Incredible Books by Asian Authors To Read During AAPI Month (& All Year Round)

‘Yellowface’ by R. F. Kuang

Yellowface by R. F. Kuang follows the story of two rising authors, June Hayward and Athena Liu. While June is struggling to catch a break, Athena seems to be rising to stardom. That is, however, until Athena’s unexpected passing makes June risk it all as she steals her unfinished novel. 

‘The Called Us Exceptional’ by Prachi Gupta

In this touching memoir, The Called Us Exceptional by Prachi Gupta tells the story of Prachi, an Indian American woman who begins to grapple with the generational and steep cost of fitting into the perfect, successful Asian American family image. 

“By charting her family’s slow unraveling, and her determination to break the cycle, Gupta shows how traditional notions of success keep us disconnected from ourselves and one another—and passionately argues why we must orient ourselves toward compassion over belonging,” the description. 

‘The Storm We Made’ by Vanessa Chan

The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan tells the nail-biting story of Cecily Alcantara and her family in 1945 occupied Malaya. As the occupation horrors and frustrations begin to reach a tipping point for her three kids, she’s riddled with the truth and secrets of what she did 10 years prior. “Now her family is on the brink of destruction—and she will do anything to save them,” the description reads. 

‘Say You’ll Be Mine’ by Naina Kumar

Say You’ll Be Mine by Naina Kumar tells the story of theatre teacher Meghna Raman and engineer Karthik Murthy as they both finally give in to their parents’ desire to set them up with a suitor. And while their connection isn’t necessarily instant, an upcoming wedding proves that a fake engagement between them could be the perfect way out. 

“As the two find common ground, grow protective of each other’s hearts, and start to fall for the traits they originally thought they hated, an undeniable chemistry emerges,” the description reads. “But soon, their expectations and insecurities threaten something that’s become a lot more real than they’d planned.

‘Same Bed Different Dreams’ by Ed Park

Weaving together three distinct narrative voices, Same Bed Different Dreams by Ed Park gives a head-scratching kaleidoscope of “Korean history, American pop culture, and our tech-fraught lives.”

In the most prominent narrative, the book follows former writer Soon Sheen as he finds an unfinished novel about the “true” history of Korea called Same Bed, Different Dreams. In it, the author claims that a series of world-renowned celebrities, from Syngman Rhee to Marilyn Monroe, have been secretly governing Korea as the Korean Provisional Government.

‘Banyan Moon’ by Thao Thai

Banyan Moon by Thao Thai tells the multi-generational story of Ann Tran, her mother Huơng, and her recently deceased grandmother Minh. When Minh’s passing comes at a pivotal time in Ann’s life, her move back to Florida with her mom tests their relationship like never before, especially when they find out Minh left her crumbling old manor to the two of them. 

“Under the same roof for the first time in years, mother and daughter must face the simmering questions of their past and their uncertain futures, while trying to rebuild their relationship without the one person who’s always held them together,” the description reads, adding that it all culminates when the two uncover some of Minh’s biggest secrets in the home’s attic. 

‘Twisted Love’ by Ana Huang

Twisted Love by Ana Huang tells the irresistible and page-turning romance between Alex Volkov, described as “a devil blessed with the face of an angel,” and Ava Chen, “a free spirit trapped by nightmares of a childhood she can’t remember.”

“Theirs is a love that was never supposed to happen – but when it does, it unleashes secrets that could destroy them both…and everything they hold dear,” the description reads. 

‘Happiness Falls’ by Angie Kim

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim tells the story of a biracial Korean American family in Virginia whose lives are turned upside down when their beloved father and husband goes missing. The only witness to what happened, son and brother Eugene, has the rare genetic condition called Angelman syndrome and cannot speak.

“What follows is both a ticking-clock investigation into the whereabouts of a father and an emotionally rich portrait of a family whose most personal secrets just may be at the heart of his disappearance,” the description reads. 

‘The Fox Wife’ by Yangsze Choo

After a courtesan is found frozen in a doorway, Detective Bao is called upon to identify the victim and investigate her death in The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo. But, with rumors of ancient foxes who lure people by transforming themselves into beautiful women and handsome men roaming around ancient China, the investigation becomes more complicated than expected.

‘How to End a Love Story’ by Yulin Kuang

How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang, which was just selected as Reese Witherspoon’s May book club pick, is about two writers, Grant and Helen, who haven’t seen each other since a tragic accident 13 years ago. 

But after over a decade of building their lives far away from each other, Grant join the writers’ room for TV adaptation, which just happened to be based on Helen’s novel. “Working together is messy, and electrifying, and Helen’s parents, who have never forgiven Grant, have no idea he’s in the picture at all,” the description reads.

‘The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years’ by Shubnum Khan

The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years by Shubnum Khan tells the story of Sana, a curious young woman who’s drawn to the secrets of her isolated boardinghouse, named Akbar Manzil. One day, she finds the long-forgotten story of Meena, a former student there who tragically died nearly 100 years earlier. But uncovering the secrets of her life catches the attention of “a besotted, grieving djinn, an invisible spirit who has haunted the mansion since her mysterious death.”

“Obsessed with Meena’s story, and unaware of the creature that follows her, Sana digs into the past like fingers into a wound, dredging up old and terrible secrets that will change the lives of everyone living and dead at Akbar Manzil,” the description reads.

‘Hula’ by Jasmin Iolani Hakes

Hula by Jasmin Iolani Hakes follows Hi’i, a young woman who’s still grappling with her family’s legacy as the biggest contributor to hula in her hometown of Hilo, Hawaii.

One day, however, Hi’i “sees a chance to live up to her name and solidify her place within her family legacy” by winning the next Miss Aloha Hula competition. But in doing so “she will have to turn her back on everything she had ever been taught, and maybe even lose the very thing she was fighting for,” the description reads. 

‘Chlorine’ by Jade Song

Chlorine by Jade Song tells the story of Ren Yu, an avid swimmer who lives, sleeps and breathes the sport – almost literally. Despite wanting to be the best swimmer, break her records, and eventually get scouted, there’s one desire Ren holds dear: becoming a mermaid. 

“Ren aches to be in the water. She dreams of the scent of chlorine, the feel of it on her skin,” the description reads. “And she will do anything she can to make a life for herself where she can be free.” 

‘Every Drop Is a Man’s Nightmare’ by Megan Kamalei Kakimoto

In this collection of stories, ‘Every Drop Is a Man’s Nightmare’ by Megan Kamalei Kakimoto tells the complex and multi-dimensional stories of native Hawaiian and Japanese women “through a contemporary landscape thick with inherited wisdom and the ghosts of colonization.” “This is a Hawai’i where unruly sexuality and generational memory overflow the postcard image of paradise and the boundaries of the real, where the superstitions born of the islands take on the weight of truth,” the description reads. 

‘A Man of Two Faces’ by Viet Thanh Nguyen

In another memoir on this list, A Man of Two Faces by Viet Thanh Nguyen tells his life story, including fleeing Vietnam to the US as a refugee, the tragic passing of his parents and finding out he has a long-lost sister back in his home country.  

“He expands the genre of personal memoir by acknowledging larger stories of refugeehood, colonization, and ideas about Vietnam and America, writing with his trademark sardonic wit and incisive analysis, as well as a deep emotional openness about his life as a father and a son,” the description reads. 

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