May is shaping up to be a seriously good month for book lovers. From buzzy new releases and page-to-screen adaptations to audiobooks you’ll want queued for every commute, there’s no shortage of can’t-miss picks. Whether you’re in the mood to get lost in a story, binge something new, or just stay in the loop, here’s everything to read, watch, know, and listen to in May 2026.

Must Re-Read

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Lord of the Flies is the kind of story that starts off like a carefree island adventure… and quickly spirals into chaos. When a group of boys are stranded alone, their playful freedom turns into something much darker as rules collapse and survival instincts take over. With a new series adaptation streaming on Netflix, it’s the perfect time to revisit this chilling classic that explores the wild side of human nature and just how thin the line between order and anarchy really is.

Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon

New Must Reads

The Burning Side by Sarah Damhoff

After a house fire forces April and Leo to flee with their children, they return to April’s childhood home, where family support comes with its own complications. As they rebuild, the disaster exposes deeper cracks in their marriage, shaped by guilt, past wounds, and difficult choices. Told through multiple perspectives, the story weaves together love, loss, and resilience while exploring what it truly means to find home and hold onto it.

Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon

**Bonus Read**

The Bright Years by Sarah Damhoff

If you haven’t checked it out, don’t skip Sarah’s bestselling debut, The Bright Years.

Ryan and Lillian Bright seem to have the perfect start to a life together, but hidden secrets slowly fracture their marriage, shaping their daughter Georgette’s childhood. After a devastating event pulls the family apart, Georgette distances herself from the pain of her past. Years later, the arrival of her half-brother forces her to confront her family’s history and decide whether she can embrace forgiveness, healing, and love.

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Change of Plans by Sarah Dessen

Finley has always followed her boyfriend’s lead until a spontaneous trip with her estranged mom to a hidden family vacation home turns everything upside down. As her relationship falls apart and her future plans unravel, she’s forced to figure out who she is on her own. Surrounded by newfound family and a close-knit group at a local diner, Finley begins to uncover long-buried secrets and discovers parts of herself she never knew existed, especially as she grows closer to guitar-playing Ben.

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The Shippers by Katherine Center

JoJo Burton heads to her sister’s cruise destination wedding determined to fix her love life by finally getting closure with her first crush. But her plans get complicated when her estranged best friend Cooper unexpectedly shows up and becomes her wingman. As fake flirting turns into real feelings amid wedding festivities, JoJo is forced to confront the truth about her past and what she really wants moving forward.

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The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout

Artie Dam lives, what appears to be, a good life. He’s a teacher, a man who’s been married to his wife for over 30 years, a good neighbor, but internally, he feels isolated and alone. When a secret is revealed that shifts his whole perspective, he must confront a new path and face the relationships that are changed forever by this truth.

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June Baby by Shannon Garvey

Ruth lost her mother at seventeen and was sent to Block Island, put into the care of Diana, a renowned photographer. The blissful setting was made only better by Diana’s nephew, Charlie. She would spend the next ten summers there working among the wealthy vacationers. When tragedy strikes again, Ruth seeks solace in Charlie. When a box arrives for her, she discovers she may not have known her mother or Diana as well as she thought she did. Charlie comes with his own startling news and Ruth has to reorient around her past to determine what her future will hold.

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Mist and Malice by Rachel Howzell Hall

Private investigator Sonny Rush is drawn into a chilling case when a terrified runaway teen shows up at her door, leading her to uncover a deeper mystery tied to a missing man. As the cases intertwine, Sonny discovers a dangerous network exploiting the vulnerable. The closer she gets to the truth, the more she risks her own safety and the lives of those she loves, forcing her to decide how far she’s willing to go for justice.

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Homebound by Portia Elan

In 1983, Becks’ only goal is to get out of Cincinnati. But first, she must complete a game left behind by her beloved, late uncle. The path she walks will have ripple effects throughout time and space, impacting a scientist, a sea captain and sentient automaton. Exploring the nature of a connected universe, this fresh novel is also a Good Morning America book club pick.

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Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune

Frankie and George have been best friends since they were kids until the night before her wedding. After Frankie’s fiancé suddenly calls it off, she’s left heartbroken and questioning everything. In an unexpected twist, George convinces her to take the honeymoon trip with him instead, giving them one last chance to fix their friendship. But as old feelings resurface, they’ll have to decide if they’re worth the risk of losing each other for good.

