Fabulous Reads For Mother’s Day

Move away from the chocolates, flowers and “Mother’s Day” mugs! This year why not give your precious Mum to a fabulous read – The Mother’s Day gift that keeps on giving!

A book is more than words. It’s a gift of imagination, escapism and permission to enjoy some very special quiet time. What Mum doesn’t crave that? To help take the strain out of finding the right book, I have chosen five that cater for every kind of reader. If you are a Mum: don’t forget to share the blog and let you or loved ones know which book you want for yourself!

Here’s our Arts & Culture Editor Janie’s top picks…

Arts & Culture Editor, Janie selecting books for Mother’s Day

The Little Book of Chanel by Emma Baxter–Wright

The Little Book of Chanel by Emma Baxter–Wright

This is a wonderfully self-indulgent hardback book of Chanel delights. If your mum loves fashion and design, then this is the gift for her. Filled with beautiful photographs, sketches and words the reader is taken on a journey of the life and creations of Mademoiselle Coco Chanel. A “forever” gift that the recipient will return to over and over.

Why Mummy Swears by Gill Simms

Why Mummy Swears by Gill Simms

A funny irreverent and realistic story about motherhood! Any mum will find themselves laughing out loud as they slowly begin to recognise themselves or a friend within Gill Sims masterful telling of “Mummy’s” story. It is this observation which makes it unputdownable and anyone near you thinking you’ve gone crazy as you try not to die laughing! I can’t do this story justice, so I have shared some words from the book….

Monday, 25 July The first day of the holidays. I suppose it could’ve been worse. I brightly announced that perhaps it might be a lovely idea to go to a stately home and learn about some history. As soon as we got there I remembered why I don’t use the flipping National Trust membership – because National Trust properties are full of very precious and breakable items, and very precious and breakable items don’t really mix with children, especially not small boys. Where I had envisaged childish faces glowing with wonder as they took in the treasures of our nation’s illustrious past, we instead had me shouting ‘Don’t touch, DON’T TOUCH, FFS DON’T TOUCH!” while stoutly shod pensioners tutted disapprovingly and drafted angry letters to the Daily Mail in their heads. How many more days of the holiday are there?

Tangerine by Christine Mangan

Tangerine by Christine Mangan

Christine Mangan delivers a gripping psychological thriller that will leave you breathless to, the end and after. Described as Girl on the Train meets The Talented Mr. Ripley, the story is set in 1950s Morocco.

Alice has moved to Morocco with her new husband but is finding the new way of life nerve wracking. Scared to even visit the local medina she is having a difficult time. Lucy her once best friend appears out of the blue following an horrific accident which left the friends not talking to each other for a year. Lucy wants to mend their friendship. With Lucy’s help, Alice starts to enjoy life and begins to explore her new country. Alice should feel happy, but the outgoing Lucy is making her feel controlled and stifled. When Alice’s husband goes missing she starts to question everything she knows, her friendship with Lucy, her decision to move to Tangier and most worryingly her own sanity.

Tangerine is a stunningly written book with descriptions of Tangier that will make you think you are in 1950s Tangier.

Gill Simms novel will almost certainly be a contender in my 2019 Best Reads list.

Mothering Sunday by Rosie Goodwin

Mothering Sunday by Rosie Goodwin

Set in Nuneaton in 1884 this easy to digest story follows Sunday Smalls’ quest to make her fortune and escape the intolerable regime in a Nuneaton workhouse and the over friendly Workhouse Master. Secretly she hopes one day to find the mother that gave her away. Sunday has made a promise to her dearest friend Daisy that she will return and break her free from the pain and drudgery of Workhouse life.

Despite her best efforts to escape Sunday faces the fight of her life to let go of the brutal life she endeavours to leave.

This is the perfect book to tuck your feet up on the sofa and read. The mix of heartbreak and uplifting moments will have you rooting for Sunday all the way.

Standing in Line by Ben Chatfield

Standing in Line by Ben Chatfield

Anyone who lives in the gorgeous South West London district of Wimbledon will know how much the town changes during the Tennis Championship’s fortnight. Sometimes it feels like an invasion but mostly it is a huge amount of fun. Described by Ben Hatfield as a global reality show, this humour filled memoir is based on the view of a tennis fan, who has stood in the famous queues to watch his tennis heroes playing at the world’s most famous tournament, since he was ten years old. He cleverly observes how the world, SW19 and the half million fans who pack into the leafy corner of south London annually have changed. A humorous and wonderfully recounted true-life tale.

The Hidden Villages of Britain by Clare Gogerty

The Hidden Villages of Britain by Clare Gogerty

This lavishly illustrated book is the companion to Penelope Keith’s hit programme “Penelope’s Hidden Villages”. Whether your Mum has watched the series or not this is a beautiful book for her if she loves going off on adventures and finding new places to visit. Villages with their tea shops, quaint cottages and independent shops are positively enchanting, offering an escape and chance to relax and unwind from our daily hectic lives. Photos and illustrations show how the villages looked historically and today. I loved this aspect of the book. Structured in regions, find idyllic villages tucked beneath the South Downs, North Yorkshire Moor’s treasures and so much more. This, again, is certainly a forever gift as Mum will be delving into it for years to come as she plans her next adventure in Britain.

I hope that you enjoy my top picks for Mother’s Day book gifts as much as I have. I’m confident that there is something for every Mum. We’d love to know which author you chose for yours. Why not get the conversation started on social media

Written by Janie Smith

See more of Janie’s reviews here, or find her on Instagram and Twitter.