8 of the best books to give mum this Mother’s Day
This Mother’s Day, gift the joy of reading with our selection of page-turners perfect for mum. Dive into our list of the best books for mothers day gifts now!
Mother’s Day is fast approaching and whether you’ll get to spend the day with your mum on Sunday May 12, or are sending love from afar, a book is always a sweet gift choice. You’re essentially giving mum the perfect excuse for a little me-time!
If you want to celebrate the amazing women in your life with a book, we’ve done the groundwork for you and gathered up some of our favourites in the gallery below.
2024’s top books to gift for Mother’s Day
- ‘My Favourite Mistake’ by Marian Keyes, $19.95 (was $34.99), Booktopia (here’s why)
- ‘Your Time Starts Now’ by Julie Goodwin, $26.50 (was $36.99), Booktopia (here’s why)
- ‘The Silver River’ by Jim Moginie, $25.75 (was $34.99), Booktopia (here’s why)
The best books for Mother’s Day in 2024
1. ‘My Favourite Mistake’ by Marian Keyes
from $19.95 (was $34.99) at Booktopia
Best for mums with a funny bone
Anna Walsh had a dream life – according to everybody else. She lived in New York, had a long-term boyfriend, and had The Best Job In The World working as a highly successful beauty PR. So why did she decide to take a flamethrower to the lot?
Because now she’s back Dublin, living with her parents. She’s undeniably forty-eight, with no partner, no job, and no direction. Anna’s lost her purpose. She needs a new challenge to help her fall back in love with life again.
When an opportunity arises to solve a PR crisis in the tiny town of Maumtully, Anna leaps at the chance. But will the appearance of an old love interest derail her plans?
Key features:
- ISBN: 9780241441152
- ISBN-10: 0241441153
- Available: 16th April 2024
- Format: Paperback
- Language: English
- Number of Pages: 400
- Audience: General Adult
- Publisher: Penguin UK
- Edition Number: 1
- Dimensions (cm): 23.5 x 15.4 x 3.6
- Weight (kg): 0.63
Available at:
2. ‘Your Time Starts Now’ by Julie Goodwin
from $26.50 (was $36.99) at Booktopia
Best for Masterchef fans
The extraordinary life story of Australia’s beloved Julie Goodwin, first winner of MasterChef and bestselling cookbook author.
It was by all appearances, a successful, rewarding life. But under the surface relentless pressure from Julie’s outer and inner worlds was taking its toll. Struggling with depression, anxiety and addiction, with bushfires blazing and lockdowns looming, Julie found herself hospitalised in a mental health unit.
Her recovery, bumpy and circuitous, is an ongoing process that Julie tackles with tenacity. In this gloriously candid, deeply moving memoir, filled with beautiful food, astonishing people, humour and heart, Julie writes with brutal honesty about her struggles. We are brought into her story, into her unravelling and quest for healing as she seeks to resume a richly lived life.
Key features:
- ISBN: 9781761341151
- ISBN-10: 1761341154
- Available: 23rd April 2024
- Format: Paperback
- Language: English
- Number of Pages: 352
- Audience: General Adult
- Publisher: RANDOM HOUSE AUSTRALIA
- Dimensions (cm): 23.4 x 15.5 x 2.8
- Weight (kg): 0.5
Available at:
3. ‘The Silver River’ by Jim Moginie
from $25.75 (was $34.99) at Booktopia
Best for muso mums
A moving and inspiring memoir of families lost and rediscovered, by a founding member of legendary band Midnight Oil.
Threaded with vivid recollections of childhood, behind-the-scenes stories of band life and fascinating insights into the creative processes that produced some of this country’s most beloved songs, The Silver River is at once a lyrical coming-of-age story, a heart-warming family chronicle and a must-read for anyone interested in the history of Australian music.
Key features:
- ISBN: 9781460765852
- ISBN-10: 1460765850
- Published: 6th March 2024
- Format: Paperback
- Language: English
- Number of Pages: 256
- Audience: General Adult
- Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
- Country of Publication: AU
- Dimensions (cm): 23.5 x 15.5 x 2
- Weight (kg): 0.41
Available at:
4. ‘New Coastal’ by Ingrid Weir
from $45.50 (was $60.00) at Booktopia
Best for mums who love adventure
This beautiful, photo-filled hardback serves as an inspiration and compass for life lived by the sea, in chapters including Remote Coastal, Bohemian Coastal and City Coastal. Written and photographed by interior designer Weir, the pages transport you to coastal towns both near and far, from Esperance, King Island and The Bay of Fires in Australia to Montauk, Malibu and Laguna Beach in the USA.
