5 refreshing books to read this May as you hop your way across spring

A look at womanhood in the digital age, an ode to second chances and more

Book covers of 'Aggregated Discontent' by Harron Walker, 'The Emperor of Gladness' by Ocean Vuong, and 'Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson' by Tourmaline
The fringe is celebrated, deservedly, this month
(Image credit: Penguin Random House)

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Spring is in full swing, and renewal comes in many guises. Refreshing your to-be-read pile for the season aligns with the season's overall rebirth vibe. If you are looking for new bookshelf additions, May's must-reads include poet Ocean Vuong's third novel, an ode to Marsha P. Johnson's impact on the LGBTQ community and an unflinching look at womanhood in the 21st century.

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Theara Coleman, The Week US

Theara Coleman has worked as a staff writer at The Week since September 2022. She frequently writes about technology, education, literature and general news. She was previously a contributing writer and assistant editor at Honeysuckle Magazine, where she covered racial politics and cannabis industry news.