22 Must-Read Books Releasing in April 2025 By Asian Authors
Whether you’re interested in exploring the complexities of identity, culture, or history, these 20 must-read books should definitely be on your reading list this month. Here’s a look at some of the most anticipated titles by Asian authors hitting the shelves this April!
The Coven Tendency by Zoe Hana Mikuta
Zoe Hana Mikuta delivers a bloody and unrelenting fantasy about young witches dangling on the edge of love and obsession, of magic and madness, of life and death (and death and death and death). . .
Just like her mother and her mother’s mother, 18-year-old Vanity Adams is destined to lead a lavish life under the patronship of the Museum, someday taking her place as its premiere necromantic Spectacle and the centerpiece of their weekly soirees thrown for the City’s elite.
But until that day, Vanity (and the other young witches of the Museum) is isolated from the outside world and purged of her magic—magic being particularly unstable for teenagers and often leading to antisocial conduct, mood swings, bloodlust, delusions, and, most concerning, a habitual, violent obsession with one another.
To all of this, Vanity thinks: Well, whatever. Better than being confined to the Sanatorium with the less fortunate witches, imprisoned in a chemically induced coma as her blood is harvested to make World, the City’s favorite designer drug. At least she’ll be dead someday, there’s always that. And at least the Museum has Arrogance, Vanity’s twin sister, who just might remember how to do magic, and who just might be where our story begins. . . .
Publication date: April 1, 2025
Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Young Adult, Queer
Pages: 384
Why should you read it? Zoe Hana Mikuta explores the twisted lives of young witches trapped in a world where magic is both a curse and a spectacle. Vanity Adams is destined for a lavish but oppressive life under the Museum’s patronage, where witches are drained of their power to prevent dangerous obsessions—until her twin sister, Arrogance, disrupts everything. With a gothic atmosphere, unrelenting tension, and themes of love, madness, and rebellion, this novel promises a blood-soaked, intoxicating journey into a world where power comes at a deadly cost.
Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blake
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Atlas Six comes the story of three siblings who, upon the death of their father, are forced to reckon with their long-festering rivalries, dangerous abilities, and the crushing weight of all their unrealized adolescent potential.
Where there’s a will, there’s a war.
Thayer Wren, the brilliant CEO of Wrenfare Magitech and so-called father of modern technology, is dead. Any one of his three telepathically and electrokinetically gifted children would be a plausible inheritor to the Wrenfare throne.
Or at least, so they like to think.
Meredith, textbook accomplished eldest daughter and the head of her own groundbreaking biotech company, has recently cured mental illness. You're welcome! If only her father's fortune wasn't her last hope for keeping her journalist ex-boyfriend from exposing what she really is: a total fraud.
Arthur, second-youngest congressman in history, fights the good fight every day of his life. And yet, his wife might be leaving him, and he's losing his re-election campaign. But his dead father’s approval in the form of a seat on the Wrenfare throne might just turn his sinking ship around.
Eilidh, once the world's most famous ballerina, has spent the last five years as a run-of-the-mill marketing executive at her father’s company after a life-altering injury put an end to her prodigious career. She might be lacking in accolades compared to her siblings, but if her father left her everything, it would finally validate her worth—by confirming she'd been his favorite all along.
On the pipeline of gifted kid to clinically depressed adult, nobody wins—but which Wren will come out on top?
Publication date: April 1, 2025
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Fiction
Pages: 512
Why should you read it? Three gifted yet deeply flawed siblings—Meredith, a biotech mogul hiding a fraud, Arthur, a struggling congressman, and Eilidh, a former ballerina seeking validation—vie for control of their late father Thayer Wren’s tech empire. As they navigate their telepathic and electrokinetic abilities, old rivalries resurface, and personal failures threaten to unravel their ambitions. With fortune and legacy at stake, only one can claim the Wrenfare throne—but in the battle of unfulfilled potential, is there really a winner?
Boat Baby: A Memoir by Vicky Nguyen
In a memoir where heroism meets humor, NBC News anchor and correspondent Vicky Nguyen tells the story of her family’s daring escape from communist Vietnam and her unlikely journey from refugee to reporter with laughter and fierce love.
Starting in 1975, Vietnam’s “boat people”—desperate families seeking freedom—fled the Communist government and violence in their country any way they could, usually by boat across the South China Sea. Vicky Nguyen and her family were among them. Attacked at sea by pirates before reaching a refugee camp in Malaysia, Vicky’s family survived on rations and waited months until they were sponsored to America.
But deciding to leave and start a new life in a new country is half the story…figuring out how to be American is the other. Boat Baby is Vicky’s memoir of growing up in America with unconventional Vietnamese parents who didn’t always know how to bridge the cultural gaps. It’s a childhood filled with misadventures and misunderstandings, from almost stabbing the neighborhood racist with a butter knife to getting caught stealing Cosmo to read the answers to Do You Really Think You Know Everything About Sex?
Vicky’s parents approached life with the attitude, “Why not us?” In the face of prejudice, they taught her to be gritty and resilient, skills Vicky used as she combatted stereotyping throughout her career, fending off the question “Aren’t you Connie Chung?” to become a leading Asian American journalist on television. She delivers a uniquely transparent account of her life, revealing how she negotiated her salary in a competitive industry, the challenges of starting a family, and the struggle to be a dutiful daughter.
