Expat Women: Confessions

If you, or anyone you know, is about to do a stint in a foreign country, there's a new must-have book on the market. Expat Women: Confessions is a collection of 50 bone fide questions from women, as they face a new life abroad. Authors and serial expats, Andrea Martins and Victoria Hepworth provide the answers, and they leave no stone unturned.

The book is a spin-off from the column at the Expat Women web site.(Expat Women is the world's largest global web site helping women living overseas and was co-founded by Martins.) With each chapter dedicated to a specific subject, readers can dip in and out as needed. Chapter topics include Settling In, Career and Money, Raising Children, and Repatriation, and the answers are thorough, practical, sometimes frank, but always supportive and empathetic.

Expat life can be glamorous, but for many "trailing spouses" it's sometimes lonely, over-whelming and draining. Because of their combined personal experiences, the authors are able to deliver meaningful and comprehensive information in answer to each question. I was extremely impressed with the sheer range of their knowledge, and their ability to go beyond the question and anticipate issues that might arise in similar situations.

Expat Women: Confessions is a really, really good book and whether you're just about to embark on the expat experience, or you're already there, is a must-read in my opinion.