Wondering what to read now? Here are all the hot new May 2025 book releases for you. I’ll let you know what I’ve read, what I can’t wait to read, and what’s getting all the attention this month.
In case you’re new to Booklist Queen, every month I cover all the hottest new book releases. I try to read as many new book releases as I can to give you an honest perspective on what to read and what to skip.
However, I realize that my to-read list might not exactly match yours. That’s why I’ve also included some of the most popular May 2025 book releases from your favorite authors.
Enough from me, let’s get on to the May 2025 book releases so you can fill up your to-read list.
Top May 2025 Book Releases
My Friends
Fredrik Backman
An aspiring artist, eighteen-year-old Louisa unexpectedly finds herself in the care of a famous painting of a pier with three barely discernably teens sitting on the end. Determined to find the story behind the painting, Louisa sets out on a cross-country journey of discovery. Twenty-five years ago, four friends spent a summer together on the pier, avoiding their chaotic home lives creating a friendship that will change more than their lives. Backman is always a favorite choice for book clubs looking for a heartwarming message.
Publication Date: 6 May 2025
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The Missing Half
Ashley Flowers
Ever since her older sister Kasey went missing seven years ago, Nic’s life has been in a complete free-fall. Kasey’s car was found 100 miles from home in the same area as Jules O’Connor, another missing girl. Nic has tried to forget about Kasey until Jules’s younger sister Jenna shows up offering hope. Now the two younger sisters must decide how much they are willing to risk to find their missing halves.
Publication Date: 6 May 2025
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The Love Haters
Katherine Center
To avoid a layoff, Katie accepts an offer from her co-worker Cole to fly out to Key West and create a promotional video for the United States Coast Guard featuring rescue swimmer Hutch. The catch: Hutch is Cole’s estranged brother and Katie lied about knowing how to swim. Soon Katie finds herself falling head over heels for the handsome Coast Guardsmen, his massive Great Dane, and his charming aunt. Now Katie must decide how far she’ll go to save her job as she finds herself caught between two feuding brothers.
There’s no other way to say it, The Love Haters is sappy beyond belief. The entire first half is spent on Katie drooling over Hutch that you are so grateful when some conflict finally arrives. From there, the story settles into your standard cheesy romantic comedy (with no steam) that at least has some plot to move it along. Although Center tries to add nuance by discussing body image issues, it never gets the full emotional kick that highlighted some of her better books.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
My Rating:
Publication Date: 20 May 2025
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Speak to Me of Home
Jeanine Cummins
Jeanine Cummins surprised the book world with the seven-figure advance on her debut novel, American Dirt. Now she has a new 2025 release about a multigenerational Puerto Rican family. In 1980, Rafaela leaves her home in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and moves her young family to Missouri. Not wanting to be like her socially isolated mother, Ruth gives up her language and habits to blend into life as an American teen. Decades later, Ruth’s daughter Daisy returns to Puerto Rico only to be critically injured in a hurricane. Now three generations of women must come to terms with the choices and secrets that have shaped their family.
Publication Date: 13 May 2025
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Mark Twain
Ron Chernow
Acclaimed biographer Ron Chernow turns his attention to America’s first literary celebrity, Mark Twain. Born Samuel Clemens, he spend his youth as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi until heading west to Nevada where he drew notice for his clever writing. Eventually Clemens hit fame under the pen name Mark Twain, carefully crafting a public persona and diving into politics but his later years were strung with bankruptcy, exile, and the death of his family. Chernow’s in-depth biography explores the depths and complexity of one of America’s most talented writers.
Publication Date: 13 May 2025
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Never Flinch
Stephen King
When Detective Izzy Jaynes receives a letter threatening the lives of thirteen people, she turns to her good friend Holly Gibney for help. Meanwhile, Holly is working security for a controversial women’s rights activist whose packed lecture series has drawn a stalker. As the two storylines converge, Never Flinch blends Stephen King’s mastery of characters and plot to a thrilling conclusion.
Publication Date: 27 May 2025
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Book of the Month – May 2025
Receiving my blue box from Book of the Month Club is a highlight of every month.
Here’s how it works – each month, they pick 5-7 books and you get to choose one book or skip until the next month. If you want to add any extra books, then you get them at a discounted price.
Each month is usually a mix of new releases and advance copies of unreleased books. If you are interested in joining, right now you can use my Book of the Month Club affiliate link to get your first book for $5!
The May Book of the Month selections are:
Read with Jenna’s May 2025 Book Club Pick
The Names
Florence Knapp
Soon after her son’s birth, Cora and her young daughter Maia set out to officially register the baby’s birth. Gordon expects that Cora will name the baby after him like generations of his family have done. Yet, Cora is tempted to name the baby Julian and Maia wants to name her brother Bear. The Names is a thoughtful story that showcases how each potential name – and the abusive father’s reaction to each name – changes the family’s trajectory.
