Buckle up because this is a little long but worth it! I compiled all the May and June book releases I’ve either read and loved, have on my shelf to read ASAP, or are on my wish list. And there are SO MANY MORE books I would have included if it wouldn’t have made this newsletter as long as a CVS receipt.
I’m thinking of having this be a regular (paid) feature, so let me know if that’s something you’d be interested in. Thanks for reading!
May Releases
Ones I’ve read…
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave – I read this in one day, and it was exactly the kind of thriller I needed to get some of my reading momentum back. From the setting (Sausalito, CA) to the characters (a woman in her 40s and her 16-year-old stepdaughter), it was an enthralling escape. Backlist pairings: The Last Flight by Julie Clark; Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson
While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams – Political thrillers that aren’t of the James Patterson variety are hard to find, so when I saw Abrams was coming out with one I couldn’t NOT read it. And it didn’t disappoint. While it took about 50 pages for me to get into, once I did I was hooked. At times complex but always compelling, this book is a unique blend of political thriller and whodunit. Abrams is clearly a gifted writer and reading this made me eager to check out her romance novels, which are being re-released by Berkley next year. Backlist pairings: Need to Know by Karen Cleveland; American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson
Ones on my shelf…
Sunshine Girl by Julianna Margulies – As a huge fan of ER I’m very eager to read about Margulies’ personal life and get a peek behind the scenes of her career. I have a feeling this one would be great on audio. Backlist pairings: Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham; Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes.
Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead – Sinking into a chunky historical fiction read sounds like exactly the summer book I’ll be in the mood for. This one spans continents and timelines, and the buzz has me eager to pick it up. Backlist pairings: The Women With Silver Rings by Katherine Sharp Landdeck; Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry – I just started reading this! I thoroughly enjoyed Henry’s book of the summer last year, Beach Read, and people seem to be loving this one even more. I’ll share my thoughts in the regular newsletter later this month, but it seems like just the escape I’m looking for. Backlist pairings: Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis; Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
Punch Me Up to the Gods by Brian Broome – Broome’s memoir about growing up Black and queer in Ohio looks to be a beautiful addition to the conversation on Blackness in America. This is another one I’ll probably listen to on audio. Backlist pairings: How We Fight for Our Lives by Saeed Jones; All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
That Summer Job by Lizzy Dent – The second I heard this book takes place in the Scottish highlands I added it to my cart. Its comparisons to Beach Read and Sweetbitter don’t hurt either. Backlist pairings: Cork Dork by Bianca Bosker; The Lost Vintage by Ann Mah
Others I’m excited about…
June releases
Ones I’ve read…
Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid – I was so excited to read TJR’s newest that I put it off. Anyone else do that? But, as always, once I finally picked it up I got sucked in and couldn’t put it down. Her books are almost guaranteed hits for me (The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is probably my favorite). If you love complicated families, Hollywood drama, and a fast-paced story, this is for you. Backlist pairings: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng; City of Flickering Light by Juliette Fay
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston – Give me a contemporary story set in New York City and I’ll read it. Add in loveable and quirky characters, a swoon-worthy romance, and a little bit of magic and I’m IN. I LOVED McQuistion’s previous novel, Red, White & Royal Blue, and started counting down to the release of this sophomore novel months ago. And it lived up to the hype. Read this if you want to feel like you’re falling in love for the first time. (Highly recommend listening to McQuiston’s curated playlist to go along with the book.) Backlist pairings: Red, White & Royal Blue (because nothing can compare to the magic of Casey McQuiston); Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
One Two Three by Laurie Frankel (releases today) – I JUST finished this one and wow, I loved it. It was similar to Frankel’s This Is How it Always Is – families dealing with hard things but supporting each other, difficult subjects but with lots of heart – but with quirkier characters and a focus on teenage sisters, rather than the parents themselves. Plus, this book had really good disability representation, something I want to see more of in fiction. (Pro tip: If you listen to the audio, there’s an interview with the author at the end that gave some great insight into both why she wrote this book and how they cast for the audio.) Backlist pairings: The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown; The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls by Anissa Gray
Ones on my shelf…
Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford – I’m listening to this one right now and so far I’m loving it. Ford is a writer and podcaster who talks about race, body image, and family, among other things, and this memoir depicts her childhood and growing up with an incarcerated father. Backlist pairings: More Than Enough by Elaine Welteroth; Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T. Kira Madden
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams – This romance is set in the world of publishing when two authors reconnect at a literary event years after a week-long affair. I’ve heard the steam level is pretty high, so if that’s not your thing you might want to skip this one. Backlist pairings: Hate to Want You by Alisha Rai; Luster by Raven Leilani
Dear Senthuran by Akwaeke Emezi (releases today) – In their first memoir, Emezi describes through letters their journey through self-discovery. Discussing topics of gender, success as a writer, relationships, and self, Emezi uses their talent for writing fiction to tell the story of their own life. Backlist pairings: The Terrible by Yrsa Daley-Ward; Redefining Realness by Janet Mock
Blackout by Ashley Woodfolk, Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Nicola Yoon, Angie Thomas (releases June 22) – Some of young adult’s best writers come together in this collection of interconnected stories about Black teen love. This was one I HAD to have as soon as I heard about it. Backlist pairings: Black Enough edited by Ibi Zoboi; (Don’t) Call Me Crazy by Kelly Jensen
What’s Done in Darkness by Laura McHugh (releases June 22) – The story of a young woman abducted from her religious home struggles to come to terms with her past and find a way forward. This one is short (about 250 pages) and sounds like a great pick to read in one sitting during a hot summer day. Backlist pairings: Still Missing by Chevy Stevens; A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard
Others I’m excited about…
The Natural Mother of the Child by Krys Malcolm Belc (releases June 15)
Thanks for Waiting by Doree Shafrir (releases June 29)
Rock the Boat by Beck Dorey Stein (releases June 29)
Let me know if you add any of these to your TBR! I’ll be sharing reviews of those I read in my regular monthly newsletter, so stay tuned.
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Love love love your book reviews! Pleasantly surprised to see that you included the SUNSHINE GIRL by Julianna Marguiles since I have not seen this book on bookstagram and I bought the book months ago. I think I pre-ordered the book when I preordered the memoir by Kitt Shapiro, whose mother was Eartha Kitt. I have the Stacey Abrams on my reading list. I just finished a book from the Reese's Book Club - Northern Sky by Laura Dave. And I am on the waiting list for the Malibu Rising ebook from the library.