This page is a list of books with East Asian protagonists and/or written by East Asian authors. East Asia includes: China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. Each category is split into age range and genre.
A table of contents can be found below. If you would like to submit a book to add a book to this list, please see the form in the original post.
CORRECTION FORM
I haven’t read a lot of these books, so some of the listed representation may be wrong or vague. Please submit any corrections to these books! Note that: New submissions should be submitted in the form in the original post, not this one. You can also contact me by email here.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
bold = series
books of a series listed individually = can be read as a standalone
East Asia
YOUNG ADULT
| book | information |
|---|---|
| The Reader trilogy by Traci Chee | rep: ownvoices East Asian-coded protagonist; author of Chinese and Japanese descent genre: fantasy |
| Forest of a Thousand Lanterns by Julie C. Dao (read my review here) | rep: East Asian inspiration; Vietnamese-American author genre: fantasy |
| Kingdom of the Blazing Phoenix by Julie C. Dao | rep: East Asian inspiration; Vietnamese-American author genre: fantasy |
| Ignite the Stars duology by Maura Milan (read my review of book two here) | rep: ownvoices East Asian-coded protagonists; Filipino author genre: science fiction |
| The Girl King duology by Mimi Yu | rep: ownvoices East Asian inspiration genre: fantasy |
| Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao (out 2021) | rep: ownvoices East Asian inspiration genre: fantasy |
ADULT
| book | information |
|---|---|
| The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee (read my reviews of book one and book two) | rep: ownvoices East Asian-coded protagonists; Chinese-American author genre: fantasy |
| The Machineries of Empire by Yoon Ha Lee | rep: East Asian-coded characters; Korean-American author genre: science fiction |
China
MIDDLE GRADE
| book | information |
|---|---|
| Stargazing by Jen Wang | rep: Chinese-American protagonists; Taiwanese-American author genre: contemporary, graphic novel setting: U.S. |
| Front Desk duology by Kelly Yang | rep: ownvoices Chinese-American protagonist genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
YOUNG ADULT
contemporary / historical / horror / mystery
| book | information |
|---|---|
| Love from A to Z by S.K. Ali | rep: biracial (Chinese, white) protagonist, Pakistani/Guyanese/Trinidadian-American protagonist genre: contemporary setting: Qatar, U.S. |
| North of Beautiful by Justina Chen | rep: adopted ownvoices Chinese-American main character/love interest genre: contemporary setting: U.S., China cw: verbal abuse, parental abuse |
| The Secret of a Heart Note by Stacey Lee (read my review here) | rep: multiracial protagonist, lesbian Samoan side character genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Noteworthy by Riley Redgate | rep: ownvoices bisexual Chinese-American protagonist, Japanese-American love interest, Indian-American side character genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Seven Ways We Lie by Riley Redgate | rep: pansexual protagonist; bisexual author of Chinese descent genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen (read my review here) | rep: ownvoices Chinese-American protagonist and characters genre: contemporary setting: Taiwan |
| Parachutes by Kelly Yang (out May 26, 2020) | rep: ownvoices Chinese/Chinese-American protagonists genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee | rep: ownvoices Chinese-American protagonist, Black main character genre: historical setting: U.S. |
| Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee | rep: ownvoices Chinese-American protagonist and side characters genre: historical setting: U.S. |
| The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee (read my review here) | rep: ownvoices Chinese-American protagonist and main character genre: historical setting: U.S. |
| Shadow Girl by Liana Liu | rep: ownvoices Chinese-American protagonist genre: horror setting: U.S. |
| A Line in the Dark by Malinda Lo | rep: ownvoices lesbian Chinese-American protagonist genre: mystery setting: U.S. |
fantasy / science fiction
| book | information |
|---|---|
| These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong (out November 17, 2020) | rep: ownvoices Chinese protagonist genre: historical fantasy |
| Stronger than a Bronze Dragon by Mary Fan | rep: ownvoices Chinese inspiration genre: fantasy |
| Descendant of the Crane by Joan He (read my review here) | rep: ownvoices Chinese inspiration genre: fantasy |
| The Girl from Everywhere duology by Heidi Heilig | rep: ownvoices biracial (Chinese, white) protagonist, Persian side character/love interest genre: fantasy |
| The Blood of Stars series by Elizabeth Lim (read my review here) | rep: ownvoices Chinese inspiration genre: fantasy |
| Ash by Malinda Lo | rep: ownvoices lesbian Chinese-coded protagonist genre: fantasy |
| Silver Phoenix duology by Cindy Pon | rep: ownvoices Chinese inspiration genre: fantasy |
| Serpentine duology by Cindy Pon | rep: ownvoices Chinese inspiration genre: fantasy |
