14 Must-Read Books By Asian Authors Releasing in May 2022
2022 has been a phenomenal year of Asian releases, and May is no exception. Whether you're looking for a dynamic fantasy that will catapult you across worlds or a lovingly heartfelt and romantic contemporary, you're bound to find a new favorite read this month!
Middle Grade
Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao (They/Them)
Release Date: May 10th
What's the Book About? Pitched by the author as Chinese Percy Jackson meets Yu-Gi-Oh!, Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor is a middle contemporary fantasy that follows a young boy as he journeys across China to seal the underworld shut and save the mortal realm. Throughout the book, Zhao aims to engage their audience with the complexities of Chinese identity, especially as a minority and diaspora. For fans of anime, video games, sci-fi, and Chinese history and myths, this book will feel like a journey home.
Young Adult
A Show for Two by Tashie Bhuiyan (She/Her)
Release Date: May 10th
What's the Book About? Tashie Bhuiyan's sophomore novel is a young adult contemporary written as a love letter to New York City...and is also inspired by the author's own experience meeting the one and only, Tom Holland, when he went undercover as a student in Bhuiyan's high school. What?! Mina Rahman (Bangladeshi) is an aspiring film maker who dreams of winning the Golden Ivy student film competition, and when she discovers indie film star Emmitt Ramos (Half-Chinese, Half-Spanish) working undercover at her school, she knows she's found her ticket to win.
Beauty and the Besharam by Lillie Vale (She/Her)
Release Date: May 10th
What's the Book About? Kavya Joshi (Indian American) has always been told she's a little too much--too ambitious...too mouthy...too besharam. When her nemesis, Ian Jun (Korean American), witnesses Kavya's public breakup with her boyfriend, she decides to lay low and spend her summer doing what she loves, working part time playing princess roles for children' birthday parties. Of course, her plans just have to go awry, and instead of being cast as Belle, she's stuck as Ariel with the bane of her existence, Ian, as Prince Eric.
Café Con Lychee by Emery Lee (E/Em)
Release Date: May 10th
What's the Book About? Theo is desperate to escape his Vermont town because it means leaving his parents' Asian American café where he works and their feud with the rival Puerto Rican bakery in their neighborhood. Gabi, the son of their café's arch-rival, is miserably stuck in the closet, and his only solace is taking over his family's store. When a new fusion café opens in their town, Theo and Gabi must ~reluctantly~ work together to try and save their family's shops as new feelings arise between them.
Once Upon a K-Prom by Kat Cho (She/Her)
Release Date: May 17th
What's the Book About? Fans of Jenny Han, Sandhya Menon, K-Pop, and K-Dramas, Kat Cho has brought you the book of your dreams. Elena Too has always felt overshadowed...by her successful older sisters, her more popular twin brother, and even her more outgoing best friend. Everyone except Elena seems to know who they are and what they want. The only thing Elena knows for certain is that she doesn't want to go to prom. Why giddy over corsages and dresses, when she could spend time working to save the local community center? So what happens next when international K-pop superstar and childhood best friend, Robbie Choi, shows up at her house to ask her to prom?
Tokyo Dreaming by Emiko Jean (She/Her)
Release Date: May 31st
What's the Book About? Emiko Jean is back with her much anticipated sequel to Tokyo Ever After. Japanese American-Izumi Tanaka became a princess overnight when she learns her father was the Crown Prince of Japan. After overcoming the scandal of the century, she finally is able to relax with her perfect bodyguard turned boyfriend and adorable dog Tamagotch. Best of all? Her parents have rekindled their college romance and are engaged...except things come crashing down when the Imperial Household Council refuse to approve their marriage and Izumi's boyfriend unveils a shocking decision about their relationship.
Flip the Script by Lyla Lee (She/They)
Release Date: May 31st
What's the Book About? All K-drama fans know the cardinal rule of watching K-dramas is to never fall in love with the second lead...after all, you'll only get your heart broken. As an avid watcher of K-dramas, Hana knows all the tropes to avoid, and she has no problem handling her fake co-star boyfriend who might be falling in love with her. But when the producers bring in a new girl to challenge Hana's role as the main love interest, will she be able to fight for her position on her show and fight against the feelings in her heart?
