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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To seek a certain book…

34 replies

TheBeaTgoeson1 · 30/12/2025 18:31

Can anyone help. I’m looking for good books which fit the following criteria:

Female protagonist who doesn’t have kids and is ideally 40+ Happily childfeee, this doesn’t need to be mentioned in so many words but not someone who ‘settles down’ at the end of the book and has kids!

I love thrillers but any genre is okay, and any period.

Please help!

OP posts:

LauritaEvita · 30/12/2025 18:40

Jane Fallon books are good fun and the leads don’t usually have the goal of settling down that lots of chick lit seems to focus on.

Original poster

TheBeaTgoeson1 · 30/12/2025 18:42

Thank you! Do you recommend any title?

OP posts:

damemaggiescurledupperlip · 30/12/2025 18:42

Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone books - 25 of them.

Stuporwoman · 30/12/2025 18:44

I recently enjoyed Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner. Protagonist is prob mid thirties and an undercover agent who infiltrates eco activists

AphroditesSeashell · 30/12/2025 18:45

The Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich are good; crime books with humour.

For something along the same lines but a little bit more chilled are the Agatha Raisin books. I started reading them in my 20s and always enjoyed them. Easy to read a novel in an evening or two.

There are some romance-adjacent story lines in both of the aforementioned series, but the female leads are generally single, childless and happy.

AgnesX · 30/12/2025 18:45

Sara Paretski's VI Warshawski books, set in Chicago. Great reads.

AgnesX · 30/12/2025 18:46

AphroditesSeashell · 30/12/2025 18:45

The Stephanie Plum novels by Janet Evanovich are good; crime books with humour.

For something along the same lines but a little bit more chilled are the Agatha Raisin books. I started reading them in my 20s and always enjoyed them. Easy to read a novel in an evening or two.

There are some romance-adjacent story lines in both of the aforementioned series, but the female leads are generally single, childless and happy.

They're hysterical and I just love Grandma Mazur.

CremeEggsForBreakfast · 30/12/2025 18:48

If you don't mind the childless female not being human then Travis Baldree's Legends and Lattes is fab. I mean, she does "settle down" but not into having children.

PenCreed · 30/12/2025 18:56

If you like fantasy then T Kingfisher - her female characters are usually over 30 at least and don’t have perfect families at the end.

LilyFeather · 30/12/2025 19:12

Julie Tudor is not a psychopath is what you need!

Silverbirchleaf · 30/12/2025 19:14

Woman in the photograph - superb fictional story, that loosely describes key feminist moments, well worth reading

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Woman-Photograph-Stephanie-Butland/dp/1785768964/ref=asc_df_1785768964?mcid=9d11e3b8dfbc31b295058163c1f0e1d3&th=1&psc=1&hvocijid=14159991613017814646-1785768964-&hvexpln=74&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=696285193871&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14159991613017814646&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=2826&hvtargid=pla-2281435176938&psc=1&gad_source=1

Silverbirchleaf · 30/12/2025 19:15

Away with the penguins

https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9781784164249?gC=5a105e8b&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20226739100&gbraid=0AAAAADsTpAS1kyHTRBI_soxJ-Pxq0wdMK&gclid=CjwKCAiAjc7KBhBvEiwAE2BDOc3Q3QQ6AVY36ATsmcjFu_i1VV_LJERsDVka9brTn2R4j33fZ0T_AhoC_FYQAvD_BwE

Away With the Penguins

Veronica McCreedy lives in a mansion by the sea. She loves a nice cup of Darjeeling tea whilst watching a good wildlife documentary. And she's never seen withou

https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9781784164249?gC=5a105e8b&gad_campaignid=20226739100&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADsTpAS1kyHTRBI_soxJ-Pxq0wdMK&gclid=CjwKCAiAjc7KBhBvEiwAE2BDOc3Q3QQ6AVY36ATsmcjFu_i1VV_LJERsDVka9brTn2R4j33fZ0T_AhoC_FYQAvD_BwE

Silverbirchleaf · 30/12/2025 19:16

Mrs Benson beetle

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Miss-Bensons-Beetle-uplifting-friendship/dp/0552779482/ref=asc_df_0552779482?mcid=a49ffd1b10a03cb784a9d10579aec5b3&th=1&psc=1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697199685294&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2100235534311382764&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=2826&hvtargid=pla-927657295377&psc=1&hvocijid=2100235534311382764-0552779482-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

wannanamechange · 30/12/2025 19:17

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

Silverbirchleaf · 30/12/2025 19:18

The Lido

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lido-feel-good-debut-year/dp/1409175227/ref=asc_df_1409175227?mcid=ee3ac7acbd7a3f3691e03738bafba925&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697210522740&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3826058536307247226&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=2826&hvtargid=pla-698045826856&psc=1&hvocijid=3826058536307247226-1409175227-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

Silverbirchleaf · 30/12/2025 19:19

Prime suspect books

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Prime-Suspect-Lynda-Plante/dp/1471100219

Blue79 · 30/12/2025 19:20

Holly gibneys character Stephen king. In numerous books. Some she is lead character others supporting character

saveforthat · 30/12/2025 19:20

The Anthony Horowich (may have mispelt). Moonflower Murders and Magpie Murders are good but you may have seen them as they were televised.

zzplee · 30/12/2025 19:20

Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next series. But not the first one - he doesn't get into his stride until the second book.

JustPlainStanfreyPock · 30/12/2025 19:21

damemaggiescurledupperlip · 30/12/2025 18:42

Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone books - 25 of them.

Yes, the Sue Grafton books, enjoyed those very much, particularly her 'tiny house' and lack of interest in cooking, though not a fan of peanut butter and pickle sandwiches myself.

countdowntonap · 30/12/2025 19:23

I really enjoyed The Wedding People. I’m 39+ and happily child free and, whilst it doesn’t fit your criteria exactly you might like it.

Also try The Sunshine Cruise Company by John Niven. Really made me chuckle.

Blackcountryexile · 30/12/2025 19:27

A trilogy by Lissa Evans Crooked Heart, Old Baggage and V for Victory.
Murder at Gulls Nest by Jess Kidd.
Hattie Brings the House Down and Hattie Steals the Show by Patrick Gleeson.

Original poster

TheBeaTgoeson1 · 30/12/2025 19:27

Thank you!

OP posts:

siansattic · 30/12/2025 19:34

Silverbirchleaf · 30/12/2025 19:16

Mrs Benson beetle

Loved this one (and quite a few of your other recommendations!)

sparebooks · 30/12/2025 19:48

Val McDermid’s Karen Pirie series

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