MayTBR

Hello my fellow readers, it is the first of May. It is starting to feel like spring, and time for a new TBR. Last month I read 7 and a half books out of the 11 on my list. That was one of my lower reading months, so I am cutting back to 7 books this time around.

Last month I started adding more genres. Horror is still my favorite, but I have been craving a wider mix lately. I also added a new element where my wife picks one of my books. Last time she chose something she wanted to read, but this month she picked one of her favorite books for me instead.

My genre breakdown is 1 science fiction, 2 mysteries, 1 science fiction and historical fiction, and 3 horror.

TBR video where I go more in-depth, on all the books posted below.

I am attending one book signing this month.

I am going to a book launch event for John of John by Douglas Stuart. This novel is getting a lot of buzz in literary fiction circles. Stuart has written three novels so far, with his debut Shuggie Bain winning the Booker Prize and Young Mungo being nominated.

The release event also includes Ann Patchett discussing the book. The books she supports have often become some of my favorites, including Kin by Tayari Jones and James by Percival Everett.

Owned Books:

Empire of Silence by Christopher Ruocchio is a Science Fiction that has been on my radar for some time. It is the first book in the Sun Eater Saga, where we learn early on that the hero to some is the villain to others because he destroyed the sun. The series explores what led him to that decision. Many BookTubers I follow have recommended it. Empire of Silence was first published on July 3, 2018 by DAW.

You Me Her by Sue Watson is a domestic thriller about a wife, her husband, and a new friend. The tagline is One Marriage, Three People. One Murder. This is a rerelease provided to me by Grand Central Publishing. I have been in the mood for thrillers lately, and this one features an unreliable narrator, which sounds fun. You Me Her was republished on March 17 by Grand Central Publishing.

The Curse of Hester Gardens by Tamika Thompson is a haunted horror novel centered on gun violence. The premise has been described as We Need to Talk About Kevin if written by Jason Reynolds and Tananarive Due, meeting River Solomon’s Model Home. It takes place in a haunted public housing project. The Curse of Hester Gardens will be published on March 31 by Kensington Books.

Monster of the Month

Port Luck by Timothy King is a werewolf novel set in Alaska. 80 years ago Port Luck was a thriving community, but murders and mayhem forced the town to abandon their home. Now a new community is getting established while new murders are happening. Are the old legends true? Sounds like fun. I have read Timothy King before in Rideshare, a novel he co-wrote with James Kaine, but Port Luck will be my first solo read of Timothy King. Port Luck was first published on May 2, 2025 by Savage Rabbit Publishing.

Wifely Pick:

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler is a science fiction / historical fiction that has a woman transported from present day California to the antebellum South. This novel is one of my wife’s favorite reads. We talked about it on our first date. She read my favorite at the time Life After Life by Kate Atkinson and now it is time to read hers. Kindred was first published on June 1, 1979 by Doubleday

ARC’s

I Know A Place by Nat Cassidy is a collection of short stories with one novella. I attended a reading where Cassidy performed one of the stories with a guitar, which was a great experience. I quickly connected with his writing, and When the Wolf Comes Home completely blew me away. I have read the novella Rest Stop, and it was amazing there are so many twists and turns. I Know A Place will be published on May 5, 2026 by Shortwave Publishing.

Night Objects by Eli Raphael is a coming-of-age murder mystery debut. This book deals with a murder and secret society within a school. The book has a strong blurb from Liz Moore, author of Long Bright River and God of the Woods, saying Raphael is the author to look out for. The publisher reached out to me excited for this one and sent a digital copy from Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley. Night Objects will be published on May 26, 2026, by Grand Central Publishing.