There are lots of exciting new releases worth your time (Image: Getty) This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Between recommendations from fellow book-loving friends and relatives, and the endless reviews available to peruse on TikTok, Instagram and Goodreads, deciding what to read next is easier said than done. However, if you’re looking for something new, you’re lucky, as May has been full of exciting new releases from beloved authors including Elsie Silver, Sarah A. Parker and Freida McFadden, alongside lots of fresh debuts.
From fantasy and romance to literary fiction and thrillers, here are some of the best new books to read this month. For more book recommendations, reviews and news, you can subscribe to our free weekly newsletter, The Bookish Drop, on Substack.
Read more: ‘I finish four books a week alongside full-time job with easy method’
Read more: Jilly Cooper’s TV adaptations ranked and Rivals is not number one
The Divorce by Freida McFadden
A woman becomes obsessed with her husband’s new girlfriend after he suddenly kicks her out, drains their accounts and hires the city’s best divorce lawyers.
The Divorce is a fast-paced story of vengeance and survival which delivers all of the tension and twists that make Freida McFadden’s thrillers so addictive.
The Divorce publishes May 26.
Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray
A young lawyer is forced to defend a man on trial for murder against the mentor who taught her everything: her husband.
Twisty and suspenseful, this gripping courtroom drama will have you turning the pages well into the night.
You can order Dissection of a Murder now.
Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune
After her fiancé leaves her on the eve of their wedding, Frankie is whisked away on her honeymoon by her lifelong best friend, George, where they have a week to repair their fractured bond and address some long-buried, intense feelings.
With simmering tension, witty banter and a whole lot of yearning, this is the sun-soaked friends-to-lovers romance everyone needs in their suitcase this summer.
You can order Our Perfect Storm now.
Fury Bound by Sable Sorensen
Return to the Wolves of Ruin series with the hotly-anticipated sequel to Dire Bound as Meryn Cooper vows deadly revenge in a bid to fulfil her destiny.
We won’t spoil it for anyone who has yet to read the first book, but expect more of the sweeping romance and dramatic action and twists that turned the first instalment into a bestseller and BookTok sensation.
You can order Fury Bound now.
The Ballad of Falling Dragons by Sarah A. Parker
Another much-anticipated romantasy sequel, The Ballad of Falling Dragons follows Raeve as her thirst for revenge continues to burn. As allies merge and enemies surge with bloodlusting agendas of their own, secrets brew hot enough to burn, but none so mighty as the truth nesting within the icy depths of Raeve’s long forgotten past.
With an immersive, unique magic system and a beautiful love story set against a truly epic backdrop, this is one for any fantasy lover.
The Ballad of Falling Dragons publishes May 19.
The Rainshadow Orphans by Naomi Ishiguro
Three friends seek to avenge the murder of their beloved ‘aunt’ in a town terrorised by criminal gangs in the first book of Naomi Ishiguro’s new trilogy.
Blending science fiction, fantasy and Japanese folklore, this Studio Ghibli-inspired novel introduces readers to a mythical archipelago with everything from high-tech hackers to dragons and Sun Spirits.
Fantastical worldbuilding, big emotional stakes and found family make this a beautiful, cinematic read that expertly blends fast-paced action with quieter moments.
The Rainshadow Orphans publishes May 28.
Five by Ilona Bannister
Five seemingly random people are waiting for a train one morning. The reader knows someone is going to die in five minutes, but it’s up to them to decide who it should be. Should it be the young man gambling his life away, the old woman refusing help, the mother struggling with her tantruming child or the successful businessman with a hidden agenda?
This darkly thrilling book forces you to look at how you see the people around you. It’s uncomfortable, unflinching and is sure to be utterly unlike anything you’ll have read before.
Attention-Seeking Behaviour by Aea Varfis-van Warmelo
A compulsive liar (and the ultimate unreliable narrator) recalls her life, work and relationships, all while trying to untangle the stories she tells herself and everyone around her.
Blending memoir, essay and fiction, this is a bold and playful novel you’ll absolutely want to read again immediately after finishing.
You can order Attention-Seeking Behaviour now.
Homebound by Portia Elan
After Becks is left a half-finished game to complete by her uncle, she sets about coding something that will outlast her by centuries and shape the lives of a scientist, an astronaut and a desperate sea captain in ways she cannot imagine.
If you enjoyed Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, you’re sure to love this book. With multiple timelines, memorable characters and rich, complex worldbuilding, it’s a nostalgic literary sci-fi hybrid that isn’t to be missed.
Fever Dream by Elsie Silver
A professional bull rider signs up to a reality dating show to raise the money he needs to save his family’s ranch – but ends up falling for his biggest rival’s sister in the process.
The first in a new series by small-town romance queen Elsie Silver, Fever Dream is the perfect fun yet heartfelt summery read, whether you’re a long-time fan of the author or new to her work.
Fever Dream publishes May 19.
Decomposition Book by Sara Van Os
‘Weird girl fiction’ is everywhere at the moment, with Sara Van Os’ darkly funny debut the latest newcomer to an ever-expanding sub-genre.
Decomposition Book follows a woman who wakes up next to a dead body and finds herself incapable of giving up its ghost. She’s finally found someone she can talk to, and she doesn’t want to let go.
It’s a concept that shouldn’t be enjoyable to read about, but Decomposition Book is disturbingly relatable, expertly weaving lighthearted moments with heavier themes.
You can order Decomposition Book now.
The Diverging Lives of Bethany Raven
Waking up after a career-defining breakthrough, physics genius Bethany Raven finds herself in an alternate version of her reality. As she gets further away from the life she knows and loves, she must find her way back to her own reality with the help of her annoyingly attractive nemesis.
Fans of Ali Hazelwood’s STEM romances will love this contemporary multiversal rivals-to-lovers romance. A quick, yet complex read, it’s sure to be one you keep thinking about long after turning the final page.
You can order The Diverging Lives of Bethany Raven now.
