Tuesday, May 5, 2026

This season’s best nonfiction releases

 
Readworthy by BookBub
This Month’s Best New Top Nonfiction Picks
What were Readworthy’s biggest, buzziest nonfiction picks this season? Keep reading to discover the titles everyone is talking about — and find your next unputdownable book.
 
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Book cover for Bonfire of the Murdochs by Gabriel Sherman
‘A real-life Succession drama, in all its inglorious tawdriness’ (Kirkus Reviews)
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • With the inheritance of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire at stake, a decades-long feud erupted, leaving the powerful family in tatters
  • A “juicy melodrama… Readers will be riveted by this merciless battle for dynastic dominance” (Publishers Weekly)
  • A New York Times bestselling author draws on interviews with more than 150 sources for this shocking read
Learn more...
Media mentions for Bonfire of the Murdochs by Gabriel Sherman MEDIA MENTIONS: The New Yorker, NPR, The Economist, The Washington Post, Financial Times, Vanity Fair, Town & Country, Los Angeles Times, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Literary Hub
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Book cover for American Struggle by Jon Meacham
The can’t-miss latest from a Pulitzer Prize–winning, #1 New York Times bestselling historian
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • “This is the one book everyone should read to celebrate our 250th birthday” (Walter Isaacson)
  • A powerful anthology that highlights pivotal moments in the nation’s complex pursuit of a more perfect union
  • “If there is a soul in American history, it emerges — indeed, explodes — from these pages” (David W. Blight)
Learn more...
Media mentions for American Struggle by Jon Meacham MEDIA MENTIONS: Time Magazine, NPR, PBS, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Literary Hub
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Book cover for The Fallen by Louise Brangan
A ‘superb’ and wrenching account (The Guardian) of Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • During the 20th century, tens of thousands of women were forced into reform institutions for actions such as wearing short skirts, smoking, and getting pregnant out of wedlock. And once they were brought into the system, it was nearly impossible to leave
  • “Brangan’s remarkable book, thrumming with rage and harrowing to read, is a monument to those women and their suffering” (The Times)
  • “Compelling, measured, and deeply felt… Indispensable” (Anne Enright)
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Media mentions for The Fallen by Louise Brangan MEDIA MENTIONS: The Guardian, The Times, The Times Literary Supplement, Kirkus Reviews
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Book cover for Work in Progress by James Martin
How did a hapless teen find his way to the priesthood?
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • Stephen Colbert calls this instant New York Times bestseller “funny, charming, inspiring, and wise”
  • Follow the unforgettable path of Father James Martin as he comes of age in the 1960s and ’70s, a journey “as swashbuckling as any action tale” (Mary Karr, author of The Liars’ Club)
  • “Heartfelt and refreshingly self-aware, this humble portrait of a priest-in-progress will charm readers” (Publishers Weekly)
Learn more...
Media mentions for Work in Progress by James Martin MEDIA MENTIONS: NPR, Good Morning America, The New York Times/The New York Times Book Review, Slate, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Literary Hub
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Book cover for The Dangerous Shore by Sara Vladic
During World War II, an unlikely group waged a secret battle to protect American shores
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • Get to know the mobsters, double agents, scientists, and more who staved off sea invasions in this unique slice of wartime history
  • From a New York Times bestselling author and acclaimed documentary filmmaker
  • “A humdinger of a World War II tale populated by a cast of characters even Hollywood couldn’t invent” (Pulitzer Prize finalist James M. Scott)
Learn more...
Media mentions for The Dangerous Shore by Sara Vladic MEDIA MENTIONS: Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Literary Hub
GET EBOOK ON:
Amazon Other formats and retailers
Book cover for The Flower Bearers by Rachel Eliza Griffiths
Mary Karr, author of The Liars’ Club, raves: ‘This singular memoir stunned me’
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • Her best friend died on her wedding day — and then her husband, Salman Rushdie, was attacked. Here, acclaimed poet Rachel Eliza Griffiths grapples with grief, love, and the rebuilding of the self in the wake of trauma
  • A New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice and “propulsive archive of love, loss, and reparation” (Electric Literature)
  • “Lovers of memoir and of achingly beautiful prose should not miss The Flower Bearers” (BookPage starred review)
Learn more...
Media mentions for The Flower Bearers by Rachel Eliza Griffiths MEDIA MENTIONS: NPR, The New York Times/The New York Times Book Review, People, The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Times, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, BookPage, Electric Literature
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Book cover for Cave Mountain by Benjamin Hale
‘Engrossing and rigorous’ true crime (Publishers Weekly) as riveting as your favorite thriller
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • A six-year-old disappeared and returned with stories of an imaginary friend. How did her tale connect to a disappearance two decades prior — and a dark cult led by a teenage prophet?
  • “An intimate, deeply original true crime narrative reminiscent of Caroline Fraser’s Murderland” (BookPage)
  • Set in the Arkansas Ozarks, this story of survival, religion, and murder “evokes the idea of good and evil both seen and believed” (Kirkus Reviews)
Learn more...
Media mentions for Cave Mountain by Benjamin Hale MEDIA MENTIONS: The New York Times/The New York Times Book Review, The Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, BookPage, Literary Hub
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Amazon Other formats and retailers
Book cover for This Vast Enterprise by Craig Fehrman
You’ve heard of Lewis and Clark — but this revisionist history offers a new take on the famed explorers
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • This instant New York Times bestseller is “riveting… Fehrman has done a great service to American history in this must-read” (Booklist starred review)
  • Rediscover the fabled expedition through lesser-known figures like York, a man enslaved by Clark; John Ordway, a soldier who hauled the captains’ barge; and Wolf Calf, a Blackfeet boy caught in a skirmish with Lewis
  • A “rigorous account” (The New York Times) based on archival research, hundreds of interviews, and centuries-old Indigenous oral histories
Learn more...
Media mentions for This Vast Enterprise by Craig Fehrman MEDIA MENTIONS: The New York Times/The New York Times Book Review, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, BookPage
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Amazon Other formats and retailers
Book cover for The Dark Frontier by Jeffrey Marlow
Discover the life-changing secrets hidden in the ocean’s mysterious depths
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • “This is science writing at its finest” (Publishers Weekly starred review)
  • A marine microbiologist explores microbes that breathe metal, hidden ecosystems, theories about life on Earth beginning underwater, and more
  • “At once an adventure story, a tale of scientific discovery, and a plea for preserving one of the world’s most fascinating and fragile environments” (Elizabeth Kolbert)
Learn more...
Media mentions for The Dark Frontier by Jeffrey Marlow MEDIA MENTIONS: The New Yorker, Science, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews
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Amazon Other formats and retailers
Book cover for Why We Click by Kate Murphy
Learn how to instantly connect with anyone in this ‘absorbing book’ (Booklist)
WHY IT’S READWORTHY:
  • Discover the science of interpersonal synchronicity — and how it can help you become magnetic
  • With science-backed strategies for nailing first impressions, reading the room, changing the energy of a conversation, and more
  • “Grounded in deep research, Why We Click is an accessible, satisfying study that will change the way readers understand themselves and their world” (BookPage)
Learn more...
Media mentions for Why We Click by Kate Murphy MEDIA MENTIONS: Next Big Idea Club, The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Booklist, BookPage
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Amazon Other formats and retailers
 
