April showers definitely bring May flowers, but the rain will offer more time to read.
Us Weekly is breaking down some of the most highly anticipated spring book releases, including a prequel, a debut and an Italian friends-to-lovers story. Those TBR shelves will definitely be stacked after seeing this list because they’re all un-put-downable reads that will have you wanting more from these characters.
From Ariel Sullivan’s second book to Emma Straub’s new novel, keep scrolling for a complete breakdown:
‘Beneath’ by Ariel Sullivan
If you ask BookTok, this prequel is even better than 2025’s Conform — Ariel Sullivan’s debut novel and the first book published via Jenna Bush Hager’s Thousand Voices imprint. Set 200 years before the events of Conform, Beneath is a dystopian love story that will have you yearning for more from main characters Sasha Cadell and Commander Tristian Hayes, who are set to embark on a secret mission to save mankind. (out now)
‘No Place to Be Single’ by Felicia Kingsley
Originally an Italian novel, No Place to Be Single was translated for a release to coincide with the Prime Video film of the same name starring Matilde Gioli and Cristiano Caccamo. The book follows Michael D’Arcy, who returns to Italy after 16 years to claim his late grandfather’s estate and crosses paths with Elisa Benetti, his childhood best friend. (out now)
‘American Fantasy’ by Emma Straub
Get on board! We’ve all thought about meeting up with a boy band crush as an adult, right? Emma Straub’s latest takes readers on a ’90s-nostalgia reunion cruise (think Backstreet Boys) called the American Fantasy. It follows Annie, a skeptical but excited passenger ready for a fresh start. The novel will put a big smile on your face as it explores aging, lifelong fandom and the bittersweet nostalgia that occurs when we’re confronted with our naive, hopeful past selves. (out April 7)
‘Famesick: A Memoir’ by Lena Dunham
Girls creator Lena Dunham published her previous memoir in 2013, so she’s got a lot to catch readers up on. Out April 14, it delivers deep thoughts on her struggles with chronic illness, fame, ambition and addiction. Dunham is an expert excavator of Hollywood’s current moment and malaise. Plus, let’s not forget: She’s also really funny. (out April 14)
‘Cherry Baby’ by Rainbow Rowell
Meet Cherry, who’s going through a separation and reacquainting herself with an old crush while her husband achieves massive professional success. Rainbow Rowell (Eleanor & Park) is ace at getting to the heart of the matter. Here, she tackles middle-age woes with her signature feelings-first style. (out April 14)
‘Blood Bound’ by Ellis Hunter
Calling all romantasy readers, Katie Ellis-Brown and Becky Hunter are two friends who wanted to write about two friends and, boy, did they succeed. The first in a trilogy, Blood Bound follows Astrid and Skylar as their fates intertwine during a once-in-a-generation duel to the death between witches and dragon riders on a quest to control all magic in their kingdoms. (out April 28)
‘The Daisy Chain Flower Shop’ by Laurie Gilmore
Another novel in the Dream Harbor universe? Yes, please. Laurie Gilmore’s The Daisy Chain Flower Shop continues the franchise that romance readers know too well. A florist named Daisy has experienced a series of heartbreaks which have… cursed her flowers, causing several breakups. How does she plan on fixing things? A fake relationship is the only natural solution. However, when the lines blur, Daisy realizes she might just be in trouble. (out May 5)
‘The Shippers’ by Katherine Center
It’s not springtime without a new Katherine Center read. This rom-com will be best enjoyed on a boat (book trend!), but reading it on dry land will do too. Follow JoJo Burton, who is admittedly bad at love, as she decides to solve her intimacy issues via a cruise — specifically the one her sister is getting married on. She recruits her childhood bestie Cooper Watts, who just might birth a friends-to-lovers moment for JoJo. (out May 19)
‘The Girl in the Lake’ by Lauren Oliver
Lauren Oliver, known for her YA masterpieces Panic and Vanishing Girls, is better than ever in her adult-fiction debut. The Girl in the Lake tells the story of psychologist Kate Willis, tasked with interviewing 6-year-old Henley Haskell, who claims to have memories of a past life. What complicates things is that the memories sound a lot like those of Becca McGuire, Kate’s childhood best friend who disappeared from summer camp 24 years earlier and is presumed to have drowned in Lake Sauquamet. (out June 1)
