10 New Books You Should Read in May 2023

The 10 Most Anticipated Books To Read in May 2023: The fifth month of the year already and a fresh start to the summer season, May 2023, seems promising for the publication industry, with some of the most looked-forward-to publications set to hit the bookstores. From a parade of fantastical tales and stories of human bonds to Tom Hank’s new novel and some essential important non-fiction works, our list of 10 books to read in May 2023 will cover it all for you. Here are the best new releases for you to add to your bookshelves this year. Happy reading 🙂 

1. The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane

Genre: Literary Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery
Pages: 304
Publisher: Scribner (May 2, 2023)

The first book on our May 2023 release list follows the story of Malcolm Gephardt and his wife, Jess, who have both hit a plateau in their lives – personally and professionally. Over the course of a week, Malcolm and Jess, who live separated now after a series of failed IVF attempts, must come to terms with inconsolable disappointments, the intimate small-time community they live in and the expectations from their own lives. It promises to be a heart-wrenching story that is equally authentic and melancholy as it views adult lives and choices through the lens of sordid reality.  

Born in Bronx, NYC, Mary Beth Keane is an American writer who was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship for Fiction. She pursued a B.A. in English Literature from Columbia University and earned an M.F.A. in Fiction from the University of Virginia in 2005. Her works have appeared in reputed dailies, including The New York Times, Vogue, The Baltimore Review, etc. She has already published three novels, and this is her fourth worth of fiction.

2. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Asian Literature
Pages: 736
Publisher: Grove Press (May 2, 2023)

This much-awaited May 2023 release takes us to Kerala, India, where a Christian family has been suffering from a weird affliction for the past three generations – in every generation, someone or the other meets their end by drowning. In Kerala, water is everywhere, and the stories of individuals and communities are brought together by Verghese in one sweeping narrative that aims to talk about the passing of time and the changing of times. It promises rich, evocative storytelling with a look into the caste system and the politics of the nation-state as well.

Born of Indian parents, Abraham Verghese is a reputed physician and a best-selling author. He grew up in Ethiopia and started his medical training there, finishing it at the Madras Medical College and taking up residency in the USA. His insights into working with terminally ill patients became the premise of his first book, My Own Country: A Doctor’s Story. He also earned an MFA in 1991, and his writing has appeared in several esteemed publications, including Granta, The Wall Street Journal, etc.

3. The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece by Tom Hanks

Genre: Literary Fiction, Historical, Adult Fiction
Pages: 448
Publisher: Knopf (May 9, 2023)

The third book on our May 2023 release list has been making headlines since the start of the year. It follows Hanks’ religious chronicling of the production of a film based on a comic book (which is also reproduced in the book) from its conception to its glittering premiere in the 21st century. It promises to give you a hint of Hollywood from the perspective of an insider in the industry and pays its due share of respect to those behind the camera, without whom there would be no magic a.k.a cinema.

One of the most popular American actors in Hollywood, Tom Hanks is a cultural icon. He made his debut in a slasher film, He Knows You’re Alone (1980) and is most recognizable for his roles in Forrest Gump (1994), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Cast Away (2000), etc. He has also received six Academy Award nominations and won two of them for Best Actor. In 2002, he also won the AFI Life Achievement Award. He has previously published a collection of short stories, Uncommon Type, in 2017.

The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece also Featured in 20 Great Books We Can’t Wait To Read in 2023

4. King: A Life by Jonathan Eig

Genre: Non-fiction, Biography, Politics
Pages: 688
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (May 16, 2023)

This book on our May 2023 release list is a full-length biography of one of the most iconic civil rights activists, Martin Luther King Jr. Eig goes to the extent of shining some light on King’s own personality and family life, portraying him as an individual so often emotionally troubled but willing to fight for justice till death. Eig recasts the journey of the legend whose contributions shaped American race relations in this landmark biography, showing how the themes of racial and economic justice still ring pertinent in our times.

American journalist and biographer Jonathan Eig has published five books that have won him critical acclaim. He earned a BA in journalism and worked as a freelance writer for several esteemed publications, including The New York Times and Washington Post. He currently lives in Chicago and is working as a consulting producer for a documentary on Muhammad Ali, also the topic of his last publication that won him the 2018 PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing. 

5. Killing Me by Michelle Gagnon

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Humour
Pages: 336
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons (May 16, 2023)

The next book on our May 2023 release list is one that describes itself as a ‘laugh-out-loud funny thriller’ – strange. It is the story of Amber Jamison, who has managed to escape as the sixth victim of the Pikachu serial killer with the help of another mysterious woman. This pushes her into confronting law enforcement agencies, coercing her to open up about her past that she’d rather forget. She flees to Vegas only to land in the soup with another serial killer. This is a story of unlikely friendships, some adventure, romance, and a lot of fun!

