May 2025 Book Releases
I am so excited to bring you the May 2025 book releases. There are so many fantastic books to choose from so I included only the books that Kirsten and I cannot wait to read. Be sure to check back for updates on which books we have read!
Every month, Kirsten and I scour the internet to find the books we are most excited to read. We look through publishers’ lists, our lists of advanced reader copies (ARCs), as well as a few other sources. I cannot give away all our secrets, can I? If you are looking for April 2025 book releases, you can check them out here.
From this list of hundreds of books, we look through the picks and decide our most anticipated books for May 2025. I have divided the books by genre to help you decide which books to add to your TBR! If you are looking for more tips on how to choose your next book, check below. I am happy to help with that as well.
Most Anticipated Books for May 2025
Most Anticipated Fiction
My Friends by Fredrik Backman – Click here for a book description
Most Anticipated Historical Fiction
Austen at Sea by Natalie Jenner – Click here for a book description and more books in this category
Most Anticipated Fantasy
The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig – Click here for a book description and more books in the category
Most Anticipated Thriller /Mystery
The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs – Click here for a book description and more books in the category
Most Anticipated Romance
One Golden Sumer by Carley Fortune – Click here for a book description and more books in the category
Most Anticipated Nonfiction
Hollywood High by Bruce Handy – Click here for a description of the book and more books in this category
Most Anticipated Young Adult
The Whisperwood Legacy by Jo Schulte – Click here for a description of the book and more books in this category
*May 2025 Book Releases Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you.
Fiction Book Releases: May 2025
Plot
A group of teenagers spend their summers on an abandoned pier where they take solace in their friendship. Their friendship is what allows them to dream, love, and live. From that friendship comes one of the most famous paintings in the world and it is given to 18-year-old Louisa who is an aspiring painter. She embarks on a cross-country journey to find the story behind the painting. This book is easily one of my most anticipated May 2025 book releases.
Songs of Summer
Author: Jane L. Rosen
Year: 2025
Genre: Romance
More info: Fire Island Book 3 or 3
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Maggie May Wheeler owns the record shop that was her parents before they both passed away. Now, before she gets engaged to her childhood best friend, she wants to find her birth mother. The search leads her to Fire Island, where her mother is a guest at a wedding. She wants to find out more about the women who gave her up.
When she arrives at Fire Island, a local invites her to the wedding as his date, and the two have immediate chemistry. Maggie is immediately torn between her feelings for this new man and the man at home, who is family to her.
Meanwhile, on Fire Island, we get to visit with old favorites like Ben, Addison, and Shep, and meet some wonderful new characters like his two daughters, Beatrix and Victoria.
Why Jackie loves it
I love Fire Island and the characters, and this book did not disappoint. The book is perfect for the beach with a storyline that is full of heart, but never too much. My favorite touch is that each chapter is the title of a song and there are fantastic tracks. Someone created a Spotify playlist, and I highly suggest putting it on while reading the book. It is literally the soundtrack of summer!!!
Find this book in: Best Beach Reads 2025
Beach House Rules
Author: Kristy Woodson Harvey
Year: 2025
Genre: Fiction
More info: New York Times Bestselling author
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 14+
Plot
Charlotte Sitterly has reached a low point when she enters the bank begging for a job after she and her daughter, Iris, have been locked out of their house by the FBI. She is surprised when Alice, a local “black widow,” invites her and Iris to come stay at her house. Charlotte accepts and finds herself living at the “mommune”.
They are surprised at how much they enjoy their time together as they figure out their next steps. The mommune decides to convince Juniper Shore that Charlotte’s husband is innocent. Iris decides to do some sleuthing of her own to prove her father’s innocence.
