The Bump Book Club: Spring 2019 Reads

On the hunt for a good book? Check out the top reads The Bump editors hand-picked for spring 2019.

Pregnancy Books

For the mom-to-be who wants to know what’s going on with her body.

The Girlfriends’ Guide to Pregnancy

Who better to dish about all things pregnancy than your #MomTribe? While your BFF might not have written The Girlfriends’ Guide to Pregnancy, (that would be Vicki Lovine), she might as well have. From the first time you’re stuck with your head in the toilet to day the bun is finally out of the oven, this book offers a hilariously real take on pregnancy.

Buy it: $10, Amazon.com

Strong As a Mother: How to Stay Healthy, Happy, and (Most Importantly) Sane from Pregnancy to Parenthood

It’s no secret pregnancy can be tough, not just physically but also mentally. Strong As a Mother by Kate Rope is an empowering and compassionate guide to dealing with all the emotions that accompany your pregnancy and transition into motherhood.

Buy it: $13, Amazon.com

Parenting Books

For the mom or dad who could use a little advice.

The Whole Brain Child

Ever wonder why your toddler is throwing yet another tantrum? Or why your little one is suddenly thirsty whenever it’s bedtime? Luckily, neuropsychiatrist Daniel J. Siegel, MD, and parenting expert Tina Payne Bryson offer some insight to those questions in The Whole Brain Child. The book takes a scientific approach to explaining those meltdowns and teaching parents how to foster healthy brain development. If you want a practical guide to raising calmer, happier children, this book is for you.

Buy it: $18, Amazon.com

Weird Parenting Wins

Sometimes, the best parenting advice doesn’t come from trained professionals but from parents themselves. And sometimes, that parenting advice is totally unconventional yet surprisingly effective. Weird Parenting Wins by Hillary Frank highlights a whole bunch of “weird” parenting hacks that you won’t find anywhere else. (If podcasts are more your speed, check out the author’s hilarious parenting insights on The Longest Shortest Time.)

Buy it: $12, Amazon.com

Novels

For the parent who needs an escape.

Where’d You Go, Bernadette

If you need confirmation this is a book worth reading (it is!), just consider that it’s being made into a major motion picture this year! Where’d You Go, Bernadette, by Maria Semple, is a dramedy that focuses on an anxiety-ridden mother, Bernadette Fox, who goes missing shortly before a family trip to Antarctica. The book is narrated by Fox’s 15-year-old daughter, who, in the process of tracking down her mother, discovers not only the root of Bernadette’s disappearance but also about her place in this world. This book is as equally touching as it is hilarious.

Buy it: $14, Amazon.com

That Month in Tuscany

In the mood for a trip to Italy? If you don’t have the time or money to jet off to lounge under the Tuscan sun, we recommend picking up a copy of That Month in Tuscany, by Inglath Cooper. It’s a captivating story of a frustrated wife who, after a drunken mid-flight self-pity party, literally falls into the lap of a disgruntled rockstar and winds up adventuring around Italy with him. Prepare to be instantly transported to the land of wine, pizza and romance with this light, warm must-read.

Buy it: $15, Amazon.com

Non-Fiction Reads

For the parent who wants to feel empowered.

Becoming Michelle Obama

This book is everywhere–and rightfully so. Michelle Obama, Former First Lady of the United States and ultimate women’s champion, inspires readers in her 2018 memoir. From the South Side to the White House, she shares with brute honesty her hardships and triumphs as a woman, a mother and a political powerhouse. If you want to feel like the #MomBoss that you are, Becoming is the perfect choice.

Buy it: $17, Amazon.com

Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive

Maid is a chilling look into the life of a single mother struggling to financially support herself and her daughter. After becoming pregnant and leaving an abusive relationship, Stephanie Land begins housekeeping to make ends meet. Never giving up on her dream of becoming a writer, Land begins to chronicle her life, all while holding onto her dream. This powerful read gives an intimate look into her life as a low-wage domestic worker, and more importantly, as a mother.

*Buy it: $18, Amazon.com

Cookbooks

For the mom or dad who loves to get creative in the kitchen.

Magnolia Table: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering

Joanna Gaines of Fixer Upper fame does it again. Magnolia Table features warm, hearty dishes perfect for family gatherings. With recipes from its namesake restaurant in Waco, Texas, this cookbook celebrates the togetherness that’s bred from sharing meals as a family. The latest in Gaines’ growing portfolio may be a departure from home decor, but it’s nonetheless a hit.

Buy it: $20, Amazon.com

Happy Family Organic Superfoods Cookbook for Baby & Toddler

Interested in making your own baby food, but not sure where to start? We have just the book for you. A healthy baby is a happy baby, which is why The Happy Family Organic Superfoods Cookbook for Baby & Toddler needs to be on your reading list. Created by Shazi Visram, the founder and CEO of Happy Family Organics, this cookbook aims to give baby a healthy start in an accessible, easy-to-prepare way. With recipes for babies aged 4 months to 3 years, this is a cookbook that’ll keep pace as your child grows.

Buy it: $17, Amazon.com

Romance Novels

For Rom-Com lovers looking to indulge.

One Day in December: A Novel

If you loved Loved Actually, you’re going to adore One Day in December, by Josie Silver. It’s the ultimate British meet-cute that explores friendship, heartbreak, fate and everything in between. In true Rom-Com fashion, this book will have you smiling one minute and crying the next.

Buy it: $13, Amazon.com

Still Me: A Novel

If this book sounds familiar to you, it’s because it kind of is. Still Me, by Jojo Moyes, is the third novel in the Me Before You trilogy. This time around, protagonist Louisa Clark moves to New York to start a new life, but ultimately finds herself riddled with secrets, in love and questioning who she really is. Still Me is a poignant yet funny story of love, life and grief.

Buy it: $12, Amazon.com

Children’s Books

For extra-special storytime with the little ones.

A is for Awesome: 23 Iconic Women Who Changed the World

What better way to teach your child their ABC’s than by pairing each letter with iconic women? From Beyonce to the notorious RBG, this board book, written by Instagram star Eva Chen, is the perfect way to inspire your little ones toward greatness (and teach them their letters!)

Buy it: $8, Amazon.com

The Day the Crayons Quit

What do you do when you go to color, only to discover that all the crayons up and quit? The Day the Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers, is a humorous, utterly original book that brings the unique personalities of each colored crayon to life, and ultimately teaches kids about diplomacy and creativity and encourages little minds to think outside the box. This book will be a surefire hit with babies and big kids (and adults!) alike.

Buy it: $12, Amazon.com

Podcasts

For the parent who has their hands full.

The Mom Hour

If you want an unfiltered look at motherhood, The Mom Hour is for you. With eight kids between them, co-hosts Meagan Francis and Sarah Powers are telling it like it is. From the highs to the lows, The Mom Hour is an honest (and hilarious!) conversation around what it is to be a mother.

Listen in: iTunes.apple.com

Mom and Dad are Fighting

Mom and Dad are Fighting is a cult favorite–and for good reason. This hit parenting podcast, hosted by Gabriel Roth, Rebecca Lavoie and Carvell Wallace, expertly combines hot button parenting issues, current events and witty banter to create a forthright and funny show about parenthood.

Listen in: iTunes.apple.com

Published March 2019