Books to Read When You Turn 40

They say this is when your life begins. How exciting! Turning forty used to be ruled by fear, but now it is a celebration of what you have already achieved – along with excitement for all that you’re yet to conquer! 

We’ve gathered up a list of life-affirming, tear-jerking and hilarious books for you to read in the lead up or after the big 4-0. So whether you’re about to celebrate, or you’re embracing life as a recent member of the ‘forties club’, we’ve got the perfect book for you. 

• A Year of Living Simply: The Joys of a Life Less Complicated, Kate Humble

In a fast-paced, ever-changing world, when was the last time you sat back and lived… simply? Without the stresses of work, the media, or consumerism? Kate Humble’s incredible book offers a fresh and frank exploration of a stripped-back approach to life. An uplifting, engaging life that looks to find balance and happiness in our every day. 

Asking the questions designed to steer us away from a crowded existence, we are stirred into a conversation around what we are missing in our life – and how we can strip the complexities back for our own wellbeing. This book is, simply put, an incredible way to start your forties with a new outlook on life; an outlook that savours living in the moment, freely and fluidly.

• We All Want Impossible Things, Catherine Newman

While life brings many joys, there are also sorrows. This book is a brilliantly funny and uplifting take on death; something that can seem so hard to fathom or rationalise, yet something that we do have to face throughout our lives. 

Having been friends for over forty years, Edi and Ash are each other’s back-up hard drives of memory. When Edi is diagnosed with cancer, Ash is there, and her world reshapes to care for her best friend. Whether it’s to make watermelon ice cubes or impromptu excursions to explore a winter’s night, the best friends’ union is a joy to dip into. 

This novel will simultaneously break your heart and make you belly-laugh – no mean feat for an author. It could also provide help to explore any grief you may have experienced in your life, lending a hand to hold through what is undoubtedly a painful experience and personal experience. 

• No One Tells You This, Glynnis MacNicol

Your life must look a certain way for you to be complete, or successful, right? Or should it? Instead of listening to what centuries of tradition have formulated to spell out a good life, you should follow your heart – and Glynnis MacNicol certainly agrees. 

On the eve of her fortieth birthday, Glynnis is plagued by questions of “if the story doesn’t end with marriage or a child, is she really fulfilled?”. Despite being an incredibly successful writer in New York, she felt haunted by everyone’s reminder of her being single and childless – as if she wasn’t complete. Because, if you are around 40, without children or a partner, then you are either self indulgent and spoiled, or an object of pity. 

For MacNicol, it was time to create a blueprint of how to be a woman alone in the world. This book follows her trials and tribulations of her fortieth year; navigating sex, death, family, friendship and loneliness. Glynnis MacNicol’s masterpiece may just be the affirmation you need – an unapologetic exclamation of the fulfilment that single life can offer. 

• I Feel Bad About My Neck, Nora Ephron

When it comes to books to read when you turn 40, this hilarious book is an excellent choice – from the screenwriter of When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle. 

Saying what we’re all thinking, Nora doesn’t shy away with her wisdom and wit on how to fulfil the second half of your life. Stating her regrets and advising on how not to follow in her footsteps, from her suggestion to getting a dog whilst your kids are teens, so at least someone is happy to see you, to never marrying a man you wouldn’t want to be divorced from, everyone can learn something from Nora. 

Sometimes we just need to laugh these pinnacle moments in life off, and Nora is here to tell you you’re not alone – and we’re all just humans just trying to navigate this rather bizarre life we get thrown into.

• Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, Hector Garcia & Francesc Miralles

Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles explores the concept of ikigai, or “reason for being,” rooted in Okinawan traditions of longevity. It reveals how purpose, active living, strong relationships, simplicity, and healthy habits contribute to happiness and a long life.

Reading this offers valuable insights during a pivotal time of reflection. It helps you rediscover purpose, adopt habits that promote well-being, and balance priorities amid life’s demands. The book’s lessons encourage joy, mindfulness, and resilience, helping prevent midlife burnout while fostering a positive outlook on aging. It’s an inspiring guide to living with intention, and thriving in the years ahead. 

Read more at any age with Victoria Freudenheim

For more reading inspiration, no matter how old you are, check out the Victoria Freudenheim blog — we’re constantly finding new discoveries for your bookshelf. 

We have books for every milestone, from books you need to read in your lifetime to book trends from the last decade. And if you prefer reading by genre, we have a selection of books for thriller, romance and historical fiction enthusiasts!