8 Must-Read Books Releasing in November 2023 By Asian Authors
From thrilling mysteries to heartwarming romances, thought-provoking speculative fiction, and insightful non-fiction, this month's book releases have something for every reader. Get ready to be swept away by the creativity and storytelling prowess of these talented authors as we dive into eight must-read books that deserve a spot on your reading list!
Eyeliner: A Cultural History
by Zahra Hankir
From the acclaimed editor of Our Women on the Ground comes a dazzling exploration of the intersections of beauty and power around the globe, told through the lens of an iconic cosmetic
From the distant past to the present, with fingers and felt-tipped pens, metallic powders and gel pots, humans have been drawn to lining their eyes. The aesthetic trademark of figures ranging from Nefertiti to Amy Winehouse, eyeliner is one of our most enduring cosmetic tools; ancient royals and Gen Z beauty influencers alike would attest to its uniquely transformative power. It is undeniably fun—yet it is also far from frivolous.
Seen through Zahra Hankir’s (kohl-lined) eyes, this ubiquitous but seldom-examined product becomes a portal to history, proof both of the stunning variety among cultures across time and space and of our shared humanity. Through intimate reporting and conversations—with nomads in Chad, geishas in Japan, dancers in India, drag queens in New York, and more— Eyeliner embraces the rich history and significance of its namesake, especially among communities of color. What emerges is an unexpectedly moving portrait of a tool that, in various corners of the globe, can signal religious devotion, attract potential partners, ward off evil forces, shield eyes from the sun, transform faces into fantasies, and communicate volumes without saying a word.
Delightful, surprising, and utterly absorbing, Eyeliner is a fascinating tour through streets, stages, and bedrooms around the world, and a thought-provoking reclamation of a key piece of our collective history.
Genres: Nonfiction, History, Culture
Why should you read it? "Eyeliner" is an engaging exploration of the profound and diverse intersections of beauty and power across different cultures and time periods, using the iconic cosmetic as a lens. From ancient royals to modern influencers, eyeliner has played a transformative role in personal and societal contexts. Through Zahra Hankir's intimate reporting and conversations with people from various backgrounds, the book unveils the cultural significance and history of this widely used cosmetic. It is a delightful, surprising, and thought-provoking journey that uncovers the deeper meanings and shared humanity behind this everyday product, making it a must-read for those interested in the fascinating world of cosmetics and cultural diversity.
Loveboat Forever (Loveboat, Taipei #3) by Abigail Hing Wen
Pearl was ready for a worldwide stage. Instead, she needs to stage a comeback.
Seventeen-year-old music prodigy Pearl Wong had the summer of her dreams planned: she’d been accepted into the ultra-exclusive New York Summer Symphony, where she was going to prove once and for all that she belonged in the rigid, unforgiving classical music world.
Then a fall from grace put her in need of new plans—and a new image. Where better to rebuild her shattered reputation than at Chien Tan, the Taipei summer program for elite students that rocketed her older sister, Ever, on a path to romance and self fulfilment years ago?
Pearl’s agent agrees. It’s the perfect plan. But as the alumni know, Chien Tan is actually Loveboat: a well-kept secret extravaganza, where prodigies party till dawn. There’s more awaiting Pearl at Loveboat than she could have ever imagined, like a scandalous party in the dark, a romantic entanglement with a mysterious suitor . . . and a summer that will change her forever.
Set six years after the events of Loveboat, Taipei, Loveboat Forever brings the whole gang back to campus for another reunion.
Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Fiction
Why should you read it? "Loveboat Forever" is a captivating story that follows the journey of seventeen-year-old music prodigy Pearl Wong, who must rebuild her reputation on the world stage after a fall from grace. Her plan leads her to Chien Tan, a secretive summer program in Taipei known as Loveboat, where prodigies party and romance flourishes. As Pearl navigates scandalous parties, mysterious suitors, and unexpected experiences, readers are taken on a transformative summer adventure that promises to change her life forever. Set against the backdrop of beautiful city of Taipei, this book offers an engaging and immersive continuation of the series, bringing back familiar characters for another unforgettable reunion.
