This Way Up: Old Friends, New Love, and a Map for the Road Ahead

by Cathrin Bradbury

A funny, closely observed, and briskly honest guide the pleasures and perils of living life fully as a woman on the road to the far side of mid-life.

At the age of sixty-eight, with children well-launched and husband long-exed and recently retired from a demanding career, Cathrin Bradbury realized she needed a map—several in fact, some physical, some of the mind and heart—to guide her through the coming milestones and all of the inevitable "comes with age" stuff.

This book is her report from the road; a vibrant, polished, often hilarious, sometimes heart-wrenching exploration of the questions and (some) answers that arise when you hit the three-quarter mark of a busy life. 

How do you stop shaming yourself about an aging body? ( listen to the kids!) What are you willing to give up  to pursue the creative passion you long ago put aside—and what might you gain in return?How do you become someone who allows the day to unfold after decades of list-making and agenda-managing?

And what might happen if one day, after nearly fifty years, you suddenly get a text from your first true love? 

Drawing on her own life and conversations with siblings, younger family members, friends, as well as authorities in social science, philosophy, and literature, Cathrin Bradbury carries us with her as she explores this territory that we all hope to reach, taking on new ideas and adventures with insight, soaring optimism, and a bracing dose of humor.

Genres: Memoir

272 pages, Paperback

Published April 29, 2025

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like The Bright Side (memoir written in 2021) Cathrin Bradbury has slam dunked this followup. As a 68 year old (I just turned 68) I can relate to so many of her insights and feelings. She discusses death quite a bit as we know that the inches to that side are shorter, yet also speaks to living fully. She quotes many authors citing their wisdom before from various books - some I knew of, some I will come to know. She spoke of space and home 'A house has momentum. So does an apartment, or anywhere people live. It's the go-go life. Guests arrive and leave, things are dropped off at the door, mail is delivered, garbage is taken away'
And regret and insight "I wish the past would invite me back to rectify a thing or two" (this from All Creatures Great & Small) She quotes James Hillman, (author & Jungian) describing Old Age as a 'force of character'. Old age is not about beating death, as in a contest, he said, but rather about finally finding our vitality and character, which age makes stronger'.
and finally 'Only the living talk about how they'll die; the dying talk about how they'll live'

I want Cathrin Bradbury to be my friend and join all the other wonderful friends I have - she'd fit right in!

[Robert H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was captivated and charmed by this, the most recent release by Cathrin Bradbury, a former newspaper executive who “retired” and then pursued her dream of being a full-on author. “This Way Up” is not just an autobiography. The writer pauses often to interject results of her research which she uses to punctuate her observations and signposts from her life. This makes the book thought-provoking and educational for anyone who is befuddled about how to approach the last quarter of one’s life. Many of the chapters contain very personal episodes (often hilarious) from the writer’s life, including a rekindled romance with a high school flame, difficult family issues, and the intimacy and intricacy of close girlfriend relationships. In this way, the writer exhibits courage in opening up about very private matters of the heart. The book is a very easy read and hard to put down for very long.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cathrin Bradbury’s first book, The Bright Side: A Happy Book About a Sad Year, was a bona fide hit — full of her unique brand of humour, wisdom and gloves-off observations about both herself and the world around her. This Way Up is another hit — Cathrin’s unique take on her life now and what the future might hold for her at age 68. She has achieved that rare feat of creating a book that is both an easy-breezy read and also full of well-researched stories and deep insights into life’s big questions — about love, family, friendship and her own identity as she adjusts to another challenging chapter in her life, along with the inevitable curve balls we all face at any age. I highly recommend this book for all readers.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

bio of Canadian author Cathrin Bradbury who is trying to figure out her life as a 68 year old by recalling her relationships with her divorced husband, her children, her sisters, other relatives and her friends. She buys a map, studies about maps and visits her family's first home. The sad part was visiting the cemetery to see her parents' graves and the little money she and her siblings had spent on her parents' markers. They straightened that out almost on the spot. Still thinking about the wolf story.

Great part of story is the relationship she has the opportunity to have with her grandson. I enjoyed the part about the train and her grandson.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I read a review of this book and was drawn to the author's musings on life in her 60's and retirement being in the same age bracket and situation. I spent most of my time feeling like I'd already read the book though. It was so familiar, but the book only came out a few weeks ago, so I haven't read it before. Very odd! I enjoyed the bits about her first love reaching out after 50 years and how common it actually is now for this to happen! Got me musing about my first boyfriend when I was 15, whose name also starts with D! You never know what might happen!!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so glad Cathrin Bradbury narrated her own audiobook. By the end of the book, I felt I'd just shared several days of conversation with a good friend.

Though I'd never encountered Bradbury's writing before, I quickly felt a connection with her and her experience. I am about a decade behind the author in years, and I appreciated this view of the three-quarters point in life. With stories like this as a guide, I feel I can approach the coming years with humor and hope.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun memoir by a recent retiree on her desire to write, travel, and live the life she wants. An unexpected twist is her reunification with her high school heart-throb. Social media reconnections aren’t that uncommon, and it was interesting to hear her experience.

I listened to a copy courtesy of libro.fm.

[Katherine Ashenburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't recommend this book highly enough. As Bradbury covers many of the bases of old age -- family, home, returning and new loves, friends, work -- she is funny, poignant and so, so wise. What makes it even more delightful and memorable is her writing. She can distill a complex insight into a few, perfect words. A wonderful contribution to thinking backwards and forwards at a precious time of life.

[Cindy Su · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely, touching memoir. I found it slow to start, but there were some good stories, and some life lessons and insights.

Chapter six: "A TALLY" "WHAT I HAVE", and "WHAT I DON'T HAVE"

"I looked ahead to what our lives would be in twenty years. I wanted our lives to open up, not close in more and more until we were alone in a tiny room."

[Nicholas Kohler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, hilarious, frequently moving extended essay about the realities of getting older, and about what it means to live out life as a reader and a writer. At times painfully candid, at others gloriously silly, you can’t put it down. Now want the third book.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting essays on the realities of growing older.

[Elsof · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rambling study of aging, personal to the author, not always relatable to the reader.

[Lynn B · Rating 2 out of 5]

way to slow a read for me.
Not at all what I was expecting .
I did not finish it. To many other good reads out there for me to pick up.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only got half way through. I’m past her life stage and it didn’t seem as important.

[Ann B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading This Way Up was like taking a long walk with Cathrin—witty, reflective and full of meaningful insights for the road ahead.

I may be biased (I am her sister), but This Way Up is funny, sharp, tender, and profound. Cathrin captures the strange magic of growing older—not just the aches and revelations, but the unexpected lightness that comes when you stop trying to “optimize” every moment.

There is nothing quite like getting a text or call from my sister with questions about aging bodies knowing full well my answer might end up in her book. And indeed, it did. Except she has a way of making it all sound wiser and more elegant that it felt in the moment.

This is a beautifully written companion for anyone entering—or reentering—the unknown with curiosity, intelligence and heart. I highly recommend reading it.

— Ann