May is a month of blooming flowers, refreshing rains, that symbolizes the renewal of nature. It’s also a time to recognize and honor the rich history, contributions, and achievements of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in the United States. The term Asian/Pacific is broad and beautifully diverse, encompassing the entire Asian continent and the Pacific Islands of:
Melanesia: New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands
Micronesia: The Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, and the Federated States of Micronesia
Polynesia: New Zealand, the Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, and Easter Island
AAPI Heritage Month also commemorates two significant historical milestones: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in the U.S. on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, a project in which many Chinese laborers played a vital and often unrecognized role. This month serves not only as a celebration but also as a reminder of the resilience, perseverance, and contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander communities throughout American history—communities that have faced adversity, discrimination, and barriers, yet continue to enrich and shape the cultural and social fabric of the nation.
Celebrating Contributions to Literature
Asian American and Pacific Islander voices have made profound and lasting contributions to the world of literature. This list features a mix of books I’ve read, heard great reviews about, or hope to read this year. It’s not meant to be a complete or comprehensive collection, but rather a simple selection of titles across various genres—including historical fiction, romance, nonfiction, mystery, horror, and short stories. I hope this list helps you discover a new favorite, beat a reading slump, explore a new genre, or step outside your comfort zone.
CONTEMPORARY FICTION
Title: Yellowface
Author: R.F Kuang
Plot: June Hayward, a struggling white writer, who steals a manuscript from her successful Asian American friend, Athena Liu, after witnessing her sudden death. June edits the novel about Chinese laborers in WWI and publishes it under the name “Juniper Song,” adopting a racially ambiguous persona. As the book becomes a bestseller, June is haunted by Athena’s legacy and increasingly desperate to protect her lie, revealing the dark lengths she’ll go to for fame and recognition.
ROMANCE
Title: Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors
Author: Sonali Dev
Plot: Dr. Trisha Raje, a brilliant neurosurgeon and black sheep of an elite Indian American family, must prove herself while working with DJ Caine, a talented chef with a troubled past. Despite clashing over pride and prejudice, they’re forced to collaborate when Trisha becomes the only hope for saving DJ’s sister. As their worlds collide, both must confront family expectations, past mistakes, and the possibility of love.
FANTASY
Title: Klara and The Sun
Author: Kazuo Ishiguro
Plot: Klara, an Artificial Friend with keen observational skills, as she waits in a store to be chosen by a human owner. Through Klara’s hopeful yet naïve perspective, the novel explores themes of love, humanity, and the meaning of connection in a world shaped by technology and change.
HISTORICAL FICTION
Title: Pachinko
Author: Min Jin Lee
Plot: In early 1900s Korea, young Sunja falls for a wealthy man who leaves her pregnant and betrayed. Refusing his support, she marries a kind minister and moves to Japan, setting off a multigenerational saga of love, sacrifice, and resilience. Pachinko follows a Korean family’s struggle to endure and thrive amid discrimination and hardship across decades.
MYSTERY & THRILLER
Title: Arsenic and Adobo
Author: Mia P. Manansala
Plot: When Lila Macapagal returns home after a bad breakup, she’s roped into saving her aunt’s struggling restaurant—until her ex-boyfriend and food critic drops dead after an argument with her. Now the prime suspect, Lila must solve the murder herself, with help from her nosy aunties, best friend, and loyal dog, before she loses everything
YOUNG ADULT
Title: Dragonfruit
Author: Makiia Lucier
Plot: In a world where the mythical dragonfruit can erase a person’s greatest sorrow, for a steep price, Hanalei is exiled after her father steals a sacred seadragon egg. Years later, she returns seeking redemption, just as Prince Sam, bound by duty and desperation, searches for a cure to save his mother. As old friends reunite and dangerous enemies close in, both must face the perilous power of the dragonfruit—and the cost of their deepest desires.