This post may contain affiliate links. Full disclosure policy
Books are terrific presents. They never get returned for being the wrong size or color, and the choices are practically endless. Read on for my list of books that make great Mother’s Day Gifts!
Custom Fit For Your Favorite Mom: Books That Make Great Mother’s Day Gifts
With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to celebrate the incredible women who fill our lives with love, wisdom, and boundless support. But in a world brimming with options, finding the perfect gift can feel daunting. I mean, where do you even start?
May I suggest a trip to the bookstore?
Not only is there a book out there to suit just about everybody, but books are affordable gifts that can be enjoyed over and over.
Even though we all know that books make great Mother’s Day gifts, you might feel a little overwhelmed by the number of choices. How do you find a book that’s just right for your mom?
Fear not! I’ve got you covered with a curated selection of books that are sure to make any mom feel cherished and appreciated.
From inspiring memoirs to captivating novels, there’s something for every literary taste on this list. Whether your mom is a history buff, a hopeless romantic, or a die-hard mystery or suspense fan, these titles are guaranteed to spark joy and ignite her imagination.
Make It an Even More Meaningful Gift!
If you’re up for it, why not consider buying two copies of one of the terrific titles on this list, one for you and one for Mom?
Co-reading one of these books that make great Mother’s Day gifts is a terrific way to deepen your bond as you and Mom discuss characters and favorite passages.
As a mother myself, I can tell you that what I crave above all things is meaningful time and connection with my kids. There is nothing else that makes me feel quite so loved.
Whether you buy two copies for an exclusive mother-child book club or one book that’s a perfect match for Mom’s unique interests and personality, a thoughtfully chosen book is a very thoughtful gift.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into our selection of books that make great Mother’s Day gifts!
Uplifting Novels To Make Mom Smile
The Restoration of Celia Fairchild by Marie Bostwick – Yes, this is one I wrote myself. But I really do love this book. It’s the engaging and heartfelt, often humorous story of a syndicated advice columnist with insight into everyone’s problems but her own, who is forced to return to Asheville and the lakeside lodge where she was raised after personal and professional setbacks upend her life.
More than three thousand 5 and 4-star Goodreads reviewers loved it, too. I bet your mom will feel the same.
Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame by Olivia Ford – If your mom likes watching the Great British Baking Show, she’ll adore this book! It’s the charming the story of 77-year old Jenny Quinn, an outstanding but unassuming amateur baker works up the courage to finally do something for herself, and secretly applies to become a contestant on the prime-time TV show, Britain Bakes.
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt – This title has been a huge bestseller, so it’s possible your mom has already read it. But if she hasn’t, she’ll adore the story of Tova, an elderly widow who takes a job as a cleaner at a Pacific Northwest aquarium, and develops an unlikely relationship with Marcellus, a curmudgeonly and highly opinionated giant Pacific Octopus.
Romance Books That Make Great Mother’s Day Gifts
Just For the Summer by Abby Jimenez – In this hilarious, intelligent romantic comedy, Justin and Emma suffer from the same strange curse – whenever they break up, the person they’d been dating instantly finds their soulmate. If they date each other, just for the summer, and break up quickly, will they finally find lasting love?
The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman – A delightful mashup of regency romance, rom-com, and mystery as a bored socialite turned amateur sleuth uses her wits and invisibility as an ‘old maid’ to protect her female friends in regency-era England.
The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden – A delicious confection of contemporary romance and women’s fiction is baked up when Lolly Blanchard, desperately struggling to try to keep the family pie shop afloat, receives three magic lemon drops that allow her to revisit her three biggest regrets.
An American Beauty by Shana Abe – This sweeping historical romance is based on the true, rags-to-riches story of Arabella Huffington, whose great beauty was surpassed only by her exceptional business acumen, grit, and artistic eye, and who defied the constraints of her era to become the wealthiest self-made woman in America.
Mystery and Suspense to Keep Mom Turning the Pages
Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman – In a peaceful retirement village, four septagenarians meet weekly in the Jigsaw Room to discuss unsolved crimes; together they call themselves the Thursday Murder Club. When a local developer is found dead with a mysterious photograph left next to the body, the Thursday Murder Club suddenly find themselves in the middle of their first live case.
