May Releases

Happy May everyone! 🌺 School has been pretty busy since finals are coming up so I’m a few days late with this post, but I still wanted to share it because one of my blogging goals this year was to post a list of my most anticipated releases for each month. So here are some of the upcoming releases that caught my eye:

 

 

Love & Luck by Jenna Evans Welch (May 8)

Synopsis:  Addie is visiting Ireland for her aunt’s over-the-top destination wedding, and hoping she can stop thinking about the one horrible thing she did that left her miserable and heartbroken—and threatens her future. But her brother, Ian, isn’t about to let her forget, and his constant needling leads to arguments and even a fistfight between the two once inseparable siblings. Miserable, Addie can’t wait to visit her friend in Italy and leave her brother—and her problems—behind. So when Addie discovers an unusual guidebook, Ireland for the Heartbroken, hidden in the dusty shelves of the hotel library, she’s able to finally escape her anxious mind and Ian’s criticism. And then their travel plans change. Suddenly Addie finds herself on a whirlwind tour of the Emerald Isle, trapped in the world’s smallest vehicle with Ian and his admittedly cute, Irish-accented friend Rowan. As the trio journeys over breathtaking green hills, past countless castles, and through a number of fairy-tale forests, Addie hopes her guidebook will heal not only her broken heart, but also her shattered relationship with her brother. That is if they don’t get completely lost along the way.

I think that the spring is a perfect time for an adventure book and I can’t wait to read about Addie’s journey with her brother and his friend. I also really want to travel to Ireland one day so the setting of this novel really interests me. Not only does the adventure aspect sound really exciting, but the parts about relationships sound like they’re going to be really touching. Overall, Love & Luck sounds like it’s going to be a cute and fun read.

 

Puddin’ by Julie Murphy (May 8)

Synopsis:  Millie Michalchuk has gone to fat camp every year since she was a girl. Not this year. This year she has new plans to chase her secret dream—and to kiss her crush. Callie Reyes is the pretty girl who is next in line for dance team captain and has the popular boyfriend. But when it comes to other girls, she’s more frenemy than friend. When circumstances bring the girls together over the course of a semester, they will surprise everyone (especially themselves) by realizing they might have more in common than they ever imagined.

I haven’t read Dumplin’ yet, but I bought it recently and I plan on reading it soon. I’ve heard so many good things about it and Puddin’ (its companion novel) seems like it’s going to be just as good. The plot sounds so cute and I’m excited to read about the friendship that develops between Millie and Callie. I also want to read more books with overweight MCs so this one is definitely on my list.

 

Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson (May 8)

Synopsis:  Mila Flores and her best friend Riley have always been inseparable. There’s not much excitement in their small town of Cross Creek, so Mila and Riley make their own fun, devoting most of their time to Riley’s favorite activity: amateur witchcraft. So when Riley and two Fairmont Academy mean girls die under suspicious circumstances, Mila refuses to believe everyone’s explanation that her BFF was involved in a suicide pact. Instead, armed with a tube of lip gloss and an ancient grimoire, Mila does the unthinkable to uncover the truth: she brings the girls back to life. Unfortunately, Riley, June, and Dayton have no recollection of their murders, but they do have unfinished business to attend to. Now, with only seven days until the spell wears off and the girls return to their graves, Mila must wrangle the distracted group of undead teens and work fast to discover their murderer…before the killer strikes again.

This book immediately caught my eye for two reasons: it’s a mystery and it mentions “witchcraft” in the synopsis (two things that I adore). Not to mention the whole premise sounds hilarious but also really intriguing. I’ve read so many great reviews for this book, too, which are saying that this book is the perfect combination of funny and touching, has witty narration, and that the mystery itself is compelling.

 

All of This is True by Lygia Day Penaflor (May 15)

Synopsis:  Miri Tan loved the book Undertow like it was a living being. So when she and her friends went to a book signing to meet the author, Fatima Ro, they concocted a plan to get close to her, even if her friends won’t admit it now. As for Jonah, well—Miri knows none of that was Fatima’s fault. Soleil Johnston wanted to be a writer herself one day. When she and her friends started hanging out with her favorite author, Fatima Ro, she couldn’t believe their luck—especially when Jonah Nicholls started hanging out with them, too. Now, looking back, Soleil can’t believe she let Fatima manipulate her and Jonah like that. She can’t believe that she got used for a book. Penny Panzarella was more than the materialistic party girl everyone at the Graham School thought she was. She desperately wanted Fatima Ro to see that, and she saw her chance when Fatima asked the girls to be transparent with her. If only she’d known what would happen when Fatima learned Jonah’s secret. If only she’d known that the line between fiction and truth was more complicated than any of them imagined. . . .

I’ve heard the plot of this novel summarized as follows: “Four YA-obsessed teens befriend their favorite novelist. What happens next will shock you.” First of all, as someone who is YA-obsessed, I obviously have to read this book. Who wouldn’t want to befriend their favorite novelist? Apparently it doesn’t turn out as the four friends hoped though, and from what I’ve gathered things go terribly wrong. Overall, I’ve heard that this book is really unique and packed with twists. I can’t wait to see if it’s as addicting as everyone says it is!

 

Girl Made of Stars by Ashley Herring Blake (May 15)

Synopsis:  Mara and Owen are about as close as twins can get. So when Mara’s friend Hannah accuses Owen of rape, Mara doesn’t know what to think. Can the brother she loves really be guilty of such a violent crime? Torn between the family she loves and her own sense of right and wrong, Mara is feeling lost, and it doesn’t help that things have been strained with her ex and best friend since childhood, Charlie. As Mara, Hannah, and Charlie navigate this new terrain, Mara must face a trauma from her own past and decide where Charlie fits in her future. With sensitivity and openness, this timely novel confronts the difficult questions surrounding consent, victim blaming, and sexual assault.

Sexual assault stories are so important and they need to be told. This one in particular sounds extremely heart-breaking. I can’t imagine what it must be like to be in Mara’s position and I’m interested in reading about the introspective journey that she must go on when she finds herself in this awful situation. I’m curious to see what choices she makes and what messages the author sends about rape culture in general.

 

Legendary by Stephanie Garber (May 29)

Synopsis:  After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name. The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister’s. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice. But now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever. Welcome, welcome to Caraval…the games have only just begun.

I’M SO EXCITED THAT THIS BOOK IS FINALLY ALMOST HERE!!! Out of all of the books coming out in May, I’m definitely most excited for this one. You’ve probably heard me rave about Caraval 2,498,376 times but I can’t help it because I LOVED it that much. I’m beyond thrilled that I can finally dive back into this magical world! The plot sounds intriguing and I’m eager to get to know Tella better. If this book is anything like the first one, it will definitely be one of my favorites of the year 😍

 

 

So those are my most anticipated releases for May 2018! Let me know in the comments if you plan on reading any of these books and what other books you’re looking forward to 🙂

– Kelly xx