The It Books of May 2026

The Book Riot Podcast's May 2026 'It Books' episode delivers a high-stakes, playful battle royale of new releases, crowned by Douglas Stewart’s *John of John*—a literary novel with Oprah Book Club backing and a rare crossover appeal. The hosts, Jeff O'Neill and Rebecca Shinsky, dissect 10 May releases with a mix of sharp critique and cultural context, weighing critical acclaim, sales potential, and zeitgeist impact. The episode opens with a bold, self-aware jab at Catherine Stockett’s return with *The Calamity Club*, a book haunted by the legacy of *The Help* and its controversial reception—yet still a commercial gamble due to name recognition. Meanwhile, *One Leg on Earth* by Pemi Oguda emerges as a dark, speculative debut with literary weight but limited mass appeal. The real surprise? A genre phenomenon: *Parade of Horribles* by Matt Deniman, the eighth book in the *Dungeon Crawler Carl* series, which has become a cultural moment despite its niche roots—proving that fun, accessible genre fiction can dominate the conversation. The hosts ultimately crown *John of John* as the It Book of the Month not just for its awards pedigree and Oprah pick, but for its rare ability to bridge literary depth and broad readership—a true 'crossover' triumph in a crowded field.