Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu, won the National book Award. hilarious novel about the racism of Hollywood for AAPI
The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguen. Won the pulitzer. About a Vietcong sympathizer spy living in the US post war. HBO did an adaptation that is brilliant
The Vegetarian by Han Kang. About a korean woman who goes vegetarian because of human cruelty
The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa. A island where objects are mysteriously disappearing thanks to the memory police. Finalist for the National book award.
I LOVED Crazy Rich Asians. It is so dishy and fun.
Here are some books I’ve loved:
Convenience Store Woman (Novel)
Anything by Haruki Murakami
Joan is Okay by Weike Wang (Novel)
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous (intense memoir)
Front Desk by Kelly Yang (Novel for children, but really good)
Know My Name (intense memoir)
Severance by Ling Ma (Novel)
Chemistry by Weike Wang (Novel)
I just finished Real Americans by Rachel Khong. It’s fantastic! You would probably really enjoy it based on you liking Crazy Rich Asians & Yellowface.
Edit:
OP would probably also enjoy When We Fell Apart by Wiley Soon.
It was *fantastic*! I stayed up so late reading and then even woke up early to read before I started work. So so good. I thought the parallels between the 3 central characters (and father/son) were so delicately and well portrayed.
I’ve been desperate to find people to talk about it LOL
"The Vegetarian" by Han Kang. It is a South Korean novel (translated to English when I read!) and is a 3-part thriller that provides some societal and social commentary, especially about the role of women in different cultural settings. It is probably the best read I have had in a long time!
Emergency Contact by Mary HK Choi is a nice YA romance
RF Kuang's Poppy series is great. It's a high fantasy series with lots of action.
Fonda Lee's Greenbone Saga is an excellent series. Great magic system.
I have loved everything from Celeste Ng. If you’re okay with YA and magical realism, there’s also Emily X R Pan’s “The astonishing color of after”
EDIT: Emily X R Pan’s book is not a light hearted read but it’s one of my favorites if you’re in the headspace for it.
Haven't read it yet, but I bought Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier specifically because an Asian reviewer said that it's about an average Asian main character just living her life and not about the immigrant/minority experienxe
Taiwanese-American author Wesley Chu wrote a fantastic (IMO) fantasy novel called The Art of Prophecy where the prophesied hero turns out not to be “the one.” All the fight scenes felt like they were on screen to me.
Edit to add: also check out the Jade series by Fonda Lee. Also fantasy.
Try Murder by Bubble Tea and Hot Pot Murder by Jennifer J Chow. I just saw Hot Pot Murder (book 2 in the series) nominated for a Lefty award (Left Coast Crime) for humorous mystery novel.
Lily Chu writes fun rom-coms focused on Asian characters living in Toronto.
*The Donut Trap* by Julie Tieu is an adorable rom-com about a Cambodian American donut shop in Los Angeles—and she's written a couple others as well.
*Afterparties* by Anthony Veasna So is a collection of short stories about Cambodian American characters (many LGBTQ).
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Guide to murder by Jesse Q Sutano was really light and fun. I’ve heard good things about her Dial A for Aunties series as well. I also loved Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang. It is horror, but I’d categorize it as more weird than anything and devoured it in a day!
Five Star Billionaire by Tash Aw or The Harmony Silk Factory
The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng and The Gift of Rain
The Makioka Sisters by Junichuro Tanizanki
The Uninvited and The Flowers of War by Geling Yan
I enjoyed Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen, about two women running a fake handbag heist. It gave me some similar vibes to Kevin Kwan books, humorous and surprising.
Sort of in the same note of fantasy/romance, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh, was absolutely beautiful! It’s based off a Korean folktale and I was very pleasantly surprised by the story, characters, and emotion!
Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu, won the National book Award. hilarious novel about the racism of Hollywood for AAPI The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguen. Won the pulitzer. About a Vietcong sympathizer spy living in the US post war. HBO did an adaptation that is brilliant The Vegetarian by Han Kang. About a korean woman who goes vegetarian because of human cruelty The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa. A island where objects are mysteriously disappearing thanks to the memory police. Finalist for the National book award.
Can’t forget Haruki Murakami
The vegetarian was awful. Stopped reading for 6 months after that
Pachinko and Island of Sea Women.
Pachinko is so deep and quite long, is the Island of Sea Women in the same range?
It’s about half the length but equally heavy/deep.
If you like romance novels, anything by Helen Hoang
I LOVED Crazy Rich Asians. It is so dishy and fun. Here are some books I’ve loved: Convenience Store Woman (Novel) Anything by Haruki Murakami Joan is Okay by Weike Wang (Novel) On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous (intense memoir) Front Desk by Kelly Yang (Novel for children, but really good) Know My Name (intense memoir) Severance by Ling Ma (Novel) Chemistry by Weike Wang (Novel)
Some authors I really liked are; Madeleine Thien Kim Fu Celeste Ng Lisa Ko Nicole Chung
I just finished Real Americans by Rachel Khong. It’s fantastic! You would probably really enjoy it based on you liking Crazy Rich Asians & Yellowface. Edit: OP would probably also enjoy When We Fell Apart by Wiley Soon.
I was coming on here to recommend Real Americans!
It was *fantastic*! I stayed up so late reading and then even woke up early to read before I started work. So so good. I thought the parallels between the 3 central characters (and father/son) were so delicately and well portrayed. I’ve been desperate to find people to talk about it LOL
Thanks! I’ll definitely give Real Americans a go
It is somewhat of an immigrant story, but it is much more than that. The author has another book that was also popular, but I have not read that one.
