Arts & Entertainment
10 Best Books To Read In May
From John Grisham's new thriller to Stephen King's latest novellas, these are the must-reads that people will be talking about in May.
Need a change of scenery? Pick up a book, and you go can somewhere new and exciting without ever having to leave your house. We've rounded up 10 must-reads for the month of May. There's a new mystery from John Grisham, four novellas from Stephen King, a romance novel by Danielle Steel and so much more.
These books — a mix of picks from from Patch staffers and Amazon editors — are all available in Kindle format. So if you don't want to wait for a physical copy to be delivered. Just add the e-book version to your cart, and you can start reading right away. If you don't have a Kindle, you can still read your new book using the free Kindle app on your phone.
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#1 "Camino Winds" by John Grisham
Bruce Cable is preparing his bookstore for the return of a bestselling author, when Hurricane Leo heads straight for the island. Florida's governor orders a mandatory evacuation, but Bruce decides to ride out the storm. The damage is bad, and there are multiple casualties. One of the apparent victims is Bruce's friend, horror author Nelson Kerr. But Nelson suffered several suspicious blows to the head, and Bruce isn't convinced it was the storm that killed him. The local police are too busy dealing with the aftermath of the hurricane, so Bruce starts his own investigation. As he digs deeper into the author's suspicious death, he begins to question if the characters in Nelson's novels were actually based in reality.
#2 "The Jane Austen Society: A Novel" by Natalie Jenner
One hundred and fifty years ago, the small English village of Chawton was Jane Austen's final home. As the years passed, her estate diminished, and after the end of World War II, there was very little left of her legacy. That's when a determined group of Austen's readers banded together to preserve the beloved author's home and legacy. There was a laborer, a young widow, a doctor, a movie star and others who created the Jane Austen Society. This moving novel weaves together each individual's highs and lows, and reminds us how much we're ultimately more alike than different.
#3 "Almond: A Novel" by Won-pyung Sohn (translated by Joosun Lee)
Yunjae was born with a brain condition that makes it difficult for him to feel emotions such as fear or anger. Thanks to two almond-shaped neurons in his brain, he doesn't have friends, but he is content living with his devoted mother and grandmother. Then on Yunjae's 16th birthday, a random act of violence shatters his world and leaves him all alone. Yunjae keeps entirely to himself at school, until a troubled teenager names Gon arrives and begins to bully him. Strangely enough, the Yunjae and Gon discover they have a lot in common and strike up an unexpected friendship. As Yunjae starts opening up to others, something changes within him. But when Gon finds himself in sudden danger, it's up to Yunjae to save him.
#4 "If It Bleeds" by Stephen King
Settle in and get spooked with this collection of four novellas — "Mr. Harrigan's Phone," "The Life of Chuck," "Rat" and the title story "If It Bleeds" — from legendary author Stephen King. As early reviews and happy readers can attest, this book of short fiction does not disappoint.
#5 "No Ordinary Dog: My Partner From The SEAL Teams To The Bin Laden Raid" by Will Chesney with Joe Layden
In May 2011, two dozen Navy SEALS descended on Osama Bin Laden's compound. After the mission, only one hero's name was made public: Cairo, a military working dog who worked side by side with SEAL Team Operator Will Chesney. In this incredible book, Chesney tells the story of how he and Cairo worked together on the Bin Laden raid and hundreds of other critical operations in the war on terrorism. When injury tore this bonded duo apart, it was up to Cairo to save Chesney once again — and then for Chesney to return the favor.
#6 "The Wedding Dress: A Novel" by Danielle Steel
In this riveting new romance from Danielle Steel, one exquisite wedding dress makes its way through four generations of women. This novel chronicles a family odyssey through triumph and loss from the glamorous San Francisco social scene of the '20s, through war, the swinging '60s and the rise of Silicon Valley. Each bride who wears it marries a different kind of man and has unique hopes for her future. But wearing the dress is a lasting tradition and comes to represent the unbreakable bond of family and love that lasts long after "I do."
#7 "The Book of Longings: A Novel" by Sue Monk Kidd
In this highly anticipated work of fiction, Sue Monk Kidd takes a bold and creative approach to history to tell the story of a young woman named Ana. Raised in a wealthy family with ties to Galilee, Ana is ambitious and daring, writing narratives about oppressed women. She's expected to marry an older widower, but an encounter with 18-year-old Jesus changes her life completely. In a shocking twist, Ana marries Jesus and makes a home with him, his brother and their mother, Mary. But when Ana commits a brazen act that puts her in danger, she has no choice but to flee to Alexandria. She then bravely finds her own voice as some of history's most impactful events unfold. "The Book of Longings" is an imaginative, inspiring must-read for anyone with an interest in historical fiction.
#8 "Big Summer: A Novel" by Jennifer Weiner
Daphne Berg is shocked when Drue Cavanaugh asks her to be the maid of honor at her society wedding. Daphne hasn't spoken to Drue since an epic fight six years earlier. In the wake of their fallout, Daphne emerged from Drue's shadow and became a plus-size Instagram influencer. Allowing Drue back into her life is risky; but despite her best efforts, Daphne can't say no to an invitation to spend a weekend at her former friend's waterfront Cape Cod mansion. What unravels is a moving story about friendship and figuring out what really matters.
#9 "All Adults Here: A Novel" by Emma Straub
When Astrid Strick witnesses a school bus accident, she suddenly recalls a repressed memory from her young parenting days decades ago. She realizes she wasn't quite the mother she thought she was to her three now-grown kids, and she begins to wonder what impact that had on their lives. Astrid's youngest son is a lost soul making parenting mistakes of his own. Her daughter is pregnant but struggling to act like an adult. Her oldest son is measuring his adult life according to standards no one else shares. Astrid finds herself wondering if it's too late to mend mistakes from the past and whether she should tell the truth to her kids now. As it turns out, Astrid's 13-year-old granddaughter and her new friend may be the only one who realizes the importance of coming clean to those you love the most.
#10 "Hollywood Park: A Memoir" by Mikel Jollett
Mikel Jollett grew up in an experimental commune in California, which later morphed into the Church of Synanon, one of the country's most infamous cults. He was separated from his parents when he was 6 months old and handed to the cult's "school." His childhood was filled with poverty, addiction and abuse, but when he escaped the cult, life proved to be almost as difficult. Despite this, Jollett found his way to Stanford University and eventually found his voice as a writer and musician. His memoir is a testament to the human spirit and resiliency through the toughest times.
Looking for more great books? Check out last month's reading list!
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