Midlife Mischief

by Jodi Solovy, Maddy Sandora (Illustrator)

In her debut novel, author Jodi Solovy weaves a heartwarming and ultimately empowering tale about first love, marriage, friendship, family and choices. The story begins on an ordinary Monday afternoon in the life of 53-year-old Jen Mann, as she’s sitting with her lifelong best friend Cate at the local coffee shop, where they meet weekly for the comfort of a warm drink and quality time together. But on this particular Monday, Jen is distracted, unable to shake the malaise of being middle-aged and irrelevant, having almost adult children who no longer need her and a husband who seems to have grown bored with her. Then, from out of the blue, she receives a message from the great love of her life, her Italian boyfriend Luca from 30 years ago, who happens to be in town. Jen’s boring and routine existence is thrown into a tailspin as she becomes consumed by memories of her whirlwind year abroad with Luca and the prospect of seeing him again after all these years. When her past love and current life collide, Jen must decide which one she is willing to fight for and what she must learn to reclaim the life she wants to live.

297 pages, Paperback

Published October 26, 2023

About the author

Midlife Mischief is Jodi Solovy's debut novel. She has always been a passionate writer, first as a lawyer and most recently as a blogger posting personal vignettes on her Substack, Jodi's Jaunts. She has three grown children and lives with her husband in the northern suburbs of Chicago. When she's not writing, reading or in a pool, she's trying to train her rambunctious puppy.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mom’s a superstar author!!!!!👸

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jodi Solovy’s debut novel, Midlife Mischief, is about 53-year-old Jen who is struggling with being an empty nester and finding purpose. She and her husband seem to be drifting when the former love of her life, her Italian boyfriend Luca from 30 years ago, happens to be in town and wants to see her. The story is told in dual timelines, contrasting Jen’s year in Italy before law school and her current life in a suburb of Chicago. “When her past love and current life collide, Jen must decide which one she is willing to fight for and what she must learn to reclaim the life she wants to live.”
I liked Jodi Solovy’s writing and I definitely wanted to see what was going to happen but given that my own children are still very young, I did have a more challenging time relating to Jen and at some points I found her very frustrating. I don’t want to give anything away but she made some terrible decisions and I was so stressed for her.
I think more than anything, more than a romance, this is a novel about Jen finding herself at this newer stage of life after decades of dedicating herself to her family and I think the author captured that well.

[lori james · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was great to read on vacation! Looking forward to another book from this author! Very impressed that this was her first book. VERY talented writer.

[Jodi Solovy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m giving my book 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️’s because I’m so proud of what I’ve written and certain you’ll enjoy reading it. The main character Jen is the everywoman. She’s a relatable middle-aged woman who you can’t help but root for. Her sidekicks, Cate and Tess, are just like your own best friends. Her husband Dan is anyone’s ideal mate. And Luca is the universal heartthrob. Anyone who has had a great first love will feel nostalgic reading about Jen and Luca’s whirlwind romance. And anyone who has been married for over 25 years will be able to identify with Jen’s internal struggle. I wrote this book for women of all ages, but especially for middle-aged women, whose voices are underrepresented in fun, feel good fiction.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the author’s writing style and could absolutely picture what my own midlife mischief could look like.

[Julia Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading books from local authors and Midlife Mischief did not disappoint. This is a fun, chick lit romp through 90’s Chicago and suburbs. The author joined us for our bookclub and told us about writing the book. That was a fun experience. She wrote it in two months!

[Kimberly Battles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book and super relatable to all women! Super summer read!!

[Gabrielle Jacobson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jodi Solovy is a gifted writer that captured the very real midlife experiences many women have likely had. I thoroughly enjoyed this poignant and heartfelt story. I recommend this book!

[Ilene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book. It’s a woman book. And I know if you read it , you will enjoy it

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

​Did you love the original Sex in the City? Were you disappointed with the more recent mid-life version of the series? Then Midlife Mischief by Jodi Solovy is for you!

In this, her debut novel, Solovy adeptly and wittily captures the multitude of midlife transitions–both physical and mental–with references to her beloved hometown of Chicago and its environs sprinkled throughout.

At a time in life when many women feel invisible, it’s refreshing to be seen by Solovy. Thank you, Jodi–this reader looks forward to your next book!

[Angela F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our MFC is bored of her mundane everyday life. She gave up her career to be a stay at home mom, but now the kids have grown and she feels as though her days are unfulfilled. Yoga on Tuesdays, lunch dates with Kate, and a periodic phone call or weekend visit from the kids is what she looks forward to.

A quick DM from an old flame brings memories of another lifetime flooding back. A summer of being carefree and spontaneous, and falling deeply in love with Luca while exploring Italy.

Jen has a big decision to make. Luca’s message comes at an interesting time and she needs to figure out how to handle it.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet read about finding yourself after devoting your life to your kids. I loved the back and forth between different periods in Jen’s life. Great characters, scenery, and an empowering message about figuring out what you need to be happy.

[Ronnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

I absolutely loved it! Great character development and I love her writing style. This story felt so much more unique than so many other books that I've read lately. Highly recommend!

[Lisa Moeckler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look no further if you want a fun enjoyable read by a new author! Well written and engaging!!

[Tami Libman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED Midlife Mischief!!! Everyone in my book club loved it and the discussion questions at the end lead us to the best stories of our own first loves. It’s perfect for women of all ages.

[Regan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Midlife Mischief is a well written book with great characters. The main character, Jen, has probably lived most of our dreams by taking a year off, living in a beautiful city abroad and finding love. The scenes were vivid and you could feel yourself immersed in the Italian cities she described. Italian Jen was carefree and was coming out of her shell. American Jen was more rigid, trying to be the good person, living life according to her plan, that didn’t leave much room for being carefree. When her children became adults and no longer needed to be taken care of day to day, she became bored with her life and apparently had too much idle time. I disliked adult Jen and had a warm spot in my heart for Dan and adored Jen’s best friend Cate. We all need a Cate in our lives. Overall, the story was very realistic and though you may get mad at Jen, she is human, and she will get you to like her again by the end of the story.

[Lis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Midlife Mischief is the perfect read for any woman that may be feeling a bit unseen, or feeling a bit unsettled as they are nearing that midlife point. Jen, well, I both loved and hated her. I found myself wanting to yell at her one more than one occasion! Her friends and family are so amazing, but she’s stuck in the past that could very well destroy her future. Dan is just along for a wild ride that he didn’t even see coming. Ugh. My heart broke for him. It then broke for Jen. Luca, well, I’m going to let you decide! The characters are so well written that you instantly fall in love. The romance, the friendship, the love between mother and child…it’s all here. It will also force you to look at your own life and maybe, just maybe, realize just how lucky you truly are. Enjoy!

[Jennifer Deutsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read! A love letter to Chicago and a love story for the ages. Any woman who has ever thought, I wonder…. “What is HE doing now?” will relate! From passionate young love to #mom life, the reader is engaged with these dynamic characters! A+ writing, you won’t want to put down! Heck I’m already casting the movie in my mind! It’s sooo juicy….can’t wait to see what the author does next.

[Andrea Friedlander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Midlife Mischief! It's one of those books where I couldn't wait to pick it up again to find out what happens. The characters are all well-developed and totally relatable, and the back-and-forth between flashbacks and the present day totally is totally seamless. But what I really loved the most was the author's nuanced approach in questioning what constitutes "betrayal" in a marriage. I can't imagine a better topic for a bookclub discussion!

[Ellen Neuborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Women at midlife are often invisible – and that’s a mistake because they’re probably up to something. Jodi Solovy gives us a heroine who is bored and feeling neglected and useless. And that’s the moment when she gets an unexpected message on social media from the impossibly hot Italian lover she left behind 30 years ago to return from her European adventure and start law school in Chicago. Is she regretting her choices? Is gelato sweeter the second time around?

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! It was a quick read that was definitely relatable…A perfect blend of adventure, romance, real life and hardships. Couldn’t put it down….highly recommend!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚 𝓛𝓸𝓬𝓪𝓵 𝓐𝓾𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓻 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀 📚
4/5🌟

What a fun way to start my vacation! Solovy’s sweet and spicy debut novel centers around 53 year old Jen, who feels the need to find more purpose in her life now that her children are mostly grown and don’t require her attention as they used to. She has an enviously quiet but perhaps monotonous life, without much to be responsible for aside from walking her adorable dog, making dinner for her sweet husband, and weekly coffees and yoga classes with her besties. The nagging feeling of emptiness is filled temporarily when she hears from the love of her life - her Italian boyfriend Luca from her gap year in Italy, 30 years prior. We get to experience their whirlwind romance as Jen revisits it in her memory, and then has to decide what she holds most dear as she faces a monumental decision.

I could relate to so much in this cute novel. Solovy is a Chicago area-based writer and I absolutely loved all of the local references. Also, being 53 myself with children basically the same age as Jen’s (I laughed out loud when I read that Jen’s daughter’s birthday is the exact same day and year as my own daughter’s!), I’m at the same place in my life as Jen (and Solovy herself).

I know this one will resonate with so many of my contemporaries and it’s actually really nice to find a novel that appeals to my demographic (new-ish empty nesters in their 50s).

The book moves along at a rapid pace thanks to the descriptive, snappy writing so it’s perfect for the beach. I think what I loved the most about it is its emphasis on the power and importance of female friendships to get one through anything life throws at them.

Solovy writes in her author’s note that her “greatest hope is to create a community of women who relate to my story and want to share it” and I truly believe she will with this lovely story. Thanks @jodisolovy for gifting me a copy of your book - I look forward to sharing it with my besties!

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