7 Books We Can’t Wait to Read in May

Since getting pregnant her freshman year of high school, all of Emoni’s decisions have revolved around the best interests of her family. But on the eve of graduation, she reconsiders whether her dreams of becoming a chef are as far-fetched as she thinks they are.

In New York’s Hudson Valley, a luxury retreat offers every amenity you could want for a hefty price. The only catch? You can't leave the grounds for nine months, while you dedicate yourself to one task: producing the perfect baby. (Um, creepy.)

When they were children growing up in an Italian village, odd and beautiful Stella Fortuna shielded her younger, plainer sister, Tina, from the world, continuing after the family emigrated to America on the cusp of World War II. Decades pass, and now in present-day Connecticut, a relative is determined to understand the fierce rift between the now-elderly sisters.

Kate English seems to have it all: money, a beautiful family and an impressive career…until her mother is brutally murdered. Kate and her estranged best friend team up to investigate the crime, uncovering secrets about Baltimore high society she never could have imagined. The author of The Last Mrs. Parrish’s latest is a tense, psychological thriller that proves that money isn’t everything.

Khai is autistic, a diagnosis he thinks precludes him from romantic relationships. His mother, on the other hand, devotes herself to getting him a partner, and travels to Vietnam to find him a bride. Like her last novel, The Kiss Quotient, Hoang writes sensitively about underrepresented characters, while balancing heavier themes with light, sweet humor.

When Orange Is the New Black star Kate Mulgrew’s father was diagnosed with aggressive lung cancer while her mother was struggling with atypical Alzheimer’s, she returned to her Iowa hometown to care for them. The months Kate spends with her parents are alternately tragic and joyful, but it’s the secrets she uncovers about their Irish Catholic family that really challenge her understanding of her own upbringing.

Calling all podcast fiends: The hosts of My Favorite Murder now have a collection of humorous essays. Combining personal stories with true-crime anecdotes, the two best friends muse on their biggest mistakes and fears. It’s funny, of course, but Kilgariff and Hardstark also go surprisingly deep, educating readers about the importance of advocating for themselves, and valuing personal safety over being "nice" or "helpful."