Picture this – you’re back at your local bookstore; your favorite place in the world. The same heavenly scent of newly printed paper and coffee welcomes you as you walk through the door. The last time you visited you walked out with some wonderful gems. This time there are even more exciting upcoming/newly released books you can’t wait to get your hands on. 

To help navigate all the new books hitting stores soon, I rounded up my most anticipated books being released in April, May, and June. These are the books that instantly caught my eye and have the potential to be a five star read. 

Happy Reading! And once again, may your bookstore visits be plenty this year 📚

The Family Recipe by Carolyn Huynh – When Duc Tran, the eccentric founder of the Vietnamese sandwich chain Duc’s Sandwiches, decides to retire, he realizes he doesn’t know who to give his inheritance to. He is estranged from his five children and no one has heard from his wife, Evelyn, in two decades after she abandoned the family without a trace. Duc decides to set up a little competition between his five adult children because the money has to go to someone. He informs his four daughters that in order to receive their inheritance they have one year to revitalize run-down sandwich shops in old-school Little Saigon locations across the US: Houston, San Jose, New Orleans, and Philadelphia. However, if the first-born (and only) son, Jude, gets married first, everything will go to him. While each daughter is stuck in a new city battling gentrification, declining ethnic enclaves and messy love lives, Jude questions if he wants to marry for love or for money or neither. As they scramble to win their inheritance, Duc’s children begin to learn the real intention behind their father’s inheritance scheme –and the secret their mother kept tucked away in the old fishing tackle box, all along.

Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez – Nikki hasn’t seen her grandmother in years, so when she receives a call from her grandmother urging her to come visit her in the hills of western North Carolina, Nikki hesitates only for a moment before agreeing to go. After years of silence in her family, due to a mysterious estrangement between Nikki’s mother and grandmother, she is determined to learn the truth while she still can. However, instead of getting answers about the recent past, Nikki is told an incredible story of a kingdom on this very mountain filled with freed people called Happy Land and how her great-great-great-grandmother, Luella would become its queen. As Nikki learns more about the Kingdom of Happy Land, she realizes how much of her identity and family’s secrets are wrapped up in these hills. Because this land is their legacy, and it will be up to her to protect it before it is stolen away.

Zeal by Morgan Jerkins – A mutli-gerational story that spans over a hundred and fifty years and  weaves together the stories of two star-crossed lovers and their descendents.

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry – Two writers (an optimist writer who’s still dreaming about her big break and grumpy Pulitzer-prize winning experienced writer) compete for a chance to tell the larger-than-life story about the reclusive Maragret Ives, the tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the twentieth century.

Julie Chan is Dead by Liann Zhang – Julie Chan didn’t mean to steal her identical twin’s life. She meant to call the police when she found the body. She meant to dial 911. Except when she unlocked Chloe’s phone to make that call, she also gained access to her estranged sister’s sponsorship deals, her followers, her wealth, her whole life. And Julie’s not prepared to give it back. Not yet. So it’s goodbye Julie, love Chloe. Now all Julie has to do is keep her head down and blend in with the beautiful Belladonnas, the tribe of influencers who had welcomed Chloe into their inner circle before she died. Julie’s going to breathe, detox, workout. Curate each post. Filter each picture. Spend whole days filming unboxing videos. But someone out there knows that even identical twins have their differences…

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune– Alice has been itching for something more than looking at life through her camera lens (she’s a photographer) and letting other people shine. When Alice’s grandmother (Nan) falls and breaks her hip, Alice comes up with a plan for them both. They will spend the summer at Barry’s Bay. A lakeside cottage Alice hasn’t been to since she was seventeen. Nan always said good things happen at the lake, and Alice wonders if she might be right, especially once she runs into her old crush Charlie Florek looking as handsome and flirtatious as ever. 

My Friends by Fredrik Backman – Most people don’t even notice them—three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it’s just a depiction of the sea. But Louisa, an artist herself, knows otherwise and she is determined to find out the story of these three enigmatic figures.

Bad Publicity by Bianca Gillam – When Andie lands her dream job as a senior book publicist, she’s ready to take the publishing capital by storm. Until, she discovers the big author she’ll be working with is none other than Jack Carlson, the same Jack who ruined her life in university and she hasn’t spoken to since. To make matters worse, the central part of this career-defining campaign is a book tour, which means Andie will have to travel across Europe with her infuriatingly hot but incredibly successful nemesis if she wants to keep her job. One month on tour with Jack Carlson, visiting some of the most romantic spots in Europe. How hard can it be?

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Set against the backdrop of the 1980s space shuttle program, Joan begins training alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond and scientist John Griffin, who are kind and easygoing even when the stakes are highest; mission specialist Lydia Danes, who has worked too hard to play nice; warmhearted Donna Fitzgerald, who is navigating her own secrets; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer, who can fix any engine and fly any plane. As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined. Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, it all changes in an instant.

A Dance of Lies by Brittney Arena – Vasalie Moran was once a dancer in King Illian’s court, until he framed her for murder. Barely surviving her two years in the dungeons, she’s suddenly called to face her king. He offers her a deal: become his spy at the six-week royal Gathering and he’ll grant her freedom. But as Illian’s orders grow bloody and dangerous, forcing Vasalie to harm and betray those around her, Vasalie discovers that the monster she serves may be aligned with a bigger monster—one far closer to home.

Sounds Like Love by Ashley Poston – A hitmaking songwriter and a bitter musician share a startling and inexplicable connection that they’ll do anything to shake.

Finders Keepers by Sarah Alder – Two estranged best friends find that a long-abandoned treasure hunt might be the key to a fresh start—for both their futures and their feelings.

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Thanks for reading!

Which books from the list are you most excited to read?

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*featured image credit – Ondrej Bocek on Unsplash