Here are the 25 Indie Next List and 6 Now in Paperback picks on the May 2026 Indie Next List flier.
The May title list is also viewable as a collection on Edelweiss and on the Indie Next List page as an Excel file alongside PDFs for the month’s flier and shelf-talker templates. Learn more and visit Matchbook Marketing’s program page to sign up to send the free Indie Next List e-newsletter to customers.
Additionally, to mark the start of the new month, the April Indie Next List picks are available as a flier, along with past lists, on the Indie Next List page on BookWeb.org.
The 25 May Indie Next List Picks
#1 Pick: Make Believe: On Telling Stories to Children
By Mac Barnett
(Little, Brown and Company, 9780316601122, $20, May 5, Writing/Education)
“With a profound respect for the intellect of children and their openness to the world, both real and imagined, Mac Barnett has written a love letter to not only children’s literature, but to childhood as well.”
—Diane Capriola, Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, GA
The Calamity Club
By Kathryn Stockett
(Spiegel & Grau, 9781954118812, $35, May 5, Historical Fiction)
“What makes Kathryn Stockett’s blockbuster The Help and her long-awaited return in The Calamity Club so special is the feeling that you’re witnessing ordinary women make history in extraordinary ways.”
—Emily Liner, Friendly City Books, Columbus, MS
The Lost Book of Lancelot: A Novel
By John Glynn
(Grand Central Publishing, 9781538775233, $29, May 12, Fantasy)
“A lush, rich, deeply emotional love story that will remind you of the things most important to cherish in life. Whether you're new to Lancelot's story or a long-time lover of Arthurian lore, you'll find something new and fresh in this take.”
—Su Kim, Old Town Books, Alexandria, VA
Enormous Wings: A Novel
By Laurie Frankel
(Henry Holt and Co., 9781250423771, $28.99, May 5, Fiction)
“Laurie Frankel has a way of treating serious issues in a warm and loving way, and of bringing understanding to contentious topics. Maybe this book can open a few eyes to the horrors of the Texas (and unfortunately other states’) laws.”
—Karen Emmerling, Beach Books, Seaside, OR
We Burned So Bright
By TJ Klune
(Tor Books, 9781250881236, $25.99, Apr. 28, Fantasy)
“As the end of the world approaches, elderly husbands Don and Rodney set off on one last road trip to keep a promise before it’s too late. Klune’s story feels tangible, distressingly realistic and achingly beautiful.”
—Kelsie Berger, Mysterious Galaxy Books, San Diego, CA
Mad Mabel: A Novel
By Sally Hepworth
(St. Martin's Press, 9781250284549, $29, Apr. 21, Thriller)
“Hepworth once again excels at pulling the rug out from under the reader's figurative feet with the story of octogenarian Elsie Fitzpatrick, whose quiet life on a small Melbourne street is blown up by her discovery of her next door neighbor dead.”
—Barbara Peters, The Poisoned Pen Bookstore, Scottsdale, AZ
The Things We Never Say: A Novel
By Elizabeth Strout
(Random House, 9798217154746, $29, May 5, Fiction)
“Another perceptive character study from Elizabeth Strout, this time centered around a Massachusetts high school history teacher who presents an amiable face to the world but is riddled with self-doubt and pessimism.”
—Anne Peck, Lakeville Books & Stationery, Lakeville, CT
John of John
By Douglas Stuart
(Grove Press, 9780802167194, $28, May 5, Fiction)
“I'll go wherever Douglas Stuart leads, knowing he’s going to deliver. In John of John, he gets right to the core of human emotion as the young John Callum tries to break the cycle of generational, malignant masculinity his father is trapped in.”
—Richard Dixon, The Ivy Bookshop, Baltimore, MD
Ghost Town: A Novel
By Tom Perrotta
(Scribner, 9781668080634, $28, Apr. 28, Fiction)
“On hearing that his father has been memorialized in his hometown of Creamwood, NJ, Jimmy Perrini recalls the fateful summer after his mother’s death. Fast cars, Ouija boards, and strong weed all feature in this powerful story about grief, prejudice, and adolescence.”
—Daniel Goldin, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, WI
The Duke: A Novel
By Anna Cowan
(St. Martin's Griffin, 9781250382849, $19, Apr. 28, Romance)
“A sapphic historical romance full of secrets, political plotting, blackmail, revenge, and double revenge that will keep you on the edge of your seat as emotional and erotic tension builds between The Duke and her ‘ward,’ Celine.”
