As per usual, it feels like the days of this year are passing way too fast. April is here, May is coming, and soon enough we are going to be chilling by the pool for the summer season. With the warmer months coming up, I have been creating my TBR list for the season! There are so many good books coming out in the coming months! This is why today I am going to be talking about the May 2022 book releases that I am most excited about!
I have been in a bit of a reading slump over the past couple of months. I have been averaging about 1 book a month, and I can’t get my brain to focus on something for more than 5 minutes.
It might be because of the tough beginning of 2022 or the fleeting attention span that TikTok has given me, but I have been unable to stop and read. But I really want to. Luckily putting together lists and TBR is a surefire way to get me in the reading mood. I think it reminds me of how many books there are in this world that I still want to read.
Plus, I always get this reading slump this time of year. I don’t know what it is, but it is an annual occurrence.
This list of May 2022 book releases is full of so many awesome reads! Check them out and join me in my excitement for these excellent stories!
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May 2022 Book Releases
Hallow Fires by Samira Ahmed
Release Date: May 3, 2022
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The main character of Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed, Safiya Mirza, wants to be a journalist and spends a lot of her time working for her school’s newspaper. However, she was not expecting to find the body of a dead boy, Jawad. Jawad had recently been labeled as a terrorist for a cosplay jetpack that was mistaken for a bomb. From then on, Safiya makes it her mission to tell Jawad’s story, and talk about the hatred and racism that lead to his death.
The early reviews of this book are already so good. With a sea of five-star reads, I know this is going to be an impactful book for the young adult genre this year.
I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston
Release Date: May 3, 2022
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First off, I am in love with the vibes of this book’s cover, but I am a fan of illustrated romance covers, so that isn’t new information. I will definitely be adding this book to my book collection because of the cover! My top book cover from this list of May 2022 book releases!
Don’t worry, the plot also sounds super interesting. I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston follows Chloes Green, a high school senior who is trying to finish her very conservative school with valedictorian status and go on her way. But she has some competition, in the form of Shara Wheeler, the progeny of the school.
However, Shara suddenly goes missing, and it happens right after Chloe kissed her. Soon Chloe finds out that Shara also kissed two other people. This creates a strange bond between them and together they search for clues to where Shara has disappeared to.
The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas
Release Date: May 3, 2022
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With all the romance and contemporary books that come out in the spring and summer months, I am always excited to be anticipating a dark/creepy book. So thank goodness May is bringing The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas!
This book is supposed to be a mix of Mexican Gothic and Rebecca. It is about Beatriz, who must marry after her family and home are lost in the aftermath of the Mexican War of Independence. However, there are rumors about the man she meets because of the death of his last wife, which happened suddenly. Trying to ignore the rumors, she moves into her new estate but quickly starts experiencing some strange things, and she realizes there might be more to the stories than she first thought.
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Release Date: May 3, 2022
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Last year I read Beach Read by Emily Henry and I enjoyed reading about two writers falling in love. One of my favorite subjects for books is readers/writers, so when I learned that Henry was releasing another book surrounding similar topics, I knew I had to add it to my summer TBR!
This story is about Nora, whose entire life is about books. She lives for books, much like many of us do. So, when she is sent to a small town with her job, all she wants to do is turn into the main character she has been reading her whole life. But of course, all she does is bump into Charlie, a book editor from the city. The only problem is they don’t exactly like each other.
This is bound to be THE enemies-to-lovers book of the summer. There are already so many great reviews coming in, I know this will be one of the most popular books this year.
Relates: Book Review of Beach Read by Emily Henry
Siren Queen by Nghi Vo
Release Date: May 10, 2022
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Over the past couple of years, historical fantasy has quickly become one of my favorite genres, so I am super excited about this book. In Siren Queen by Nghi Vo, Luli Wei is an aspiring performer in Hollywood, but as a Chinese-American, the parts she has access to are limited, and she knows that. But as she gets deeper into the industry she starts to realize that studios are using ancient blood magic to own every aspect of their performers, and Luli is willing to do anything to achieve that stardom she strives for.
I am fascinated by the film and music industry, so this mix of that and magic is a perfect fit for me. I know this book is going to grip my attention from the very start, so I can’t wait to dive into this immersive story.