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Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan

Dolly Brick returns to her hometown determined to save her family’s home and handle everything on her own, like she always has. But when she agrees to a fake arrangement with the charming Stewart Whitfield, what starts as a simple solution quickly turns complicated. As their pretend relationship begins to feel real, Dolly has to decide if she’s ready to let someone else in for the first time.

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Both Can Be True by Jessica Guerrieri

The Gilmore sisters have spent years drifting apart, shaped by grief, trauma, and the very different ways they’ve tried to survive it. When a woman in Frankie’s circle goes missing, the sisters are forced back into each other’s lives and into confronting the past they’ve been avoiding. As buried pain resurfaces, they must decide whether they can rebuild their fractured bond or let it break for good.

Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon

The Radiant Dark by Alexandra Oliva

In 1980, Carol Girard’s ordinary life is upended when humanity discovers its receiving messages from an alien civilization eleven lightyears away. As the world grapples with this revelation, Carol and her family are forever changed, each responding in their own way to the mystery beyond the stars. Spanning decades, the story follows their journeys through love, loss, and purpose as they come to terms with what it means to not be alone in the universe.

Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon

Must Watch

Remarkably Bright Creatures

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt has been adapted into a feature film for Netflix. The story follows a grieving widow who forms an unexpected bond with a highly intelligent octopus and a lost young man as they uncover a life-changing mystery together. Starring Sally Field and Lewis Pullman, this book-to-stream kicks off summer adaptation releases.

Off Campus

The beloved college romance series Off Campus by Elle Kennedy is coming to Prime Video, bringing hot hockey players and their love stories to the screen. Centered around characters from books like The Deal, the show is expected to follow multiple interconnected romances filled with humor, emotional depth, and plenty of swoon-worthy tension for anyone who is currently hooked on hockey romance.

Must Know

The Nanny Diaries ft. Scarlett Johansson

Originally released in 2007, The Nanny Diaries starred Scarlett Johansson as a recent college grad who takes a job nannying for a wealthy Manhattan family with chaotic results. Recently it was confirmed that Johansson will be producing a Netflix series rebooting The Nanny Diaries for the streaming service.

SparkPress Authors Who Wrote The Nanny Diaries

Written by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus—who have also worked with SparkPress, a She Reads sister company, on later projects—The Nanny Diaries is a sharp, satirical novel that pulls back the curtain on New York City’s elite through the eyes of an overworked nanny. Following a college student known only as “Nan,” the story explores the emotional labor, class divides, and quiet absurdities of caring for a wealthy family while navigating her own coming-of-age. Blending humor with biting social commentary, the book remains a standout for its honest, often hilarious look at privilege, identity, and what it means to grow up in someone else’s shadow.

Buy the book now: Bookshop.org | Amazon

Rob Lowe Cast in In a Holidaze Adaptation by Christina Lauren

Holiday romance fans, this one’s about to get even better. In a Holidaze is officially heading to Netflix as a feature film adaptation, and one of the most exciting updates? Rob Lowe has joined the cast alongside Maddie Ziegler and Graham Phillips. Based on Christina Lauren’s beloved time-loop romance, the story follows a young woman stuck reliving the same Christmas holiday until she figures out what truly makes her happy. With filming already underway and the authors themselves “squealing” over the casting news, this cozy, chaotic rom-com is shaping up to be one of Netflix’s most anticipated book adaptations of 2026.

Must Listen

Pride & Prejudice Audible Original

A fresh audiobook adaptation of Pride and Prejudice brings new life to the beloved classic with a full-cast, immersive performance featuring Harris Dickinson as Mr. Darcy. Released as an Audible Original, this version blends traditional narration with dramatized dialogue, making it feel almost like a play for your ears while staying true to Austen’s iconic romance. You can listen exclusively on Audible, where the production’s cinematic sound design and cast elevate the story for both longtime fans and new listeners.

Bridgerton – The Duke and I 

Narrated by fan-favorite Rosalyn Landor, The Duke and I audiobook delivers all the wit, romance, and Regency drama that made the Bridgerton series a global obsession. Landor’s narration is widely praised for adding emotional depth and charm to the characters, making it an especially engaging listen. The audiobook is available on platforms like Spotify and Audible, perfect for diving into high-society scandals on the go.