Funny, nostalgic, and poignant, Boat Baby is a testament to the messy glue that bonds a family. In the tradition of We Are Dreamers by Simu Liu and Dear Girls by Ali Wong, Vicky Nguyen offers an optimistic story full of heart that illuminates the promise of what America can be.
Publication date: April 1, 2025
Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Adult
Pages: 320
Why should you read it? In this heartfelt and humorous memoir that blends resilience, cultural identity, and the immigrant experience, Vicky Nguyen recounts her journey from Vietnamese refugee to acclaimed journalist. With a mix of raw honesty and sharp wit, she recounts her family’s harrowing escape, the struggles of assimilation, and the lessons in grit and ambition that shaped her success. Perfect for fans of Simu Liu and Ali Wong, this story is both an inspiring immigrant narrative and a deeply personal reflection on family, identity, and chasing the American dream.
Huda F Wants to Know?: A Graphic Novel by Huda Fahmy
In the hilarious and poignant follow-up to National Book Award Finalist Huda F Cares?, Huda's life and worldview is turned upside down when her parents announce they're divorcing.
Huda Fahmy is ready for junior year. She’s got a plan to join all the clubs, volunteer everywhere, ace the ACTs, write the most awe-inspiring essay for her scholarship applications. Easy.
But then Mama and Baba announce the most unthinkable they’re getting a divorce.
Huda is devastated. She worries about what this will mean for her family, their place in the Muslim community, and her future. Her grades start tanking, she has a big fight with her best friend, and everything feels out of control. Will her life ever feel normal again? Huda F wants to know.
Publication date: April 1, 2025
Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Graphic Novel
Pages: 224
Why should you read it? Huda F Wants to Know is a heartfelt and funny coming-of-age story about navigating family upheaval, identity, and the pressure to have it all figured out. As Huda’s carefully planned junior year unravels after her parents' unexpected divorce, she grapples with academic stress, friendships, and her place in the Muslim community. With humor and honesty, this graphic novel explores resilience, change, and the messy process of finding stability when life feels anything but.
The Family Recipe by Carolyn Huynh
A whip-smart family dramedy about estranged siblings competing to inherit their father’s Vietnamese sandwich franchise and unravel family mysteries.
Duc Tran, the eccentric founder of the national Vietnamese sandwich chain Duc’s Sandwiches, has decided to retire. With the help of the shady family lawyer, he informs his five estranged adult children that to get their inheritance, they must revitalize run-down shops in undesirable, old-school Little Saigon locations across Houston, San Jose, New Orleans, and Philadelphia—within a year. The only one without a shop is the bachelor son, but if he gets married before the year’s up, the inheritance goes to him.
Each daughter is stuck in a new city they don’t want to be in, battling gentrification, declining ethnic enclaves, messy love lives, and struggling to modernize their father’s American dream. The son wonders if he wants to marry for love or for money. As Duc’s children continue to work, family mysteries begin to unravel along the way as they learn the real intention behind the inheritance scheme.
The Family Recipe is about rediscovering one’s roots, different types of fatherly love, familial legacy, and finding one’s place in a divided country where the only commonality among your neighbors is the universal love of sandwiches.
Publication date: April 1, 2025
Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Adult
Pages: 320
Why should you read it? The Family Recipe is a sharp, heartwarming dramedy about estranged siblings forced to rebuild their father’s Vietnamese sandwich empire while confronting family secrets, cultural identity, and their own tangled lives. As they navigate gentrification, love, and sibling rivalries across different cities, they uncover the true meaning of legacy and belonging. Packed with humor, heart, and the universal appeal of food, this novel is perfect for fans of multigenerational family sagas and stories about rediscovering one’s roots.
Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping [On a Dead Man] by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Vera Wong is back and as meddling as ever in this follow-up to the hit Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers.…
Ever since a man was found dead in Vera's teahouse, life has been good. For Vera that is. She’s surrounded by loved ones, her shop is bustling, and best of all, her son, Tilly, has a girlfriend! All thanks to Vera, because Tilly's girlfriend is none other than Officer Selena Gray. The very same Officer Gray that she had harassed while investigating the teahouse murder. Still, Vera wishes more dead bodies would pop up in her shop, but one mustn't be ungrateful, even if one is slightly...bored.
Then Vera comes across a distressed young woman who is obviously in need of her kindly guidance. The young woman is looking for a missing friend. Fortunately, while cat-sitting at Tilly and Selena's, Vera finds a treasure Selena's briefcase. Inside is a file about the death of an enigmatic influencer—who also happens to be the friend that the young woman was looking for.
Online, Xander had it a parade of private jets, fabulous parties with socialites, and a burgeoning career as a social media influencer. The only problem is, after his body is fished out of Mission Bay, the police can't seem to actually identify him. Who is Xander Lin? Nobody knows. Every contact is a dead end. Everybody claims not to know him, not even his parents.
Vera is determined to solve Xander's murder. After all, doing so would surely be a big favor to Selena, and there is nothing she wouldn't do for her future daughter-in-law.
