Celebrating AAPI Romance Books❤️
6 Books To Check Out
As May's Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month comes to a close, I've been reflecting on how I can better incorporate diverse voices into my reading life all year long. While researching this article, I was struck by the persistent need to actively seek out authors from different backgrounds, even within beloved genres like romance. It’s not always easy to find diversity, because these are not the books being pushed by traditional publishing.
According to the latest Lee & Low Books Diversity Baseline Survey, Asian/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander authors make up only 7.8% of the publishing industry workforce despite steady growth over recent years from the 7% reported in both 2015 and 2019 surveys Diversity Baseline Survey 3.0 - Lee & Low Books. This underrepresentation is particularly striking when considering the rich narrative traditions and cultural perspectives these communities bring to storytelling.
Even more concerning, while Asian American contributors constitute 6.9% of all creative contributors in publishing (slightly higher than their 5.6% representation in the general population) How Represented are Asian Americans in Publishing? (2019), this statistic masks significant disparities within the broader AAPI community, with Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians particularly underrepresented.
The romantic stories we read shape how we understand love, connection, and relationships across cultures. That's why I'm dedicating this newsletter to highlighting some incredible romance titles by AAPI authors that deserve a place on your bookshelf.
These books not only have swoony moments and satisfying HEA but also provide windows into experiences that might differ from mine and your own—or mirrors that reflect your experiences in ways the trending mainstream books often overlook.
As readers, our choices matter.
When we diversify our bookshelves, we send a powerful message to publishers about whose stories we want to be told. I hope these recommendations will inspire you to explore beyond familiar territory and discover new favorite authors who might just change how you see the world—one love story at a time.
Now for some recommendations…
Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases—a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.
It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice—with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can't afford to turn down Stella's offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan—from foreplay to more-than-missionary position...
Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but crave all of the other things he's making her feel. Their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic...
Check it out HERE.
Helen Zhang hasn’t seen Grant Shepard once in the thirteen years since the tragic accident that bound their lives together forever.
Now a bestselling author, Helen pours everything into her career. She’s even scored a coveted spot in the writers’ room of the TV adaptation of her popular young adult novels, and if she can hide her imposter syndrome and overcome her writer’s block, surely the rest of her life will fall into place too. LA is the fresh start she needs. After all, no one knows her there. Except…
Grant has done everything in his power to move on from the past, including building a life across the country. And while the panic attacks have never quite gone away, he’s well liked around town as a screenwriter. He knows he shouldn’t have taken the job on Helen’s show, but it will open doors to developing his own projects that he just can’t pass up.
Grant’s exactly as Helen remembers him—charming, funny, popular, and lovable in ways that she’s never been. And Helen’s exactly as Grant remembers too—brilliant, beautiful, closed off. But working together is messy, and electrifying, and Helen’s parents, who have never forgiven Grant, have no idea he’s in the picture at all.
When secrets come to light, they must reckon with the fact that theirs was never meant to be any kind of love story. And yet… the key to making peace with their past—and themselves—might just lie in holding on to each other in the present.
I lucked out and recently found this at a library sale! It on sale right now (at time of writing this) for only $1.99 for the e-book.
One mysterious mansion. Two rival journalists. Three weeks to uncover the story—and love—of a lifetime.
Obituary writer Nadine Barbault doesn't mind being called "Lady Death." It suits the ice queen persona she's cultivated to survive the fast-paced Toronto Herald. So when Nadine learns that famous (and reclusive) author Dot Voline has died, she doesn't hesitate to run the obituary…only to discover that Dot is very much alive.
Nadine's screw-up has brought Wesley Chen of the rival Spear no end of joy—she's been a thorn in his extremely ambitious side for years. But the renewed interest in Dot also surfaced chatter about a mysterious past scandal. Intrigued, Wes goes to the source to learn more—only to discover Nadine had the exact same idea…and the infuriating woman isn't willing to respect dibs. Typical.
At first, Dot refuses to speak to either of the squabbling pair, but then they receive an unusual request—work together, and Dot will share everything. The offer seems too good to be true…and of course, it is: in a bitter twist of irony, Dot dies for real before she can finish recounting her story. Not all is lost, however. The estate's executor allows Wes and Nadine access to Dot's sprawling wonderland of a mansion for three weeks to find their answer. That's three weeks of working together…three weeks of endless sweltering in tight spaces…three weeks of learning there could be something more between them than a desire to win at any cost.
And maybe, just maybe, under the rubble of all those could-have-beens they'll uncover more than the secret of Dot Voline's long-ago scandal—and Lady Dearth will finally embrace what she's wanted from life all along.
This brand new release on is on my kindle and I can’t wait to get to it!
Check it out HERE.
Yash Raje, California’s first Indian-American gubernatorial candidate, has always known exactly what he wants - and how to use his privileged background to get it. He attributes his success to a simple mantra: control your feelings and you can control the world. But when a hate crime at a rally critically injures his friend, Yash’s easy life suddenly feels like a lie, his control an illusion. When he tries to get back on the campaign trail, he blacks out with panic.
Desperate to keep Yash’s condition from leaking to the media, his family turns to the one person they trust - his sister’s best friend, India Dashwood, California’s foremost stress management coach. Raised by a family of yoga teachers, India has helped San Francisco’s high strung overachievers for a decade without so much as altering her breath. But this man - with his boundless ambition, simmering intensity, and absolute faith in his political beliefs - is like no other.
Yash has spent a lifetime repressing everything to succeed, including their one magical night ten years ago - a too brief, too bright passion that if rekindled threatens to destroy the dream he’s willingly shouldered for his family and communit...until now.
Check it out HERE.
When it comes to bread, Reena Manji knows exactly what she's doing. She treats her sourdough starters like (somewhat unruly) children. But when it comes to Reena's actual family—and their constant meddling in her life—well, that recipe always ends in disaster.
Now Reena's parents have found her yet another potential Good Muslim Husband. This one has the body of Captain America, a delicious British accent, and lives right across the hall. He's the perfect, mouthwatering temptation . . . and completely ruined by the unwelcome side dish of parental interference.
Reena refuses to marry anyone who works for her father. She won't be attracted to Nadim's sweet charm or gorgeous lopsided smile. That is, until the baking opportunity of a lifetime presents itself: a couples' cooking competition with the prize of her dreams. Reena will do anything to win—even asking Nadim to pretend they're engaged. But when it comes to love, baking your bread doesn't always mean you get to eat it too.
Check it out HERE.
A gym nemesis pushes a fitness influencer to the max in Amy Lea’s steamy debut romantic comedy.
Curvy fitness influencer Crystal Chen built her career shattering gym stereotypes and mostly ignoring the trolls. After her recent breakup, she has little stamina left for men, instead finding solace in the gym – her place of power and positivity.
Enter firefighter Scott Ritchie, the smug new gym patron who routinely steals her favorite squat rack. Sparks fly as these ultra-competitive foes battle for gym domination. But after a series of escalating jabs, the last thing they expect is to run into each other at their grandparents' engagement party.
In the lead up to their grandparents' wedding, Crystal discovers there’s a soft heart under Scott’s muscled exterior. Bonding over family, fitness, and cheesy pick-up lines, they just might have found her swolemate. But when a photo of them goes viral, savage internet trolls put their budding relationship to the ultimate test of strength.
Check it out HERE.
What AAPI romance authors are you already reading? Please, if you know any any AAPI indie authors I can highlight, please let me know.
Drop me a comment and let me know whose work you've loved! Let’s help champion these amazing stories.
What I’m drinking this week.☕🫖
What I’m reading. 📖
So far, I’m about half way in and loving this book.
Happy reading,
Melissa
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