Love Beauty Thrive loves Book of the Month! Here are the May 2024 Book of the Month picks. What books will you choose for your favorite subscription box?
This post contains affiliate links. If a purchase is made, Love Beauty Thrive may receive a small commission at no added cost to you. Affiliate disclosure is available here. Thank you.
I love Book of the Month! Each month, readers get to choose a favorite (or several) from their curated list of brand-new book releases. And then? Selections are delivered right to your front door – in Book of the Month’s legendary bright blue box.
Every month, Book of the Month curates a list of five to seven gorgeous hardcover books that members can pick from. Audiobook lover? You’ll be thrilled that Book of the Month now offers them too! A new option, audiobooks can now be selected instead of hardcovers (or added on at any time after). I couldn’t be happier!
Monthly, I’ll share the Book of the Month picks and thoughts on each. I hope it will help you decide what books to read and add to your monthly subscription box.
Not a Book of the Month member? I’m so happy to introduce you to these highly anticipated titles – and the best book subscription service. I hope you’ll enjoy reading about these brand-new book releases (and maybe even be inspired to subscribe).
Read on to discover the May 2024 Book of the Month picks and which ones I can’t wait to get on my bookshelf. Get ready to read your heart out!
What is Book of the Month?
Book of the Month is a book lover’s dream. As the most popular subscription service in the book world (America’s #1 monthly book plan; now available in Canada too), it has the best new release books for readers – period.
How Does Book of the Month Work?
They pick a few, then we pick our fav! It couldn’t be easier. . . or more fun.
Choose from a curated selection of the best new reads every month and get them delivered.
Book of the Month (2023)
Book of the Month has been curating the best in books for decades (five or more monthly selections). That means, we get to “choose from stories vetted by cool people with great taste,” (Book of the Month, 2023).
Each month, readers pick a book from the list to add to their subscription box. And then just like magic, it’s delivered right to your door – in its famous, beautiful blue box.
We feature a few wow-worthy reads (Step 1). You decide if you want one or more (Step 2). Then you read, review and repeat (Step 3).
Book of the Month (2023)
All it takes are three easy steps. First, pick a book from the list. Book of the Month unfailingly focuses on exciting new releases, perspectives, genres, and authors in special edition hardcover. Second, get your book. It’s always the best day when that iconic blue box arrives at the door! Third, skip a month at any time. Are you behind on your reading? Nothing catching your eye? Just roll your credits over, no problem.
Even better, Book of the Month picks are often early releases that haven’t been published yet. What does that mean? You get to read them before they’re even available in stores (like an advanced copy). How cool is that?
And don’t forget the add-ons! Want more than one? After your first book, you can add up to four extra titles at a significantly discounted price (current picks, past favorites, or add-on catalog new releases). And after your third box, it gets even better. You can pick from five reader’s favorite books for your choice instead.
How Much Does Book of the Month Cost?
Book of the Month costs $12.50-17.99 USD ($24.20-26.99 CAD) per month depending on your membership plan (i.e., definitely cheaper than buying hardcover new releases at the bookstore). You’ll even get your first book at a major discount! And if you buy a yearly plan, you’ll save even more per book (add-on books are always discounted too).
New subscriber? You’ll likely find great special offers on Book of the Month’s website to sign up. Book lover in your life? Book of the Month has gift card subscriptions too. You can easily cancel your membership if you wish – but I don’t think you’ll want to!
You can visit the Book of the Month website for more subscription information here.
Book of the Month Rewards
It’s about to get even better! Book of the Month loves rewarding its members. After your third book, you’ll get access to the Blue Box Boutique (an exclusive store of book lovin’ merch). After your 12th book, you’ll get a free book-pocket tote, a birthday book on your special day, and your choice of a Book of the Year finalist. Sign me up!
Are you ready for the May 2024 Book of the Month picks? Read on!
May 2024 Book of the Month Picks: Hardcovers
Here are the six hardcovers selected as the May 2024 Book of the Month picks. Drum roll please . . . get ready to read your heart out!
Middletide
Middletide
Sarah Crouch
Crime | Mystery | Thriller | Fiction
GOODREADS | STORYGRAPH
Slow build. Nonlinear timeline. Writer’s life. Nature.
Book of the Month (2024)
In this riveting debut, the mysterious death of Dr. Erin Landry shakes the small town of Point Orchards. Initially deemed a suicide, clues soon suggest murder, mirroring a scene from local Elijah Leith’s novel. As the prime suspect, Elijah struggles to clear his name while reconnecting with his first love, Nakita. This thrilling tale of betrayal and revenge is perfect for fans of All Good People Here and Where the Crawdads Sing.
