Read Reviews • Buy Books : May 2025
This May, ChaiFry.org invites you to unwind with a cup of chai and our handpicked collection of page-turning gems. Whether you’re craving bestselling thrillers, heartwarming romances, or hidden literary treasures, we’ve curated the perfect reads to brighten your blossoming days and balmy afternoons.
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Perfection
By Vincenzo Latronico
Immerse yourself in Perfection, Vincenzo Latronico’s incisive 2025 novel, shortlisted for the International Booker Prize. Translated by Sophie Hughes, this satirical tale follows Anna and Tom, a millennial expat couple chasing the “perfect” life in Berlin’s trendy Neukölln. As digital creatives, they curate a chic apartment with Danish furniture and craft Instagram-worthy lives, but beneath the aesthetic, ennui festers. Inspired by Georges Perec’s Things, Latronico’s deadpan prose dissects their hollow pursuit of authenticity through slow cooking, sexual experimentation, and futile activism. As Berlin gentrifies, their disillusionment deepens, pushing them to digital nomadism in Lisbon and Sicily, only to find the same emptiness. Praised by The New Yorker for its sharp cultural critique, this slim, thought-provoking read captures the millennial struggle for meaning in a globalized, image-obsessed world. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published February 13, 2025
120 pages
Average Rating : 4.1 out of 5
On A Woman's Madness
By Astrid Roemer
Discover On a Woman’s Madness, Astrid Roemer’s electrifying 1982 queer classic, longlisted for the 2025 International Booker Prize. Translated by Lucy Scott, this National Book Award finalist follows Noenka, a courageous Black woman in post-colonial Suriname, fleeing an abusive marriage after nine days. In Paramaribo, she embraces new freedoms and a passionate romance with Gabrielle, but her past and societal prejudice haunt her. Roemer’s lush, non-linear prose weaves a fragmented biography, blending sensuous imagery with sharp commentary on race, gender, and colonialism. Noenka’s journey—defying misogyny, homophobia, and ancestral burdens—resonates as both historical and timeless. Praised by NPR for its “lush and sinuous” style, this novel is a must-read for fans of Toni Morrison. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published November 28, 2023
265 pages
Average Rating : 3.5 out of 5
Hunchback
By Saou Ichikawa
Experience Hunchback, Saou Ichikawa’s provocative 2025 debut novella, longlisted for the International Booker Prize. Translated by Polly Barton, this Akutagawa Prize winner follows Shaka Izawa, a woman with myotubular myopathy living in a Tokyo care home. Confined by her wheelchair and ventilator, Shaka’s vibrant mind thrives online, where she writes erotic stories and tweets defiantly about disability and desire. Her bold offer to a new carer, Tanaka, for a sexual encounter sparks a darkly funny, unsettling exploration of autonomy and ableism. Ichikawa’s raw, witty prose challenges societal norms, blending humor with a fierce critique of Japan’s exclusionary culture. Praised by The New York Times as a “thriller of the body,” this 112-page novel is a must-read for fans of transgressive fiction. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published March 06, 2025
112 pages
Average Rating : 3.6 out of 5
Dream Count
By Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Immerse yourself in Dream Count, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s poignant 2025 novel, a New York Times bestseller longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction. Set during the 2020 pandemic, it weaves the stories of four women: Chiamaka, a Nigerian travel writer in America, reflecting on past loves; Zikora, her lawyer friend, reeling from betrayal; Omelogor, Chiamaka’s bold cousin in Nigerian finance, questioning her identity; and Kadiatou, Chiamaka’s housekeeper, facing a harrowing assault inspired by the 2011 Dominique Strauss-Kahn case. Adichie’s sharp, empathetic prose explores love, resilience, and societal expectations across continents, blending feminist insights with emotional depth. Praised by The Guardian for its “masterful sentences,” this 416-page saga captivates fans of Americanah. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook narrated by Adichie and others.
Published March 04, 2025
416 pages
Average Rating : 4.3 out of 5
Edge of Honor: A Thriller (24) (The Scot Harvath Series)
By Brad Thor
Dive into Edge of Honor, Brad Thor’s electrifying 24th Scot Harvath thriller! America’s top spy returns to a nation teetering on chaos, facing a ruthless conspiracy sparked by a devastating mass shooting. Alongside his fierce wife Solvi, Harvath battles powerful elites threatening to unravel the country. Packed with heart-pounding action, razor-sharp suspense, and timely political intrigue, this 2025 release is a must-read for fans of Jack Carr or Vince Flynn. Thor’s masterful storytelling keeps you hooked from page one. Grab Edge of Honor on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook, and experience a high-stakes adventure that’ll leave you breathless. Don’t miss this gripping tale of loyalty and survival!
