Novelists are willing to explore the challenges and dilemmas of aging to create a wide array of interesting, mature protagonists and the issues they face at midlife and beyond. Our choices in contemporary fiction feature complex characters and encompass themes that are timeless and ageless, which can provide insight about the people we know or suggest what lies ahead for our future selves.
How to Read a Book Posted in: Arts, Fiction, Friendships, Women’s LivesBy Monica Wood — Mariner Books, 2024
In Portland, ME, a women’s prison hosts a spirited book club where feisty inmates reveal their hopes and compassion. Harriet, a widowed, retired English teacher, finds purpose in guiding the club and introducing literature to the women. Though her daughters live abroad and she enjoys a secure life, Harriet wrestles with feelings of loneliness and uselessness.
Violet, a young inmate grappling with her manslaughter conviction, masks her remorse behind a tough exterior. Frank, a bookstore handyman mourning the loss of his wife due to Violet’s actions, adds tension to the story. Their paths cross after Violet is released and meets Harriet at Wadsworth Books, a cozy store filled with interesting people and foster cats. Their encounter sets off a chain of events that intertwines their lives, and the bookstore becomes a sanctuary for all three characters.
The narrative poses a powerful question: Who deserves a second chance? Are we defined by our worst moments or by our potential for redemption? The possibility of goodness and healing through literature is central to this journey, inviting readers to contemplate the complexities of forgiveness and transformation at any age.
Don’t Forget to Write Posted in: Arts, Fiction, Women’s LivesBy Sarah Goodman Confino — Lake Union Publishing, 2023
Never-married Great Aunt Ada works as a matchmaker in Philadelphia. When Marilyn, her sassy 20-year-old niece, gets kicked out of the house for kissing the rabbi’s son in an embarrassingly public way, 77-year-old Ada takes her in, just as she took in Marilyn’s mother decades ago. Marilyn’s parents hope Ada will find a suitable husband for their daughter while she’s in Ada’s care. Instead, Marilyn realizes newfound freedom and sees firsthand how a woman can support herself and be fulfilled without a man. It’s the ‘60s, and Marilyn doesn’t want to go to college to find a husband—she wants to become an author and is thrilled when Ada gives her a typewriter. Ada herself is a gem—feisty, entrepreneurial, seemingly hard as nails, but with quite a loving heart underneath her tough exterior. The intergenerational bond between Marilyn and Ada deepens over time, filled with moments that are both funny and touching. As Marilyn’s choices become clearer, we wonder right up to the end what she’ll choose, and we’re rooting for her.
Sandwich Posted in: Arts, Families, Fiction, Midlife CrossingsBy Catherine Newman—Harper, 2024
Sandwich is an apt title for this heartwarming read. Rocky and Nick are in that place in life where they are sandwiched between grown children and older parents—and this vacationing family eats a lot of sandwiches. For the past two decades, they’ve rented the same Cape Cod cottage for a week each summer. This year, their grown children and Rocky’s aging parents join them. Bringing together three generations of adults (and one bathroom) is quite an ambitious undertaking. Rocky, 54 and menopausal, is overflowing with emotions as she reflects on motherhood, her empty nest, her parents’ mortality and the choices she’s made over the years. Like most beach vacations, this one involves plenty of meaningful conversations and lots of eating. Above all, the story is filled with an abundance of love and is packed with relatable experiences for any of us who are in, or have been in, or might someday be in a similar life stage.
The Widsters Posted in: Arts, Fiction, Friendships, Midlife Crossings, Widows and WidowersBy Becky Andersen – Becky Andersen, 2019
Widowed sisters (widsters) Cardi Cooper and Tuney Thompson set out on a bus tour of their home state of Iowa in an attempt to cope with the recent loss of their husbands. On the bus, they meet four more widows, all as fun-loving and cheeky as they are. As they explore beautiful, historic, southeast Iowa (reader, you may find yourself longing to visit the area’s American Gothic house, sunken gardens and a haunted hotel), they adventure out of their comfort zones, get into some mischief and face their emotional challenges together. This charming story combines heartache and the bond of sisterhood. It’s not all fun and games for the women as they engage in deep discussions about their respective losses and their fears of reinventing themselves in later life. Their shared experiences offer a relatable, uplifting narrative about finding healing and joy—and the possibility of new beginnings—after loss.
