100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฟ

Thanks for supporting our 100% NZ-owned independent bookstore โค๏ธ Open Sat & Sun until 5pm

The Panic Years

'Every millennial woman should have this on her bookshelf' Pandora Sykes
3.51 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 7,067 ratings, 635 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Panic Years by Nell Frizzell explores the emotional and existential turmoil experienced by those in their twenties and thirties, often triggered by questions about love, career, and identity. Blending memoir and cultural commentary, the author provides insights into managing these life transitions with wisdom and humour. It's a thoughtful guide for navigating the pressures of modern life and finding personal fulfilment.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2300
Elsewhere:
$2600
OVERNIGHT NZ-WIDE DELIVERY

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're navigating the tumultuous period of your late twenties to mid-thirties, characterised by major life decisions and changes. It's perfect for those seeking an honest, humorous, and insightful exploration of this transformative time in life, offering comfort and understanding through shared experiences.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Panic Years by Nell Frizzell is a compassionate, funny, and beautifully written exploration of contemporary womanhood. "The book may have 'panic' in the title, but Nell's words calmed and soothed me deeply," says Daisy Buchanan.

"As informative as it is poetic," notes Dolly Alderton.

"Compassionate, funny and beautifully written," adds Daisy Buchanan.

Every woman will experience the panic years in some way between her mid-twenties and early-forties. This maddening period of transformation and personal crisis is recognisable by the myriad of decisions we makeโ€”about partners, holidays, jobs, homes, savings, friendshipsโ€”all of which are impacted by the urgency of the single decision that comes with a biological deadline, the one decision that is impossible to take back: whether or not to have a baby.

But how does one stay sane during such a maddening time? How to know who you are and what you might want from life? How to know if you're making the right decisions?

Raw, hilarious, and beguilingly honest, Nell Frizzell's account of her panic years is both an arm around the shoulder and a campaign to start a conversation. This affects us allโ€”women, men, mothers, children, partners, friends, colleaguesโ€”so it's time we started talking about it with a little more candour.

What readers are saying:

  • 'Loved this book! Highly recommend for any woman (or man!) during the weird time in your 20s' โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…
  • 'Those panicky feelings of being a 24-30 something put into words' โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…
  • 'This book brings forth a sigh of relief. Excellent book that really taps into what so many of us are thinking and feeling, but not saying' โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Panic Years by Nell Frizzell is praised for its engaging exploration of womanhood and motherhood. Critics appreciate its honest, witty, and humorous narrative, which resonates deeply with women's contemporary experiences and challenges societal expectations. The book is described as both a memoir and a piece of social commentary, highlighted for its poetic prose and capacity to define complex phases of life. Itโ€™s deemed essential reading for women facing pivotal life decisions, combining personal reflections with broader feminist insights.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781529176285

Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 13 January 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin (Transworld)

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 21.0mm

Width: 127.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 241g

Pages: 352

About the Author

Nell Frizzell is a writer, journalist and Vogue columnist. She has written and worked for the Guardian, VICE, The Sunday Times, Elle, the BBC, the Observer, Grazia and The Independent among many others. Her first book, The Panic Years, was an exploration of bodies, babies and the big questions facing modern life. Her debut novel, Square One, painted a humorous picture of moving home, fathers and daughters and surviving heartbreak. She lives in Oxford, in a very small house full of pasta and bedding and bikes.

Also by Nell Frizzell

View all
  • On Sale
    13% off
    Holding the Baby
    Part-memoir, part-manifesto, Holding the Baby is a wildly reassuring and radically ambitious book for any new parents who have felt dismissed, misunderstood or short-changed. 'My favourite person on the politics of parenthood' - Pandora Sykes 'Exhilarating, infuriating, urgent and human' - Daisy Buchanan 'A blazing, brilliant read ... compassionate, convincing, funny!' - Amy Liptrot 'Honest, unflinching and necessary' - Sara...
    Paperback
    $2000
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Cuckoo
    A sharply funny and well-observed novel about an unconventional family from the award-winning writer, journalist, and podcaster, Nell Frizzell. After Nancy's father dies, she is faced with two life-changing revelations. One - She has a half-brother she knew nothing about. Nancy's world is punched inside out at the discovery of a mysterious new sibling. But she can't help but feel...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