Published July 1, 2025
336 pages
Average Rating : 4.6 out of 5
Kairos
By Jenny Erpenbeck
Kairos, Jenny Erpenbeck’s 2024 International Booker Prize-winning novel, translated by Michael Hofmann, is a haunting tale of love and loss set against the collapse of East Germany. In 1986 East Berlin, 19-year-old Katharina meets Hans, a married writer in his fifties, sparking a passionate yet toxic affair. Their intense, obsessive relationship mirrors the disintegration of the German Democratic Republic, weaving personal and political turmoil. Erpenbeck’s luminous, present-tense prose captures the era’s cultural and historical textures, from café life to the Berlin Wall’s fall, exploring themes of control, betrayal, and crushed ideals. Praised by The New York Times as a “beautiful bummer,” this masterful work is a must-read for fans of literary fiction. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published June 14, 2024
304 pages
Average Rating : 3.6 out of 5
The Vegetarian
By Han Kang
The Vegetarian by Han Kang, winner of the 2016 Man Booker International Prize and the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, is a haunting three-part novella set in Seoul. Translated by Deborah Smith, it follows Yeong-hye, a seemingly ordinary woman who, after a blood-soaked nightmare, abruptly becomes a vegetarian, defying South Korea’s meat-centric norms. Her decision spirals into a surreal rebellion, unraveling her family’s lives. Told through the perspectives of her husband, brother-in-law, and sister, the novel explores patriarchy, desire, and mental illness with poetic, unsettling prose. Praised by The New York Times for its “terrible serenity,” it’s a must-read for fans of Kafkaesque fiction. Available on Amazon.in in paperback, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published November 15, 2015
192 pages
Average Rating : 4.0 out of 5
The Safekkep
By Yael Van Der Wouden
The Safekeep, Yael van der Wouden’s 2024 debut novel, winner of the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction and shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize, is a haunting tale set in 1961 Netherlands. Isabel, a solitary woman, obsessively guards her late mother’s rural home. Her routine unravels when her brother Louis leaves his vivacious girlfriend, Eva, to stay for the summer. Initial repulsion between the women sparks an unexpected, charged romance, layered with secrets. Van der Wouden’s taut prose explores desire, trauma, and Holland’s unaddressed WWII complicity, culminating in a powerful twist. Praised by The Washington Post for its emotional depth, this atmospheric thriller is a must-read. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published May 30, 2024
272 pages
Average Rating : 4.3 out of 5
Totto-Chan
By Tetsuko Kuroyanagi
Totto-Chan: The Little Girl at the Window by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, first published in 1981, is a heartwarming memoir of her childhood at Tomoe Gakuen, a unique Tokyo school during World War II. Expelled from her first school for her curious, disruptive nature, young Totto-chan thrives under headmaster Sosaku Kobayashi’s unconventional methods, with classrooms in old train cars and a focus on freedom and creativity. This bestseller, selling over 25 million copies globally, captures Totto-chan’s adventures and Kobayashi’s progressive vision. Praised by The Hindu for its charm, it’s a must-read for educators and parents. Available on Amazon.in in paperback, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published March, 23, 2012
232 pages
Average Rating : 4.7 out of 5
King : A Life
By Jonathan Eig
Winner of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize, King: A Life by Jonathan Eig is the definitive biography of Martin Luther King Jr., published in paperback on January 7, 2025. Eig’s vivid narrative, drawing on newly declassified FBI files and exhaustive interviews, portrays a complex, courageous King—a preacher, strategist, and radical who reshaped American democracy. From his Atlanta roots to leading the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham, Selma, and Memphis, King faced relentless FBI surveillance, personal struggles, and violent opposition. Eig highlights his anti-racist, anti-poverty, and anti-war activism, revealing both his brilliance and human flaws. Praised by The New York Times as “supple and compulsively readable,” this 704-page masterpiece is a must-read. Available on Amazon.in in paperback, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published January 7, 2025
704 pages
Average Rating : 4.8 out of 5
On the Calculation of Volume I
By Solvej Balle
Dive into On the Calculation of Volume I, Solvej Balle’s mesmerizing 2024 novella, shortlisted for the 2025 International Booker Prize. Translated by Barbara J. Haveland, this first of a seven-volume series follows Tara Selter, an antiquarian bookseller trapped in an endless loop of November 18. Beginning on her 121st iteration, Tara’s diary entries explore her bemused curiosity and existential musings as she navigates a static reality—predicting birds’ movements and grappling with isolation from her husband, Thomas. Balle’s poetic, precise prose transforms the time-loop trope into a profound meditation on love, connection, and time’s nature. Praised by The New Yorker as a “startling exploration,” it’s a must-read for fans of Jon Fosse. Available on Amazon.in in paperback, Kindle, or audiobook narrated by Elizabeth Liang.
