If you’re stumped about what to book to enjoy next, May’s mainstream releases cater to every type of reading taste. Want to explore a deep drama, get swept up by a new romance or recharge your batteries with something truly inspirational? No matter what you like, you’ll find a fitting new novel out this month. 

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FOR THE ROMANTIC SOUL

Arranged by Catherine McKenzie Why you should check out this read: If you’ve ever fallen head over heels for Mr. Wrong, then you’ll love this tale of dating disasters and unexpected success in the strangest of places. RT reviewer Mandy calls this novel, “A real page-turner, Arranged is a perfect beach read. McKenzie will have readers laughing and crying right along with her heroine.”

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In mainstream fiction this month, many of the stories focus on transition. Whether the characters were trying to deal with death in the family or becoming the person they always thought they could be, change is celebrated in all of its different forms across the genre. But when it comes to everyday changes, few are as daunting as making new friends out of strangers, the subject of Four of a Kind by Valerie Frankel, so we asked the author by to chat about the four heroines in her new release. We also round up a series trend and suggest an unusual new read and much more in this month's roundup!

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Author Kristina McMorris got her story-telling start after her own family history inspired her. Recently, the author sat down with RT's Morgan to talk about the way that her grandmother's story moved her to write a novel about love, loss and World War II. Hear all about McMorris' writing experiences and get an inside look at her newest book Bridge of Scarlet Leaves. This recently released historical mainstream work follows an interracial American couple as they try to navigate the waters of a new relationship in a storm compounded by the attack on Pearl Harbor, the raging war and a tide of anti-Japanese sentiment.

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Author Catherine McKenzie has just made her US-debut with the mainstream novel Spin. When the tale's journalist heroine is forced to check into rehab, posing as a patient in order to get the scoop on a hot celebrity who has also just checked in, she may learn some valuable lessons about life, friendship and the distance she's willing to go to get a story. "If Bridget Jones’s Diary and High Fidelity had a literary baby, the result would be Spin." Says RT's Mandy. Now the author takes us behind the scenes of the story, in this video interview with RT's Morgan.

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February is an exciting month in the mainstream fiction. Not only is author Catherine McKenzie leaving her mark with her US-debut, a familiar name in romance, Elizabeth Bevarly, makes a genre jump, to pen a mainstream. But first, let’s take a look at the three novels this month that were rated RT Top Pick!

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Spoiled shares a look at the books you can't wait to read, long before they hit stores. Today author Susan Mallery gives RT readers a peek inside her new Blackberry Island series before the series begins in April. Find out why her upcoming novel Barefoot Season was a story she simply had to tell — and what part of the book was inspired by a fan's photo!

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Barefoot Season is what I like to call a “romance-plus.” There are two love stories in the book — with terrific men I think readers will adore — plus a focus on the complicated friendship between the two heroines. I will always love writing romance. My mainstream books give me the added pleasure of exploring some of the other relationships that mean so much to women. We are complex creatures; romantic love is just one of the emotions that make up the tapestry of our lives.

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After reading a gripping fictional account of a time or place, have you ever wished you knew more about what actually happened? If so, then Random House Publish Group has a treat for you. Their new e-book line of Reader’s Circle Deluxe Reading Group Editions comes complete with over fifty additional pages of nonfiction content that will answer questions and encourage book group discussions.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (one of RT’s Whitney’s all-time favorite reads) and Lisa See’s Snow Flower and the Secret Fan will be the first two e-books released in this extended e-format. The new editions have what Random House calls “exclusive, author-approved annotations” that are designed to “enrich” the reading experience. And each reader can decide if he or she wants to access this extra content while reading their books, or after they finish the story, tailoring the experience to their personal preference.

Guernsey Literary and Snow Flower both captured readers’ imaginations and are perennial book club favorites. Thus, these New York Times bestselling titles are logical picks to launch Random House’s new line.

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Wanna-be writers, sharpen your pencils, stretch out your typing fingers and get to work on your short story for Figment's writing contest that will be judged by Nicholas Sparks himself! In honor of the fifteenth aniversary of the author's bestselling romance The Notebook the author has teamed up with Figment to judge a writing contest. And for those of you who prefer to read your romances, today RT reviewer Ellen shares how Nicholas Sparks fans can take part in an online book club at Figment.com!

It’s a big month for Nicholas Sparks. His new book The Best of Me has just premiered and, if the number of tissues we’ve used reading it are any indication, it’ll be another phenomenal hit. And Sparks’ first-ever novel, The Notebook, is having its 15th anniversary. 

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Audible — arguably the most popular source for audio books today — is getting Hollywood’s stars to contribute their voices to help re-create a slew of modern classics as audio books. This is a wedding of talents that I am absolutely in favor of!

I’ve always considered audio books something to listen to before I fell asleep. But with this news about Audible and Hollywood teaming up, I am seeing audio books in a whole new light.

Audible is working with some of the biggest and best names in Hollywood to bring back some classic tales. The dreamy Colin Firth will read The End of the Affair by Graham Greene, as Dustin Hoffman and Samuel L. Jackson take on novels by Jerzy Kosinski and Colin Himes, respectively.

And the men of the silver screen aren’t the only ones getting in on the action. Nicole Kidman and Kate Winslet are just two of the nine actresses who will be contributing their dulcet tones to these projects. (I have to say, I’m particularly intrigued by the news that Anne Hathaway will be recording The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum.)

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I just learned that Nicholas Sparks is going to co-write a new TV series for ABC. Most readers have picked up at least one of his bestselling books — or you’ve watched the movie adaptations of them — and if you’re anything like me, you probably cried buckets after both. But TV writing is a new frontier for this skilled wordsmith. (His novel The Rescue was turned into a drama for CBS, but he didn’t write the adaptation.) This just-announced show will be Sparks’ first time writing for the medium, and I’m hoping that if I only spend 30 minutes (or an hour) with his characters each week, the show won’t have me reaching for the tissues.

The Watchers will follow a fallen angel on the hunt for his mortal love. This premise could be interpreted in many different ways, and I wouldn’t put it past Sparks to write scenes where this heavenly being is disappointed in love. But if there’s one thing Sparks knows how to do well (other than make me sob) it is to create beautiful romances. (I’m thinking of you, The Notebook and The Guardian.) 

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