Spring has officially sprung and so have the May 2025 book releases! Joe is joined by colleague and fellow book lover Rachel to share their top picks for this May's freshest reads. From swoony romances and thrilling mysteries to heartfelt queer YA and buzzy debuts, they’ve got a little something for every reader. Plus, stick around for Joe’s rapid-fire lightning round of even more May titles you won’t want to miss!
Whether you're loading up your Libby shelf or just need help picking your next favorite read, we've got you covered with big book energy and plenty of laughs along the way. 🌸📚
Want to watch the video version of our show? Watch now on the Libby App YouTube channel!
Titles mentioned in this episode:
Rachel’s Picks:
The Tenant - Freida McFadden
The Love Haters - Katherine Center
Problematic Summer Romance - Ali Hazelwood
One Golden Summer - Carley Fortune
Big Dumb Eyes - Nate Bargatze
The Missing Half - Ashley Flowers
Run for the Hills - Kevin Wilson
It's a Love Story - Annabel Monaghan
Joe’s Picks:
The Art of Exile – Andrea Max
Death in the Cards – Mia P. Manansala
When Love Gives You Lemons – Steven Salvatore
The Thrashers – Julie Soto
The Starving Saints – Caitlin Starling
Disco Witches of Fire Island – Blair Fell
The Dark Maestro – Brendan Slocumb
Karen: A Brother Remembers – Kelsey Grammer
Marsha – Tourmaline
Trans History by Alex L. Combs and Andrew Eakett
Shoutouts section:
Murder Land – Carlyn Greenwald
Everyone Sux But You – K. Wroten
And They Were Roommates – Page Powars
Shampoo Unicorn – Sawyer Lovett
The Rebel’s Guide to Pride – Matthew Hubbard
The Busybody Book Club – Freya Sampson
The Manor of Dreams – Christina Li
Readers can sample and borrow the titles mentioned in today’s episode in Libby. Library friends can shop these titles in OverDrive Marketplace.
Looking for more bookish content? Check out the Libby Life Blog!
We hope you enjoy this episode of the Professional Book Nerds podcast. Be sure to rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! You can follow the Professional Book Nerds on Instagram and TikTok @ProBookNerds. Want to reach out? Send an email to professionalbooknerds@overdrive.com. Want some cool bookish swag? Check out our merch store at: https://plotthreadsshop.com/!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices