Best Books to Read in Your 30s, 40s, & 50s
Posted: 21 May 2025
There’s something special about finding the right book at the right time in life.
When you're in your 30s, 40s, or 50s, what you need from a book might shift...
Maybe you're searching for answers, maybe you're looking back, or maybe you’re ready to dream up what’s next. Here’s a list of must-read books to match the stage of life you’re in.
Perfect with a cup of tea and cosy linen sheets.
In Your 30s...
Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb
A real therapist shares real stories (including her own) about what it means to be human. It’s honest, funny, and deeply moving.
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
An uplifting read that encourages you to follow your creative instincts and live with more curiosity and less fear.
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
A powerful book about grief and life after loss, written with raw honesty. It helps you think about love and change in a deeper way.
In Your 40s
In your 40s you think about what really matters, what you want more of, and what you’re ready to let go of. These books speak to that space.
The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
After losing everything, a couple walks the coast of England. It’s a story about survival, nature, and starting over in the most unexpected way.
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
A quiet, thoughtful novel about looking back on your life and choices. It’s about loyalty, love, and what we leave unsaid.
An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine
A beautiful story of a woman who spends her days reading and translating books, while reflecting on a life lived quietly and thoughtfully.
In Your 50s
By the time you're in your 50s, you’ve lived a lot, and you might be asking, What’s next? These books are here to give you direction.
Still Life by Sarah Winman
A warm, funny, and moving novel about friendship, art, and second chances. Set in Florence and London, it’s a reminder that life keeps offering beauty, even when it surprises us.
Women Rowing North by Mary Pipher
A guide to growing older with strength, joy, and purpose. It’s full of wisdom and honesty, without being heavy.
This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
A time-travel story wrapped up in a father-daughter relationship. It’s about love, time, and the chance to do things differently.
There’s no right age for the right book and that’s the beauty of reading.
The words that stay with you might come from a book you were simply skimming or a story meant for a different time in life. But when something resonates, it doesn’t matter when you find it, it just matters that you did.
