Dazzlingly opulent and emotionally riveting, Anna K: A Love Story is a brilliant reimagining of Leo Tolstoy's timeless love story, Anna Karenina―but above all, it is a novel about the dizzying, glorious, heart-stopping experience of first love and first heartbreak.
Although Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month is in May, there’s nothing stopping you from reading Asian American YA books all year round.
Last year, I took part in a reading challenge where I chose to read as many books by Asian authors as possible, and it allowed me to read and discover so many new books by Asian American authors or featuring Asian American protagonists.
If you’re looking to expand your TBR with some Asian American YA novels this year, then here’s a round up of 20 books to get you started!
American Panda by Gloria Chao book cover AMERICAN PANDA BY GLORIA CHAO
Seventeen-year-old Mei’s life has already been mapped out by her parents. She’s set to become a doctor (despite falling asleep in her biology classes) and marry a Taiwanese boy, despite having a crush on her not-so-Taiwanese classmate, Darren. When Mei reconnects with her estranged brother, she starts to wonder if keeping these secrets is really worth it. But can she find a way to finally be herself and tell her parents the truth? Gloria Chao is also the author of Our Wayward Fate and the upcoming Rent A Boyfriend.
LIKE A LOVE STORY BY ABDI NAZEMIAN
It’s 1989 and Reza has just moved to New York City with his mother, terrified that someone will find out his secret. Despite being gay, he soon starts dating Judy, whose best friend Art is the only out and proud teen at their school, documenting the AIDS crisis through his photographs. But as Reza grows closer to them both, he struggles to find a way out of his deception that won’t break Judy’s heart and destroy the most meaningful friendships he’s ever known.
MARIAM SHARMA HITS THE ROAD BY SHEBA KARIM
When a scandalous photo of her friend Ghaz is made public, Mariam comes up with a genius plan to rescue her from her furious parents. Embark on a road trip with their friend Umar and escape New Orleans. So the three friends pile into a car and start driving, making all sorts of pit stops along the way. And though each mile brings them closer to their own truths, they know they can rely on their friendship, and laughter, to get them through it. Sheba Karim is also the author of That Thing We Call A Heart and Skunk Girl.
Love From A to Z by S. K. Ali book cover LOVE FROM A TO Z BY S.K. ALI
After Zayneb is suspended for confronting an Islamophobic teacher, she heads to her aunt’s house is Doha for a much-needed break. While waiting for her flight, her path crosses with Adam. Since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the same illness that took his mother’s life, he’s been trying to keep it together for his grieving family, locking away his thoughts in writing. Told in alternating journal entries, this is a love story of marvels and oddities and what happens when the two collide. S.K. Ali is also the author of Saints and Misfits.
MY SO-CALLED BOLLYWOOD LIFE BY NISHA SHARMA
Winnie Mehta’s fate is written in the stars. A pundit once predicted that she’d find the love of her life before her 18th birthday. So when she breaks up with her boyfriend Raj, who fits all the criteria, she begins questioning the truth of the prophecy. Set to take back control of her story, she enlists the help of a fellow Bollywood film geek to pursue her dream of attending film school. Dev is smart and charming and not at all written in her horoscope but Winnie finds herself drawn to him anyway. And soon enough, her perfectly scripted life reaches its climax. The question is: will she get a happy ending?
TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL BY AMINAH MAE SAFI
Sana Khan is an overachiever: a straight-A student, always determined to win. Her nemesis, Rachel Recht, is an aspiring director, obsessed with making movies. As she’s casting her senior film project, she finds the perfect lead in Sana, who once asked her out and she’s despised ever since. Told in alternative viewpoints, the novel follows these two strong-willed women as they navigate their feelings and fall for each other despite their past, and themselves. Aminah Mae Safi is also the author of Not The Girls You’re Looking For.
The Astonishing Color Of After by Emily X. R. Pan book coverTHE ASTONISHING COLOR OF AFTER BY EMILY X.R. PAN
When Leigh’s mother dies by suicide, she travels to Taiwan to meet her maternal grandparents for the first time, determined to also find her mother who she’s certain turned into a bird. Instead, she ends up finding herself: chasing ghosts, uncovering family secrets, and forging a new relationship with her grandparents while dealing with her grief and guilt of not being there when her mother was taking her own life.
FRANKLY IN LOVE BY DAVID YOON
Frank Li is caught between two worlds: that of his parents’ traditional expectations versus his Southern Californian upbringing. So when he goes against his parents’ wishes and falls for a non-Korean girl, he starts fake-dating his classmate Joy, who is in a similar predicament, just to keep them happy. At first, it’s the perfect plan. But it quickly turns into something more, leaving Frank to wonder if he ever really understood love, or himself, at all.
THE LOVE AND LIES OF RUKHSANA ALI BY SABINA KHAN
Seventeen-year-old Rukhsana’s perfectly monitored life is turned upside down when her conservative Muslim parents catch her kissing her girlfriend, Ariana. Without risking anyone in the Bengali community finding out, her parents schedule a trip to Bangladesh where Rukhsana is thrown headfirst into a world of arranged marriages and a culture that’s far detached from her life in Seattle. But finding comfort in her grandmother’s diary and words eventually leads to her finding the courage to fight for her love and stand up for herself, regardless of her parents’ wishes. Sabina Khan is also the author of the upcoming Zara Hossain Is Here.
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon book coverWHEN DIMPLE MET RISHI BY SANDHYA MENON
Dimple Shah is looking forward to attending a summer program for aspiring web developers, mostly to get away from her parents’ obsession with finding her the ‘Ideal Indian Husband’. If only she knew why they were really letting her go. When she meets Rishi Patel, a hopeless romantic who prefers to do things the traditional way, things don’t exactly start off on the right note. But no matter how much their personalities clash, they’re still drawn to each other in the most unexpected ways, just as their parents planned. Sandhya Menon is also the author of There’s Something About Sweetie, From Twinkle, With Love and the upcoming 10 Things I Hate About Pinky.
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