one cool thing about being 40 is that, maybe for the first time, you feel like you’re in a really good place: you have life experience, perspective and, let’s face it, you finally feel like yourself. have it all together. (hey, it takes time!) so when you’re looking for the perfect book to suit your needs, you can’t reach for anything.
A must-have choice for a 20-year-old isn’t necessarily going to be a 40-year-old’s favorite. But with that said, there are also timeless classes and reads that are universal for all women, no matter their age.
You are reading: Books for women in their 40s
These top picks pass all the checkmarks: some tell epic love stories, some are laugh-out-loud fun, some are dark, and some will take your breath away. No matter what your preference is, rest assured that once you start reading, you certainly won’t want to stop. These are the books every woman should read at age 40.
$22.95; shop now at barnesandnoble.com
It will probably only take you one sitting to read this novel about an artsy single mom and her daughter, Mia and Pearl, who move to the quiet suburb of Shaker Heights and rent a house from rule-playing Elena Richardson. But the duo’s mysterious past holds many secrets that threaten to wreak havoc on the lives of those around them.
$13.59; shop now at target.com
Even if you’re not a die-hard fan of amy poehler, you’ll love this read. The first funny lady book dives into everything from personal stories to must-read tips, including when to show off your comedic chops and when to keep your mouth shut.
$35; shop now at powells.com
Whenever you need a boost of inspiration, just open this book. Within the pages, you’ll be able to meet over 100 influential women who are all creators, artists, and entrepreneurs, and find out exactly how they found success and happiness in their lives. it gets better though: you can also learn how to pursue your passion through your travels.
$18; shop now at powells.com
This book has been around since the 1960s, but is known for sparking the beginning of the second wave of feminism in the United States. at that time, it was thought that feeling fulfilled as a woman was being a housewife and having children. but that was not the case and it lit a flame in all the ladies.
$14.44; shop now at barnesandnoble.com
This book tells the story of August Pullman, a boy born with a rare facial deformity who just wants to be treated like any other child. there are plenty of tough times along the way, but he also becomes an inspiration to everyone around him, teaching everyone that it’s okay to be different.
$14.45; shop now at barnesandnoble.com
hopefully you have your passport ready, because this book will make you want to travel the world. The story is a memoir of author Elizabeth Gilbert as she travels the world after her divorce, learning many great lessons along the way during her time in Italy, India and Indonesia.
$14.41; shop now at barnesandnoble.com
Can you imagine hiking the 1,110 mile Pacific Ridge Trail from the Mojave Desert to Washington all alone with no prior hiking experience? That’s exactly what cheryl strayed did to overcome her pain and her personal challenges, and this memoir delves into her journey of self-discovery along the way.
$8.43; shop now on amazon.com
every day, rachel watson takes a train to london and when the train stops to receive the signal, she has a picture of a couple in her house and always imagines their perfect life together. But one day he sees something so shocking that a series of events unfolds that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
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$24.30; shop now at barnesandnoble.com
Contrary to popular belief, famous female authors didn’t sit by themselves and write all the time, while male authors had legendary friendships. Through unpublished letters and diaries, this book delves into the interesting friendships of jane austen and anne sharp, mary taylor and charlotte brontë, george eliot and harriet beecher stowe, and virginia woolf and katherine mansfield.
$17; shop now at powells.com
This book looks at the life of Grace Marks, who was convicted of being involved in the murder of her boss, housekeeper and lover in 1843. What’s the only problem? she is serving a life sentence but says she doesn’t remember anything. It was then that a mental health expert decided to listen to her and see what would happen if he helped her unlock her memories.
$14.40; shop now at strandbooks.com
On Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary, something terrible happens: his wife goes missing. The capture? people begin to think that he might have done it. but that’s just one of the many twists and turns to come in this book.
$13.60; shop now at barnesandnoble.com
louisa clark didn’t expect to fall for moody will traynor when she gets a job taking care of him due to his being confined to a wheelchair after an accident. She seems like she can’t be happy with her new life and has a plan to end it all, and that’s when she steps in and tries to show her that there is something to live for: love.
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$7.50; shop now at powells.com
After 13-year-old Theo Decker survives an accident that leaves him without a mother, he is taken in by a family friend who happens to be super rich. his new life was very far from the previous one and he consoles himself with a small painting, launching himself into the world of art. But as an adult working in an antique shop, he finds himself in an even more dangerous circle.
$18.36; shop now at target.com
everyone has that cool girl they’re attracted to when they grow up, and for evie boyd that was suzanne. From that friendship, she becomes involved in an infamous cult, so much so that she has no idea that her obsession is leading her down a very dark and dangerous path.
$16.82; shop now on amazon.com
If you still feel like crumbling over hillary clinton‘s loss to donald trump in the 2016 presidential election, you’re not alone. In this personal memoir, Clinton details exactly how he felt on that fateful day, the struggles that preceded it, and how he has since recovered.
$9.19; shop now at target.com
sometimes you just need someone to tell you that you’re great, and that’s where honest jen comes in. In this book, you’ll get easy-to-follow tips, advice, and exercises from the success coach to help you create a life you truly love.
$14.40; shop now at strandbooks.com
Lydia was her parents’ favorite daughter and was always destined to live out her dreams one day, but everything came to a halt when her body was found in a lake. what follows is a story that will have you flying through the pages until you finish.
