8 Books to Give Mum the Gift of Relaxation this Mother’s Day

If your mum needs a well-deserved break this Mother’s Day, these books are the perfect escape. From some of Better Reading’s favourite authors, these recent releases are filled with warmth, family and friendships – perfect for curling up over a relaxing weekend.

The Jam Queens by Josephine Moon

The Jam Queens is a heart-warming new family drama from bestselling author Josephine Moon. This story brings together four generations of women from one family – relatable for mothers, daughters and grandmothers alike. The vivid scenery makes this novel the perfect weekend escape, while the mouth-watering recipes featured throughout will definitely inspire mum to sit down with a cup of tea and some jam bikkies to devour alongside this delicious read.

Other Women by Cathy Kelly

#1 Sunday Times bestselling author Cathy Kelly is back with a refreshingly honest story about female friendship and marriage – and all the great loves of our life. In the messy reality of marriage, family and romance, sometimes it’s the women in our lives who hold us together. And that is certainly true in the Other Women. True to Kelly’s style, Other Women zings alone, with polished, sassy prose, moving between three incredibly compelling characters, their tangled lives and the secrets they carry. Enjoy this book over a cosy weekend in, and you’ll surely connect with Kelly’s relatable characters – just like we did.

A Home Like Ours by Fiona Lowe

From much-loved, bestselling author Fiona Lowe, A Home Like Ours is a timely novel exploring prejudice and privilege in rural Australia. This novel is perfect for those who enjoy getting lost in small-town intrigue; it’s set in a picturesque town on the banks of the Murray River. Lowe explores the complex lives of three women with wildly different loyalties who come together to save the community garden and ultimately prevent the town from tearing itself apart.

The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

Bestselling author Pip Williams’ debut novel is a delightful, lyrical and deeply thought-provoking celebration of words, and the power of language to shape our experience of the world. Set against the backdrop of the women’s suffrage movement, this story follows the wise and wonderful Esme as she collects words that are being discarded from the very first Oxford English Dictionary, most of which relate to women’s experiences. This is a meaningful, compelling story, and the perfect book for the most important women in our lives.

Those Hamilton Sisters by Averil Kenny

Those Hamilton Sisters transports readers to the far-north Queensland tropics in the 1950s, where three young sisters return to the town their mum left in disgrace twenty years earlier. While rumours swirl about the girls, they must find their place in this town, and learn about their mother’s past in the process. This is a warm, captivating and irresistible story of love, family, secrets, and finding your place in the world.

The French Gift by Kirsty Manning

Kirsty Manning’s latest foray into historical fiction is a sweeping mystery, which takes us from sparkling parties at the Côte d’Azur to the grim French prison holding resistance fighters during the Second World War. Manning doesn’t put a foot wrong, from the polished prose and compelling characters, to the fabulous sense of place that imbues this read. A glorious escape from reality, this will captivate readers from the beginning to the unforgettable, surprising end.

Half Life by Jillian Cantor

Bestselling author Jillian Cantor’s latest novel, Half Life, is a brilliant sliding-doors reimagining of the passionate life of the first woman to win a Nobel Prize – and the life Marie Curie might have led if she had chosen love over science. Seamlessly entwining the storylines of Marie and Marya (Curie’s Polish given name), Half Life is a powerful story of love and friendship, motherhood and sisterhood, fame and anonymity – and a woman destined to change the world. A remarkable tale that’s sure to inspire many this Mother’s Day.

Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny

Katherine Heiny’s Early Morning Riser is a big-hearted and boundlessly joyful story of love, disaster and unconventional family. It follows young teacher Jane who easily falls in love with Duncan: he’s charming, good-natured, and handsome. There’s just one problem – he’s slept with nearly every woman in Boyne City, Michigan. Alternatively bittersweet and laugh-out-loud funny, Early Morning Riser is Katherine Heiny’s most astonishingly wonderful work to date.