Publication date: April 1, 2025
Genres: Mystery, Cozy Fiction, Adult
Pages: 325
Why should you read it? Vera Wong is back with her signature meddling and sharp wit in this charming mystery sequel, where solving a murder is just another way to help family. Bored after her last crime-solving adventure, Vera jumps at the chance to investigate the suspicious death of a mysterious influencer—especially since it might impress her future daughter-in-law, Officer Selena Gray. With humor, heart, and a touch of chaos, this delightful whodunit is perfect for fans of cozy mysteries and quirky, lovable detectives.
Lost Souls Meet Under a Full Moon by Mizuki Tsujimura, Yuki Tejima (Translator)
Is there anyone you wish to see?
When Hirase, a young woman from Tokyo, arranges an appointment with the Go-Between, she doesn't expect a teenager to show up. Dressed preppily in a duffel coat and carrying a scuffed notebook, he arranges for the dead to meet the living. At least, this is what Hirase has been told.
He ushers his clients into a chilly hospital courtyard where he lays down the rules: the reunion is at full moon; the deceased can be summoned only once; they can refuse; the service is entirely free.
- Hirase asks to see the TV star who once helped her;
- A stubborn family man asks his deceased mother where the deeds are to some land;
- A young woman gets a horrible shock when she receives a message from the best friend whose death she caused;
- A weary salary man explores why his girlfriend went missing days after he proposed.
With each heartbreaking reunion, clues are scattered for readers to piece together the mindblowing truth behind the boy in the duffel coat, as Tsujimura shows with astonishing empathy and insight how the power of memory can give our lives meaning.
Publication date: April 3, 2025
Genres: Translated Japanese Fiction, Magical Realism
Pages: 320
Why should you read it? This haunting and beautifully woven novel explores grief, memory, and the mysteries of human connection through the enigmatic figure of the Go-Between—a teenager who grants the living a single chance to reunite with the dead. As various clients seek closure, love, or truth, their stories slowly unravel a deeper mystery about the boy himself. With its poignant storytelling and intricate revelations, this novel is perfect for those who love emotionally resonant narratives with a touch of the supernatural.
The Cat Who Saved the Library by Sōsuke Natsukawa, Louise Heal Kawai (Translator)
The long-awaited sequel to the #1 international bestseller The Cat Who Saved Books—a delightful and heartwarming celebration of books, libraries, cats, and the people who love them.
A chronic asthma condition prevents thirteen-year-old Nanami from playing sports or spending time with her friends after school. But nothing can stop her from one of her favorite activities. Nanami loves to read and happily spends much of her free time in the school library, cocooned among the stacks.
Then one day, Nanami notices that, despite the library being as deserted as ever, some of her favorite books, including literary classics like Arsène Lupin, Gentleman Burglar and Anne of Green Gables are disappearing from the shelves. When she alerts the library staff, they dismiss her concerns. But just as Nanami is about to return to her reading, she spots a suspicious man in a gray suit. Eager to discover what he’s up to, she follows him. The chase is cut short when Nanami suffers an asthma attack. By the time she catches her breath, the man has disappeared and all that is left behind is a mysterious light filtering through the library’s familiar passageways.
That’s when Tiger, the talking tabby cat who saves books, comes to the rescue.
Are Nanami and Tiger prepared to face the dangerous challenges that lie ahead? Why are faceless gray soldiers burning books in a stone castle? And what happened to Rintaro, the socially withdrawn hero who helped Tiger save books in a second-hand bookshop?
At a time of increased book bannings worldwide, Sosuke Natsukawa urges us not to underestimate the power of great literature—and to be prepared to defend our freedom to choose.
Publication date: April 8, 2025
Genres: Translated Japanese Fiction, Fantasy
Pages: 224
Why should you read it? This enchanting sequel to The Cat Who Saved Books is a heartwarming adventure that celebrates the magic of literature and the fight for intellectual freedom. When book-loving Nanami discovers that her favorite stories are mysteriously vanishing, she embarks on a thrilling quest with Tiger, a wise and talking tabby cat. As they uncover a world where books are at risk, this tale becomes a powerful reminder of why stories matter. Perfect for bibliophiles and fans of cozy, whimsical mysteries, it’s a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of books to change lives.
So Easy So Good: Delicious Recipes and Expert Tips for Balanced Eating by Kylie Sakaida
Enjoy easy and accessible everyday recipes and discover no-nonsense nutrition info that debunks food myths from social media sensation Nutrition by Kylie.
Registered dietitian and social media star Kylie Sakaida, a.k.a. @NutritionbyKylie, knows how difficult it can be to keep track of the confusing and often conflicting information about nutrition we are barraged with online. Kylie began posting videos on social media to cut through the noise and offer easy-to-understand and relatable evidence-based advice. Now, millions of people trust and follow her for realistic nutrition tips and delicious recipes. In this beautiful, comprehensive cookbook, Kylie has collected her best nutrition tips along with both fan-favorite and brand-new recipes.
Whether you want to change your eating habits and mindset or are just looking for a healthy dinner recipe, So Easy So Good has you covered. Kylie simplifies complex concepts through simple lists, charts, and sidebars. Her recipes and tips emphasize a healthy, balanced mix of protein, carbs, healthy fats, and fiber so you can feel nourished and satisfied. Many of Kylie’s recipes are inspired by the Asian flavors from her upbringing. Some recipes are designed to minimize prep time by using frozen veggies and nutrient-dense convenience foods, while others can be frozen in advance and reheated within minutes for a quick meal.
