May is STACKED with incredible new releases
Every year, the month of May delivers on incredible new releases and 2026 is no exception.
One of my favourite authors in the world ever is releasing her first book in 8 years, some hugely popular romantasy novels are getting a sequel, and one of my favourite romance authors is starting a new series. The pre-orders are out of control this month…
These are all of the books on my radar for May 2026:
‘Change of Plans’ by Sarah Dessen (5th)
The return of my Queen, finally! It doesn’t seem to have received a UK release so far so I’m still waiting for my pre-order to arrive from the US, and I’m waiting very impatiently.
‘The Last Contract of Isako’ by Fonda Lee (5th)
I’m actually yet to read Fonda Lee, but a standalone space opera about corporate samurai? How fun does that sound?!
‘Honey’ by Imani Thompson (7th)
I’m always a fan of novels where women right the wrongs of the world, even if they take it to dark and scary places, and this debut sounds like it’s going to do just that! I have a proof and I’ll be reading it very soon.
‘Blue Devil Woman’ by Sloane Fletcher (7th) (my review)
‘Night Rider’ is one of my favourite romance novels in a long time so I devoured the proof of this one the second I got NetGalley approval and it was so much fun! My review is linked above.
‘Blood Bound’ by Ellis Hunter (7th)
I am SO looking forward to this!
‘Broken Dove’ by Dani Francis (12th)
Okay so, maybe I haven’t read ‘Silver Elite’ yet but I am 98% sure that I’m going to love it so this is already on my radar. I did, in fact, originally pre-order the special edition until I decided to be responsible and make sure I’d read book one first and cancelled it….
‘The Parade of Horribles’ by Matt Dinniman (12th)
I’m one book behind on Carl’s adventures, but they’re so effortless to read and listen to so I’ll be up to date and ready to dive in to all 700 pages of book eight.
‘The Story of Birds’ by Steve Brusatte (14th)
Now I know that this is an anomaly on this list, but I can’t articulate just how much I love this author’s works. ‘The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs’ is one of the best non-fiction books I’ve ever read and has made me a loyal reader for Steve Brusatte.
‘Trad Wife’ by Sarah Langan (14th)
I read and loved ‘Yesteryear’ by Caro Claire Burke last month so I’m really excited to get stuck into the other takedowns of trad wife influencers, and this horror? Sign me up.
‘Fever Dream’ by Elsie Silver (19th)
Do I need to say anything about this one? It’s Elsie Silver, it’s a new series, and it’s cowboy romance. I’ll be reading it the second my pre-order hits my Kindle.
‘The Arcane Arts’ by SD Coverly (19th)
Yay, dark academia! This is definitely one on the list for future seasons of the podcast.
‘The Ballad of Falling Dragons’ by Sarah A Parker (19th)
While I haven’t yet read ‘When the Moon Hatched’, I have it on my Romanceopoly TBR for this year so it’s finally going to happen! I predict loving it, so the sequel is of course already on my list.
‘The Tapestry of Fate’ by SA Chakraborty (21st)
I absolutely adored ‘The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi’ and it’s been a few years so I’ll be re-reading book one this month and diving straight into the sequel. I’m ready for some big adventures with Amina!
‘A Curse of Beasts and Magic’ by Jeaniene Frost (28th)
A ‘Beauty and the Beast’ retelling from one of my favourite urban fantasy and paranormal romance authors? Uhhh, sign me up. I can’t wait for this one!
Are any of these on your TBR for May? Tell me about your pre-orders for this month!
