Reviewed New book releases · May 2026
Every new book out in May 2026
25 books published for the first time this month. Here they all are, day by day, with our verdict on the ones we’ve read.
25new releases
25reviewed by us
8out on Tue 5, the busiest day
Romancetop genre
Our verdicts
Reviewed by The Bookish Elf
25 of this month’s new books, already read, rated and reviewed. Our two highest-rated first.
Out Tuesday 5 May
The Calamity Club
by Kathryn Stockett
Historical · Penguin
Read our review →Out Tuesday 26 May
The Midnight Train
by Matt Haig
Fantasy · Canongate Books
Read our review →Rules for the SummerMeghan QuinnOut 5 May
John of JohnDouglas StuartOut 5 May
The Last Contract of IsakoFonda LeeOut 5 May
Caller UnknownGillian McAllisterOut 5 May
The Things We Never SayElizabeth StroutOut 5 May
The Daisy Chain Flower ShopLaurie GilmoreOut 5 May
Our Perfect StormCarley FortuneOut 5 May
Solace HouseWill MacleanOut 7 May
The FoursomeChristina Baker KlineOut 12 May
The Last PageKatie HoltOut 12 May
First and ForeverLynn PainterOut 12 May
The AnniversaryAlex FinlayOut 12 May
Broken DoveDani FrancisOut 12 May
All Them DogsDjamel WhiteOut 19 May
The One Day You Were My HusbandRosie WalshOut 19 May
The Burning SideSarah DamoffOut 19 May
Fever DreamElsie SilverOut 19 May
The Ballad of Falling DragonsSarah A. ParkerOut 19 May
The Final TargetNora RobertsOut 26 May
Birds of a FeatherKate StewartOut 26 May
Dolly All the TimeAnnabel MonaghanOut 26 May
The DivorceFreida McFaddenOut 26 May
The VivisectorsMissouri WilliamsOut 21 May
Big names this month
Popular authors with a new book
The best-known authors publishing in May, from readers’ most-anticipated list and the authors we review most.
MQ
Meghan Quinn9 books reviewed on The Bookish ElfRules for the Summer · out 5 May★ We reviewed it
Elizabeth Strout6 books reviewed on The Bookish ElfThe Things We Never Say · out 5 May★ We reviewed it
LGLaurie Gilmore7 books reviewed on The Bookish ElfThe Daisy Chain Flower Shop · out 5 May★ We reviewed it
CFCarley Fortune3 books reviewed on The Bookish ElfOur Perfect Storm · out 5 May★ We reviewed it
CKChristina Baker Kline3 books reviewed on The Bookish ElfThe Foursome · out 12 May★ We reviewed it
LPLynn Painter8 books reviewed on The Bookish ElfFirst and Forever · out 12 May★ We reviewed it
AFAlex Finlay3 books reviewed on The Bookish ElfThe Anniversary · out 12 May★ We reviewed it
ESElsie Silver5 books reviewed on The Bookish ElfFever Dream · out 19 May★ We reviewed it
Nora Roberts5 books reviewed on The Bookish ElfThe Final Target · out 26 May★ We reviewed it
KSKate Stewart3 books reviewed on The Bookish ElfBirds of a Feather · out 26 May★ We reviewed it
AMAnnabel Monaghan3 books reviewed on The Bookish ElfDolly All the Time · out 26 May★ We reviewed it
Matt Haig3 books reviewed on The Bookish ElfThe Midnight Train · out 26 May★ We reviewed it
Day by day
All 25 new releases
Showing all 25 books.
Tuesday5 May 2026
8 releasesReviewed Reviewed Reviewed Reviewed Reviewed Reviewed Reviewed Reviewed Thursday7 May 2026
1 releaseReviewed Tuesday12 May 2026
5 releasesReviewed Reviewed Reviewed Reviewed Reviewed Tuesday19 May 2026
5 releasesReviewed Reviewed Reviewed Reviewed Reviewed Thursday21 May 2026
1 releaseReviewed Tuesday26 May 2026
5 releasesReviewed Reviewed Reviewed Reviewed Reviewed Questions
May 2026 releases, answered
What books come out in May 2026?
25 new books are listed for May 2026, led by The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett, The Midnight Train by Matt Haig and Rules for the Summer by Meghan Quinn. The full list on this page runs day by day and can be filtered by genre.
What is the biggest release day in May 2026?
Tuesday 5 May, with 8 new books. Most US books are published on a Tuesday.
Which May 2026 books has The Bookish Elf reviewed?
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett, The Midnight Train by Matt Haig, Rules for the Summer by Meghan Quinn, John of John by Douglas Stuart, The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee, Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister, The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout, The Daisy Chain Flower Shop by Laurie Gilmore, Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune, Solace House by Will Maclean, The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline and The Last Page by Katie Holt, and 13 more. Reviewed books carry our star rating.