Why Jackie loves it
I am being honest when I say there is nothing Kristy can write that I will not read! Every one of her books captures family relationships and dynamics like nobody else. This book captured friendship, family, and mother/ daughter relationships perfectly. It was sweet, funny, emotional, and a total page-turner. Gifted by Simon & Schuster Audio
Find this book in: Books About Mothers and Motherhood / Friendship Books / Beach Reads 2025
The Names
Author: Florence Knapp
Genre: Fiction
Release Date: May 6, 2025
More: May 2025 Read with Jenna Book Club Pick
Plot
I cannot wait to read this book that examines the power of names. Cora arrives at the registrar’s office to name her infant son. Her husband is a well-respected local doctor who in the privacy of their home is controlling and abusive. He wants his son named after him. When it comes time to choose a name, the story follows three paths that span over 35 years. This is a book that will ask if a name can change a life and explores family, abuse, and healing.
Run for the Hills
Author: Kevin Wilson
Year: 2025
Genre: Fiction
More info: Bestselling author of Nothing to See Here
Age Range: 15+
Plot
This is a Sibling Story like only Kevin Wilson can write. Madeline Hill has lived with her mom on their farm in Tennessee together since her dad left twenty years ago. When Reuben Hill shows up and informs her that he is her half-brother, she is surprised.
She is even more shocked when Reuben tells her that there are more half-siblings and he intends to find them all. The two set off together to find the rest of their family. How many more Hill siblings will there be and will they find their father in the end?
Why Jackie loves it
Wilson always has quirky novels that make me laugh. They also have an undercurrent of hurt. I laughed my way through this book but also felt Reuben’s pain. As the oldest of the Hill children, he feels the acute loss of his father more than any of the other Hill children. I loved the book until the end. I wish there was a little more because I left that the story was not complete, even if the road trip was.
Find this book in: Books About Siblings
Maine Characters
Author: Hannah Orenstein
Year: 2025
Genre: Fiction
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 18+
Plot
I love Hannah Orenstein, but I was immediately drawn to the description as “the Parent Trap for adults. And I happen to know a few people…(Kirsten and Cassie) who love Maine.
Vivian heads to her lake house in Maine to spread her father’s ashes and finds Lucy in the cabin. She realizes Lucy is her half-sister, whom her father had hidden from her for her entire life, despite the inkling that her father had a secret.
Now the two women are in the lake house. Lucy’s marriage has fallen apart, and she needs to stay in the cabin. She has wonderful memories of being there with her father every July and wants to keep the cabin. Vivian wants to sell it for the money to start a new business with her boyfriend, who happens to be married. This book is like a modern-day parent trap, but the stakes are a little higher. Can these two get over the past to have a future together as a family?
Why Jackie loves it
This book is the perfect pick for the summer. The characters grow and change, and the small romance within the pages adds just the right touch
Find this book in: Books about Sisters / Lake Books
Plot
Leah is an OB who has just taken over her family practice when she gets vertigo and collapses. She needs to take a break from work and decides to prove the astrologist who said she is having problems because she is living out of alignment with her star sign, wrong. Her journey takes her all over the world to find her star twins.
She travels to Italy and Turkey while she comes to terms with her life as it is and the mother she thinks abandoned her. She has to examine the choices she made and the things she has sacrificed to please her father. Are these the things she still wants in her life or is there room for more?
Why Jackie loves it
While I was expecting a romance from this book, it was really more of a novel about self-discovery. There was a small romance as a secondary plot point, but the real story is about Leah learning to love herself. Rosen does this in such a fun way that I was so happy to go along with Leah for the journey. It is a perfect book for the beach, but it may make you hungry!
Find this book in: Best Beach Reads 2025
Historical Fiction: May 2025 Book Releases
Plot
Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson have accomplished as much as they can as women in 1865. They have been corresponding with Sir Frances Austen, Jane Austen’s brother who is in his 90s and he has invited them to England. Nicholas and Haslett Nelson are brothers who are rare book dealers and have also been invited to England by Sir Francis Austen.
