8 Must-Read Books Releasing in February 2024 By Asian Authors
Get ready to fall in love this February with a whole bookshelf full of new releases! So, grab your favorite mug, curl up by the fireplace (or under a blooming spring tree), and let's dive into these captivating new books written by Asian authors.
ASAP by Axie Oh
New York Times bestselling author Axie Oh's ASAP is the much anticipated companion novel to beloved romance XOXO, following fan favorites Sori, the wealthy daughter of a K-pop company owner, and Nathaniel, her K-pop star ex-boyfriend, in a swoon-worthy second chance love story.
Sori has worked her whole life to become a K-pop idol, until she realizes she doesn’t want a life forever in the spotlight. But that’s not actually up to Sori—she’s caught between her exacting mother’s entertainment company and her father’s presidential aspirations. And as the pressure to keep her flawless public image grows, the last person she should be thinking about is her ex-boyfriend.
Nathaniel is off limits—she knows this. A member of one of the biggest K-pop bands in the world and forbidden from dating, he isn’t any more of an option now than he was two years ago. Still, she can’t forget that their whirlwind romance was the last time she remembers being really happy. Or that his family welcomed her into their home when she needed it most. . . .
So when Nathaniel finds himself rocked by scandal, Sori offers him a hideaway with her. And back in close quarters, it’s hard to deny their old feelings. But when Sori gets an opportunity to break free from her parent’s expectations, she will have to decide: Is her future worth sacrificing for a second chance at love?
Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary
Pages: 352
Why should you read it? Having escaped the K-pop idol life only to get caught between her family's high-powered ambitions, Sori navigates a whirlwind second chance with her forbidden ex-boyfriend Nathaniel. Facing both public scrutiny and personal demons, they rekindle their old flame in secret. But as Sori fights for her independence and Nathaniel battles a career-threatening scandal, a choice looms: embrace her dreams or risk it all for love in the spotlight.
I Hope This Doesn't Find You by Axie Oh
Snarky and romantic, I Hope This Doesn't Find You is Never Have I Ever meets To All the Boys if Lara Jean wrote hate emails instead of love letters.
Sadie Wen is perfect on paper: school captain, valedictorian, and a "pleasure to have in class." It’s not easy, but she has a trick to keep her model-student smile plastered on her face at all times: she channels all her frustrations into her email drafts. She'd never send them of course -- she'd rather die than hurt anyone's feelings -- but it's a relief to let loose on her power-hungry English teacher or a freeloading classmate taking credit for Sadie's work.
All her most vehemently worded emails are directed at her infuriating cocaptain, Julius Gong, whose arrogance and competitive streak have irked Sadie since they were kids. "You're attention starved and self-obsessed and unbearably vain . . . I really hope your comb breaks and you run out of whatever expensive hair products you've been using to make your hair appear deceptively soft..."
Sadie doesn't have to hold back in her emails, because nobody will ever read them... that is, until they're accidentally sent out.
Overnight, Sadie’s carefully crafted, conflict-free life is turned upside down. It's her worst nightmare -- now everyone at school knows what she really thinks of them, and they're not afraid to tell her what they really think of her either. But amidst the chaos, there's one person growing to appreciate the "real" Sadie -- Julius, the only boy she's sworn to hate...
Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult
Pages: 320
Why should you read it? Sadie, a seemingly perfect high school student, secretly vents her frustrations through hilarious and scathing email drafts she never sends. But when these drafts are accidentally blasted out, her carefully constructed reality crumbles. As everyone reads her true thoughts, chaos ensues, except for one surprising outcome: Julius, her sworn enemy, starts seeing the real Sadie amidst the fallout. As Sadie faces the consequences of her digital outburst, she discovers something unexpected about herself and the boy she thought she hated.
Tales of the Celestial Kingdom (The Celestial Kingdom #2.5) by Sue Lynn Tan, Kelly Chong (Illustrator)
Sue Lynn Tan’s highly acclaimed, bestselling Celestial Kingdom duology is expanded with this new compilation of stories from before, during, and after the events in Daughter of the Moon Goddess and Heart of the Sun Warrior, all from the perspectives of beloved characters and illustrated by Kelly Chong.
Return to the Immortal Realm, a world of gods, magic, and legendary creatures—and embark upon new adventures of valor, danger, and love.
Tales from the Celestial Kingdom collects nine spellbinding stories—two previously published, seven original, including the epilogue to the duology—set in the enchanting world of Sue Lynn Tan’s stunning debut. Filled with magic and mythology, friendship and love, these stories intertwine through the past, present, and future of the two novels, told from the perspectives of multiple characters, including Chang’e, Shuxiao, Liwei, and Wenzhi.