So Easy So Good is packed with simple, accessible, and nutritional advice throughout, but it’s recipes like Matcha Chia Parfaits, Sriracha Honey Tofu Bowls, Chicken Ranch Naan Pizzas, Thai Fish Curry, and even sweets like Tahini Chocolate Brownies, that will have you coming back to the book again and again.
Publication date: April 8, 2025
Genres: Cookbook, Health
Pages: 272
Why should you read it? So Easy So Good is the perfect cookbook for anyone looking to simplify healthy eating without sacrificing flavor. Registered dietitian and social media star Kylie Sakaida debunks nutrition myths while offering easy, delicious, and balanced recipes inspired by her Asian upbringing. With practical tips, time-saving meal ideas, and evidence-based advice, this book makes nourishing yourself both effortless and enjoyable. Whether you're a busy professional or just looking for fresh meal inspiration, this approachable guide will keep you coming back for more.
To Save and to Destroy: Writing as an Other by Viet Thanh Nguyen
From the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Sympathizer (now an HBO series) comes a moving and unflinchingly personal meditation on the literary forms of otherness and a bold call for expansive political solidarity.
Born in war-ravaged Vietnam, Viet Nguyen arrived in the United States as a child refugee in 1975. The Nguyen family would soon move to San Jose, California, where the author grew up, attending UC-Berkeley in the aftermath of the shocking murder of Vincent Chin, which shaped the political sensibilities of a new generation of Asian Americans.
The essays here, delivered originally as the prestigious Norton Lectures, proffer a new answer to a classic literary What does the outsider mean to literary writing? Over the course of six captivating and moving chapters, Nguyen explores the idea of being an outsider through lenses that are, by turns, literary, historical, political, and familial.
Each piece moves between writers who influenced Nguyen’s craft and weaves in the haunting story of his late mother’s mental illness. Nguyen unfolds the novels and nonfiction of Herman Melville, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ralph Ellison, William Carlos Williams, and Maxine Hong Kingston, until aesthetic theories give way to pressing concerns raised by war and politics. What is a writer’s responsibility in a time of violence? Should we celebrate fiction that gives voice to the voiceless—or do we confront the forces that render millions voiceless in the first place? What are the burdens and pleasures of the “minor” writer in any society? Unsatisfied with the modest inclusion accorded to “model minorities” such as Asian Americans, Nguyen sets the agenda for a more radical and disquieting solidarity with those whose lives have been devastated by imperialism and forever wars.
Publication date: April 8, 2025
Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Essays
Pages: 144
Why should you read it? To Save and To Destory is a profound collection of essays by Viet Thanh Nguyen that delves into the complexities of being an outsider, blending literary, historical, political, and personal reflections. Drawing from his experiences as a Vietnamese refugee and his exploration of influential writers, Nguyen challenges conventional notions of literary otherness, calling for a broader, more radical solidarity with marginalized communities. Thoughtful and unflinching, this collection engages with pressing questions about the writer's role in times of violence, the politics of representation, and the responsibility to confront systems of power rather than simply depict the voiceless.
Six Days in Bombay by Alka Joshi
From the New York Times bestselling author of THE HENNA ARTIST, this sweeping novel follows a young Anglo-Indian nurse who embarks on a journey from her home in Bombay, through Prague, Florence, Paris, and London, to uncover a mystery and prove her innocence after a famous painter dies in her care.
When renouned painter Mira Novak arrives at Wadia hospital in Bombay after a miscarriage, she's expected to make a quick recovery, and Sona is excited to spend time with the worldly woman who shares her half-Indian identity, even if that's where their similarities end. Sona is enraptured by Mira's stories of her travels, and shocked by accounts of the many lovers she's left scattered through Europe. Over the course of a week, Mira befriends Sona, seeing in her something bigger than the small life she's living with her mother. Mira is released from the hospital just in time to attend a lavish engagement party where all of Bombay society. But the next day, Mira is readmitted to the hospital in worse condition than before, and when she dies under mysterious circumstances, Sona immediately falls under suspicion.
Before leaving the hospital in disgrace, Sona is given a note Mira left for her, along with her four favorite paintings. But how could she have known to leave a note if she didn't know she was going to die? The note sends Sona on a mission to deliver three of the paintings—the first to Petra, Mira's childhood friend and first love in Prague; the second to her art dealer Josephine in Paris; the third to her first painting tutor, Paolo, with whom both Mira and her mother had affairs. As Sona uncovers Mira's history, she learns that the charming facade she'd come to know was only one part of a complicated and sometimes cruel woman. But can she discover what really happened to Mira and exonerate herself?
Along the way, Sona also comes to terms with her own complex history and the English father who deserted her and her mother in India so many years ago. In the end, she'll discover that we are all made up of pieces, and only by seeing the world do we learn to see ourselves.
Publication date: April 15, 2025
Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Adult
Pages: 352
Why should you read it? Rich in mystery, art, and self-discovery, Six Days in Bombay follows a young Anglo-Indian nurse, Sona, as she embarks on a journey across Europe to uncover the truth behind a famous painter’s suspicious death—and to clear her own name. Through vivid settings from Bombay to Paris, this novel blends historical intrigue with a deeply personal exploration of identity, love, and the secrets that shape us. Perfect for fans of sweeping literary adventures, it’s a story of unraveling the past to understand both the world and oneself.