Key features:
- ISBN: 9781743799178
- ISBN-10: 1743799179
- Available: 1st May 2024
- Format: Hardcover
- Language: English
- Number of Pages: 256
- Audience: General Adult
- For Ages: 0 – 99 years old
- Publisher: Hardie Grant Books
- Dimensions (cm): 25.5 x 21.0
Available at:
5. ‘Black Duck: A Year at Yumburra by Bruce Pascoe’ by Bruce Pascoe
from $25.75 (was $34.99) at Booktopia
Best for mums who love Australian history
Bruce Pascoe and Lyn Harwood invite us to imagine a different future for Australia, one where we can honour our relationship with nature and improve agriculture and forestry. Where we can develop a uniquely Australian cuisine that will reduce carbon emissions, preserve scarce water resources and rebuild our soil. Bruce and Lyn show us that you don’t just work Country, you look, listen and care. It’s not Black Duck magic, it’s the result of simply treating Australia like herself.
Key features:
- ISBN: 9781760763114
- ISBN-10: 176076311X
- Published: 26th March 2024
- Format: Paperback
- Language: English
- Number of Pages: 304
- Audience: General Adult
- Publisher: Thames & Hudson Australia Pty Ltd
- Country of Publication: AU
- Dimensions (cm): 23.3 x 15.3 x 3.0
- Weight (kg): 0.38
Available at:
6. The Unexpected Mess of It All by Gabrielle Tozer
from $17.95 (was $19.99) at Angus & Robertson
Best for mums who love coming-of-age stories
This story follows an ‘enemies-to-will-they-won’t-they’ romance between family friends Jamila and Billy. But as Jamila tries to untangle the messy threads of her life on a weekend away with her family, it becomes clear that she can’t outrun her past, no matter how hard she tries.
It’s a coming-of-age story about falling apart, starting over, and the people and places you can’t live without from Gabrielle Tozer, the award-winning author of Remind Me How This Ends, Can’t Say it Went to Plan and The Intern.
Key features:
- ISBN: 9781460761441
- Format: Paperback
- Language: English
- Number of Pages: 352
- Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
- Country of Publication: AU
- Dimensions (cm): 19.8 x 12.8
- Weight (kg): 0.26
Available at:
- $17.95 (was $19.99) at Angus & Robertson
- $18.25 (was $19.99) at Booktopia
- $12 (was $19.99) at Big W
7. Parenting in Progress by Mel Wilson
from $24 (usually $34.99) at Big W
Best for mums needing reassurance and a little giggle
This funny and heartfelt book for parents and caregivers of young kids is packed with stories, advice, and mishaps from real parents and even celebrities. The result is a refreshing take on imperfect parenting and the joy of just being ‘good enough’.
Key features:
- ISBN: 97814607637661
- Format: Paperback
- Language: English
- Number of Pages: 304
- Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
- Country of Publication: AU
- Dimensions (cm): 23.5 x 15.5
- Weight (kg): 0.37
Available at:
- $24 (usually $34.99) at Big W
- $28.50 (usually $34.99) at Booktopia
- $17.99 for the eBook at Rakuten Kobo
8. Air Fryer Queen by Steph De Sousa
from $19 (was $29.99) at Big W
Best for mums who love to cook
Just got an air fryer? Wondering what to do? Meet the Air Fryer Queen! She’s got easy recipes packed with flavor for breakfast, dinner, and dessert. With her tips, your air fryer will be your new best friend in the kitchen.
Steph’s recipes are super easy to make and packed full of flavour – the whole family will want in on the fun.
Key features:
- ISBN: 9781761221781
- Format: Paperback
- Language: English
- Number of Pages: 128
- Publisher: Are Media Books
- Country of Publication: AU
- Dimensions (cm): 27 x 21
- Weight (kg): 0.64
Available at:
- $19 (was $29.99) from Big W
- $19 (was $29.99) from Amazon AU
- $29.99 from Are Media Books
Mother’s Day in Australia
Mother’s Day was first celebrated in Australia in 1924, inspired by the American tradition. However, it wasn’t widely recognised or celebrated at first, it took a little time for Aussies to come onboard with the idea.
Over the years, the celebration of Mother’s Day gained popularity in Australia as it became a day for people to honour their mothers and express their love and gratitude.
Despite its commercialisation, Mother’s Day remains an important occasion here in Oz as a way to show our appreciation for our mums and the other maternal figures in our lives.
Whether or not we can get together, it’s always nice to let mum know you care with a gift like the ones mentioned above.
How did Mother’s Day begin?
The concept of honouring mothers dates back to ancient civilisations, but the modern celebration of Mother’s Day originated in the early 20th century in the United States.
Anna Jarvis, an American social activist, is widely regarded as the “Mother of Mother’s Day.” She campaigned for an official day to honour mothers after her own mother’s death in 1905.
Like in many other countries, Mother’s Day in Australia became increasingly commercialised, with the sale of cards, flowers, and gifts becoming common.
Australia’s Mother’s Day was officially recognised as a national holiday in 1924 and is celebrated on the second Sunday in May, following the American tradition.
