Download, read, and vote for your favorite May titles for the May 2026 LibraryReads list!
VOTES DUE APRIL 1ST!
PALACES OF THE CROW by Ray Nayler | 9780374620752 | 5/19/26
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“A meditation on morality and mortality, this sharp speculative WWII drama from Hugo Award winner Nayler (THE TUSKS OF EXTINCTION) pits four young refugees against a host of hostiles, with their only aid coming from a murder of hyperintelligent crows… Nayler weaves a tapestry of resilience and resistance as intricate and well-constructed as the braided twigs of a crow’s nest. In his compassionate hands, the distinction between human and animal blurs as, together, both groups thrive better than either could alone. It’s an impassioned paean to togetherness even in the midst of the chaotic isolation of war and to the power of storytelling to keep memory and hope alive.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Nayler’s tale is packed with human brutality and the nobility of animals and their complex minds, never descending into sentimentality as it exalts ‘the civilization of crows that had saved their lives, fed and sheltered and preserved them while humans ripped everything apart.’… A brilliant if relentlessly grim blend of history and fantasy.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
THE FRANCHISE by Thomas Elrod | 9781250406583 | 5/12/26
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“Through dual timelines, from inside the world itself and from the workers behind it all, Elrod unspools the story of this thrilling fantasy world and its puppet masters… THE FRANCHISE is a daring debut, a genre-twisting work where sf offers a glimpse into fantasy and where readers can watch a web of megalomaniac producers and poorly executed science go steadily, irreparably wrong, boasting interesting characters, an absurd sense of humor, and some moral questions about fandom, the power of media, and exploitative capitalism.”—Booklist, starred review
ENORMOUS WINGS by Laurie Frankel | 9781250423771 | 5/5/26
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“A 77-year-old Texan grapples with the astonishing news that she’s pregnant in the amusing latest from Frankel (FAMILY FAMILY)… Frankel blends humor and gravitas in her portrait of an expectant mother who’s also facing her own mortality. Fans of the author’s quirky family stories about hot-button issues will find much to enjoy.“—Publishers Weekly
SEEK THE TRAITOR’S SON by Veronica Roth | 9781250347909 | 5/12/26
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“The first in a duology, Roth’s latest features ambitious world building and a solid romantic subplot, along with plenty of intrigue and betrayals. Recommend to readers of Catherynne Valente‘s RADIANCE (2015), Ann Leckie’s Imperial Radch trilogy, or Lauren Dane’s Federation series.“—Booklist
AND SIDE BY SIDE THEY WANDER by Molly Tanzer | 9781250382054 | 5/19/26
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“A far-future gang attempts an interstellar museum heist in this crafty sci-fi novella from Tanzer (CREATURES OF CHARM AND HUNGER)… This bite-size romp is a wild and thought-provoking ride.“—Publishers Weekly
THE GIRL WITH A THOUSAND FACES by Sunyi Dean | 9781250810212 | 5/5/26
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From the USA Today bestselling author of THE BOOK EATERS comes THE GIRL WITH A THOUSAND FACES, a stunning Gothic tale set in a historical Hong Kong that meshes ancient myths and local legends into a haunting story of ghosts, grief, and women who will not forgive.
A CURSE OF BEASTS AND MAGIC by Jeaniene Frost | 9781250395993 | 5/26/26
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New York Times bestselling author of The Night Huntress series Jeaniene Frost returns with a brand-new series! It’s Beauty and the Beast meets The Witcher, except Beauty IS the Beast, and he’s the Warden keeping mythical beings in check in our world and beyond.
SOON BY YOU by Dahlia Adler | 9781250411884 | 5/19/26
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27 Dresses meets THE INTIMACY EXPERIMENT in this sexy, emotional, opposites-attract rom-com set in New York City’s Modern Orthodox community.
DEAD WEIGHT by Hildur Knútsdóttir | 9781250329295 | 5/26/26
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An Icelandic night may hide secrets and affairs—or even bodies—in this gruesomely cathartic horror thriller from the author of THE NIGHT GUEST.
I’LL WATCH YOUR BABY by Neena Viel | 9781250906342 | 5/26/26
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A suffocating and sharp narrative horror novel for fans of Victor LaValle and The Reformatory from “addictive” (Publishers Weekly) horror author Neena Viel.
