The Best Gifts for Bookish Moms

Bookish moms deserve the best. Here we’ve recommended books and literary gifts for every kind of mother figure in your life, whether or not the two of you actually share DNA. No matter if you’re spending this Mother’s Day together or sending love from afar, these gifts are sure to show how much you care.

For the one who loves multigenerational tales…

Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai’s The Mountains Sing captures the history of the Trần family through the eyes of a granddaughter and her grandmother living in Vietnam.

For the one always looking for book recommendations…

Treat your mom all year long with a Book of the Month subscription! Each month your mom will be able to choose a book from a select list of buzzy titles, hand-picked by professional book lovers.

(Psst: Use the code MAY5 to get the first box for $9.99)

For the one in love with Luke Danes…

The grumpy hero in Sarah Morgenthaler’s The Tourist Attraction is sure to win over the mom who lives on Gilmore Girls reruns. Graham owns a diner named The Tourist Trap, and soon finds himself falling for Zoey, who just arrived for her dream vacation.

For the one who loves to relax with a cup of tea…

This gift box comes with a teacup and two Jane Austen-themed candles. We recommend pairing with some literary tea to give your mom the perfect relaxing evening.

For the one who longs to get lost in fantasy…

N.K. Jemisin’s The City We Became transports readers to New York City, where an ancient evil is awakening and the fate of the city rests on the shoulders of six avatars, who must find each other before it’s too late. 

For the one who can’t stop talking about their new Winc subscription…

A new wine glass is the perfect gift for the mom who’s jumped on the wine delivery train.

For the one who loves stories about sisterhood…

In Lian Dolan’s The Sweeney Sisters, sisters Maggie, Eliza, and Tricia return to their childhood home after the death of their father to pay their respects. At the wake, they discover he’d had an affair, meaning their childhood neighbor Serena is actually their half-sister.

For the Ina Garten in-training…

Ideal for holding up a cookbook or tablet, this kitchen stand is a must-have for the mom who enjoys testing new recipes.

For the historical fiction fan…

Rita Woods’ debut traces the lives of four Black women from the late 1700s to the present day, each connected by an Ohio sanctuary called Remembrance.

For the one who’s turning into a puzzle master…

This 1,000 piece library puzzle is certain to keep your mom entertained between reads.

For the one who wishes there was a third season of Big Little Lies

Charlotte Duckworth’s domestic thriller will be a winner for the mom looking for stories of secret lives behind closed doors. With a million YouTube subscribers, Violet Young is one of the most popular mommy influencers around. So why have all of her social media channels suddenly disappeared without a trace?

For the one who misses Sunday night Game of Thrones

This special edition of Catan is ideal for the mom who longs to return to Westeros.

For the memoir lover…

If your mom prefers reading stories about real people, give the gift of Tembi Locke’s From Scratch. It follows Locke and her husband Saro from the day they meet on the streets of Florence to their struggles to gain his family’s approval, the adoption of their daughter, and his cancer diagnosis.

For the one who isn’t gifted with a green thumb…

Not all of us were born to be gardeners. But who doesn’t love flowers? These paper flowers are the perfect gift with none of the pressure.

For the new mom…

Lucy Knisley’s Go to Sleep (I Miss You) features hilarious, sweet, and relatable comics about new parenthood—and it would pair perfectly with a copy of Knisley’s pregnancy graphic memoir, Kid Gloves.

For the one who can’t get through the day without coffee and a book…

Help your mom start every morning off right with this bookish coffee mug.

For the armchair detective…

Sulari Gentill blends the lines between creator and creation in After She Wrote Him, a mystery following two authors, each obsessed with their latest character. But only one is real.

For the art lover…

Bring together your mom’s love of art and books with this custom-designed book stack.

For the one who still believes in fairytales…

Elana K. Arnold’s feminist retelling of “Little Red Riding Hood” follows a teenage girl who learns she comes from a line of women with the power to slay werewolves.

For the one whose heart is filled with stories…

Your mom may never want to stop wearing this shirt, which celebrates the way books fill our hearts.

Kelly Gallucci

Kelly Gallucci is the Executive Editor of We Are Bookish, where she oversees the editorial content, offers book recommendations, and interviews authors and NetGalley members. When she's not working, Kelly can be found color coordinating her bookshelves, eating Chipotle, and watching way too many baking shows.

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