Want to find your next great read? Here are the hottest new May 2023 book releases. Let’s get our hands on the most highly anticipated books that everyone’s talking about this month.
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Highly Anticipated May 2023 Book Releases
Hello, May! Are you ready for the month’s hottest new book releases?
It’s a month stacked with brand new page-turners that I know we won’t be able to put down! If you’re in search of your next great read, here are the most highly anticipated May 2023 book releases for us to get our hands on.
If you might be new to Love Beauty Thrive, here’s the deal! I share with you the hottest, most anticipated book releases (the ones people can’t stop talking about) at the beginning of every month. In search of your next best book? You’re gonna find it right here!
Each month, I list all the top book releases (compiled from different publication sources) that are getting the most excitement in the book world. Are there any books I forgot to include? Be sure to let me know in the comments.
Of course, my list might look a little different than others – our reading interests are all different! But I always try to include a wide variety of titles and the best selection of top anticipated new books. Which ones will you read this month?
Are you ready to get your read on? Here are the best May 2023 book releases.
Highly Anticipated May 2023 Book Releases
Yellowface by R. F. Kuang
Publication Date: May 16, 2023
Amazon | Goodreads | More Info
Aspiring writers, Athena is an Asian-American novelist (a literary rising star) while June is “a basic white girl” (a literary nobody). When Athena dies in a freak accident, June steals her latest masterpiece and publishes it as her own. She rebrands herself as the ethnically ambiguous Juniper Song, instantly becoming a New York Times bestselling author. But when the truth of her identity threatens to go public, June must decide what she’s willing to do to protect her dark secret.
The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane
Publication Date: May 2, 2023
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Struggling with infertility, Malcolm and Jess (a small town couple) stretch their finances to buy the local bar, the Half Moon. A marriage and business in crisis, Malcolm learns a shocking secret about his wife, a bar patron suddenly goes missing and a blizzard brings the entire town to a standstill. An exploration of the complexities of mid-life, marriage, parenthood, family and small town life, this book has been named one of the most anticipated of the year.
Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley
Publication Date: May 2, 2023
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From the New York Times bestselling author of Firekeeper’s Daughter (a Reese’s Book Club pick), comes a new thriller “about the power of discovering your stolen history.” Perry Firekeeper-Birch is a young Anishinaabe woman whose family finds themselves at the center of a high-profile murder investigation – Indigenous women are going missing. When grave robbers try to profit off her tribe’s sacred belongings, Perry must uncover the truth before the women (and her ancestors) are gone forever.
The Senator’s Wife by Liv Constantine
Publication Date: May 23, 2023
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After their spouses are tragically killed, D.C. philanthropist Sloane Chase and Senator Whit Montgomery are ready to move on with their lives – together. Settling into White House life, Sloane needs hip replacement surgery and hires a home health aide, Athena Karras, to assist her as she recovers. When Sloane begins deteriorating (instead of healing), her paranoia and suspicion of Athena grows. A psychological thriller with unbelievable twists, The Senator’s Wife finds itself on many to-be-read lists.
The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren
Publication Date: May 16, 2023
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A bestselling romance novelist who has never been in love, Fizzy Chen feels like she’s been living a lie. When she’s approached by Connor Prince (a documentary filmmaker and single father), to be cast as the perfect romantic lead in a new production, she’s apprehensive – but gives him a list of demands first. He agrees, hoping the “queen of romance” herself will fall head-over-heels in love on his reality TV show. Will Fizzy – or Connor – ever find their own perfect match?
Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune
Publication Date: May 2, 2023
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Fern Brookbanks needs a plan. At thirty-two, her life doesn’t look at all like she envisioned. That is, until Will shows back up in her life and offers his help. Ten years earlier, a chance encounter led to them spending the perfect day together (their chemistry undeniable). But he’s nine years too late – failing to meet up with her one year later as they planned. Can she trust him now? Is he hiding something? As a Canadian reader, I can’t wait to get my hands on this brand new, highly anticipated novel set in Toronto.
The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer
Publication Date: May 9, 2023
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Clover Brooks works as a death doula in New York City, devoting her life to helping people die peacefully. She’s always had a deep connection to the dying since kindergarten (when her teacher died during class right before her eyes). In her dedicated work with death, she has forgotten how to truly live. That is, until a feisty old woman’s final wish forces her on a trip across the country – to uncover a forgotten love story – navigating uncharted roads of courage, happiness and friendship along the way.
Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli
Publication Date: May 2, 2023
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A new novel exploring friendship, identity and sexuality by #1 New York Times bestselling author Becky Albertalli. Imogen Scott is heterosexual, but a very proud ally to her friends and family (better versed in queer discourse than even they are). When her friend Lili tells all her college friends that she and Imogen used to date, no one knows Imogen’s real – heterosexual – truth. And the more time Imogen spends with Lili’s friend Tessa, she starts to wonder just how straight her truth actually is.
Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Smith Paul
Publication Date: May 2, 2023
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Kitty Karr is a legendary, iconic white actress of Old Hollywood glamour, who dies leaving her multi-million dollar estate to the St. John sisters (three young, wealthy Black women) – and the media has lots and lots of questions. As Elise St. John sorts through Kitty’s journals, she makes a shocking discovery about Kitty’s rise to fame in the segregated South . . . that could unravel the entire St. John family. Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? is a Reese’s Book Club pick. Will you be reading with Reese this month?
The Daydreams by Laura Hankin
Publication Date: May 2, 2023
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In the early 2000s, The Daydreams were the most popular teen show – until a scandal surrounding the live season two finale ended it all. Now that fans are demanding a reunion special, the four stars of The Daydreams discover they all have their own reasons to be involved. After all moving on in life in very different directions, old secrets start to resurface as the reunion gets closer (including the real reason that they were cancelled). Are they doomed to implode again? No matter what happens, it’ll be great for ratings.
The Ferryman by Justin Cronin
Publication Date: May 2, 2023
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A new novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author Justin Cronin. Prospera is a hidden island paradise where citizens live long, meaningful lives. When monitors implanted in their arms reveal that their health has fallen below 10%, they are ferried to “The Nursery” to have their bodies, minds and memories reset. But Proctor Bennett, the ferryman, begins to question the island utopia when his father falls ill, his own health deteriorates and unrest – and resistance – begins to build. What secrets will be revealed?
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Publication Date: May 2, 2023
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In Kerala, South India, three generations of a family seek answers to a strange secret – every generation, someone dies by drowning. Big Ammachi’s extraordinary life of joy and loss is at the center of the story. An exploration of human understanding, love, faith and medicine, it’s considered “one of the most masterful literary novels published in recent years”.If Oprah says it’s “one of the best books I’ve read in my entire life,” you know it’s got to be incredible. The Covenant of Water is an Oprah’s Book Club pick.
Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Publication Date: May 2, 2023
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Loretta Thurwar and Hamara “Hurricane Staxxx” Stacker are lovers and the stars of a popular network of death-match games run by the for-profit private prison system. Competing for their freedom, they are fan-favourite Links together in a Chain-Gang. In a few more matches, Thurwar (and her lethal hammer) will soon be free, but she first must consider defying the games (and the status quo) to help the other Links – something that could have devastating consequences. Chain-Gang All-Stars is a Read With Jenna book club pick.
A History of Burning by Janika Oza
Publication Date: May 2, 2023
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A debut novel spanning four generations across India, Uganda, England and Canada, A History of Burning has been named one of the most anticipated books of the year. In 1898, Pirbhai was a thirteen year old breadwinner for his family in India. After a haunting decision he makes is felt across generations of his family to come, each is eventually forced to question how far they’re willing to go to secure a place in the world. An exploration of survival, “colonialism and exile, complicity and resistance”, it’s sure to be on many must-read lists.
Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby
Publication Date: May 16, 2023
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From #1 New York Times bestselling author Samantha Irby comes one of the most anticipated new books of the year. Samantha shares the ugly parts of life (that usually stay hidden behind glitz and glam) in this hilarious collection of new essays. Funny and relatable, it’s a reminder that life is never what it seems online – where all the gory and unpleasant parts are easily cropped out. Making light of it all, this true portrait of a real life (behind the depression memes) just might be exactly what we all need to get by.
The Nigerwife by Vanessa Walters
Publication Date: May 2, 2023
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Nicole Oruwari has the perfect life in almost every way. Moving from gloomy London (and a troubled family past) to sunny Lagos, Nigeria, she becomes part of the Nigerwives – a group of foreign women married to Nigerian men. When Nicole disappears without a trace after a boat trip (and the police turn up nothing), her estranged Auntie Claudine starts her own investigation – discovering dark secrets about Nicole . . . and about herself. The Nigerwife is the Good Morning America book club pick.
More Popular May 2023 Book Releases
Homebodies by Tembe Denton-Hurst
Publication Date: May 2, 2023
Amazon | Goodreads | More Info
Tell Me Everything by Minka Kelly
Publication Date: May 2, 2023
Amazon | Goodreads | More Info
The Making of Another Motion Picture Masterpiece by Tom Hanks
Publication Date: May 9, 2023
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Retrospective by Juan Gabriel Vasquez
Publication Date: May 9, 2023
Amazon | Goodreads | More Info
King: A Life by Jonathan Eig
Publication Date: May 16, 2023
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The Celebrants by Steven Rowley
Publication Date: May 30, 2023
Amazon | Goodreads | More Info
May 2023 Book Releases, What Will You Read?
What books will you be reading this month? I hope this post helps you to find some exciting new books to read! Are there any other important May 2023 book releases I accidentally forgot to add to the list? I’d love for you to let me know in the comments below (I always love to learn more about your reading interests). And with that, let’s get reading!
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