This week’s Sapphic Book Bingo post isn’t just a Hidden Gems category, it’s also a project that I’ve been working on for quite some time.

Instead of listing 15 recommended books, as I usually do for each Sapphic Book Bingo post, I put together a huge list of 150+ sapphic books featuring AAPI characters. You’ll find it below.

Important: For this category, not only should at least one of the book’s main characters be Asian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander, but the book should also be written by an AAPI author.

 

150+ sapphic books with AAPI main characters, written by Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander authors

Bloodbath (Harietta Lee Book 2) by Stephanie Ahn (Korean American author, Korean American character, urban fantasy)

Deadline (Harietta Lee Book 1) by Stephanie Ahn (Korean American author, Korean American character, urban fantasy)

Flytrap (Harietta Lee Book 3) by Stephanie Ahn (Korean American author, Korean American character, urban fantasy)

Girl, Serpent, Thorn by Melissa Bashardoust (Persian author, Persian-coded main characters, YA fantasy)

Start Here: Short Stories of First Encounters by Ronald S. Lim & Brigitte Bautista (editors) (Filipina author, anthology)

You, Me, U.S. by Brigitte Bautista (Filipina author, Filipina main character, romance)

Love Bi the Way by Bhaavna Arora (Indian author, Indian main characters, erotic fiction)

Dulhaniyaa by Talia Bhatt (Indian author, Indian main character, romance)

Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens by Tanya Boteju (writer of Sri Lankan descent, biracial Sri Lankan main character, young adult)

Bestiary by K-Ming Chang (Taiwanese American author, Taiwanese American main character, magical realism)

Gorgeous Gruesome Faces by Linda Cheng (Taiwanese Canadian author, speculative thriller)

Shadow Theatre by Fiona Cheong (Singaporean-born author, Singaporean characters, contemporary fiction)

Black Water Sister by Zen Cho (Malaysian author, Malaysian main character, contemporary fantasy)

The True Queen by Zen Cho (Malaysian author, Malaysian main character, alternate history/fantasy)

My Education by Susan Choi (biracial Korean American/Jewish author, contemporary women’s fiction)

Kween by Vichet Chum (Cambodian American character, Cambodian American author, YA romance)

The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco (Chinese Filipino writer, YA fantasy)

The Ever Cruel Kingdom by Rin Chupeco (Chinese Filipino writer, YA fantasy)

Black Ice Matter by Gina Cole (Fijian main character; author of Fijian, Scottish, and Welsh descent; short story collection)

Tingle: Anthology of Pinay Lesbian Writing by Jhoanna Lynn B. Cruz (Filipina author, Filipina main characters, short story collection)

Not for Use in Navigation: Thirteen Stories by Iona Datt Sharma (British Indian author, British Indian characters, science fiction short stories)

Sing for the Coming of the Longest Night by Katherine Fabian & Iona Datt Sharma (British Indian author, urban fantasy)

Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard (author of Vietnamese & French descent, Vietnam-inspired world, fantasy)

In the Vanishers’ Palace by Aliette de Bodard (author of Vietnamese & French descent, Vietnamese main characters, fairy tale retelling)

Seven of Infinities by Aliette de Bodard (author of Vietnamese & French descent, Vietnam-inspired world, science fiction)

Bruised by Tanya Boteju (Sri Lankan Canadian author, Sri Lankan Canadian main character, young adult fiction)

Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho (Tawainese American characters, Tawainese American, short stories)

To the Warm Horizon by Jin-Young Choi & Soje (Translator) (Korean main characters, South Korean author, post-apocalyptic fiction)

Forget Me Not by Alyson Derrick (biracial Korean American main character, YA romance)

She Gets the Girl by Rachael Lippincott & Alyson Derrick (biracial Korean American main character, YA romance)

All Inclusive by Farzana Doctor (Canadian writer of Indian descent, biracial Indian main character, magical realism)

Stealing Nasreen by Farzana Doctor (Canadian writer of Indian descent, Indian Canadian main character, women’s literary fiction)

Moving Truth(s): Queer and Transgender Desi Writings on Family by Aparajeeta ‘Sasha’  Duttchoudhury & Rukie Hartman (Editors) (various Desi writers)