Kingdom of Without by Andrea Tang
A wily young thief must use her wits to survive futuristic, alternate history Beijing in this Les Misérables–inspired young adult cyberpunk that is perfect for fans of Six of Crows and Fullmetal Alchemist.
When Zhong Ning’er takes the job, she expects a smash-and-grab burglary she’s doing to make rent and help out a friend. What she doesn’t expect: a sad-eyed army boy who dreams of insurrection, a former rebel leader trapped inside a secret lab, a group of aspiring revolutionaries who are first collaborators, then compatriots, and then, perhaps, friends.
But this is Beijing, nearly a hundred and fifty years after General Yuan Shikai successfully declared himself emperor in 1915. His descendants rule the country from their seat in the imperial city, their gendarmerie—the Beiyang Army—run the streets, aided by cyborgs and the Brocade Guard. Walls have risen, dividing the city into districts called Rings—nominally only by geography, but in truth by class. Earthquakes devastate the northern farmlands, crops drown in the southern typhoons, and all over the country people are hooked on a drug they call Complacency.
As a Sixth Ring girl who watched previous uprisings crushed brutally by the court, Ning’er isn’t much of an optimist, and she’s certainly no revolutionary. But that might not be up to her—as the stakes get higher, the time for passivity is quickly running out, and she must decide if she wants to sit idly in her cynicism, or embrace the breathless, terrible possibility of hope.
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science-Fiction, Historical Fiction, Cyberpunk
Why should you read it? "Six of Crows" meets "Les Misérables" in this thrilling young adult cyberpunk novel set in a futuristic, alternate history Beijing. Join Zhong Ning’er, a resourceful young thief, on a pulse-pounding adventure that takes her from a simple burglary to a world of insurrection, rebellion, and friendship. In this divided, dystopian society, ruled by descendants of General Yuan Shikai, the story unfolds against a backdrop of class divisions, cyborgs, and drug addiction. Ning’er's journey is a heart-pounding tale of survival, revolution, and the enduring possibility of hope in a world on the brink of change. Perfect for fans of action-packed, thought-provoking stories like "Fullmetal Alchemist."
Gorgeous Gruesome Faces by Linda Cheng
Yellowjackets meets She Is a Haunting in this debut speculative thriller that follows a disgraced teen idol who comes face-to-face with the demons of her past in a glittering, cutthroat K-pop competition.
After a shocking scandal that abruptly ended her teen popstar career, eighteen-year-old Sunny Lee spends her days longing for her former life and cyberstalking her ex-BFF and groupmate, Candie. The two were once inseparable, but that was then—before the tragedy and heartache they left in their wake.
In the here and now, Sunny is surprised to discover that Candie is attending a new K-pop workshop in her hometown. Candie might be there chasing stardom, but Sunny can’t resist the chance to join her and finally confront their traumatic history. Because she still can’t figure out what happened that horrible night when Mina, the third in their tight-knit trio, jumped to her death. Or if the dark and otherworldly secrets she and Candie were keeping had something to do with it . . .
But the workshop doesn’t bring the answers Sunny had hoped for, nor a happy reunion with Candie. Instead, Sunny finds herself haunted by ghostly visions while strange injuries start happening to her competitors—followed by even stranger mutilations to their bodies. In her race to survive, Sunny will have to expose just who is behind the carnage—and if Candie is out for blood once more—in Linda Cheng’s spellbinding sapphic thriller that will have readers screaming and swooning for more.
Genres: Horror, Young Adult, LGBT, Thriller
Why should you read it? "Gorgeous Gruesome Faces" is a mesmerizing speculative thriller that combines the intrigue of "Yellowjackets" with the haunting atmosphere of "She Is a Haunting." The story revolves around Sunny Lee, a disgraced teen idol, who seizes the chance to confront her traumatic past when she discovers her ex-BFF, Candie, is attending a K-pop workshop in their hometown. As secrets unravel and eerie events unfold, Sunny becomes entangled in a chilling mystery, grappling with ghostly visions, bizarre injuries to competitors, and disturbing mutilations. Linda Cheng's sapphic thriller promises an electrifying and suspenseful journey as readers are drawn into a world of dark secrets and spine-tingling revelations.
