May is upon us, and that means a new selection of books is hitting the shelves of your local bookstores and libraries.
May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada, so this list is primarily comprised of authors from the diaspora. Of course, not all cultures and nations are represented, so please seek out recommendations from other curated lists; most retailers and libraries offer such resources.
This list covers a range of themes and genres, featuring true delights from longtime faves and debut authors.
Without further ado, let’s dive into our most anticipated book releases of May 2026.
Storm Breaker by Nisha J. Tuli
A gripping dystopian romance filled with forbidden power, ruthless challenges, and a heroine who refuses to burn quietly—perfect for fans of Divergent and The Hunger Games. –Entangled Publishing
Nisha J. Tuli’s latest Storm Breaker is gearing up to be the romantasy of the season, and not only is it a highly anticipated first book of a series, but it is also already locked down for a TV adaptation. The hype is real, as the author of the bestselling Trial of the Sun Queen is definitely to be trusted. Storm Breaker is a young adult fantasy that brings together magic and dystopia in a heart-pounding, exciting story that will grab your attention and fiercely hold onto it to the very end.
Published by: Entangled Publishing
Imprint Publisher: Mayhem Books
Publication Date: May 5, 2026
The Young Will Remember by Eve J. Chung
A sweeping novel about a correspondent trapped behind enemy lines during the Korean War, and the women who help her find her way home, from the national bestselling author of Daughters of Shandong. –Penguin Random House Canada
Ellie Chang is on a military plane when it is shot down while covering a battle in North Korea. In the most precarious of situations, Ellie is surprised to see a woman willing to help, not men ready to shoot. The Young Will Remember takes us to post-WWII and the Korean War, as a correspondent tries to return the favour by helping a selfless woman who saved Ellie. The two come from different realities, but their lives are bound together in an emotional, descriptive drama that will draw you in with its intensity and sensitivity. Readers of historical fiction are invited to see a part of history rarely seen in a genre oversaturated with European-centred stories.
Published by: Penguin Random House Canada
Imprint Publisher: Berkley
Publication date: May 5, 2026
The Library of Flowers by L.C. Chu
Rooted in memory and steeped in magic, The Library of Flowers is a radiant exploration of family, identity, and the expectations we inherit, perfect for anyone who has ever carried the weight of a legacy—and dared to make it their own. –Sourcebooks
I love stories about women possessing power over “powerful” men, and the hook for Chu’s The Library of Flowers, which follows a family of women who use magical perfumes to sway the likes of emperors and billionaires. Sign me up! The story follows one of these women as she grapples with failing at magic, her legacy, and the familial expectations she must meet. This novel of magical realism sounds so alluring, and the cover is incredibly eye-catching; I’ll just pretend that wasn’t what caught my attention first.
Published by: Sourcebooks
Imprint Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication date: May 5, 2026
She Waits Where Shadows Gather by Michelle Tang
Parents should pass down stories, not spirits…
“Some inherit memories. Others inherit monsters.” That line gave me chills; the novel has a very compelling synopsis, but it was this line that made me hit “PRE-ORDER”. Are you ready to be haunted? Well, Michelle Tang’s novel is made to make you shudder in anticipation and fear, as the gothic horror delves into a type of inheritance that fans of The Haunting of Hill House will salivate over.
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Publication date: May 5, 2026
The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee
A battle-worn corporate samurai undertakes one last mission on a merciless planet where death is always a mere breath away, in this standalone dystopian epic from the author of the modern fantasy classic Jade City. –Hachette Book Group
The first adult science fiction from Fonda Lee…sold. The Last Contract of Isako is a space opera following a corporate samurai. Need I go further? Fine. Isako is a swordswoman who finds herself facing one last job she simply can’t refuse. The classic “one last job” gag that brings a badass person into a situation that may actually be more dangerous than they anticipated, and for their skill level. In this case, Fonda Lee brings us along on a mission with consequences for humanity. A space opera that gives us exactly what we need from the subgenre, high-stakes drama, but in space.
Published by: Hachette Book Group
Imprint Publisher: Orbit
Publication date: May 5, 2026
The Girl With A Thousand Faces by Sunyi Dean
From the USA Today bestselling author of The Book Eaterscomes The Girl with a Thousand Faces, a stunning Gothic tale set in a historical Hong Kong that meshes ancient myths and local legends into a haunting story of ghosts, grief, and women who will not forgive. –Tor Publishing Group
The famed Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong has been the source of some fascinating stories spanning genres, and now it is the backdrop for Sunyi Dean’s historical gothic that blends local folklore and myths. The Girl With A Thousand Faces is a ghost story with many twists and turns that centres on Mercy Chan, a ghost-talker unable to remember her past. Eerie and unexpected, this upcoming fantasy is mighty intriguing.
Published by: Tor Publishing Group
Imprint Publisher: Tor Books
Publication date: May 5, 2026
How to Find A Guy in Five Weddings by Cynthia Timoti
It’s 27 Dresses meets Sonya Lalli’s The Matchmaker’s Listin this delightful romcom where she doesn’t believe in love…he’s determined to prove her wrong — by being her matchmaker! –Tor Publishing Group
“It’s 27 Dresses meets…” stop. I want it! Cynthia Timoti’s How to Find A Guy in Five Weddings has one of the best rom-com tropes, a romantic cynic and a hopeless romantic pair up because the romantic thinks he can find a suitable match for the cynic. Sir, I think you need to look in the mirror. Who doesn’t love the anticipation of the inevitable, the back-and-forth as each side justifies their position and weddings?! We all love a good wedding-centric rom-com.
