I’m a huge reader – in fact, according to my Goodreads profile, I’ve read 57 books already this year and we’re only just past the halfway mark!
That equates to two or more books each week!
A few of you have asked about my reading habits, so not too long ago I shared the secrets of how I find time to read.
And I’ve also had some folk asking if I can recommend some great books for middle aged women.
Now, any book that I actually persevere with and read all the way to the end is what I consider a “good” book. If they aren’t any good, I don’t continue … because life’s too short to read boring books.
As a result, most of the books I read get a solid 3 stars from me. If they are better than average, I will award 4 stars.
And if I really, really enjoyed it, I will award it 5 stars.
In about 18 months of keeping track of my reading matter over on Goodreads, I’ve only bestowed this honour on roughly 10 books.
I further narrowed this list to just 5 books for middle aged women to enjoy, by selecting only the most memorable ones – the ones I could actually recall, even though I read them quite a while ago. While they may not necessarily be *about* middle aged women, this middle aged woman definitely recommends them to others!
So without further ado …
5 Books Recommended by a Middle Aged Mama
1 – Calling Invisible Women by Jeanne Ray.
To say I loved this book is an understatement! As middle aged women, we sometimes *feel* invisible – then one day 50-something Clover realises she actually *is* invisible. Unfortunately, not many other people in her life seem to notice. And then she realises that she is not alone ….
Do yourself a favour and beg, borrow, or buy a copy of this book. It’s warm and witty, and totally relatable – or maybe that’s just me?!
2 – The Wedding Bees: a Novel of Honey, Love, and Manners by Sarah-Kate Lynch.
Another intriguing idea, transformed into a charming story. The main character, Sugar, is a middle aged woman, former debutante, and keen bee keeper. More than just a light hearted flight of fancy, this story is full of wisdom and will give the reader a pleasant buzz (#sorrynotsorry for the puns!).
3 – The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth
Anna is a middle aged woman, living in a facility with residents more than twice her age, as she has early onset Alzheimer’s disease. It sounds terribly sad – and it is – but it is still a beautiful story.
4 – Longbourn by Jo Baker
If you love Jane Austen, you’ll love this new take on a classic. Although the Bennet family is portrayed as being “poor”, the term really is relative. They are still part of genteel society. But what of their servants? You’ll see Pride and Prejudice through the eyes of young Sarah the housemaid, in this historical tale.
5 – Paris is Always a Good Idea by Nicolas Barreau
It is rare that I read or recommend a novel by a male author – I guess I’m a bit sexist in my choice of reading matter. This book is one of the exceptions. A gifted artist, Rosalie creates “wishing cards” which she sells from her little shop in Paris, however it seems her own wishes never come true – until the day an older gentleman trips in her store and knocks a stand of postcards over. I’ve never been to Paris but felt like I was there through the pages of this book.
Why I Found These Books So Appealing
Although you will find love and romance in all of these novels (I am in love with love, after all!), these stories consist of so much more than that.
Which, when you think about it, is often what life is like for us as middle aged women. Yes, we may be fortunate enough to have love and romance in our lives – but our lives are made up of so much more, and I think that is why I seek out and enjoy stories that have a bit of romance, a bit of mystery, a bit of adventure, a bit of career, a bit of travel, included in the mix.
Have you read any of these books? Are there any books that you would particularly recommend to other middle aged women?!