The New Middle

Five middle-aged characters face the randomness of fate while learning to let go of the past in this compelling, contemporary tale that illuminates the joys and woes of midlife.

The parents of two lovely teenage daughters, Dianne and Torrick feel blessed and secure. But behind the façade of their seemingly ideal life, the couple’s once rock-solid marriage is slowly beginning to crumble. Dianne becomes overwhelmed by the emotional ups and downs of menopause, while Torrick becomes more and more distracted by the demands of his private security business. Will the couple find a way to repair what’s been broken, or will their restlessness tear the family apart?

Jacqueline is a savvy, stunningly attractive consultant at a high-profile company. Single and childless, her life is shaped by her success. When a close friend dies of cancer, she starts to feel the isolation of reaching midlife without a family. Uncharacteristically vulnerable, she makes a decision that transforms her life in more ways than one…

Phoebe has spent the better part of her life traveling the world. When the housing market collapses and she loses her sprawling beach bungalow, she moves in with her goddaughter. Then a new man, Joseph, enters her life, but Phoebe feels she’s out of his league. As a friendship develops between them, she starts to feel pangs of regret for giving her child up for adoption. Can Joseph, a lonely widower and father of two, offer any help, or will Phoebe be left on her own to deal with her regrets of the past?

From marriage, children, and career, to being single, widowed, facing death, and reinventing oneself, this character-driven tale explores the depth of regret, loneliness, isolation, and angst. Whether or not you’ve reached midlife, The New Middle is a compelling novel that will have you laughing and crying alongside its unforgettable characters until the very end.

Bonita Thompson has worked as a freelance story analyst and reader of books and screenplays. She has edited self-published novels by first-time authors and written script coverages and novel synopses optioned for film. As a contract floater, she worked at major Hollywood film studios and production companies. While living in Paris, Bonita studied international law. She volunteers for WriteGirl, a nonprofit organization that inspires high school females in the Los Angeles area to pursue careers in writing. She’s the author of the novels The New Middle and Vulnerable.