Published by: Tor Publishing Group
Imprint Publisher: Bramble
Publication date: May 12, 2026
We Dance Upon Demons by Vaishnavi Patel
From the New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi, a galvanizing stand-alone contemporary fantasy following a burnt-out reproductive health care worker as she fights back against escalating attacks on her clinic and the malevolent forces in hot pursuit of her newly acquired power. –Simon & Schuster Canada
Vaishanvi Patel follows up her bestselling novel Kaikeyi with a contemporary horror fantasy that follows a burnt-out health care worker who develops a strange power. Now she goes from having daily workplace-related harassments from monstrous humans to actually being threatened by malevolent forces. The novel has a fierce synopsis with an equally fierce cover, an enticing read that will surely make you feel the fiery passion in Vaishnavi Patel’s writing.
Published by: Simon & Schuster Canada
Imprint Publisher: S&S/Saga Press
Publication date: May 12, 2026
Love Among Thieves by Katrina Kwan
In this spicy heist romance from the author of Knives, Seasoning, and a Dash of Love, a feisty hacker sets out to steal from a wealthy mark, but when he shows up at her apartment, could there be more at stake than just money? –Penguin Random House
Katrina Kwan’s romance Love Among Thieves follows an MIT dropout turned modern-day Robin Hood who hits the wrong guy…a conman-turned-single-dad. This is a hell of a hook for the heist novel that will be stealing more than just our attention but also our hearts. Cheesy, but oh so true. This contemporary romance promises thrills and shrieks, and I, for one, cannot wait to devour it over and over again.
Published by: Penguin Random House Canada
Publication date: May 12, 2026
Love Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Swati Hegde
Two lawyers find themselves working at the same office after a steamy vacation fling on the beaches of Goa, from the author of Can’t Help Faking in Love and Match Me if You Can, a slow-burn, a second-chance desi romance for fans of Nisha Sharma and Abby Jimenez. –Penguin Random House Canada
Swati Hegde’s office romance is hitting us with a lot. We got a workaholic who got over a bad breakup with a steamy one-time romance on a vacation in Goa. She is now fiercely gunning for a promotion, with said one-time fling right by her side at the office. I guess what happened in Goa isn’t staying in Goa. Already ready to jump into a second chance romance where the guy is the one who falls first and falls hard, and in turn, a hardworking woman finds a balance between the career she loves and the man who is super down bad for her.
Published by: Penguin Random House Canada
Publication date: May 12, 2026
Not All Dragons by David Ly
David Ly brings readers a fascinating and fresh take on dragons and destiny in this captivating debut novel. –Wolsak and Wynn Publishers
Dragons and mermaids, a whole new fantasy world, and an amnesiac protagonist. David Ly’s debut novel looks to be an ambitious one, and I am looking forward to joining the journey. One of the best staples in fantasy is dragons and the chosen one story arc, and it is exciting to see the classics get refreshing takes from new voices in the genre. Not All Dragons not only plays with the traditional story of reclaiming one’s identity and voice but also blends Vietnamese mythology into what is set to be a striking, unique, and gripping story with bold world-building and engaging characters.
Published by: Wolsak and Wynn Publishers Ltd.
Publication date: May 19, 2026
Double Happiness by Heather Eng
Caught between a relentless tech job, her adoring fiancé, and an unexpected new flame, Mei must learn what it means to choose herself. –Penguin Random House Canada
I am quick to admit that love triangles aren’t my thing, because no matter the configuration, I always feel bad for the “first love interest” who gets pushed aside for the new and exciting prospect. However, I usually feel very uncomfortable with this relationship dynamic because it is oh-so-messy. Eng’s Double Happiness might challenge my aversion to love triangles as the story follows an overworked woman trying to achieve the impossible dream of “having it all”. The life she wants is one many strive for, but to actually get to a place of happiness, one must know what they truly want from life. A love triangle is the last thing she should be engaging in, but it may be the catalyst for self-discovery, and I, for one, love a tale about a woman learning more about herself.
Published by: Penguin Random House Canada
Imprint Publisher: Tiny Reparations Books
Publication date: May 19, 2026
No God But Us by Bobuq Sayed
In this wry, provocative debut, two gay Afghan men—cast out of their respective countries of birth by circumstances beyond their control—collide in Istanbul, a city that will test their willingness to sacrifice everything for the ones they love. –HarperCollins Canada
Rejection forces gay men to relocate to a place that sees their transgressions as a means of self-expression. Bobuq Sayed’s debut novel, No God But Us, tackles the story of two men who are practically ejected from their home countries and find solace in each other as the place they have come to find comfort and acceptance soon falls victim to authoritarianism. The novel aims to explore an evocative tale about identity, society, politics and borders. The book promises to take its readers into a world written with grit and tenacity and is surely going to move you emotionally. It is an ambitious tale, but one Bobuq Sayed seems well aware and prepared for, and it can be yours to read soon.
Published by: HarperCollins Canada
Imprint Publisher: Harper
Publication date: May 26, 2026
A Kiss of Crimson Ash by Anuja Varghese
The first book in a new medieval India-inspired fantasy trilogy from a remarkable Canadian talent, A Kiss of Crimson Ash teems with rich storytelling, lush worldbuilding, and spice of every variety. –Penguin Random House
An adult romantasy inspired by medieval India that follows a motley crew assembled by an ancient goddess who wishes to stop the reign of a ruthless, power-hungry king. This is a hell of a setup for Anuja Varghese’s first entry in the Games of the Goddess series. A Kiss of Crimson Ash promises to give its readers an adventure filled with seductive political intrigue, compelling unexpected alliances, friendship, love, angst, magic and more, all set in a vibrant fantasy world inspired by Indian mythology.
Published by: Penguin Random House Canada
Imprint Publisher: Viking
Publication date: May 26, 2026
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