Book in for Mother's Day

Female fiction is in abundance, with new titles from best-selling authors including Josephine Cox, Patricia Scanlan and Lesley Pearse. While anyone who's missed Hilary Mantel's historical best-seller Bring Up The Bodies, the only book ever to have won the Man Booker and Costa prize, charting Thomas Cromwell's plot to bring down Anne Boleyn, should take time out to catch up on their reading.

Meanwhile, romantic classics including Love Story by Erich Segal, the tear-jerker which coined the immortal line 'Love means never having to say you're sorry' and spawned a film adaptation starring Ali McGraw and Ryan O'Neal, has just been republished, with a foreword by the author's daughter Francesca.

Whichever world your mum chooses to escape to, here's a few of the new offerings out in time for Mother's Day:

:: The Mummyfesto by Linda Green (Quercus, £7.99):

Perfect for a bit of tub-thumping on Mother's Day, this book was born out of the author's frustration with party politics in the run-up to the last election and her research into social networking sites for mothers which discuss what mothers really feel about issues such as the NHS and childcare. It looks at what happens when a group of women friends decide to run for election and campaign on issues which matter to mothers - a 'Mummyfesto'. The book has also spawned Green's own website www.mummyfesto.co.uk, where readers can vote on their favourite policies.

:: Instructions For A Heatwave by Maggie O'Farrell (Tinder, £17.99):

In the long hot summer of 1976, Robert pops out for a newspaper but doesn't come back. This thought-provoking read contemplates the secrets that bind families together and the discoveries that tear them apart.

:: Secrets From The Past, by Barbara Taylor Bradford (HarperCollins, £14.99, March 7):

Out just in time for Mother's Day, the best-selling author of A Woman Of Substance brings us a moving story about a female war photographer who has followed in her father's footsteps. When he dies suddenly, she begins to write his biography and discovers a set of images that threaten to turn her world upside down.

:: Mums Like Us by Laura Kemp (Arrow, £6.99):

Described as 'the Slummys vs the Yummys', this debut novel is the story of an ordinary woman who sets up a weekly club for kindred spirits who embrace slovenliness and reject perfection - and ends up becoming an international figurehead for mums everywhere.

:: A French Affair by Katie Fforde (Century, £16.99):

Delightful romantic tale about a woman who inherits a stall in an antiques centre in the heart of the English countryside - and then makes a trip to France with the grumpy owner, who slowly changes his attitude towards her.

:: Heartbreak Hotel by Deborah Moggach (Chatto & Windus, £14.99):

The author of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel brings us another original idea when a thrice-married man inherits a B&B in the countryside and comes up with the idea of hosting 'Courses for Divorces' mini-breaks to teach the newly single everything they need to know. Witty, poignant and ideal entertainment for a Sunday afternoon.

:: With All My Love by Patricia Scanlan (Simon & Schuster, £12.99):

The Dublin-based author charts the story of the lives of three generations of women which are set to change forever as one of them discovers a letter from her grandmother. It unfolds secrets, betrayals and sacrifices of the past which create changes in her own relationship with her mother and lead to a family at war.

:: The Unknown Bridesmaid by Margaret Forster (Chatto & Windus, £16.99):

The acclaimed novelist once again tackles the relationship between mother and daughter as a female child psychologist who spends her days dealing with problem girls tries to suppress the memories of her troubled past.

:: Love In The Afternoon And Other Delights by Penny Vincenzi (Headline Review, £12.99):

If you've only time for a little rest and relaxation on Mother's Day, dip into this collection of short stories and articles from the best-selling author. Fans will also be treated to the first chapter of her next novel.

:: The Carrier by Sophie Hannah (Hodder & Stoughton, £14.99):

Mums who like a grittier read may plump for this intense psychological thriller from the best-selling author, in which a woman whose plane is delayed is forced to share a hotel room with a stranger, a scared young woman. That night, the young woman blurts out something about an innocent man going to prison for a murder he didn't commit - and it turns out the victim has a connection with both women.

:: Wild: A Journey From Lost To Found by Cheryl Strayed (Atlantic, £12.99):

This fantastic read is the true story of a young woman who, devastated by the death of her mother and subsequent breakdown of her marriage, goes on a 1,100-mile solo hike through California on a gruelling journey of self-discovery. On her way, she faces rattlesnakes, black bears, charging bulls, the threat of mountain lions and other dangers, in the hope that the experience will piece back together her life.

:: Hey Jo by Jo Wood (HarperCollins, £16.99):

Mums who followed the fortunes of the wives and girlfriends of the Rolling Stones should enjoy Jo Wood's extraordinary story of life as Ronnie Wood's girlfriend, then wife, mother and more. She charts the hedonistic rock years - the drugs, roadies, tours and booze - and celebrates her new-found happiness as an entrepreneur, fashion icon and beauty expert.