Book Mail: A Roundup of the Book Mail I Received Last Week

Early May feels like the start of something wonderfully promising, and this week’s book mail arrived like a perfectly timed meet-cute. My TBR pile has grown into a sun-drenched stack of possibility, thanks to a delightful book haul filled with new book releases that seem made for reading on park benches and patio mornings. Each package carried thoughtful book recommendations, like charming little nudges from readers who know exactly how to set the mood for a new season. And as I gather them by my favorite reading spot, I can’t help but believe that somewhere in this stack are the best books of 2026, just waiting to sweep me off my feet.

Where to Buy These Books:

Shop This Stack on Bookshop.org to Support Local Bookstores

Shop This Stack on Amazon

I want to note that I do not get paid to do these posts, I just love authors and the book industry. However, they do take time and energy to create. If you want to donate a few dollars to my coffee fund, which keeps this blog going, you can do so here: https://venmo.com/AshleyHasty or here: http://paypal.me/hastybooklist.

This Week’s Book Mail Includes:

When She Was Ours by Anna Nordberg – A family shattered by loss and secrets must confront the past when a long-buried promise resurfaces with life-altering consequences.
This Song Is About Me by Melissa de la Cruz – A reporter chases the truth behind a vanished pop icon in a mystery fueled by fame, obsession, and the cost of stardom.
Home by Amy Smyth Miller – A woman unearths the buried truths of her traumatic past in a powerful journey toward healing, resilience, and self-discovery.
A Gritty Little Tourist Town: Bar Tales from Costa Rica by Willa Goodfellow – In a quirky coastal bar, a cast of unforgettable characters reveals the humor, heart, and reality of chasing paradise abroad.
License to Thrill by Rebecca Rosenberg – A fearless champagne heiress defies Nazis, critics, and betrayal to protect her legacy in a story of power, deception, and resilience.
Clever Girl Millionaire by Bola Sokunbi – A practical and empowering guide to building wealth, mindset, and financial freedom—one intentional step at a time.
The Reel Life of Zara Kegg by Brad Barkley – A lonely teen projectionist finds unexpected connection, love, and truth in a small beach town full of hidden struggles.
The Book of Harlan by Bernice L. McFadden – Two musicians endure the horrors of a concentration camp in this haunting, deeply human story of survival and memory.
The Silent Appeal by Janice Hallett – A theater troupe’s latest production turns deadly, unraveling a tangled web of secrets, lies, and betrayal.
A Visit with the Birds: A Hands-On Nature Book by Sara Levine – An interactive journey invites young readers to explore and connect with the natural world through their senses.
Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey – A fresh start in a coastal town brings love, secrets, and unexpected family ties that could change everything.
Purple State by Dana Perino – A big-city PR professional finds love, purpose, and perspective in a small Midwestern town during a high-stakes election.
A Deadly Episode by Anthony Horowitz – Chaos erupts on a film set when murder strikes, blurring the lines between fiction and reality in a gripping mystery.
The Gap Years by Tom French – A retired executive embarks on a life-changing mountaineering journey that redefines purpose, endurance, and adventure.
A Zoom with a View by Jess Cannon – A struggling academic returns home only to stumble into a murder mystery that forces her to confront her past—and a killer.
Paradox by Douglas Preston and Aletheia Preston – A string of bizarre murders and ancient mysteries collide in a high-stakes investigation with terrifying implications.
Wildspeak by Sangma Francis – A lyrical celebration of nature invites readers to discover the magic of words inspired by the wild world around them.
Gunner the Viking's Great Pizza Adventure by Diego Vaisberg – A Viking warrior discovers his true calling in the kitchen in this heartwarming tale of passion and perseverance.
Pecosita's Freckly Freckle Face by Aliya King Neil – A joyful celebration of self-love reminds readers that what makes us different is what makes us beautiful.
The Umbrella by Sylvia Walker – A rainy day leads to an unexpected lesson in friendship, sharing, and community.
House of the Rising Sun by K'wan – A seemingly perfect family is torn apart when a string of murders turns a quiet town into a place of suspicion and danger.
The Violently Departed by Sarah J. Daley – A half-demon investigator must solve a haunting murder while battling enemies—and her own dark past.
Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray – A young lawyer faces her most impossible case yet—defending a murder suspect against her own husband.
Elizabeth and Marilyn by Julie Owen Moylan – An imagined friendship between two iconic women reveals the hidden struggles behind fame, power, and identity.
A Cute Little Murder by Molly Harper – A former sidekick steps into the spotlight to solve a deadly mystery at a crumbling island hotel.
Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q. Sutanto – A determined woman reinvents herself at culinary school after heartbreak, discovering new purpose and unexpected friendship.
Your Promise by Camille Laurens – A writer’s toxic relationship unravels in court, exposing the fragile line between truth, perception, and betrayal.
Green City Wars by Adrian Tchaikovsky – In a hidden animal underworld, a raccoon PI hunts for a missing mouse in a noir tale of secrets and survival.
The Cafe of Infinite Doors by Zara Marielle – A magical café offers refuge and second chances—until a looming darkness threatens to destroy everything.
Wifehouse by Sonya Walger – A woman reexamines love, identity, and desire as she steps beyond the life she thought she was meant to live.
The Model Patient by Lucy Ashe – A woman’s therapy spirals into obsession in a chilling exploration of control, desire, and manipulation.
We Would Never Tell by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau – Ambition, envy, and secrets collide at Cannes when a glamorous festival turns deadly.
Don't Stop by Bonnie Friedman – A woman’s impulsive desire unravels her carefully constructed life in a bold exploration of ambition and identity.
Hate Me Take Me by Laura Bishop – A woman unknowingly falls for her ex-husband again in this dark, twisty rom-com driven by obsession and deception.
The Unraveling of Michael Galler by Steven M. Rubin – A young man’s obsession with illness spirals into a psychological battle that blurs reality and fear.
The Roaring Ridleys by K.M. Colley – A Jazz Age family’s glamorous façade cracks when murder exposes dangerous secrets beneath the surface.
Channeling Marilyn by Mima Tipper – A shy teen gains confidence—and chaos—when Marilyn Monroe’s spirit takes over her body.
I Could Give You the Moon by Ann Liang – Two unlikely allies bound by secrets and a shared vision must risk everything to save what matters most.