DEATH’S DAUGHTER by S.A. Barnes | 9781250388483 | 5/5/26
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The steamy mythology of NEON GODS meets the dark academia of NINTH HOUSE in this contemporary romance from USA Today bestselling author S.A. Barnes.
GOOD JOY, BAD JOY by Mikki Brammer | 9781250284433 | 5/5/26
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From the bestselling author of THE COLLECTED REGRETS OF CLOVER comes a vibrant, heartfelt novel about friendship over the decades, self-discovery, and what it means to have a life well-lived. Is it ever too late to become who we’re meant to be? With laugh-out-loud hijnks and emotional heft, GOOD JOY, BAD JOY is a heartwarming and wise celebration of the choices we make, the friendships we cherish, and the lengths we go for love.
I, SPY by L. M. Kemp | 9781250420367 | 5/5/26
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Former spy Kendal may have triumphed in situations that would leave others running for the hills, but now she faces her toughest op yet… motherhood. I, SPY is a propulsive debut thriller about the disguise that all parents wear, and the identities that hide our former lives.
THE FAKE DIVINATION OFFENSE by Sara Raasch | 9781250428790 | 5/19/26
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From New York Times bestseller Sara Raasch, sports romance gets a Dungeons & Dragons makeover with the next book in the Magic & Romance series that follows half-giant Orok, forced into a PR relationship with a feisty, fan-favorite cheerleader.
BURNOUT SUMMER by Jenna Ramirez | 9781250410924 | 5/12/26
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For fans of Tessa Bailey, Emily Henry, and Elle Kennedy: a beachy friends-to-lovers romance through a post-grad journey that will have readers cheering (and falling in love!) along.
SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER by Vincent Yu | 9781250410122 | 5/5/26
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A breathtaking debut novel about survival, hope, and second chances in an Asian American community in Massachusetts, when a false missile alert throws the residents’ lives into chaos. An urgent, fiercely heartfelt exploration of relationships in all forms, SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER explores the balance between love and loyalty, betrayal and forgiveness. What choices would you make if you thought your life were on the line? And if you survive, can you ever redeem yourself?
MORTEDANT’S PERIL by RJ Barker | 9781250398802 | 5/19/26
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In a city of ancient automata, strange spirits, and sleeping gods, a cleric of death finds his own life on the line in this vividly imagined fantasy murder mystery from the acclaimed author of THE BONE SHIPS and AGE OF ASSASSINS. Perfect for fans of THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA, FOUNDRYSIDE, and WITNESS FOR THE DEAD, this investigative misadventure begins a perilous new series.
HUNGERED by Amanda Rizkalla | 9781250420756 | 5/19/26
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For readers of THE HOUSE ON MANGO STREET and WE THE ANIMALS, this striking debut brings to life an unforgettable young narrator and the complicated, loving, cruel, and generous figures that make up her universe. This haunting and lyrical novel captures the fault lines of an existence marked by economic insecurity, exploring what it means to come of age during a moment of displacement. Beautiful, evocative, and emotionally charged, HUNGERED is an indelible ode to survival, memory, and the search for home in its many forms.
THE HILL by Harriet Clark | 9780374614546 | 5/5/26
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After her mother is sentenced to life in a hilltop prison, Suzanna vows to visit her on the hill forever. THE HILL is an unexpectedly funny and deeply moving novel of a child growing up between worlds, the last of three generations whose fates have been tied to punishment. It is the story of a family broken apart by the desire for change, told with irreverent wisdom and visionary force.
MARE by Emily Haworth Booth | 9780374617707 | 5/19/26
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To cope with emptiness, diagnosable and otherwise, a woman turns to a horse in a stirring first novel about care, embodiment, and belonging. With tender humor and insight, Emily Haworth-Booth’s MARE radiates life and feeling—and introduces an irresistible literary voice.
COYOTELAND by Vanessa Hua | 9781250395511 | 5/12/26
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From the bestselling author of A RIVER OF STARS comes a funny, heartfelt novel set in an affluent Bay Area suburb where a Chinese American family moves in and sets off a series of scandals, for fans of Celeste Ng and Emma Straub. Urgent, riveting, and deeply heartfelt, full of sharp wit and keen empathy, COYOTELAND is at once a delicious suburban drama and an unflinching exploration of our current moment.
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