Sneak Peek: May 2026 Indie Next List

The May 2026 Indie Next List includes seven Macmillan titles!

MAD MABEL by Sally Hepworth
9781250284549 | 4/21/26

“Hepworth (DARLING GIRLS) showcases her storytelling prowess with this dual-timeline tale that is part thriller, part historical mystery and filled with quirky characters that will pull readers in different directions emotionally. The twists may not all be surprising, but readers will be fully enraptured by the story and fall in love with Mabel, curmudgeonly woman that she is… A must-purchase for most collections. Not only will Hepworth’s many fans be clamoring for this, but it’s sure to grow her reader base.”—Library Journal, starred review

“Hepworth balances heartbreak with Elsie’s delicious snark and strong suspense, but readers will be hard-pressed to resist feeling something here as allies emerge to defeat Elsie’s resigned loneliness. Arguably Hepworth’s best, this is a must-read for fans of Helene Tursten’s Elderly Lady series and Christopher Bollen’s HAVOC (2024).”—Booklist, starred review

PLATFORM DECAY by Martha Wells
9781250827005 | 5/5/26

“Wells returns to form with this one, offering a setting and cast that feels smaller and more intimate, more like her earlier novellas. At the same time, she sets up exciting possibilities for where this universe could go next. The family dynamic adds real poignancy, providing one of the most emotionally resonant Murderbot tales yet… The success of the Apple TV series only adds to Murderbot’s popularity, and readers have patiently waited several years for the next installment in the series.”—Booklist, starred review

“Murderbot’s legion of fans will be thrilled by Wells’s latest series installment, and readers who love a good, snarky internal monologue will be glad to know that Murderbot is back in fine fettle after their self-doubt in the previous book, SYSTEM COLLAPSE.”—Library Journal, starred review

ENORMOUS WINGS by Laurie Frankel
9781250423771 | 5/5/26

“Frankel (FAMILY FAMILY, 2024) brilliantly makes the impossible plausible, intricately collaging questionable medical treatments, geriatric sexuality, teenage pregnancy, women’s fertility and autonomy, religious and political oversteps, and so much more. Frankel is poised (again) to make plenty of readers uncomfortable while also offering entertainment and illumination.”—Booklist, starred review

SEEK THE TRAITOR’S SON by Veronica Roth
9781250347909 | 5/12/26

“Roth’s worldbuilding is detailed without being overwhelming; she focuses more on dystopia in this book and promises to dive deeper into speculative SF adventure in the next installment of the duology. The romance element is seamlessly woven into the plot and comes off elegantly as a result of Roth’s excellent character development. A standout genre-bending adventure with a tender romantic streak.”—Kirkus, starred review

LAST NIGHT IN BROOKLYN by Xochitl Gonzalez
9781250372031 | 4/21/26

“In her third captivating and trenchant novel, Gonzalez continues her celebration of Latino and Black communities in New York City and her exploration of the challenges facing upwardly mobile people of color… With fascinating characters, rapid-fire dialogue, poignant backstories, sexy and dangerous relationships, excruciating and sardonically funny situations, sharp psychological and social insights, vibrant descriptions, abrupt shifts, showdowns, and revelations, this is an all-the-way-live novel of dreams, anguish, vengeance, and liberation… Gonzalez, whose personal appearances are magnetizing, has an avid and growing readership that is primed for her next book.”—Booklist, starred review

WE BURNED SO BRIGHT by TJ Klune
9781250881236 | 4/28/26

“Klune’s (SOMEWHERE BEYOND THE SEA) heart-wrenching plot and emotional prose are on full display in this wonderful queer apocalyptic story.”—Library Journal, starred review

THE DUKE by Anna Cowan
9781250382849 | 4/28/26

A sapphic regency romance about the duke who fears nothing… until the woman she never forgot walks through the door and brings her to her knees. Anna Cowan’s THE DUKE is an utterly unforgettable, page-turning romance featuring two women who, separately, are a danger to each other, but together, could be the most powerful duo London has ever seen.