Hello readers! May is Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage month. I have been planning my TBR for this month for a really long time. I do realize that AAPI month is to appreciate Asian Americans, but I am reading Asian authors from all over the world.
I actually had TOO MANY books that I wanted to read in May by Asian authors. So, I let my Instagram followers choose some of the books I am reading. I think I may let my Instagram followers choose some of the books I read every month because I really enjoyed it! If you want to be a part of that, be sure to follow me on Instagram!
Before we go any further, I want to disclaim there will be affiliate ads and links within this post. If you use my links and make a purchase, I will make a small commision.
Please make sure to give this post a like if you did, follow my blog for more content, and comment down below what your favorite book by an Asian author is.
The first set of choices was Front Desk and Parachutes by Kelly Yang. I really want to read both of these books. My Insta followers chose Front Desk.
Front Desk is a middle grade book about a girl who is an immigrant from China and her family is harboring undocumented immigrants in their motel. I know this book has a sequel, so I might pick that one up, too.
TW: assault, bullying, burglary, racism
For this one, I had my followers choose between a middle grade book called When You Trap a Tiger, which I believe is by a S Korean author, and They Called Us Enemy by Japanese-American actor George Takei.
They Called Us Enemy is a graphic novel memoir about Takei’s childhood. He lived in an interment camp in America as a very young child during WWII.
I’m so happy they picked this one!
TW: violence, guns, confinement
These may seem random, but they are two books by S Korean authors that I happen to physically own already. I could fill an entire month with S Korean authored books that I would love to read.
Frankly in Love is about a teen named Frank, whose parents want him to date within his race. He wants to date someone who isn’t Korean. He has a family friend who is also facing the same dilemma as him, and they end up fake dating one another.
TW: racism, classism, death
In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park is a N Korean defector story and The Broken Circle is about a girl who had to escape Afghanistan. I had my followers chose either one or both and they chose both.
I really love reading memoirs, but I don’t do it enough. I really hoped they would pick both of these books and they did!
The Broken Circle is currently available on Kindle Unlimted as well.
This is the last one Instagram choose. For this one, they choose between a few books by Kazuo Ishiguro. I have no idea what any of them are about and I still don’t. This is a pretty popular Japanese author that I’ve never tried before, so I thought now would be the perfect time!
I’m going to potentially watch the movie after reading this one. I haven’t checked if it’s on Netlfix/Hulu or anything, but I hope it is.
I bought this book back in September with plans to read it this month. I tried this author before and I really did not like what I read from him. However, I want to give him one more shot before writing him off completely. I know this is a retelling or is inspired by Oedipus, and that makes me think I will love it, but it is possible I won’t.
TW: rape, violence, animal abuse
This is one I’ve wanted to get to for a while. It is a book about 4 different women navigating their lives in S Korea and how the beauty standards there affect them. S Korean beauty standards are very harsh in S Korea and there is a reason that Seoul is the plastic surgery capitol of the world.
TW: child abuse, misogyny, violence, suicide ideation, suicide
Click here for 20% off: Tarot Deck Tarot Divine guidance cardsAAPI Graphic Novels on my TBR
Other Books on my TBR
I still need to get a book into this TBR for Buzzwordathon. May’s Buzzword is House and Home. This book was in my post of classics I wanted to get to this year. I haven’t even read 1 classic in 2021, so I am VERY behind.
TW: child abandonment, sexual assault
The author reached out to me and asked me to request this book on Netgalley. It isn’t an ARC, because the book was already published a few years ago. The synopsis of this book is very vague, but I believe it is a portal fantasy series and is currently available on Kindle unlimited.
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Alli the Book Giraffe 
I absolutely love Never Let Me Go. It stayed with me for a long time after I read it. I hope you enjoy it!
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Thanks! Have you seen the movie?
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Yeah, I enjoyed it but the book is much better.
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Oooh, I just bought Kafka on the Shore today and I’m really looking forward to reading it. I’ve read Norwegian Wood by him before and really loved it, but I’m excited to hear your thoughts from someone who maybe doesn’t like his writing as much.
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In early 2020, I went to the library to see if they had Kafka on the Shore and they didn’t, so I ended up picking up The Strangle Library by him. I picked that one because it was really short. I just think it was the type of weird I don’t like in books. However, I am optimistic for Kafka on the Shore, which was the one I originally wanted!
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Fingers crossed for us both! I’ve heard that Norwegian Wood is kind of an anomaly with his writing and his other stuff is a lot weirded. We shall see
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Fun way to choose books. I want to read all the graphic novels on your list! I want to read The Good Son and Front Desk too.
-Lauren
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I saw so many people reading The Good Son last year during the Koreadathon, so I might read it then. I’m so excited to get to it!
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