—Kinsey Foreman, High Five Books, Florence, MA
Homebound: A Novel
By Portia Elan
(Scribner, 9781668201732, $28, May 5, Fiction)
“Like all great sci-fi novels do, Homebound blends the anxieties around new technology, like AI, with stirring themes of belonging and hope. This remarkable debut is a perfect read for fans of Becky Chambers and Amal El-Mohtar.”
—Olivia Marchese, Author's Note, Medina, NY
Platform Decay (The Murderbot Diaries #8)
By Martha Wells
(Tor Books, 9781250827005, $24.99, May 5, Sci-Fi)
“Martha Wells always delivers. Getting to meet Three as it comes into itself and watching Murderbot wrestle with its humanity is just a magical ride through what is, essentially, a living nightmare for them.”
—Jess Feder, Kiss & Tale: A Romance Bookshop, Collingswood, NJ
Five: A Novel
By Ilona Bannister
(Crown, 9798217088027, $28, May 5, Thriller)
“Five is wholly original, masterfully plotted, and thrilling. My allegiance switched as swiftly as the impending train bearing down on the antiheroes in this story. You know someone will die, but who do you want to survive?”
—Maggie Robe, Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, NC
Small Boat: A Novel
By Vincent Delecroix, Helen Stevenson (Transl.)
(Mariner Books, 9780063491694, $25, Apr. 21, Fiction)
“A short, translated novella based on the deadly travels of a migrant dinghy across the Channel from France to Britain, and the questionable morals of the rescue operators — one in particular, who put aside the truth of these migrants as human beings in order to do their job.”
—Jennifer Bischof, Frisco Booksellers, Frisco, TX
Seek the Traitor's Son
By Veronica Roth
(Tor Books, 9781250347909, $29.99, May 12, Fantasy)
“A stunning science fantasy novel with a virus that can kill or give superpowers, world-altering prophecies, mysterious aliens, secret dads, surprise romance, and a whole lot of trauma. If you're looking for a chunky book with high stakes, great characters, and a propulsive plot, you're in the right place.”
—Alex Schaffner, Brookline Booksmith, Brookline, MA
Thistlemarsh
By Moorea Corrigan
(Berkley, 9780593819883, $30, Apr. 21, Fantasy)
“Thistlemarsh was so easy to get swept into as our main protagonist Mouse comes back to a home she doesn’t recognize to meet expectations that seem impossible. This book pulled at my heartstrings with the trauma and grief but it never took me out of the story.”
—Mekhala Villegas, Fountain Bookstore, Richmond, VA
The Foursome: A Novel
By Christina Baker Kline
(Mariner Books, 9780063097995, $30, May 12, Historical Fiction)
“A book about Eng and Chang Bunker, the famous conjoined twins. The story touches on so many interesting themes, from complicated sibling relationships and dysfunctional families to traditional gender and class roles, slavery, and abolition.”
—Kelly Klein, Reads by the River, Waterford, WI
American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed
By Isaac Fitzgerald
(Knopf, 9780593537794, $32, May 12, Memoir)
“You will laugh, you will cry, you will learn. You will enjoy the adventure with Fitzgerald as he debunks myths about our history and our humanity. Rambling and reflecting on the best gifts from his parents: the love of nature and books and the power of prayer.”
—Jeri Kay Thomas, 2 Dandelions Bookshop, Brighton, MI
The Caretaker: A Novel
By Marcus Kliewer
(Atria/Emily Bestler Books/12:01 Books, 9781982198817, $29, Apr. 21, Horror)
“The Caretaker is deeply unsettling in the best way, with smart ties to Kliewer’s previous novel while still standing strong on its own. It’s emotionally intense, psychologically rich, and genuinely scary. So good.”
—Brynna Neal, Severna Park Books & LitCoLab, Severna, MD
Patient, Female: Stories
By Julie Schumacher
(Milkweed Editions, 9781639551651, $26, May 5, Short Stories)
“All the wit and wry observation you expect from Julie Schumacher, but deeper, and darker. Some of these stories left me breathless and a little shocked, in awe of the courage it took to identify and embrace some very human and very ugly emotions.”
—Sharon Weinberg, The Chatham Bookstore, Chatham, NY
Last Night in Brooklyn: A Novel
By Xochitl Gonzalez
(Flatiron Books, 9781250372031, $27.99, Apr. 21, Fiction)
“Gonzalez has a gift for capturing the essence of a specific time and place. She does it again with Brooklyn in the mid 2000s and the gentrification of the area. The story of La Garza, a fashion designer and an icon of the neighborhood, explores racism, misogyny and class struggle.”
