Mother’s Day is right around the corner—May 9, if you’re wondering—and if you’re like many well-intentioned kids of any age, you haven’t yet procured the perfect gift for Mom. Not to worry—we’ll see what Summer says about that. Her Mother’s Day picks will appeal to a wide array of readers, whether your mom's reading preferences lean more toward thrillers, historical fiction, or impactful memoirs.

“Few callings are more admirable than motherhood,” Summer says. “You may be mothering small children, grown children who have come back to the nest due to COVID-19, dogs, or your community. There are countless ways to be a mother, and we celebrate and honor them all on this Mother’s Day.”

Below are 6 of Summer’s picks for this special day—books that are sure to make the maternal figure in your life feel as loved as she is.

1. Becoming – Michelle Obama’s memoir is warm, wise, and revelatory. It is an inspiring reflection of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations every step of the way.

2. We Begin at the End – This emotion-packed book by Chris Whitaker is an extraordinary story about two kinds of families—the ones we are born into and the ones we create.

3. The Soul of a Woman – Bestselling author Isabel Allende’s latest book delivers “a bold exploration of womanhood, feminism, parenting, aging, love and more” (The Associated Press).

4. Let Me Tell You What I Mean – One of the most highly anticipated books of 2021, from one of our most iconic and influential writers: a timeless collection of mostly early pieces that reveal what would become Joan Didion's subjects, including the press, politics, California robber barons, women, and her own self-doubt.

5. Caul Baby – This electrifying debut novel by Morgan Jenkins centers on a powerful and enigmatic family in a tale rife with secrets, betrayal, intrigue, and magic—illuminating the dark corners of the human heart.

‍6. Of Women and Salt – Gabriela Garcia introduces a powerful debut novel about a daughter's fateful choice, a mother motivated by her own past, and a family legacy that began in Cuba before they were born.

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