Midlife Margaritas: Stories from Women Who Made It to the Other Side of 40 and Rocked It

About the Book

When a group of women noticed that the descriptions of women in their forties were a bit stale, they chose to turn that narrative on its head. Midlife Margaritas is a collection of essays by a diverse group of women—including Jennifer Porter Gore—sharing their heartwarming and hilarious stories of what it’s like to conquer forty in today’s world and live to tell the tale.

These touching essays reveal the true strength, beauty, and heart of women. They show us ordinary women doing extraordinary things: rising up after unimaginable loss, overcoming impossible odds, and finding humor in the everyday challenges we all face. And, above all, they remind us to have fun.

Inspiring and encouraging, Midlife Margaritas is the fun companion you never knew you needed at this time of your life. Reading it is like being wrapped in a warm embrace from a beloved girlfriend…who is trying not to spill the margarita in her hand.

Jennifer’s Contribution

In her essay, Jennifer Porter Gore brings her unique perspective as a communications professional with decades of experience in politics, journalism, and advocacy. Her contribution reflects on the transformation that comes with embracing the confidence, wisdom, and clarity that arrive with midlife, offering readers both encouragement and practical insights drawn from her personal journey.

From the Introduction

“These are not the stories of perfect women with perfect lives. These are the stories of real women, with all the messiness, complications, and challenges that real life brings. But they are also stories of triumph, resilience, and joy—sometimes found in the most unexpected places.”

Reader Reactions

“In the book, 18 women share their experiences of reaching the halfway mark, with each story focusing on a different challenge, such as returning to work after raising kids, becoming a caregiver for a parent, surviving cancer, redefining marriage, and conquering fears. Some of the stories spoke to me directly, while others could have been those of my close friends or neighbors. […] Ultimately the book is a rallying cry for women to recognize the knowledge, power and freedom that age bestows, and reading it was like receiving a warm hug and a high five all at once.”

— Goodreads Reviewer

“This book had me at the titles of the stories and didn’t let me down for a minute! I feel like these women are my new best friends—friends who have invited me into their inner circle and shared their laughter and their tears in fresh, honest, and touching ways. Whether you are already 40 or just starting to see 40 on the horizon, you will enjoy these stories and easily relate to the triumphs and disappointments of your new best friends. You’ll laugh (a lot), and you’ll cry (sometimes not from laughing), and you’ll definitely want to sip a margarita.”

— Amazon Reviewer, 5 stars

“I bought 3 of these to give as gifts for friends turning 40. I ended up reading and keeping one because I couldn’t put it down. It’s fully of funny, sad, heartwarming, life-affirming stories and I enjoyed it even more than I expected. Every woman scared of their 40s or in their 40s and needing a boost should read this.”

— Amazon Reviewer, 5 stars

“This book is full of incredible stories. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to be inspired and to laugh. It’s a true celebration of women — ALL kinds of women. It is funny and it is true and it is rare. I don’t usually write review but this book — and these women — truly touched me.”

— Amazon Reviewer, 5 stars