Either this year is flying by or I’m dissociating too close to the sun, because I swear I blinked and it’s May. Which feels weird because I also feel like every week takes an agonizingly long amount of time, but then when I stop and realize how far we are into the year already, I suddenly feel overwhelmed. But, that’s enough melancholy, hopefully, let’s talk about the fact that May is bursting at the seams with new releases that I’m super excited about. And I have a few other books I’m really hoping to get around to that aren’t such new releases… So let’s chat about books, shall we?
ARC Copies
I have truly been blessed / I have no self-control depending on which way you want to look at it because look at this abundance of approvals I’ve received from Netgalley. Can I finish them all? I really hope so.
Fortunately, I have already read two of these and my reviews are already posted, which is why I tacked them on to the end. You can find my review of the YA romance Audre & Bash are Just Friends here, but the tl;dr is that I absolutely think people in the YA age group will adore it. It comes out on May 6, 2025. You can find my review of Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong here, but the tl;dr is that I am utterly obsessed with this series and I already need the next installment. This latest installment hits stores on May 20, 2025.
If you read this blog post pretty close to when I post it, there’s a Goodreads giveaway running for Kiss Me, Maybe by Gabriella Gamez, out on May 6, 2025 if you want to enter! I’ve linked the Goodreads page for you. If you missed Gamez’s first book in this series The Next Best Fling, I reviewed it last year. I enjoyed myself, but didn’t necessarily fall madly in love. HOWEVER, this book features Angela Gutierrez and she is on the ace spectrum and I am so excited to read her book! Her love interest is Krystal Ramirez, the hot bartender, and I’m truly so excited to pick this one up.
Two Secrets to Surrender by Grace Callaway is going to be my first Callaway this year, I think? Which is a travesty, honestly. I’ve fallen so deeply in love with her writing that it’s strange I haven’t picked up one yet. I did review the first in the series earlier this year, despite having read it before it’s release date… Look, I’m sometimes terrible at this reviewing gig. Regardless, it was really lovely and I’m so excited to pick up this one which sounds like it’ll have some intense hate to love type vibes with some excellent chemistry. Sounds right up my alley. You can pick it up on May 8, 2025.
A Simple Twist of Fate by April Asher comes out on May 12, 2025 and is a fated mates gone a wee bit wrong story that sounds like it will truly be fantastic. I’m also delighted that this is going to be single mom adjacent because Harlow is bringing her god daughter with her back to her hometown where she once again encounters the man she thought was her fated mate before he rejected her in favor of her once upon a time best friend. This promises to be juicy and delightful and I’m really excited to pick it up!
Kennedy Ryan’s Skyland series returns for the conclusion of the trilogy with Can’t Get Enough on May 13, 2025 and I, for one, cannot wait. I’ve had this pre-ordered for ages, although I can’t resist entering a hopeless Goodreads giveaway, which you can too if you’re reading this at about the same time I post it! If you’re wondering why I’m so excited and yet still haven’t read it… Well, Kennedy always wrecks me and I haven’t found myself yet in a position where I think I’m strong enough to deal with that. But I think I’m about two seconds away from giving in and just dealing with the fallout because I am so excited for Hendrix’s story! She’s childfree by choice and she’s a badass of epic proportions so I’m really looking forward to her being loved the way she deserves by off limits Maverick Bell. No clue why he’s off limits, but I’m looking forward to finding out!
Also out on May 13th is The Charmer by Ava Rani, which caps off her Biotech Billionaires series, though I’m still hoping for a book about CeCe, Ms. Rani!! Anyway, this book is extremely exciting because I’ve devoured the first two books in the trilogy and am very much looking forward to watching Xavier finally give in to the tension between him and Penelope. I’ve been picking up on some of that tension in the first two books and I’m so ready to see the two of them give in and fall in love. Especially since that’s going to happen in the context of the two of them pretending to be married!!!! Could you have a better trope for me? Honestly, no. Both The Spare and The Heir are on Kindle Unlimited if you’d like a chance to fall in love with the series as well!
Another book I’m way too excited about to still have not read despite having access is Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt. I truly have no idea when I became a second chance romance girl since I really used to dislike the trope, but lately? I’ve been eating it up. And this is about a divorced couple falling back in love and I cannot wait to read it! Everyone I’ve seen read their early copy has loved it and I’m so excited to join their ranks!! This one releases May 20, 2025 and fingers crossed I’ll love it so, so much!
Apparently I’m really just here to tell you about Goodreads giveaways, because there’s also one running for Not Safe for Work by Nisha J. Tuli so hit that up if you’re also interested in receiving a copy of one of the most gorgeous illustrated covers to ever exist. Dealing with burnout and full of rage at nepotism and white male privilege, Trishara is surprised but pleased to be sent on a three week leadership retreat situation for three weeks in Hawaii. The only catch? The man who took the promotion that should have been hers, Rafe, is attending alongside her. And then Tris and Rafe have to share the honeymoon suite. Y’all… I am so excited. This book comes out on May 20, 2025.
It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan releases on May 27, 2025 and also has a Goodreads giveaway going, though I’m just hoping I get this posted in time for you to enter. Hopefully I will. Do I actually understand what this book is about? Not really. But it sounds like it’ll be another book about a child star in their adulthood trying to find their way and I’ve really loved most of the books I’ve read in that vein so I’m hoping for the same here!
Love in Focus by Lyla Lee will be my first book from Lee and I’m really looking forward to it! This sapphic romance releases on May 27th and features Gemma Cho who is now post-breakup and wondering if true love is a thing that actually exists. But then she gets paired up with photographer Celeste for a project on modern love, which is going to be great for her career. However, Celeste and Gemma are exes. This book promises to be a fun ride and I can’t wait to read it!
To say that I’m excited for Along Came Amor feels like it’s putting it too mildly. Like Can’t Get Enough, I’ve had this book pre-ordered for what feels like forever and I just got approved for the ARC this week. I’m so excited about it! It’s the third book in Daria’s Primas of Power book and is about Ava, who is now divorced, and has a one night turned more with Roman. The two are now in close proximity due to a wedding and I am really looking forward to this! This comes out on May 27, 2025.
Three May releases I don’t have ARCs of but would do bad things to have early…
Let’s be honest, unless it’s an audiobook of Archangel’s Ascension, I probably wouldn’t read it early anyway so it’s FINE that I don’t have it. (Can you tell I’m sulking? I don’t know why Berkley hates me.) And I’m not caught up to where Releasing 10 falls in the series, I just already know I’m desperate to have my hands on this one. But Problematic Summer Romance I really could read right now if it was in my hands!! This has truly been my year of Ali Hazelwood, I feel like, as I’ve already read and five starred two of her books this year. I’m ready to make that a third!
Other May Releases
Closing Thoughts
I know that there are SO many more May releases, but please tell me if I’ve missed one that you’re really looking forward to because there’s always room on my endless TBR. And if you think there’s a book that I’ve shared in my Other May Releases that I really should prioritize, let me know that too! I think Love in Panels gave Silver Elite five stars on Goodreads if I saw that correctly so that one is certainly high on my radar! But otherwise, I don’t think I’ve seen much about any of the others.
xx
firewhiskeyreader 