Funny, quality commercial fiction about an older woman

[Copelia]

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?

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

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

The Rachel Joyce books?

You might try Barbara Pym

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!

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

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.

The Liberation of Bella McCaa. Catherine Aitken.

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

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.

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

Apples never Fall

Liane Moriarty

F

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

Auntie Poldie and the Sicilian Lions....

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

Any of the Olive Kitteridge books by Elizabeth Strout.

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

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

The Number One Ladies Detective Agency is also an easy read about a not young woman.

The Godmother by Hannelore Cayre. French Morrocan crime fiction.

South Riding by Winifred Holtby. Yorkshire local politics.

Old Baggage by Lissa Evans. Story of an old suffragette and first in a trilogy with no romance.

Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro. South American murder mystery.

Love after Love by Ingrid Persaud. Friendship between a gay man and a widow.

Memories: From Moscow to the Black Sea by Teffi. Memoirs of escaping the Bolsheviks.

Fantastic shout. The Thursday Murder Club books are good, too.

The Silver Ladies of Penny Lane

You might like Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce

She's not the main character obviously but Pauline Mole (mother of Adrian) is consistently hilarious.

The Featheringham Mysteries by Sikon Brett.

The cava queen .... excellent