The time for poolside, lakeside, beachside reading is almost upon us and our staff is here with some of our favorite upcoming May + June Book Releases across horror, literary fiction, romance, fantasy, and more.
The Duke by Anna Cowan (April 28)
"The Duke has a rare cross-genre appeal that will draw in a truly wide range of readers. Its rich historical setting, sapphic yearning, and high-stakes plot have the potential to reach far beyond traditional historical-romance audiences. This is one of my favorite books I've read in the last several years and I can't wait for more readers to find their own way to The Duke." – Courtney
There's Something Fishy about My Boyfriend by Gloria Duke (May 12)
"Get in the pool, we’re playing mermaids! Campy in the best way, this book had me kicking my fins. It was tender, spicy, and downright fun. In a world of monster romances, we’ve been needing a merman." – Halli
A Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman (May 12)
"Dinniman keeps turning the screws of emotional torment while giggling at us all and this installment in the series was no exception. The big twists had payoff, the floor designs really worked with the humor, and we continue to see the hope inspired by just having a plan (or several). It was epic and a marvelous time!" – Ashlyn
Phoebe Berman's Gonna Lose It by Brooke Averick (May 26)
"What a stunner of a debut! I adored the rep for anxious pukers and thirty-year-old virgins, but this kind of mental health depiction in a romance is so perfect and appreciated. I adored Phoebe's journey with self-acceptance, and you can't help but fall in love with the family of friends she's created for herself; the perfect amounts of heartwarming and humor with a plot twist I didn't see coming (also giggled when I realized this was 30 chapters exactly)." – Ashly
Puck by Samantha Allen (June 2)
"Chaotic and queer, this loose retelling of Midsummer Night's Dream is perfect for anyone who loves messy reality TV. Puck, a reality TV producer, returns to their best friend's wedding intent on breaking up the happy couple, but the maid of honor is intent on seeing this wedding down the aisle in this funny journey that reflects on how friend groups can grow and change with age." – Ashly
Muñeca by Cynthia Gomez (June 2)
"This is the sapphic, spider-infested, witchy melodic horror I didn't realize I needed! Absolute stunner of a debut novel, this bewitching page-turner serves readers a colonialism history lesson wrapped in a gothic nightmare." – Ashly
Whistler by Ann Patchett (June 2)
"This book is a thank you note to the bravest moments that make up a life. Both beautiful and complicated, the love amongst chosen family brought me to tears. I devoured it in one sitting, riding the wave of melancholy all the way to contentment." – Halli
Pool House by Mary H.K. Choi (June 9)
"I never know what exact emotions I will feel when I open up a Mary H.K. Choi novel, only that I will feel them deeply. Pool House was no different. This is a mother-daughter story unlike any we've seen. It's the perfect story for those who understand that dysfunction and devotion often go hand-in-hand." – Courtney
Girl's Girl by Sonia Feldman (June 2)
"I smelled the summer rain and pool chlorine, felt the oppressive heat and hair-altering humidity, and yearned for the endlessness of summer as a teen, its possibilities spreading out before me. Feldman speared me in the heart with this aching, sweet, and sharp summer of girlhood, friendship, queerness, and coming of age, where nothing and everything happens so quickly as we yearn for nothing to change but to know and experience everything all at once. If you want an excuse to experience nostalgia, call your mom and apologize for your teenage years, or glimpse into modern midwestern girlhood with all of its obsessions and longing, this one is for you!" – Ashly
Cat Love by Tomás Q. Morín (June 9)
"I cried at the dedication and sobbed at the end; this little dystopian book of philosophy, told from a sassy cat's point of view, will resonate with cat lovers and anyone who loves reflecting on humanity. Deeply funny, tender, and poignant, I don't have enough words of praise for this beautiful prose and story. This will be one of the best books I read this year, and I'm already telling everyone I know about it, because everyone should know cat love." – Ashly
The Cat Prophecies by Nik Korpon & Jorge Enrique Paz (June 9)
"Magic, cats, cultural (and disability!) inclusivity – the trifecta for an engaging middle grade book that teaches without telling you you're being taught. I enjoyed Tito's witty voice and the gentle addition of Spanish vocab – and magical cats. I cannot emphasize the importance of the cats." – Shelby
Obstetrix by Naomi Kritzer (June 9)
"A doctor with a controversial past, a cult that preys on her vulnerabilities (like any good cult...) to get what they need from her. Dystopian, edge-of-your-seat wondering what is next – the choice for readers who want a short but gripping sci fi horror-esque story." – Liz
Voyagers by Meg Charlton (June 16)
"During a family vacation, two children go missing, leading to an unlikely friendship forged over a UFO abduction story, which unites and later reunites them when aliens return to earth. This critique of how media and our memories distort and twist reality is, at its core, a deep and tender tale of friendship (keep those tissues nearby, friends)." – Ashly
These Immortal Truths by Rachelle Raeta (June 30)
"These Immortal Truths looks at immortality from a distinctly human perspective, bringing a similar tenderness that made us fall in love with Addie LaRue. The prose, story, and setting are rich and emotional, but the slow-burn romance is what truly anchors the story. This is a book for those who yearn for everything." – Courtney