Global Language Justice by Lydia H. Liu and Anupama Rao
More than 40 percent of the world’s estimated 7,100+ languages are in danger of disappearing by the end of this century. As with the decline of biodiversity, language loss has been attributed to environmental degradation, developmentalism, and the destruction of Indigenous communities. This book brings together leading experts and younger scholars across the humanities and social sciences to investigate what global language justice looks like in a time of climate crisis. Examining the worldwide loss of linguistic diversity, they develop a new conception of justice to safeguard marginalized languages.
Global Language Justice explores the socioeconomic transformations that both accelerate the decline of minoritized languages and give rise to new possibilities through population movement, unexpected encounters, and technological change. It also critically examines the concepts that are typically deployed to defend linguistic diversity, including human rights, inclusiveness, and equality. Contributors take up topics such as mapping language communities in New York City or how Indigenous innovation challenges notions of linguistic purity. They demonstrate the need to reckon with linguistic diversity in order to achieve a sustainable global economic system and show how the concept of digital vitality can push language justice in new directions. Interspersed with their essays are multilingual works by world-renowned poets and artists that engage with and deepen the book’s themes. Integrating ambitious theoretical exploration with concrete solutions, Global Language Justice offers vital new perspectives on the place of linguistic diversity in ongoing ecological crises.
Genres: Nonfiction
Why should you read it? "Global Language Justice" addresses the pressing issue of disappearing languages, emphasizing the urgent need to protect linguistic diversity in the face of environmental and developmental challenges. Leading experts and scholars offer fresh insights on language justice, examining socio-economic factors and providing concrete solutions to safeguard marginalized languages. This book is essential reading for those concerned about preserving global linguistic heritage and achieving justice in an evolving world.
Fancy Meeting You Here by Julie Tieu
Julie Tieu, an exciting and diverse voice in contemporary romance, returns with a romantic comedy in the vein of 27 Dresses that celebrates weddings and female friendships.
Every single one of Elise Ngo’s close girlfriends—Rebecca, Jesse, and Beth—is getting married within the same few months, and every single one of them has asked her to be both bridesmaid and florist. Though it’s a lot for her to juggle, the work and exposure is a boon to her struggling flower shop.
The stakes are high at Rebecca’s high-profile wedding, where the guests are mostly political connections of Rebecca’s parents. Desperate for the event to go off without a hitch, Elise enlists the help of an outside caterer who turns out to be Ben Yu, Rebecca’s elusive younger brother.
Though Ben is prickly and aloof, he offers Elise much needed business designing flowers for his mom’s campaign fundraisers and Elise begins to see there’s more to Ben than his gruff and handsome exterior. But their romance takes off as the political campaign ramps up, complicating their relationship with unforeseen consequences. Now always-the-bridesmaid Elise must fight for what she wants to finally get her own happily ever after.
Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary
Why should you read it? "Fancy Meeting You Here" by Julie Tieu offers a delightful romantic comedy that celebrates weddings, friendship, and the journey to finding love. Elise Ngo faces the challenge of being both a bridesmaid and a florist for her three close friends' weddings, which brings unexpected opportunities for her struggling flower shop. When she enlists the help of Ben Yu, the elusive younger brother of one of the brides, their initially prickly interactions lead to a blossoming romance. However, as the stakes rise in a political campaign connected to the weddings, their relationship faces unforeseen complications. Tieu's heartwarming and humor-filled story is a must-read for those who enjoy tales of love, friendship, and the pursuit of a well-deserved happily ever after.
Same Bed Different Dreams by Ed Park
A wild, sweeping novel that imagines an alternate secret history of Korea and the traces it leaves on the present—loaded with assassins and mad poets, RPGs and slasher films, K-pop bands and the perils of social media.
