Hello Spring!
If you are like me, you know that when spring comes, so does overly cheesy warm new stories! That’s right. All those gooey, heartwarming fuzzies bringing new beginnings. Afterall, it’s the season of coming of age, first loves, and new discoveries!
There are tons of really great upcoming books this month so let’s get into it!
Title: Lying in The Deep by Diana Urban
Released: May 2 2023
Summary from Goodreads:
After being jilted by her ex-boyfriend and best friend, Jade couldn’t be more ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime—11 countries in 4 months, all from the luxurious Campus on Board ship—and to wedge an entire globe between her and the people who broke her heart.
But when Jade discovers the backstabbing couple are also setting sail, her obsession with them grows and festers, leading to a shocking murder. And as their friends begin to drop like flies, Jade, and her new crush must race to clear her name and find the killer they’re trapped at sea with….before anyone else winds up in body bags.
Themes:
Mystery, Young adult, Thriller, Contemporary, Romance, Murder mystery, Suspense
Thoughts?
Honestly? I didn’t know this hidden treasure existed until I randomly stumbled upon it. But it sounds incredibly interesting! It’s filled with jealousy, betrayal, mystery, twists and turns.
Title: Painted Devils by Margaret Owen
Release date: May 16 2023
Summary from Goodreads:
Let’s get one thing straight—Vanja Schmidt wasn’t trying to start a cult.
After taking down a corrupt margrave, breaking a deadly curse, and finding romance with the vexingly scrupulous Junior Prefect Emeric Conrad, Vanja had one great mystery left: her long-lost birth family… and if they would welcome a thief. But in her search for an honest trade, she hit trouble and invented a god, the Scarlet Maiden, to scam her way out. Now, that lie is growing out of control—especially when Emeric arrives to investigate, and the Scarlet Maiden manifests to claim him as a virgin sacrifice.
For his final test to become a prefect, Emeric must determine if Vanja is guilty of serious fraud, or if the Scarlet Maiden—and her claim to him—are genuine. Meanwhile, Vanja is chasing an alternative sacrifice that may be their way out. The hunt leads her not only into the lairs of monsters and the paths of gods, but the ties of her past. And with what should be the simplest way to save Emeric hanging over their heads, he and Vanja must face a more dangerous question: Is there a future for a thief and a prefect, and at what price?
Themes:
Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Retellings, LGBT
Thoughts?
This is the second book from the Little Thieves duology! I received the first book, Little Thieves, from an Illumicrate box a couple of months back and absolutely loved it. Though the first book was great as a stand-alone, I’m quite looking forward to seeing more of Vanja. I’ve heard this one will get to you emotionally with self-love and figuring out what it truly means to be vulnerable with someone!
Title: Fake Date and Mooncakes by Sher Lee
Release Date: May 16 2023
Summary from Goodreads:
Dylan Tang wants to win a Mid-Autumn Festival mooncake-making competition for teen chefs—in memory of his mom, and to bring much-needed publicity to his aunt’s struggling Chinese takeout in Brooklyn.
Enter Theo Somers: charming, wealthy, with a smile that makes Dylan’s stomach do backflips. AKA a distraction. Their worlds are sun-and-moon apart, but Theo keeps showing up. He even convinces Dylan to be his fake date at a family wedding in the Hamptons.
In Theo’s glittering world of pomp, privilege, and crazy rich drama, their romance is supposed to be just pretend . . . but Dylan finds himself falling for Theo. For real. Then Theo’s relatives reveal their true colors—but with the mooncake contest looming, Dylan can’t risk being sidetracked by rich-people problems.
Themes:
Romance, LGBT, Young adult, Contemporary, Queer, Food
Thoughts?
This is probably my most hyped upcoming release! It sounds so cheesy and gooey, with all the feels. How could I not automatically love this? I’m sure this novel is going to be just as charming and warm as the cover suggests.
