#books to read
“A sense of the fundamental decencies is parceled out unequally at birth.”
– F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
thinking about all the books i could read if i didn’t have to study
I have been drowning in studies for months, and all I want to do is devour the mountain of books waiting patiently on my bookshelf
When the Forest Sings poem from my poetry book She’ll Find the Sky
You can find the link to my book and Etsy shop in my bio. ❤
We are dedicated to promoting, celebrating, and supporting our Asian American and Pacific Islander creators, readers, and community. Below, check out some incredible books by our AAPI creators to read all year round!
Debating Darcy by Sayantani DasGupta
In this Pride & Prejudice retelling, Leela is ALWAYS #1 in speech and debate competitions. But when she meets Firoze Darcy, more than just her winning streak is at stake…her heart is, too.
Freedom Swimmer by Wai Chim
Inspired by a true story, two friends risk everything in a daring attempt to escape the poverty and oppression of mainland China during the Cultural Revolution.
Zara Hossain is Here by Sabina Khan
Seventeen-year-old Pakistani immigrant Zara Hossain’s family has waited years for their visa process to be finalized so that they can officially become US citizens. But it only takes one moment for that dream to come crashing down around them.
The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan
Rukhsana is finding it impossible to live up to her conservative Muslim parents’ expectations. Luckily, it’s only a few more months until her new life at Caltech. But when her parents catch her kissing her girlfriend, all of Rukhsana’s plans fall apart.
I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn
When Kimi visits her grandparents in Japan, she is relieved to escape her problems back home. But soon the trip becomes a way for Kimi to learn more about the mother she left behind, and to figure out where her own heart lies.
Caster & Spell Starter by Elsie Chapman
Aza Wu knows that real magic is dangerous and illegal. After all, casting killed her sister. But to save the legacy of their family teahouse, she enters an underground casting tournament and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
K-Pop Revolution and K-Pop Confidential by Stephan Lee
In this romantic coming-of-age duology, a Korean American girl travels to Seoul in hopes of debuting in a girl group at the same K-pop company behind the most popular boy band on the planet.
The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling by Wai Chim
When Anna’s not looking after her brother and sister or helping out at her father’s restaurant, she’s taking care of her mother, whose debilitating mental illness keeps her in bed most days. When her mother finally gets out of bed, things go from bad to worse. And as her mother’s condition worsens, Anna and her family question everything they understand about themselves and each other.
The Great Destroyers by Caroline Tung Richmond
Jo Linden was born into a world where wars are won with giant mechanical soldiers and the nuclear bomb was never invented. Yet the Cold War still rages, and international rivalries between democracy and communism are now fought at the Pax Games, an Olympic-style competition that pits young pilots of mechas against each other. In a global arms race between superpowers, playing out in violent games that only humanity could create, comes a chilling story of clashing titans, ruthless competition, freedom, and the girl caught in the middle of it all.
Lovely, Dark, and Deep by Justina Chen
When Viola Li returns from a trip, she develops an extreme case of photosensitivity. But Viola is determined to maintain a normal life, particularly after she meets Josh.
Upcoming Reads by Asian American and Pacific Islander Creators!
Meet Me in Mumbai by Sabina Khan (On Sale 8/2)
Mira must decide whether to re-connect with the woman who placed her for adoption…but isn’t sure she’s ready for what she might learn. Told in dual perspectives, this novel follows Mira and her mother eighteen years apart.
Beneath the Wide Silk Sky by Emily Inouye Huey (On Sale 10/18)
After Pearl Harbor, Sam documents the bigotry she sees towards Japanese Americans. When the US announces that those of Japanese descent will be sent to “relocation camps,” Sam must act or lose her voice forever.
Hi! I’m author and illustrator Alice Oseman, and I got to design the cover for the US edition of my latest YA novel, Loveless. I’m here to tell you all about that design process, from the first sketches to the finished cover!
THE FIRST SKETCH
I had a pretty clear vision of what I wanted the cover to look like right at the start. Lovelessis set at university, and its protagonist, Georgia, is thrust into a world of packed college bars, sweaty clubs, lecture halls, and busy dorms. Students are everywhere, but the main characters of Lovelessare all little alone in their feelings. So my idea for the cover of Lovelesswas to feature the five main characters of the story amidst a tightly packed crowd of students at a college bar, to try to capture that feeling of being alone in a crowd.