Murder Undeniable: A Gripping Kat and Mouse Murder Mystery Posted in: Arts, Fiction, Mysteries and ThrillersBy Anita Waller — Bloodhound Books, 2018
A brutal crime takes place behind a drugstore in a quiet English village, leaving a man dead and a university student/part-time escort named Beth (nicknamed Mouse) barely alive. When Vicar Kat and her pharmacist husband, Leon, stumble upon Mouse, they get her to the hospital, where Kat takes an interest in her recovery. More suspicious deaths occur in rapid succession. Both Mouse’s and her grandmother Doris’s lives have been threatened; Mouse’s roommates die in an act of arson. Seeking answers, the three women become amateur sleuths. Doris, twice the age of Kat and Mouse, is the brains of the trio, with IT skills, a brown belt in karate, and gun know-how—all, talents in high demand to solve the case. Neither the local police nor Kat’s husband like it that the women have become so invested, but are they concerned for their safety, or because the women may be on to something?
If you’re drawn to a credible plot and strong female characters, you’re in luck—there are three more books in this Kat and Mouse series.
Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame Posted in: Arts, Families, Fiction, Midlife CrossingsBy Olivia Ford – Pamela Dorman Books, 2024
Jenny Quinn is a 77-year-old, happily married, childless woman who feels a sense of incompleteness in her life. She craves a legacy and a chance to step outside her comfort zone. She secretly applies to be a contestant on the hit baking show “Britain Bakes” and is delighted to be chosen for the show, which throws her into the world of competitive baking and reality TV, forcing her to confront her painfully relatable anxieties and consuming self-doubt. Confessing to her husband that she misled him while her application was processing, she feels all the more in love because of his wholehearted support. This should make her feel good, but instead it reminds her of a decades-old secret that could destroy her marriage.
What makes this coming-of-(older)-age novel truly special is Jenny’s journey. She discovers new passions, learns the importance of embracing new people and experiences and bakes her way into the hearts of readers. If the heartwarming story and the mouthwatering descriptions of baked goods aren’t enough to entice you, all the recipes are included.
Nosy Neighbors Posted in: Arts, Fiction, FriendshipsBy Freya Sampson – Berkley, 2024
The now-shabby Shelley House—a six-flat, historic dwelling outside of London—has seen better days but has survived for 133 years. Pink-haired, 25-year-old Kat Bennett is the newest tenant to call it home—while illegally subletting from Joseph Chambers in Flat 1. Cantankerous Dorothy Darling lives in Flat 2. At 77, she is the self-appointed watchdog who writes down everything that happens at Shelley House, notes all the needed repairs and inserts herself into everyone’s business. She and Kat are sworn enemies. As a matter of fact, for someone so involved in everyone’s lives, Dorothy doesn’t seem to like anyone very much. The other tenants are widower Omar and his daughter, Ayesha; a nameless tenant who blasts music and hosts late-night parties; Tomas and his pit bull, Princess; and Gloria, who continues to date unsuitable men. When the building’s owner announces his plans to evict everyone so he can build a new apartment complex on the site, can this group put their differences aside to save Shelley House?
The Dinner Lady Detectives Posted in: Arts, Fiction, Mysteries and ThrillersBy Hannah Hendy – Canelo, 2022
Do you enjoy a cozy mystery? In this first book in a series, we meet Margery and Clementine, two women in their 60s who are dinner ladies (or lunch ladies) at the local school in the small, neighborly (read: gossipy) town of Dewstow. When Caroline, the cafeteria manager, is found dead in the freezer, Margery and Clementine are determined to solve the case, even though the (incompetent, lazy) police are convinced it was an accident.
The women are a mismatched pair, but they make a good team. Margery is a former police officer, sharp as a tack, while Clementine, a former office worker, is a more laid-back and eccentric character, often a sourpuss. All of the school employees are suspects—was it the millennial who practices alternative medicine or the coworker arrested for shoplifting a hunk of cheese? With only their intuition and a single earring to go on, the dinner ladies go down several rabbit holes, often at their own peril, before they solve the murder.
