New Release Radar: New Books Coming Out on May 21

Alex Faccibene

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The covers of three new book releases coming out on May 21: We Mostly Come Out at Night, Lies and Weddings, and How to Become a Dark Lord and Die Trying.

There are a lot of new books coming out every week. With New Release Radar, I’ll help you narrow down the week’s new book releases into the titles you should get excited about. I have eight books to share this week, including an LGBTQ+ horror anthology, a dystopian murder mystery and more. Read on!

We Mostly Come Out at Night, Edited by Rob Costello

We Mostly Come Out at Night is a YA anthology that reclaims monsters for the LGBTQA+ community. Contributors like Kalynn Bayron, Alexandra Villasante, H.E. Edgmon and more highlight themes of love, self-acceptance and empowerment through stories of various creatures. Each one features both original and familiar monsters, celebrating queerness and the unique power found in embracing what makes you stand out.

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The Bump by Sidney Karger

The cover of The Bump has silhouettes of two men, one standing reading a map and one in a red convertible. Above them is the silhouette of a stork carrying a bundle.

Wyatt Wallace, a meticulous TV commercial director, and Biz Petterelli, a spontaneous former child actor turned writer, are about to have a baby and are freaking out. They embark on a cross-country road trip in their 1992 Volkswagen Cabriolet to meet their baby and enjoy one last adventure before parenthood. Along the way, unexpected detours and revelations force them to reexamine their relationship and the meaning of family.

The Bump is a road trip comedy that’s sure to put a smile on your face. Sidney Karger’s second rom-com balances emotional and heartfelt moments with laugh-out-loud ones, and the ending is worth the journey.

Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan

Rufus Leung Gresham, future Duke of Greshambury, must save his family’s legacy from overwhelming debt by finding a wealthy bride at his sister’s wedding. He faces a choice between the affluent Solène de Courcy, venture capitalist Martha Dung or his true love, the humble Eden Tong. The Gresham family’s plans are jeopardized when a volcanic eruption and a scandalous revelation disrupt the wedding. Can their reputation hold up to a decades-long secret?

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The author of Crazy Rich Asians is back with another decadent, globetrotting story. Kevin Kwan’s new book release Lies and Weddings has love, money, murder, sex and more, making it the perfect summer read.

Lost Ark Dreaming by Suyi Davies Okungbowa

Decades after the Atlantic Ocean’s rise, survivors off the West African coast live in five partially submerged towers where the wealthy reside at the top and the poor in the depths. Below them, however, lurks a terrifying threat. Those who were left to drown when the sea rose have been reawakened with a thirst for vengeance. Yekini, a rookie analyst; Tuoyo, an undersea mechanic; and Ngozi, a high-level bureaucrat, must unite to forge a livable future amid threats from ancient, vengeful beings reawakened from the ocean.

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Lost Ark Dreaming reads like Snowpiercer combined with Rivers Solomon’s The Deep. Suyi Davies Okungbowa’s new novella is a brutal look at post-climate change disaster.

The Worst Ronin by Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Faith Schaffer

The cover of The Worst Ronin has a girl with brown skin and black hair holding a cell phone and wearing a long dress. She has two swords at her waist and her arm around a person with short dark hair wearing samurai robes and looking annoyed.

Sixteen-year-old Chihiro Ito, eager to prove herself, seizes the chance to work with her idol Tatsuo Nakano, the first woman samurai, in her father’s stead. Tasked with killing a demon terrorizing a village, Chihiro discovers Tatsuo is not the hero she imagined but a disillusioned ronin. Together, they embark on a perilous journey filled with epic battles and conspiracies, forcing them to confront their differences and pasts to save the village.

Nimona meets Attack on Titan in this genre-defying new graphic novel from Maggie Tokuda-Hall. The Worst Ronin blends a modern-age setting with samurai ideals and aesthetics, creating a powerful, funny, unique story.

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I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue

Jolene, an admin at Supershops, Inc., keeps sane by adding invisible, petty comments to all her emails in white font. When one is discovered, she’s sentenced to sensitivity training and strict email controls. An IT error, however, gives her access to her colleague’s private emails, revealing secrets, drama and impending layoffs. With a plan to use the information to keep her job safe, Jolene delves deeper into her coworkers’ lives and blurs the boundaries of what’s right.

Natalie Sue’s debut is a fun and relatable new book release. Anyone who has ever worked a soul-sucking office job will surely appreciate I Hope This Finds You Well.

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton

The book cover for The Last Murder at the End of the World, featuring a lighthouse surrounded by rainbow-colored hills with a glittering waterfront before it.

In a secluded island paradise safe from the deadly fog plaguing the outside world, 122 villagers and three scientists peacefully coexist. But when one of the scientists is brutally murdered, it triggers a lowering of the defenses that keep the fog at bay.

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With a 92-hour deadline to solve the murder and prevent the island’s demise, the security system erases everyone’s memories of the crucial night, leaving an unwitting murderer among them. The race against time becomes a battle for survival, as the islanders must unravel the mystery before the fog consumes them all.

Stuart Turton’s high-concept new murder mystery has been getting major buzz for months. Part psychological thriller, part survival tale, The Last Murder at the End of the World is sure to stick with readers long after they’re done.

How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler

Every time Davi tries to defeat the all-powerful Dark Lord, fate gets her in the end. Thanks to an endless time loop, she’s died again and again. Fed up with the cycle, she decides to switch tactics. If the Dark Lord always wins, maybe it’s time to play for the winning team instead.

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With Deadpool-style humor and time-loop shenanigans, How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying is a fun twist on epic fantasy tropes. Django Wexler’s new book release shows off his comedic range with style.

You can check out these new book releases at Bookshop.org or your local bookstore. What May 21 new release are you most excited to read? Let us know below, and tune in next week to grow your TBR.

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Alex Faccibene

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