| The Epic Crush of Genie Lo duology by F.C. Yee (read my reviews of book one and book two) | rep: ownvoices Chinese-American protagonist, main character, and side characters genre: fantasy |
| Warcross duology by Marie Lu | rep: ownvoices Chinese-American protagonist, Japanese side character/love interest genre: science fiction setting: Japan |
| Rebelwing duology by Andrea Tang | rep: ownvoices Chinese protagonist genre: science fiction |
ADULT
contemporary / historical / romance
| book | information |
|---|---|
| The Wangs vs. the World by Jade Chang | rep: ownvoices Chinese-American protagonists genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng | rep: ownvoices Chinese-American protagonist, biracial (Chinese, white) protagonists genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng | rep: ownvoices Chinese side character genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| French Concession by Xiao Bai | rep: ownvoices Chinese characters genre: historical setting: China |
| Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune by Roselle Lim | rep: ownvoices Chinese-American protagonist and characters genre: romance setting: U.S. |
| Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop by Roselle Lim (out August 4, 2020) | rep: ownvoices Chinese-American protagonist genre: romance setting: France |
fantasy / science fiction
| book | information |
|---|---|
| The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen Cho (out June 23, 2020) | rep: Chinese-coded characters, nonbinary protagonist, gay side characters genre: fantasy |
| Burning Roses by S.L. Huang (out September 29, 2020) | rep: ownvoices wlw Chinese-coded protagonists genre: fantasy |
| The Poppy War trilogy by R.F. Kuang (read my reviews of book one and book two) | rep: ownvoices Chinese inspiration genre: fantasy cw: self-harm, suicide, rape, sexual assault , murder, infanticide, mutilation, torture, drug use, familial abuse, emotional abuse, human experimentation, chemical warfare, genocide |
| The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart (out September 8, 2020) | rep: ownvoices Chinese inspiration genre: fantasy |
| She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan (out 2021) | rep: ownvoices Chinese inspiration genre: historical fantasy setting: China |
| An Excess Male by Maggie Shen King | rep: Chinese characters; Taiwanese author genre: science fiction setting: China |
| Invisible Planets: Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction in Translation edited and translated by Ken Liu | rep: ownvoices Chinese characters genre: science fiction authors: Chen Qiufan, Xia Jia, Ma Bo Yong, Hao Jingfang, Tang Fei, Cheng Jingbo, Liu Cixin |
| Broken Stars: Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction in Translation edited and translated by Ken Liu | rep: ownvoices Chinese characters genre: science fiction authors: Xia Jia, Zhang Ran, Tang Fei, Han Song, Cheng Jingbo, Baoshu, Hao Jingfang, Fei Dao, Liu Cixin, Anna Wu, Ma Bo Yong, Gu Shi, Regina Kanyu Want, Chen Qiufan, and Mingwei Song |
Japan
YOUNG ADULT
contemporary / historical / mystery
| book | information |
|---|---|
| Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman (read my review here) | rep: ownvoices biracial (Japanese, white) protagonist with anxiety genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman | rep: ownvoices aromantic asexual biracial (Japanese, white) protagonist; Hawaiian, Japanese, Korean, Samoan, Filipino, Black side characters genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Harley in the Sky by Akemi Dawn Bowman (read my review here) | rep: mutliracial (Japanese, Chinese, white) protagonist with depression, side character/love interest with anxiety genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn (read my review here) | rep: ownvoices Japanese-American protagonist, Japanese love interest genre: contemporary setting: Japan |
| It’s Not Like It’s a Secret by Misa Sugiura | rep: wlw ownvoices Japanese-American protagonist, wlw Mexican-American love interest genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| This Time Will Be Different by Misa Sugiura | rep: ownvoices Japanese-American protagonist, bisexual love interest genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki | rep: biracial (East Asian, white) lesbian protagonist, lesbian love interest, gay character, Black gay character, Black wlw characters, lesbian character; Japanese-Canadian author genre: contemporary, graphic novel setting: U.S. |
| This Light Between Us by Andrew Fukuda | rep: ownvoices Japanese-American protagonist genre: historical setting; U.S. |
| Ink and Ashes by Valynne Maetani | rep: ownvoices Japanese protagonist genre: mystery setting: U.S. |
fantasy / science fiction
| book | information |
|---|---|
| Empress of All Seasons by Emiko Jean | rep: ownvoices Japanese inspiration genre: fantasy |
| The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa | genre: fantasy |
| Blood of Eden series by Julie Kagawa | rep: ownvoices Japanese-American protagonist genre: fantasy |
| Shadow of the Fox series by Julie Kagawa | rep: ownvoices Japanese inspiration genre: fantasy |