The sisters sneak away to sail to England without a chaperone. The Nelson brothers, Louisa May Alcott, Sara-Beth Gleason, and Justice Thomas Nash (A would-be chaperone) are all on the ship. I cannot wait to read this historical fiction pick from the May 2025 book releases.
Austen at Sea
Author: Natalie Jenner
Year: 2025
Genre: Historical Fiction
Spice Rating:đź’‹
Age Range: 16+
Plot
Charlotte and Henrietta Stevenson have accomplished as much as they can as women in 1865. They have been corresponding with Sir Frances Austen, Jane Austen’s brother, who is in his 90s, and he has invited them to England. Nicholas and Haslett Nelson are brothers who are rare book dealers and have also been invited to England by Sir Francis Austen.
The sisters sneak away to sail to England without a chaperone. The Nelson brothers, Louisa May Alcott, Sara-Beth Gleason, and Justice Thomas Nash are all on the ship with the sisters. This is just the beginning of the story.
We follow the characters at sea and in England, where the sisters find themselves navigating more than just Jane Austen. We also get a behind-the-scenes look at a group of justices who have weekly meetings to discuss Austen’s works.
Why Jackie loves it
I love the fact that the book was inspired by actual correspondence between Admiral Sir Frances Austen and two Boston sisters, as well as two Philadelphia book dealers. The book is a wonderful tribute to Jane Austen. I also loved “meeting” Louisa May Alcott before she became a famous writer. I loved the Audio version of this book as well. #gifted
Find this book in: Best Beach Reads 2025
My Name Is Emilia del Valle
Author: Isabel Allende
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Date: May 6, 2025
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Plot
Emilia was born in 1866- the daughter of an Irish nun and a Chilean Aristocrat. She was raised by her stepfather in San Fransisco. She begins writing for the Daily Examiner at 17 and is paired with another reporter, Eric Whelan. When a civil war starts in Chile, Emily convinces the paper that she should be the one to cover the story. There she discovers her family roots, her identity, and her love for Eric all while faced with increasing danger.
The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club
Author: Martha Hall Kelly
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Date: May 27, 2025
Plot
This is a dual-timeline narrative that takes place in 2016 and 1942. Mari Starwood has gone to Martha’s vineyard from Califonia after the death of her mother. She is looking for answers with only the name of a famous painter as a clue.
The Smith girls are trying to hold their family together during WWII. Cadence and her best friend Bess start a book club which grows in members and popularity. When a man washes ashore, he says there is a spy among them and they don’t know who to trust.
Fantasy/ Sci-fi: Most Anticipated for May 2025
The Knight and the Moth
Author: Rachel Gillig
Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: May 20, 2025
More info: The Stonewater Kingdom #1
Bestselling author of The Shepard King Duology
Plot
I loved the Shepard King books and I cannot wait to read this pick from the May 2025 book releases. Sybil Delling is a Diviner who receives visions from “Omens”. She can predict things before they happen. She is coming to the end of her ten years of service when a Knight arrives at the Cathedral. When the other Diviners start to go missing, Sybil must seek the help of the knight.
Plot
Paranormal rom-com? Yes Please. Harry (Harlow) Pierce went to her first Fatest Festival Finding Ceremony in her town hoping that her “fated match” would be her boyfriend Jaxon. Instead, the Fate led her to her best friend so she panicked and left.
When she returns to her magical hometown thirteen years later with her goddaughter, she is looking for guidance but the town’s magic is unpredictable. Could Harry’s return be the key to getting things back on track?
A Curse Carved in Bone
Author: Danielle L. Jensen
Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: May 13, 2025
More info: Saga of the Unfated #2
Plot
Freya’s divine heritage is known and she is unwilling to watch thousands die as the price of her magic. She risks everything to find answers. She is bound by blood oaths that draw her into battle with Nordeland’s Unfated while she must still deal with Bjorn’s betrayal. Gods and mortals are now gearing up for war and Freya must choose her own path.
