Older and (sometimes) wiser, these characters will charm you and keep you wondering what they’ll do next. From bestsellers like A Man Called Ove to upcoming new releases like Colleen Oakley’s The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise, you’ll want to get your hands on these incredible books with older protagonists.
An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten
Maud is an irascible 88-year-old Swedish woman with no family, no friends, and... no qualms about a little murder. This funny, irreverent story collection will keep you laughing all the way to the retirement home.
A Man Called Ove (pronounced UU-veh) by Fredrik Backman
Now a major motion picture A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks! Fredrik Backman’s beloved first novel about the angry old man next door is a thoughtful exploration of the profound impact one life has on countless others. “If there was an award for ‘Most Charming Book of the Year,’ this first novel by a Swedish blogger-turned-overnight-sensation would win hands down” (Booklist)
Now a major motion picture A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks! Fredrik Backman’s beloved first novel about the angry old man next door is a thoughtful exploration of the profound impact one life has on countless others. “If there was an award for ‘Most Charming Book of the Year,’ this first novel by a Swedish blogger-turned-overnight-sensation would win hands down” (Booklist)
The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain
This humorous, life-affirming, and charmingly wise novel tells the story of how the forced retirement of a shy, closeted postman in northern England creates a second chance with his lost love, as he learns to embrace his true self, connect with his community, and finally experience his life’s great adventure…
This humorous, life-affirming, and charmingly wise novel tells the story of how the forced retirement of a shy, closeted postman in northern England creates a second chance with his lost love, as he learns to embrace his true self, connect with his community, and finally experience his life’s great adventure…
Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon
Eighty-four-year-old Florence can’t help but wonder why the new resident at Cherry Tree Home for the Elderly looks so much like someone she knew who died 60 years ago — but is this a mystery or confusion caused by her worsening dementia?
Eighty-four-year-old Florence can’t help but wonder why the new resident at Cherry Tree Home for the Elderly looks so much like someone she knew who died 60 years ago — but is this a mystery or confusion caused by her worsening dementia?
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi
John Perry did two things on his 75th birthday. First, he visited his wife's grave. Then he joined the army. Everybody knows that when you reach retirement age, you can join the CDF. They don't want young people; they want people who carry the knowledge and skills of decades of living. You'll be taken off Earth and never allowed to return. You'll serve two years at the front. And if you survive, you'll be given a generous homestead stake of your own, on one of our hard-won colony planets. John Perry is taking that deal. He has only the vaguest idea of what to expect. Because the actual fight, light-years from home, is far, far harder than he can imagine. And what he will become is far stranger.
John Perry did two things on his 75th birthday. First, he visited his wife's grave. Then he joined the army. Everybody knows that when you reach retirement age, you can join the CDF. They don't want young people; they want people who carry the knowledge and skills of decades of living. You'll be taken off Earth and never allowed to return. You'll serve two years at the front. And if you survive, you'll be given a generous homestead stake of your own, on one of our hard-won colony planets. John Perry is taking that deal. He has only the vaguest idea of what to expect. Because the actual fight, light-years from home, is far, far harder than he can imagine. And what he will become is far stranger.
All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle
Jamaican immigrant and widower Hubert lives in England, chatting on the phone every week with his adult daughter in Australia. In their conversations, he paints a picture of a life filled with friends and activity. When his daughter plans a visit, Hubert realizes he can’t expose the truth of his lonely life to her and he must attempt to create the life he’s told her so much about.
Jamaican immigrant and widower Hubert lives in England, chatting on the phone every week with his adult daughter in Australia. In their conversations, he paints a picture of a life filled with friends and activity. When his daughter plans a visit, Hubert realizes he can’t expose the truth of his lonely life to her and he must attempt to create the life he’s told her so much about.
The Highland Hens by Judy Leigh
In the imposing Glen Carrick House overlooking Scotland’s famous Loch Ness, lives eighty-eight-year-old Mimi McKinlay, cared for by her three adult sons. All the brothers share a concern that their beloved mother is living in her memories of her days on stage, while letting her present days pass her by. Jess Oliver is at a turning point. Amicably divorced after years of being married, this trip to the Highlands is a first taste of independence. When Mimi and Jess’s paths cross, a friendship is formed that will change both women’s lives.
