The warmer weather has finally arrived, which means I’ll be able to enjoy reading outside in my garden! Nothing like getting a dose of Vitamin D while diving into a new book! I am excited about several new nonfiction and fiction books for 2025 to share with you. Continue reading below to learn about these new books for May 2025:
Source Code by Bill Gates
It is clear that Gates was provided a solid moral foundation from his parents, whom he clearly adored. His mother in particular was an extremely driven woman who had definite views about how people should behave. His lawyer-father was less intense, but provided general guidance to Bill that was particularly useful when Bill, at the age of 19, started Microsoft with his childhood friend, Paul Allen.
If you want to know the type of energy and drive a person requires to create a business that is still competitive after 50 years, read this book. Gates describes his enormous thirst for knowledge, which was apparent when he was in grade school when he says he read his family’s encyclopedias from A-Z. Gates later describes preparing extensive research projects for high school and after attending high school in the day, working in the computer lab well into the early hours of the evening developing programs. His university days at Harvard were just as frenetic as he tried to balance overseeing the beginning of Microsoft with completing his undergrad in math.
Six Days in Bombay by Alka Joshi
The latest book from the author of The Henna Artist focuses on Sona, a nurse working in a Bombay hospital in 1937. Sona lives with her Indian mother in low income circumstances because the family was abandoned by Sona’s British father years ago. Sona has grown up being called “Blackie-White” due to being mixed race. Renowned artist Mira Novak comes under Sona’s care. The artist, who is also mixed race Indian-British, has just suffered from a miscarriage and the two women bond over their shared heritage. Sona is impressed with Mira’s modern lifestyle – although Mira is married, she has lovers on the side. When Mira dies of an overdose of morphine, this sets the sheltered Sona on a global course to distribute Novak’s paintings to her dearest friends who happen to live in Prague, Florence and Paris.
Joshi has created an exciting journey for Sona, who mixes with personalities in the vibrant, pre-World War II art world, who are distressed about the rise of fascism in Europe. The trip also gives Sona the freedom to express her sexuality when she becomes romantically entangled with two handsome men.
This was a page-turner for me; I devoured the book in four days! I also enjoyed learning about Indian culture, food and politics and Sona’s adventures in Europe brought back vivid memories of my trips to Italy and France in my twenties.
On Isabella Street by Genevieve Graham
I really enjoyed learning about Toronto’s political and social scene in the turbulent 60s, as well as learning more about Viet Nam. My one criticism is there are far too many “coincidences” in the plot: For example, Sassy just happens to run into Marion’s patient, Daniel, sleeping in the street. Second, when Marion travels to Viet Nam to offer her medical services, she just happens to run into Sassy’s brother, Joey, who is fighting in the war. Also, as a former real estate agent, I found the idea that Sassy was able to move up the career ladder from administrative assistant to real estate agent without accredited training to stretch credulity. Putting these weaknesses aside, I really enjoyed this read!
Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang
I’ve been having a blast reading Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang because it darkly spoofs the influencer industry! I don’t consider myself so much an “influencer” as I do a “content creator”, but I have to admit that I have found myself chuckling at many of the things Zhang’s influencers do and say because they’re familiar to me! The premise of the novel is Julie Chan and Chloe Van Huusen are twins who were separated at birth: Julie lives with her penny-pinching aunt while Chloe was adopted by a white, upper middle class family. While Julie slugs it out working at a supermarket, Chloe has become a successful influencer.
Julie comes to New York after receiving a mysterious phone call from Chloe and discovers her dead body in her condo. Julie then makes the questionable decision to impersonate Chloe and is embraced by Chloe’s high-flying influencer friends. When ultra-rich Bella Marie invites “Chloe” and several other influencers to her private island, things get weird fast. It’s at this point in the novel that the plot veers into fantasy territory, but it’s still a fun ride. I’m very surprised to learn that this is Zhang’s first book as the storyline is well executed with a shocking ending, and the writing is punchy and imaginative! I look forward to reading Zhang’s future books!
ISBN No.: 978-1-6680-7986-7
Published by Simon & Schuster, CAD$24.99
The Book of Records by Madeleine Thien
The latest book from The Giller Prize-winner Madeleine Thien covers timelines across centuries and begins in the future with Lina, a girl who has arrived with her father at The Sea, a complex for refugees awaiting transfer to a new country. Lina has only three books about historical figures to read. She meets three of her neighbours who have had similar lives to the figures in her books, including Bento, an ex-communicated scholar from Amsterdam; Blucher, a philosopher who escaped the Nazis; and Jupiter a poet of Tang Dynasty China. All three have clashed with their governments over their progressive views. Thien explores each of the character’s stories with compassion and extremely eloquent writing, which is truly a joy to read. This is a deeply philosophical read and I have to admit that I was often hard-pressed to understand exactly what Thien intended, but the passion, grace and integrity of her characters is inspiring and unforgettable.
ISBN No.: 978-1-03-900956-1
Published by Knopf Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Canada, CAD$36.95
I hope you enjoyed reading about these new books for May 2025. Please let me know in the comment section if you have read any of them!
You may be interested in reading, “What I’m Crushing On in May 2025”
Reading is one of my fave things to do, so I love hearing about new books to get. These sound fantastic so I’ll add them to my list!
Hi Amber, I am a booklover too! I hope you find something in my list that you enjoy! Cheers, Lori
This list is such a great mix of fiction and nonfiction. I also appreciate the variety in topics.
Hi Jess, I love reading both fiction and nonfiction books! I hope you find something that suits your taste! Cheers, Lori
Som great titles here for sure and I am with you and love laying in my hammock and reading a book. Nothing better!
Some great titles here for sure and I am with you and love laying in my hammock and reading a book. Nothing better!
Hi Melissa, Yes, I love reading in a hammock too! So relaxing! Cheers, Lori
These all sound like very interesting books, I haven’t read any of them yet so I will have to add them to my book wishlist
I love reading books! I can’t wait to read these recommendation you have there. I am sure they are all amazing.
I have not read a book for a month now, but these lists sound like great ones to get and read.
Hi Amy, I don’t always have time to read either! I hope you found something good in my recommendations! Cheers, Lori
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