Reading and centering diverse stories are important — not only because they help us learn through others' perspectives but also because some of us see pieces of ourselves represented in such stories. As we celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, BuzzFeed staff members shared the books written by AAPI and API authors that they absolutely loved and still think about to this day. Here are the books we 100% recommend checking out:
1. Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
![Screenshot of the Amazon webpage for the book "Daughter of the Moon Goddess: A Fantasy Romance Novel (Celestial Kingdom, 1)" by Sue Lynn Tan](https://cdn.statically.io/img/img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-05/22/18/asset/276c865ebb1e/sub-buzz-4006-1716401319-1.png?crop=835%3A1211%3B698%2C396&downsize=700%3A%2A&output-quality=auto&output-format=auto)
2. A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami
![Cover of the book "A Wild Sheep Chase: A Novel" by Haruki Murakami with abstract geometric design](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-05/29/23/asset/b29a4dbf2f3a/sub-buzz-1783-1717026953-1.png?crop=803:1199;717,402)
3. Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
![Book cover titled 'Yellowface' by R. F. Kuang. The cover features two eyes looking sideways on a plain background. A quote by Time appears at the top](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-05/22/18/asset/ec1dc32a20d9/sub-buzz-1034-1716401487-1.png?crop=779:1174;1038,402)
4. Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala
![Book cover titled "Arsenic and Adobo" by Mia P. Manansala. The cover shows a woman in an apron holding a spoon and a small dog in front of a steaming pot](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-05/22/18/asset/427b8d77c335/sub-buzz-1587-1716401233-3.png?crop=829:1211;698,396)
5. The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
![Book cover of "The Jasmine Throne" by Tasha Suri shows a seated woman in a red dress with a golden background. The series is The Burning Kingdoms Book 1](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-05/29/23/asset/7035c19c751f/sub-buzz-418-1717026333-1.png?crop=747:1131;742,476)
6. On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
![Cover of the book "On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous: A Novel" by Ocean Vuong, displaying a close-up image of two people embracing](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-05/22/18/asset/ec1dc32a20d9/sub-buzz-999-1716400952-1.png?crop=835:1211;698,396)
7. Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi
![Book cover of "Yolk" by Mary H. K. Choi, featuring an illustration of a person in mid-air, legs up, with the title in bold white and yellow letters](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-05/22/18/asset/4a6479d332c3/sub-buzz-7832-1716401696-1.png?crop=835:1205;698,402)
8. Horse Barbie by Geena Rocero
![Cover of the book "Horse Barbie: A Memoir" by Geena Rocero, featuring a silhouette of Geena Rocero with the title text overlaying the image](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-05/22/18/asset/96c1f71a6c9b/sub-buzz-7208-1716401576-1.png?crop=822:1205;705,402)
9. The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
![Book cover of "The Heart Principle" by Helen Hoang. Illustration of a woman with sunglasses and wavy hair. Caption reads "The Heart Principle - A Novel"](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-05/29/23/asset/71a3ee1d8a25/sub-buzz-421-1717026680-1.png?crop=773:1125;735,488)
10. Killing and Dying by Adrian Tomine
![Book cover of "Killing and Dying" by Adrian Tomine. The cover features a minimalist illustration of a suburban street with houses and utility poles](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-05/29/23/asset/71e0bec8c4fe/sub-buzz-1541-1717027059-3.png?crop=748:1106;735,445)
11. Free Food For Millionaires by Min Jin Lee
![Book cover of "Free Food for Millionaires" by Min Jin Lee featuring an illustration of a woman in a hat and the New York City skyline](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-05/22/22/asset/9bf86b3dd97d/sub-buzz-519-1716415734-1.png?crop=809:1205;711,396)
12. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
![Cover of the book "Crying in H Mart: A Memoir" by Michelle Zauner, featuring hanging noodles with the title in bold letters](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-05/22/22/asset/140cdf076599/sub-buzz-860-1716416012-7.png?crop=747:1119;742,488)
13. Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou
![Book cover for "Disorientation: A Novel" by Elaine Hsieh Chou showing a room with scattered papers, an open book, and a pink armchair](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-05/22/22/asset/217ea56e168e/sub-buzz-1213-1716415825-1.png?crop=822:1211;705,396)
14. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
![Cover of the book "A Little Life" by Hanya Yanagihara, featuring a close-up image of a man's pained expression. The text highlights the book's status as a Man Booker Prize finalist](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-05/22/18/asset/96c1f71a6c9b/sub-buzz-7174-1716401073-1.png?crop=761:1119;735,488)
15. Pachinko by Min Jee Lee
![Cover of the book "Pachinko" by Min Jin Lee, featuring a stylized illustration of a woman in traditional attire with a mountainous landscape in the background](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-05/22/22/asset/465190ba679f/sub-buzz-1264-1716415918-1.png?crop=761:1131;735,482)
16. Lunar Love by Lauren Kung Jessen
![The image shows the book cover of "Lunar Love" by Lauren Kung Jessen. The cover features an illustrated woman in profile with a celestial background and floral details](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-05/29/23/asset/5d396427a4b9/sub-buzz-421-1717026795-1.png?crop=809:1217;711,396)
17. Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths by Shigeru Mizuki
![Book cover of "Onward Towards Our Noble Deaths" by Shigeru Mizuki. The cover shows silhouettes of soldiers and a large title text](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-05/29/23/asset/71e0bec8c4fe/sub-buzz-1537-1717027156-1.png?crop=921:1211;661,396)
18. Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier
![Book cover of "Dragonfruit" by Makiia Lucier showing a drawing of a woman holding a sword, with a dragon, birds, and botanical elements in the background](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-05/29/23/asset/333d7f96f492/sub-buzz-417-1717026436-8.png?crop=822:1211;698,402)
19. Intimacies by Katie Kitamura
![Cover of the book "Intimacies: A Novel" by Katie Kitamura, featuring abstract artwork and award badge](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-05/22/22/asset/77268138264b/sub-buzz-550-1716416251-1.png?crop=791:1211;723,396)
20. Every Drop is a Man's Nightmare by Megan Kamalei Kakimoto
![Book cover for "Every Drop is a Man's Nightmare" by Megan Kamalei Kakimoto, showing a red flower and a faint figure in the background](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-05/29/23/asset/a505fdc5f444/sub-buzz-2047-1717026579-1.png?crop=829:1211;698,402)
21. Lastly: This Woven Kingdom by Tahereh Mafi
![Cover of the book "This Woven Kingdom" by Tahereh Mafi, featuring golden ornate patterns and a wreath of flowers on a yellow background](https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2024-05/22/22/asset/84a02b8d17d5/sub-buzz-1262-1716416330-1.png?crop=767:1119;735,488)
BRB, adding all of these books to my TBR list! If you've read any of the books on this list, what do you think of them? What's a book by an API author that you'd recommend? Let us know down in the comments!
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