Reader's Corner: Books We Can’t Wait to Read in May 2026
+ A Pregnant Septuagenarian, The Original Tarot Illustrator, Gender-Flipped Beauty and the Beast Romantasy
Hello, Protagonists!
It’s the end of the month, which means it’s time for a favorite ritual: previewing some of the upcoming book releases we’re excited about—the ones that have caught our eyes, tugged at our curiosity, or made us whisper, “Gimme gimmie gimmie.”
xo, Joanna & Evelyn
Note: We don’t receive affiliate commissions or payment for these mentions. We haven’t read these yet; these are genuine picks based on love of the author, intriguing premises, or early buzz that feels promising.
📚 May’s Most Anticipated New Releases
Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel (May 5th release)
After reluctantly settling into a Texas retirement community and finding unexpected love, seventy-seven-year-old Pepper Mills is shocked to discover she is pregnant. As a chaotic media frenzy descends upon her, Pepper must fight for her bodily autonomy and the right to make her own choices in the urgent novel Enormous Wings.
» Laurie Frankel will be on our podcast next week!
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett (May 5th release)
Set in 1933 Mississippi, the lives of fiercely independent orphan Meg, outspoken Birdie, and down-on-her-luck Charlie unexpectedly converge amidst the harsh realities of the Great Depression. Banding together, these underestimated women hatch an audacious and dangerous plan to reclaim their futures, proving that even in a highly restrictive society, calamity can spark triumphant new beginnings.
Our Perfect Storm by Carly Fortune (May 5th release)
After being unexpectedly dumped by her fiancé on her wedding day, Frankie is left heartbroken and unsure of her increasingly strained relationship with her lifelong best friend, George. Determined to heal her heart and mend their fractured bond, George convinces her to go on her planned honeymoon to Tofino with him, embarking on a trip that will force them to confront long-buried feelings that could change everything.
Mind Drama: The Science of Rumination and How to Outwit Your Inner Defeatist by Donna Jackson Narazawa (May 19th release)
In Mind Drama, veteran science writer Donna Jackson Nakazawa gets inside the strange magnetism of rumination, explains why we're all doing it now more than ever, and shares the new science for decoding, outwitting, and repurposing this dark mental habit. Using her own ruminative mind as a test case, she walks us through the actionable neuro-hacks that can help us escape unhealthy brooding.
» Donna Jackson Narazawa will be on our podcast this month!
Pixie by Jill Dawson (May 26th release)
Following the loss of her parents, the gifted and fiercely determined Pamela “Pixie” Colman Smith navigates the complex, esoteric world of fin-de-siècle art to forge her own path. In the novel Pixie, author Jill Dawson vividly reimagines the globetrotting life, struggles, and triumphs of the real-world illustrator behind the iconic Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck.
The Midnight Train by Matt Haig (May 26th release)
A magical, time-travelling love story, from the world of The Midnight Library. No one can change the past, but the Midnight Train can take you there, giving the chance to re-live the moments that meant most and to see what kind of person you really were. For Wilbur his best days were with Maggie, the love of his life. Before he gave it all away. He wishes he could go back and live differently. But to do so risks everything . . .
A Curse of Beast and Magic by Jeaniene Frost (May 28th release)
Harboring a violent, supernatural Beast within her since her family’s murder, vigilante Raine Stone accidentally exposes herself to a hidden realm of mythic creatures and its guardian, Warden Remy Byrne. As a sinister plot threatens the fragile barrier between worlds, Raine and Remy must navigate their explosive attraction and decide whether to forge an alliance to save humanity.
🥰 What Are You Looking Forward To?
What’s been your favorite read this month?
What new releases are you most excited about?
Leave a comment below — we’d all love to grow our TBRs together.