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This Wasn't the Plan

Grieving the Golden Years That Never Came

By: Mel Robinson

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Paperback | 31 October 2025

At a Glance

Paperback
112 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
20.32 x 13.34 x 0.58

Paperback

$20.75

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She thought midlife would be calm. Restful. Maybe even a little indulgent.

Instead, she's restocking the fridge for grown kids, juggling prescriptions for aging parents, and trying to remember who she was before she became everyone else's unpaid manager, therapist, and emotional support human.

Told with razor-sharp wit and raw honesty, This Wasn't the Plan is a hybrid memoir of essays and reflections that dives deep into the grief of a life that didn't unfold as promised-and the unexpected freedom that comes from rewriting your role.

From the slow fade of a mother's memory to the simmering rage of an empty nest that never emptied, this book speaks to every woman who's held a family together with coffee, care, and quiet resentment-and finally asks the question: When is it my turn?

Industry Reviews

'This book is like a group chat with your funniest, most gloriously exhausted friends - raw, hilarious, and painfully spot-on. It made me laugh, nod, and quietly question why I treat rest like something I have to earn.' - Kylie Denton, multiple best-selling author.

'Mel Robinson has written a heartfelt account of how she felt when, caught between the needs of her young adult children and her aging parents, she had to put her own dreams on hold ... It shows how easy it is to become torn between love and resentment, and what steps must be taken to get out of that rut. All women (or men) who find themselves facing a similar family dilemma should read it.' - Barbara Scott-Emmett, author.

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