New May 2026 Book Releases
It’s a new month, and with it comes a TON of new books! The May 2026 book releases have officially arrived, and whether you’re gearing up for beach season or looking for a reason to stay indoors, there is truly something for everyone.
There is literally something for everyone this month: T from high-stakes psychological thrillers, steamy small-town romances and epic romantasy adventures. But there is also lots of powerful literary fiction a few few new voices that I think we want to keep an eye one.
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5/5
John of John by Douglas Stuart
Broke and disillusioned after art school, Cal Macleod returns to his childhood home on the Isle of Harris, where little has changed—except him. Back among the familiar rhythms of his father’s strict faith and his grandmother’s warmth, Cal grapples with identity, belonging, and desire in a close-knit, watchful community. As tensions quietly build and secrets surface within the croft house, the shifting seasons mirror a deeper unraveling. What once felt stable begins to fray, and Cal—and those around him—must confront truths that will leave nothing unchanged.
Change of Plans by Sarah Dessen
Finley has always followed her boyfriend Colin’s lead until a sudden trip with her estranged mother to a hidden family vacation home changes everything. Surrounded by unfamiliar relatives and a tight knit group of teens at her aunt’s diner, Finley begins to question the life she thought she wanted. When her relationship unravels, she is forced to navigate an uncertain future for the first time. As she uncovers long buried family secrets and forms new connections, especially with the quietly captivating Ben, Finley starts to discover who she is on her own in a summer that will change everything
Yrsa is stuck in a life that feels stifling, worn down by her PhD program, her entitled students, and the constant weight of her studies. Most of all, she is fed up with the men around her. When she accidentally kills a problematic professor, her boredom is replaced with a dangerous sense of purpose. As she begins targeting other sexist men, her actions start to feel like a twisted form of justice. But as the line between empowerment and obsession blurs, Yrsa must face the consequences of her choices and the secrets that threaten to undo her.
The Calamity Club By Kathryn Stockett
From the Author of the Help :Set in 1933 Mississippi, this novel follows three women whose lives collide in unexpected ways. Eleven year old Meg Lefleur, abandoned and deemed unadoptable, struggles to survive in an orphanage. Birdie Calhoun arrives in town seeking help from her seemingly well off sister, only to uncover a life built on illusion. Alongside Charlie, a woman with nothing left to lose, they form an unlikely bond and hatch a bold plan to reclaim their futures. In a world shaped by hardship and inequality, their courage and friendship may come at a dangerous cost.
Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune
Frankie and George have been best friends since childhood, always finding their way back to each other until now. On the eve of Frankie’s wedding, their relationship is uncertain, and when her fiancé suddenly leaves her, everything falls apart. Heartbroken, Frankie retreats home, but George convinces her to take the honeymoon anyway, just the two of them. As they escape to a remote coastal paradise, old tensions, buried feelings, and unspoken truths resurface. What begins as a chance to heal may become something more, or risk breaking them for good.
5/12
A Parable of Horribles ( Dungeon Crawler Carl #8) by Matt Dinniman
Everyone is talking about Dungeon Crawler Carl.
In the aftermath of chaos, Carl and Donut face a new challenge on the dungeon’s tenth floor, where survival takes the form of seemingly simple races. As the tasks grow more difficult and strange glitches begin to surface, rumors of a terrifying eleventh floor loom overhead. Frustrated by the loss of control, Carl refuses to play by the rules. As tension builds and the system grows more ominous, he sets a reckless plan in motion, one that could change everything and put far more than just their lives at risk.
After fleeing the capital and exposing her role as a double agent, Wren Darlington finds refuge with allies, determined to help overthrow the ruling Primes. But safety does not mean certainty. Surrounded by shifting loyalties and hidden agendas, Wren struggles to know who she can trust, especially as her connection to Cross grows more complicated and a past friendship with Grayson resurfaces. As war intensifies and the stakes rise, Wren must face impossible choices about loyalty, love, and what she is truly willing to sacrifice.
Ella has spent her life at The Last Page, a beloved New York City bookstore that shaped her most personal moments—and her future. When the owner, a father figure, dies and leaves the store to his estranged grandson, Henry, Ella is blindsided. Henry has no intention of staying, and Ella sees him as a threat to everything she loves. But when the struggling store faces financial ruin, they’re forced to work together. As they fight to save it, unexpected chemistry complicates their uneasy partnership—and what they stand to lose becomes more than just the bookstore.
Seek the Traitor’s Son by Veronica Roth
Elegy Ahn is content as a soldier defending her homeland—until a prophecy upends everything. Summoned alongside Rava Vidar, a ruthless enemy general, she learns one of them is destined to lead their people to victory over the other. The twist: their fates hinge on a man Elegy is foretold to love. Stripped of her old life and thrust toward an inevitable clash, Elegy must navigate destiny, desire, and war. When the time comes to face Rava, only one can win—and Elegy is determined it will be her.
The Forgotten Midwife by Laura Anthony
In 2023 New Jersey, Riley Carmichael prepares for her wedding while grappling with the loss of her grandmother, Betty, to dementia—and the absence of her own family history. A cryptic Irish birth certificate sends Riley searching for answers in Ireland. In 1954 Tipperary, Margaret Lannigan is forced into a convent, where she serves at a home for unwed mothers and witnesses their mistreatment. When she vows to protect a vulnerable young woman and her baby, Margaret risks everything. Spanning generations, this story explores hidden histories, resilience, and the enduring bonds of women and family.