Title: If Tomorrow Doesn’t Come by Jen St. Jude
Release date: May 9 2023
Summary from Goodreads:
Avery Byrne has secrets. She’s queer; she’s in love with her best friend, Cass; and she’s suffering from undiagnosed clinical depression. But on the morning Avery plans to jump into the river near her college campus, the world discovers there are only nine days left to an asteroid is headed for Earth, and no one can stop it.
Trying to spare her family and Cass additional pain, Avery does her best to make it through just nine more days. As time runs out and secrets slowly come to light, Avery would do anything to save the ones she loves. But most importantly, she learns to save herself. Speak her truth. Seek the support she needs. Find hope again in the tomorrows she has left.
Themes:
Young adult, LGBTQ, Lesbian, Mental Health, Dystopia, Contemporary, Science Fiction, Romance, First love
Thoughts?
If Tomorrow Doesn’t come sounds like the perfect cosy, end-of-the-world meets first love romance everyone needs in their life. I could easily see myself sitting by a custioned window sill, blanket around my body, hot chocolate in my hand and enjoying this on a rainy day! I know this has darker themes due to the mental health themes, but reading about someone finding self love, learning to seek help and support, and finding hope makes me feel good inside.
Title: Lose You To Find Me by Erik J. Brown
Release date: May 2 2023
Summary from Goodreads:
Tommy Dees is in the weeds—restaurant speak for beyond overwhelmed. He’s been working as a server at Sunset Estates retirement community to get the experience he needs to attend one of the best culinary schools in the world. And to make his application shine, he also needs a letter of recommendation from his sadistic manager. But in exchange for the letter, Tommy has to meet three conditions—including training the new hire.
What he doesn’t expect is for the newbie to be an old crush: Gabe, with the dimples and kind heart, who Tommy fell for during summer camp at age ten and then never saw again. Unfortunately, Gabe doesn’t remember Tommy at all. The training proves distracting as old feelings resurface, and the universe seems to be conspiring against them.
Themes:
Young adult, Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Queer, Food
Thoughts?
This is the same amazing author of All That’s Left In The World which came out halfway through 2022. If this novel is anything like that one, you know I’ll be the first in line to secure myself a copy! It’s fun, cheesy, and has all the feels of a queer coming-of-age story. Plus, the cover art is super cute!
Title: Court of the Undying Seasons by A.M. Strickland
Release date: May 16 2023
Summary from Goodreads
In becoming a vampire, I’m less than a girl. And more.
Or maybe I’m becoming what I always have been, deep inside.
A blade.
When nineteen-year-old Fin volunteers to take her secret love’s place in their village’s Finding, she is terrified. Those who are chosen at the Finding are whisked away to Castle Courtsheart, a vampire school where human students either succeed and become vampires, fail and spend the rest of their lives as human thralls…or they don’t survive long enough to become either.
Fin is determined to forge a different learn how to kill the undead and get revenge for her mother, who was taken by the vampires years ago. But Courtsheart is as captivating as it is deadly, and Fin is quickly swept up in her new world and its inhabitants – particularly Gavron, her handsome and hostile vampire maker, whose blood is nothing short of intoxicating. As Fin begins to discover new aspects of her own identity and test her newfound powers, she stumbles across a string of murders that may be connected to a larger ritual – one with potentially lethal consequences for vampires and humans alike. Fin must uncover the truth and find the killer before she loses her life…or betrays her own heart.
Themes:
Fantasy, LGBT, Vampire, Young adult, Romance, Horror, Lesbian, Paranormal, Dark, Modern
Thoughts?
Again, here’s another really interesting upcoming novel that I didn’t know much about. It’s said that it could be compared to Maas meets A Deadly Education. I’m interested in how Fin, the main girl, will go about creating new learning of how to kill the undead like our modern-day vampire slayer. Overall, though I didn’t know much about this novel, it definitely sounds like one I would thoroughly enjoy. Plus the cover is beautiful and well designed!
BookishOlivia 