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There are so many May 2020 releases that I’m excited for! I have 10 books on my Goodreads TBR that come out this month, but I can’t talk about all of them in one blog post, so I’ve narrowed it down to my top five. Let me know if you’re excited for the same books as I am
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
May 5th, 2020 // Quill Tree Books
Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. But this time, on the day when his plane is supposed to land, Camino arrives at the airport to see crowds of crying people…
In New York City, Yahaira Rios is called to the principal’s office, where her mother is waiting to tell her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash.
Separated by distance—and Papi’s secrets—the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered.
And then, when it seems like they’ve lost everything of their father, they learn of each other.
Why I’m excited: I adored Elizabeth Acevedo’s first two books, and I’m really excited to see she’s doing another novel in verse. Honestly, The Poet X got me into novels in verse and I’ve been looking for more ever since. Plus, I listened to the audios for that and With The Fire On High and she is an amazing narrator. Everything she writes is so raw and poetic and nuanced. I just can’t wait to see what she brings in Clap When You Land.
Goodreads | IndieBound | Libro.fm | Amazon
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender
May 5th, 2020 // Balzer + Bray
Felix Love has never been in love—and, yes, he’s painfully aware of the irony. He desperately wants to know what it’s like and why it seems so easy for everyone but him to find someone. What’s worse is that, even though he is proud of his identity, Felix also secretly fears that he’s one marginalization too many—Black, queer, and transgender—to ever get his own happily-ever-after.
When an anonymous student begins sending him transphobic messages—after publicly posting Felix’s deadname alongside images of him before he transitioned—Felix comes up with a plan for revenge. What he didn’t count on: his catfish scenario landing him in a quasi–love triangle….
But as he navigates his complicated feelings, Felix begins a journey of questioning and self-discovery that helps redefine his most important relationship: how he feels about himself.
Why I’m excited: I think this one’s at the very top of my most anticipated May 2020 releases. Just from reading the synopsis, you can tell there’s a lot going on in this story and I have no doubt Kacen Callender will approach it all super well. Also very important: LOOK AT THAT COVER!! Gosh, I love visible trans poc representation.
Goodreads | IndieBound | Libro.fm | Amazon
The Fascinators by Andrew Eliopulos
May 12th, 2020 // HarperTeen
Living in a small town where magic is frowned upon, Sam needs his friends James and Delia—and their time together in their school’s magic club—to see him through to graduation.
But as soon as senior year starts, little cracks in their group begin to show. Sam may or may not be in love with James. Delia is growing more frustrated with their amateur magic club. And James reveals that he got mixed up with some sketchy magickers over the summer, putting a target on all their backs.
With so many fault lines threatening to derail his hopes for the year, Sam is forced to face the fact that the very love of magic that brought his group together is now tearing them apart—and there are some problems that no amount of magic can fix.
Why I’m excited: Ah, yes. Messy times during senior year. Isn’t that what senior year is for? Anyway, I like the idea of small-town boys figuring their lives and roles in society out because… well, that hits home. Also, am I wrong to think the presence of magic and it being frowned upon in their small town is a bit of a metaphor? This has the potential to be a really enjoyable debut.
Goodreads | IndieBound | Libro.fm | Amazon
Beach Read by Emily Henry
May 19th, 2020 // Berkley
Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.
They’re polar opposites.
In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they’re living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer’s block.
Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She’ll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he’ll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really.
Why I’m excited: Admittedly, the biggest reason I’m so excited for this book is because Tay has hyped it up so much. I didn’t know what it was about until I looked through a list of May 2020 releases. Now that I’ve read the synopsis and seen so many friends enjoyed it, I’m super excited for it too! It sounds like something I’ll love.
Goodreads | IndieBound | Libro.fm | Amazon
Date Me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye
May 19th, 2020 // Random House Books for Young Readers
Everyone knows about the dare: Each week, Bryson Keller must date someone new–the first person to ask him out on Monday morning. Few think Bryson can do it. He may be the king of Fairvale Academy, but he’s never really dated before.
Until a boy asks him out, and everything changes.
Kai Sheridan didn’t expect Bryson to say yes. So when Bryson agrees to secretly go out with him, Kai is thrown for a loop. But as the days go by, he discovers there’s more to Bryson beneath the surface, and dating him begins to feel less like an act and more like the real thing. Kai knows how the story of a gay boy liking someone straight ends. With his heart on the line, he’s awkwardly trying to navigate senior year at school, at home, and in the closet, all while grappling with the fact that this “relationship” will last only five days. After all, Bryson Keller is popular, good-looking, and straight . . . right?
Why I’m excited: From the moment I heard about this book (I think it was from Cody?), I was super excited about it! Date Me, Bryson Keller sounds like it could be a really cute story balanced with some really deep moments. I just—ahh! The more I read of people’s reviews, the more I want to read it!
Goodreads | IndieBound | Libro.fm | Amazon
Which May 2020 releases are you most excited about?
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I’m also really excited for Felix Ever After, and basically all the books on this list actually! May’s got some good books in store, lucky us!