If you’re stuck in a reading rut, check out these stunning novels. You might just learn about experiences different from your own and gain a new perspective on the world. Here are five of the best books by Asian-American authors that are worth the read.
- To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han
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This is the first book of the well-known trilogy. It has become so popular that Netflix has created a series of films based on it. The lovable main character, Lara Jean, writes five secret love letters to her crushes that get mysteriously sent out. The characters are super relatable and it’s such a fun, quick read!
- Severance by Ling Ma
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This is the perfect pandemic novel to read right now. I literally could not put it down. It follows Candace Chen’s life before and after a deadly virus wreaks havoc on society. The vibes this book gives off are definitely dark and eerie, but it’s a moving story that covers important topics like immigration, the effects of capitalism, and more.
- Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
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Kwan can get extremely detailed, which makes for long paragraphs of purely descriptions that may be a bit boring to read at times, but the message of his novel is unmatched. It not only mentions racism toward Asians from other cultures, but also focuses on the prejudices that different Asian cultures hold against each other. It’s refreshing to see that the author exposes how divided the Asian community actually is because I feel like it’s an issue that doesn’t get talked about enough. The movie is also a work of art and absolutely worth watching!
- Re Jane by Patricia Park
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Jane Re, the main character, does some questionable things throughout the novel that all really stem from her confusion surrounding her identity. The book discusses what it takes to assimilate into a new culture and how far you can go before you lose yourself. It’s a great coming of age story that’ll have you on the edge of your seat, wondering what Jane is going to do next.
- Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
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With its setting in Shaker Heights, Ohio, Little Fires Everywhere depicts the picture-perfect Richardson family living in a picture-perfect neighborhood. The community of Shaker Heights has rules and regulations for almost everything and the Richardson family’s lives are meticulously planned out. Their flawless lifestyle is uprooted when a custody battle surfaces and divides the whole community. It just goes to show that not everything goes according to plan.
There is also a mini series adaptation on Hulu!
I highly recommend reading these books because they all have meaningful themes and are both entertaining and educational!