The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association
Author: Caitlin Rozakis
Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: May 27, 2025
More info:
Plot
Vivian’s sweet sweet kindergartener, Aria, is bitten by a werewolf. Suddenly, she finds herself in a world of magical school and all the accouterment that goes with it- like sacrificial daggers. Vivian must deal with a whole new world of hellhounds and nymphs and the PTA is like nothing she has ever seen before.
Thrillers and Mysteries for May 2025
The Retirement Plan
Author: Sue Hincenbergs
Genre: Mystery
Release Date: May 6, 2025
More info: Debut Novel
Plot
This looks like a hilarious pick from the May 2025 book releases. Pam, Nancy, Shalisa, and Marlene have been friends for more than 30 years. The plan was to retire together with their husbands until they discovered their husbands had lost everything. When the women discover their husbands have large life insurance policies, they hire a hit man.
The men have their own retirement scheme and need to find a way to stay alive long enough to execute it.
Plot
Marguerite Gray, a renowned lifestyle icon, is known for her extravagant garden parties and as the muse behind Marguerite by the Lake, a famous painting. Phoenix is a gardener at the Gray family’s estate, Rosecliff.
When Phoenix saves Marguerite’s husband, Geoffrey, during a storm, she begins an affair with him. But when Marguerite mysteriously falls to her death from the same spot where she once posed for her famous painting, Phoenix is left with a secret. As Detective Hanna and Marguerite’s daughter close in on the truth, Phoenix struggles to secure her place at Rosecliff before he secrets are revealed.
Plot
Libby, Blane, Mark, Felix, and Stella are known as The Five by reporters and TikTokkers alike after they go missing from a small private college in Northern California, on parents’ weekend. What happened to them? Agent Keller is hoping to find out just that.
Told from the perspective of each family and Agent Keller, this beachy thriller has multiple points of view and a load of secrets to uncover. We see into each parent’s personal lives, the students in their current setting, and stories from their freshman year, and Agent Keller’s homelife in a way that adds depth to the story and keeps you guessing.
Why Kirsten loves it
Some books can’t pull off this many narrators, but Parents Weekend does. I loved learning about the secrets of each family, what baggage the kids are bringing with them into college, and how their past experiences shaped them at school. I could totally see this story being adapted as a TV series, it’s utterly addicting – an excellent beach read! #Gifted by Macmillan
Find this book in: Books Set in College / Best Beach Reads 2025
Marble Hall Murders
Author: Anthony Horowitz
Genre: Mystery
Release Date: May 13, 2025
More info: Susan Ryeland #3
Plot
Susan Ryeland is an editor doing freelance for a London publisher. Her newest project is PĂĽnds Last Case, a continuation novel with a new writer. Eliot Crace is the grandson of a legendary children’s author, Miriam Case, who died 20 years ago and Eliot is sure she was poisoned. As Susan reads the manuscript, she finds striking similarities to Miriam’s death. The more she reads, the more she is convinced that Eliot left clues about his grandmother’s death in the manuscript. If Susan doesn’t solve the case, she may be the next victim!
The Last Ferry
Author: Andrea Bartz
Genre: Thriller
Release Date: May 20, 2025
More info: New York Times Bestselling Author
Plot
Abby needs to visit Isla Colel, the place where her fiance, Eszter, died. She needs closure. When she arrives at the island, she finds a group of expats one of whom says he knows the truth about Eszter. When he suddenly disappears, Abby is sure that there is something more going on and that Eszter was murdered.
Romance: May 2025 Book Releases
One Golden Summer
Author: Carley Fortune
Year: 2025
Genre: Romance
More info: #1 New York Times Bestselling Author
Spice Rating:đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹đź’‹
Age Range: 18+
Plot
Alice is a photographer who has lost her drive and vision for her art. She longs for the inspiration she felt when she was behind the lens the summer she was 17. That summer, she spent time at the lake with her Nan and took a photo of three teens in a yellow boat – the picture that ultimately changed her life and jump-started her career.
