17 Comments
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Leslie R. Schover's avatar

Midlife heroines are great, but we also need, boomer over 65 heroines (also big book buying demographic and even more neglected protagonists).

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Heather Garbo's avatar

Agreed! This list includes midlife or later...but definitely not enough of them!

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Karen Geiger's avatar

Yes! My protagonist is a bit older 👵🏻 and there aren’t enough of these sassy over 60 characters. Great substack, Heather.

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Heather Garbo's avatar

Agreed and thank you!

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Liz Alterman's avatar

Hi Heather! What a great list! I look forward to checking out these titles. I'd love to add my own, Claire Casey's Had Enough, which came out on Tuesday. (Audiobook fans can request a free listen on Netgalley https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/650865 )

Thanks and happy summer reading and listening! 

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Heather Garbo's avatar

Ooh, just from the title I can tell it's going to be relatable and funny! Thanks for sharing!

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Liz Alterman's avatar

Thank you so much, Heather! If you pick it up, I hope you enjoy it!

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Tasha Kerry Smith's avatar

I’m with you, am currently reading Bunny by Mona Awad and it’s awesome, but definitely want more midlifers, because our stories are different…. my novel in progress features a midlife woman ….

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Eli Carr's avatar

WE ALL LIVE HERE is excellent (as is everything by JoJo Moyes). I’d also add THREE DAYS IN JUNE by Anne Tyler. Looking forward to reading the others on this list—thanks!

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Bri Hosack's avatar

This is so encouraging to read, I’m writing a fiction novel with a midlife woman main character too, I’m so happy to know people want to read it! Exciting!

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Shelley Burbank's avatar

Danielle Steel is so amazing. She’s 77 years old and still writing and publishing bestsellers.The woman never quits! #heroineworship

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Lucy Hearne Keane's avatar

Great list. I love Tyler's Three Days in June too. And what about Elizabeth Strout's great MC characters such as Lucy Barton and Olive Ketteridge.

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Kristin Offiler's avatar

Amazing list! Another one I'd add is AGAIN, ONLY MORE LIKE YOU by Catalina Margulis!

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Smart Romance by Rena Rani's avatar

I love seeing this demographic finally get their due! Mid life romances have been one my favorite genres to read the last few years.

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Jennifer Louden's avatar

Awesome list!!

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Rachel Del Grosso's avatar

You might want to check out some of my recent books as well as my upcoming titles. They all feature MCs that are at least 40!

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rachel-del-grosso

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Heather Garbo's avatar

Yay for more MCs in midlife! Thanks for sharing!

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