Best Asian American Poetry Books of 2025

Sincerely by F.S. Yousaf is a beautiful compilation of letters and love poems that exemplifies the spirituality and magnitude of how much one person can mean to another. The author found inspiration for his proposal and poetry from the letters his love had written him. The book carries messages of positivity, hope, and true love. It is a celebration of love and a book anyone can pick up and enjoy. Ultimately, Sincerely is a heartfelt and uplifting collection that beautifully encapsulates what it feels like to fall in love.

Euphoria by F.S. Yousaf is a poetry collection that takes readers on a journey of growth, spirituality, mental illness, and self-reflection. The poems are powerful and cover a variety of topics that will evoke different emotions. The book reads like a prayer and offers guidance on how to navigate the imperfections of the world. Yousaf's writing is raw and honest, giving readers an insight into his personal experiences. Overall, Euphoria is a unique and thought-provoking book that will leave a lasting impression on readers.

The "Collected Works of Kahlil Gibran" is a beautifully crafted and designed hardbound book that contains a priceless collection of some of the most notable works of this celebrated poet, including "The Prophet," "The Wanderer," "The Madman," and "The Broken Wings." Gibran's works deal with spiritual love, joy and sorrow, marriage, children, and death, with a strong element of mysticism influenced by Islam, Christianity, theosophy, and Judaism. This edition is perfect for gifting or keeping as a prized addition to any library.

The New York Times-bestselling collection of poems, "Time Is a Mother" by Ocean Vuong, is a deeply intimate exploration of grief, family, and the cost of being a product of an American war. Written in the aftermath of his mother's death, Vuong's raw and propulsive poems circle fragmented lives to find both restoration and the epicenter of the break. The author's innovative and daring experimentation with language and form illuminates how themes we perennially live and question are truly inexhaustible. This gay and lesbian poetry book is a testament to tenderness in the face of violence and a must-read for poetry lovers.

Beyond Thoughts is a poetry collection that delves into the root cause of negative thinking and emotional suffering to guide readers towards inner peace. Written by Joseph Nguyen, the book offers insights on how to let go of self-limiting beliefs, heal from the past, and love oneself unconditionally. It also teaches readers how to become conscious of their subconscious and trust themselves to create an abundant life filled with love and joy. This book is a must-read for those seeking to discover their true essence beyond their own thinking and conditioning.

Don’t Wait Til I Die To Love Me vol.1 is a powerful poetry collection that takes readers on a journey of self-discovery. The author, Tavon, writes about the nuances of life and love in vivid detail, encouraging readers to appreciate the little things we often take for granted. The book covers a range of topics, including love, loss, and human nature, making it relatable to a wide audience. The pieces "To The Ones Who Hurt Me" and "For The Misunderstood" will resonate with those who feel overlooked or undervalued. Overall, this independently published book is a must-read for anyone seeking to learn more about themselves and become proactive in loving themselves, others, and the environment.

Night Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong is a powerful and haunting debut that explores the intersections of historic and personal violence, and the complexities of the American identity. The poems are both vulnerable and redemptive, dreamlike and visceral, and show the necessity of self-preservation in a world that seeks to extinguish othered voices. Vuong's writing is both elegant and raw, capturing the sorrows and joys of human existence with muscled intuition and unrepentant enthrallment. This collection is an important addition to contemporary American poetry and a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the depths of the human experience.

2Fish is a collection of intimate poems and short stories written by Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo. The book showcases her raw and honest thoughts from adolescence to adulthood and is a brave effort that will undoubtedly become a source of comfort for those who are looking to share their own personal journeys. Her poetry reads like unfiltered diary entries, making it a collective sentiment that even the most beautiful exhibit. Overall, 2Fish is a unique and powerful book that showcases Jhené Aiko's talent for emoting through writing.

Dictee by Theresa Hak Kyung Cha is a classic of modern Asian American literature that tells the story of several women, exploring the trauma of dislocation and the fragmentation of memory. This restored edition, produced in partnership with the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA), reflects Cha’s original vision for the book as an art object in its authentic form. The book is an enduringly powerful, beautiful, and unparalleled work that is both an ancestor and the future of all attempts to remember and rewrite against the force of being dismembered and rewritten by colonial/imperial histories and their reiterative, disfiguring shadows.

"Ghost Of" by Diana Khoi Nguyen is a powerful debut collection of poems that explores grief and loss. Through her brother's photographs, from which he cut himself out before his death, Nguyen creates a space for mourning and remembrance. The book is not only a reflection of a sister's grief but also a family's and a community's loss. The poems' forms are wildly inventive, showing the struggle to find a suitable container for mourning. Nguyen's language of grief is bold, daring, and exquisite. Overall, "Ghost Of" is a hauntingly beautiful collection that captures the weight of absence and the power of memory.