13 New Books Worth Spending Your Tax Return On (2024)

Now that our juicy tax return is finally sitting pretty in our bank account, we're giving ourselves the freedom to dream up all the different ways we can use our well-earned dough to splurge on life's luxuries. But while we'd love to go on a crazy spending spree (we're already Pinterest-planning a dreamy summer getaway and pinning adorable work wardrobe essentials for spring), we've come to the decision to put the majority of our return in the bank and splurge on mini indulgences instead. That's why we're investing a small portion of our tax return in updating our bookshelves with a few hot new reads. From the newest Roxane Gay to an inside look at a women's correctional facility, here are 13 brand-new books being released in May to spend your tax return on.

Not That Bad by Roxane Gay ($27): Known for her unique voice and brave cultural commentary, powerhouse author Roxane Gay presents a brand- new stunning anthology of first-person essays on rape, assault, and harassment. With essays by Ally Sheedy, Gabrielle Union, and Amy Jo Burns, among others, this powerful and necessary collection is an honest and heartbreaking portrait of the current cultural climate that demands to be read.Publishing Date: May 1

The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner ($27): Rachel Kushner is a force within the literary community and was nominated twice for the prestigious National Book Award. Her latest novel is set in 2003 America and stars Romy Hall as she starts her two consecutive life sentences at Stanville Women's Correctional Facility. With the novel already receiving major traction from acclaimed book reviewers, we can't wait to get our hands on this tragic and impassioned novel in May.Publishing Date: May 1

Hey Ladies! by Michelle Markowitz and Caroline Moss ($17): This hilarious novel follows a group of eight 20- and 30-something ladies as they go about their everyday lives — from the struggling of trying to pay for everything with Forever21 gift cards to planning a disastrous wedding for a DIY suburban bride-to-be. Based on a column in The Toast of the same name, this hugely relatable novel is the perfect literary pick-me-up to brighten your spirits this spring.Publishing Date: May 1

The Optimistic Decade by Healther Abel ($27): Llamalo is a seemingly utopic back-to-the-land camp where founder Caleb Silver is determined to teach others to live simply. The novel follows the lives of five characters touched by this summer camp, including ranchers Don and son Donnie, who lost everything with Exxon; daughter of the founder Rebecca Silver; and teenager-turned-devotee David. With a backdrop of the political protests against President Reagan and the Gulf War, this skillfully written novel is both a one-of-a-kind coming-of-age story and an in-depth look at good intentions gone awry.Publishing Date: May 1

The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy ($28): If you're the type of reader who needs to read the book before the movie, you're going to want to put this on your to-read list STAT before Kerry Washington stars in the major motion picture adaptation currently in production. Twice a week, the May Mothers (a group of new moms whose babies were all born in May) get together in a Brooklyn park for some much-needed kid-free time. But one day, when the women decide to mix up their routine and head for drinks at a neighborhood bar, the unthinkable happens: Six-week-old Midas is kidnapped from his crib. In the next 13 days, friendships and marriages will be tested as the neighborhood desperately searches for answers.Publishing Date: May 1

Our Kind of Cruelty by Araminta Hall ($26): If you're in the mood for something bone-chillingly creepy, pick up a copy of Hall's newest thriller. After a tragic and difficult childhood, Mike Hayes was settled into his quiet, lonely life — that was, until he met Verity Metcalf. Slightly (okay, more than slightly) obsessed, Mike dedicated his life to making her happy by finding the perfect house, job, and body. Despite the fact that V isn't returning his calls and vows she's marrying Angus, Mike thinks that if he watches V closely enough, he can come to her rescue in the perfect moment. With disturbing twists folded into each page-turning chapter, this is one dark thriller you don't want to miss.Publishing Date: May 8

Warlight by Michael Ondaatje ($27): From the same author who brought us The English Patient, this new novel set in the decade after WWII follows the exciting lives of 14-year-old Nathaniel and his older sister Rachel. Just after the war, Nathaniel and Rachel's parents left for Singapore, leaving them in the care of a mysterious figure called The Moth. As they begin to get to know some of eccentric friends who all have a hazy history of service during the war, they start to believe that this mysterious figure could be a criminal. Now, a dozen years later, Nathaniel begins to uncover all the mysteries that shrouded this time as he reflects on his experience through both hard-learned facts and childhood recollection.Publishing Date: May 8

That Kind of Mother by Rumaan Alam ($27): As a first-time mother, Rebecca Stone was utterly overwhelmed after delivering her new baby boy. So she reaches out to the one person at the hospital who gave her genuine help, Priscilla Johnson, and begs her to come work for her as a nanny. But as Priscilla helps stabilize Rebecca's new life as a mother, she also makes her confront her own privilege and view on race. When Priscilla unexpectedly dies in childbirth, Rebecca immediately steps up to adopt the baby. Now faced with a unique challenge of raising two young boys of different races, Rebecca must confront a society that is determined to treat her boys differently.Publishing Date: May 8

Barracoon by Zora Neale Hurston ($25): Ninety-one years ago, Zora Neale Hurston journeyed to Plateau, Alabama, to interview 86-year-old Cudjo Lewis, one of the last-known survivors of the Atlantic slave trade who was abducted from Africa on the last "Black Cargo" ship to arrive in the US. Spending more than three weeks with Lewis talking through his harrowing experience, Hurston's previously unpublished history uncovers Lewis' tragic story, including his childhood in Africa, the unspeakable horror of being held in a barracoon for selection by American slavers, his experience of the Middle Passage and aboard the Clotilda, and his years in slavery until the end of the Civil War.Publishing Date: May 8

Pick Three by Randi Zuckerberg ($27): Work. Sleep. Fitness. Family. Friends. According to leading businesswoman Randi Zuckerberg, the idea of the well-balanced entrepreneur is a complete fallacy. Instead of trying to do it all, Zuckerberg believes that we should instead focus on succeeding in three key areas. Based off a popular tweet she composed about "The Entrepreneur's Dilemma," Zuckerberg expands on this ground-breaking idea in a new practical handbook that includes stories from her now-famous career and insights from some of Silicon Valley's finest.Publishing Date: May 15

The Outsider by Stephen King ($30): When an 11-year-old boy's corpse is found in a town park, the entire town of Flint City is rightfully horrified. Luckily, eyewitness accounts and fingerprint evident point to one citizen: Terry Maitland. Little League coach, English teacher, husband, father of two girls, and one of Flint City's most popular citizens, Terry is publicly arrested shortly after the corpse is found. But even despite all the evidence stacked against him, Terry has an alibi. Get ready for yet another one of Stephen King's classic suspenseful tales, folks!Publishing Date: May 22

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman ($16): Eleanor Oliphant struggles with the social aspects of life and therefore tends to not variate from her carefully timetabled life of avoiding social interactions. But one day, Eleanor and the bumbling IT guy from her office save an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk. Now part of a trio of ragtag friends, Eleanor slowly begins to open herself up to new experiences in this charming novel by first-time novelist Gail Honeyman.Publishing Date: May 22

Blame It On Bianca Del Rio by Bianca Del Rio ($22): The breakout star and winner of the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race Bianca Del Rio unleashes her signature wit and snarky commentary on the world in her new riotous advice book. From listing her favorite fetishes to answering hilarious fan questions about drag, Bianca Del Rio's outrageous advice book will have you gasping for air and frantically searching how to re-watch her season on Drag Race.Publishing Date: May 22

What’s on your current reading list? Tweet us by mentioning @BritandCo.

What’s on your current reading list? Tweet us by mentioning @BritandCo.

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