endearingly grumpy old people and their found families

books whose main characters are older and disillusioned with life and go on a little adventure that melts their hearts (and heals yours)

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created by seema

last updated October, 2025

180

Comments

Remarkably Bright Creatures was one of my favorites reads of 2023

9

I loveee this book, the audiobook version is also so good!

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Yes, totally agree! I was sceptical about it when starting but Marcellus has my heart!

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Is anyone here watching A Man on the Inside? It's got the same vibes as these books!

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Omg 95% on rotten tomatoes! Going to watch right now 😂

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I'd say the only thing it's missing is grumpiness from the MC but fear not there is definitely grumpiness amongst some of the other characters

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btw i loved this show & can't wait for season 2

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Omg yessss I'm so glad!

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OMG TOTALLY!!! i binged it not long ago and it was such a lovely show. very excited for the second season because it's so nice and lighthearted <3

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I loved the show!!!!

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What a great list. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce would be a great addition. Jim Broadbent read the audiobook - just perfect.

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Thanks for the rec, added!

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I’d recommend “Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop” for this vibe as well!

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I've definitely had that on my TBR a minute, is the MC actually old? Somehow I got the impression from the blurb that she was on the younger side

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The MC is in her 40s(?) maybe- so no, but there are some older characters that are heavily featured that add to the familial vibe.

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I love this haha, I feel like The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches would fit if you're interested!

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I looove that book and it definitely has the found family aspect, but I think Mika doesn't quite fit the old+grumpy bill for this particular list. Appreciate the rec though and definitely let me know if you come across any others!!

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True true I was thinking of all the adults in the book not just Mika haha

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Under the Whispering Door was one of my favorite books last year!

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Have you read House in the Cerulean Sea? I read that one first and felt like Whispering Door was so similar that I didn’t end up enjoying it as much as I had hoped :( just curious if anyone has had the opposite experience starting with Whispering Door and finding Cerulean Sea to not hit the spot đŸ€Ł

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I highly recommend The Borrowed Life of Fredrik Fife by Anna Johnston 💖

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Wait I'm obsessed by the fact he's stepping in for a grump, what a twist! This is a perfect suggestion for this list

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Thank you so so much for this list !! It is exactly what I didn’t know I was looking đŸ„ł

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Ahhh I'm glad you love it, it's my whole heart haha

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My partner loves these types of books, and another favorite of his is The 100 Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared. It's a fun, ridiculous sort of read - he definitely goes on an adventure!

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Ahhhh looks like a phenomenal rec, adding now!! And hopefully your partner might enjoy some of the others here :)

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I'm trying to get him to read some books with me so I'm very grateful for this list 💕

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I'm reading The Last List of Mabel Beaumont right now, and it totally fits this vibe!

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Omg thank you for the rec, adding to this list and my tbr đŸ«¶

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D3R3R3

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Had a great time with Vera Wong! Waiting for the sequel!!

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Me too!!

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You're missing the Thursday crime club about the retirement home oldies solving crimes.

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Thanks for the rec, added to the list and my tbr :)

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The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yƍko Ogawa would be perfect for this list. What do you think?

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I haven't read it but I'll take your word for it! Added!

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This is such a lovely list! Frank and Red would definitely be perfect for it if you’re interested?

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Awesome, thank you!

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Would also recommend The Universe versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence for this list!

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Thanks!!

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you should check out The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett, I haven't quite finished it yet, but it seems to fit this and is so charming đŸ„č

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It looks perfect!! Thank you!

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you are so welcome!!!

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I would definitely add The Elegance of the Hedgehog to this list! :)

2

This looks perfect, thank you!!

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I think Brit marie was here by Fredrik backman would fit this list!

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That looks so good and I adored a man called Ove, added!!

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I just read How to Age Disgracefully and it embodies the name of this list!

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Oooh I haven't heard of that, this list is for fiction but it's good to know there are actually nonfiction options on the same topic!

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It’s actually fiction! A very cozy read that takes place in the UK and follows a rag tag group of older folks!

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Wait, who is it by? I think I must have looked up the wrong book!!

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It’s by Clare Pooley!

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you could look into How to Read A Book by monica wood! it’s three person POV & it’s a retired teacher who has a book club at a woman’s prison, a retired factory worker, & a woman in the prison. wholesome found family & second chances book!

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Omg, I already had this on my TBR and didn't even realize it !

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Submitting The Road to Tender Hearts for Consideration đŸ«Ą There’s a grumpy old man, a cross country roadtrip, a (literal) found family , and most importantly a cute cat 🐈 ❀

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PERFECT thank you

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Recently discovered The Thursday Murder Club, and LOVING it. This is such a cute list idea!

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Ahhh I'm glad you like it, I haven't read that one just yet, it comes so highly recommended but the show didn't quite jive with me 😬 Have you watched?

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I actually decided to skip the adaptation and go straight for the books because everyone I knew who loved the books was very disappointed by the Netflix adaptation. Apparently they made quite a few changes for the worst. So I can't speak to the adaptation, but that's why I ended up passing it. The books are very snappy reads with quick wit, multi-layered murder/crime mystery vibes, lots of humour and lots of heart. For me, a great combo!

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Ok ok I only got about 30min into the show so this gives me hope for the books again

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I'd definitely recommend giving them a try if murder mystery, investigation, and old people found family vibes are for you.

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The book just has a really big cast of characters with a lot going on for each of them (in the plot and emotionally) so I didn’t really go into the movie expecting them to nail it (they definitely didn’t) but I think it’s a good time in its own right! Just not really a toooon of overlap with the book other than the broad strokes and character names đŸ€·đŸœâ€â™€ïž

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i think one of the characters in cascade failure (and the second book gravity lost) would fall into this category for sure!

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This list is intended to capture books where that is the primary focus of the story, would you say that's the case for cascade failure or is it more a side character?

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it’s like a found family story with 5 POVs (one is this character) but it’s clear from all POVs that this character is kind of a caring grump—if that makes sense?

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Okay cool thanks for clarifying! I'm sure this is a lovely book, I think the old grump being only 1/5 MCs makes it just a smidge outside the focus of this list đŸ«¶

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If you like this style, you will love Blue Sky Joe by Marie-Renée Lavoie, it's French Canadian and set in Québec city in the 1980-1990's

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Hmmm is there an English translation? I'm not seeing it come up when I search here or on goodreads

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Just realized they only made an English version of the movie and not the book đŸ˜©

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Booo!!

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