Things Left Unsaid by Sara Jafar
A dazzling, electrifying, and thought-provoking novel for readers of Maame and Honey Girl, Things Left Unsaid is a mesmerizing and deeply-felt exploration of discovering your place in the world and the lasting power of love.
When twenty-six year old Shirin Bayat bumps into Kian at a house party in London, she is taken aback by the immediate feelings that resurface. It’s been a decade since they were close friends at school, before painful events pulled them apart, suddenly and seemingly forever. Ever since, Shirin has lived with the aching weight of things left unsaid between them.
Now they're back in each other's lives, at a time when Shirin needs someone she can trust the most. Feeling stuck in a sea of slippery friendships and deeply burned out by her publishing job, Kian is a bright light amongst a sea of gray. There’s nothing worse than losing the person you trust most with your deepest secrets and desires, and Shirin and Kian are determined to hold tightly to each other.
But of course, life often has other plans. Will it be different this time around, or are Shirin and Kian destined to fall apart once more?
Publication date: April 15, 2025
Genres: Fiction, Romance
Pages: 320
Why should you read it? Things Left Unsaid is a heartfelt and thought-provoking novel about love, friendship, and second chances. When Shirin unexpectedly reconnects with Kian, her former best friend, she’s forced to confront the unresolved emotions and painful past that pulled them apart. As she struggles with burnout and loneliness, their rekindled bond becomes a source of hope—but can it withstand the complications of adulthood? Perfect for fans of Maame and Honey Girl, this novel beautifully explores the power of love, trust, and the weight of the words we leave unspoken.
Vanishing World by Sayaka Murata, Ginny Tapley Takemori (Translator)
From the author of the bestselling literary sensations Convenience Store Woman and Earthlings comes a surprising and highly imaginative story set in a version of Japan where sex between married couples has vanished and all children are born by artificial insemination.
Sayaka Murata has proven herself to be one of the most exciting chroniclers of the strangeness of society, x-raying our contemporary world to bizarre and troubling effect. Her depictions of a happily unmarried retail worker in Convenience Store Woman and a young woman convinced she is an alien in Earthlings have endeared her to millions of readers worldwide. Vanishing World takes Murata’s universe to a bold new level, imagining an alternative Japan where attitudes to sex and procreation are wildly different to our own.
As a girl, Amane realizes with horror that her parents “copulated” in order to bring her into the world, rather than using artificial insemination, which became the norm in the mid-twentieth century. Amane strives to get away from what she considers an indoctrination in this strange “system” by her mother, but her infatuations with both anime characters and real people have a sexual force that is undeniable. As an adult in an appropriately sexless marriage—sex between married couples is now considered as taboo as incest—Amane and her husband Saku decide to go and live in a mysterious new town called Experiment City or Paradise-Eden, where all children are raised communally, and every person is considered a Mother to all children. Men are beginning to become pregnant using artificial wombs that sit outside of their bodies like balloons, and children are nameless, called only “Kodomo-chan.” Is this the new world that will purify Amane of her strangeness once and for all?
Publication date: April 15, 2025
Genres: Translated Japanese Fiction, Science Fiction
Pages: 240
Why should you read it? Vanishing World is a bold and unsettling exploration of societal norms, desire, and the boundaries of human connection. In a Japan where traditional reproduction has been replaced by artificial insemination and sex between married couples is taboo, Amane struggles with her own attraction and identity. As she and her husband seek refuge in an experimental commune where gender and parenting are radically redefined, Murata masterfully examines the tension between individuality and societal expectations. Fans of Convenience Store Woman and Earthlings will be captivated by this deeply imaginative and provocative novel that questions what it truly means to belong.
The Hollow Half: A Memoir of Bodies and Borders by Sarah Aziza
With the lucidity of a poet and the precision of a journalist, Sarah Aziza embarks on a quest to understand her family legacy, tracing three generations of diasporic Palestinians—from Gaza to the Midwest to New York City, and beyond
In October 2019, Sarah Aziza, daughter and granddaughter of Gazan refugees, is hospitalized for an eating disorder. This brush with death becomes a rupture which brings both her personal and ancestral past into vivid presence. The hauntings begin in the hospital cafeteria, when a cup of apricot yogurt stirs the taste of Sarah's childhood, summoning the familiar voice of her deceased Palestinian grandmother. In the months following, as she responds to a series of ghostly dreams, Sarah unearths family secrets that force her to confront the ways her own trauma and anorexia echo generations of Palestinian displacement and erasure—and how her fight to recover builds on a century of defiant survival, and love.
As silences break, heartbreak opens onto possibility. Sarah begins to grasp the ways her legacies echo and inform one another—through tragedy, and through love. She begins to resist the forces of assimilation, denial, and patriarchy, learning to assert herself in new ways that honor both her ancestors and herself.
Weaving timelines, languages, and genres, The Hollow Half probes the contradictions and contingencies that create “history.” This stunning debut memoir ends in a cri de coeur for a world in which every body has a right to contain multitudes.
