top 5 favourite books by asian authors || recommendations!

Can we subtly ignore the fact that it’s no longer the Asian heritage month and forget that this post has been dozing in my drafts folder because I *ahem* forgot to post. Actually, let’s pretend for a second that this is May okay? So, onto the list!

As you can tell, I am having a lot of fun with this Asian American Pacific Heritage month, because it gives me the perfect excuse to rave about some of my favorite books, which I never really talk about.😒 These are all by Asian authors, and almost all of them are stand-alones and almost all of them are contemporary romances! So, you can easily check them out. *drumroll*

Here are my five favorites, and they are not in order. It all depends on my mood, so I can’t order them XD. But I recommend to you ALL of them! Enjoy;)

1. wicked fox by kat cho

Eighteen-year-old Gu Miyoung has a secret–she’s a gumiho, a nine-tailed fox who must devour the energy of men in order to survive. But after feeding one full moon, Miyoung crosses paths with Jihoon, a human boy, being attacked by a goblin deep in the forest. She violates the rules of survival to rescue the boy, losing her fox bead–her gumiho soul–in the process. Full synopsis here.

Are you fan of k-drama? All those high school dramas, with soo much teenage angst and family problems and melodrama and cutesy romance? Because if yes, this is the perfect book for you! This really addictive urban fantasy romance novel is set in modern day Seoul. It’s been a while since I read this, but as far as I remember it is a clean YA novel. This is a duology.

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2. love from a to z by s.k. ali

A marvel: something you find amazing. Even ordinary-amazing. Like potatoes—because they make French fries happen. Like the perfect fries Adam and his mom used to make together. An oddity: whatever gives you pause. Like the fact that there are hateful people in the world. Like Zayneb’s teacher, who won’t stop reminding the class how “bad” Muslims are. Full synopsis here.

Told in the form of journal entries, but it definitely doesn’t feel like it. We follow the life of Zayneb, who heads to her aunt’s house in Doha, Qatar after being suspended. And then Adam, who is the absolute sweetheart! But he is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and is ready to just disappear from this world. A very thought provoking book, which brings together such various people, and I simple adore how each and every coincidence ties together at the end!

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3. silence of bones by june hur

1800, Joseon (Korea). Homesick and orphaned sixteen-year-old Seol is living out the ancient curse: “May you live in interesting times.” Indentured to the police bureau, she’s been tasked with assisting a well-respected young inspector with the investigation into the politically charged murder of a noblewoman. But in a land where silence and obedience are valued above all else, curiosity can be deadly. Full synopsis here.

This is a mystery thriller YA book, and I usually despise thriller books, but this book absolutely stole my breath! Another book, by a Korean author, which I am positive that you will enjoy if you love all those historical k-dramas. But here’s the thing. I hate historical k-dramas. Not my thing. But I still loved this book. This book explores so many different aspects, and gods! The plot twist guys! I really really didn’t expect it. The language is so hauntingly beautiful, that this book had me in tears by the end. Loved it!

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4. emergency contact by mary h.k. choi

For Penny Lee high school was a total nonevent. Her friends were okay, her grades were fine, and while she somehow managed to land a boyfriend, he doesn’t actually know anything about her. When Penny heads to college in Austin, Texas, to learn how to become a writer, her path crosses with Sam’s, who is in deep shit. Full synopsis here.

It is a book the likes of which I have never read before! It sheds light on mental health issues like anxiety and depression, and stress, and how teenagers deal with it. Despite, dealing with such heavy topics, this book is a surprisingly light read, that you can breeze through, especially with it’s easy flowing language. It’s less meet-cute and more a collision of unbearable awkwardness. Still, they swap numbers and stay in touch—via text—and soon become digitally inseparable, sharing their deepest anxieties and secret dreams without the humiliating weirdness of having to see each other.

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5. i love you so mochi by sarah kuhn

Kimi Nakamura loves a good fashion statement. But her mother disapproves, and when they get into an explosive fight, Kimi’s entire future seems on the verge of falling apart. So when a surprise letter comes in the mail from Kimi’s estranged grandparents, inviting her to Kyoto for spring break, she seizes the opportunity to get away from the disaster of her life. She loses herself in the city’s outdoor markets, art installations, and cherry blossom festival — and meets Akira, a cute aspiring med student who moonlights as a costumed mochi mascot. And what begins as a trip to escape her problems quickly becomes a way for Kimi to learn more about the mother she left behind, and to figure out where her own heart lies. Full synopsis here.

We all like all those hard hitting contemporary books, which have a lot of spice and magic in it, but I am not gonna lie. Sometimes, I crave fluff and cozy stuff, but it is not often that I actually come across any that I actually like. But this. THIS was everything! I do think that it is only intended for younger audience meaning (15-19) because it’s not something that people out of there teenage years are gonna love but if you wanna try it, go ahead! This book just resonated with me so much, that it was almost scary! and there is just so much similarity between my culture and Japanese culture; it was really fun seeing it on paper.

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Some honorable mentions, because I feel like a lot of people know about these books, and have already read them! Have you?

TO ALL THE BOYS I HAVE LOVED BEFORE || THE KISS QUOTIENT || CRAZY RICH ASIANS ||

THE BRIDE TEST || DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OKAY || LOVEBOAT, TAIPEI ||