Publication Date: 6 May 2025
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Reese’s Book Club May 2025 Pick
Great Big Beautiful Life
Emily Henry
In her 80s, Margaret Ives finally agrees to let an author write her biography about her life as an heiress to one of the most storied and scandalous families in the 20th century. Margaret agrees to fly two authors out for a one-month trial to see which will be her biographer. Eternal optimist Alice knows that this could be her big break. She just has to beat out the grumpy award-winning author Hayden. But Margaret is telling different things to each one of them and with an iron-clad NDA, they can’t collaborate, no matter how much chemistry they feel between them.
Publication Date: 22 April 2025
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GMA’s May 2025 Book Club Pick
The Original Daughter
Jemimah Wei
Living in a small working-class apartment with her parents and grandmother, Genevieve is shocked when she unexpectedly gets a younger sister, Arin, the product of her grandfather’s dalliance. As the girls grow they become extremely close. Raised in a highly competitive world, Genevieve and Arin shun the outside world and focus solely on academic achievement. When a shocking betrayal estranges the sisters, Genevieve must decide between ambition and familial love and what she owes to herself versus what she owes to her family.
Publication Date: 6 May 2025
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Oprah’s Book Club May 2025 Book Club Pick
The Emperor of Gladness
Ocean Vuong
One evening in East Gladness, Connecticut, Hai stands on the edge of a bridge prepared to take his own life. But a shout from across the river changes everything. Grazina, an elderly widow on the edge of dementia, convinces Hai not to jump. Instead, Hai becomes her caretaker and the two strike up a transformative friendship that gives both a second chance at life.
Publication Date: 13 May 2025
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The Most Anticipated May 2025 Book Releases
A Curse Carved in Bone
Danielle L. Jensen
In a sequel to A Fate Inked in Blood, Freya knows the truth of her divine heritage. Fated to destroy thousands of lives, Freya desperately searches for a way to break her destiny. Stinging from Bjorn’s betrayal, Freya finds herself in league with the king she was raised to fear. As her attraction to Bjorn continues to grow, their disagreement about her past push them farther and farther apart even as they are connected by a blood oath.
Publication Date: 13 May 2025
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Big Dumb Eyes
Nate Bargatze
Nate Bargatze has become one of today’s highest-grossing stand-up comedians. In his first book, Bargatze describes his life as a non-genius. With stories of his first beat-up car, being a Southerner in the North, his irrational love for Vanderbilt football, and his endless debates with his wife, Bargatze brings his trademark everyman comedy to a collection of stories, opinions, and confessions.
Publication Date: 6 May 2025
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The Tenant
Freida McFadden
Life comes crashing down for Blake Porter when he’s fired from his job and unable to make his rent payments on the brownstone he shares with his fianceé. To make ends meet, Blake decides to rent a room to Whitney, who seems like the perfect tenant. Suddenly the neighbors seem to look at him strangely and he cannot get the sent of decay out of his house. Worried that someone knows his darkest secrets, Blake doesn’t see the trap until it’s already set.
Publication Date: 6 May 2025
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Parents Weekend
Alex Finlay
Reveling in their children’s first year of college at a small private California school, five sets of parents gather for drinks and dinner on the opening night of Parents Weekend. But all of their children fail to show. What is initial brushed off as college kids being college kids soon turns to alarm when none of them reappear.
Publication Date: 6 May 2025
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My Name is Emilia del Valle
Isabel Allende
In 1866, Emilia del Valle is born after an Irish nun has an affair with a Chilean aristocrat. Raised in San Francisco by her mother and stepfather, Emilia eventually becomes a journalist. Tasked with covering the Chilean war, Emilia reunites with her birth father and begins to question her identity and her destiny.
Publication Date: 6 May 2025
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The Knight and the Moth
Rachel Gillig
Nine years into her decade of service, Sybil Delling is tired of being a Diviner whose dreams predict the future. Just as her term is almost up, Roderick, a roguish knight appears with no respect for her work. But when diviners begin to disappear, Sybil has no choice but to turn to him for help. For only a heretic like Roderick could defeat a god in this gothic romantasy series.
Publication Date: 20 May 2025
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UPCOMING MAY 2025 BOOK RELEASES BY DATE
May 6th Book Releases
Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, Amanda Doyle
May 13th Book Releases
May 20th Book Releases
May 27th Book Releases
What May 2025 Book Releases are You Most Excited to Read?
What books can you not wait to get your hands on this month? Did I miss any May 2025 book releases that you are anticipating? As always, let me know in the comments!
More New Book Releases:
Recommended
The Most-Anticipated Upcoming Book Releases
The New York Times Fiction Bestseller List
The Latest Celebrity Book Club Picks
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