With beautiful illustrations from Kelly Chong throughout, these wondrous tales make the perfect complement to Sue Lynn Tan’s breathtaking series.
Genres: Fantasy, Mythology, Romance
Pages: 176
Why should you read it? "Tales from the Celestial Kingdom" dives deeper into the enchanting world of Tan's duology, offering nine magical stories told from multiple perspectives. Dive into the past, present, and future alongside beloved characters like Chang'e and Liwei, experiencing new adventures, heartwarming friendships, and unexpected twist. Witness Chang'e grapple with the legacy of immortality, Shuxiao forge her own path amidst celestial expectations, and Liwei and Wenzhi face challenges that test the bounds of friendship and love.
The Boyfriend Wish by Swati Teerdhala
A charming romantic comedy about a South Indian American teen girl who makes a wish upon a flower for her perfect boyfriend…and then a new boy moves in right next door. With love triangles, prank wars, and a sizzling sweet romance—this is perfect for fans of Sandhya Menon and Jenny Han.
Deepa’s a hopeless romantic. And even though Deepa’s checklist for the perfect boyfriend is a mile long, her mom and dad’s fairy-tale love story makes her feel like romantic success ought to be a family trait. It’s why when her grandmother gives her a jasmine flower with the promise that it will fulfill her heart’s greatest desire, and then a new boy moves in across the street, Deepa knows—he must be her wish come true.
Rohit checks off every box on Deepa’s timelessly handsome, a thoughtful listener, and a romantic who knows his flowers. Deepa’s next-door neighbor (and constant tormentor) Vik also surprisingly approves, though she knows it shouldn’t be a mark against Rohit.
Is it luck or is it magic? Deepa doesn’t want to take chances, so when her grandmother warns her that the wish is only permanent if she seals it with a kiss, she knows she needs to move quickly. Rohit is the right boy in every way, so then why does Deepa not feel like he might not be the right choice?
Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult
Pages: 336
Why should you read it? Deepa, a hopeless romantic fueled by her parents' "happily ever after", stumbles upon a wish-granting jasmine flower and the seemingly perfect boyfriend in Rohit. He checks every box, charming even her sass-master neighbor Vik approves. But as doubts bloom amongst blossoming feelings, Deepa navigates the tricky terrain of destiny versus desire. With a love triangle, sizzling sweetness, and a permanent-kiss-or-break-the-spell ultimatum, this charming rom-com promises laughter, thrills, and a sweet awakening to the true whispers of Deepa's heart.
A Tempest of Tea (Blood and Tea #1) by Hafsah Faizal
From Hafsah Faizal, New York Times–bestselling author of We Hunt the Flame, comes the first book in a hotly-anticipated new fantasy duology about an orphan girl and her crew who get tangled in a heist with vampires, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows.
On the streets of White Roaring, Arthie Casimir is a criminal mastermind and collector of secrets. Her prestigious tearoom transforms into an illegal bloodhouse by dark, catering to the vampires feared by society. But when her establishment is threatened, Arthie is forced to strike an unlikely deal with an alluring adversary to save it—and she can’t do the job alone.
Calling upon a band of misfits, Arthie formulates a plan to infiltrate the dark and glittering vampire society known as the Athereum. But not every member of her crew is on her side, and as the truth behind the heist unfolds, Arthie finds herself in the midst of a conspiracy that will threaten the world as she knows it. Dark, action-packed, and swoonworthy, this is Hafsah Faizal better than ever.
Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Young Adult
Pages: 352
Why should you read it? In “A Tempest of Tea,” meet Arthie Casimir, a criminal mastermind at the helm of a clandestine tearoom catering to the city's feared vampires. When sinister forces endanger her secret empire, Arthie must forge an alliance with a captivating adversary and assemble a ragtag crew of misfits. Together, they'll infiltrate the opulent, cutthroat world of the Athereum, a forbidden vampire society. But secrets simmer beneath the surface, and loyalties fracture as the heist unfolds. In the throes of a conspiracy that threatens everything, Arthie discovers a truth that could forever alter her reality.
Night for Day by Roselle Lim
Two people destined to be together, but to never see each other again, fight against the greatest odds in this powerful and moving fantasy novel by critically acclaimed author Roselle Lim.