Published April 10, 2025
160 pages
Average Rating : 4.0 out of 5
The Story of a Heart
By Rachel Clarke
Winner of the 2025 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction, The Story of a Heart by Rachel Clarke is a poignant narrative of a heart transplant connecting two families. In 2017, nine-year-old Keira Ball suffers catastrophic brain injuries in a car crash. Her family, knowing her kind nature, donates her heart. Meanwhile, nine-year-old Max Johnson, battling a failing heart due to a viral infection, awaits a transplant. Clarke, a palliative care doctor, blends the emotional journey of both families with the history of transplant science, from early innovations to modern miracles. Her lyrical prose and investigative rigor highlight compassion, loss, and hope, making this a New York Times Book of the Year. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published September 10, 2024
256 pages
Average Rating : 4.8 out of 5
Orbital
By Samantha Harvey
Samantha Harvey’s Orbital, the 2024 Booker Prize winner, is a lyrical 2023 novella set on the International Space Station. Spanning one day, it follows six astronauts—four from the US, UK, Italy, and Japan, and two Russian cosmonauts—as they orbit Earth 16 times. With no traditional plot, Harvey’s poetic prose captures their reflections on Earth’s beauty and fragility, from shimmering oceans to melting ice sheets. The astronauts’ personal musings—grief, faith, and childhood memories—interweave with vivid descriptions of the planet, evoking the “overview effect.” Praised by The New York Times as “ravishingly beautiful,” this slim, 136-page meditation explores humanity’s place in the cosmos. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published June 27, 2024
144 pages
Average Rating : 4.1 out of 5
The Psychology of Money
By Morgan Housel
Unlock the secrets of financial success with The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel, a 2020 bestseller re-released in 2025 with a bonus chapter. This engaging personal finance book explores how behavior, not just knowledge, drives wealth. Through 19 captivating stories, Housel, a Collaborative Fund partner and award-winning financial writer, reveals how emotions, biases, and personal experiences shape money decisions. Key lessons include the power of compounding, the role of luck and risk, and the importance of knowing “enough” to avoid greed-driven losses. Praised by Annie Duke and Howard Marks for its clarity and wisdom, this accessible read offers timeless insights for novices and seasoned investors alike. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook.
Published September 1, 2020
252 pages
Average Rating : 4.6 out of 5
Stag Dance: A Novel & Stories
By Torrey Peters
Dive into Stag Dance, Torrey Peters’ bold 2025 collection, a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice. This kaleidoscopic blend of one novel and three stories pushes the boundaries of trans literature with gritty, witty prose. In the titular novel, set in a 19th-century logging camp, a burly lumberjack’s decision to dance as a woman sparks a riveting tale of rivalry, obsession, and gender exploration. The stories—“Infect Your Friends and Loved Ones,” a dystopian gender apocalypse; “The Chaser,” a haunting queer boarding school romance; and “The Masker,” a dark Las Vegas tale of identity—probe desire and community with raw intensity. Praised by People for its “gorgeously complicated glory,” this provocative read captivates fans of Detransition, Baby. Available on Amazon.in in hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook narrated by Lee Osorio and others.
Published March 11, 2025
288 pages
Average Rating : 4.2 out of 5
Kagaz Ki Talash : An Unwanted Endeavour
By Gurminder Singh
Immerse yourself in Kagaz Ki Talash: An Unwanted Endeavour, a poignant Hindi Poetry by Gurminder Singh, published by Notion Press in 2018. Born in Uttar Pradesh, Singh draws from his rural roots and urban experiences to craft a poetic narrative that questions survival and existence. This evocative work follows characters navigating the tension between village traditions and modern city life, exploring themes of identity, struggle, and resilience. Singh’s simple yet impactful prose resonates with readers, earning a 5-star rating on Amazon.in for its emotional depth. A must-read for fans of introspective Hindi literature, it complements Singh’s poetry collection Kitab Khuli Rahne Do. Available on Amazon.in in paperback or Kindle.