This page is a list of books with South Asian protagonists and/or written by South Asian authors. South Asia includes: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan (and more, these are just the countries I currently have books for). 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
Afghanistan
| book | information |
|---|---|
| The Lines We Cross by Randa Abdel-Fattah | rep: Afghan protagonist; author of Palestinian and Egyptian descent genre: contemporary setting: Australia |
Bangladesh
| book | information |
|---|---|
| The Love & Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan | rep: ownvoices lesbian Bengali-American protagonist genre: contemporary setting: U.S., Bangladesh |
| The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar (out May 5, 2020) | rep: ownvoices lesbian Irish Bengali protagonist, bisexual biracial (Afro-Brazilian, white) love interest, Bengali-Irish side character, Korean-Irish side character genre: contemporary setting: Ireland |
| You Bring the Distant Near by Mitali Perkins | rep: ownvoices Bengali protagonists genre: historical setting: Bangladesh, England, U.S. |
India
MIDDLE GRADE
| book | information |
|---|---|
| The Pandava Quartet by Roshani Chokshi (read my review of book two here) | rep: Indian-American protagonist and main characters, ownvoices biracial (Indian, Filipino) main character genre: fantasy setting: U.S. |
YOUNG ADULT
contemporary
| book | information |
|---|---|
| Love, Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed | rep: ownvoices Indian-American protagonist genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Saints and Misfits by S.K. Ali | rep: ownvoices Indian-American protagonist genre: contemporary setting: U.S. tw: sexual assault |
| A Match Made in Mehendi by Nandini Bajpai | rep: ownvoices Indian-American protagonist genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena | rep: ownvoices Indian protagonists genre: contemporary setting: Saudi Arabia |
| The Beauty of the Moment by Tanaz Bhathena (read my review here) | rep: ownvoices Indian/Indian-Canadian protagonists and characters genre: contemporary setting: Canada |
| Symptoms of a Heartbreak by Sona Charaipotra | rep: ownvoices Indian-American protagonist genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Enter Title Here by Rahul Kanakia | rep: ownvoices Indian-American protagonist genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| We Are Totally Normal by Rahul Kanakia | rep: ownvoices questioning Indian-American protagonist genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon | rep: ownvoices Indian-American protagonists and characters genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| From Twinkle, with Love by Sandhya Menon | rep: ownvoices Indian-American protagonists and characters genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| There’s Something about Sweetie by Sandhya Menon | rep: ownvoices Indian-American protagonists and characters genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| 10 Things I Hate about Pinky by Sandhya Menon (out July 21, 2020) | rep: ownvoices Indian-American protagonists and characters genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon | rep: ownvoices Indian-American protagonist and side character genre: contemporary, fantasy elements setting: U.S. |
| Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi (read my review here) | rep: wlw Indian/Persian-American protagonist, wlw Jewish/Mexican-American protagonist genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| My So-Called Bollywood Life by Nisha Sharma | rep: ownvoices Indian protagonist genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Don’t Read the Comments by Eric Smith | rep: Indian-American protagonist, biracial (Honduran, Palestinian) protagonist genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Small Town Hearts by Lillie Vale (read my review here) | rep: ownvoices bisexual protagonist; author of Indian descent genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
fantasy / science fiction
| book | information |
|---|---|
| The Candle and the Flame by Nafiza Azad (read my review here) | rep: ownvoices Asian-inspired genre: fantasy |
| Hunted by the Sky by Tanaz Bhathena (out June 23, 2020) | rep: ownvoices Indian inspiration genre: fantasy |
| The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi | rep: ownvoices Indian inspiration genre: fantasy |
| A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi | rep: ownvoices Indian inspiration genre: fantasy |
| The Gilded Wolves trilogy by Roshani Chokshi (read my reviews of book one and book two) | rep: ownvoices Indian (Tamil) protagonist, biracial (Algerian, French) protagonist, bisexual biracial (Filipino (ownvoices), Spanish) protagonist, Jewish protagonist, mlm biracial (Haitian, French) main character genre: historical fantasy setting: France, Russia |
| The Library of Fates by Aditi Khorana | rep: ownvoices Indian inspiration genre: fantasy |
| The Celestial Trilogy by Sangu Mandanna (read my reviews of book one and book two) | rep: ownvoices Indian inspiration genre: fantasy |
| Timekeeper duology by Tara Sim | rep: bisexual protagonist; author of Indian descent genre: fantasy |
| Scavenge the Stars by Tara Sim | rep: bisexual protagonist, gay love interest; author of Indian descent genre: fantasy |
| The Tiger at Midnight trilogy by Swati Teerdhala | rep: ownvoices Indian inspiration genre: fantasy |
| Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar (out August 25, 2020) | rep: ownvoices Indian inspiration genre: fantasy |
| Internment by Samira Ahmed | rep: ownvoices Indian-American protagonist genre: science fiction |
ADULT
romance
| book | information |
|---|---|
| The Marriage Game by Sara Desai (out June 9, 2020) | rep: ownvoices Indian-American protagonists genre: romance setting: U.S. |
| Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev | rep: ownvoices Indian-American protagonist and characters genre: romance setting: U.S. |
| Ayesha At Last by Uzma Jalaluddin | rep: ownvoices Indian protagonists genre: romance setting: Canada |
| Grown-Up Pose by Sonya Lalli | rep: ownvoices Indian-Canadian protagonist genre: romance setting: Canada |
| The Trouble with Hating You by Sajni Patel (out May 12, 2020) | rep: ownvoices Indian-American protagonists genre: romance setting: U.S. |
| The Marriage Clock by Zara Raheem | rep: ownvoices Indian-American protagonist genre: romance setting: U.S. |
fantasy
| book | information |
|---|---|
| Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho | rep: Indian protagonist, Black main character; Malaysian author genre: historical fantasy setting: England |
| Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri | rep: ownvoices Indian inspiration genre: fantasy |
| Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri (read my review here) | rep: ownvoices Indian inspiration genre: fantasy |
| The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri (out 2021) | rep: ownvoices Indian inspiration; wlw protagonists genre: fantasy |
Pakistan
MIDDLE GRADE
| book | information |
|---|---|
| Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan | rep: ownvoices Pakistani-American protagonist genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| More to the Story by Hena Khan | rep: ownvoices Pakistani-American protagonist genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Amal Unbound by Aisha Saeed | rep: ownvoices Pakistani protagonist and characters genre: contemporary setting: Pakistan |
YOUNG ADULT
contemporary
| 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. |
| That Thing We Call a Heart by Sheba Karim | rep: ownvoices Pakistani-American protagonist genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Mariam Sharma Hits the Road by Sheba Karim | rep: ownvoices Pakistani-American protagonist and main character, Indian-Pakistani main character genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
| Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed | rep: ownvoices Pakistani-American protagonist genre: contemporary setting: Pakistan tw: rape |
| Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed | rep: ownvoices Pakistani-American protagonist genre: contemporary setting: U.S. |
fantasy / science fiction
| book | information |
|---|---|
| An Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir | rep: Pakistani-American author genre: fantasy |
magical reads 