Exes Ward Dunbar and Camille Buhay thought they would never see each other again. They had broken up to pursue their dream jobs on opposite sides of the country—her to New York City, and him to Los Angeles. But years later, they unexpectedly reconnect in London, where they are interviewing for similar jobs. The spark they feel when they meet again—the attraction comes back like muscle memory, and they are reminded of what they had lost. When Ward and Camille discover they both got the job working opposing shifts, they vow to give their relationship another try.
Ward starts the day shift and finds the immortal clientele unusual and dazzling. When he clocks out at the end of the day, he finds the door locked and himself trapped in the building. After a horrific first night shift contending with restless spirits and ghosts, Camille is also unable to escape. In their respective prisons, they discover that they’re able to talk to each other a few minutes before dawn. This fleeting encounter incites longing for each other, but their promise to be together feels impossible. Because they are caught in the middle of a war of the gods—and their choices will determine the outcome.
Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Fiction
Pages: 352
Why should you read it? Ex-lovers Ward and Camille, separated by ambition and miles, fatefully reunite in London for a dream job...on opposite shifts. Their forbidden flame reignites, but the building holds a dark secret: it traps them with restless spirits and a nightly war of the gods. As dawn grants brief reprieve and communication, their longing intensifies, tangled with the impossible: staying together amidst an epic divine clash where their choices hold the key. Can they fight for their love and a peaceful world, even when destiny binds them to the shadows?
Kindling by Traci Chee
From bestselling and award-winning author Traci Chee comes a standalone fantasy set against a war-ravaged world where kindling warfare—the use of elite, magic-wielding teenage soldiers—has been outlawed. In this rich and evocative novel, seven kindlings search for purpose and identity as they prepare for one final battle. For fans of the classic films Seven Samurai and The Magnificent Seven.
Once, the war was fought with kindlings—elite, magic-wielding warriors whose devastating power comes at the cost of their own young lives.
Now, the war is over, and kindlings have been cast adrift—their magic outlawed, their skills outdated, their formidable balar weapons prized only as relics and souvenirs.
Violence still plagues the countryside, and memories haunt those who remain. When a village comes under threat of siege, it offers an opportunity for seven kindlings to fight one last time. But war changed these warriors. And to reclaim who they once were, they will have to battle their pasts, their trauma, and their grim fates to come together again—or none of them will make it out alive.
From bestselling and award-winning author Traci Chee comes a gut-wrenching, introspective fantasy about seven lost soldiers searching for the peace they once fought for and the future in which they’re finally daring to believe.
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 432
Why should you read it? Once, the world of Kindling was ravaged by war, fought by elite teenage soldiers known as Kindlings. These young warriors wielded immense magical power, the balar, but at a terrible cost - their own shortened lifespans. Now, with the war finally over, the Kindlings are cast adrift in a world that no longer needs them. Their magic is outlawed, their skills irrelevant, and their powerful balar weapons reduced to mere trophies. Haunted by the horrors of the past and struggling to find their place in this new world, seven Kindlings find themselves drawn together by a final battle.
Illusions of Fire by Nisha Sharma
Unlike most of her classmates, Laila Bansal doesn’t roll out of bed and head to school. Instead, she wakes up early and trains in hand-to-hand combat with her adopted aunts who, when not tending to their thriving vineyard, are immortal Rakshasi demons sworn to protect Laila. Laila was born into a mythological bloodline—one infused with magic and entrusted with Lord Krishna’s secrets of the universe. By all appearances, though, Laila leads a peaceful, protected life.
Then Ahvi, the new boy in town, arrives and immediately seeks out Laila. He happens to be a descendant of a demi-god. Both his and Laila’s origin stories (found in the Mahabharata, an ancient Hindu epic poem about the great war between demi-gods, witches, and demons) come crashing to the forefront. Magical powers are activated, dark forces converge, and it looks like Laila’s quiet town in upstate New York might be the setting of the next epic battle.
Author Nisha Sharma deftly weaves together romance, magic, and mythology in this contemporary young adult urban fantasy novel.
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 368
Why should you read it? Laila Bansal’s life is far from ordinary. Instead of school bells, her mornings ring with the clang of swords as she trains alongside her adopted Rakshasi aunts, immortal demon protectors sworn to defend her. Her lineage whispers of ancient Hindu myths, her blood humming with magic and the secrets of Lord Krishna. Yet, the arrival of Ahvi, a captivating new boy with demi-god ancestry, shatters Laila's peaceful facade. Sparks fly as their intertwined destinies, etched in the pages of the epic Mahabharata, come alive.
