New Book Releases for May 2017
Books, books, glorious books. Here is my little list of new books due for release in May 2017. Click on covers for more information and reviews.
Adult Fiction
The Sweet Smell of Magnolias and Memories – Celeste Fletcher McHale – Thomas Nelson – Published 23 May 2017
Jacey Lang spent three terrifying days atop a roof during a terrible storm. She shared that experience with a young family and (possibly) the man of her dreams. But a traumatic accident during their rescue left Jacey with scattered memories and no way to reconnect with Colin. One year later Jacey accidentally finds Colin again – at the end of the isle at her best friend’s wedding, as the preacher. Uncertain what the future holds for them, Jacey must deal with her returning memories about the accident and the fate of the young family, while Colin comes to terms with his family’s past.
Adult fiction: Contemporary
Children’s Fiction
The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre – Gail Carson Levine – HarperCollins – Published 2 May 2017
Peregrine strives to live up to the ideal of her people, the Latki—and to impress her parents: affectionate Lord Tove, who despises only the Bamarre, and stern Lady Klausine. Perry runs the fastest, speaks her mind, and doesn’t give much thought to the castle’s Bamarre servants, whom she knows to be weak and cowardly.
But just as she’s about to join her father on the front lines, she is visited by the fairy Halina, who reveals that Perry isn’t Latki-born. She is Bamarre. The fairy issues a daunting challenge: against the Lakti power, Perry must free her people from tyranny.
Children’s fiction: Fantasy.
Young Adult Fiction
Love and Vandalism – Laurie Boyle Cromption – Sourcebooks Fire – Published 1 May 2017
Rory creates her art in the dark depths of night, spray painting her lions onto vacant walls and overpasses. It helps her control her rage and rebel against her father. Art is the thing she has most in common with her artist mother. But Rory has a plan to escalate her art and paint a lion that is larger and far more visible than all her previous pieces. She knows she will need help to pull it off but the new guy in town is probably last on her list of limited choices. Never mind his city-boy looks and his determination to stay away from trouble (especially the illegal kind), it’s enough that he is threatening to reveal Rory’s identity as the lion graffiti artist if she doesn’t show him around town.
Young adult fiction: Contemporary
Avenged – Amy Tintera – Ruined #2 – HarperTeen – Published 2 May 2017
Emelina Flores has come home to Ruina. After rescuing her sister Olivia from imprisonment in rival kingdom Lera, Em and Olivia together vow to rebuild Ruina to its former glory.
But their fight has only begun. Olivia is determined to destroy everyone who acts against Ruina, but Em isn’t as sure. Ever since Em posed as Prince Casimir’s betrothed in Lera, she’s started to see another side to this war. And now that Cas has taken the throne, Em believes a truce is within reach. But Olivia suspects that Em’s romantic feelings for Cas are just coloring her judgement.
Young adult fiction – Fantasy
Dreamfall – Amy Plum – Dreamfall #1 – HarperTeen – Published 2 May 2017
Cata Cordova suffers from such debilitating insomnia that she agreed to take part in an experimental new procedure. She thought things couldn’t get any worse…but she was terribly wrong.
Soon after the experiment begins, there’s a malfunction with the lab equipment, and Cata and six other teen patients are plunged into a shared dreamworld with no memory of how they got there. Even worse, they come to the chilling realization that they are trapped in a place where their worst nightmares have come to life.
Young adult fiction: Science fiction.
Windfall – Jennifer E. Smith – Delacorte Press – Published 2 May 2017
Alice doesn’t believe in luck—at least, not the good kind. But she does believe in love, and for some time now, she’s been pining for her best friend, Teddy. On his eighteenth birthday—just when it seems they might be on the brink of something—she buys him a lottery ticket on a lark. To their astonishment, he wins $140 million, and in an instant, everything changes.
Young adult fiction: Contemporary.
Cold Summer – Gwen Cole – Sky Pony Press – Published 2 May 2017
Today, he’s a high school dropout with no future.
Tomorrow, he’s a soldier in World War II.
Kale Jackson has spent years trying to control his time-traveling ability but hasn’t had much luck. One day he lives in 1945, fighting in the war as a sharpshooter and helplessly watching soldiers—friends—die. Then the next day, he’s back in the present, where WWII has bled into his modern life in the form of PTSD, straining his relationship with his father and the few friends he has left. Every day it becomes harder to hide his battle wounds, both physical and mental, from the past.
When the ex-girl-next-door, Harper, moves back to town, thoughts of what could be if only he had a normal life begin to haunt him.
Young adult fiction: Science fiction
Girl Out Of Water – Laura Silverman – Sourcebooks Fire – Published 2 May 2017
For Anise, surfing is everything, so her summer plans consist of surfing, spending time with her friends surfing, attending the Surf Break festival, and more surfing. So, when her dad informs her that they will be spending the entire summer in Nebraska caring for her cousins as her aunt recuperates from a serious car accident, she is more than a little upset. But the summer ends up being not so bad as she reconnects with her cousins, meets a new guy, learns to skateboard, and finally has a chance to learn a little more about her long-absent mother.
Young adult fiction: Contemporary
Someone Else’s Summer – Rachel Bateman – Running Press Kids – Published 9 May 2017
Young adult fiction: Contemporary
A Million Junes – Emily Henry – Razorbill – Published 16 May 2017
In their hometown of Five Fingers, Michigan, the O’Donnells and the Angerts have mythic legacies. But for all the tall tales they weave, both founding families are tight-lipped about what caused the century-old rift between them, except to say it began with a cherry tree.