$14.39; shop now on amazon.com
In this book, writer roxane gay not only takes you on her journey as a woman of color, but also provides important lessons about culture and feminism along the way through a collection of insightful essays.
$9.59; shop now at target.com
you can’t have amy poehler’s book on a list without also including tina fey’s. This book follows Fey’s life from her childhood as a self-proclaimed nerd to her terrifying honeymoon situation. so yeah, it’s incredibly fun.
$15; shop now at powells.com
Even if you don’t like poetry, you will enjoy this book by rupi kaur. the four chapters go through different pains that people face in life and find sweetness in them, showing the world that you can always find good in bad if you look hard enough.
$14.40; shop now at barnesandnoble.com
Before the famous movie starring renée zellweger became a household favorite, there was a book. and the hilarious adventures of this spinster, written as if you were snooping through her real diary, are definitely worth a read.
$8.72; shop now on amazon.com
You know a book is good when it’s been made into a movie and a broadway show. this story traces the life of celie, a poor black woman who has been abused and raped by her father since she was 14 years old. Now 20 years old, married to a brutal husband and separated from her sister, she meets a singer who helps her leave her past behind and reunite with the people she cares about.
$13.56; shop now at barnesandnoble.com
Now a hit show on Hulu, this book follows the story of Offred, a servant girl in the Republic of Gilead whose sole purpose is to have children, but not by choice. Before being forced into this world, she had a normal life with a husband and a daughter, but now it seems like that will never be possible again.
$11.95; shop now at powells.com
This award-winning novel tells the story of a blind French girl whose life is intertwined with that of a German soldier during World War II. they’re both doing their best to survive, and some magic happens along the way that makes all the difference.
$9.98; shop now on amazon.com
In this book, a man’s disorder causes him to travel back in time in unpredictable ways, leaving his wife behind without knowing how long she will be gone. you’ll instantly be caught up in her unique love story, one that actually begins when he visits her from the future when she’s only 6 years old.
$14.83; shop now at barnesandnoble.com
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When Alice, a successful professor at Harvard, is only 50 years old, she finds out she has Alzheimer’s. Although it is a difficult truth to understand at first, she realizes that being able to remember is not the only important thing in life.
$8.29; shop now at target.com
When three seemingly different women—a black maid, her friend, and a socialite—come together to write an eye-opening book about black maid work in the South, they end up starting a movement.
$12.34; shop now on amazon.com
although he doesn’t know it, 5-year-old jack’s life is not normal. he has been in a small room with her mother since he was born, and he does not know that she is being held there against her will. his survival story will have him so involved that he won’t be able to put this book down.
$8.50; shop now at powells.com
ready for a page change? In this book, Eva’s son murders seven of his classmates, a cafeteria worker, and a teacher before he turns 16. in the years that follow, he wonders if the fact that she never wanted to be a mother in the first place had something to do with him ending up the way she did.
$14.40; shop now at barnesandnoble.com
arianna huffington is out to change the way you grasp your zs. this book takes a look at everything from the sleeping pill industry to how technology affects your sleep. once you’re done, you’ll have a new perspective on one of the most important things your body needs, and why you should focus on getting enough sleep.
$12.80; shop now at target.com
This story of lo blacklock, a travel journalist, takes many twists and turns during her week on a luxury cruise ship. While she’s there, she witnesses something terrible and tries to figure out what exactly went wrong.
$9; shop now at barnesandnoble.com
This novel was incredibly controversial when it came out in the early ’70s, but its outspokenness about female sexuality opened a new door, resulting in a strong wave of feminism.
$15.94; shop now on amazon.com
This book tells the story of a family who moved to Alaska in 1974 to start a new life and their journey into the harsh wilderness. Although the isolation was as difficult to handle as the unbearable weather, it became truly powerful.
$18.36; shop now at target.com
In this memoir, hole drummer patty schemel takes a deep dive into her life story, from difficult childhood memories and coping with addiction until living with kurt cobain and his leading wife courtney love.
$9.95; shop now at powells.com
What if someone told you exactly when you would die until the day? That’s exactly what happened when four teenagers visited a traveling psychic in New York City for a hangout one summer’s day, and this book follows the stories of what they decide to do with that knowledge.
$22.94; shop now at barnesandnoble.com
Anna Fox, too afraid to leave her house, watches the world through her window. But when seemingly perfect new neighbors move in, she ends up seeing something horrible and has to find out what really happened.
$4.50; buy now at powells.com
By now, you probably know anne frank, but do you know her story from her own words? her diary details what her life was like during the time she was in hiding from the Nazis. her life was short, but the story of the holocaust from the eyes of a Jewish teenager is a must read.
$14.44; shop now at barnesandnoble.com
If your daughter was sick, would you do everything in your power to save her? For one mother, that meant Anna undergoing multiple surgeries, transfusions and other procedures for Ella Kate’s sister to help her battle leukemia. But now that Anna is older, she is faced with a decision that could completely tear her family apart.
$10.98; shop now on amazon.com
Finding happiness is harder than you think, and it took author Gretchen Rubin an entire year to figure out exactly what it takes to be truly content. She’s not only a great read, but she can also learn what steps she needs to take to be happier down the road.
$24.26; shop now at barnesandnoble.com
do you love tom hanks? then you have to get your hands on his first collection of short stories (17, to be exact!) that prove he’s just as good a writer as he is an actor. And you won’t be bored: they feature all sorts of interesting characters, from a WWII veteran to a surfer kid in California.
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