More from Self-Help & Personal Development

View all
  • Signed Copy
    New Release
    "What Were You Thinking!?"
    Everything parents need to know about their baby, child or teen's developing brain to raise resilient, emotional intelligent kids, by globally renowned neuroscience educator Nathan Wallis. 'What were you thinking!?'If you've ever asked this in despair while watching a toddler melt down, a tween push boundaries or a teenager make a truly terrible decision, this book is for you.Inย "What Were...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Let Them Theory
    New York Times Bestselling Author. Millions of books sold worldwide! A Life-Changing Tool Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About What if the key to happiness, success, and love was as simple as two words? If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated with where you are, the problem isn't you. The problem is the power you give to other...
    Paperback
    $2599
    Elsewhere:
    $3200
    (8)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Eat Your Ice Cream
    New Release
    Eat Your Ice Cream
    The New York Times bestseller that presents a bold new vision for living well and ageing with purpose from a world-renowned health expert THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From a leading doctor and world-renowned health expert, the simple, uplifting and practical guide to cutting through the wellness noise, living well and ageing with purpose. โ€˜Essential reading for anyone who...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • New Release
    The Winner's Formula
    The Neuroscience of Peak Performance, Success, and Happiness Why do some people win all the time? Why do others languish? From Olympians to Formula 1 drivers, addicts to billionaires, cognitive neuroscientist Dr Kerry Spackman has spent decades working to help people understand how to succeed. In The Winner's Formula, Kerry explains what goes on in your brain when you are...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Choose Your Hard
    Every path in life is hard. Being unfit and unhealthy is hard. Choosing to exercise, eat well, face discomfort, and do the difficult things is also hard. The question is: which hard do you choose? In Choose Your Hard, Professor Grant Schofield, one of New Zealandโ€™s most cited health scientists with over 18,000 citations in the scientific literature, argues that...
    Paperback
    $3300
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Atomic Habits Daily Calendar
    New Release
    The Atomic Habits Daily Calendar
    Powerful ideas for each day of the year from the author of the #1 worldwide bestseller, Atomic Habits. Based on the principles that made Atomic Habits a global phenomenon, this daily calendar turns habit formation into a simple daily practice. Get actionable guidance, motivational insights, and system-building tools that make it easier to get a little bit betterโ€”every day of...
    Calendar
    $3699
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The DOSE Effect
    The DOSE Effect offers small habits to boost your brain chemistry. "This book will help you find more motivation, create deeper connections, energise your body, and destress your mind," says Jay Shetty, author of Think Like a Monk. Life can feel overwhelming, but it doesnโ€™t have to be. Todayโ€™s fast-paced world leaves many of us struggling with extreme emotional highs...
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • New Release
    Now What?
    There are countless self-help books telling you how to get the life you wantโ€”how to find your purpose, make your plan, follow your goals. Yet, too many of us are frozen in life, unfulfilled and stuck with what we have. Too often, we only see our future through a lens of the pastโ€”our past beliefs, experiences, and circumstances. We desire...
    Paperback
    $3299
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • We Can Do Hard Things
    We Can Do Hard Things is a powerful and inspiring guide co-authored by renowned voices Abby Wambach, Glennon Doyle, and Amanda Doyle. This compelling book offers insights and encouragement to help readers tackle life's toughest challenges. By combining personal stories with practical advice, the authors empower you to embrace resilience and courage. Their collective wisdom sheds light on the strength...
    Paperback
    $3200
    Elsewhere:
    $4000
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • Atua Wahine
    Ancient wisdom of the Mฤori goddesses to help you navigate the modern world Atua Wahine are the Mฤori goddesses who make up the world around us: earth, fire, water, the moon, and more. From the earth mother, Papatuanuku, who sustains and nurtures us, to the goddess of peace, Hineputehue, who transformed pain into beauty, and the misunderstood goddess of the...
    Hardback
    $3000
    Elsewhere:
    $3699
    (3)
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Myth of Normal
    A book that changes everything - from the legendary Dr Gabor Matรฉ THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER OVER ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD We tend to believe that normality equals health. Yet what is the norm in the Western world? Mental illness and chronic disease are on an unstoppable rise. How did we get here? And what lies ahead for us?...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships Monday
  • The Anxious Generation
    A powerful argument for reclaiming childhoodโ€”and all human relationshipsโ€”from the online world, from the influential social psychologist and international bestselling author. Jonathan Haidt has spent his career speaking truth and wisdom in some of the most difficult spacesโ€”communities polarised by politics and religion, campuses battling culture wars, and now the mental health emergency hitting teenagers today in many countries around...
    Paperback
    $2299
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships Monday

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.