Young love takes up a lot of pop culture real estate, for understandable reasons. But we all know not everyone finds love in their teens or twenties. And yet, older age groups are less represented in romance. However, we’ve been getting more seasoned romances in the last several years so it’s reasonable to assume the tide is turning. (Time out to say that this problem and solution are not exclusive to the romance genre!)) Today we’re devoting our attention to seasoned romance, all about characters who find love “later” in life.
What qualifies a romance as “seasoned”? For our purposes today, we’re looking at characters age thirty-five and up. Thirty-five might still seem young in the grand scheme of things (and our curated book lists for other genres start more than a decade older) but it’s a typical starting point when it comes to conversations about seasoned romance. I hope this list serves as a good foundation and idea generator for readers seeking romance novels with characters in their forties, fifties, and beyond, and I really hope such stories will become increasingly prevalent.
I hope you’ll add your favorite seasoned romances in the comments. Please include the characters’ ages, if you know them!
10 seasoned romance novels
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Royal Holiday
When her daughter Maddie takes on styling a royal family member, fifty-four-year-old Vivian Forest tags along to see the London sights. She doesn't expect to fall for the queen's fifty-something royal secretary, but his charm and loyalty win her over. What starts as flirtation turns to a full on holiday love affair, but what happens when it's time for Vivian to return home? Mistletoe kisses, British accents, and a royal palace make for such a fun romance read. (Open door.) More info →
Nora Goes Off Script
Nora Hamilton, middle-aged romance channel screenwriter and mom of two, is shocked when she finds out her latest script is not only going to be made, it will be filmed on location at her old home—and forty-year-old actor Leo Vance is cast as the character based on the ex-husband who broke her heart. After filming wraps, Leo isn’t ready to head home, so he strikes up a deal with Nora to pay her a thousand dollars per day to stay for an extra week. It’s the kind of money she can’t turn down. This turned out to be such an enjoyable read. Psst—Will just read this and really enjoyed it! (Closed door.) More info →
Yours Truly
Jimenez outdid herself with this grounded, funny, and deeply romantic story about two thirty-five-year-old ER doctors who turn from enemies-to-friends to fake relationship to head-over-heels-lovers. One of my favorite parts of the story involves a realistic exchange of letters between Dr. Jacob Maddox and Dr. Briana Ortiz, beginning with an apology note and a cupcake. Jacob struggles with social anxiety, so a letter proves to be the perfect way to break the ice with Briana, no confrontation needed. The notes are funny, heartfelt, and sweet; they’re bright spots in Briana’s stressful days working in the ER and going home to take care of her brother who awaits a kidney transplant. If you’re looking for a charming romance novel with layers of complexity, you can’t go wrong with Jimenez. (Open door.) More info →
Can’t Get Enough (Skyland #3)
Forty-year-old Hendrix is happy with her life. She’s a successful talent manager and finds meaning in nurturing Black women-led businesses. She’s single by choice; she won’t settle for a mediocre partner. She never wanted kids for herself but cherishes her role as rich auntie to her best friend’s kids. But then, just as she’s facing the grim challenge of her mother’s advancing Alzheimer’s, forty-something Maverick comes along. At first she thinks he’s all bluster: he’s a handsome, smooth-talking guy who’s about to become the world’s first Black billionaire. But she can’t deny she feels seen in this romantic relationship–maybe for the first time ever?–and it’s making her reconsider everything. This is the third and final Skyland series novel but it stands happily on its own. (Open door.) More info →
Wherever Is Your Heart (Moonlighters #3)
Fifty-year-old trucker June has had a crush on forty-nine-year-old bartender Mal for years and decides it’s finally time to do something about it during Pride weekend. What she doesn’t know is that Mal has had a years-long crush on June and she also decided it’s time to finally act on it. A sweet novella about two women taking charge of their future. (Open door.) More info →
Teach Me (There’s Something About Marysburg #1)
Rose Owen summons her inner Ice Queen when Martin Krause is hired at her school and the administrator reassigns her beloved world history classes to him instead. Except Martin proves to be a genuinely warm and interesting man who is difficult to resist. They’re both divorced, in their forties, and great history teachers. A contemporary romance that will make you laugh and cry. (Open door.) More info →
House Rules (Uptown #3)
In this second chance romance, forty-four-year-old Simon and forty-two-year-old Lana haven’t seen each other since they divorced seventeen years ago until they bump into each other at an NYC open house. Both in need of a new place to live, they decide to be platonic roommates on a trial basis so they can afford to live somewhere better. Living in the same place again gives them a chance to see how each other has changed and grown, while they focus on their respective careers (chef and music teacher) and consider whether their chemistry is enough to warrant another shot at love. (Open door.) More info →
I’ll Have What He’s Having
