Francesca Brown, books editor

There’s no way we can go near my mum – she had a bad bout of flu last September (she thinks she was corona patient zero) and we’re worried it’s left her weakened. With this in mind I’m preparing a care package (washing my hands first) which will contain some Seven Hills Italian gin and some book proofs. These will include Anne Tyler’s funny and moving new novel, Redhead By The Side Of The Road, which is all about a man who realises he’s isolating himself from life and takes a nervous chance of opening himself up to a woman who loves him. Plus How Much Of These Hills Is Gold by C Pam Zhang (which is meant to be a feminist Western with shades of early Margaret Atwood). I’m also packing in Divine chocolate bars and a shrunken cashmere jumper I accidentally put in the wash; she’ll know how to save it.

Mother’s Day: why you shouldn’t feel guilty about not seeing your mum