Subtle Asian Book Club

Welcome to

a book club dedicated to amplifying Asian authors and storytellers.

Book of the Month.

Book of the Month.

Latest Blog Posts


Meet the Founders


Alexandra (@twirlingpages) is a Chinese-American digital creator. She heads the design and branding of our book club.

Tiffany (@readbytiffany) is a Taiwanese-American book reviewer and blogger. She leads the logistics and outreach.

Homeseeking by Karissa Chen

Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Romance

An epic and intimate tale of one couple across sixty years as world events pull them together and apart, illuminating the Chinese diaspora and exploring what it means to find home far from your homeland.

A single choice can define an entire life.

Haiwen is buying bananas at a 99 Ranch Market in Los Angeles when he looks up and sees Suchi, his Suchi, for the first time in sixty years. To recently widowed Haiwen it feels like a second chance, but Suchi has only survived by refusing to look back.

Suchi was seven when she first met Haiwen in their Shanghai neighborhood, drawn by the sound of his violin. Their childhood friendship blossomed into soul-deep love, but when Haiwen secretly enlisted in the Nationalist army in 1947 to save his brother from the draft, she was left with just his violin and a note: Forgive me.

Homeseeking follows the separated lovers through six decades of tumultuous Chinese history as war, famine, and opportunity take them separately to the song halls of Hong Kong, the military encampments of Taiwan, the bustling streets of New York, and sunny California, telling Haiwen’s story from the present to the past while tracing Suchi’s from her childhood to the present, meeting in the crucible of their lives. Throughout, Haiwen holds his memories close while Suchi forces herself to look only forward, neither losing sight of the home they hold in their hearts.

At once epic and intimate, Homeseeking is a story of family, sacrifice, and loyalty, and of the power of love to endure beyond distance, beyond time.

How to join the Secret Library

(and support us in the process) . . .

Subtle Asian Book Club is an independent project led by Alexandra & Tiffany who run this book club during their free time outside of their university studies and full-time jobs. If you would like to further support us, we offer an exclusive subscription program that includes additional benefits and a more curated experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Most books read are fiction. Genres read will range anywhere from Contemporary to Fantasy to Sci-Fi, and audience types will range from middle-grade, young adult, and adult.

  • Tiffany & Alexandra are based in the U.S., but the book club is International! Everyone is welcome to join regardless of location because we operate virtually.

  • Virtual discussions are on our Discord all month long, and author interviews are saved on our YouTube or featured on our blog. Share your thoughts and join the fun whenever you have the time!

    Subscription members meet virtually with Alexandra and Tiffany once a month to discuss the book in depth.

  • Members do not have to be Asian to join! All are welcome <3

  • Visit our Contact page or send us an email at subtleasianbookclub@gmail.com!