Private Label by Kelly Yang (She/Her)
Release Date: May 31st
What's the Book About? Serene (Chinese American) dreams of following in her mother's footsteps as a fashion designer, but when her mother receives a sudden diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, her world is thrown upside down. Serene has to take over her mother's business overnight, dealing with ruthless investors, and also figure out what happened to her dad who left before Serene was born. Lian Chen (Chinese American) moved from China a year ago but still doesn't feel like he belongs. He decides to start Chinese Club after school when one day...Serene walks in.
My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Carol Follmuth (She/Her)
Release Date: May 31st
What's the Book About? Known by many as Olivie Blake, the acclaimed author of The Atlas Six (our April 2022 book of the month!!), Follmuth debuts a sharply funny, academic rivals to lovers romance explores both the challenges girls of color face in STEM and the vulnerability of first love with unfailing wit and honesty. Bel would rather die than think bout the future. ollege apps? You’re funny. Extracurriculars? Not a chance. But when she accidentally reveals a talent for engineering at school, she’s forced into joining the robotics club. Even worse? All the boys ignore Bel—and Neelam, the only other girl on the team, doesn't seem to like her either. Enter Mateo Luna, captain of the club, who recognizes Bel as a potential asset—until they start butting heads.
Adult
Siren Queen by Nghi Vo (She/Her)
Release Date: May 10th
What's the Book About? Award-winning author Nghi Vo brings to life a new dazzling dark adult historical fantasy set in the golden age of Hollywood. Luli Wei is beautiful, talented, and desperate to be a star, but she also knows how dangerous the film industry is and how limited the roles are for a Chinese American girl...but she doesn't care. She'd rather play a monster than a maid. In the cut throat world of show business, success comes with a steep price, and Luli is willing to do whatever it takes to become a star.
Set on You by Amy Lea (She/Her)
Release Date: May 10th
What's the Book About? Curvy fitness influencer Crystal Chen built her career shattering gym stereotypes and mostly ignoring the trolls. After her recent breakup, she has little stamina left for men, instead finding solace in the gym - her place of power and positivity. Enter firefighter Scott Ritchie, the smug new gym patron who routinely steals her favorite squat rack. Sparks fly as these ultra-competitive foes battle for gym domination.
Brotherhood by Mike Chen (He/Him)
Release Date: May 10th
What's the Book About? Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker must stem the tide of the raging Clone Wars and forge a new bond as Jedi Knights. Once a Padawan to Obi-Wan, Anakin now finds himself on equal—but uncertain—footing with the man who raised him. The lingering friction between them increases the danger for everyone around them. The two knights must learn a new way to work together—and they must learn quickly, to save Cato Neimoidia and its people from the fires of war. To overcome the threat they face they must grow beyond master and apprentice. They must stand together as brothers.
The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah (She/Her)
Release Date: May 17th
What's the Book About? Loulie al-Nazari is the Midnight Merchant: a criminal who, with the help of her jinn bodyguard, hunts and sells illegal magic. When she saves the life of a cowardly prince, she draws the attention of his powerful father, the sultan, who blackmails her into finding an ancient lamp that has the power to revive the barren land—at the cost of sacrificing all jinn. In a world where story is reality and illusion is truth, Loulie will discover that everything—her enemy, her magic, even her own past—is not what it seems, and she must decide who she will become in this new reality.
City of Orange by David Yoon (He/Him)
Release Date: May 24th
What's the Book About? A man who can not remember his own name wakes up in an apocalyptic landscape, injured and alone. He has vague memories of life before, but he can't see it clearly and can't grasp how his current situation came to be. He must learn to survive by finding sources of water and foraging for food. Then he encounters a boy--and he realizes nothing is what he thought it was, neither the past nor the present. City of Orange is a novel about coming to grips with the worst that has befallen us and finding our way home again.
