, it is of course packed with wisdom. And as I would expect from Joyce, it’s utterly original in approach and tone.” Professor Chris van Tulleken, Clinician, Academic, TV Presenter, Author, UK
“Joyce Harper has created an important and uplifting book that puts women’s lived experiences at the heart of the menopause conversation. It challenges outdated narratives and makes a compelling case for why women must be listened to, believed and properly supported at every stage of life. Honest, empowering and long overdue.” Carolyn Harris MP, Member of Parliament for Neath and Swansea East, Wales
“A refreshing addition to the menopause mix. Tales of joy, health and resilience from the far side.” Kirsty Wark, TV Presenter, Author and Journalist, UK
“What a powerful book this is! Raising the voices of other women with lived authentic experience is a gift to us all. You are never alone. Thank you, Dr Joyce for being a woman who truly empowers other women.” Lu Featherstone, Women’s Empowerment Activist, UK
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