—Kathy Clemmons, Sundog Books, Santa Rosa Beach, FL
The Radiant Dark: A Novel
By Alexandra Oliva
(SJP Lit, 9781638932529, $28.95, Apr. 28, Fiction)
“A gripping multi-generational story that delves into messy relationships, motherhood struggles, inherited trauma, dreams for the future, ANDD the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence.”
—Rachel Burgoon, Brick & Mortar Books, Redmond, WA
Good News: A Novel
By Alexa Yasemin Brahme
(Algonquin Books, 9781643757421, $29, May 5, Fiction)
“Brahme knows the dramatics of being a young woman in her twenties well. She has a skill that illustrates the immense and overwhelming chaos of what it’s like to think that the world is ending, while knowing that everything will be okay.”
—Isabella Barbuto, Merritt Bookstore, Millbrook, NY
The Mountains We Call Home: The Book Woman's Legacy
By Kim Michele Richardson
(Sourcebooks Landmark, 9781464239335, $18.99, Apr. 21, Historical Fiction)“Unjustly incarcerated, Cussy Lovett's steadfast courage is at the heart of this historical fiction novel set in 1950s Kentucky. As a believer in the power of literacy, and as a devoted wife and mother, Cussy stays forever hopeful even in the toughest of times.”
—Caroline Buchta, Andover Bookstore, Andover, MA
Entomology of the Pin-Up Girl (Indies Introduce)
By Lauren Osborn
(Dzanc Books, 9781938603709, $17.95, May 12, Short Stories)
“A grotesquely satisfying book that will stick with you. Osborn has accomplished the perfect melding of ‘good for her’ with an unflinching stare down the barrel of some of society’s most pressing problems.”
—Cassie Goodwin, Loudmouth Books, Indianapolis, IN
May 2026 Indie Next List Now in Paperback
Don't Let Him In: A Novel
By Lisa Jewell
(Atria Books, 9781668033883, $19, May 5, Thriller)
“If you enjoy a tale full of complicated relationships filled with secrets, then this is a necessary read. Told with many voices, the reader is offered a platter of delectable bites to sample as they savor the plot bite by bite.”
—R. Aimee Chipman, The Bluestocking Bookshop, Holland, MI
The Girls Who Grew Big: A Novel
By Leila Mottley
(Vintage, 9780593686522, $19, May 5, Fiction)
“Just as she did in Nightcrawling, Leila Mottley gives voice and understanding to parts of life that our culture often tells us to ignore. The book is full of life and heart and hope.”
—Beth Black, The Bookworm of Omaha, Omaha, NE
The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate—Discoveries from A Secret World
By Peter Wohlleben
(Greystone Books, 9781771643771, $18.95, May 5, Nature)
“The Hidden Life of Trees reads like a 250-page epiphany. Wohlleben knows trees inside and out, and his revelatory examination of the inner lives of forests provides evidence of what many sensitive nature-lovers long suspected: that trees form friendships, sustain one another, and should be viewed as more than a natural resource. This is the kind of writing that can profoundly affect the way we live on this planet.”
—Stephen Sparks, Point Reyes Books, Point Reyes Station, CA
Make Me Famous: A Novel
By Maud Ventura, Gretchen Schmid (Transl.)
(HarperVia, 9780063427525, $18.99, May 5, Fiction)
“Ventura offers a hilarious yet harrowing story of a young French American musician’s rise to fame. A flawless depiction of the pressures of being young, beautiful, maintaining a fan base, and staying on top.”
—Melanie Fleishman, Center for Fiction Bookstore, Brooklyn, NY
Ordinary Time: Lessons Learned While Staying Put
By Annie B. Jones
(HarperOne, 9780063411319, $18.99, Apr. 21, Memoir)
“Fans of Annie Jones will love this peek behind the scenes, but even for those unfamiliar with Annie’s story, these essays are deeply relatable. Perfect for people who stayed in their hometowns, who lead a quieter life, and who have struggled with their faith.”
—Claire McWhorter, River & Hill Books, Rome, GA
You Belong Here: A Novel
By Megan Miranda
(Scribner, 9781668080986, $19, May 5, Thriller)
“Megan Miranda delivers a fast-paced thriller set on a small college campus in the mountains of Virginia. Ghosts and memories of the past eerily surface in this suspenseful, tension-filled novel!”
—Caroline Buchta, Andover Bookstore, Andover, MA