24 Exciting New Reads to Dive Into this May

May is here, and it's bringing a fabulous lineup of fresh reads to spice up your bookshelf! Get ready for thrilling novels by Stephen King and Ocean Vuong, a thought-provoking biography from Ron Chernow, and a new graphic novel from Alison Bechdel — all hitting shelves this month!

Literary Highlights You Can't Miss

**The Director** by Daniel Kehlmann (May 6) This gripping biographical novel revolves around Austrian filmmaker G.W. Pabst, who gained fame during the silent film era. Now trapped in Europe as Nazi power rises, Pabst faces the daunting task of maintaining artistic integrity while collaborating with a regime that threatens his safety. Can he navigate the treacherous waters of his time?

**Melting Point** by Rachel Cockerell (May 6) An evocative family history takes a surprising turn when Cockerell uncovers her great-grandfather's legacy as a pivotal early Zionist. Through letters, diaries, and personal narratives, she brings to life a significant yet overlooked chapter of Jewish migration history.

**Second Life** by Amanda Hess (May 6) Venture into the complex terrain of parenting in a digital age with Hess, who reflects on the realities of raising a child amidst a sea of online chaos—from viral conspiracies to nursing influencers—and what they mean for the modern family.

**Sleep** by Honor Jones (May 13) Follow a newly divorced mother as she navigates haunting memories from her childhood. As a magazine editor during the #MeToo movement, she confronts the unspoken traumas of her past through the lens of contemporary women's stories.

**The Emperor of Gladness** by Ocean Vuong (May 13) This thought-provoking novel delves into the life of a depressed Vietnamese American teenager who unexpectedly becomes a caretaker for an elderly woman with dementia, challenging the notion of personal growth and transformation.

**Mark Twain** by Ron Chernow (May 13) Chernow's detailed biography spotlights the many facets of iconic writer Mark Twain, exploring his contradictory life—from a typesetter to a riverboat pilot—delivering insights into his prolific work amid the backdrop of a nation grappling with its own identity.

**Capitalism and Its Critics** by John Cassidy (May 13) In the midst of economic upheaval, Cassidy interrogates capitalism's journey through history, highlighting the voices of its lesser-known critics and illustrating the ongoing cycle of crisis and recovery.

**Apple in China** by Patrick McGee (May 13) With insider insight, McGee uncovers the complexities of Apple's relationship with China, revealing how its manufacturing strategies have made both the company and the West vulnerable to authoritarian influences.

**What Will People Think?** by Sara Hamdan (May 20) This debut novel follows a modern Palestinian American woman who secretly pursues her passion for comedy while navigating familial traditions and her romantic entanglements, deftly blending past and present through her grandmother's diary.

**Spent** by Alison Bechdel (May 20) In her newest graphic novel, Bechdel hilariously tackles contemporary issues like throuples, lockdown life, and cultural shifts, all through the eyes of her witty and relatable alter ego.

**Original Sin** by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson (May 20) This intense exposé chronicles Joe Biden’s decision to seek a second term, peeling back the layers of political intrigue, denial, and the aspirations clashing within his party.

**Murder in the Dollhouse** by Rich Cohen (May 20) Cohen reexamines the tragic tale of Jennifer Dulos’s disappearance and the fallout of a bitter divorce that turned deadly in this gripping true-crime narrative.

**Harmattan Season** by Tochi Onyebuchi (May 27) Step into a world where noir meets fantasy in Onyebuchi's gripping tale of a private investigator caught in the midst of an escalating conflict in French-colonized West Africa.

**The Last Supper** by Paul Elie (May 27) Elie reflects on the intersection of art and controversy during the 1980s, exploring how figures like Madonna and Martin Scorsese navigated cultural upheaval.

With so many riveting titles to choose from, May is shaping up to be a spectacular month for readers! Get your reading lists ready and prepare to be transported to thrilling new worlds!