Bestselling author Katherine May has announced her next nonfiction book, Tending: How Care Binds the World, offering readers a deeply personal exploration of caregiving, family, and the often-overlooked work of caring for others. The book is scheduled for release on March 9, 2027, from Riverhead Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

Known for bestselling titles such as Wintering and Enchantment, May returns with what she describes as her most personal work yet, drawing on her own experiences supporting her husband through a serious illness while caring for multiple generations of her family.

Quick Facts

Title

Tending: How Care Binds the World

Author

Katherine May

Publisher

Riverhead Books

Publication Date

March 9, 2027

Pages

384

Genre

Nonfiction, Memoir, Personal Growth

Language

English

ISBN-13

9798217537525

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A Personal Story of Care and Resilience

According to the publisher’s synopsis, Tending explores the emotional, spiritual, and practical realities of caregiving. As May adjusted to a new role within her family, she unexpectedly found inspiration in one of her lifelong fears—spiders.

She explains that watching how spiders patiently build, repair, and maintain their webs became a powerful metaphor for the quiet, often invisible work of caring for others. Through personal stories, mythology, nature, and cultural reflection, May argues that caregiving is not an interruption to life but one of its most essential experiences.

Katherine May on the New Book

Speaking about the project, May said she hopes the book will resonate with caregivers who often feel unseen.

She describes Tending as a reflection on caring for loved ones across generations while finding unexpected moments of purpose, connection, and hope amid difficult circumstances.

Praise Before Release

The upcoming release has already received early praise from Emma Heming Willis, who described the book as an honest and compassionate reflection on the emotional realities of caregiving.

The endorsement arrives months before publication, suggesting strong early interest in what is expected to become another significant nonfiction release from May.

Release Date

Tending: How Care Binds the World will be published on March 9, 2027, by Riverhead Books and is available for preorder through major booksellers.

Final Thoughts

Following the success of Wintering and Enchantment, Katherine May’s latest book promises another thoughtful exploration of the human experience. By placing caregiving at the center of the conversation, Tending aims to remind readers that caring for others is not a detour from life—it’s one of its defining acts.

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