May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which celebrates their accomplishments. So this month, we are highlighting five books from five Asian authors.

From heartwarming rom-coms to spine chilling thrillers, here are five books you can read to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

If You Could See The Sun – Ann Liang

What would you do if you gained the ability to become invisible? For Alice Sun, learning the scandalous secrets of her classmates for profit. Learning that her parents can no longer afford to send her to the prestigious international boarding school of Airington, she uses her newfound powers of uncontrollable invisibility for profit. Teaming up with her academic rival, sworn enemy and heir to the second biggest tech company, Henry Li, she starts taking anonymous requests from students for money. Ranging from catching cheaters in the act to deleting photos off someone else’s phone, Alice doesn’t want to but she needs to. But staying on top of her studies, relationships, and completing potentially illegal tasks with an uncontrollable power, to pay for her last semester takes more stress and effort than even extremely studious Alice can handle. Can Alice soar above it all? Or will she fly too close to the sun?

Rated 4.1 stars out of 5 on Goodreads, as well as receiving a nomination for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction, on her debut novel, Ann Liang will take you on a ride of elite boarding schools, scandalous secrets, class commentary and academic rivalry turned into romance.

The Boy with Fire – Aparna Verma

Described by author Aparna Verma as “a magical conglomeration of Dune, Hindu mythology, Game of Thrones, and ATLA.” “The Boy with Fire” is a multi-POV high fantasy novel, set in the world of Sayon and focuses on the kingdom of Ravence. We follow Yasseen Knight, a previously notorious assassin now protecting the heir of the kingdom for his freedom. Elena Ravence, heir to the throne, trained and ready in all aspects except for the fact she cannot hold fire, and with the coronation looming near, her time to learn is running out. Leo Malhi Ravence, a king not ready to let go of his crown, a prophecy threatening to tarnish his legacy and lifetime’s work, how far will he go to keep his work and legacy intact?

Rated 3.8 stars out of 5 on Goodreads, “The Boy with Fire” is an ambitious debut full of morally gray characters, ancient prophecies, and an enemies to lovers subplot. All wrapped up in a positively enchanting culturally rich and engrossing fantasy world that’s sure to suck you in.

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before – Jenny Han

You may already recognize the name from its hugely popular film adaptations “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before.” It’s the first book of a series of the same name from Korean-American author Jenny Han. The book centers on half Korean-American Lara Jean Song Convey, a hopeless romantic. Lara Jean writes love letters to all the boys she has loved with no intention of ever sending them to their recipients. But she discovers that the letters were somehow mailed. Wanting to avoid all the attention coming her way, Lara Jean decides to enter a fake relationship with Peter Kavinsky, one of the boys she’s written a letter to. Lara Jean will have to navigate both the fallout of the letters escaping out to the world and her blossoming feelings for Peter.

Rated 4.1 stars out of 5 on Goodreads, this quirky and cute high-school romance is perfect for a light read to pick up your heart and lift up your spirits!

The Girl from the Well – Rin Chupeco

For those looking for a scare, “The Girl from the Well” by Rin Chupeco is the perfect book to read under dim lights and quiet nights.

Three hundred years ago, a girl named Okiku was brutally killed and dumped in a well in Japan. She now roams the streets to exact vengeance on those who harm children, wishing to free their spirits. One day she drifts past a teenage boy, Tarquin Halloway, covered in mysterious tattoos, and soon discovers that a lady in black and a smiling man are focused on Tarquin for their own means, and decides to protect him. Tarquin can see Okiku and other spirits, and something clearly has happened to him, and the answer is a mystery waiting to get out. The book shifts perspectives from the sarcastic Tarquin, his brave and determined sister, and the vengeful Okiku. Okiku’s perspective is a particular highlight when there is impending death, referring to herself as “I” when she stalks her prey.

Rated 3.8 stars out of 5 on Goodreads, Rin Chupeco’s “The Girl from the Well”  is a creepy read with a strong atmosphere, intriguing plot and mysteries begging to be solved and Japanese folklore.

Crying in H Mart – Michelle Zauner

In her 2021 debut book “Crying in H Mart,” author Michelle Zauner discusses her relationship with her mother, her mother’s deterioration from cancer, her death, and the impact that it left on Zauner. Fans of the band Japanese Breakfast may recognize Zauner as the frontwoman of the alternative indie-pop project. They may also be familiar with the material, with Zauner having written prominently about her mother’s death on the band’s 2016 debut album “Psychopomp.” But in her memoir, Zauner has more room to talk about things, inserting humorous anecdotes, thought-provoking insights, and room to talk about her adolescence, being one of the few Asian-American kids at her school. All told to the reader with a wealth of wit and heart. 

This book received the Goodreads Choice Award for Memoir and Autobiography in 2021 and a 4.4 out of 5 stars rating on the site “Crying in H Mart” is an intimate memoir and examination of one’s grief, sometimes feeling less like it was written for others’ eyes and more just for Zauner herself. The ending creates a poignant and evocative memoir that’s a total page turner.