The Perfect Mother’s Day Reading List

As we approach May 10th, it’s time to highlight the mothers in our lives even more than usual. And what better way than with a Mother’s Day reading list full of novels tailored for the mom in your life. Mother’s Day doesn’t just apply to mothers in the biological sense either. The celebration extends to foster moms, adoptive moms, and chosen mothers. All those people that are there at the drop of a hat to extend open arms, offer a listening ear, or simply be there as a solid presence when you need them most.

In can be difficult to capture in words just what being a mother is and what a mother means to those whose lives they touch. But if anything can come close, I’d say the books on this list though. Whether you fulfill the role of mother yourself or you’re thinking of someone like that this holiday, these books capture the myriad joys and sorrows that go hand in hand with motherhood.

“Breasts and Eggs” by Mieko Kawakami

Kick off your Mother’s Day reading with one of Mieko Kawakami’s most celebrated novels. “Breasts and Eggs” is a powerful deep dive into womanhood from the perspectives of three Japanese women. This story is not bound by geographical lines, however. Instead, these women’s experiences transcend space and time, offering a helping hand to anyone willing to take it.

Throughout the book, Kawakami touches on the relationship between a mother and daughter, and how both struggle with societal expectations of beauty and perfection. On another trajectory, a sister reckons with her future, one that doesn’t align with the norm.

“Kin” by Tayari Jones

One of the newest releases on this list is Tayari Jones’s “Kin.” You may recognize Jones as the author of “An American Marriage,” and “Kin” is no less spectacular. This Oprah’s Book Club pick follows two young women whose paths begin similarly but diverge as they grow older. Both Vernice and Annie grew up in the same town, yearning for someone to call mother.

Vernice chooses ambition, surrounding herself with success and drowning out the grief. Annie, on the other hand, is dead set on finding the mother that left her behind, no matter where it takes her.

“Anne of Green Gables” by L.M. Montgomery

Lucy Maud Montgomery’s 1908 novel is timeless, to say the least. The classic has had more than its fair share of adaptations over the years, from movies to television, even into anime. It’s easy to see why it’s remained so beloved, despite how much time has passed since it was written. This story is full of heart and personal growth. At its core is, of course, Anne Shirley, who arrives to a new home with no family left to her name.

There, she meets Marilla Cuthbert. Initially, Marilla is not the warm, welcoming mother one might hope for. But as time passes, and Anne’s boisterous personality breaks down her walls, the two become just what the other needs. Their relationship is a testament to the fact that motherhood isn’t only about blood and that no relationship can ever be perfect.

“Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner

While Mother’s Day often inspires joy and celebration, this holiday can also be a difficult time for many. Those who have lost mothers, those who have grown up with a mother but without their nurturing, those mothers who have lost children, and many others come upon conflicting emotions. Michelle Zauner’s memoir is a beautifully raw exploration of her and her mother’s complex relationship. She details their sometimes strained bond in childhood, her mother’s diagnosis and struggle with cancer, and how she worked to pick up the pieces after her passing.

Not only does the book explore the impact of sickness on the two, it also touches on how cultural context influences how a mother’s love manifests. Zauner comes to understand her mother’s way of showing her love in life, though not often explicit, was still very much present.

“Dreamers” by Yuyi Morales

This next book recommendation may be a picture book, but it is certainly not limited to those with children. Yuyi Morales’s work, both written and illustrated, paints a stunning portrait of family fit for all ages. The book is based on Morales’s own experience coming to the U.S. from Mexico with her child. In the states, she finds a home and a voice at the public library, where she learns English and, later, learns how to tell her story for others to engage with.

Throughout the book, she includes real photographs, textiles, and other objects central to her journey, leaving the reader with a tactile sense of who she is. At its core, Morales’s tells a story of a mother willing to leave behind everything she knows in search of a better life for her child.

“The School for Good Mothers” by Jessamine Chan

If you know someone out there who would prefer a more fictitious take on a Mother’s Day story, try out Jessamine Chan’s “The School for Good Mothers.” This is a dystopian novel following a mother named Frida. Her life is far from perfect. She doesn’t live up to her parents’ high expectations and she’s trapped in a loveless marriage. But amidst it all, her daughter is a shining light.

That is until a mistake turns her life upside down. Frida is forced into a government-enforced institution, left to prove that she has what it takes to be a mother. She can’t afford to slip up. This novel questions the idea of the “perfect” mother and closes in on the power of love.

“Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations” by Mira Jacob

A mother’s job is not easy. And one of the most difficult parts of it all is having tough conversations with children. Luckily, Mira Jacob offers a helping hand to the mother in need. The best part is it comes in the form of a graphic memoir that is equal parts funny and tear-jerking. Interspersed with bold, multimedia graphics, Jacob’s words explore her own difficult conversations with her six-year-old son.

From topics of race, love, and more, Jacob tells her own journey coming from an immigrant family and finding her place even when she didn’t always feel at home. She touches on generational trauma and how her experiences inform how she approaches raising her own child.

“My Heart” by Corinna Luyken

Rounding out this Mother’s Day reading list is another picture book that will appeal to all ages and backgrounds. “My Heart” by Corinna Luyken is an award-winning story with illustrations that are as uniquely heartfelt as the words themselves. As the title suggests, it focuses on the heart. Luyken encourages readers to look within and see how great a human’s capacity for love is. She lays out the power of love as a continuously practiced gift and one that is not without fault.

Mothers of all kinds put their heart on the line for the ones they love every day. Yet, many lose sight of themselves in the process. “My Heart” says embrace the power of love — but embrace the moments when your heart is breaking or feels weak. It is not weakness, it is strength. And in all the love you share with others, remember to spare a little bit for yourself, as well.