May 2026 Diverse Reads:Â Â Â Â Â Â
â˘âWe Could Be Anyoneâ by Anna-Marie McLemore, May 26, Feiwel & Friends, YA, Historical/1920âs/Gothic/Magical Realism/Mythology/Folklore/Coming of Age/Family Life/Siblings/Queer Life/Queer Romance/Feminist/Con Artists/Old Money Glamour/New York/LGBTQ
â˘âNo God but Usâ by Bobuq Sayed, May 26, Harper, Literary/Family Life/Immigrant Family/Immigrant Community/Queer Life/Politics/Social Themes/Identity/Belonging/Self Discovery/Love/Sexuality/Exile/Faith/Cultural Heritage/Afghan/Muslim/World Literature/Tehran/Istanbul/suburbs of Northern Virginia & Washington DC/LGBTQ
â˘âGhalen: A Romance in Blackâ by Walter Mosley, May 26, Amistad, Contemporary, Coming of Age/Portrait of Family/Family Life/Boyhood/Manhood/Intergenerational/Multigenerational/Saga/Unconventional Love Story/Cultural Heritage/African American & Black/World Literature/Diverse Perspectives
â˘âPretend You're Dead and I Carry Youâ by JuliĂĄn Delgado Lopera, May 26, Liveright Publishing Corporation, Literary/Historical/1990âs/Coming of Age/Family Life/Travesti Lore/Civil War/Social Themes/Identity/Belonging/Gender/Self Discovery/Love/Sexuality/Grief/Depression/Cultural Heritage/Hispanic & Latino/World Literature/BogotĂĄ/LGBTQ
â˘âNow Thenâ by Morgan Radford, May 05, Amistad, Literary/Historical/1950âs &1990âs/Coming of Age/Family Life/Mother & Daughter Relationship/Multigenerational/Saga/Cuban Revolution/Politics/Women/Women's Studies/Cultural Heritage/Hispanic & Latino/World Literature/USA/BogotĂĄ
â˘âBehind Five Willowsâ by June Hur, May 26, Feiwel & Friends, YA/Historical/late 18th Century/Romance/Book Banning/Government Censorship/Politics/World Literature/South Korea ââ> âThe world of the novel brings the spirit of Jane Austenâs Pride and Prejudice to a uniquely Korean historical context.â
â˘âThe Young Will Rememberâ by Eve J. Chung, May 05, Berkley, Literary/Historical/1950âs/Politics/Korean War/Global Conflicts/Media Coverage/âForgotten Warâ/Women of Wars/Families/Familial Duties/Politics/Cultural Heritage/Asian American/World Literature/USA/South Korea
â˘âAn Expanse of Blueâ by Kauakanilehua Mahoe Adams, May 19, Heartdrum, YA/Novel-In-Verse/Coming of Age/Romance/Family Life/Sibling/Sisterhood/Social Themes/Identity/Belonging/Devotion/Faith/Self Discovery/Hawaiian Diaspora/Cultural Heritage/Native American & Aboriginal
â˘âShards of Silenceâ by Brian Lee Young, May 05, Heartdrum, YA/Coming of Age/Family Life/Boyhood/Generational Trauma/Social Themes/Race/Identity/Belonging/Social Status/Self Discovery/Native Boarding Schools/Cultural Heritage/Native American & Aboriginal
â˘âOne Leg on Earthâ by 'Pemi Aguda, May 05, W. W. Norton & Company, Literary/Horrir/Speculative/Coming of Age/Daughterhood/Motherhood/Womanhood/Pregnancy/Politics/Social Themes/City Progress/Social Progress/Urban Development/Colonialism/Community/Nigerian History & Culture/World Literature/NigeriaÂ
â˘âBabylon, South Dakotaâ by Tom Lin, May 26, Little Brown and Company, Literary/Historical/1970âs/American West Saga/Science Fiction/Speculative/Multigenerational/Saga/Social Themes/Farming/Homestead/Midwestern Ecology/US Government/Time/Space/Nature/Cultural Heritage/Asian American/Multiple Timelines & Shifting Perspectives
â˘âOn Witness and Respair: Essaysâ by Jesmyn Ward l, May 29, Scibner, Nonfiction/Essays/Essay Collection ââ> creative nonfiction and essays spanning two decades, blends personal & political â documents Wardâs Mississippi upbringing, her literary influences, and her struggles with devastating personal loss and systemic racism. Cultural Heritage/African American & Black/Black South
â˘âAt Seaâ by Y. M. Abdel-Magied, May 05, Pegasus Books, Literary/Thriller/Eco-Thriller/Suspense/Women/Social Themes/Science/Faith/Humanity/Ecology/Mother Nature/Drilling/Offshore Oil Rig/Big Oil/Ambition/Greed/Ethics/Capitalism/Power/Prejudice/Gender/Workplace/World Literature/Sudan/Scotland/AustraliaÂ
â˘âCoyotelandâ by Vanessa Hua, May 12, Flatiron Books, Contemporary/Family Life/Family Drama/Suburban Drama/Dark Suburbia/Society & Current Affairs/Cultural & Social/Social Themes/Race/Class/Belonging/Familial Duties/Success/Power/Community/Real Estate/Economic & Environmental Instabilities/Cultural Heritage/Asian American
â˘âDistant Water: Poemsâ by Beth Piatote, May 12, Milkweed Editions, Poetry ââ> poetry collection exploring the way Nez Perce language embodies the inseparable connection of land, sound, and spirit. Cultural Heritage/Native American & Aboriginal
â˘âDouble Happinessâ by Heather Eng, May 19, Tiny Reparations Books, Contemporary/Romance/Romantic Comedy/Social Themes/Love/Ambition/Class/Tech World/Cultural Heritage/Asian American
â˘âHoneyâ by Imani Thompson, May 05, Random House, Literary/Thriller/Dark Humor/Satire/Women/Women Fiction/Women's Studies/Feminist/Social Themes/Race/Gender/Sexist/Violence/Comeuppance/Campus Life
â˘âThe Afterlife of a Threadbare Jesterâ byÂ
Khanh Ha, May 12, Red Hen Press, Literary/Historical/Vietnam War/Postwar Vietnam/Intelligence Officer/Reeducation Camp/Political/World Literature/USA/Vietnam
â˘âAbundanceâ by Hafeez Lakhani, May 05, Counterpoint, Contemporary/Family Life/Immigrant Family/Immigrant Community/Family Life/Coming of Age/Intergenerational/Multigenerational/Saga/Social Themes/Race/Class/Belonging/Faith/Familial Duties/American Dream/Cultural Assimilation/Franchise Management/Cultural Heritage/Muslim/Indian American/World Literature/Rawalpindi/Miami
â˘âTarantulaâ by Eduardo Halfon, translated by Daniel Hahn, May 19, Bellevue Literary Press, Autofiction/Literary/Historical/1980âs/Psychological/Mystery/Dark/Darkly Satire/Coming of Age/Boyhood/Generational Trauma/Social Themes/Inherited Trauma/Violence/Holocaust/Concentration Camp/Innocence/Cultural Heritage/Jewish/Hispanic & Latino/World Literature/GuatemalaÂ
