May's most popular books included the latest installment of a gripping crime series, Ocean Vuong's new novel and the 2025 winner of The Stella Prize! Three debut novelists also made the bestseller list, with an unpredictable look at cult beauty, historical fiction inspired by the life of Florence Nightingale, and a contemporary novel about truth, lies and storytelling.
Nonfiction highlights include Hannah Kent's stunning memoir, Kate Grenville's timely reflection on what it means to be a descendent of colonisers, and Micaela Sahhar's moving essay collection, reflecting on Palestinian diaspora.
1. The Unquiet Grave by Dervla McTiernan
2. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins & Sawyer Robbins
3. Always Home, Always Homesick by Hannah Kent
4. Unsettled: A Journey Through Time and Place by Kate Grenville
5. Orbital by Samantha Harvey
6. The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong
7. Theory & Practice by Michelle de Kretser
8. Butter by Asako Yuzuki, translated by Polly Barton
9. Rytual by Chloe Elisabeth Wilson
10. On the Calculation of Volume I by Solvej Balle, translated by Barbara J. Haveland
11. I Want Everything by Dominic Amerena
12. Lyrebird by Jane Caro
13. James by Percival Everett
14. Nightingale by Laura Elvery
15. Fearless Beatrice Faust: Sex, Feminism and Body Politics by Judith Brett
16. The Vegetarian by Han Kang, translated by Deborah Smith
17. Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
18. My Name is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende
19. I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman
20. Find Me at the Jaffa Gate by Micaela Sahhar
