Best Asian American Literature & Fiction Books of 2025

An instant New York Times bestseller • A New York Times Notable Book of 2022 • Named a Best Book of 2022 by People, TIME Magazine, The Washington Post, USA Today, NPR, Los Angeles Times, and Oprah Daily, and more • A Reese's Book Club Pick . From the #1 bestselling author of Little Fires Everywhere, comes the inspiring new novel about a mother’s unbreakable love in a world consumed by fear.   “It’s impossible not to be moved.” —Stephen King, The New York Times Book Review   “Riveting, tender, and timely.” —People, Book of the Week. “Thought-provoking, heart-wrenching…I was so invested in the future of this mother and son, and I can’t wait to hear what you think of this deeply suspenseful story!” – Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club October ’22 Pick). Twelve-year-old Bird Gardner lives a quiet existence with his loving but broken father, a former linguist who now shelves books in a university library. His mother Margaret, a Chinese American poet, left the family when he was nine years old without a trace. Bird knows to not ask too many questions, stand out too much, or stray too far. For a decade, his family's life has been governed by laws written to preserve “American culture” in the wake of years of economic instability and violence. To keep the peace and restore prosperity, the authorities are now allowed to relocate children of dissidents, especially those of Asian origin, and libraries have been forced to remove books seen as unpatriotic. Bird has grown up disavowing his mother and her poems; he doesn’t know her work or what happened to her, and he knows he shouldn’t wonder. But when he receives a mysterious letter containing only a cryptic drawing, he is pulled into a quest to find her. His journey will take him back to the many folktales she poured into his head as a child, through the ranks of an underground network of librarians, into the lives of the children who have been taken, and finally to New York City, where a new act of defiance may be the beginning of much-needed change. Our Missing Hearts is an old story made new, of the ways supposedly civilized communities can ignore the most searing injustice. It’s a story about the power—and limitations—of art to create change, the lessons and legacies we pass on to our children, and how any of us can survive a broken world with our hearts intact.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is a heart-wrenching tale of friendship, betrayal, and redemption set in Afghanistan. It follows the unlikely bond between a wealthy boy and the son of his father's servant, caught in the midst of political turmoil and tragedy. The novel explores the power of reading, the complexities of father-son relationships, and the price of betrayal. Hosseini's writing is eloquent and moving, making this book a classic of contemporary literature. The Kite Runner is a unique and unforgettable read that will leave readers with a deep appreciation for the human spirit.

King of Wrath is a contemporary romance novel that follows the story of Dante Russo, a billionaire CEO who is forced into an engagement with Vivian Lau, a jewelry heiress and daughter of his newest enemy. Despite his initial reluctance, Dante finds himself drawn to Vivian and struggling to let her go. The novel explores themes of control, duty, and love in an engaging and steamy way. While it contains explicit content, profanity, and mild violence, it is recommended for mature readers who enjoy arranged marriage/billionaire romance novels. Overall, King of Wrath is a captivating and unique addition to the contemporary romance genre.

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong is a heart-wrenching and beautifully written debut novel. The story is presented as a letter from a son to a mother who cannot read, unearthing a family's history that began before he was born and leading to an unforgettable revelation. Vuong explores themes of race, class, masculinity, and addiction with brutal honesty and compassion. This book is a must-read for those who appreciate poignant and lyrical prose that captures the complexities of human emotions.

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers is a captivating mystery novel by Jesse Q. Sutanto, bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties. The story revolves around Vera Wong, a lonely shopkeeper who takes it upon herself to solve a murder in the most peculiar way possible. Despite living alone, Vera is not needy, and she likes nothing more than sipping on a good cup of Wulong and doing some healthy detective work on the Internet. The book is filled with wisdom, heart, intrigue, and humor. Every chapter is bursting with unique characters that will keep you engaged until the very end.

Pachinko is a gripping family saga that spans four generations of a Korean immigrant family, struggling to make a life in 20th-century Japan. The novel explores themes of love, sacrifice, ambition, and loyalty, against the backdrop of historical events. The author, Min Jin Lee, skillfully weaves a complex and passionate narrative that is both moving and thought-provoking. The book has received numerous accolades and is a National Book Award finalist, a New York Times bestseller, and a winner of the Medici Book Club Prize. Pachinko is a must-read for anyone who enjoys family sagas and historical fiction.

The acclaimed debut novel by the author of Little Fires Everywhere. “A deep, heartfelt portrait of a family." — Alexander Chee, The New York Times Book Review. “Wonderfully moving…A beautifully crafted study of dysfunction and grief." — The Boston Globe “Lydia is dead. But they don’t know this yet.” So begins this exquisite novel about a Chinese American family living in 1970s small-town Ohio. Lydia is the favorite child of Marilyn and James Lee, and her parents are determined that she will fulfill the dreams they were unable to pursue. But when Lydia’s body is found in the local lake, the delicate balancing act that has been keeping the Lee family together is destroyed, tumbling them into chaos. A profoundly moving story of family, secrets, and longing, Everything I Never Told You is both a gripping page-turner and a sensitive family portrait, uncovering the ways in which mothers and daughters, fathers and sons, and husbands and wives struggle, all their lives, to understand one another..

The #1 New York Times bestseller!. “Witty, wise, and tender. It's a marvel.” —Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train and A Slow Fire Burning. “To say I love this book is an understatement. It’s a deep psychological mystery about the power of motherhood, the intensity of teenage love, and the danger of perfection. It moved me to tears.” —Reese Witherspoon. From the bestselling author of Everything I Never Told You and Our Missing Hearts comes a riveting novel that traces the intertwined fates of the picture-perfect Richardson family and the enigmatic mother and daughter who upend their lives.. In Shaker Heights, a placid, progressive suburb of Cleveland, everything is planned—from the layout of the winding roads, to the colors of the houses, to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson, whose guiding principle is playing by the rules.. Enter Mia Warren—an enigmatic artist and single mother—who arrives in this idyllic bubble with her teenaged daughter Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons. Soon Mia and Pearl become more than tenants: all four Richardson children are drawn to the mother-daughter pair. But Mia carries with her a mysterious past and a disregard for the status quo that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community.. When old family friends of the Richardsons attempt to adopt a Chinese-American baby, a custody battle erupts that dramatically divides the town—and puts Mia and Elena on opposing sides.  Suspicious of Mia and her motives, Elena is determined to uncover the secrets in Mia’s past. But her obsession will come at unexpected and devastating costs. . Little Fires Everywhere explores the weight of secrets, the nature of art and identity, and the ferocious pull of motherhood—and the danger of believing that following the rules can avert disaster.Named a Best Book of the Year by: People, The Washington Post, Bustle, Esquire, Southern Living, The Daily Beast, GQ, Entertainment Weekly, NPR, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Audible, Goodreads, Library Reads, Book of the Month, Paste, Kirkus Reviews, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and many more.... Perfect for book clubs! Visit celesteng.com for discussion guides and more.