Publication date: April 22, 2025
Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction
Pages: 400
Why should you read it? The Hollow Half is a powerful memoir that interlaces personal healing with the broader story of Palestinian displacement, as Sarah Aziza unravels generational trauma, family secrets, and the enduring impact of exile. Through lyrical prose and investigative depth, she explores the echoes of her own anorexia alongside the struggles of her ancestors, transforming pain into a testament of survival and love. A deeply introspective and politically resonant work, this book is a must-read for those who appreciate memoirs that bridge the personal and historical with profound emotional clarity.
The World of Nancy Kwan: A Memoir by Hollywood’s Asian Superstar by Nancy Kwan
The first Asian actress to play a lead role in an American major motion picture tells her story of breaking ground in Hollywood, becoming an icon, and paving the way for future generations—with a foreword by international bestselling author Kevin Kwan.
When Nancy Kwan burst onto the scene in the early 1960s, there were no faces on screen that looked like hers. Asian characters in film were portrayed by white actors in makeup playing “yellowface,” and those minor roles were the stuff of cliché: shopkeepers, maids, prostitutes, servants. When—against all odds—Nancy landed the lead role in the much-anticipated 1960 film The World of Suzie Wong, she became the first Asian superstar and was touted all over the world for her beauty, grace, authenticity and a “Chinese Garbo,” the “Asian Bardot.” What obstacles did she face, what prejudices did she overcome, and would there be a path for an Asian actress at last?
Set in post-World War II Hong Kong, London, Hollywood and beyond, The World of Nancy Kwan charts Nancy’s journey from bi-racial daughter to global citizen to celebrity to icon, mother, filmmaker, and advocate. Never allowing the fads and fickleness of show business to change her, Kwan persevered in an industry where everything was stacked against her, breaking through barriers and becoming a beacon of hope to generations of Asians who aspired to be seen.
Written with award-winning author Deborah Davis, who has penned eleven books including Tina Turner’s bestselling memoir, and featuring a foreword by international bestselling author of Crazy Rich Asians Kevin Kwan, The World of Nancy Kwan is a multi-faceted personal history of an iconic international actress whose triumphant rise and resilience illuminates the broader Asian American experience in Hollywood. Through this propulsive tale that is simultaneously rich, stylish, clear-eyed, and brave, readers learn how Anti-Asian prejudice has changed, how it hasn’t, and how the only way forward is to stay true to oneself.
Publication date: April 22, 2025
Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction
Pages: 256
Why should you read it? The World of Nancy Kwan is an inspiring memoir of resilience, trailblazing success, and the fight for authentic representation in Hollywood. As the first Asian actress to star in a major American film, Kwan shattered barriers in an industry rife with prejudice, paving the way for future generations. With insights into postwar Hollywood, racial identity, and the evolving landscape of Asian representation in film, this book is a must-read for those interested in cinema history, cultural change, and the personal journey of an icon who refused to be sidelined.
Julie Chan Is Dead by Liann Zhang
In this razor-sharp, diabolical debut thriller, a young woman steps into her deceased twin’s influencer life, only to discover dark secrets hidden behind her social media façade.
Julie Chan has nothing. Her twin sister has everything. Except a pulse.
Julie Chan, a supermarket cashier with nothing to lose, finds herself thrust into the glamorous yet perilous world of her late twin sister, Chloe VanHuusen, a popular influencer. Separated at a young age, the identical twins were polar opposites and rarely spoke, except for one viral video that Chloe initiated (Finding My Long-Lost Twin And Buying Her A House #EMOTIONAL). When Julie discovers Chloe’s lifeless body under mysterious circumstances, she seizes the chance to live the life she’s always envied.
Transforming into Chloe is easier than expected. Julie effortlessly adopts Chloe’s luxurious influencer life, complete with designer clothes, a meticulous skincare routine, and millions of adoring followers. However, Julie soon realizes that Chloe’s seemingly picture-perfect life was anything but.
Haunted by Chloe’s untimely death and struggling to fit into the privileged influencer circle, Julie faces mounting challenges during a weeklong island retreat with Chloe’s exclusive group of influencer friends. As events spiral out of control, Julie uncovers the sinister forces that may have led to her sister’s demise and realizes she might be the next target.
Publication date: April 29, 2025
Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction
Pages: 320
Why should you read it? Julie Chan is Dead is a gripping thriller that delves into the dark side of influencer culture, identity, and ambition. When Julie steps into the life of her estranged twin sister, she finds herself entangled in a web of secrets, deception, and danger lurking behind the glamorous façade. As she navigates a world of curated perfection and hidden threats, the tension escalates toward a shocking truth. Perfect for fans of suspenseful social media dramas, this debut novel is an addictive, fast-paced ride that keeps you guessing until the very end.
King of Envy (Kings of Sin #5) by Ana Huang
He had everything he could’ve wanted…except her.
Dangerous. Powerful. Reclusive.
Vuk Markovic is notorious for shunning human interactions. The scarred billionaire rarely talks, and he has no interest in relationships outside his small but trusted circle.
His only exception? Her . The beauty to his beast, the object of his obsession.
He saw her first. He wanted her first. But now, she’s engaged to his oldest friend—and the closer the wedding looms, the more he’s torn between loyalty and desire.
