Show Her You Know Her With These Perfect Mother’s Day Book Picks

For the Suspense-Loving Mom: The Silent Patient, by Alex Michaelides
If your mom has shelves full of page-turning thrillers, Michaelides’ debut novel, The Silent Patient, is a must-read. Six years ago, successful artist Alicia Berenson was found standing over the gunshot-riddled body of her equally famous husband, and she hasn’t spoken since. Found guilty, Alicia has spent the past six years incarcerated at the Grove Psychiatric Hospital, sedated and silent. Enter criminal psychotherapist Theo Faber, who’s obsessed with Alicia’s story and determined to uncover her motives—even if it means dredging up the history behind his own. She’s already read it? Try Alafair Burke’s The Better Sister, a page-turning story of two estranged sisters drawn back together by the murder of the man they both loved.

For the History Buff: We Must Be Brave, by Frances Liardet
Set in England during World War II, Liardet’s We Must Be Brave tells the story of Ellen Parr, a newlywed who believes she’s come to terms with the fact that she and her husband, Selwyn, will never have children. Then she finds Pamela, a little girl abandoned on a bus of evacuees from nearby Southampton. For three years, Ellen, Selwyn, and Pamela form a happy family amid wartime. Then Pamela’s birth family finds her and takes her back, and Ellen is unprepared for the devastation she feels facing her quiet village life once again. And for a similarly enchanting story of families lost, found, and built out of unexpected circumstances, try A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles.

For the Funny Mom: Fifty Things That Aren’t My Fault, by Cathy Guisewite
If your mom has a habit of telling (and retelling)her favorite funny stories, she’ll love Fifty Things That Aren’t My Fault, an essay collection by the creator of the Cathy comics. Laugh-out-loud funny and full of heart, Guisewite shares autobiographical tales of interactions with her aging parents, fights with her daughter, understanding feminism, and tackling life’s common problems, like exercise and decluttering. Then, be sure to recommend David Sedaris’ Calypso for more hilarious stories of dealing with family and getting older.

For the Mom With a Well-Stocked Library: Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens
In Owens’ beautiful, haunting fiction debut, Where the Crawdads Sing, Kya Clark is a local legend in her small North Carolina town. Known as the “Marsh Girl,” Kya has grown up virtually alone, surviving in the coastal swamp with birds and wildlife for friends. So when handsome, popular Chase Andrews is found dead in her swamp, Kya is the chief suspect. Alternating between the murder investigation and Kya’s coming of age as she first befriends local boy Tate and then begins a relationship with Chase. Or, try Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones and the Six for another gripping coming-of-age story: this time following Daisy, a talented, hard-living singer who joins one of the most iconic bands of the 1970s.

For the Mom Who Inspires You: The Path Made Clear, by Oprah Winfrey
Every mom is an inspiration, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t need some motivation of her own. In her latest release, Oprah guides readers through finding personal fulfillment and purpose in their lives. With stories from her own life and insight from experts, The Path Made Clear is a resource for listening to your true calling, whatever it may be. Plus, the Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition includes a sixteen-page workbook to complete as you read along. Find more empowerment in The Moment of Lift, by Melinda Gates, a guide to the impact gender inequity has on society, and how we can all help fix it.

For the Book Club Mom: Lost Roses, by Martha Hall Kelley
From the author of Lilac Girls comes Lost Roses, a companion novel set a generation earlier that focuses on Caroline’s mother, Eliza Ferriday. In 1914, Eliza is traveling through Russia with her best friend, Sofya, a Russian aristocrat, when war breaks out. While Eliza returns to America, Sofya and her family remain in Russia with Varinka, a local girl who works in their household. Worried for her friend as the Russians revolt against the royals and their relatives, Eliza begins doing all she can to help the former nobility find a new life in America. Then, try Lisa See’s The Island of Sea Women, another lush historical tale.

For the No-Nonsense Mom: The Honey Bus, by Meredith May
If your mom is a fan of true stories, The Honey Bus is a must-read. In this captivating memoir, May reflects on her life after her parents’ divorce, when her mother brought May and her younger brother to live with her grandparents. With her mother sinking into isolation, May spends most of her free time with her grandfather, a beekeeper who slowly teaches her the art of caring for bees—and herself. Follow it up with Bridgett M. Davis’ The World According to Fannie Davis, Davis’ portrayal of her mother’s unapologetic efforts to build a better life for her family.

For the Mom Who Loves to Talk: Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations, by Mira Jacob
In this graphic memoir, Jacob explores the impact of politics and racism through snippets of conversations with family and friends. Prompted by questions from her six-year-old son, Jacob approaches difficult topics with vulnerability, honesty, and love. Relatable for any mother who has ever had to answer her child’s impossible queries, Good Talk is a celebration of the power of conversation. Then, try Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, Lori Gottlieb’s account of her work as a therapist and the impact therapy can have.

For the Movie-Night Mom: My Brilliant Friend, by Elena Ferrante
If you and your mom are looking for the next show to binge-watch together, HBO’s new series My Brilliant Friend is a must. But first, read the books together: in the series opener, Ferrante introduces Lila and Elena, two ten-year-olds who become best friends as they grow up in Italy in the 1950s. Over four books, Lila and Elena grow from children to young women to mothers and beyond. Already discovered it? Try feminist coming-of-age memoir Shrill, by Lindy West, then watch the new Hulu series!

For the Traveling Mom: See You in the Piazza, by Frances Mayes
Is your mom busy planning her next vacation? Inspire her with Frances Mayes’ (author of Under the Tuscan Sun) See You in the Piazza, in which Mayes and her husband travel the entire length of Italy, eating, drinking, and shopping at all the best out-of-the-way places. Or, help her brainstorm with National Geographic’s Journeys of a Lifetime, a guide to five hundred destinations. From the popular to the less-traveled, this practical beauty offers maps, tips, and photography that’ll have you both searching for your passports.