In the imposing Glen Carrick House overlooking Scotland’s famous Loch Ness, lives eighty-eight-year-old Mimi McKinlay, cared for by her three adult sons. All the brothers share a concern that their beloved mother is living in her memories of her days on stage, while letting her present days pass her by. Jess Oliver is at a turning point. Amicably divorced after years of being married, this trip to the Highlands is a first taste of independence. When Mimi and Jess’s paths cross, a friendship is formed that will change both women’s lives.
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey by Walter Mosley
An Apple+ series starring Samuel L. Jackson! Marooned in an apartment that overflows with mementos from the past, 91-year-old Ptolemy Grey is all but forgotten by his family and the world. But when an unexpected opportunity arrives, everything changes for Ptolemy in ways as shocking and unanticipated as they are poignant and profound.
An Apple+ series starring Samuel L. Jackson! Marooned in an apartment that overflows with mementos from the past, 91-year-old Ptolemy Grey is all but forgotten by his family and the world. But when an unexpected opportunity arrives, everything changes for Ptolemy in ways as shocking and unanticipated as they are poignant and profound.
Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
A spare yet eloquent, bittersweet yet inspiring story of a man and a woman who, in advanced age, come together to wrestle with the events of their lives and their hopes for the imminent future.
A spare yet eloquent, bittersweet yet inspiring story of a man and a woman who, in advanced age, come together to wrestle with the events of their lives and their hopes for the imminent future.
Once a Spy by Keith Thomson
Alzheimer’s has taken its toll on Drummond Clark, turning him into a confused old man who’s wandered away from home, waiting for his son to fetch him. When Charlie Clark takes a break from his latest losing streak at the track to bring Drummond back to his Brooklyn home, they find it blown sky high—and then bullets start flying in every direction. At first, Charlie thinks his Russian “creditors” are employing aggressive collection tactics. But once Drummond effortlessly hot-wires a car as their escape vehicle, Charlie begins to suspect there’s much more to his father than meets the eye. He soon discovers that Drummond’s unremarkable career as an appliance salesman was actually a clever cover for a spy of legendary proportions. Drummond’s intricate knowledge is extremely dangerous information to have rattling around in an Alzheimer’s-addled brain. The CIA wants to “contain” him--and so do some other shady characters who send Charlie and Drummond on a wild chase that gives “father and son quality time” a whole new meaning.
Alzheimer’s has taken its toll on Drummond Clark, turning him into a confused old man who’s wandered away from home, waiting for his son to fetch him. When Charlie Clark takes a break from his latest losing streak at the track to bring Drummond back to his Brooklyn home, they find it blown sky high—and then bullets start flying in every direction. At first, Charlie thinks his Russian “creditors” are employing aggressive collection tactics. But once Drummond effortlessly hot-wires a car as their escape vehicle, Charlie begins to suspect there’s much more to his father than meets the eye. He soon discovers that Drummond’s unremarkable career as an appliance salesman was actually a clever cover for a spy of legendary proportions. Drummond’s intricate knowledge is extremely dangerous information to have rattling around in an Alzheimer’s-addled brain. The CIA wants to “contain” him--and so do some other shady characters who send Charlie and Drummond on a wild chase that gives “father and son quality time” a whole new meaning.
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Four retirement village neighbors meet weekly to examine unsolved crimes, calling themselves the Thursday Murder Club. When the mysterious death of a developer shocks the neighborhood, the group of unlikely sleuths will have to use all of their combined skills to crack the case.
Four retirement village neighbors meet weekly to examine unsolved crimes, calling themselves the Thursday Murder Club. When the mysterious death of a developer shocks the neighborhood, the group of unlikely sleuths will have to use all of their combined skills to crack the case.
Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
Three years have passed since the widowed Dowager Royina Ista found release from the curse of madness that kept her imprisoned in her family's castle of Valenda. Her newfound freedom is costly, bittersweet with memories, regrets, and guilty secrets -- for she knows the truth of what brought her land to the brink of destruction. And now the road -- escape -- beckons. . . . A simple pilgrimage, perhaps. Quite fitting for the Dowager Royina of all Chalion. Yet something else is free, too -- something beyond deadly.
Three years have passed since the widowed Dowager Royina Ista found release from the curse of madness that kept her imprisoned in her family's castle of Valenda. Her newfound freedom is costly, bittersweet with memories, regrets, and guilty secrets -- for she knows the truth of what brought her land to the brink of destruction. And now the road -- escape -- beckons. . . . A simple pilgrimage, perhaps. Quite fitting for the Dowager Royina of all Chalion. Yet something else is free, too -- something beyond deadly.