LINE ART
Scholastic liked my idea (YAY!) but their suggestion was to bring Georgia to the foreground a little more, so she’s clearly the protagonist of the story. I did this in the next stage of my cover design process – the line art stage. I transformed my sketch into a much tidier line art illustration, and I was super happy with how it was looking!
COLOUR EXPERIMENTS
Next up was colour. I’ve always considered colour to be one of my weaker skills as an artist, so I wanted to try out lots of rough ideas before settling on a colour scheme for the cover. I knew I wanted purple to be a big feature – it’s the colour of the UK cover, which I fought very hard for, because it’s the main colour of the asexual flag.
I started with some rough studies:
And then I went ahead and coloured the illustration. I still wasn’t happy with my colour choices, so I edited the colours a lot and created a new spread of colour ideas. There were a lot of them, so here are just a few:
THE FINISHED COVER
Eventually, and with Scholastic’s help, I settled on the colours I liked. I added in some final tweaks and details, and then the illustration was complete! I handed it over to Scholastic to create the typography for the text and to add on all the final bits and bobs. And then… we had a cover!
Representation across the queer spectrum is vitally important for readers to see themselves in books! ️ We’ve pulled together a list of books to read that feature gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, asexual, aromantic, and sapphic relationships, characters, and stories.
Here are some of our favorite books to read across the LGBTQIA+ spectrum!
Rise to the Sun
Toni and Olivia are both searching for a way forward when they find each other at the Farmland Music and Arts festival. As the weekend gets more complicated, Olivia and Toni will realize that they need each other, and music, more than they ever could have imagined. Start reading here!
Heartstopper
Boy meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. A sweet coming-of-age story that explores friendship, love, and coming out. Start reading here!
Things We Couldn’t Say
Just as Gio is owning his bisexual identity, he must also face the return of the mother who abandoned his preacher family when he was nine. He’ll soon find that there are no easy answers to love – whether it’s family love or friend love or romantic love. Start reading here!
You Should See Me in a Crown
A joyful book about a queer Black girl who runs for Prom Queen to win a college scholarship…but then finds herself falling in love with one of the other girls in the competition. Start reading here!
Loveless
An exceptional novel about discovering that it’s okay if you don’t have sexual or romantic feelings for anyone…since there are plenty of other ways to find love and connection. Start reading here!
Fire Becomes Her
In this 1920’s-inspired queer fantasy featuring an aromantic and asexual main character, can Ingrid forge her own path in a world where magic buys votes?
I Wish You All the Best
After Ben comes out to their parents as nonbinary, they’ll move in with their estranged older sister and find friendship, love, and acceptance along the way. Start reading here!
Going Viral
InGoing Viral, when Claire Draper’s fictional love story about the girl across the street goes viral in the wake of a pandemic, the line between reality and fiction is blurred. But will she be able to tell the difference? Start reading here!
The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali
When Rukhsana’s conservative Muslim parents catch her with her girlfriend, Rukhsana’s carefully planned future begins to collapse around her. Start reading here!
Follow Your Arrow
Bi influencer CeCe’s fans love her relationship with her girlfriend Sylvie…so what happens when they break up and CeCe learns to speak her truth? Start reading here!
Magical Boy
Max is your average trans man trying to get through high school as himself, but his life is turned upside down when his mom reveals an eons old family secret: he’s descended from a long line of Magical Girls tasked with defending humanity from a dark, ancient evil! Can he become the next Magical Boy? Start reading here!
Zara Hossain is Here
Zara’s family has waited years for their visas to be finalized, but now that dream is in jeopardy. Zara seeks justice to stay with her girlfriend and in the only home she’s ever known. Start reading here!
Girl from the Sea
After Morgan is saved from drowning by a mysterious girl named Keltie, everything they’re each trying to hide will find its way to the surface. Start reading here!
Tarnished are the Stars
The Lunar ChroniclesmeetsRook in this queer science-fantasy novel that features asexual, bisexual, and lesbian characters working together to put an end to a deadly epidemic.Start reading here!
Technically, You Started It
A hilarious, snarky, and utterly addicting book that explores friendship, sexual orientation, mental health, and falling in love (even if things might be falling apart around you) with bisexual and demiromantic protagonists. Start reading here!