Now, her Nan is recovering from a broken hip, and Alice takes her back to the lake at Barry’s Bay so Nan can recover. Alice immediately sees Charlie, one of her photography subjects, in the same yellow boat. She is shocked to discover he is helping out as her rental cabin’s caretaker for the summer. When he discovers her summer bucket list to restart her inspiration, he is determined to help her check off every box.
Why Kirsten loves it
I’m clearly living under a rock because I didn’t realize that this is the same Charlie from Carley’s breakout hit Every Summer After. I ADORED this book just as much as I adored that one. Alice and Charlie’s chemistry was organic and off the charts. Both characters showed so much growth throughout the summer that I couldn’t help but cheer them on and it was great to get a peek at what Percy and Sam are up to as well.
Find this book in: Carley Fortune Books in Order / Best Beach Reads 2025
Plot
Katie Vaughn is a video producer about to lose her job. So she decides to take a job profiling a Coast Guard rescue swimmer named Hutch. The only problem is that Katie cannot swim- nothing she can’t fake, right? Next thing she knows, she is dealing with helicopter flights, conga lines, a rescue Great Dane, and Hutch’s Aunt Rue. She’s also facing her body issues head-on and helping Hutch reconnect with her boss, and his brother, Cole.
Trigger Warnings
Body Disorder
Why Kirsten loves it
I love the crazy antics of this book, the setting of the Florida Keys, and the quest for Katie to come into her own. Hutch is pretty dreamy, too. But my favorite part was Katie learning to accept and LOVE her body after the shameful way she had been body shamed in the past. #Gifted by Macmillan
Find this book in: Best Beach Reads 2025
Plot
Jane Jackson is a former child star who was anything but glamorous as the butt of jokes on a popular sitcom. Now, to get her career back on track she has to convince her first kiss, Jack to write a song for a movie so she can star in it. So what if he is now the biggest pop star in the world. And the fact that her crush, Dan Finnegan is the cinematographer who has an in with Jack may be the least of her complications! I cannot wait to read my copy of this book and I will update you as soon as I have read it.
Plot
April is a tech worker who left an anonymous note in a book for Westley, a local indie bookstore clerk. But, Laura, buys the book and finds the note. She thinks Westley left it for her and a handsome book lover may be just the thing she needs. And Westley, well, he is too distracted by the movie filming in the store to notice either woman. This looks like an adorable book of mistaken identities and hilarious encounters. I cannot wait to read it.
Plot
Sloane has her dream job working as the social media manager for Bride magazine when she is abandoned at the alter of her own wedding. Now, instead of living out newlywed bliss, she finds herself stepping in for a bridezilla as a bridesmaid for a story she is covering. Things only go from bad to steamy when she meets Wilder, a gorgeous groomsman who happens to be her son’s boss. He’s so enamored with her that he convinces his dad to have Sloane cover the 12 weddings of his friend group.
Why Kirsten likes it
This slow-burn romance goes from sweet to STEAMY. Wilder is a tamer version of Christian Grey, he’s the perfect reformed billionaire rogue. I loved all the wedding settings in the background and the funny scenarios in the story.
Find this book in: Wedding Books / Books like Fifty Shades of Grey
Nonfiction May 2025 Book Releases
Plot
This pick from the May 2025 book releases takes a deep dive into teen movies and their influences. As you read, you will hear from George Lucas, Molly Ringwald, and more about iconic movies like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Mean Girls, Twilight, and more.
Queen of All Mayhem: The Blood-Soaked Life and Mysterious Death of Belle Starr, the Most Dangerous Woman in the West
Author: Dane Hucklebridge
Genre: Nonfiction
Release Date: May 13, 2025
More info: Author of one of Kirsten’s 10 favorite books!
