10 New Nonfiction Book Releases of May 2025

Here in South Carolina, May means that magnolia trees are just about to bloom. Ever since I moved to the South, I love seeing these beautiful trees come to life every spring. May also means that the pollen apocalypse is almost over, so I’ll be able to spend more time outside on my back porch reading.

Of course, as a fan of true stories, nonfiction is always at the top of my to-be-read pile. And May is full of incredible new releases! I could start with Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, and Amanda Doyle’s new book, which is one of the buzziest books of the season. Or I could read a graphic memoir by Appalachian writer Denali Sai Nalamalapu. Or maybe I’ll check out an oral history of trans, nonbinary, genderqueer, and two-spirit people of color. Or what about picking up a biography of the incredible Marsha P. Johnson?

In celebration of true stories, I’ve collected 10 of some of the most exciting nonfiction titles hitting shelves in May. You might be new to nonfiction or a true stories pro, but whatever the case, there’s sure to be something on this list that catches your eye.

All publication dates are subject to change.

Foreign Fruit: A Personal History of the Orange by Katie Goh (May 6th) Kaie Goh parallels her own research to her family history and the history of the orange across the centuries. When Goh’s grandmother falls ill, Goh returns to the land of her ancestors, Malaysia, and learns more about her family’s past.

We Can Do Hard Things: Answers to Life’s 20 Questions by Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, and Amanda Doyle (May 6th) As Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, and Amanda Doyle each face a huge hurdle in their lives, they find comfort in coming together and finding support. Now they chronicle their journey asking others for their wisdom during difficult times and sharing those insights in We Can Do Hard Things.

What My Father and I Don’t Talk About: Sixteen Writers Break the Silence edited by Michele Filgate (May 6th) Following up on What My Mother and I Don’t Talk About, Michele Filgate returns with What My Father and I Don’t Talk About, a collection featuring writers sharing stories about their relationships. Contributors include: Andrew Altschul, Alex Marzano-Lesnevich, Maurice Carlos Ruffin, Dylan Landis, Jaquira Díaz, Kelly McMasters, Isle McElroy, Susan Muaddi Darraj, Tomás Q. Morín, Robin Reif, Heather Sellers, Jiordan Castle, Nayomi Munaweera, Joanna Rakoff, and Julie Buntin.

Holler: A Graphic Memoir of Rural Resistance by Denali Sai Nalamalapu (May 13th) Based on Nalamalapu’s extensive interviews, Holler follows six activists fighting back against the Mountain Valley Pipeline. The graphic memoir highlights the importance of activism even in the face of insurmountable odds.

So Many Stars: An Oral History of Trans, Nonbinary, Genderqueer, and Two-Spirit People of Color by Caro De Robertis (May 13th) Caro De Robertis brings together a group of 2SLGBTQ+ writers of color to share their stories. In De Robertis’s words, So Many Stars shares “behind-the-scenes tales of what it meant—and still means—to create an authentic life, against the odds.”

Returning to My Father’s Kitchen: Essays by Monica Macansantos (May 15th) When Macansantos’s father passes away, she returns from her home abroad to the Philippines. There she cooks her father’s favorite dishes and reconnects with her family through the food they eat and the stories they tell.

Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson by Tourmaline (May 20th) Black transgender activist Marsha P. Johnson is rumored to have thrown the first brick at Stonewall. Tourmaline presents a well-researched and fleshed biography of this iconic figure of American LGBTQ+ history.

The True Happiness Company: A Memoir by Veena Dinavahi (May 20th) Veena Dinavahi grew up in a mostly white suburb as the child of Indian immigrants. But the kids in her class keep dying. Driven by her own failing mental health, Dinavahi finds herself entangled in a cult whose leader promised her a better life.

Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li (May 20th) In her heart-wrenching new memoir, writer Yiyun Li shares how she lost her sons to suicide. As Li works through her grief, she describes the ups and downs of her day-to-day life, where she tries to hold things together the best she can.

Soft as Bones: A Memoir by Chyana Marie Sage (May 27th) Chyana Marie Sage examines multigenerational family trauma, starting with her grandfather, who was forced to attend a residential school during the Sixties Scoop program. Through her investigation of her own family history, she also delves into the history of the colonization of Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island.

There are so many good books — I don’t know where to start! If you’re looking for even more nonfiction book recommendations, check out 10 New Nonfiction Book Releases of March 2025 and 7 New Nonfiction Book Releases of April 2025.

The following comes to you from the Editorial Desk.

This week, we’re highlighting a post about the literary events that should be on your calendar for the rest of 2025. From awards announcements to famous authors’ birthdays to Banned Books Week, these are the dates readers should have on their radars. Read on for an excerpt and become an All Access member to unlock the full post.

The Most Anticipated Literary Events of (the Rest of) 2025

For some, the major literary events of the year come as a pleasant or interesting surprise—something to enjoy in the moment, rather than to anticipate. For others, there’s big appeal in bookmarking these occasions in advance to plan, predict, and build around. I and the rest of the editorial team are in the business of thinking ahead about what the year has in store for book lovers, publishers, industry experts, and the like, which is why we all got together toward the end of 2024 to plot out everything from birthdays of literary greats, to anniversaries of books that have made a deep cultural impact, to literary awards and events coming up this year. We’ve been marking these events as they happen on the site for what’s shaping up to be a very busy year in books, but there are still so many big, exciting literary events of 2025 to anticipate.

Whether you’re a book-focused or -adjacent content creator, someone who beefs up their TBR with literary awards honorees, or a book lover who appreciates being in the know, I’m here with a starting place for calendaring out the rest of this storied year…

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