In the past few years I’ve noticed more books with lead characters who have several decades of living under their belts. Perhaps publishers have come to realize that a good chunk of their audience is comprised of older adults who would like to see themselves represented in stories and another segment contains readers who want to imagine a future in which they don’t disappear into the background as they age. Then there’s the fact that the more past a character has, the more richly layered their backstory is. Here are a few titles with older and bolder protagonists:
“Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame” by Olivia Ford has been called a “coming-of-old-age tale.” After nearly 60 years of marriage, Jenny Quinn’s husband seems content to believe the time for new adventures is past. But Jenny surprises him, and herself, by winning a spot on a reality TV show, “Britain Bakes,” where she wows the world with her baking skills. Each edible creation relates to her past in some way, which serves to unfold her story. But as her fame grows, she finds herself struggling with the possible revelation of a secret she’s kept for decades.
It’s important to remain busy in retirement and cultivate 
hobbies such as quilting, trail walking or Mahjong. Solving cold case murders is also a possibility. That’s the premise of “The Thursday Murder Club” by Richard Osman. In this mystery novel, the first of a series, a quirky group of residents in a British retirement village stay sharp by sleuthing out the answers to unsolved police cases. But they soon find themselves immersed in an active investigation when a murder happens close to home. Adding to the intrigue, the amateur detectives themselves are all old enough to have interesting pasts and secrets of their own.
Annie Hartnett’s book, “The Road to Tender Hearts” explores intergenerational 
relationships. At 63, PJ Halliday has been through a lot — a divorce, death of one of his daughters, three heart attacks and more recently, a million-dollar lottery win. When he discovers his high school sweetheart is newly single, he embarks on a cross-country road trip to reunite with her. But what was meant to be a solo trip ends up including PJ’s 20-something daughter, his brother’s two orphaned grandchildren and a former nursing home cat rumored to be able to predict death. The more the merrier?
I’ve put together a catalog list with more titles. Happy reading! And remember, each day is an opportunity to experience something new, no matter your age.