She should be his…and he might just risk it all to have her.
***
Beautiful. Successful. Glamorous.
To the world, supermodel Ayana Kidane leads the perfect life. Her career has skyrocketed, and she’s engaged to one of New York’s most eligible bachelors.
What people don't know is that the engagement is only a business arrangement. He gets his inheritance when they marry; she gets the money she needs to leave her abusive agency.
Pretending to be in love should be easy—until she finds herself increasingly drawn to her fiancé’s enigmatic best man.
Vuk thrills and terrifies her in equal measure. She knows she should stay away, but when her wedding is thrown into chaos, he’s the only person she finds comfort in…
Until his past catches up with them and threatens everything they love.
Publication date: April 29, 2025
Genres: Romance, Adult, Billionaire Romance
Pages: 528
Why should you read it? From bestselling author Ana Huang comes a steamy, high-stakes romance filled with forbidden desire, dark secrets, and irresistible tension. When reclusive billionaire Vuk Markovic falls for his best friend's fiancée, supermodel Ayana Kidane, both are torn between duty and a passion they can’t ignore. As their attraction deepens and secrets unravel, they must decide whether to risk everything for love. Perfect for fans of intense, slow-burn romance with a touch of danger, this novel delivers a captivating blend of obsession, betrayal, and longing.
Strangers in the Land: Exclusion, Belonging, and the Epic Story of the Chinese in America by Michael Luo
From New Yorker writer Michael Luo comes a masterful narrative history of the Chinese in America that traces the sorrowful theme of exclusion and documents their more than century-long struggle to belong.
A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2025 (Time)
"A story about aspiration and belonging that is as universal as it is profound.”—Patrick Radden Keefe, author of Say Nothing
"A gift to anyone interested in American history. I couldn't stop turning pages."—Charles Yu, author of Interior Chinatown
"What history should be--richly detailed, authoritative, and compelling."—David Grann, author of The Wager and Killers of the Flower Moon
Strangers in the Land tells the story of a people who, beginning in the middle of the nineteenth century, migrated by the tens of thousands to a distant land they called Gum Shan––Gold Mountain. Americans initially welcomed these Chinese arrivals, but, as their numbers grew, horrific episodes of racial terror erupted on the Pacific coast. A prolonged economic downturn that idled legions of white workingmen helped create the conditions for what came a series of progressively more onerous federal laws aimed at excluding Chinese laborers from the country, marking the first time the United States barred a people based on their race. In a captivating debut, Michael Luo follows the Chinese from these early years to modern times, as they persisted in the face of bigotry and persecution, revealing anew the complications of our multiracial democracy.
Luo writes of early victims of anti-Asian violence, like Gene Tong, a Los Angeles herbalist who was dragged from his apartment and hanged by a mob during one of the worst mass lynchings in the country’s history; of demagogues like Denis Kearney, a sandlot orator who became the face of the anti-Chinese movement in the late-1870s; of the pioneering activist Wong Chin Foo and other leaders of the Chinese community, who pressed their new homeland to live up to its stated ideals. At the book’s heart is a shameful chapter of American the brutal driving out of Chinese residents from towns across the American West. The Chinese became the country’s first undocumented hounded, counted, suspected, surveilled.
In 1889, while upholding Chinese exclusion, Supreme Court Justice Stephen J. Field characterized them as “strangers in the land.” Only in 1965 did America’s gates swing open to people like Luo’s parents, immigrants from Taiwan. Today there are more than twenty-two million people of Asian descent in the United States and yet the “stranger” label, Luo writes, remains. Drawing on archives from across the country and written with a New Yorker writer’s style and sweep, Strangers in the Land is revelatory and unforgettable, an essential American story.
Publication date: April 29, 2025
Genres: History, Nonfiction
Pages: 560
Why should you read it? Strangers in the Land by Michael Luo is a sweeping and deeply researched history of Chinese Americans' long struggle for belonging in the U.S., from the Gold Rush era to the present. Through vivid storytelling and meticulous archival research, Luo unearths the brutal exclusion, racial violence, and resilience of Chinese immigrants, illuminating a shameful yet essential chapter of American history. Perfect for readers of David Grann and Isabel Wilkerson, this book offers a compelling narrative on race, immigration, and the enduring fight for inclusion in a multiracial democracy.
Gigi Shin, Live from Manhattan by Lyla Lee
This second book in a sparkling middle grade series that gives a fresh take on The Baby-Sitters Club follows Gigi and her friends to New York City as they attend the art camp of their dreams.
Gigi Shin is looking forward to her best summer not only did she get accepted to the prestigious Starscape Art Academy in New York City, but so did all her friends and fellow Ace Squad members! Plus, Gigi’s art idol, Christiana Moon, is going to be a guest lecturer and Gigi is determined to make a great impression.
But as soon as they land in NYC, things don’t exactly go to plan. Instead of being able to room with each other, the girls are all assigned to room with other attendees; Gigi is paired with Sohee, who doesn’t seem too excited to have Gigi as a roommate. The workload is heavy, and while the teachers are all experts in their field, they aren’t exactly the best instructors—including Gigi’s idol, Christiana, who’s dismissive when Gigi asks her for advice.
