s the daughter of an extraordinary mother, I eagerly look forward to Mother’s Day, celebrated every year on the second Sunday of May. As the mother of two wonderful children, I believe that spending time with one’s kids is the best gift in the world. Books come next on the list.

For my first Mother’s Day as a mother, I received Bossypants by Tina Fey as a gift. The book is a blend of humour, introspection and critical thinking for a new generation. The real gift, however, was the ability to spend a few hours alone at home to actually read the book – a rare luxury for a new mother. Motherhood has been regarded as an impediment to creative work, but for many writers, including myself, who’re mothers as well, the experience is an essential part of their practice. Motherhood has not been a detriment, but rather absolutely central to my craft.

I came across several remarkable books about mothers, motherhood and mothering, some of which I mention below. These books are beautiful and unforgettable, the kind you want to read out loud to the person next to you.

Slay Like a Mother by Katherine Wintsch:

Slay Like a Mother is a popular book about how to destroy what’s holding you back so you can live the life you want. It’s for moms struggling with over-thinking, negativity and tiredness. Through helpful stories and camaraderie, mothers are encouraged to stop hiding behind a mask of pretending everything’s fine and start living the lives they are meant to live.

Tell Me More by Kelly Corrigan:

Tell Me More is a book of essays, many of which are about the everyday lives of mothers, told from the perspective of the author and very relatable. You will laugh, cry and raise your hand, exclaiming, “Me too!” as you read this.

Happiness: The Crooked Little Road to Semi-Ever After by Heather Harpham:

Happiness is one of Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club picks. It’s the memoir of the single mother of a sick child – the relationships that grow from their struggles and the sacrifices mothers make for the well-being of their children. It’s an unconventional tale about finding happiness as a mother when faced with large obstacles.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng:

Little Fires Everywhere, one of Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club picks, is my top recommendation for a work of fiction about motherhood. If you like complex characters, this book is full of a cast of women, all experiencing motherhood in different ways and making different decisions for their children, as their lives interconnect in a suburban neighbourhood. This is a powerful book about motherhood, but also class and race, that will give you various thoughts and feelings about its characters.

The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth:

The Mother-in-Law is a great book for the mother who loves complex thrillers. After the main character’s mother-in-law dies, the mystery of her death uncovers a deep history that is revealed as the book progresses. What’s great about this thriller is that not everyone is evil or sinister, and the lesson to be learned is that even our matriarchs have hidden parts of their lives we don’t know about. This one is hard to put down.

Olive Kitteridge and Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout:

Olive Kitteridge may be America’s favourite curmudgeon. This book and the sequel Olive, Again (one of Oprah’s Book Club picks and one of my favourite books of 2019) are for the mom who likes character-driven novels. These books read like snippets of still life, rich with words craving to be savoured and analysed. In grumpy everyday moments from a coastal Maine town, Olive teaches the reader about life, particularly the many ways in which she didn’t know how to be a mother and sometimes got it right and oftentimes got it wrong.

The writer is the publishing editor at Liberty Books.