The Dinner Lady Detectives is a charming series. We love the resourcefulness of the women, who are always relatable. The novel is full of humor, suspense and heart, leaving us guessing until the end and looking forward to the next installment.
The Night of Many Endings Posted in: Arts, Curmudgeons and Other Eccentric Characters, Fiction, Midlife CrossingsBy Melissa Payne – Lake Union Publishing, 2021
Bibliophiles everywhere may dream of being snowed in at a library, but that’s not true in the small town of Silver Ridge, CO, where kind-hearted librarian Nora has allowed, even encouraged, the unhoused and unfortunate to spend time in the building.
Marlene works part time at the library; she’s older, bitter and widowed. She’s there when a snowstorm traps her, along with Nora and three others. Marlene has strong feelings about overly kind people, drug addicts, homeless people, and the younger generation—and here she is, stuck with sweet Nora, troubled teen Jasmine, homeless drug addict Lewis and security guard Vlado.
Marlene feels she sacrificed throughout her life without question, forfeiting a promising future out of a sense of duty to her parents. Now, after marrying in later life and losing her great love, she finds herself in the cold, dark library realizing how little she knows of her co-workers and neighbors. Despite being convinced she’s too old to change, she hears her late husband, Charlie’s, voice telling her to give people a chance, reminding her to be kind. By the time the snow clears, Marlene has a different outlook on life.
And Then There’s Margaret: The Perfect Laugh Out Loud Dramedy Posted in: Arts, Fiction, Humor, Midlife CrossingsBy Carolyn Clarke — Black Rose Writing, 2022
When we meet Allie Montgomery, she’s suffering a midlife crisis: her kids are older, her daughter may drop out of college, her husband is always working and she’s lost her passion for teaching. She’s signing up for a gym membership when she learns that her beloved father-in-law has died. George was her sounding board and confidante. He leaves behind his septuagenarian wife, Margaret, whom Allie finds self-absorbed, selfish, manipulative and controlling. When Margaret moves in “temporarily,” she criticizes everything Allie does, making it abundantly clear that, as far as she’s concerned, Allie is not good enough for her husband, Hank.
Margaret turns Allie’s life upside down: rearranges furniture, commandeers the kitchen and even secretly funds the college daughter’s bad decisions. At wit’s end, Allie has an encounter with Margaret that changes how they interact and Allie sees her path more clearly: she needs to let go of her anger toward Margaret and claim her dreams. Will Margaret support her or thwart her? While Margaret’s behavior is dreadful, and Allie doesn’t set boundaries, there are times when both women are relatable, for better or worse. A family tale that makes us laugh and think about our own relationships.
The Last List of Mabel Beaumont Posted in: Arts, Fiction, Friendships, Widows and Widowers, Women’s LivesBy Laura Pearson – Boldwood Books, 2023
Mabel Beaumont is an 86-year-old widow who has just lost her husband of 62 years. Arthur was a good man, who loved Mabel unconditionally. And though his wife was not affectionate, their marriage was one of mutual respect. Arthur habitually made lists for everything from shopping to love notes and died with an unfinished list: Find D. Mabel knows he means for her to find her long-lost, best friend, Dot. Mabel starts a list of her own. Soon, and very much out of character, Mabel makes friends of all ages, all of whom appear to have problems Mabel can solve (with a bit of meddling), and thus her list grows. Things rarely go as she hopes, but the women all offer their different skills to help reconnect Mabel and Dot. This relatable novel is told in Mabel’s voice, capturing the emotions, wisdom and regrets of an older woman dealing with loneliness, vulnerability and feelings of invisibility. She must get beyond what’s been holding her back all her life and live with joy, as she’s learned from her new friends. And now, nothing will get in her way. Put this one on your list.
The Librarianist Posted in: Arts, Fiction, FriendshipsBy Patrick deWitt – Ecco, 2023
Bob Comet is a retired librarian and lifelong introvert. We meet Bob in his 70s, living a solitary life in Portland, Oregon. He is divorced and has no close friends or family. His only real passion is books and he spends his days reading, rereading and organizing his vast collection.
