New Books for AAPI Heritage Month 2026
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and this May is delivering an irresistible lineup of new books for AAPI Heritage Month 2026. Whether you’re in the mood for dark psychological suspense, a swoony romance, or a second-chance love story, there’s something for you. Here are five new 2026 releases I recommend that you add to your TBR right now.
New Books for AAPI Heritage Month 2026
These are both books I’ve read, and books on my TBR. If you’ve read them, tell me what you thought in the comments!
Boring Asian Female by Canwen Xu
This darkly funny debut features a main character who’s totally unhinged yet somehow relatable.
Elizabeth Zhang has a 3.9 GPA from Columbia and dreams of attending Harvard Law. But Harvard rejects her and gives the spot she thinks she deserves to her classmate Laura Kim instead.
Elizabeth’s shock morphs quickly into obsession: what does Laura have that she doesn’t? What starts as curiosity spirals into something far more unhinged and dangerous. If you love an unreliable, morally messy protagonist, Elizabeth Zhang is going to get under your skin. Perfect for fans of I Am Not Done with You Yet by Jesse Q. Sutanto – check out my review of that here if you haven’t read it!
Here’s my review of Boring Asian Female!
The Plans I Have for You by Lai Sanders
One of Publishers Weekly’s Most Anticipated Thrillers of 2026, this debut is a revenge thriller with sharp social commentary and a surreal feel.
After a viral video filmed on the New York City subway destroys Shelley Hu’s future at Columbia Law, Shelley finds herself back home in Florida.
But the mysterious Sophia Moon appears with a proposal to help Shelley reclaim everything she lost. What follows is a twisty, dual-timeline descent into obsession, identity, and the question of how far is too far. It’s a book that explores race, power, and the immigrant experience with unusual depth. Fans of Yellowface by R.F. Kuang will find a lot to love – you can read my review of Yellowface here!
One & Only by Maurene Goo
Korean American author Maurene Goo makes her adult fiction debut with this magical, warmhearted romance, which was a Read with Jenna February pick!
Set in Los Angeles, One & Only follows Cassia Park, who comes from a long line of female Korean shamans running a matchmaking business. The Park women use gwansang (the ancient art of face-reading) to find their clients’ fated mates.
The twist? Cassia herself is approaching forty and still hasn’t found her own match. This book has everything: meddling family, a love triangle, an age gap romance, and the most crave-worthy Los Angeles food scenes. I loved it — read my full review here.
The Fortune Flip by Lauren Kung Jessen
Lauren Kung Jessen is back with her fourth novel, a poignant romantic comedy.
Hazel Yen is having the worst streak of bad luck imaginable: she’s divorced, jobless, and grieving the loss of her mother. But a chance collision at a fortune teller’s booth in Manhattan’s Chinatown brings her face to face with Logan Wells, a man who has always been inexplicably lucky.
After a joint lottery win and a mind-melting kiss, it seems like their fortunes have flipped: Hazel’s luck soars while Logan’s crumbles. Rich with Chinese traditions and big feelings, this closed-door romance feels like a retelling of Just My Luck with Lindsay Lohan and Chris Pine!
Just Friends by Haley Pham
BookTok-er Haley Pham’s debut novel is a sweet second-chance romance.
Blair, a Vietnamese American aspiring writer, returns to her coastal hometown for the summer to care for her beloved great-aunt Lottie, only to discover that the local coffee shop is run by Declan, the boy who broke her heart years ago.
The book weaves grief, first love, and a picturesque small-town setting together in dual timelines. I can’t wait to try this one!
