Sign in with Facebook
May's Most Anticipated New Releases
The year 2020 is already unlike any other in history. Nevertheless, the days are getting longer, the weather is getting better, and the good books keep on coming. For dedicated lovers of literature, there is no greater comfort than having lots of pages to turn.
New this month: Francesca Serritella brings a new mystery thriller set in the hallowed halls of Harvard. Notorious wild-card author Christopher Moore is back with a genre collision concerning Shakespeare and squirrels. And a little modest little series called The Hunger Games gets a long-awaited prequel installment. Also: Big summer weddings, Chinese guardian spirits, and the enduring appeal of Jane Austen.
Each month the Goodreads editorial team takes a look at the books that are being published in the U.S., readers' early reviews, and how many readers are adding these books to their Want to Read shelves (which is how we measure anticipation). We use the information to curate this list of hottest new releases.
New this month: Francesca Serritella brings a new mystery thriller set in the hallowed halls of Harvard. Notorious wild-card author Christopher Moore is back with a genre collision concerning Shakespeare and squirrels. And a little modest little series called The Hunger Games gets a long-awaited prequel installment. Also: Big summer weddings, Chinese guardian spirits, and the enduring appeal of Jane Austen.
Each month the Goodreads editorial team takes a look at the books that are being published in the U.S., readers' early reviews, and how many readers are adding these books to their Want to Read shelves (which is how we measure anticipation). We use the information to curate this list of hottest new releases.
Billed as The Hunger Games #0, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes takes place 64 years before the events of the original series, starting on “the morning of the reaping of the Tenth Hunger Games.” Details past that are being kept strictly under wraps, typical for an oppressive society like Panem. Persistent rumors suggest that the new book has something to do with President Snow. We can neither confirm nor deny.
Parents can be trouble and kids can be weird. But perhaps the strangest element of the human condition is that kids grow up to be parents and parents were, invariably, once kids. Emma Straub’s new book traces the complex dynamics of one family over the course of several generations. With gentle humor and hard-won insight, Straub endeavors to crack that most perplexing puzzle: familial love.
Six years after the epic fight that ended their friendship, former besties Drue and Daphne are suddenly back in each other’s lives. Drue wants Daphne to be maid-of-honor at her wedding, destined to be the society event of the summer. But Daphne’s not the same pushover that she was, and Drue’s glamorous circle of friends has an appeal all its own. Friendship is a notoriously tricky business.
If you’ve ever dated an English major, you know that Jane Austen inspires tenacious loyalty among her readers. Natalie Jenner’s anticipated historical drama follows the fates of several disparate souls who gather in small English village of Chawton, Austen’s final home, just after World War II. The members of The Jane Austin Society each have their own traumas to work through as they struggle to preserve Austen’s home and legacy.
A mystery thriller set in the hallowed halls of America’s most revered university– sorry, Yale, but it’s true–Ghosts of Harvard wanders that fascinating interstitial zone between the psychological and the supernatural. Cadence Archer is hearing voices, no doubt about that. But are they inside her head or rising up from Harvard’s surprisingly tragic history? Double secret bonus trivia: Author Francesca Serritella is a Harvard grad herself.
Author Christopher Moore specializes in stories that defy categorization. Gleefully mixing genres and traditions, Shakespeare for Squirrels is being billed as A Midsummer Night’s Noir–a hardboiled take on the Bard’s most popular comic play. Moore writes with a delightful disregard for rules. His books are a close to a sure bet as you can get in this racket.
An intriguing blend of historical fiction and mythological fantasy, The Library of Legends tells the tale of Chinese students in 1937 tasked with protecting a 500-year-old tome of myths and folklore. As the Japanese bombs fall, the young heroes encounter guardian spirits and restless immortals, with the fate of an entire people on the line. From the author of Three Souls and Dragon Springs Road.
Author Mikel Jollett was born into a California cult–“experimental commune,” if you’re feeling generous–where kids were separated from their parents. He survived a childhood of abuse, neglect and trauma to become a successful writer and musician–he’s currently frontman for the indie band The Airborne Toxic Event. His bracing autobiography promises to be the season’s most memorable memoir.
Which new releases are you looking forward to reading? Let's talk books in the comments!
