Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

In the last days before her death, Nel called her sister. Jules didn’t pick up the phone. Now Nell is dead. They say she jumped. And Jules has been dragged back to the one place she hoped she had escaped for good, to care for the teenage girl her sister left behind

This is Hawkins’ second novel following the incredible success of her debut, The Girl on the Train. She has a lot to live up to, so here’s hoping she pulls it off.

Release date: 2 May

If We Were Villains by M. Rio L.

On the day Oliver Marks is released from prison following a 10 year sentence for murder, he is greeted by the detective who put him behind bars. Detective Colborne is retiring, but before he does, he wants to know what really happened 10 years ago.

This debut novel has already been compared to Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, one of my favourite books, so I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

Release date: 1 May

Rebel Cities by Michael Rapport

This new non-fiction book tells the story of three cities in the eighteenth century: London, Paris and New York, taking in revolutions, political protest and war along the way.

I’m trying to read more non-fiction this year and Rapport’s new book appeals to my interest in the time when Romanticism met Industrial Revolution.

Release date: 4 May

Scribbles in the Margins by Daniel Gray

Another non-fiction book, Scribbles in the Margins offers 50 short essays of prose poetry dedicated to the joy of reading.

Poetry most definitely is not my thing, but it’s good to branch out in your reading every now and again – and I need no convincing of the delights of reading.

Release date: 18 May

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Eleanor Oliphant leads a simple life. She wears the same clothes to work every day, eats the same meal deal for lunch every day, and buys the same two bottles of vodka to drink every weekend. But one simple act of kindness is about to shatter the walls Eleanor has built around herself.

Honeyman’s debut novel has been described as both funny and heart-breaking, and I can’t wait to see if it lives up to the praise ‘the big word-of-mouth literary hit of the year’.

Release date: 18 May

Broken River by J. Robert Lennon

Karl, Eleanor and their daughter, Irina, arrive at their new house in upstate New York in the wake of Karl’s infidelity to start anew. 12-year-old Irina becomes obsessed with the brutal murders that occurred in the house years earlier. And, secretly, so does her mother.

Psychological thriller is one of my favourite genres and this book promises to be both suspenseful and scary.

Release date: 16 May

Queer City by Peter Ackroyd

Ackroyd, preeminent chronicler of London, looks at the metropolis through the history and experiences of its gay population, from the Romans to the present day.

I’m always eager to learn more about London and this ‘hidden history’ sounds fascinating and intriguing.

Release date: 25 May

House of Names by Colm Tóibín

On the day of his daughter’s wedding, Agamemnon orders her sacrifice. His daughter is led to her death, and Agamemnon leads his army into battle, where he is rewarded with glorious victory. Three years later, he returns home to discover his murderous action has set the entire family on a path of violence.

This is a retelling of an ancient Greek myth, a book that promises to be dramatic and bloody.

Release date: 18 May

Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan

Pino Lella is a normal Italian teenager; he wants nothing to do with the war or the Nazis. But when his family home is destroyed, he joins an underground railroad helping Jews escape over the Alps.

This novel is based on the true story of a forgotten hero and has been billed for fans of All the Light We Cannot See.

Release date: 1 May

Assassin’s Fate by Robin Hobb

This is the final book in the Fitz and the Fool trilogy, and the ninth book featuring Fitzchivalry Farseer.

Hobb is an incredible fantasy writer and her books are some of the best I’ve ever read, so I can’t wait to get my hands on this one.

Release date: 4 May