   
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New Releases for Less: New books at great prices

 
BookBub
New Releases for Less
 
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Your weekly selection of new books in the genres you love, at prices you’ll love.
The Villains Club: A Delightfully Devious Anthology
The Villains Club: A Delightfully Devious Anthology
Collected Authors
Release Date: April 16, 2026
Meet the delightfully devilish members of the Villain’s Club — from bedraggled baddies to misunderstood monsters and beyond — in this entertaining anthology following their zany misadventures.
Supernatural Suspense
$0.99  
Amazon
Astral Alignment: Academy
Astral Alignment: Academy
Randall Sharpe
Release Date: April 9, 2026
After the end of the world, humanity’s colonies are rebuilding. When Archimedes Marshal attends the galactic university to learn magic, his friends are targeted by famous Henderson Starstrider — pitting them against almost impossible odds…
Fantasy
$2.99  
Amazon
Taking Flight
Taking Flight
Katharine E. Smith
Release Date: May 1, 2026
Forced to start fresh after losing her job, Sophie begins to question her plans for the future. As her friends find their own footing and long-buried family secrets come to light, Sophie must finally decide where she truly belongs… A heartfelt story of self-discovery set in Cornwall, England.
Women's Fiction
$2.99  
Amazon
Come Back to the World
Come Back to the World
Catherine Ryan Hyde
Release Date: May 5, 2026
From a Wall Street Journal bestselling author: After receiving a photograph that could solve the mystery of author E. L. Swann’s disappearance, journalist Amelia Booker travels to Santa Rosarita with her young son — where she meets reclusive and guarded Ella Steinbach…

BookBub readers say: “This author continues to be one of my favorites.”
Women's Fiction
$5.99  
Amazon
Ways to Find Yourself
Ways to Find Yourself
Angela Brown
Release Date: May 1, 2026
With her life in shambles, struggling writer Grace Whittaker seeks refuge in the coastal town where she spent long-ago summers — and realizes the past may hold the key to her future. “Insightful and intriguing… A book to return to again and again, like a special beach house” (Suzy Krause, author of Sorry I Missed You).

