45 Things To Do Before You're 45: A Novel

By: Julia Tuffs

Narrated by: Isy Suttie

"This isn’t how I pictured my life, you know? It was going to be fabulous. I was going to be fabulous.”

Meet Charlie; unfulfilled and perimenopausal, Charlie’s suburban life is a far cry from the Manhattan glamour she once dreamed of. Her husband is incapable of talking about anything other than his latest Ironman challenge, her sex life consists of fictional encounters with Hollywood stars, her kids need constant man-management, and to make things worse, her optician has just prescribed her reading glasses.

Oh, and she can’t stop crying at TV adverts…

In the hope of re-discovering her sense of self, Charlie begins writing a list: 45 things to do before she’s 45.

1. Eat an oyster
2. Take up parkour
3. Read War and Peace
4. Take ecstasy
5. Try stand-up comedy
6. Go to a sex club

Determined to complete them all, Charlie embarks on a chaotic odyssey through her own spectacular midlife crisis, challenging herself to become the person she wants to be. But what happens if we’re not that person? How do we learn to let them go? Or does something else have to give?

Uproariously funny and deeply human, 45 Things… is an all-too relatable story of what it means to be alive and how much living we all still have to do.

Narrated by the inimitable Isy Suttie (Peep Show), 45 Things... is the perfect listen for fans of Dolly Alderton, Caitlin Moran and Marian Keyes.

"There is so much to relate to. I can guarantee that if you're a woman and over thirty, you'll be nodding and laughing along!” – Laura Pearson, author of The Last List of Mabel Beaumont

©2024 Julia Tuffs (P)2025 Audible Ltd.

It was ok

It made me optimistic about my marriage in that ill have a midlife crisis and go on some spiritual bender

45 things to do before you turn 45.

is an okay read. I got into a little bit and then it got boring and then it pulled itself out of the boring pit. All around it was okay. it's more of a story about a woman that couldn't accept herself and was going through a midlife crisis. if you're into it it's okay.

Remarkably relatable for a very complex time in Womanhood

Excellent. So well written and relatable it has helped me to better understand what the heck is going on my own life mind and body these days of 40 :)

Started cute but made me sad

This book was very funny & I really was liking it since I’m about to be 40! It progressively got to where the FMC got wreck less & irresponsible. It became really hard for me to relate to but I’ve also never been manic I suppose.

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I got to the part where she had to put the cat down due to neglect and had to put the book on 2X speed. Almost DNFed when she got to the sex club because I was just so sad for our FMC. Ended ok so that’s why it’s 3 stars instead of 2. I appreciate the story that needed to be told, but wish people would’ve stepped in before she went full manic. We never knew the timeframe but I was screaming - is no one going to check on her?!?
This book made me sad and I wish I would’ve known the temperament & about the animal neglect prior to reading it. Going to cuddle my cat now. 💔

I didn’t hate it

I was looking for something a little more fun and lite than my normal read. A friend suggested this I was thinking this was going to be one of those typical stories where the women learns to be grateful for what she has and that she’s just a bored housewife with no problems this was not that book I actually enjoyed it and the women in this book where well written and complexed. Good book.

Warning label needed

This started out light and fluffy and took some deep dives in the middle. If you are ready for a deep dive into a mid-life crisis then this is for you!

laugh out loud

totally relatable, GREAT performance, I'm getting old too. 😭 well-developed characters, so funny! 15 words yet?

Nice read

Tons of character development. Deep dive into main character. Interesting buildups. Looking forward to another read by this author.

I thought it was relevant and funny

Great narration. Love the righting style. Very funny and relevant to being in your mid forties.

Mid-40s Woman Self Destructs

The main character of this story was so selfish and self-absorbed. Not an enjoyable read.