| Seven Deadly Shadows by Valynne Maetani and Courtney Alameda | rep: ownvoices Japanese inspiration genre: fantasy |
| The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall (out May 5, 2020) | rep: ownvoices queer Japanese-coded protagonist, Black-coded protagonist genre: fantasy |
| The Infinity Courts by Akemi Dawn Bowman (out 2021) | rep: ownvoices Japanese-American protagonist genre: science fiction |
ADULT
| book | information |
|---|---|
| Heroine Complex series by Sarah Kuhn (read my reviews of book three and the novella) | rep: ownvoices biracial (Japanese, white) protagonist (book 1); Chinese-American protagonist (book 2); bisexual biracial (Japanese, white) protagonist, Japanese-American love interest, biracial (Japanese, Black) side character genre: fantasy setting: U.S. |
Korea
MIDDLE GRADE
contemporary
| book | information |
|---|---|
| Clara Lee and the Apple Pie Dream by Jenny Han | rep: ownvoices Korean-American protagonist genre: contemporary |
fantasy
| book | information |
|---|---|
| Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee | rep: ownvoices Korean protagonist and inspiration genre: fantasy, science fiction |
YOUNG ADULT
contemporary / historical
| book | information |
|---|---|
| Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi | rep: ownvoices Korean-American protagonist genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Permanent Record by Mary H.K. Choi (read my review here) | rep: ownvoices biracial (ownvoices Korean, Pakistani) protagonist, biracial (Mexican, white) love interest genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Since You Asked by Maurene Goo | rep: ownvoices Korean-American protagonist genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo (read my review here) | rep: ownvoices Korean-American protagonist, lesbian Mexican-American side character genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| The Way You Make Me Feel by Maurene Goo | rep: ownvoices Korean-American protagonist, Chinese-American love interest genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo (read my review here) | rep: ownvoices Korean-American protagonists genre: contemporary setting: Hong Kong |
| To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before trilogy by Jenny Han (read my review of book three here) | rep: biracial (ownvoices Korean, white) protagonist and side characters genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| I’ll Be the One by Lyla Lee (read my review here) | rep: ownvoices bisexual Korean-American protagonist and love interest genre: contemporary setting: South Korea |
| The Perfect Escape by Suzanne Park (read my review here) | rep: ownvoices Korean-American protagonist genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Made in Korea by Sarah Suk (out 2021) | rep: ownvoices Korean-American protagonist genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Frankly in Love by David Yoon | rep: ownvoices Korean-American protagonist genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Super Fake Love Song by David Yoon (out November 17, 2020) | rep: ownvoices Korean-American protagonist genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| The Silence of Bones by June Hur | rep: ownvoices Korean protagonist genre: historical setting: Korea |
fantasy / science fiction
| book | information |
|---|---|
| Gumiho duology by Kat Cho (read my review here) | rep: ownvoices Korean protagonists and characters genre: fantasy setting: South Korea |
| The Dragon King Chronicles by Ellen Oh | rep: ownvoices Korean inspiration genre: fantasy |
| Toxic by Lydia Kang | rep: ownvoices Korean protagonist genre: science fiction |
| Rebel Seoul duology by Axie Oh | rep: ownvoices Korean protagonists and characters genre: science fiction |
ADULT
romance
| book | information |
|---|---|
| A Sweet Mess by Jayci Lee | rep: ownvoices Korean-American protagonists genre: romance setting: U.S. |
| Loathe at First Sight by Suzanne Park | rep: ownvoices Korean-American protagonist genre: romance setting: U.S. |
fantasy / science fiction
| book | information |
|---|---|
| Phoenix Extravagant by Yoon Ha Lee (out October 20, 2020) | rep: ownvoices Korean-coded characters genre: fantasy, science fiction |
Taiwan
YOUNG ADULT
contemporary
| book | information |
|---|---|
| American Panda by Gloria Chao (read my review here) | rep: ownvoices Taiwanese-American protagonist, Japanese-American love interest genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Our Wayward Fate by Gloria Chao | rep: ownvoices Taiwanese-American protagonist and love interest genre: contemporary setting: U.S., Taiwan |
| Rent a Boyfriend by Gloria Chao (out September 1, 2020) | rep: ownvoices Taiwanese-American protagonist and love interest genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan | rep: biracial (ownvoices Taiwanese, white) protagonist, Taiwanese characters genre: contemporary setting: Taiwan cw: suicide, depression |
science fiction
| book | information |
|---|---|
| Want duology by Cindy Pon (read my review of book one here) | rep: ownvoices Taiwanese protagonist and main characters, Filipino side character, Indian side character genre: science fiction setting: Taiwan |
magical reads 