FORTY AND SO WHAT

By Élisabeth de Cordoba

When midlife crisis meets the choice between fantasy and love

At forty, Ousmane Diallo has everything: a successful real estate career in Paris's prestigious 16th arrondissement, fifteen years of marriage to Aïcha, two wonderful children, and a comfortable suburban life. Yet something is missing—that spark, that sense of being truly alive.

When twenty-five-year-old Malaïka walks into his agency seeking an apartment, Ousmane's carefully ordered world shifts. Her youth, ambition, and zest for life awaken desires he thought were buried under years of routine. Suddenly, he's faced with an impossible choice: destroy his family for a chance at recapturing his youth, or fight to rediscover what made him fall in love with his wife in the first place.

What Makes This Novel Compelling

Authentic Characters: Ousmane isn't a villain—he's a man wrestling with universal questions about aging, desire, and what it means to be truly happy. Aïcha isn't a victim—she's a woman discovering her own strength and worth. Malaïka isn't a homewrecker—she's a young woman with wisdom beyond her years.

Real Relationships: This isn't about good versus evil, but about the messy, complicated reality of long-term marriage. The conversations between Ousmane and Aïcha feel genuine—painful, honest, and ultimately hopeful.

Paris as a Character: From the luxury hotels of the George V to the Norman coast of Honfleur, the settings breathe life into the story, reflecting the characters' emotional journeys.

Mature Themes: The novel tackles midlife crisis, marital routine, temptation, and redemption without easy answers or fairy-tale solutions.

For Readers Who Appreciate

• Psychological depth over plot twists
• Character-driven stories about real relationships
• Honest explorations of marriage and fidelity
• Contemporary fiction set in France
• Stories about second chances and personal growth
• 
  

What You'll Experience

A 105-page journey through one man's crisis that becomes a story about choosing love over fantasy, commitment over escape, and growth over stagnation. The novel's strength lies not in dramatic confrontations but in quiet moments of recognition—when Ousmane finally sees what he's risked losing, when Aïcha discovers her own power, when both realize that real love isn't about constant passion but daily choice.

Language: English Length: 105 pages Format: Digital PDF-EPUB Genre: Contemporary Literary Fiction

This isn't a story about finding yourself—it's about choosing yourself. And sometimes, that makes all the difference.

Ready to explore what happens when we stop running from our lives and start fighting for them?

À propos de l’auteure :

✍️ Élisabeth De Cordoba – Auteure indépendante francophone.

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amazon.com/author/elisabeth.decordoba

Available in paperback on Amazon.com