Great Books For Mums
6 mum-friendly books to read this month.
BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE
If you’ve got a young family, then a 32-page picture book, rather than a full-length novel, is probably your most regular read.
However, if you’re still on holiday, or are slowwwwly easing back into normal life, then January is a great month to carve out some me-time and curl up with a book that’s written for adults!
You may have been gifted a rad read under the Christmas tree, but if you’re in the market for a mum-friendly title, here are six books that might speak to you:
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth
The Soulmate is a dark, romantic and twisted story about marriage and murder, so if you’re looking something totally different from all those picture books, this domestic thriller may be just the thing!
You’ll meet Pippa and Gabe, a pair of parents who live happily in a lovely cliffside home. Well, happily at least, until Gabe fails to stop a women from falling to her death and a big question emerges – did she jump or was she… pushed?
The Soulmate is one of those books that’s hard to put down, so set aside a good chunk of child-free reading time and prepare to lose yourself in this gripping tale of love and loyalty.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
This book has all the ingredients of a great summer read.
It’s funny and full of life, with an unforgettable protagonist named Elizabeth Zott.
Elizabeth is a single mum and brilliant chemist, who becomes a reluctant cooking show star in 1960s America.
In between sprinkling acetic acid and sodium chloride into her dishes, ‘Zotty’ inspires women to change the status quo, and her fantastically feminist approach is a joy to read about and barrack for.
Celebrity chef, Nigella Lawson, loves this best-selling book, and there’s a very good chance, you will, too – even if you don’t like the sound of food laced with acetic acid!
The Couple Upstairs by Holly Wainwright
We can relate to any book that mentions screen time and nit combs in its first pages, but really, this story is less about parenting and more about infatuation!
Mel is a recently separated mum who becomes obsessed by a young man upstairs, who reminds her of an ex who disappeared long ago.
Things get tricky with the man’s girlfriend in the mix, and if you’ve ever searched for an old flame on Facebook (or even if you haven’t), this book is a riveting read that will get you thinking about sliding door moments and the power of the past to impinge on the present.
The Three Lives of Alix St Pierre by Natasha Lester
If you have a passion for fashion and more than a passing interest in spies, then this lavish, thrilling work of historical fiction will take you to your happy place.
Set in the years before, during and after World War II, this novel follows Alix St Pierre, a publicity guru in New York, who’s enlisted as a spy in Europe.
She’s given the job of sidling up to a Nazi who may, or may not, be a double agent; and although Alix makes a sparkly segue to the House of Christian Dior in post-war Paris, the conflict has a way of catching up with her…
This book is written for parents by a parent (who also happens to be a best-selling children’s author), and it’s all about how we learn to read and what happens if we don’t.
Sally Rippin speaks from experience, as the mum of a neurodivergent son who really struggled with reading, and she’s put together a book that’s always interesting and never dry.
Actually, this book is a parenting dream, warm and supportive, with lots of expert insights and tips to help your child, and every child, find pleasure in the written word and a place in the education system.
The Gifted Son by Genevieve Gannon
You might have read Genevieve’s best-selling book, The Mothers, about an IVF mix-up that was inspired by real-life events, and if you’re up for another thought-provoking tale, then The Gifted Son is a recommended new release.
This book follows a charmed Sydney family whose life is suddenly flipped upside down.
Everyone in the Hogarth family reacts differently when Jamie, the gifted son (and brother) falls victim to a coward’s punch on his last day of high school; and although this isn’t a light read, there is optimism in it, and plenty to think about if you’re raising a little boy who will one day be a man.
Whatever you read this month, we hope you get a chance to kick back and relax before life gets super busy again.
There’s always the option of leafing through a cookbook, like RecipeTin Eats: Dinner, or a magazine, like Frankie, if you can’t commit to a full-length novel, and there’s still a lot of pleasure to be had in those 32-page picture books.
Enjoy!