Muted
A riveting story of ambition, music, and innocence lost - and a deep relationship between two girls who could be something more on their quest for stardom. Start reading here!
The Ghosts We Keep
After their brother is killed, Liam faces the world without the person they loved the most. Their brother’s best friend is the only one who knows what they’re going through…for better or worse. Start reading here!
Lie to Me
A pulse-pounding novel about love, betrayal, and a serial killer that features a bisexual protagonist falling for her best friend. Start reading here!
Here the Whole Time
A body-positive YA love story between two boys who must spend 15 days living with each other over school break. Start reading here!
The Music of What Happens
Over the course of one summer, two boys will have to face their biggest fears and decide what they’re willing to risk – to get the thing they want the most. Start reading here!
Where We Go From Here
A story about three boys whose lives will become intertwined in a story of HIV, friendship, love, and self-acceptance. Start reading here!
Cue Elton John’s “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” because baby, we’re crushing on some heartwarming reads this 2022! Scroll on to find out what they are!
RISE TO THE SUN
Rise to the Sun is the story of two girls hoping to find themselves at Farmland Music & Arts Festival…but finding one another, and the power of music, along the way.
START READING!
Read an excerpt of Rise to the SunandYou Should See Me in a Crown here!
SIMONE BREAKS ALL THE RULES
InSimone Breaks All the Rules,Simone is shaking things up by making a bucket list of everything she hasn’t been able to do thanks to her strict Haitian immigrant parents. But which rules are worth breaking, and which will save her from heartbreak?
START READING!
Read an excerpt of Simone Breaks All the Rules here!
THINGS WE COULDN’T SAY
InThings We Couldn’t Say, just as Gio is owning his bisexual identity, he must also face the return of the mother who abandoned his preacher family when he was nine. He’ll soon find that there are no easy answers to love – whether it’s family love or friend love or romantic love.
START READING:
Read an excerpt of Things We Couldn’t Say here!
FIRE BECOMES HER
InFire Becomes Her, Ingrid doesn’t have a family fortune, monetary or magical, but at least she has a plan: Rise to the top on the arm of Linden Holt, heir to a hefty political legacy and the largest fortune of flare in all of Candesce. Her only obstacle is Linden’s father who refuses to acknowledge her.
START READING:
Read an excerpt of Fire Becomes Her here!
YOU & ME AT THE END OF THE WORLD
InYou & Me at the End of the World, Hannah Ashton wakes up to silence. The entire city around her is empty, except for one other person: Leo Sterling. Leo might be the hottest boy ever (and not just because he’s the only one left), but he’s also too charming, too selfish, and too much of a disaster for his own good, let alone Hannah’s.
START READING:
Read an excerpt of You & Me at the End of the World here!
GOING VIRAL
InGoing Viral, when Claire Draper’s fictional love story goes viral in the wake of a pandemic, the line between reality and fiction is blurred. But will she be able to tell the difference?
START READING:
Read an excerpt of Going Viral here!
HEARTSTOPPER
InHeartstopper, shy and softhearted Charlie Spring sits next to rugby player Nick Nelson in class one morning. A warm and intimate friendship follows, and that soon develops into something more for Charlie, who doesn’t think he has a chance.But Nick is struggling with feelings of his own, and as the two grow closer and take on the ups and downs of high school, they come to understand the surprising and delightful ways in which love works.
Soon to be streaming on Netflix!
START READING:
Read an excerpt of Heartstopper 1-4here!
Celebrate Black History Month this February with these incredible books by Black authors centering Black characters!
Rise to the Sun by Leah Johnson
When Toni and Olivia arrive at Farmland Music and Arts Festival in Rise to the Sun, the last thing they expect is to realize that they’ll need to join forces in order to get what they’re searching for out of the weekend. As they work together, the festival becomes so much more complicated than they bargained for. Olivia and Toni will find that they need each other, and music, more than they ever could have imagined. Start reading!
Simone Breaks All the Rules by Debbie Rigaud
InSimone Breaks All the Rules, Simone is shaking things up by making a bucket list of everything she hasn’t been able to do thanks to her strict Haitian immigrant parents. But which rules are worth breaking, and which will save her from heartbreak? Start reading!
