Feeling Invisible in Midlife? Add ‘Tilda is Visible’ To Your Reading List

CrunchyTales is delighted to announce a new editorial partnership with FLIPSIDE OF MIDLIFE® Book Club, bringing readers a fresh monthly feature celebrating stories that resonate deeply with midlife experiences.

Through this collaboration, Karli Newman and the Flipside Of Midlife community will come together each month to share a book they love, titles that spark reflection, connection, and conversation around the realities, challenges, and rediscoveries of midlife. Each selection will be explored through honest insight and personal response, inviting readers to see themselves more clearly in the stories they read.

Kicking off the series, Karli Newman introduces ‘Tilda is Visible‘, a novel that gently but powerfully explores themes of invisibility, identity, and self-recognition in midlife. It’s a story that opens the door to meaningful dialogue about what it means to feel seen again by others, and by oneself.

Ever had one of those moments when someone talks over you, bumps into you with no apology, or steps into line right in front of you? You may say something or choose to let it be. Even if you tell yourself it’s not a big deal, there’s a feeling that lingers, a sense of being overlooked.

Many women over 50 experience situations that make them feel invisible. Whether it’s in little occurrences you barely notice, or in big ways that make you wonder if you’re on a hidden camera reality show, this midlife journey invites you to pause, reflect, and uncover what it means to be seen for who you are.

Not only by others, but by yourself, too. It’s this common midlife thread that made Tilda is Visible such an enjoyable read for me. And I’m not the only woman to find relatable nuggets in this novel by Jane Tara.

Meet Tilda, a midlife story of rediscovery, identity and being truly seen

Tilda is Visible introduces us to Tilda, a woman in midlife who, on the surface, appears to be living a full life. She has a successful business, two thriving adult daughters, and a cottage two blocks from the beach. Underneath that appearance, however, is the feeling that she lost parts of herself along the way—figuratively AND literally.

Despite living a life she should be happy with, at 52, she’s only going through the motions.

After a scary diagnosis of invisibility, Tilda decides she’s ready to dig deep to see herself, and helps other women see themselves along the way, too.

For many women, midlife is a season to understand how they feel about time past, unfulfilled dreams, and choices made. While that awareness can feel unsettling, it can also be incredibly clarifying. Tilda, with the support of her therapist and friends, starts to uncover why she’s felt invisible for years.

She discovers that midlife clarity often arrives in bits and pieces. As Tilda starts to surrender control, accept what is, and embrace the possibilities that lie ahead, she settles into a stronger sense of self.

But instead of giving herself permission to aim for happiness, she’d remained in the familiar state of fear of loss. It wasn’t living. It was surviving. And it had to change.

Tilda realizes what is most important to her and what no longer deserves her time or energy. As a result, the inner critic holding her back speaks more kindly as she moves forward.

That’s where Tilda is Visible hits home with readers. It holds up a mirror and invites you to look more closely.

What struck me most while reading is how real this book felt. The manifestation of Tilda’s invisibility may not be real, but the causes are far from fiction.

Book Club Take-Aways

Inside my FLIPSIDE OF MIDLIFE® Book Club, the conversations around this story immediately held elements of personal insight. Members flagged pages, took notes, and felt big emotions as they were reading. All signs that this work of fiction reflects real-life experiences.

That said, not all members rated Tilda is Visible as a favorite. A few weren’t fans of the love interest storyline. Others felt the pacing was slower than they preferred. Even with those differences, the story sparked meaningful discussion within the group.

And isn’t that exactly what makes book club conversation so rich? When we bring our different life-experience lenses to the same story, we learn as much about ourselves and each other as we do about the characters.

The more she released externally, the more her internal world followed. It wasn’t a breakdown but a breakthrough, and it had been a long time coming

Feeling Invisible: Read and Reflect

If you choose to read this novel, I encourage you to pause and reflect along the way. Notice what stands out to you in the story and the thoughts and feelings that show up.

Grab your journal and find a comfortable space to think. These questions will take you deeper into the story and into yourself:

• In what ways did Tilda’s diagnosis resonate with you?
• How does the novel portray cultural expectations placed on women as they age?
• Tilda begins to reclaim parts of herself she had quieted. What parts of yourself have you rediscovered (or are ready to discover) in midlife and beyond?
• What are your thoughts about the character Pearl?
• What risks did Tilda take in the book? What fears hold you back, and how might you begin to move through them?
• What would it look like for you to fully see yourself?
• What might change as you acknowledge your wisdom, experience, and depth?

Feeling seen doesn’t always start with someone else noticing you. Sometimes, it begins with noticing yourself.

Tilda is Visible is a reminder that your own voice is the most important one.

If you read this novel, share your thoughts and insights in the comments! Who was your favorite character? Where did you see yourself in this book? What didn’t sit well with you?

About the Author, Jane Tara

Behind every compelling character is a writer with a story of her own.

Jane Tara is a daily meditator, a sucker for a rescue mutt and, most of all, a front-row cheerleader for her two sons. She spent thirteen years wandering the world, lived in five countries, and is now happily at home in Sydney. Jane has published over one hundred children’s books, several plays, and five novels. Tilda is Visible was published in 2024.

Tilda Is Visible | By Jane Tara
Crown Publisher
Hardcover $ 15.37

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