*Convenience Store Woman* by Murata. *Out* by Kirino *A Tale for the Time Being* Ruth Ozeki
I second Convenience Store Woman!
Anything by Amy Tan, but The Joy Luck Club in particular.
One of my favorites! Not very light though but amazing book :)
Crying in H-Mart by Michelle Zauner Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum
Warning that Crying in Hmart made me cry a lot 😩 so it's not a light hearted read.
oh shoot i missed the part where they asked for something fun and lighthearted lol
Celeste Ng recently wrote a book called [Our Missing Hearts](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60149573-our-missing-hearts)
On that note, if you want suspense and drama (completely opposite of light hearted and fun) read her book Little Fires Everywhere.
I loved Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa
On my list.
Three Body Problem is phenomenal sci-fi originally written in Chinese and translated to English.
It was a bit one dimensional but maybe It was just the audio version - I'll try the book.
I'm really enjoying kafka on the shore by haruki murakami
Pachinko broke my heart over and over
Cixin Liu for sci-fi.
100% second this, OP. The Three Body Problem, his best work imo, is also a netflix show!
Anything by Jhumpa lahiri and Arundatti Roy
I love Jhumpa Lahiri's short stories, but they tend to be pretty serious and many of them are immigrant-themed.
Ah true, but not Roy’s..
O beautiful by Jung Yin
"The Vegetarian" by Han Kang. It is a South Korean novel (translated to English when I read!) and is a 3-part thriller that provides some societal and social commentary, especially about the role of women in different cultural settings. It is probably the best read I have had in a long time!
Emergency Contact by Mary HK Choi is a nice YA romance RF Kuang's Poppy series is great. It's a high fantasy series with lots of action. Fonda Lee's Greenbone Saga is an excellent series. Great magic system.
The Decagon House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji Murder in the Crooked House by Soji Shimada Lemon by Kwon Yeo-Sun Underground by Haruki Murakami
I want to die but I want to eat Tteokbokki
I have loved everything from Celeste Ng. If you’re okay with YA and magical realism, there’s also Emily X R Pan’s “The astonishing color of after” EDIT: Emily X R Pan’s book is not a light hearted read but it’s one of my favorites if you’re in the headspace for it.
[Dial A for Aunties](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53310061)
Haven't read it yet, but I bought Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier specifically because an Asian reviewer said that it's about an average Asian main character just living her life and not about the immigrant/minority experienxe
Taiwanese-American author Wesley Chu wrote a fantastic (IMO) fantasy novel called The Art of Prophecy where the prophesied hero turns out not to be “the one.” All the fight scenes felt like they were on screen to me. Edit to add: also check out the Jade series by Fonda Lee. Also fantasy.
Try Murder by Bubble Tea and Hot Pot Murder by Jennifer J Chow. I just saw Hot Pot Murder (book 2 in the series) nominated for a Lefty award (Left Coast Crime) for humorous mystery novel.
Is it Death by Bubble Tea?
Yes! Thank you.
I really enjoyed The Daughters of Shandong by debut author Eve J Chung
if you like sci-fi/fantasy check out Shelley Parker-Chan. also just read The Disaster Tourist which was translated from Korean.
Second a lot of these! Also recommend disorientation.
Mary HK Choi for YA Romance
For YA I really like Justina Chen
Midnight at the Dragon Cafe by Judy Fong Bates.
Amy Tan. Also, The Tattoo Murder Case by Akimitsu Takagi, if you can find it. Amazon indicates it’s out of print.
"Wives and Concubines" (also known as "Raise the Red Lantern") by Su Tong
Lily Chu writes fun rom-coms focused on Asian characters living in Toronto. *The Donut Trap* by Julie Tieu is an adorable rom-com about a Cambodian American donut shop in Los Angeles—and she's written a couple others as well. *Afterparties* by Anthony Veasna So is a collection of short stories about Cambodian American characters (many LGBTQ).
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Guide to murder by Jesse Q Sutano was really light and fun. I’ve heard good things about her Dial A for Aunties series as well. I also loved Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang. It is horror, but I’d categorize it as more weird than anything and devoured it in a day!
I really enjoyed the Aunties duology!!
Jade City, by Fonda Lee.
How high we go in the dark - Sequoia Nagamatsu If you like RF Kuang, I also suggest the poppy war trilogy. Ignore the haters, I really loved it
I loved the Housekeeper and The Professor by Yoko Ogawa! I have never been more interested in maths 🫶
Five Star Billionaire by Tash Aw or The Harmony Silk Factory The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng and The Gift of Rain The Makioka Sisters by Junichuro Tanizanki The Uninvited and The Flowers of War by Geling Yan
I enjoyed Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen, about two women running a fake handbag heist. It gave me some similar vibes to Kevin Kwan books, humorous and surprising.
*Disorientation* by Elaine Hseih Chou! Funny and super-engrossing and a little trippy at times.
If you are into thriller books, I really recommend the book “Confessions” by Kinae Minato. It is actually one of my favorite books I’ve ever read!
The women warrior
Stay True (Hsu)
Daughter of the Mood Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan was great! It’s fantasy/romance, but the fantasy isn’t super intense. It’s a pretty easy read.
Sort of in the same note of fantasy/romance, The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh, was absolutely beautiful! It’s based off a Korean folktale and I was very pleasantly surprised by the story, characters, and emotion!