The Exciting New List Of May 2025 Book Releases
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission.
Ready to discover your next literary obsession? Explore the hottest May 2025 book releases, including my top picks and the most talked-about titles of the month.
It’s always exciting to start a new month, especially when you get to plan out your reading list! There are some fantastic books coming out soon, ranging from romantic novels to popular New York Times bestsellers, thought-provoking coming-of-age stories, and gripping historical fiction novels.
With so many new books being published every month, it can be overwhelming to decide which ones to include in your reading list. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!
Every month, I’ll highlight some of the most exciting upcoming releases that you should remember. As an eclectic reader, I balance my reading list and recommendations with a mix of genres from both established and debut authors to give you the best and most varied reading experience possible. So, I’m confident that you’ll find something you’ll love on this list.
Happy Reading!
If you’re looking for all the upcoming books, take a look at
Best May 2025 Book Releases
The Love Haters
by Katherine Center
Romance
Publication Date: May 20, 2025
Katie Vaughn lands a last-chance assignment profiling a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West—but she can’t swim and must hide it to keep her job. Caught between two estranged brothers, buried truths, and unexpected romance, Katie must find the courage to face her fears and open her heart.
The Original Daughter
by Jemimah Wei
Literary Fiction
Publication Date: May 6, 2025
Genevieve’s life is upended when Arin—an unexpected sister born from a long-buried family secret—enters her world. As they navigate the crushing expectations of a society obsessed with perfection, their bond is tested by betrayal, forcing Genevieve to reckon with where her true loyalty lies: with her relentless ambition or the sister who once shared her dreams.
Silver Elite
by Dani Francis
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Publication Date: May 6, 2025
Wren Darlington is a powerful psychic forced to hide her identity in a world where being Modified is a death sentence. When she’s pulled into the enemy’s elite military unit, she must navigate dangerous secrets, a forbidden attraction, and a mission that could change everything.
It’s a Love Story
by Annabel Monaghan
Romance
Publication Date: May 27, 2025
Once the butt of jokes on a sitcom, Jane Jackson is now a Hollywood executive desperate to prove her worth. Her plan to secure a song from popstar Jack Quinlan forces her to collaborate with her childhood crush, Dan Finnegan, revealing that amidst the chaos of her professional gamble, lies a chance for personal and romantic renewal.
My Friends
by Fredrik Backman
Contemporary Fiction
Publication Date: May 20, 2025
Three teens—Louisa, Eva, and Max—form a deep bond one summer on a seaside pier, finding comfort in friendship as they escape their troubled home lives. Years later, a mysterious painting tied to that summer leads Louisa on a journey to uncover the truth and rediscover the meaning of what they shared.
One Golden Summer
by Carley Fortune
Romance
Publication Date: May 6, 2025
Alice returns to Barry’s Bay hoping to help her grandmother recover and rediscover a sense of purpose behind the camera. There, she reconnects with Charlie Florek, a boy from her past whose presence awakens long-buried emotions and the possibility of something real.
Top Thrillers April 2025
Parents Weekend
by Alex Finlay
The Tenant
by Freida McFadden
Publication Date: May 6, 2025
When Blake Porter, a recently fired marketing executive, rents out a room to the charming and mysterious Whitney, he thinks he’s found the answer to his financial troubles. But as unsettling events mount, Blake realizes too late that inviting her in may have sealed his fate.
The Missing Half
by Ashley Flowers
Publication Date: May 6, 2025
In Mishawaka, Indiana, Nic Monroe’s life has been on pause since her sister’s disappearance seven years ago. When Jenna Connor approaches her with new leads, they embark on a perilous search for the truth, risking everything to uncover the fate of their sisters.
Save for Later
The Thrashers
by Julie Soto
Publication Date: May 6, 2025
Jodi Dillon is drawn into the dark secrets of the Thrashers, her high school’s most influential clique, after a desperate outsider dies under mysterious circumstances. As disturbing messages and Emily’s journal surface, Jodi must choose between protecting her powerful friends or facing the chilling truth.
No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding
by Catherine Mack
Publication Date: May 13, 2025
When a death threat crashes her best friend’s celebrity wedding on stormy Catalina Island, mystery author Eleanor Dash must play detective once again. With her ex in the spotlight and secrets behind every guest’s smile, Eleanor races to unmask the killer before vows turn into violence.
The Perfect Psychopath
by Alice Hunter
Publication Date: May 22, 2025
When women begin disappearing, psychologist Dr. Eleanor Spencer is drawn into the case and forced to work with a convicted serial killer who hints that the answers lie in her own buried memories. As she digs deeper, Ellie realizes that the real danger has always been much closer than she thought.