This tensely atmospheric story about a failed writer’s uneasy return to his hometown is steeped in the natural world.
Book of the Month (2024)
DEBUT | EARLY RELEASE
Publication Date: June 11, 2024
Read More: Middletide by Sarah Crouch
Five Broken Blades
Five Broken Blades
Mai Corland
Fantasy | Romance | Fiction
GOODREADS | STORYGRAPH
400+ pages. Multiple viewpoints. LGBTQ+ themes. First in series.
Book of the Month (2024)
God King Joon of Yusan must die. Five of the realm’s deadliest deceivers are summoned together with one mission: assassinate the tyrant whose reign has crushed the poor and innocent. Among them, a hitman seeking redemption, a captivating assassin longing for freedom, and a disgraced prince—all united by the icy pull of revenge. As they navigate a precarious alliance fraught with lies and betrayal, only one can claim the crown. Let the best liar win.
Five killers unite for a high-stakes quest to topple an unkillable king in this bloody, exhilarating fantasy adventure.
Book of the Month (2024)
Publication Date: May 7, 2024
Read More: Five Broken Blades by Mai Cortland
The Ministry of Time
The Ministry of Time
Kaliane Bradley
Sci-Fi | Romance | Time Travel | Fiction
GOODREADS | STORYGRAPH
Romance. Emotional. Movieish. Salacious.
Book of the Month (2024)
Kaliane Bradley’s thrilling debut The Ministry of Time, blends time travel romance, speculative espionage, and workplace comedy into a novel about truth, power, and the transformative force of love. A civil servant joins a new government project to test time travel, working closely with “1847” or Commander Graham Gore, an explorer who historically perished in 1845. Initially uncomfortable, their relationship evolves into a fervent, unforeseen romance that challenges the fabric of time itself. Joined by a vibrant cast, including a 17th-century cinephile addicted to Tinder and a rebellious ex-spy, they navigate a year that will forever alter their lives and possibly the course of history.
Having trouble finding the love of your life? Have you considered that you might be looking in the wrong century . . .
Book of the Month (2024)
DEBUT
Publication Date: May 7, 2024
Read More: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
The Return of Ellie Black
The Return of Ellie Black
Emiko Jean
Mystery | Thriller | Suspense | Fiction
GOODREADS | STORYGRAPH
Multiple viewpoints. Feminist. Puzzle. Unsettling.
Book of the Month (2024)
Detective Chelsey Calhoun’s world is rocked when Ellie Black, a teenager missing for two years, is found alive in the Washington woods. It hits close to home for Chelsey, still haunted by her own sister’s unsolved disappearance. Ellie is back but silent about her ordeal, and Chelsey is determined to uncover the truth for both Ellie and her sister. Emiko Jean’s The Return of Ellie Black is a gripping feminist thriller filled with suspense and unexpected twists.
Missing girls and small-town secrets are not the only things hiding in the woods of this Pacific Northwest outpost.
Book of the Month (2024)
Publication Date: May 7, 2024
Read More: The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean
The Paradise Problem
The Paradise Problem
Christina Lauren
Romance | Contemporary | Fiction
GOODREADS | STORYGRAPH
Multiple viewpoints. Salacious. Glamorous. Fake dating.
Book of the Month (2024)
Christina Lauren unveils a charming new romance, The Paradise Problem. Liam “West” Weston, heir to a grocery empire, and his ex-wife, Anna Green, a free-spirited artist. Originally married for UCLA housing benefits, they thought they divorced after graduation. Three years later, as Anna scrapes by and Liam teaches at Stanford, they fake their relationship to claim his $100 million inheritance, contingent on five years of marriage. Under family scrutiny, Liam worries if Anna can fit into his wealthy world without losing her authenticity. Their feigned union makes them question whether true love can emerge from a lie.
Money makes people do strange things. For example, get married for a mega inheritance, then actually fall in love.
Book of the Month (2024)
REPEAT AUTHOR
Publication Date: May 14, 2024
Read More: The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren
Real Americans
Real Americans
Rachel Khong
Contemporary | Literary Fiction
GOODREADS | STORYGRAPH
400+ pages. Multiple viewpoints. Family drama. Nonlinear timeline.
Book of the Month (2024)
From Rachel Khong, award-winning author of Goodbye, Vitamin, comes Real Americans, a novel that spans three generations and explores American identity. In Y2K New York City, broke intern Lily Chen meets Matthew, a wealthy pharmaceutical heir. They fall in love despite their very different backgrounds. In 2021, their son Nick feels out of place on a Washington island and seeks his biological father, uncovering family secrets. Khong’s narrative delves into class, race, family, and inheritance, questioning whether our past shapes us and who controls our destiny.