Eighteen-year-old Jack “June” O’Donnell doesn’t need a better reason than that. She’s an O’Donnell to her core, just like her late father was, and O’Donnells stay away from Angerts. Period.
But when Saul Angert, the son of June’s father’s mortal enemy, returns to town after three mysterious years away, June can’t seem to avoid him. Soon the unthinkable happens: She finds she doesn’t exactly hate the gruff, sarcastic boy she was born to loathe.
Young adult fiction: Fantasy.
The Names They Gave Us – Emery Lord – Bloomsbury Children’s – Published 16 May 2017 (US), June (AUS, UK)
Young adult fiction: Contemporary
In A Perfect World – Trish Doller – Simon Pulse – Published 23 May 2017Caroline Kelly is excited to be spending her summer vacation working at the local amusement park with her best friend, exploring weird Ohio with her boyfriend, and attending soccer camp with the hope she’ll be her team’s captain in the fall.
But when Caroline’s mother is hired to open an eye clinic in Cairo, Egypt, Caroline’s plans are upended. Caroline is now expected to spend her summer and her senior year in a foreign country, away from her friends, her home, and everything she’s ever known.
Young adult fiction: Contemporary
Eliza and Her Monsters – Francesca Zappia – Greenwillow Books – Published 30 May 2017Young adult fiction – Contemporary
Christian Fiction
True To You – Becky Wade – Bradford Sisters Romance #1 – Bethany House – Published 2 May 2017
Nora Bradford is a historian. A researcher. Someone who enjoys all things past. But her own past, particularly her romantic past, has left her slightly jaded, more than happy to remain safely single, and determined to rely on no one but herself for success. John Lawson knows what it’s like to test himself and push himself to the very limits. Being a Navy SEAL ensured that. But a medical diagnosis has rocked him and driven him to uncover his own past and the story of his adoption. Nora and John are brought together by the past and enticed by a chance for the future.
Christian Fiction – Contemporary
What Hope Remembers – Johnnie Alexander – Misty Willows #3 – Revell – Published 2 May 2017
When Amy Somers loses her job as a lobbyist, she moves to Misty Willow, well aware that she’s crossing bridges she’d burned years before. With all the mistakes she’s made and the uncaring things she’s done–even to her own family–she can hardly believe that happiness will find her, especially when Gabe Kendall, her first crush and her first kiss, rides back into her life atop a buckskin mare.
A former Marine, Gabe is at loose ends after serving a prison sentence for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He sees beyond Amy’s hard exterior to the girl he once knew and loved, and he longs to see her open her heart. Yet with his vision clouded by shame for his past and fears about the future, he finds it difficult to see the path ahead.
Christian Fiction – Contemporary.
Threads of Suspicion – Dee Henderson – Evie Blackwell Cold Case #2 – Bethany House – Published 2 May 2017
Evie Blackwell has officially joined the Missing Persons Task Force. Their first case load takes them to Briar County, Illinois, where Evie begins investigating the disappearance of a college student. Meanwhile, Evie’s new partner, David Marshall is investigating a missing PI. When their cases unexpectedly connect and then take a very personal turn, Evie and David will have their work cut out for them if they are to close both cases.
Christian Fiction – Mystery-thriller
Fatal Mistake – Susan Sleeman – White Knights #1 – FaithWords – Published 9 May 2017
Tara knows her life is in danger when she discovers that her old childhood friend must be the Lone Wolf bomber who has already killed many women. The bricks of explosives and detailed plans left in her aunt’s pump house attest to that. Scared, she rings the FBI hotline but not before Oren returns home to find she has discovered his secret. Now in serious danger, Tara must decide if she will work with the special FBI team who is tasked with the arrest of the Lone Wolf or if she must go out alone to ensure her safety. Cal Riggings knows he needs Tara’s insight into the Lone Wolf if he is to prevent any more killings, but assuring Tara of her safety is hard when her life has already been put in serious danger. And then there is the attraction he feels towards her that risks getting in the way of his focus.
Christian Fiction – Mystery-thriller
I’ll Be There – Susan May Warren – Published 16 May 2017
Smokejumper Conner Young can’t wait to marry the woman who’s stood by him for three years as he fought fires in the forests of the northwest. The only wound in the weekend is the lack of his best man–a brother whose murder is still unsolved. It’s unfinished business that haunts him, keeping him from truly moving on.
Liza Beaumont, long time Deep Haven artist is a survivor of a brutal grizzly attack. Struggling with nightmares, she’s not sure she’s ready to join Conner’s world. He’s a hero, yes, but his life is rife with danger and stress and frankly she’s not sure she has the courage to be the wife of a man who may not come home again.
When Liza’s wedding invitation unearths a witness in his brother’s murder, Conner’s hope of solving the case is reignited.
Christian Fiction – Mystery-thriller
This is a stupendous month for releases.
Sam @ WLABB
Yes! May 2017 is going to be awesome. Much happy reading ahead!! (I’m a little excited, can you tell?)
SO many I’m looking forward to reading. Becky Wade’s, Jennifer E. Smith’s and as I’m a BIG fan of Emery Lord’s, I cannot wait to read this new beauty of hers either. 🙂
Yes! Of those I haven’t read Emily Henry’s A Million Junes is top of my to-read list. And everyone will know by now that I ADORED Eliza and Her Monsters. Threads of Suspicion was amazing and I’m currently reading Johnnie Alexander’s book, which also promises to be a wonderful book. Basically this month is awesome!