Can anyone recommend a good book about a middle aged woman...

[Fairylights7]

(think between aged 45 and 55) which is not about menopause or trying to fit everything in and is a positive portrayal of middle age life? Thanks

How about Mrs Dalloway? (Virginia Woolf)

Have you read Raynor Winn's three books? Salt Path is the first, the story of losing everything but finding solace in walking.

I’ve just read the brief of Mrs D and it doesn’t seem to offer a positive portrayal of a middle aged woman unfortunately, but thank you. The Salt Path does fit the bill but have already read this one. Looking for my bookclub as we want to read a book about people like us that paints middle age in a positive light. Any further suggestions would be great x

Elizabeth Strouts series On Lucy Barton is good l think..4 in the series and need to be read in order.
Good writer anyway.

Gosh that shouldn’t be a difficult ask, should it? It’s like a book version of the Bechdel test! Rodham and American Wife, both by Curtis Sittenfeld, are fictionalised accounts of Hillary Clinton and Barbara Bush respectively. They span quite a lot of their lives, but definitely include positive accounts of middle age. Anne Tyler’s books often have ordinary middle aged women living normal lives (but generally a bit wistful about something).

Appletree yard, its not a "positive" portrayal as such but the main character is of that vintage and I found it very refreshing to read a book featuring a middle aged woman where her age was largely irrelevant to the plot.

Or "The actresses" by Barbara Ewing is all about a group of older female friends with a broad range of characters

Agree, where are the positive inspiring stories! But we couldn’t think of any male equivalents either 🙈

Not specifically about middle age, but Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead is an incredible novel about a woman who lives a very unconventional, single-minded life. Beautifully written, and the sort of fascinating story that makes you wish it was based on a real person so you could read more about them.🙂

Might not be what you are looking for, but what about Ann Cleeves' Vera series?
She is an older detective, a bit lonely but loves her job and has a few younger detectives she likes to boss around

"The woman in the middle" by Milly Johnson. Milly is my guilty pleasure. Chick lit with a sense of humour.

Revenge of the middle aged woman.

there was a very similar request not long ago, so have a look in that thread for ideas

Not a female author or everyday setting, but the witches series by Terry Pratchett have middle aged female main characters.

Maybe try Life after Life? A range of ages involved there.

The ones I can think of are all very old and inappropriate. Interesting.

As @isthewashingdryyet Revenge of the Middle Aged Woman, Elizabeth Buchan.

Maeve Binchy - Night of Rain and stars from memory which includes a more mature woman living her normal life. Several of Maeves books might fit the bill but iuts such a long time since Ive read them I cant be sure which ones now.
Maeve Binchy - Book Series In Order should be able to help .

Thanks for signposting the other thread, very helpful! Still think there is a gap in the market for positive books about women between the ages of 45 to 60ish!

the Lucia books?

I'm currently reading Hags by Victoria Smith which doesn't fit the bill at all, but might explain the lack of novels with a positive middle aged female protagonist ☺ I'll start a thread on it when I've finished (if there isn't one already!)

Just Got Real, by Jane Fallon. It’s about three women whose ages range from early 40s to early 60s, & while none of them are perfect, they’re all portrayed positively.

@BigMosLittleSister there is a thread already.

As you were @BigMosLittleSister , I see you've found it.

Came to say this. I love Vera

I really enjoyed "The Emergence of Judy Taylor"

Just finished Black Butterflies by Priscilla Morris. It's protagonist is a 55 year old artist/ lecturer and it's set during the seige of Sarajevo in '92. I did enjoy it, in the main. Worth a look.