May's best book releases, from Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games novel to Adele Parks latest thriller
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Whether it’s baking, gardening or reading, many of us are trying to make the best of a difficult situation during the coronavirus pandemic by resurfacing our hobbies.
If escaping reality with a good book has become your coping method, you’re in good company with this month’s top picks.
Suzanne Collins has dropped her very hotly anticipated new Hunger Games novel; The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Yes, we’re excited about this one, too.
This month we’ve also added some exciting new Kindle releases as we know it can be a little bit tricky to get hold of hard copies at the moment.
Lucky for us, Adele Parks has released Just My Luck on Kindle this month, way before the paperback edition comes out in December.
The Ballad Of Songbirds and Snakes, Suzanne Collins | 19 May 2020
If you’re looking to lose yourself in another realm, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has to be our top pick.
Suzanne Collins is back to kick of the tenth hunger games, this one follows eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow as he prepares for his one and only shot as a mentor in the games.
If you haven’t read the other Hunger Games books, we would strongly recommend giving these a binge-read during the coronavirus lockdown. You won’t be disappointed.
The Girl Beneath The Sea, Andrew Mayne | 1 May 2020
We know how much you enjoy a good thriller, and Andrew Mayne’s The Girl Beneath The Sea falls neatly into that category.
It follows a Florida-based police diver who stumbles upon more than she bargained for in a canal. Not only has this woman just been murdered, her history has intertwined with the police diver’s.
The female lead is a resourceful, powerful woman and we’re already looking forward to hearing more about her in the future Underwater Investigation Unit novels.
Little White Secrets, Carol Mason | 1 May 2020
Fans of Home Truths by Tina Seskis and In An Instant by Suzanne Redfearn will love Little White Secrets.
It’s a book about a seemingly perfect family; a woman - Emily - happily married with two loving children. That is, until her 14-year-old daughter starts hanging around with a toxic friend. She quickly spirals into staying out late and taking drugs.
Emily’s life is turned upside down and she needs to try to keep everything on track for the sake of her family.
What We Forgot To Bury, Marin Montgomery | 1 May 2020
We put What We Forgot To Bury next to Little White Secrets in this round-up because we think if you like one, you’ll like the other.
This psychological thriller gives the reader plenty to get their teeth into from the offset. Charlotte - a girl who lives in a quiet, gated community, is visited by Elle, who lives in a shelter. The pair hit it off, but what Charlotte doesn’t know is that Elle is there for a reason.
It’s an easy-read that offers some great escapism with plenty of twists along the way.
Just My Luck, Adele Parks | 14 May 2020
This release is a real treat. Just My Luck is being released on Kindle and on hardback but won’t be released on paperback until December 2020.
We’re a big fan of Adele Parks novels and we know you are, too. This unputdownable book is gripping from start to finish.
Jake and Lexi have always played the same six numbers with their friends, but when a rift in the group happens and they stop playing, Jake and Lexi end up winning £18 million. It all comes to a head when their friends want to claim their portion of the winnings.
The Minute I Saw You, Paige Toon | 14 May 2020
Paige Toon’s The Minute I Saw You is another Kindle launch we think you’ll love this month. Paige Toon is a bestselling author for a reason and this book is our favourite warm weather pick.
This novel follows the story of Hannah and Sonny. Sonny is in Hannah’s town on holiday and they start off having a holiday romance, of sorts. When Sonny gets some life-changing news, they revert to just being friends, but are still drawn to each other.
If you’re looking for something to uplift your mood and give you a warm, fuzzy feeling, The Minute I Saw You is for you.
Meadowlark, Melanie Abrams | 1 May 2020
If you’re looking for something with many layers - a book to get your teeth stuck into - Meadowlark might be for you.
The latest novel from Melanie Abrams looks at childhood and trauma through the eyes of two cult survivors. You’ll end up reading the last 50 pages in one delicious sitting.
If you’re a fan of Stranger Things, you’ll love the dark and spiritual undertones as well as the well-written and complex characters.
Five Hundred Miles From You, Jenny Colgan | 28 May 2020
Jenny Colgan is the master of romantic escapism. Five Hundred Miles From You is everything you need during the coronavirus lockdown - a story of how love can blossom even when you can’t be together.
Lissa and Cormac decide to swap lives (rather like Amanda and Iris in The Holiday) but they still communicate via email.
Even though they’ve swapped lives to get away from their own, something seems to be missing. This whole novel is like a warm cup of tea on a cold day.
After The End, Clare Mackintosh | 28 May 2020
Have you ever thought what would happen if you and your partner didn’t agree on a life-changing decision? This book delves into this question in such a real way.
Clare Mackintosh is a fantastic storyteller, which is very evident in After The End.
It’s moving and emotional - a novel you’ll still be thinking about long after you’ve finished reading it.
The Happy Couple, Samantha Hayes | 6 May 2020
Fans of The Wife Between Us will love this psychological thriller from Samantha Hayes. While the story of the missing partner isn’t a new one, we love each individual take on this.
We’ve read a fair few psychological thrillers in our time and we could not guess the ending, a real mystery up until the end.
It’s a great one to get involved in - we found ourselves turning into detectives trying to solve this case - and it’ll certainly take your mind off of everything.
Camino Winds, John Grisham | 28 May 2020
This is the second book in John Grisham’s Camino Island series, the first book was released in 2018 and it’s definitely worth picking up if you haven’t already.
We won’t give too much away in case you haven’t read the first one, but it’s set on Florida’s Camino Islands. There’s a big storm brewing and everyone has to be evacuated. There’s a few diehards, though, who want to weather the storm.
This thriller follows those characters and it’s done in classic, slick John Grisham style. This is a really good series to get involved in while it’s still in its infancy.
As Greek As It Gets, Sue Roberts | 18 May 2020
This book is a Kindle edition only and is very reasonably priced for such a light-hearted and enjoyable read.
After Alice Clark has second thoughts about marrying her husband-to-be, her best friend whisks her off to a Greek island for a bit of relaxation.
In lieu of going on holiday for the time being, this book offers a lovely level of escapism, it’s an easy-read with lots of laugh out loud moments to enjoy.