Michelle Gagnon is many things – former dancer, model, freelance journalist, etc. – but foremost, she is one of America’s most loved crime fiction novelists. Her thrillers, including Boneyard (2008) and No Escape (2012), are critically acclaimed bestsellers in over a dozen countries. Gagnon graduated from Wesleyan University and is currently pursuing a MA in Clinical Psychology. She lives in Los Angeles and is part of the San Francisco Writers’ Workshop.

6. Women We Buried, Women We Burned: A Memoir by Rachel Louise Snyder

Genre: Non-fiction, Biography, Women’s Writing
Pages: 272
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing (May 23, 2023)

This May 2023 release follows the story of the author, Synder herself. She was eight years old when her mother passed away and, since then, rebelled to get out of situations she was thrust into. In the process, she ends up traveling across the world and interviewing women who, too, have suffered from the unimaginable. It is a tale of devastation and resilience that may be triggering for those who have experienced the worst, from dysfunctional families to religious fundamentalism.

American journalist, professor, and writer Rachel Louis Synder has been published across esteemed dailies, from The New York Times to The Washington Post. Originally from Chicago, she holds an MFA from Emerson College and is a joint professor of literature and journalism at American University. She was one of the 2021 Guggenheim Fellows and covered the stories surrounding the issues of abuse, domestic violence, natural disasters, war, and displacement, among others.

7. Of Light and Shadow by Tanaz Bhathena

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Pages: 448
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (May 23, 2023)

Next on our May 2023 release list is the story of Roshan Chaya, the leader of Shadow Clan, who was an orphan at birth. She is driven by the singular goal to avenge her adoptive father and help her people earn back their rights. On the other hand, there is Prince Navin, who gets captured by the Shadow Clan and reaches out to Roshan for help. Set in a fantasy land inspired by the contours of 17th-century India, Roshan and Prince Navin must try to keep their growing attraction at bay as the world around them starts to tremor and crumble. Let the world-building and magic sweep you off your feet!

Canadian Zoroastrian author Tanaz Bhathena was born in Mumbai, India, and is a popular writer of fantasy and contemporary fiction. Her debut novel, A Girl Like That (2018), was crowned as the best book of 2018 by several prestigious publications around the globe and was nominated for the White Pine Award in 2019. She has also written short stories for several publications, including Room, Blackbird, The Hindu, etc. 

8. Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Genre: Literary Fiction, Mystery, Contemporary
Pages: 350
Publisher: The Borough Press (May 25, 2023)

The eighth book on our May 2023 release list is the story of two authors (well, one author), June and Athena. When the latter dies in a freak accident, June steals her manuscript and tweaks it around to fit an anonymous identity surrounding her. After all, she isn’t Asian American, and the story of Chinese laborers in World War I is not for her to tell. Soon, however, evidence starts emerging that threatens to oust the truth as June tries her best to keep it under wraps in this pulsating novel that promises to address the lack of diversity and cultural appropriation in the publishing industry and everyday lives.

Chinese-American fantasy writer Rebecca F. Kuang is popular for the Poppy Wars trilogy. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. from Yale University and has previously attended Georgetown University. She is a Marshall scholar and has gained an MPhil from the Magdalene College, University of Cambridge, and an MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies from Oxford University. The first Poppy War book has won some of the most prestigious awards, along with the position of a finalist for the Nebula Award for Best Novel.

9. Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig

Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Asian Literature
Pages: 304
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing (May 30, 2023)

The penultimate book on our May 2023 release list is for the fans of Piranesi and The Night Tiger, and it follows the adventures of a Chinese pirate queen, Shek Yeuung. Her partner dies, but she does what it takes to become the commander of the largest pirate fleet in China. From a person of humble origins to a powerful leader, Yeung is ruthless in her acts of juggling power in a male-dominated world, making her a protagonist who is far from perfect – humane. Come for the courage and ferocity this story promises, and stay for the page-turning swashbuckling adventure it presents!

Represented by Michelle Brower at the Trellis Literary Management, Rita Chang-Eppig has received an MFA in Fiction from NYU and several fellowships, including the Rona Jaffe Foundation, the Writers Grotto, etc. Her stories have been published in several esteemed journals, including Virginia Quarterly Review, Conjunctions, etc. This is her debut novel.

10. The Celebrants by Steven Rowley

Genre: Queer, Literary Fiction, Mystery
Pages: 320
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons (May 30, 2023)

One of the most anticipated books to read in May 2023 follows the story of five friends, Jordan, Craig, Marielle, Jordy and Naomi and promises to be an entertaining and sentimental node to a modern-day Big Chill. It’s been 28 years since they last graduated, and according to their pact, they come together once every decade to throw each other a “living funeral” in Big Sur. Only this time, Jordan has a secret and most of his friends are already exhausted from bearing the burden of adulthood. This book will help you look at adult friendships (and their upturned messy lives) in a new light.

A bestselling author who has been published in 20 languages, Steven Rowley is widely acclaimed for his books Lily and the Octopus (which is being made into a feature film), The Editor, and The Guncle. He graduated from Emerson College and has previously worked as a newspaper columnist, screenwriter and freelance writer. He is currently based out of Palm Springs.