In 1919, far-flung Korean patriots establish the Korean Provisional Government to protest the Japanese occupation of their country. This government-in-exile proves mostly symbolic, though, and after Japan’s defeat in World War II, the KPG dissolves and civil war erupts, resulting in the North-South split that remains today.
But what if the KPG still existed now, today—working toward a unified Korea, secretly harnessing the might of a giant tech company to further its aims? That’s the outrageous premise of Same Bed Different Dreams, which weaves together three distinct narrative voices and an archive of mysterious images and twists reality like a kaleidoscope, spinning Korean history, American pop culture, and our tech-fraught lives into an extraordinary and unforgettable novel.
Early on we meet Soon Sheen, who works at the sprawling international technology company GLOAT, and comes into possession of an unfinished book authored by the KPG. The manuscript is a mysterious, revisionist history, tying famous names and obscure bit players to the KPG’s grand project. This strange manuscript links together figures from architect-poet Yi Sang to Jack London to Marilyn Monroe. M*A*S*H is in here, too, and the Moonies, and a history of violence extending from the assassination of President McKinley to the Soviet downing of Korean Air Lines Flight 007.
Just as foreign countries have imposed their desires on Korea, so too has Park tucked different dreamers into this sprawling bed of a novel. Among them: Parker Jotter, Korean War vet and appliance-store owner, who saw something--a UFO?--while flying over North Korea; Nora You, nail salon magnate; and Monk Zingapan, game designer turned writing guru. Their links are revealed over time, even as the dreamers remain in the dark as to their own interconnectedness. A thrilling feat of imagination and a step forward from an award-winning author, Same Bed Different Dreams begins as a comic novel and gradually pulls readers into another dimension—one in which utopia is possible.
Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction
Why should you read it? "Same Bed Different Dreams" is a gripping and imaginative novel that envisions an alternate history of Korea, where a secret government-in-exile collaborates with a tech giant to unify the country. Through a complex narrative, the story connects historical figures, pop culture icons, and diverse characters, weaving a captivating tale of espionage and intrigue. Park's storytelling explores a world where hidden connections and utopia become possible, offering a unique and thought-provoking read.
Artifacts of an Ex by Jennifer Chen
When Chloe Chang gets dumped via USPS after moving across the county from NYC to LA, her first instinct is to throw her box of memories in the garbage. Instead, she starts buying other teenagers’ break-up boxes to create an art exhibit, Heartifacts. Opening night is going great, until she spots Daniel Kwak illicitly filming his best friend’s reaction to his ex’s box. When she tries to stop him, an intense discussion ends up launching a creative partnership and friendship… and a major crush for Chloe.
There’s just one problem: Daniel is dead set on not being another rebound.
Five times he’s been the guy who makes the girls he’s dating realize they want to get back with their ex. And he refuses for there to be a sixth. She insists she’s over her ex, but when he shows up unexpectedly with his new girlfriend, it turns out Daniel was right. She isn’t ready for a new relationship.
She throws herself into making Heartifacts successful, but flashy influencers threaten her original vision of the exhibit. To create the exhibit she’s always wanted, Chloe needs to go back to basics, learn to work with artists in a more collaborative way, and discover what love can be. Only then will she convince Daniel she’s truly ready for everything they could be to one another.
In the tradition of Jenny Han and Emma Lord, Jennifer Chen’s Artifacts of an Ex is a story of love, art, and finding your way when everything you know has changed completely.
Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary
Why should you read it? "Artifacts of an Ex" is a heartwarming tale of love, art, and self-discovery. Chloe Chang, reeling from a breakup and seeking to create an art exhibit from break-up boxes, crosses paths with Daniel Kwak, sparking a creative partnership and blossoming friendship. However, Daniel is determined not to be another rebound. The story explores their journey of collaboration, personal growth, and discovering what love truly means, set against the backdrop of an evolving art project. Jennifer Chen's novel is a captivating and relatable read, perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Emma Lord, as it navigates the complexities of post-breakup healing and the path to a new kind of love and understanding.
