Please or to access all these features

What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Funny, quality commercial fiction about an older woman

43 replies

Copelia · 03/03/2024 21:21

I can think of lots of good writers of funny women’s commercial fiction- Marian Keyes springs to mind- but their characters are often younger and lots of plots around finding a partner. (I know MK writes about more things than this.)

Im trying to find the equivalent but about an older woman and maybe not a romance plot. Any suggestions?

OP posts:
Tezza1 · 03/03/2024 21:55

As Cathy Kelly has gotten older, I think she began having older characters.

katienana · 03/03/2024 21:39

Olive Kitteridge
I recently read a book by Anne Tyler, it was about a widow with a big family who expected her to do everything, can't remember the name but it was good

Sockknitterg · 03/03/2024 21:39

Any of the Olive Kitteridge books by Elizabeth Strout.

EveryKneeShallBow · 03/03/2024 21:37

All Fun and Games Until Someone Loses an Eye Christopher Brookmyre, not a romance.

Villagetoraiseachild · 03/03/2024 21:36

Auntie Poldie and the Sicilian Lions....

RichardsGear · 03/03/2024 21:33

I've really enjoyed Jenny Eclair's books (well, the two I've read!) - very well written.

Perfectlystill · 03/03/2024 21:33

F

Knackeredhamster · 03/03/2024 21:32

Apples never Fall

Liane Moriarty

stayathomer · 03/03/2024 21:32

Beth Rain, some of Fiona gibson’s books, it’s difficult actually!!!

EmpressaurusOfTheScathingTinsel · 03/03/2024 21:31

Just Got Real by Jane Fallon. You could call it the exact opposite of a romance plot & there’s a great focus on female friendship.

BlueFairyBugsBooks · 03/03/2024 21:31

The Liberation of Bella McCaa. Catherine Aitken.

It's about a menopausal woman. I think there is a romance element, but it was brilliant.

Precipice · 03/03/2024 21:29

The Isabel Dalhousie books by Alexander McCall Smith? Middle-aged woman solving crime, quite light. There was a bit of romance, but not the central focus.

PSEnny · 03/03/2024 21:27

I’ve looked it up: Small Pleasures! I loved it!

PSEnny · 03/03/2024 21:25

Clare Chambers has one about an older woman, there is a romance element but also a mystery at its heart. I’ll look up the name now. Highly recommended!

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 03/03/2024 21:25

You might try Barbara Pym

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 03/03/2024 21:25

The Rachel Joyce books?

TheGirlWhoLived · 03/03/2024 21:24

I’m sure Dawn French has written a couple in this bracket too

TheGirlWhoLived · 03/03/2024 21:23

The midnight library is very good by Matt haig, I think she’s older?