New Release Radar: New Books Coming Out on May 20

Geek Girl Authority

19-05-2025

There are a lot of new books coming out every week. With New Release Radar, I'll help you narrow down the week's new book releases into the titles you should get excited about. This week I have eight great new books to share with you, including some atmospheric fantasy and horror and queer YA reads that will get you ready for Pride Month. Read on! The Knight and the Moth by Rachel Gillig
Sybil Delling is a Diviner, gifted with visions from otherworldly Omens and bound to a decade of service in a cathedral that promises shelter in exchange for her dreams. With her decade of service nearly complete, Sybil's future should finally be her own. But when a devil-may-care knight named Rodrick arrives – disruptive, heretical, and infuriatingly handsome – everything shifts. Diviners begin vanishing, and Sybil is forced to join forces with the last person she should trust. To uncover the truth, she must venture beyond the cathedral's walls and into a perilous world where only the gods have answers – and only a heretic might defeat one.
The Knight and the Moth is a Gothic, atmospheric romantasy from a BookTok sensation and New York Times bestselling author. Rachel Gillig's new book release is a funny, eerie and high-stakes adventure.
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In 2020, rising musician Greta Morgan lost her singing voice to a rare neurological disorder, bringing her career to a halt. The Lost Voice chronicles her journey through grief, identity and artistic rebirth. From celebrity-filled tour buses to the silent red canyons of the Southwest, Morgan explores what it truly means to create, to listen, and to find purpose beyond the voice that once defined her. Check this one out if you were a fan of Morgan's band The Hush Sound or love vulnerable memoirs. An Ethical Guide to Murder by Jenny Morris
Thea has a secret: she can see how long people have left to live, and even transfer life between them. When her best friend Ruth is fatally injured, Thea instinctively steals time from the man responsible to save her, killing him in the process. Suddenly wielding a godlike power, Thea vows to use it for good, drafting an 'Ethical Guide to Murder' to help her decide who deserves more time and who doesn't. But lines blur quickly, and every choice has consequences. As Ruth's borrowed time ticks down, Thea must face the limits of her power, and the price of playing judge, jury and executioner.
Jenny Morris came up with a completely unique concept in this magical realism thriller. An Ethical Guide to Murder explores life and death, morality, personal gain and self-control in a fast-paced, thought-provoking package.
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Valerie Danners is in a cult, though she doesn't realize it. Her tightly controlled world begins unravelling when she secretly reads a queer book from the library and meets Riley, a confident, kind girl who opens her eyes to a different way of being. As they fall for each other, their bond – strengthened by shared identities as multiracial teens in a white Christian community – grows deeper and more dangerous. To the outside world, they're just close friends. But behind closed doors, their romance blooms – until they're caught. Now Valerie must make an impossible choice: stay with a family who may never accept her, or risk everything to be with the girl she loves.
Gay the Pray Away is a beautiful, important story. Natalie Naudus's debut will help queer teens and heal queer adults. The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling
Aymar Castle has endured six months under siege, its people starving and desperate. Everything changes when salvation appears in the form of the divine Constant Lady and her Saints. They heal the sick and refill the stores, asking only for worship in return. But their gifts come with a terrible cost. As the castle slips into a delirious, hedonistic devotion, three women remain wary. Ser Voyne, a war hero ensnared by the Constant Lady's power; Phosyne, a paranoid nun-turned-sorceress desperate to prove her innocence; and Treila, a serving girl caught between vengeance and survival. Their tangled loyalties, hidden past and growing suspicions ignite a dangerous struggle for truth and liberation, before the castle's false paradise consumes them all.
Part medieval horror, part dark fantasy, The Starving Saints is an atmospheric fever dream of a novel. Caitlin Starling's new book release explores the depths of depravity with a truly unique and unnerving premise.
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Bianca knows duty comes before love, so she agrees to a political marriage to Prince Aric. But her new husband is cold and distant. Even worse, an assassination attempt on their wedding night leaves him magically cursed into horse form. Bianca escapes atop her horse-husband, who returns to human form only at sunset. Framed for Aric's murder and entangled in a plot against the throne, Bianca must rely on the prince she barely knows to survive. As danger mounts and sparks begin to fly, the unlikely pair must break the curse, clear Bianca's name, and save the kingdom before their time runs out.
If you're looking for a fun, easy and slightly cheesy read for the summer, check out Behooved . M. Stevenson's whimsical, romantic fantasy is perfect for anyone missing My Lady Jane . In Case You Read This by Edward Underhill
Arden isn't thrilled about leaving Los Angeles and its vibrant queer community for small-town Michigan. Gabe, meanwhile, is eager to escape Shelby, Illinois, and embrace a fresh start in Pasadena where he can finally be out and proud. When the two cross paths in a Nebraska motel lobby, they instantly click, both trans, both obsessed with the same indie band, Damaged Pixie Dream Boi. After one unforgettable night, they part ways knowing only each other's first name. As they settle into their new lives, Arden and Gabe can't stop thinking about that brief, perfect connection. But is one night enough to spark something lasting, or will fate bring them back together?
Edward Underhill's new book release is a trans rom-com about missed connections, chance encounters and the power of fate. In Case You Read This is a charming YA read that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.
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Sully can't wait to leave tiny, suffocating Hearst, Pennsylvania. With a fashion internship lined up, they're ready to trade their small-town life for big-city dreams, even selling their beloved car to Brad, the town's only other gay kid. But when the internship falls through, Sully is stuck in Hearst with no ride, no money, and no plan – until they find a stunning vintage handbag at the thrift store that could be their ticket out. One problem: the bag comes with a ghost. Rufus, a glamorous drag performer from the 1950s, has no memory of his death and is now haunting Sully's bedroom. With Rufus in tow and Brad behind the wheel, Sully sets out to uncover Rufus's past, sell the haunted bag, and maybe, just maybe, rediscover something worth staying for in the town they were so ready to leave.
Queer Eye 's Jonathan Van Ness and bestselling author Julie Murphy have teamed up for a quirky and delightful YA novel. Let Them Stare is a fun journey of self-growth combining humor, and mystery into an unforgettable story.
​You can check out these new book releases at Bookshop.org or your local bookstore. What May 20 new release are you most excited to read? Let us know below, and tune in next week to grow your TBR.
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