Plot
Myra Maybelle Shirley, also known as Belle Star, was shot and killed on February 3, 1889. At the time of her death, she was just 40 years old and one of the most dangerous women in the American West. She led a gang of horse thieves and married one of the most dangerous outlaws. She also married a direct descendent of the greatest female warrior in Cherokee history. This is the story of her life.
The Art Spy: The Extraordinary Untold Tale of WWII Resistance Hero Rose Vallard
Author: Michelle Young
Genre: Nonfiction
Release Date: May 13, 2025
Plot
This is the true story of Rose Vallard who worked at the Jeu de Paume during WWII and secretly worked to stop Hitler from amassing stolen art. Throughout the war, she passed on important information to the Resistance network and put herself at risk to protect the museum, its staff, and the art.
Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from a Simpler Mind
Author: Nate Bargatze
Genre: Memoir
Release Date: May 6, 2025
Plot
Nate Bargatze used to be a genius until he slipped and hit is head (at least according to him). Now, he is a comedian and this debut book talks about his life in a way that will make readers laugh out loud.
Best YA May 2025 Book Releases
Plot
Whisperwood was a theme park that brought classic fairy tales to life until Virginia Strauss, abruptly closed it. Now, the Strauss family fortune is whithering away quickly and none are happy about it, except Frankie. She sees how money can corrupt and is happy to free herself from all of it. When Virginia goes missing, Frankie must enlist the help of Jem, the groundkeeper to uncover the truth. She might find that all fairy tales are not make-believe and some are even deadly!
His Face is the Sun
Author: Michelle Jabès Corpora
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: May 6, 2025
More info: First in a trilogy
Plot
This book is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and takes place in Ancient Egypt. Four people- A princess, a priestess-in-training, a farmer’s daughter, and a tomb robber must come together to save the kingdom from destruction. This is a book filled with magic, and adventure!
Plot
The Thrashers are an elite friend group at New Helvetia High. They are the people everyone wants to be. Jodi is part of this elite group because Zack Thrasher is her childhood best friend. When former friend and classmate, Emily Mills, dies and her journal comes to light, whispers about the Thrashers begin, and soon they are involved in a police investigation into Emily’s death. Jodi has to decide whether to protect herself or her friends as she starts hunting for answers on her own.
Trigger Warnings
Suicide
Why Kirsten likes it
This story was fast-paced enough to keep me listening, though I sometimes found myself frustrated at the lack of parental involvement. The story was entertaining enough for a teen, but adult YA fans can probably pass. #gifted by MacMillan Audio
Plot
This is an opposites attract romance from the May 2025 book releases. Evie has transferred to Camden Academy to start over. She did not want to think about the ex who cheated on her with her sister or the best friend who let it happen. When she is put in an all-boys dorm, she has no choice but to stay. Now she is the subject of a lot of gossip and to survive the new school she must learn to be bad. Her roommate is the perfect person to help her and agrees if she can teach him to be good to repair his relationship with his parents.
We LOVE to support independent bookstores. You can shop our entire list of May 2025 book releases on Bookshop.org
Expert Tips
Looking through 30 books can be daunting if you are trying to add some books to your TBR. Remember that this list is for fun. You may add books to your TBR stack and never read them. That is OK! I have two tips to help narrow down the choices for you.
- If you do not want to look through 30 descriptions, I selected a top pick from each genre. I narrowed it down for you!
- If you have a favorite genre that you like to read, head over to that section and pick from those books.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is your most anticipated May 2025 book releases?
There are so many May 2025 book releases that I cannot wait to get my hands on. These are a few that are on my TBR!
1. Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson
2. Songs of Summer by Jane L. Rosen
3. My Friends by Fredrik Backman
4. Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey
5. It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan
6. The Names by Florence Knapp
Epilogue
I hope you love this list of most anticipated May 2025 book releases. If there is a book you want to read and don’t see on this list, please let me know. You can also tell me which books you look forward to reading.