When Bob encounters a confused older woman, lost in a market, he helps her find her way home, a senior center. Inspired by the sense of community at the center, he begins volunteering there. Through his interactions with the residents, Bob starts to heal from his past and find a new sense of purpose in his life. He also learns the importance of friendship, community and the power of stories.
This is a hopeful story about the power of books to connect us with others and to help us find meaning in our lives.
The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise Posted in: Arts, Fiction, FriendshipsBy Colleen Oakley – Berkeley, 2023
This heartwarming, funny novel tells the intergenerational tale of Tanner Quimby, a 21-year-old, adrift, college dropout struggling to find her place in the world, and 84-year-old Louise Wilt, recently incapacitated after a fall and hiding a secret past. Tanner’s parents ask her to move out at the same time Louise’s adult children realize their mother can’t manage alone. Tanner is hired as Louise’s caretaker, a position neither woman is happy about. Tanner is intelligent, funny and kind but struggles for self-esteem. Louise is a wise, compassionate woman with a snarky streak and criminal history. As they get to know each other—and try to outrun law enforcement in an interstate adventure—they learn they have more in common than they thought. They both regret their pasts and feel the need to tie up some loose ends. Theirs is a story about friendship, forgiveness and second chances, and it will stay with you long after you close the book.
The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot Posted in: Arts, Fiction, Friendships, MortalityBy Marianne Cronin – Harper 2021
Lenni and Margot are two terminally ill women who meet in a hospital art therapy class. Lenni is 17 with osteosarcoma, while Margot is 83 with leukemia. Both alone in the world, they realize that together they’ve lived 100 years. They make a pact to paint a series of portraits representing pivotal moments from their lives. These paintings become a way for them to reflect on their pasts, to come to terms with their mortality and to create a lasting legacy. Their story is told in alternating chapters from Lenni’s and Margot’s perspectives. Lenni is full of quirky observations and a gallows sense of humor. Margot’s chapters are more reflective as she shares her memories of a long and eventful life. The novel is packed with wisdom and compassion, reflecting the preciousness of life and the enduring human spirit. The end comes too soon.
Old Babes in the Wood Posted in: Arts, Fiction, Short Story CollectionsBy Margaret Atwood — Doubleday, 2023
This is a short story collection by the renowned Canadian author and ardent feminist Margaret Atwood—you are likely familiar with her speculative fiction novel, The Handmaid’s Tale (1985). These new stories portray a world of unique characters, strange places and unusual situations, often set in the future. But while some may be set in a dystopia, these tales contain relevant themes: cancel culture, state control over women’s bodies, and pandemics, to name a few.
“The Age of Lead” tells the tale of a young woman named Iris, who is struggling to come to terms with her father’s death. The story is a moving and powerful exploration of grief, loss and the search for meaning. “My Evil Mother” is a dark, funny story about a young woman discovering that her mother is a witch. “The Sea King” is a beautifully written yarn about a woman who falls in love with a sea creature.
Older women narrate; some are widows and one is terminally ill. They explore memory, loss and commitment to family over time. Old Babes in the Wood is a masterful showcase of Atwood’s brilliant writing and storytelling abilities. It’s a must-read for any fan of the author or anyone who enjoys thought-provoking and imaginative fiction.
The Vibrant Years Posted in: Arts, Families, FictionBy Sonali Dev—Mindy’s Book Studio, 2022
This is a tale of three generations of unfulfilled women trying to discover their best selves and earn the respect they deserve. Bindu Desai has come into a million-dollar inheritance, one that threatens to expose a secret past. Nevertheless, the 65-year-old splurges on a fabulous condo and begins stirring up all sorts of mischief with several bachelors and the homeowners association. Bindu is close with her daughter-in-law, Aly, an underappreciated news anchor, who, at age 47, is competing for jobs with younger colleagues. Aly’s daughter, Cullie, is desperately trying to stay in the IT game when she pitches a half-baked idea of a dating app. When she pulls Bindu and Aly into her research, the results are pure comedy. Told by alternating narrators, this novel is life-affirming and fun. You’ll root for each woman to find what she so desires.