The Lido by Libby Page
The international bestselling debut about friendship and love—featuring the life-changing relationship between an anxious young reporter and an eighty-six-year-old lifelong swimmer.
The international bestselling debut about friendship and love—featuring the life-changing relationship between an anxious young reporter and an eighty-six-year-old lifelong swimmer.
The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick
Each day is the same for Arthur Pepper: He wears the same clothes, waters the same fern, and continues to miss his late wife, Miriam. On the first anniversary of Miriam’s death, the discovery of a gold charm bracelet Arthur has never seen before sends him on a worldwide search for answers.
Each day is the same for Arthur Pepper: He wears the same clothes, waters the same fern, and continues to miss his late wife, Miriam. On the first anniversary of Miriam’s death, the discovery of a gold charm bracelet Arthur has never seen before sends him on a worldwide search for answers.
The Good Liar by Nicholas Searle
When Betty meets Roy online, the companionship he provides seems to be exactly what the wealthy widow needs. Soon, he has moved into her lavish home and involved himself in her finances. Betty’s relatives immediately realize that Roy isn’t who he seems to be — but the true story that unfolds, spanning decades and continents, proves to be more complicated than any reader could imagine.
When Betty meets Roy online, the companionship he provides seems to be exactly what the wealthy widow needs. Soon, he has moved into her lavish home and involved himself in her finances. Betty’s relatives immediately realize that Roy isn’t who he seems to be — but the true story that unfolds, spanning decades and continents, proves to be more complicated than any reader could imagine.
Murder on a Girls’ Night Out by Ann George
This hilarious tale of two “60 something” sisters reveals the deadly consequences of a hasty real estate purchase. Retired Alabama school teacher Patricia Anne thinks her older sister, flamboyant Mary Alice, has lost her mind. On a whim, Mary Alice bought the Skoot ’n’ Boot, the local country western night spot where she and her boyfriend hang out. Mary Alice insists it will be easy to run the club - until the previous owner is found executed, gangland style, in the club’s wishing well. Suddenly the sheriff is demanding answers, and a killer with unfinished business is sending messages even optimistic Mary Alice can’t ignore.
This hilarious tale of two “60 something” sisters reveals the deadly consequences of a hasty real estate purchase. Retired Alabama school teacher Patricia Anne thinks her older sister, flamboyant Mary Alice, has lost her mind. On a whim, Mary Alice bought the Skoot ’n’ Boot, the local country western night spot where she and her boyfriend hang out. Mary Alice insists it will be easy to run the club - until the previous owner is found executed, gangland style, in the club’s wishing well. Suddenly the sheriff is demanding answers, and a killer with unfinished business is sending messages even optimistic Mary Alice can’t ignore.
The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood
When 77-year-old Judith Potts witnesses a murder while out on the Thames River, she bands together with dog walker Suzie and vicar’s wife Becks to investigate the crime. However, when another dead body turns up on their watch, the ladies may have found a serial killer — and a mystery that’s more than they bargained for.
When 77-year-old Judith Potts witnesses a murder while out on the Thames River, she bands together with dog walker Suzie and vicar’s wife Becks to investigate the crime. However, when another dead body turns up on their watch, the ladies may have found a serial killer — and a mystery that’s more than they bargained for.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
A charming, witty and compulsively enjoyable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope that traces a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus.
A charming, witty and compulsively enjoyable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope that traces a widow's unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus.
The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin
Seventeen-year-old Lenni Pettersson lives on the Terminal Ward at the Glasgow Princess Royal Hospital. Though the teenager has been told she’s dying, she still has plenty of living to do. Joining the hospital’s arts and crafts class, she meets the magnificent Margot, an 83-year-old, purple-pajama-wearing, fruitcake-eating rebel, who transforms Lenni in ways she never imagined.
Seventeen-year-old Lenni Pettersson lives on the Terminal Ward at the Glasgow Princess Royal Hospital. Though the teenager has been told she’s dying, she still has plenty of living to do. Joining the hospital’s arts and crafts class, she meets the magnificent Margot, an 83-year-old, purple-pajama-wearing, fruitcake-eating rebel, who transforms Lenni in ways she never imagined.
