Hey all!

I adore Chick Lit.  Jennifer Weiner's books, the Shopaholic series, and of course, Bridget Jones. 

But I do sometimes get tired of reading about 20-somethings bopping about being single.  I love it when I find a chick-lit book whose main character is older, or married, or has kids, etc.  So, while I liked Weiner's "In Her Shoes," I much preferred her "Goodnight Nobody", about the suburban mom who does detective work in her minivan. 

I also am in love with Julie Kenner's demon-hunter soccer mom series.  Just really cool. 

Does anyone have any recommendations along these lines?  30- or 40-something women doing interesting things?  And, as my kids are rapidly approaching college age, I can see that in the near future, I won't identify with suburban soccer moms any more -- but I can't think of *any* books that feature middle aged women, other than Miss Marple mysteries!

Thanks,

Lisa

 At first I was like what the heck is hen lit?! lol  I was clueless until I read your post. But now that I understand, that is a good question! I can't think of any at the moment but I'm sure there are plenty out there.

Anyone have any suggestions? I would like to hear some too. :)

Diann Hunt's books are good..


Hot Flashes and Cold Cream

RV There Yet?

Hot Tropics and Cold Feet

Be Sweet

I also like the Potluck Club Series by Linda Evans Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson

I think some of Kirstin Hannah's and Jude Devereaux's later books have characters in this age range.  There are the Red Hat books also, but those are mainly 50 and up. 

The It's Never To Late Series by Heather Estay are good. 

They are

It's Never Too Late to get a Life

It's Never Too Late To Be a Bridesmaid

It's Never Too Late to Look Hot

I just read the BEST chick lit - Notting Hell by Rachel Johnson. True British chick lit complete with British sland.  The story is about 30-and-40-somethings. Married, single, with kids, without kids ....

Another author to try is Marian Keyes - she's Irish. Very good books.

I've wanted to try the demon hunter soccer mom books -I'll have to get one and see what I think. I've heard them mentioned on PBS a few times.

Are Kristen Hannah and Jude Devereaux considered chick lit? I always thought Devereaux was romance and i've picked up and put down Hannah's books a few times - I can't decide if I want to read them or not.

The bubbles series also features a heroine who is older, I believe late 30s.  She has a daughter whos a teenager and the books are set in the same kind of fashion as the Stephanie Plum series. There are also some books by Carly Phillips, I think the Batchelor, The Playboy and The Heartbreaker, the brothers are in their 30's and the books also talk about their mother a lot, who is hoping for grandchildren.  All are great books, Candace Bushnell books are about the older set as well, Sex in the CIty, Trading Up, Lipstick Jungle, well I hope this helps Ill try to think of some more.

Are Kristen Hannah and Jude Devereaux considered chick lit? I always thought Devereaux was romance and i've picked up and put down Hannah's books a few times - I can't decide if I want to read them or not.

The books they've published in the last few years are substantially different from thier earlier works which were romances.  I think it depends on how you want to define chick lit.  I'd say they're more "hen lit," but not red hat yet.

I just read 'it's never too late to get a life' b y heather estays that someone mentioned earlier(was recommended to me in another thread a while back). It was funny. I'm still on the wishlist for the next 2 in the series.

Harlequin NEXT has some good series with 'older' women..30's/late 40's that I've enjoyed and no, they're not focused on sex though there is a bit in some of them. The 2 I'm enjoying are both mystery series. Stevi Mitman's 'life in long island can be murder' is a good one. It starts with 'who makes up these rules, anyway?' which sets the stage for the  next ones which are more murder solving than the first. there are also a few short reads in this series in Next anthologies which are lighter/sillier. the 'big' books are good though.

ETA: I'm finding the harlequin Next line to be 'hit and miss' depending on the author but so far I've liked mitman and douglas.

the other series I just started and accidentally started with the 2nd book before realizing 'pelican bay' started the series. It's by charlotte douglas. the first couple books she's a cop then I think she opens a detective agency.

I also liked 'the red hat society' or club..can't remember exactly but it was good.

silhoutte bombshell has some books by nancy bartholomew(who wrote a mystery series starring a stripper!). the only one I've read that' I think is an 'independent' story is 'sophie's last stand'. there are also 2 or so books about Stella that sound great. I think Sophie's late 30's but her ex is in prison for something she didn't know about and she's trying to survive iwth him, his enenies, and the FBI all after her thinking she knows something..pretty good read!

bumping! would like some more recs myself!

I just LOVE Mary Kay Andrews books.  Start with Savannah Blues--the heroine is in her 30s/40s and divorced (no kids).  Great romance story with a little mystery thrown in...very humorous.  I was rooting for her from page 2 to the end!

I also loved the Red Hat books...

thanks Lori! I've never read her books though I did listen to part of one of cd with a friend once and it was really funny...hissy fit I think it was called. 30/40s iwth no kids sounds good!

I just finished The Men I Didn't Marry  by Janice Kaplan and Lynn Schnurnberger.  It was really good.  It was about a woman whose husband left her the day they sent their youngest child off to college.  She decided to look up her old boyfriends that she didn't marry to see what might have been.

I also just got Younger by Pamela Redmond Satran, but I haven't read it yet.  The main character is a woman who has grown kids.  She meets a younger guy and pretends to be a lot younger than she really is.

good recs here..bumping up! impatiently waitng for the next 2 heather estay books after enjoying the first one!

These are all so fabulous!  My wishlist is growing.  More, recommend more!! :)

And thanks to everyone who has already responded.

Lisa

Yoiu might want to try Lolly Winstons' books.   I really enjoyed Happiness Sold Seperately and Good Grief.

bumping up again! and still waiting for the next 2 heather estay books to come available LOL!

bumping just in case there are some more recs! I've found a couple more harlequin Next titles that I've liked - 'never happened' by debra webb is one (already mentioned stevi mitman's series and charlotte douglas' series)

also enjoyed a mystery series by nancy bartholomew starring an exotic dancer in florida - sierra lavotini I think is the name..there are 4 and they e nd abruptly (ie not completely settled with her for sure with her man) she's very independent and not too young either and knows what she wants out of life. all of bartholomew's books that I've read seem to have older characters who are very independent and things aren't wrapped up 'just so' at the end.(sophie's last stand, your cheatin' heart) she also has the stella series from silhouette bombshell but haven't read those; they'r ein my tbr pile...

I just finished Good Little Wives by Abby Drake.  The women were in the early 50s.  It was chick lit with a little bit of a mystery.

The Needlework mysteries by Monica Ferris are hen lit.  Protagonist is in her 50's - cozy style mysteries rather than chick lit though.

I've read Monica Ferris' series...I enjoyed them but then I like reading about knitting and stuff LOL! they're a good cozy but I like how the main character is older and not-so-perfect!

It was pretty good.  I'm not much into needle work, but I found the first three of the series in one volume (Patterns of Murder) so that made it a good deal for me.  I wish they'd do that with more series.

I recommend Younger by Pamela Redmond Satran.  This was a fun, quick read about a woman who's 20-something boyfriend doesn't know she's about 20 years older than him!

I wish they would too Sharon...I like having 3 or more shorter books in one volume..lots cheaper too!

I LOVED Good Little Wives!!!!!!!!!!!