Killers of a Certain Age Posted in: Arts, Fiction, Mysteries and ThrillersBy Deanna Raybourn – Berkley, 2022
Touted as “Golden Girls meet James Bond,” this thriller opens with four women in their 60s celebrating retirement from The Museum, where they’ve worked for 40 years. Only, The Museum is a euphemism for a covert agency of elite, hired assassins, ridding the world of despicable war criminals, former Nazis, child traffickers and the like. It’s not a job that offers a retirement package, something the ladies—code name, the Sphinxes—realize when they become aware that former coworkers are trying to kill them.
Billie, Mary Alice, Helen and Natalie are exceedingly wise women who know too much, and The Museum leadership wants company secrets to die with these assassins. Naturally, the Sphinxes are not about to put down their weapons and go quietly into the night.
The story does an excellent job of showing how older women can be invisible, underestimated and often disrespected in the workplace. Having only each other and their experience to rely on, Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie are about to show The Museum that they’ve messed with the wrong retirees.
We Spread Posted in: Arts, Fiction, Mysteries and ThrillersBy Iain Reid – Gallery/Scout Press, 2022
Penny is an uninspired artist who has lived in the same apartment for decades. It’s full of her memories and collections. One day, to her surprise, she is moved to a long term care facility by her building manager after she suffers a few “incidents” attributed to her advanced years. She resists the idea that she and her late, longtime partner decided together to move there if one of them passed before the other. The facility is a private dwelling converted to accommodate six older residents in a family-like setting. At first, it is comforting, down to the chairs, bed and bedding, and the atmosphere inspires Penny to work. But she begins to sense that all is not right here: Can she trust the staff? Is she being drugged? As she begins to lose her grip on reality—why can’t she go outside or bathe alone?—Penny is left to wonder if what she is experiencing is just the result of aging or something far more nefarious. Her internal dialogue makes her so relatable. Who among us hasn’t been afraid that we’re losing our mind? Playing on our fears about death and dying, dementia and loss of control, the care home itself becomes villainous in its mystery. This is a psychological thriller that will pull you in.
Remarkably Bright Creatures Posted in: Arts, Curmudgeons and Other Eccentric Characters, Families, FictionBy Shelby Van Pelt — Ecco, 2022
Tova is a widow in her 70s, coping with the mysterious loss of her teen son, Erik. To distract herself from her losses, Tova takes a job as a cleaner in the local aquarium, where she communes with the creatures housed there. She becomes particularly fond of Marcellus, an aging, giant Pacific octopus, rescued and rehabilitated there. She knows he escapes and visits the other tanks, sometimes for a social call and other times for a snack. Tova keeps his secrets; Marcellus is grateful. When 30-year-old Cameron arrives, looking for the father he never knew, he takes a part-time job at the aquarium, where Tova makes him into a passable employee. While Cam settles into what feels like home for the first time, the intelligent and erudite Marcellus pieces together what happened to Tova’s son. Can the old octopus give Tova the peace she seeks before he dies? Narrated by both Marcellus and Tova, this charming story will have you longing for a trip to the nearest aquarium.
Everything Must Go Posted in: Arts, Families, FictionBy Camille Pagán — Lake Union Publishing, 2022
Laine Francis is a professional organizer who, since childhood, has wanted to put things in order. When Laine’s own life becomes her next organizing challenge, she faces it head-on. She returns to her family home in Brooklyn from Michigan. The timing is right; she feels she can no longer stay with the baby-averse husband adored by her family; she just bade farewell to her beloved dog. Both of Laine’s sisters confide that they’ve become concerned that their mother, Sally, is slipping into dementia. Sally’s been seen going to the store in a negligee, frequently forgetting significant things, making excuses and denying her decline. The sisters confront the possibility of losing their mother to Alzheimer’s and the immense, complex care that she’ll need going forward. It’s these heartfelt conversations that make the Francis sisters endearing. They are credible characters: kind, loving and afraid for their mother’s future. Sally enjoys having Laine nearby; this closeness brings significant unburdening between mother and daughter. Sally tells Laine the truth about her marriage, and Laine realizes she had made an incorrect assumption that she held against her mother for decades. Knowing the truth allows Laine to see her mother in a positive light. When Sally finally accepts that she’ll need help, it’s another successful outcome for our organizer.
