Fiction books based later in life

[Usernameismyname01]

Looking for recommendations for fiction books about relationships in the older generations (40yrs +)
they can be romance or family dynamics but more mature rather than the first flush of youth and love

Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner.

The romance website Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, has covered this in one of their recommendations posts, here. Of those mentioned, I enjoyed the Cathy Yardley about middle-aged gamers. Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie is great and has a heroine who is 40. Well Matched by Jen de Luca is fun and fluffy and the heroine is older. Hidden HerStories also has a list.

A great book about female friendship in later life (60s onwards) is Anna Hope's The Weekend.

Ann Tyler often writes about marriage and family in middle age. Her latest, Three Days In June is a good example.
Also Elizabeth Stroud's books especially the Olive Kitteridge ones.

The Winds of Heaven by Monica Dickens
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby van Pelt
Two very different books, but I enjoyed both of them.

The Midlife trilogy is about ladies aged 50+ across three books, nice light read and easy to follow as author catches you up with previous events across the books x

The Weekend by Charlotte Wood is brilliant. About 3 older ladies - all fabulously flawed characters. I loved it.

The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald.

Many thanks. I will go and take a look at these

Love in the time of cholera

It's long but Freedom by Jonathan Franzen is good (and hot, in places)

Us by David Nichols and Sandwich by Catherine Newman are both good reads!

I love Salley Vickers, and her main characters are over 40 - one of her books is even called 'Grandmothers'.

Ooh I forgot Sally Vickers. I love all of hers but especially Miss Garnet's Angel. She is wonderful both at character development and scene setting. She made me want to travel immediately to Italy!

Ruth Jones by you side. The only book I have ever read where I have laughed out loud

The mum who got her life back by Fiona Gibson. Great, really enjoyed it. Lightweight but very accurate about the empty nest phase.

Thursday Murder Club if you enjoy lighthearted mysteries

I liked The Ladies Midnight Swimmers Club by Faith Hogan.

Maddie Please writes light hearted chic-lit type books featuring main characters/groups of women in their 50s - 70+; or some of Judy Leigh’s are similar. More recent books by Fiona Gibson feature a main character in her 40s/50s, normally in a family situation. Or you could look at Deborah Moggach, or Cathy Kelly who tends to include 3-4 female characters of differing ages in her books .

Met Me At The Museum by Anne Youngson
It's just lovely and very very different.

Another epistolatory favourite of mine is 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

I was trying to remember the name of this one- I just read it and it was fantastic!

Absolutely loved both of these!

Great thread! Thank you x

Epistolary ffs!