Epic and immersive, this big-hearted family saga tackles important questions of inheritance, destiny, and forgiveness.
Book of the Month (2024)
REPEAT AUTHOR
Publication Date: April 30, 2024
Read More: Real Americans by Rachel Khong
May 2024 Book of the Month Picks: Audiobooks
Audiobook lover? Here are the seven audiobooks selected as the May 2024 Book of the Month picks . . .
The Return of Ellie Black
The Return of Ellie Black
Emiko Jean
Mystery | Thriller | Suspense | Fiction
GOODREADS | STORYGRAPH
Missing girls and small-town secrets are not the only things hiding in the woods of this Pacific Northwest outpost.
Book of the Month (2024)
Read More: The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean
The Ministry of Time
The Ministry of Time
Kaliane Bradley
Sci-Fi | Romance | Time Travel | Fiction
GOODREADS | STORYGRAPH
Having trouble finding the love of your life? Have you considered that you might be looking in the wrong century . . .
Book of the Month (2024)
Read More: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
Just for the Summer
Just for the Summer
Abby Jimenez
Romance | Contemporary | Fiction
GOODREADS | STORYGRAPH
Abby Jimenez returns with a rom-com possessing all the fun of a summer fling and the emotional richness of true love.
Book of the Month (2024)
Read More: Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
Darling Girls
Darling Girls
Sally Hepworth
Thriller | Mystery | Fiction
GOODREADS | STORYGRAPH
When a body turns up under their former foster home, three sisters must confront their past to keep their names clear.
Book of the Month (2024)
Read More: Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
Bye, Baby
Bye, Baby
Carola Lovering
Contemporary | Thriller | Mystery | Fiction
GOODREADS | STORYGRAPH
Told in gripping alternative perspectives, this tense tale follows the dissolution of a friendship when a baby vanishes.
Book of the Month (2024)
Read More: Bye, Baby by Carola Lovering
Did I Ever Tell You?
Did I Ever Tell You?
Genevieve Kingston
Memoir | Biography | Nonfiction
GOODREADS | STORYGRAPH
In this moving memoir, a woman uses the gifts and letters bequeathed by her mom to navigate her coming of age story.
Book of the Month (2024)
Read More: Did I Ever Tell You? by Genevieve Kingston
The Familiar
The Familiar
Leigh Bardugo
Fantasy | Romance | Historical Fiction
GOODREADS | STORYGRAPH
In 16th-century Spain, a girl with a talent for little miracles finds herself dangerously embroiled in palace intrigue.
Book of the Month (2024)
Read More: The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
Love Beauty Thrive: May 2024 Book of the Month Picks
Book of the Month has some extraordinary selections this month. I love every one of the options for the May 2024 Book of the Month picks!
If I have to choose, I am most excited about Sarah Crouch’s Middletide. As a “tensely atmospheric story . . . steeped in the natural world” (Book of the Month, 2024) perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing, I don’t think I can miss out on this read.
As a second choice, I’m also very tempted by Emiko Jean’s The Return of Ellie Black. A gripping feminist thriller of small-town secrets set in the woodsy Pacific Northwest? I can’t wait to get my hands on this book.
What about the audiobooks? The May 2024 Book of the Month picks also included excellent audiobook options. A passionate lover of nonfiction, my first choice is Genevieve Kingston’s memoir, Did I Ever Tell You?
My second audiobook choice is Abby Jimenez’s Just for the Summer. A lovely rom-com with “all the fun of a summer fling and emotional richness of true love” (Book of the Month, 2024) is a great way to spend those rainy spring days.
Your Choice? May 2024 Book of the Month Picks
What book are you most excited to read? I hope this helps you find exciting new books! What do you think of the May 2024 Book of the Month picks? Share your thoughts in the comments below – I love having great conversations about books.
And with that, let’s get our read on!
Follow Love Beauty Thrive on Pinterest
I love Pinterest! And I hope you loved the May 2024 Book of the Month picks. Follow Love Beauty Thrive on Pinterest here. Save this post for later using this pin. Thanks for the love!
More New Book Releases
Spectacular April 2024 Book of the Month Picks
Exciting March 2024 Book of the Month Picks
Awesome February 2024 Book of the Month Picks
Incredible January 2024 Book of the Month Picks
Fantastic December 2023 Book of the Month Picks