The Busybody Book Club
by Freya Sampson
Top Historical Fictions May 2025
My Name is Emilia Del Valle
by Isabel Allende
Publication Date: May 6, 2025
In 1866 San Francisco, a fearless young writer defies expectations to build a life of independence through fiction and journalism. Her journey to war-torn Chile uncovers buried family truths, unexpected love, and a deeper understanding of who she was meant to be.
The Girls of Good Fortune
by Kristina McMorris
Publication Date: May 20, 2025
After being abducted in 1888 Portland and hidden in the city’s Shanghai Tunnels, Celia must fight for survival while confronting the truth about her past. As buried secrets resurface—including a dangerous connection to a political family and a child left in danger—she risks everything to return to those she loves.
The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club
by Martha Hall Kelly
Publication Date: May 27, 2025
A grieving artist uncovers her family’s hidden past on Martha’s Vineyard, where a reclusive painter reveals the story of two sisters facing love, loss, and danger during World War II. As Mari learns about a wartime book club that grew into something far greater, she begins to understand the courage and secrets that shaped her own legacy.
Most anticipated April 2025 New Books
What Happens in Amsterdam
by Rachel Lynn Solomon
Romance
Publication Date: May 6, 2025
After losing her job due to a disastrous romance, Dani moves to Amsterdam, only to collide with her high school ex, Wouter. Drawn into a marriage of convenience for a visa and an inheritance, Dani and Wouter navigate old feelings and new challenges, wondering if this unexpected twist is their path to happiness.
Speak to Me of Home
by Jeanine Cummins
Contemporary Fiction
Publication Date: May 13, 2025
Rafaela, Ruth, and Daisy—three generations of women—wrestle with identity, family, and belonging as their lives unfold between Puerto Rico and the American Midwest. When a hurricane brings them back together, long-held secrets surface, forcing them to confront the past and redefine what home truly means.
Save for Later
Never Flinch
by Stephen King
Horror
Publication Date: May 27, 2025
A cryptic letter threatens the lives of fourteen people, claiming vengeance for a past injustice. Detective Izzy Jaynes must untangle the motive before it’s too late. Meanwhile, Holly Gibney takes on a high-risk assignment protecting a feminist activist targeted by an obsessive stalker. As the violence escalates, separate investigations collide in a tense and terrifying showdown.
Reese's Book Club Pick May 2025
Reese’s Book Club is a book club founded by Reese Witherspoon. The club reads one book a month and then discusses it online. All the books are chosen with a wide range of readers in mind. Reese’s Book Club is a great way to get recommendations for books to read and to connect with other readers. Here you’ll find the updated list and know about my favorite picks.
Great Big Beautiful Life
by Emily Henry
Romance
Publication Date: April 22, 2025
Two rival writers, Alice and Hayden, are given a month to compete for the rights to an heiress’s untold story. When they find themselves on a secluded island, bound by strict rules and a frustrating NDA, they can’t ignore the sparks flying between them. As ambition collides with emotion, Alice and Hayden must decide what they’re really willing to risk for the truth. Because some stories aren’t just written—they’re lived.
Read With Jenna Book Club May 2025
The Read with Jenna Book club is a great way for fans of Jenna Bush Hager to connect with each other and discuss their favorite books. It’s also a great way to discover new authors and learn more about the reading experience. If you’re looking for a way to get more out of your reading, be sure to check out the Read with Jenna Book Club. You won’t regret it!
The Names
by Florence Knapp
Literary Fiction
Publication Date: May 6, 2025
After a storm, Cora defies her controlling husband by choosing her own name for their newborn son, triggering three possible versions of their future. Across thirty-five years, each path reveals how one choice can alter the course of survival, identity, and the fight for freedom.
GMA Book Club May 2025
The Amalfi Curse
by Sarah Penner
Historical Fiction
Publication Date:Â April 9, 2025
Haven Ambrose, driven by her late father’s tales of hidden gemstones, arrives in Positano to explore its sunken secrets. As she investigates the Amalfi Coast’s mysterious shipwrecks, she stumbles upon the tale of ancient stregheria—sorcery that tamed the ocean itself. With the town plagued by unnatural maelstroms, Haven must decipher if these are the ocean’s fury or a darker magic at play. As she edges closer to the truth, the curse of Amalfi threatens to consume everything.
Book of the Month May 2025
Book of the Month is perfect if you’re looking for a subscription that will keep you entertained and engaged. They carefully select books from well-known authors and new releases to send to their subscribers. You’re guaranteed to find a great book each month.
So if you’re looking for a great way to get new books each month, Book of the Month is a great option. Try it out today!
The Man Made...
by Alex North
Home of the...
by Allison Larkin
The Names
by Florence Knapp
The Bombshell
by Darrow Farr
Silver Elite
by Dani Francis
Alive Day
by Karie Fugett
What books are you most excited about this month? Share your top picks in the comments below and let’s discuss our TBR piles!