Best Book Gifts for Mother’s Day

C’mon, you can do better than flowers again this year.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner on Sunday, May 11. But don’t phone it in (literally) with a boring old vase of 1-800-flowers! You’ve still got plenty of time to pick out a great book that’s as unforgettable as Mom is. (You’re on your own for the potato-stamp handmade greeting card.)

The Bad Mother’s Handbook is sweet, heartfelt mother-daughter chick lit that may end up being passed around to all your female relatives. 17-year-old Charlotte discovers she’s pregnant by her ex-boyfriend, infuriating her mother Karen, who thinks Charlotte has ruined her chances at college and a career. Karen already has her hands full caring for her aging adoptive mother, Nan, a tough working-class gal, while also searching for her own birth mother.

For the mystery-loving mom, try Mother’s Day Murder by Leslie Meier. Lucy Stone is looking forward to a nice Mother’s Day brunch — until the day is spoiled by a catfight between two other mean-girl moms. When one of them is later shot dead on a tennis court, Lucy is compelled to find the killer. (Note: Meier’s series includes murder mysteries for pretty much every holiday of the year, so you might not want to accept any invitations to her house.)

This is a bit of a cheat, since it’s a DVD box set, but trust me, your mom will love Call the Midwife, the beloved BBC series about midwives in 1950s London’s East End. (It’s based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth, so there is a book version, if you insist.) Lovable characters, gorgeous vintage clothes and makeup, and tearjerking drama — this show has it all. And if your mom is addicted to Downton Abbey, try Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey, written by a real-life countess about the history of Highclere Castle, where the show is filmed.

What’s even sweeter than chocolate? A book that shows your mom how well you know her.

If your mom loves romance, remember that Mother’s Day is not a time of judgment. Indulge her guilty pleasure with the Mother’s Day Romance Bundle for Kindle. It’s a steal of a deal at just $1 for SEVEN novels. Mom doesn’t have an e-reader yet, you say? Now’s the time to pick one up for $69
and give it to her pre-loaded with tawdry romance novels.

And as long as I’m talking romance, don’t forget the current romance-themed StoryBundle. Pay what you like (really) and get nine great indie romance titles; if you pay at least $12, you’ll get three extra bonus books. You can even choose to donate some of your purchase price to charity! Mom would be so proud of you.