Adib Khorram’s debut romance features Iranian culture and food, a strong setting in Kansas City, and a well-rounded cast of characters. After Farzan’s heart is broken once again, he heads to the wine bar in search of solace, or at least a good meal. And a good meal is what he gets after sommelier David mistakes Farzan for a food critic. They figure out the mix-up after a hot night together but decide to be friends since they’re both looking for different things. We all know how that goes! This is a realistic romance: Farzan and David are both thirty-seven with their own concerns, insecurities, and career goals. The trick lies in how they support each other through it all. (Open door.) More info →
Birding with Benefits
When forty-two-year-old divorced single mother Celeste meets forty-year-old woodworker John, she believes he’s in need of a fake date to make his ex jealous. Instead, he’s looking for a partner for Tucson’s bird-watching competition. Since it’s the “year of yes” for Celeste, she agrees to help him in spite of her lack of birding knowledge. It’ll give him a chance to practice his guiding skills and launch his birding business. The more time they spend together, the more their chemistry tempts them, until they decide to be “birders with benefits.” A charming debut. (Open door.) More info →
Gray Hair Don’t Care (Never Too Late #1)
A second chance romance for former college friends turned briefly lovers. When Lela runs into Donovan in Bryant Park, it’s been twenty-six years since he abruptly vanished from her life. She throws caution to the wind and takes him home, only for him to run away again after she confesses she’d been in love with him back then. This time Lela takes it as a sign she’s ready for a fresh start: she lets her hair go gray and starts her own makeup company. A few years later, they come back into each other’s orbit when Donovan joins his daughter’s company as a marketer and Lela is in the beauty division. She’s not going to fall for his charm this time around. At least not easily. (Open door.) More info →
What are your favorite seasoned romances? Please share them in the comments.
P.S. Novels featuring seasoned protagonists for every reading mood, 15 breezy romance series for when you need an escape, and 12 novels set during weddings.
P.P.S. Starter Guide: Romance.
27 comments
Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan Henry is a classic!
Agreed!
“Remember When” by Mary Balogh is a Regency romance about a Dowager Countess who rekindles a friendship with a man, also widowed, whom she knew when she was younger. I was so excited to find this one, since most Regency novels feature heroines in their late teens/early 20s!
I also wanted to add that Hallmark has adapted “Birding with Benefits” into a movie called “Adventures in Love & Birding.” It premieres this weekend. I loved the book so I’m looking forward to watching the film, which was co-written by the author.
Anything by Milly Johnson – she writes brilliant romances about people who aren’t in their 20s. My favourites are:
– The Happiest Ever After
– The Magnificent Mrs Mayhew
– Autumn Crush (actually all of the Four Seasons books)
I would suggest adding Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell to this list. It isn’t your typical second chance story and felt a lot more genuine that most romance novels.
Totally agree. When I finished it, I went back to page one and read the whole thing again. A wonderful book.
Yes, absolutely! Along with Nora Goes Off Script, this is one of my favorites!
Yes, absolutely! This one is excellent–it might be my favorite of her books.
I was coming here to suggest Slow Dance! Her new one, Cherry Baby, isn’t out yet but it sounds like it will fit this category as well.
I love the Paladin series by T Kingfisher (pen name Ursula Vernon). They’re fantasy books about a collection of aging soldiers trying to stay relevant when their prowess and responsibilities are diminishing. The romances are sweet, and the worldbuilding is top notch. Open door.
Jasmine Guillory — Royal Holiday and maybe some other titles of hers
It’s Getting Hot in Here (don’t recall author’s name off the top of my head). Single mom in menopause.
Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand
That’s the first book I thought of!
Colton Gentry’s Third Act by Jeff Zentner is a second chance romance with the main characters in their late 30s. His writing really brought you in, with a strong sense of place, food and the South. Definitely worth reading!
Some of my favourites here. And a few new ones for my TBR!
Charm City Rocks, by Matthew Norman, was phenomenal for this category! I loved it!
Check out Gracie Harris is Under Construction by first time author Kate Hash. Mother of two starting over a year following her husband’s death (and writing a book about it). Not dark, but a really great examination of grief and opening up again.
I just read this and loved it! I was so bummed when I realized it was her first book and I couldn’t dive into a backlist.
Not sure what Open Door/Closed Door means?
It’s how we describe heat ratings:
Chaste: there isn’t anything more than kissing on page
Closed door: sex scenes are only hinted at
Open door: sex scenes happen on the page
You Are Here by David Nicholls was my favorite book last year, and it features older people working out a relationship. Funny and I thought so realistic. The audio was really good.
I’ll add a couple authors I love in this area: Jess K Hardy, especially the Bluebird Basin series and LB Dunbar especially the Sterling Falls series but she has fun baseball books too.
I am dying for the book for that last brother in sterling falls to come out!
The most true…. Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
Cathy Yardley has been writing mainly Gen X characters recently that I’ve enjoyed (and she usually has an Asian character). You have Slow Dance, but I think she has some shorter works that qualify and Cherry Baby coming next year. I think Linda Holmes’s book characters were also 35+.
Anything by Rosamund Pilcher. Love her. And her books take place in that sweet spot- modern, but before tech took over the world.
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