Turn the Page: May
Bookish things to look forward to in May.
Turn the Page highlights upcoming literary events at local bookstores, book-related media, exciting book releases, and reveals the next book club theme.
Bibliophile Collective Book Club
April Book Club in Review
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Brooklyn Bookstore Crawl for this month’s book club on Independent Bookstore Day! Everyone had a wonderful selection for this month’s theme: off the beaten shelf, spotlighting hidden gems from independent publishers. Together, we visited five fantastic Brooklyn bookstores, collecting stamps in our Bookstore Crawl Passports and discovering new favorites along the way:
Between bookstore stops, we dove into rich conversations about our picks: how being independently published shaped their storytelling and design, what kind of support indie publishers need from readers like us, and how browsing with a focus on independent presses shifted our approach to book selection.
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abe
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
Normal People by Sally Rooney
Pictures of You by Emma Grey
Ocean State by Stewart O’Nan
Abyss by Pilar Quintana
A Woman in the Polar Night by Christiane Ritter
Leaving by Roxana Robinson
May Book Club: Spring Fling
As the days get warmer, it’s the perfect time to indulge in stories of love, passion, and undeniable chemistry. This month’s book club theme is spring fling, and we’re diving into romance novels that range from heartwarming to sizzling, with love stories that’ll keep you hooked page after page. Whether you're drawn to steamy encounters, slow-burn tension, or unexpected twists, join us as we explore the spark that makes romance so irresistible!
Some potential picks for this month’s theme could be…
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood
First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison
Funny Story by Emily Henry
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
A Novel Love Story by Ashley Boston
Better Than the Movies by Lynn Painter
Wild and Wrangled by Lyla Sage
RSVP Here: May Book Club
When: Thursday, May 29th @ 6:30pm
Where: Sullaluna Bookshop & Bistro
This month’s book club destination is Sullaluna, an independent bookshop and bistro in the West Village. They offer delicious Italian cuisine alongside a curated selection of illustrated books in Italian and English. Join us for a night where the focaccia’s warm and the book boyfriends are even hotter!
Looking forward to seeing your picks (and adding them to my ever-growing TBR)!
Follow the Bibliophile Collective Instagram for more: @bibliophile.collective
Upcoming Independent Bookstore Events
New York’s independent bookstores are hosting a variety of exciting events in May, with literary trivia, writing workshops, and panel discussions. Check out some events I am excited about this month from my favorite independent bookstores:
Books are Magic: Michele Filgate’s What My Father and I Don't Talk About w/ Jiordan Castle, Jaquira Díaz, Isle McElroy, & moderated by Denne Michele Norris (May 6)
Ripped Bodice: Carley Fortune Brooklyn Book Launch for One Golden Summer (May 6)
McNally Jackson: R.O. Kwon (The Incendiaries) teaches Writing into Fear - A Writing Workshop (May 7)
Greenlight Bookstore: Katie Kitamura (Intimacies) with Meghan O'Rourke at BPL (May 7)
Liz’s Book Bar: Creating Urgency in a Story – a class with Karen E. Bender (The Words of Dr. L: & Other Stories) (May 14)
Book Club Bar: Game Night - Lord of the Rings Trivia (May 20)
The Center for Fiction: Madeleine Thien on The Book of Records with Maaza Mengiste (May 20)
Yu & Me Books: Book Talk | Becoming Ghost by Cathy Linh Che (May 22)
Bookish Podcasts to Start the Day
This month’s podcast playlist is a love letter to literature in all its forms: from indie bookstore celebrations to genre-defying reads and unforgettable author interviews. Whether you're craving thoughtful book club discussion, a new literary match, or a fresh take on love stories, these episodes have your next great listen covered.
NYT Book Review: Book Club - Let’s Talk About We Do Not Part by Han Kang
What Should I Read Next?: Literary + Genre = Match Made in Heaven
NPR’s Book of the Day: Emily Henry’s latest novel Great Big Beautiful Life explores love beyond romance
Working Title: Margot Lee’s application to be your new lit chick
The Lit Hub Podcast: Celebrating Independent Bookstore Day
May Book Releases
Whether you're in the mood for powerful personal stories, a gripping fantasy adventure, or an insightful dive into history, May has some great new releases to look forward to. Looking for your next read? Keep an eye out for these exciting titles hitting the shelves this month:
May 6
What My Father and I Don’t Talk About by Michele Filgate A raw and reflective collection of essays discussing the intricate relationships we share with our fathers.
One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune Back at the beach where one summer changed everything, a photographer is reunited with the boy she never truly forgot, and the love she thought she'd left behind.
The Words of Dr. L: & Other Stories by Karen E. Bender A story collection examining the bonds between parents and their children, across surreal dystopias and contemporary America.
May 13
A Curse Carved in Bone by Danielle L. Jensen In the sequel to A Fate Inked in Blood, a shield maiden faces the ultimate test: protect her people or become the curse that could tear them apart, all while grappling with a betrayal that shakes her faith in everything she believed.
Awake in the Floating City by Susanna Kwan As a floating city sinks into the sea, one woman asks: what can we do but celebrate the life we had and remember the history that’s slipping away?
Mark Twain by Ron Chernow From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Alexander Hamilton comes the definitive biography of Mark Twain: an American icon whose life was as complex as his fiction.
May 20
Sike by Fred Lunzer What happens when a boy meets a girl through an AI psychotherapist? And will their obsession with introspection strengthen their relationship, or tear it apart?
The Book of Records by Madeleine Thien In a mysterious outpost where past and future exist side by side, a young woman steps through time’s door to confront her family’s secrets.