The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes
Release Date: May 17, 2022
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Again, obsessed with the cover of The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes. This story is about seventeen-year-old Yamilet, who wants to start fresh at her new school after being outed by her ex-best friend at her previous one. However, this gets difficult when Bo, the only openly queer student at the school is way too perfect to ignore. But Yamilet can’t let anything get in the way of her new motto, “what would a straight girl do?”
I am all for a fluffy and angsty romance story, with some heartbreak thrown in as well. This is sure to be a fantastic summer read this year, and it is one of the most anticipated books from my list of May 2022 book releases.
Just Like Mother by Anne Heltzel
Release Date: May 17, 2022
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Of course, there needs to be some horror on this list of May 2022 book releases!
Oh, I have chills from the book cover alone, I can’t imagine how I will feel while actually reading Just Like Mother by Anna Heltzel! Being raised in a cult has led Maeve to be careful with the people she trusts and accepts into her life. She has worked for nearly 20 years creating a life of her own. One day, her cousin, Andrea, who was also in the cult, shows up and Maeve is quickly wrapped into her world. However, while she’s there, memories of her past start to come up, and she realizes there may be more negativity coming her way.
City of Orange by David Yoon
Release Date: May 24, 2022
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In City of Orange by David Yoon, a man with amnesia wakes up in an apocalyptic land. He is trying to figure out how to survive when he meets a boy and realizes anything he thought he know about his past might not be correct. This science-fiction novel is heavy in characterization (my favorite) and a rich world unlike anything else.
I love a good apocalyptic world! Give me all the ravaged landscapes and bizarre characters! I can’t wait to read this new book from David Yoon!
Murder for the Modern Girl by Kendall Kulper
Release Date: May 24, 2022
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In Murder for the Modern Girl by Kendall Kulper, the main character, Ruby, has a lot of talents, one of them being murder. She prowls the streets looking for the men who prey on women, the ones that traditional justice hasn’t caught up with. Her weapon of choice? Poison. However, her gig might be up when I young coroner in the city starts to get clued in on what she is doing.
Although there have been so many books written in this era, with Gatsby vibes, I am a sucker for them. There is something so fascinating about reading about a glamorized world during a very unglamorous period of time. Throw some magic and murder in there and I am hooked.
Rivals by Katharine McGee (American Royals #3)
Release Date: May 31, 2022
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As a fan of the two first books in the American Royals series, I am excited to hear that the third and final book in the series is coming out in May! It is finally here. These books are such great reads for the summer. They are fast-paced, fun, and exciting.
In this final installment, Rivals by Katharine McGee, Beatrice is finally the queen and there is more drama than ever. This book is going to step into each of the main character’s relationships, along with new connections and rivalries. I can’t wait to see how the author finishes up the stories brought forth in the first two books!
Summer’s Edge by Dana Mele
Release Date: May 31, 2022
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One of my favorite genres last year was a mystery, and one of the best I read was People Like Us by Dana Mele. So of course I am excited for the release of this new book, Summer’s Edge a horror and mystery novel.
This book is about a group of friends still dealing with the loss of their friend a year previous in a house fire. The remaining friends decide to get together in memory, coming to the site of the incident, where the house has been rebuilt. There, mysteries and secrets are discovered, and a killer is among them, trying to enact revenge.
This sounds like your classic mystery/horror novel and I am here for it. Seems like a great story to get lost in this summer. Can’t go wrong selecting a mystery for your beach read!
Related: Book Review of People Like Us by Dana Mele
What book are you looking forward to reading this month? There are so many exciting May 2022 book releases, that it’s hard to pick just one! I would say my top choice is Siren Queen by Nghi Vo. The setting and story truly sound fascinating, I can’t wait to see where the author takes this story.
There is such a large variety of book releases coming in May, which is super exciting! There are so many different genres, I think this summer is going to be full of a ton of different types of stories. I am ready to expand my reading horizons, maybe this summer will be my intro to historical fiction and non-fiction as well! Who knows!
For more May 2022 book release lists, check out this post from Booklist Queen and this post from Book Birds! Both are great lists with a ton more books that I didn’t include on this list!
Book Lovers and Just Like Mother sound right up my street! Thanks for sharing – I’m always looking for new book recommendations. I can’t believe how quickly this year is going either, how are we almost in May!