BookBub readers say: “Intriguing and thoughtful.”
Women's Fiction
$5.99  
Amazon
In the Great Quiet
In the Great Quiet
Laura Vogt
Release Date: April 1, 2026
Based on an incredible true story, with over 3,600 five-star Amazon ratings: As woman pioneer Minnie carves out a life for herself on the brutal Oklahoma frontier, her past threatens everything she’s built. “Beautifully written, decadent, every word a masterpiece. This book deserves to be shouted about” (internationally bestselling author Heba Al-Wasity).

BookBub readers say: “Beautifully written.”
Historical Fiction
$3.99  
Amazon
Blood & Guilt
Blood & Guilt
Jade Christy
Release Date: April 21, 2026
When a storm blows through the mountains of Montenegro, human hiker Claire seeks shelter in a nearby chapel — and comes face-to-face with its mysterious inhabitant. Luka craves human blood, but beautiful and kindhearted Claire calls to his very soul… A slow-burn paranormal romance.

BookBub readers say: “A deeply sensual, character-driven vampire romance.”
Paranormal Romance
$0.99  
Amazon
I Choose the Bear
I Choose the Bear
Shiloh Walker
Release Date: April 24, 2026
When a romantic retreat at her boyfriend’s lake house goes horrifyingly wrong, Ivy escapes into the woods, where she meets Jonah. Enjoying his last few days of peace before taking on the role of alpha of his bear clan, shifter Jonah’s world changes the moment he lays eyes on feisty Ivy…

BookBub readers say: “Exceptionally well-written, featuring memorable characters and a compelling plot.”
Paranormal Romance
$2.99  
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Apple Books
Kobo
Gemini Heat
Gemini Heat
Laura Navarre
Release Date: May 1, 2026
Just as Zara gains control over the dragon shifter queen inside her, her superheat changes everything — and the bonds she’s formed with the academy’s warlocks will help her surrender to the uncontained power…

BookBub readers say: “This story is absolutely sizzling! The tension between Zara and her warlocks is off the charts.”
Paranormal Romance
$0.99  
Amazon
Big Bad Betrayal
Big Bad Betrayal
Renee Rose and Lee Savino
Release Date: May 4, 2026
From a USA Today bestselling duo: Noah’s only goal is to take down the pack that destroyed his family — until he starts dreaming of Aster, his sworn enemy’s seeress. When he learns they’re keeping her caged, he’ll stop at nothing to claim her for himself…

BookBub readers say: “I couldn’t put this book down. Aster and Noah’s chemistry is just amazing, and their story completely pulled me in.”
Paranormal Romance
$4.99  
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Apple Books
Google
Kobo
Bound by the Obsidian Court
Bound by the Obsidian Court
Sable Kane
Release Date: April 14, 2026
When she’s kidnapped into the Veil Lands, Briar Ashvane learns that she’s inherited her father’s debt to the most ruthless fae court in history — and now, she belongs to Lorian, Kael, and Sorin, the merciless lords of the Obsidian Court…
Romantasy
Free!  
Amazon
Raven’s Wake
Raven’s Wake
L. E. Sterling
Release Date: April 17, 2026
After flooding magic back into the world, Nieve struggles with her new powers — and she loses control of them when Keir, the pirate mage she loves, is attacked. Can they survive as dark forces wage war and a beast awakens in the deep?
Romantasy
$5.99  
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Apple Books
Kobo
Safe Keeping
Safe Keeping
Kristen Proby
Release Date: April 28, 2026
From a New York Times bestselling author: After a betrayal in her security detail, president’s daughter Lena gets sent to Montana for her own protection — and her self-defense training with the Secret Service Agent who once took a bullet for her awakens a fiery connection neither can ignore…

BookBub readers say: “I absolutely devoured this one, I couldn’t put it down.”
Contemporary Romance
$3.99  
Amazon
Dream Home
Dream Home
Jenn McMahon
Release Date: May 5, 2026
After DIY influencer Scottie gets her own reality show renovating her late grandmother’s abandoned lakeside home, she’s forced to work with head contractor Tucker — which would be fine if they hadn’t shared a one-night stand the night before her audition. And when the producers insist they use their undeniable chemistry in a fake-dating scheme, things really heat up!

BookBub readers say: “I absolutely loved this book, and I’m already counting down the days until the next Bluestone Lakes story.”
Contemporary Romance
$2.99  
Amazon
Red Zone
Red Zone
C.L. Rose
Release Date: April 30, 2026
When his bad-boy antics get him in trouble, Rock City Renegades running back Steele Harlow is forced to clean up his image. The owner’s daughter, Sydney Grant, is sent in to tame him — but neither of them expected her intervention to result in something much deeper…

BookBub readers say: “Great googly moogly… this book!”
Contemporary Romance
$4.99  
Amazon
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