Varina Palladino’s Jersey Italian Love Story by Terri-Lynne DeFino
This book has been called a blend of Moonstruck and My Big Fat Greek Wedding — if the two stories were taken over by New Jersey Italian Americans! Other widows might be retiring recluses, but Varina Palladino won’t be kept from successfully running her family’s Italian grocery store as well as managing her large, boisterous family. What Varina’s not embracing, much to her ninety-two-year-old mother’s dismay, is dating.
This book has been called a blend of Moonstruck and My Big Fat Greek Wedding — if the two stories were taken over by New Jersey Italian Americans! Other widows might be retiring recluses, but Varina Palladino won’t be kept from successfully running her family’s Italian grocery store as well as managing her large, boisterous family. What Varina’s not embracing, much to her ninety-two-year-old mother’s dismay, is dating.
Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand by Helen Simonson
When retired Major Pettigrew strikes up an unlikely friendship with Mrs. Ali, the Pakistani village shopkeeper, he is drawn out of his regimented world and forced to confront the realities of life in the twenty-first century. Brought together by a shared love of literature and the loss of their respective spouses, the Major and Mrs. Ali soon find their friendship on the cusp of blossoming into something more.
When retired Major Pettigrew strikes up an unlikely friendship with Mrs. Ali, the Pakistani village shopkeeper, he is drawn out of his regimented world and forced to confront the realities of life in the twenty-first century. Brought together by a shared love of literature and the loss of their respective spouses, the Major and Mrs. Ali soon find their friendship on the cusp of blossoming into something more.
When in Rome by Liam Callanan
From nationally bestselling, award-winning author Liam Callanan, the story of an opportunity to start over at midlife, a chance to save a struggling convent in the Eternal City, and the dramatic re-emergence of an old flame . . .
From nationally bestselling, award-winning author Liam Callanan, the story of an opportunity to start over at midlife, a chance to save a struggling convent in the Eternal City, and the dramatic re-emergence of an old flame . . .
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise by Colleen Oakley
An unforgettable pairing of a college dropout and an eighty-four-year-old woman on the run from the law propels this story full of tremendous heart, humor, and wit.
An unforgettable pairing of a college dropout and an eighty-four-year-old woman on the run from the law propels this story full of tremendous heart, humor, and wit.
Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind by Ann B. Ross
Miss Julia, a recently bereaved and newly wealthy widow, is only slightly bemused when one Hazel Marie Puckett appears at her door with a youngster in tow and unceremoniously announces that the child is the bastard son of Miss Julia's late husband. Suddenly, this longtime church member and pillar of her small Southern community finds herself in the center of an unseemly scandal-and the guardian of a wan nine-year-old whose mere presence turns her life upside down.
Miss Julia, a recently bereaved and newly wealthy widow, is only slightly bemused when one Hazel Marie Puckett appears at her door with a youngster in tow and unceremoniously announces that the child is the bastard son of Miss Julia's late husband. Suddenly, this longtime church member and pillar of her small Southern community finds herself in the center of an unseemly scandal-and the guardian of a wan nine-year-old whose mere presence turns her life upside down.
The Half of It by Juliette Fay
The author delivers a beautiful story of a woman reflecting on the most impactful night of her life — and reuniting with the man involved after 40 years apart. When Helen Spencer and Cal Crosby unexpectedly cross paths, they both have marriages, children, and grandchildren behind them, but neither can forget their long-ago shared history.
The author delivers a beautiful story of a woman reflecting on the most impactful night of her life — and reuniting with the man involved after 40 years apart. When Helen Spencer and Cal Crosby unexpectedly cross paths, they both have marriages, children, and grandchildren behind them, but neither can forget their long-ago shared history.
The Celebrants by Steven Rowley (publishing May 30, 2023)
Five college friends have made good on a pact to reunite decades later for a celebration of their lives, determined to reflect now instead of waiting for their funerals. But Jordan, Jordy, Naomi, Craig, and Marielle suddenly face the biggest challenge to happen to any of them — and a huge secret is revealed that will change all of their lives.
Five college friends have made good on a pact to reunite decades later for a celebration of their lives, determined to reflect now instead of waiting for their funerals. But Jordan, Jordy, Naomi, Craig, and Marielle suddenly face the biggest challenge to happen to any of them — and a huge secret is revealed that will change all of their lives.
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