Carol

10 Popular Books With Mature Characters #FridayFavorites

October 23, 2020

10 Popular Books With Mature Characters

10 Popular Books With Mature Characters ((mage: white text over a snowy background and an older man with a walking stick)
Image Source: Canva

Do you enjoy reading books with older characters?

Today’s post is a list of ten books (five newer and five older releases…plus some bonus picks!) with main characters that are fifty plus. Recently, I’ve read several titles with older characters and it’s been delightful!

Do you love older characters?

***Titles are Amazon affiliate links.

the Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons (cover) Image: two people by a pool...one sitting on the deck, the other holding her nose and jumping in

The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett

A young girl befriends a lonely and sad older woman in this heartfelt story (thanks for the rec Nicki @ The Secret Library Book Blog…different title across the pond, though!) My review of Eudora Honeysett here.

The Story of Authur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg (cover) Image: a man holds a yellow umbrella over a young woman

The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg

Poignant story of found family. My review of Arthur Truluv here.

The Switch by Beth o'Leary (Image: two scenes...one of a young woman walking a dog in the country and another of an older woman standing outside a building)

The Switch by Beth O’Leary

Grandmother & Granddaughter trade houses and lives. My review of The Switch here.

The Book of CarolSue

The Book of CarolSue by Lynne Hugo

Two widowed sisters, one farm, and a baby. My review of CarolSue here.

The One-In-a Million Boy by Monica Wood (cover)

The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood

Ona is 104! My review of One-in-a-Million Boy here.

News of the World by Paulette Jiles (cover) Image: a prairie landscape under a big blue cloud filled sky

News of the World by Paulette Jiles

A retired Civil War Captain escorts a young, uncooperative girl through the rugged southwest in this heartwarming story. My brief review of News of the World here. (the movie with Tom Hanks is scheduled to release in December!)

The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel (cover) Image: a young woman holds an old book in her hands with her hands behind her back and back to the camera

The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel

An older woman travels to France in search of a valuable book of names that she created during WW11. My review of Book of Lost Names here.

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (cover) Image: a man with a cat brushing against his legs stands in an open field with his back to the camera

Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman (cover) Image: a woman stands on a sidewalk with her back to the camera, a valise and soccer ball at her feet

A Man Called Ove and Brit-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman

Two great characters by Fredrik Backman! A lonely, older man is befriended by a young girl who lives next door and an older woman leaves her cheating husband to rediscover herself. (Although I loved both stories, I have not formally reviewed them.)

Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf (cover) Image: white text over a house and a moonlit sky

Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf

Never too old to find companionship and love. (not reviewed) After you read this, don’t miss the movie with Robert Redford and Jane Fonda on Netflix!

The Unlikely Pilgrimmage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce (cover)

The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The Love Song of Queenie Hennessy by Rachel Joyce

Companion Reads: Harold and Queenie have a complicated relationship! (can be read as stand alones, but are best with Queenie as a companion read to Harold) My review of Harold Fry here and my review of Queenie Hennessy here.

QOTD!

Have you read any of these books?

What title would you add to this list?

***Edit: Several readers on the blog and Instagram have suggested I add The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson. Honestly, I didn’t include it in my original list because it wasn’t the right read for me and was a DNF …others have loved it!.

An older man walks dragging a rolling suitcase behind him (text in black on gold banners)

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Unless explicitly stated that they are free, all books that I review have been purchased by me or borrowed from the library.

The book covers are credited to Amazon or an author’s (or publisher’s) website.

© ReadingLadies.com

36 comments

  1. I have not read these (though I have A Man Called Ove).

    I would add “The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared” (that whole thing is the title!) by Jonas Jonasson. I had SO MUCH FUN reading that one! I also liked seeing older characters that weren’t just used as a sacrifice for younger characters (a lot of zombie books have that trope), but they had aspirations, goals, and even fell in love 🙂

    Reply

    • Oh that’s right! I forgot about that one! Great suggestion! If you want a great love story try Our Souls at Night! Thanks for commenting!

      Reply

  2. I like this list. I am always on the lookout for feel good stories. I think these fit the bill. Souls at night seems good. One in a million also seems like it would be a good book and a learning experience of life from the perspective of someone that is 104 years old!

    Reply

  3. Haven’t read any of these but I love reading about more mature characters…..since it’s my age group!🥴 I’m writing all of these down and then a hunting I will go! Wonderful post Carol!📚💗

    Reply

  5. I have only read three of these, Carol. The Book of CarolSue, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, and The Love Songs of Miss Queenie Hennessy, which is my outright favourite. Adding all the others including The Hundred Year Old Man…thanks for the brilliant post! ❤📚

    Reply

  12. This is a great list Carol. I read Harold Frye but not Queenie Hennesy, it is on my list though. I loved The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood, but have not run into too many people that read it. I think I am going to have to see if I can find News of the World by Paulette Jiles before the movie comes out. I love everything with Tom Hanks in it.

    Reply

    • I liked Harold more than Queenie but both are very well written! One in a Million Boy flew under the radar I think! You will love News of the World …it’s beautifully written for a western! And the ending is really satisfying!

      Reply

  13. What a great list! I know it often seems as it books are about people in their 20s and 30s (which is why I’m not entirely certain about the call for a “new adult” category; most of the adult books I read ARE about people in their 20s anyway!), so I love the idea of featuring other books here.

    Reply

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