Check out more recent articles, including:
24 New Historical Fiction Novels to Read Now
May's Most Anticipated Young Adult Books
13 Mythological Retellings for Fresh Takes on Familiar Stories
Check out more recent articles, including:
24 New Historical Fiction Novels to Read Now
May's Most Anticipated Young Adult Books
13 Mythological Retellings for Fresh Takes on Familiar Stories
Comments Showing 1-36 of 36 (36 new)
date
newest »
newest »
"Sister Dear" by Hannah Mary McKinnon, and "This is How I Lied" by Heather Gudenkauf both come out in May, and should be awesome.
I can't wait till the bookshops open again and I can get my hands on these! Also, Jacqueline Wilson's Love Frankie should be out already or soon. She was my favourite childhood writer and I want to get back into the atmosphere of her books.
CANNOT WAIT for the hunger games prequel!!!!
Looking forward to getting the Library of Legends.
Ugh I can’t wait for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes!
Elentarri wrote: "Most of these covers are hideous!"yeah, i'll second that one. i know it's the story that counts, but how about a little creativity for the outside?
I NEED TO READ THE HUNGER GAMES PREQUEL!!
I read the Jane Austen Society. This book felt like velvet throughout. Love it!
Catie wrote: "I NEED TO READ THE HUNGER GAMES PREQUEL!!"Spoilers: all the characters are younger and smaller :)
Elentarri wrote: "Most of these covers are hideous!"I agree
I have "Rolling Thunder" by A.J. Devlin pre-ordered for delivery on May 15/20
Anny wrote: "I can't wait till the bookshops open again and I can get my hands on these! Also, Jacqueline Wilson's Love Frankie should be out already or soon. She was my favourite childhood writ..."I have an Advanced Reader Copy of Love Frankie. I can't wait til the bookshops open either.
Hunger Games Prequel and Christopher Moore! OMG, yes!
Why does Ghosts of Harvard sound just like the plot of Ninth House??
I’ve already ordered a copy of All Adults Here from Books Are Magic!!! My most anticipated book of the year! I’ve read 2 of her books already and both were awesome.
#EmmaStraubYou and Stephen King are my heros.
A Hunger Games prequel? Holy moly I’m so excited!
Looking forward to Big Summer and Ghosts of Harvard!
Rachel wrote: "Why does Ghosts of Harvard sound just like the plot of Ninth House??"my thoughts exactly.
'May's most anticipated releases'Library of Legends: RELEASE DATE JUNE
L. wrote: "'May's most anticipated releases'
Library of Legends: RELEASE DATE JUNE"
Hardcover shows release date of APRIL 1 2020
Library of Legends: RELEASE DATE JUNE"
Hardcover shows release date of APRIL 1 2020
Philip wrote: "L. wrote: "'May's most anticipated releases'Library of Legends: RELEASE DATE JUNE"
Hardcover shows release date of APRIL 1 2020"
at this point pub dates are a crap shoot... a lot have been changed and may not have been updated on GR.
I can't wait to read Ghosts of Harvard by Francesca Serritella. I have been waiting for years for it to be published. Go Francesca!
Amy "the book-bat" wrote: "Philip wrote: "L. wrote: "'May's most anticipated releases'
Library of Legends: RELEASE DATE JUNE"
Hardcover shows release date of APRIL 1 2020"
at this point pub dates are a crap shoot... a lot ..."
Check Amazon.ca - Kindle ed is $13.99cdn and Paperback is $14.85cdn and both published in APRIL
Library of Legends: RELEASE DATE JUNE"
Hardcover shows release date of APRIL 1 2020"
at this point pub dates are a crap shoot... a lot ..."
Check Amazon.ca - Kindle ed is $13.99cdn and Paperback is $14.85cdn and both published in APRIL
Check out Until Summer comes around by Glenn Rolfe. It releases this month and perfect for fans of the 80s, vampires and the Lost boys 80s film.
I'm looking forward to the brand-new biography of House Speaker Pelosi by Molly Ball.
Irl the writer made me mad (no hate on the book I love the series) because they said modest LITTLE series and after that he said long awaited PREQUEL it already has two prequels thats why its called a SERIES. I digress. Edit I'm talking about the hunger games.
Elentarri wrote: "Most of these covers are hideous!"Right On!
Worse Angels by Laird Barron
Keep Saying Their Names by Simon Stranger
Don't Shed Your Tears For Anyone Who Lives On These Streets byPatricio Pron
Out of Body by Jeffrey Ford
Hard Cash Valley by Brian Panowich
The Windscale Incident by Paul Kearney
Network Effect by Martha Wells