Celebrate the rich voices and diverse experiences of Asian and Pacific Islander authors with these ten powerful books—spanning fiction, memoir, fantasy, and more—that illuminate identity, resilience, heritage, and home.

10 Books To Celebrate Asian And Pacific Islander Heritage Month

1. The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong

In this lyrical and heart-wrenching novel, a young Vietnamese American man finds unexpected kinship with an elderly widow, revealing how love and memory can heal life’s deepest wounds.

2. The Original Daughter by Jemimah Wei

Two sisters in turn-of-the-millennium Singapore grow up bound by ambition and secrecy in a haunting story of family, identity, and sacrifice.

3. Homeseeking by Karissa Chen

Spanning decades and continents, this epic love story traces two separated childhood sweethearts from Shanghai to California in a deeply moving portrayal of diaspora and destiny.

4. The Family Recipe by Carolyn Huynh

Estranged siblings are forced to compete for their father’s Vietnamese sandwich empire in this witty, heartfelt tale about inheritance, community, and rediscovering cultural roots.

5. From Tea to Coffee: The Journey of an Educated Youth by Cheng Wang

A powerful memoir of survival, self-discovery, and cross-cultural transformation during and after China’s Cultural Revolution.

6. Our Beautiful Boys by Sameer Pandya

When a violent incident threatens to unravel a suburban community, this searing novel explores race, privilege, and the fragile line between innocence and guilt.

7. Real Americans by Rachel Khong

Told across generations, this brilliant novel interrogates race, class, and the legacies we inherit in a deeply personal story of one family’s pursuit of belonging.

8. Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier

Inspired by Pacific Island mythology, this lush fantasy follows a girl in exile and a prince searching for healing as they uncover the dangerous magic of a legendary seadragon fruit.

9. Connie: A Memoir by Connie Chung

Trailblazing journalist Connie Chung recounts her groundbreaking career and personal journey with candor and charm in this inspiring memoir.

10. I Leave It Up to You by Jinwoo Chong

After waking from a coma, a man must reckon with the life he fled, the family he left behind, and the hope of new beginnings in this tender, funny, and redemptive novel.

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