Things We Couldn’t Say by Jay Coles
InThings We Couldn’t Say, just as Gio is owning his bisexual identity, he must also face the return of the mother who abandoned his preacher family when he was nine. He’ll soon find that there are no easy answers to love – whether it’s family love or friend love or romantic love. Start reading!
Muted by Tami Charles
MUTED by Tami Charles is a ripped-from-the-headlines novel of ambition, music, and innocence lost. When Denver sings her way into stardom, the painful sacrifices and lies she has to tell are all worth it…until they’re not. Denver begins to realize that she’s trapped in this world, struggling to hold on to her own voice. As the dream turns into a nightmare, she must make a choice: lose her big break, or get broken. Start reading!
The Life I’m In by Sharon G. Flake
THE LIFE I’M IN by Sharon G. Flake is the powerful and long-anticipated companion to The Skin I’m In, Sharon G. Flake’s bestselling modern classic. It presents the unflinching story of Char, a young woman trapped in the underworld of human trafficking. Flake offers readers another timely and radical story of a girl on the brink and how her choices will lead her to either fall, or fly. Start reading!
Lethal Lit: A Murder of Crows by K. Ancrum
Lethal Lit: A Murder of Crows follows Tig Torres, a Cuban American teen detective, in her hometown of Hollow Falls. In season one of the hit podcast, Tig used her smarts and fearlessness to track down the infamous “Lit Killer,” a serial killer who staged his murders after death scenes from famous books. But there’s no rest for courageous, mystery-solving teens in a place like Hollow Falls, and though the Lit Killer is now behind bars, his protégé, Tig’s classmate and crush Oly, has disappeared. Start reading!
Shuri: A Black Panther Novel by Nic Stone
SHURI by Nic Stone is a Black Panther novel featuring everyone’s favorite genius, princess, and superhero: Shuri! It’s up to Shuri to travel from Wakanda in order to discover what is killing the Heart-Shaped Herb in order to save it, and her people, from destruction. Start reading!
Spin by Lamar Giles
SPIN by Lamar Giles is a page-turning thriller about rising DJ Paris “ParSec” Secord, who is found dead on her turntables. Her former best friend and current groupie must put aside their differences to find the truth behind her murder before it’s too late. Start reading!
Take the Mic, Edited by Bethany C. Morrow
TAKE THE MIC, edited by Bethany C. Morrow, is an anthology of powerful stories of fictional resistance. It includes stories from Keah Brown, Jason Reynolds, L.D. Lewis, and more, with cover and interior illustrations by Richie Pope. Start reading!
You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson
YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN by Leah Johnson is a joyful book about a queer Black girl who runs for Prom Queen to win a college scholarship…but then finds herself falling in love with one of the other girls in the competition! Start reading!
Sorry Not Sorry by Jaime Reed
SORRY NOT SORRY by Jaime Reed! Alyssa and Janelle: friends, then frenemies, then fated to save each other’s lives. Will their bitter past get in the way of their future?Start reading!
Truly Madly Royally by Debbie Rigaud
TRULY MADLY ROYALLY by Debbie Rigaud is a swoon-worthy royal romance about a Black girl working to better her community while at a prestigious summer program, and falling for a boy…who might actually be a real-life prince?!Start reading!
Overwatch: The Hero of Numbani by Nicky Drayden
OVERWATCH: THE HERO OF NUMBANI by Nicky Drayden! When the technologically advanced African city of Numbani is threatened, robot inventor Efi Oladele must build her greatest creation yet – a guardian robot to protect the city and save its citizens, before it’s too late! Start reading!
Untwine by Edwidge Danticat
UNTWINE by Edwidge Danticat is a haunting and mesmerizing story about sisterhood, family, love, and loss. When Giselle wakes up in the hospital unable to speak or move, she must revisit her past in order to have the strength to start the path of recovery. Start reading!
THE HAUNTING SEASON IS HERE AND THE WOLVES ARE AWAKE.
PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY - ON SALE 7/26/22!
