Fiction in my Fifties: The five books I've been recommending

I often peruse my bookshelves, searching for a book a friend asked to borrow or selecting one for a friend who might be going through something. As I browse, taking in all the titles I’ve accumulated over the years, I notice a pattern. The books I crave now, in my fifties, have specific requirements. They must have emotional pull, depth, and well-developed characters. Also, not required but very much appreciated: a character in midlife. In my twenties and thirties, I was all about romance or chick lit. Now, in midlife, I want to read about characters in the thick of life, chasing dreams, grieving, reinventing themselves, and starting over. I want books that make me feel deeply, conjuring laughter, joy, sadness, and tears. Many of my friends feel the same. They want books that, when you get to the end, make you pause and reflect on life.

Lately, when asked for book recommendations, I seem to gravitate toward the same five books, which are now a bit worn from the many hands they’ve passed through over the past few months. Let’s chat about the five fiction books I’ve been recommending, and I’ll share why they’re perfect for readers like me who enjoy reflective reads.