The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay – In this page-turning Cold War era tale, CIA codebreaker Luisa Voekler discovers a secret cache of letters written by the father she has long presumed dead. With little more than a rudimentary plan and hope, she journeys to Berlin and risks everything to free her father and get him out of East Berlin alive.
Books that Make Great Mother’s Day Gifts for History Buffs
Fifth Avenue Glamor Girl by Renee Rosen – Fascinating historical fiction based on the life of Estee Lauder. Coming of age in a world unaccustomed to women with power, the young Estee and her friend, Gloria, must pay the price that comes with daring to live life on their own terms and refusing to back down.
The Women by Kristin Hannah – This blockbuster bestseller tells the story of Frances “Frankie” McGrath, a young nurse who volunteers to serve in Vietnam. But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, angry protesters, and a country that wants to forget the war.
On Wings of the Morning by Marie Bostwick – Yes, this is another one of mine. I’m recommending it because this story of two WW2 era pilots, one male and one female, is a sweeping tale is based on the little-known history of the Women’s Air Service Pilots, a group of brave, sometimes brash women pilots who helped win the war. It’s a page-turning book that would make a great Mother’s Day gift.
Books for Moms Who Love Literary Fiction
The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford – This beautifully written book follows the intertwining lives of Afong May and the subsequent generations of her descendants, exploring themes of identity, heritage, and the enduring impact of family secrets across time, amidst the intriguing premise that trauma can be inherited through generations.
North Woods by Daniel Mason – This sweeping literary novel begins in Puritan-era New England, with two lovers who run away and build a cabin in the woods. That house becomes the linchpin of a luminous, magical story that spans centuries and tells the tales of all who inhabit it.
For Moms Who Love Books About Books
Best Life Book Club by Sheila Roberts—If your mom belongs to a book club, she’ll love this charming, funny story about four very different friends, each one at a crossroads, who embark on a literary journey that just might be the kick-start they need to begin building their best lives yet.
Bookish People by Susan Coll—This hilarious, quirky story takes place in a busy Washington, DC, bookstore over the course of one soggy, chaotic summer week punctuated by political turmoil, a celestial event, and a perpetually broken vacuum cleaner.
The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians by James Patterson – The title kind of says it all. This collection of real, behind-the-scenes stories of real booksellers and librarians will delight bibliophiles of all stripes, including your book-loving mom.
Books that Make Great Mother’s Day Gifts for Moms Who Love Memoir and Biography
The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her-Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America by Elizabeth Letts – This wonderfully written biography tells the inspiring story of Annie Wilkins, a 63-year-old, down-on-her-luck Maine farmer. When doctors tell her she has two years to live, Annie sets out on a quest to see the Pacific Ocean before she dies. Riding alone and on horseback, accompanied only by her dog, Annie captures the imagination of 1950s America and finds a community she could never have dreamed of.
The Wives by Simone Gorrindo –When her new husband joins an elite Army unit, the author is uprooted from New York City to a military base in Columbus, Georgia. With her husband frequently deployed, she feels lonely, adrift, and out of place—until she meets the other military wives. “A love story, an unforgettable coming-of-age tale, and a bracing tour of the intractable divisions that plague our country today.”
Great books for Nature-Loving Moms
Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard – This gorgeous, magical book uses the stories of the trees, who depend on one another for survival in ways that will surprise, fascinate, and delight, as a metaphor for the ways in which our story, and our humanity, connect us to one another.
Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan – Part memoir, part nature tale, this witty, insightful collection of essays tells the story of how the desire to escape the negativity and divisions of modern life brought her to birding, and the solace, connection, and wonder she discovered in her own backyard.
Books that Make Great Mother’s Day Gifts for Mom Who Love to Cook
The Farm Table by Julius Roberts – Gorgeous photography, great recipes, and engaging stories about a chef who left the hustle of London in search of peace and terrific, sustainably sourced food in the English countryside.
Love and Lemons Every Day by Jeanine Donofrio – This sumptuous, beautifully photographed cookbook by one of my favorite food bloggers is bursting with fabulous, plant-based recipes you don’t have to be a vegetarian to love.
The Mediterranean Dish by Suzy Karadesh – If your mom is interested in the Mediterranean diet, which doctors around the globe recommend as the healthiest, then do her a favor and get her this cookbook. It’s loaded with delicious, beautifully photographed, easy-to-prepare recipes that the whole family will love.