IndieBound | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | Walmart |Bookshop.org| Google Play | Apple Books | Kobo
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Haelsford, Florida is a Hellmouth. Or at least, that’s what Logan, a new witch struggling to control her powers, thinks as she arrives to begin the new school year at Mesmortes Coven Academy. She is immediately taken under the wing of the infamous Red Three. Iris, a deathwitch, who wants nothing more than to break the town’s curse; Thalia, the talented greenwitch, is on the run from her religious family and a past that still haunts her; and Jailah is one of the most powerful witches at the academy but her thirst for power may lead her down a dark path.
With the Haunting Season approaching, Wolves will soon rise from the swamp to kill and the humans and witches must work together to survive the yearly onslaught. And the stakes couldn’t be higher as two boys from the Hammersmitt School prepare to make their first sacrifices to the witches in exchange for protection.
But old dangers lie in wait and the cost to break the curse may be greater than any witch or human could ever know.
Sometimes the darkest secrets lurk in broad daylight…
PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY:
IndieBound|Amazon|Barnes & Noble|Books-a-Million|Target |Google Play|Kobo|Apple Books
ABOUT THE BOOK, ON SALE AUGUST 16th:
Mars has always been the lesser twin, the shadow to his sister Caroline’s radiance. But when Caroline dies under horrific circumstances, Mars is propelled to learn all he can about his once-inseparable sister who’d grown tragically distant.
Mars’s genderfluidity means he’s often excluded from the traditions – and expectations – of his politically-connected family. This includes attendance at the prestigious Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy where his sister poured so much of her time. But with his grief still fresh, he insists on attending in her place.
What Mars finds is a bucolic fairytale not meant for him. Folksy charm and sun-drenched festivities camouflage old-fashioned gender roles and a toxic preparatory rigor. Mars seeks out his sister’s old friends: a group of girls dubbed the Honeys, named for the beehives they maintain behind their cabin. They are beautiful and terrifying – and Mars is certain they’re connected to Caroline’s death.
But the longer he stays at Aspen, the more the sweet mountain breezes give way to hints of decay. Mars’s memories begin to falter, bleached beneath the relentless summer sun. Something is hunting him in broad daylight, toying with his mind. If Mars can’t find it soon, it will eat him alive.
READ THE OPENING CHAPTER HERE!
fromml.books
It’s National Get Caught Reading month! How will you celebrate? (Need some ideas?)
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100 Days of Productivity Challenge
2021, Day 1/100
5 Jan 21
Almost a week into the new year, and I’m excited to be back at work tomorrow! I spent today organising a list of books I’m hoping to get to this year, and started reading A Man Called Ove. Also, in procrastinating my work, I picked up this old book of essays on Jane Austen’s Emma, which led me to a quote I found so interesting!
Horace Walpole on Austen: ‘This world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel. Jane Austen’s novels are comedies, and can have little appeal to those who … believe thought inferior to feeling.’
My first thought when reading that quote was this: there’s two types of people in this world … thinkers (Austen lovers), and feelers (Bronte lovers). I like to think I’m a bit of both (though I’m definitely more of a feeler). I enjoyed studying Austen for her witty narration that turned the entire book of Emmainto a work of comedic irony exposing the triviality of gossip and parochialism. However, I found it so hard to get through, and not an enjoyable read. Jane Eyre, on the other hand, I simply loved. I was captivated and emotionally moved by it, and would consider it one of my favourite classics.
Sorry for the nerdy side-track. Would love to hear your thoughts!
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100 Days of Productivity ~ 24 December 2020
Uni has been wrapped up for the year, and I’ve been working full time!
Today is the perfect admin day - I’m working from home, so can attend to a bunch of little things that have been sitting around. My first task of the day was completely reorganising my room (which I’m very excited about) … next up is a reorganisation of the bookshelves! But first, it’s responding-to-emails time.
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Best Feel-Good Books
These books will help you with your stress and anxiety:
• Beach Read by Emily Henry
• The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams
• The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazel
• The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren
• By A Thread by Lucy Score
All these books are amazing.
And if you want more suggestions you can click here
10 Best Feel-Good Books to read (Awesome Reads) - Favbookshelf
I have started Poppy war and like I get its super famous and won awards and has meaningful content and the writing style is amazing and pressing. But wow it’s so stressful and I just read the first two chapters! I couldn’t stop but when I did I couldn’t get back and now I feel guilt, cause this is def a good book, but idk if I can handle such a level of angst, when it’s only going to get worse.