5/19
Verity Hill and Wright “Monk” Bellamy have never truly moved on from their first love—or the betrayal that tore them apart. More than a decade later, fate reunites them on the set of a high-profile Harlem Renaissance biopic, where Verity writes the script and Monk composes the score. With careers—and unresolved emotions—on the line, they must navigate lingering hurt and undeniable chemistry. As old wounds resurface, they’re forced to decide if they can finally let go of the past… or risk everything for a second chance.
Bull rider Emmett Bush joins a reality dating show to save his family’s struggling ranch—not to find love. But when Julia Silva, the sharp-witted sister of his rival and the show’s location consultant, arrives, their mutual irritation sparks undeniable chemistry. As they grow closer behind the scenes, stolen moments turn into something real. The catch? Emmett must play the role of a love-seeking bachelor for the cameras to secure his future. Now he’s torn between protecting his family’s legacy and choosing the one woman he was never supposed to fall for.
The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff
After a devastating house fire, April and Leo escape with their children but carry deeper, unspoken threats to their marriage. Taking refuge in April’s childhood home in Dallas, they’re surrounded by family support—and tension. As they navigate loss, guilt, and shifting roles, long-buried cracks in their relationship surface. Told through multiple perspectives and past memories, the story traces how they got here and what comes next. At its heart, it’s a poignant exploration of family, forgiveness, and what it truly means to call a place—and a person—home.
The Perfect Hand by Ayelet Waldman
Alice Lockey, a clever and ambitious lady’s maid, has worked her way up from poverty and isn’t eager to trade independence for marriage—until she meets a charming valet, Charlie Wells. Hoping to secure their future, Alice schemes to match her employer, Lady Jemima, with Charlie’s master. But with complicated loyalties and unexpected obstacles, her plan proves far from simple. As social change looms and women’s roles begin to shift, Alice must decide whether to chase love, status, or something more. This witty novel explores class, ambition, and a woman forging her own path.
The Arcane Arts by S.D. Coverly
Ellsbeth Storer arrives at Newlyn University determined to master the arcane arts, drawn by ambition and personal loss. There, she captures the attention of Professor Thaddeus Rawlins, a once-brilliant scholar haunted by past tragedy. He agrees to mentor her controversial research into forbidden writ magic—the power to control others. As their secret studies deepen, so does their connection, blurring the lines between mentorship, ambition, and desire. But in a world built on manipulation, trust may be the most dangerous risk of all.
5/26
In this sweeping novel, Walter Mosley crafts a powerful portrait of a Black family through the life of Ghalen, a brilliant young man shaped by his parents’ unlikely love story. His mother, a driven scientist, and his father, a gentle, unconventional cook, offer contrasting visions of the world that guide his path. As Ghalen comes of age, he encounters a wide range of deeply human experiences—from neurodivergence to incarceration and immigration—each adding depth to his journey. It’s a moving exploration of identity, family, and the unseen complexities that shape our lives.
The Divorce by Freida McFadden
Naomi thought she had the perfect life—marriage, home, family—until her husband abruptly destroys it, leaving her with nothing and a much younger replacement. Refusing to accept defeat, Naomi becomes fixated on his new girlfriend. What starts as curiosity spirals into obsession as she uncovers unsettling secrets that put her own safety at risk. As her grip on reality begins to blur, Naomi must decide how far she’s willing to go to reclaim the life she lost—and whether holding onto it is worth the cost.
The Final Target by Nora Roberts
After debut author Arden Bowie ignores her instincts about an obsessed fan, a chilling assault shatters her life. Seeking a fresh start in a small Oregon town, Arden finds solace in a new friendship with an ex-detective. But her peace is short-lived. Dustin, her stalker, remains dangerously fixated, his delusions fueled by a light psychiatric sentence and simmering rage. As he prepares for release, Arden realizes that while she has moved on, his twisted “protection” is just beginning. In this tense thriller, the real question isn’t how she’ll heal, but who will protect her from him?
The Last Bookclub by Joanne Rock
New to Saratoga Springs, Jordyn joins a local book club with a hidden agenda: revenge. A year ago, her foster sister—a former member—died in a suspicious hit-and-run, and Jordyn is certain the killer is hiding among the group’s “friends.” As she digs for their darkest secrets, the lines between reality and fiction blur during a high-stakes murder mystery party. In a game where the “murder” becomes all too real, Jordyn must unmask the culprit before she becomes the next chapter in their deadly history. This twisty thriller is perfect for fans of bookish suspense.
Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan
At thirty-nine, fixer-extraordinaire Dolly Brick returns to her Rhode Island hometown to save her family’s house. Her life gets complicated when she rescues Stewart Whitfield, a handsome socialite reeling from a messy public breakup.
What starts as a practical arrangement soon shifts into genuine chemistry, from high-society galas to sunset boat rides. For a woman who has spent her life relying only on herself, Dolly faces her toughest challenge yet: letting down her guard. This summer romance explores whether a professional problem-solver can finally accept a little help with her own heart.