When all the attendees are given a huge opportunity to showcase their work, Gigi and her friends are determined to turn things around and make the best of camp, using the city for inspiration. With the help of some unexpected allies, can Gigi prove to everyone—and herself—that she has what it takes?
Publication date: April 29, 2025
Genres: Middle Grade, Contemporary
Pages: 192
Why should you read it? Perfect for fans of The Baby-Sitters Club and From the Desk of Zoe Washington, this charming middle-grade novel follows Gigi Shin and her friends as they navigate the highs and lows of a prestigious New York City art camp. With tough teachers, challenging coursework, and a less-than-friendly roommate, Gigi must find her confidence, embrace new friendships, and prove her artistic talent. Dive into this heartwarming story about creativity, perseverance, and the magic of chasing your dreams in the big city!
Becoming Ghost: Poetry by Cathy Linh Che
The long-awaited sophomore poetry collection by award-winning writer Cathy Linh Che, on familial estrangement, the Vietnam War, and Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now.
The follow-up to her acclaimed poetry debut Split, Becoming Ghost documents Cathy Linh Che’s parents’ experiences as refugees who escaped the Vietnam War and then were cast as extras in Francis Ford Coppola’s film Apocalypse Now, placing them at the margins of their own story. The poetry collection uses persona, speculation, and the golden shovel form as a means of moving Vietnamese voices from the periphery to the center. The speaker’s disownment raises questions about the challenges of using parents as poetic subjects, telling familial stories to a broader public, and the meaning of forgiveness.
Publication date: April 29, 2025
Genres: Poetry
Pages: 128
Why should you read it? Becoming Ghost is a haunting and powerful poetry collection that reclaims Vietnamese refugee narratives from the margins, blending personal history, war memory, and cinematic legacy. Through inventive forms like the golden shovel and speculative persona, Cathy Linh Che explores familial estrangement, inherited trauma, and the complexities of storytelling. A must-read for those drawn to poetry that interrogates history, identity, and the blurred lines between art and lived experience.
Mending Bodies by Hon Lai-chu, Jacqueline Leung (translator)
In dystopian Hong Kong, a new government program incentivizes physical conjoinment between individuals through a painful and disruptive surgery, promising personal fulfillment and a reduced cost of living. Hon Lai Chu’s unnamed narrator is broke and knee-deep in her dissertation on the subject, critical but increasingly unmoored by the implications—and the possibilities. Surely it is better for society to give up your autonomy if it means taking fewer resources, as the conjoined do, right?
Hon Lai Chu, one of the foremost writers working in Hong Kong today, sets her characters loose in a macabre reality animated by sketchy institutions and characters with elusive motivations. Politically and socially allegorical, Mending Bodies, translated by Jacqueline Leung, challenges our safe understandings of people, bodies, and governments.
Publication date: April 29, 2025
Genres: Science Fiction, Dystopian
Pages: 240
Why should you read it? In dystopian Hong Kong, a new government program incentivizes painful surgeries to physically conjoin individuals, promising personal fulfillment and reduced living costs. The unnamed narrator, deep in her dissertation on the subject, grapples with the unsettling implications of this practice, questioning whether sacrificing autonomy for societal benefit is justified. Mending Bodies by Hon Lai Chu is a politically and socially allegorical exploration that challenges our perceptions of people, bodies, and governments, set in a macabre world filled with mysterious motivations and sketchy institutions.
The Floating World by Axie Oh
From Axie Oh, the New York Times-bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea, Final Fantasy meets Shadow and Bone in this romantic fantasy reimagining the Korean legend of Celestial Maidens.
Sunho lives in the Under World, a land of perpetual darkness. An ex-soldier, he can remember little of his life from before two years ago, when he woke up alone with only his name and his sword. Now he does odd-jobs to scrape by, until he comes across the score of a lifetime—a chest of coins for any mercenary who can hunt down a girl who wields silver light.
Meanwhile, far to the east, Ren is a cheerful and spirited acrobat traveling with her adoptive family and performing at villages. But everything changes during one of their festival performances when the village is attacked by a horrific humanlike demon. In a moment of fear and rage, Ren releases a blast of silver light—a power she has kept hidden since childhood—and kills the monster. But her efforts are not in time to prevent her adoptive family from suffering a devastating loss, or to save her beloved uncle from being grievously wounded.
Determined to save him from succumbing to the poisoned wound, Ren sets off over the mountains, where the creature came from—and from where Ren herself fled ten years ago. Her path sets her on a collision course with Sunho, but he doesn't realize she's the girl that he—and a hundred other swords-for-hire—is looking for. As the two grow closer through their travels, they come to realize that their pasts—and destinies—are far more entwined than either of them could have imagined...
Publication date: April 29, 2025
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance
Pages: 368
Why should you read it? Blending Korean mythology with rich fantasy worldbuilding, Axie Oh’s latest novel follows Sunho, a mercenary with no memory, and Ren, an acrobat with a dangerous secret, as their fates collide in a high-stakes journey of magic, mystery, and destiny. With echoes of Final Fantasy and Shadow and Bone, this romantic adventure delivers breathtaking action, deep character bonds, and a legendary tale of light versus darkness. Perfect for fans of lush storytelling and star-crossed heroes, this book is an immersive escape into a world where every choice carries the weight of fate.
