I wanted to do something in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and – of course – my first stop was my booklist. Because what better way to celebrate AAPI achievements than by buying and reading amazing books? (While shopping at AAPI-owned businesses, eating at AAPI-owned restaurants, and supporting diversity and inclusion efforts at work, obviously.) I couldn’t stick to just three, but here are a few of the AAPI-authored books I’ve read and loved in recent years.

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The Truths We Hold, by Kamala Harris – I just recently read Vice President Harris’ memoir. As the first Asian-American and Black Vice President, VP Harris has lived a fascinating and ground-breaking life (and she’s just getting started!). I loved reading about her insights and experiences.

The Joy Luck Club, by Amy Tan – This is probably the ultimate classic of the Chinese-American experience. It’s been years since I read it, but I remember loving it (and eagerly looking around for Waverly Street and other book landmarks when I visited San Francisco in 2009). It’s time for a re-read.

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Crazy Rich Asians (trilogy), by Kevin Kwan – It doesn’t get more fun than the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy, in which Chinese-American professor, Rachel Chu, falls headfirst into the world of ultrarich Singapore – via her boyfriend, Nick Young. Rachel’s culture shock, the sweet love story, and the fabulous settings and delicious food and house descriptions combine for a totally perfect trilogy. I loved every page.

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Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng – It was hard deciding whether to include Ng’s first novel, Everything I Never Told You, or this one – but I liked Little Fires Everywhere just a tiny bit better. The encounters between Asian, Black and white neighbors in suburban Ohio are filled with tension. So, so good.

Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee – Family sagas are generally not my jam, but I couldn’t resist this epic, spanning decades from World War II onward. It’s a rich and compelling read.

American Born Chinese, by Gene Luen Yang – Yang became National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature in 2016, and American-Born Chinese, dual-narrative graphic novel about the experience of growing up Chinese-American, is one of his flagship works and a wonderful read.

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The Wangs vs. The World, by Jade Chang – Fun (and drama-filled) family cross-country road trip taking place during the 2008 economic crisis. The Wangs tumble from super-rich to poor (or probably, really, just regular folks) and find their riches-to-rags story, and their time crammed into one car together on their way to start anew, gives their family a new lease on life. How can you go wrong? I loved this one, and need to re-read it.

The Buddha in the Attic, by Julie Otsuka – We need more historical fiction on this list! The Buddha in the Attic is a heartbreaking story of life in a Japanese internment camp during World War II. Julie Otsuka writes so beautifully.

What are your favorite AAPI reads?