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone (Lebanese Canadian author, epistolary science fiction/time travel)

Rana Joon and the One and Only Now by Shideh Etaat (Iranian American main character, Iranian American writer, YA fiction)

If You Could Be Mine by Sara Farizan (Persian American author, Iranian character, young adult)

Tell Me Again How a Crush Should Feel by Sara Farizan (Persian American author, Persian American character, YA romance)

Messy Roots by Laura Gao (Chinese American character, Chinese American author, graphic novel)

Half World by Hiromi Goto (Japanese Canadian writer, Japanese Canadian main character, YA fantasy)

Your Driver Is Waiting by Priya Guns (Tamil character, Tamil author, social satire)

A World Between by Emily Hashimoto (Japanese American/German Jewish and Indian American main characters, romance)

Your Love is Not Good by Johanna Hedva (Korean American character, Korean American author, literary fiction)

Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho (Taiwanese American main characters, Taiwanese American author, short stories)

Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang (Chinese American main character, Chinese American author, satirical horror)

Burning Roses by S.L. Huang (Chinese-inspired world, fantasy/fairy tale retelling)

The Little Homo Sapiens Scientist by S.L. Huang (sci-fi fairy tale retelling)

Hani & Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar (Bangladeshi Irish author, Indian Bengali main character, Bangladeshi Bengali main character, YA romance)

Rani Choudhury Must Die by Adiba Jaigirdar (Bangladeshi Irish author, Bangladeshi Irish main characters, YA romance)

The Dos and Donuts of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar (Bangladeshi Irish main character, Bangladeshi Irish author, YA contemporary romance)

The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar (Bangladeshi Irish author, Bangladeshi Irish character, YA romance)

Just Happy to Be Here by Naomi Kanakia (Indian American character, Indian American author, young adult novel)

All the Yellow Suns by Malavika Kannan (Indian American character, Indian American author, coming-of-age story)

A Married Woman by Manju Kapur (Indian author, Indian main character, contemporary literary fiction)

The Love and Lies of Rukhsana Ali by Sabina Khan (South Asian author, Bengali Canadian character, young adult)

What a Desi Girl Wants by Sabina Khan (Indian character, South Asian author, YA romance)

Zara Hossain Is Here by Sabina Khan (South Asian author, Pakistani main character, YA contemporary fiction)

Bearly a Lady by Cassandra Khaw (Malaysian author, paranormal romcom)

The All-Consuming World by Cassandra Khaw (Malaysian author, science fiction)

Briar Girls by Rebecca Kim Wells (Korean American writer, YA fairy tale retelling)

Shatter the Sky (Shatter the Sky Duology #1) by Rebecca Kim Wells (Korean American writer, YA fantasy)

Storm the Earth (Shatter the Sky Duology #2) by Rebecca Kim Wells (Korean American writer, YA fantasy)

Prairie Ostrich by Tamai Kobayashi (Japanese Canadian author, Japanese Canadian main characters, historical novel)

Ascension by Jacqueline Koyanagi (author of Japanese and Southern American descent, science fiction)

The Paths of Marriage by Mala Kumar (Indian American author, Indian American character, literary fiction)

This Place Called Absence by Lydia Kwa (Canadian Singaporean author, Canadian Chinese main character)

Salt Fish Girl by Larissa Lai (Canadian Chinese author, Chinese main character, magical realism)

The Tiger Flu by Larissa Lai (Canadian Chinese author, postapocalyptic cyberpunk thriller)

When Fox Is A Thousand by Larissa Lai (Canadian Chinese author, Chinese main character, historical/magical realism)

A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee (Chinese-Vietnamese author, young adult)

Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee (Chinese-Vietnamese author, Chinese-Vietnamese main character, superhero fiction)

Flip the Script by Lyla Lee (Korean American author, bisexual Korean American main character, young adult fiction)

I’ll Be the One by Lyla Lee (Korean American author, Korean American main character, M/F YA romance with a bisexual character)

Beyond the Dragon’s Gate by Yoon Ha Lee (Korean American author, science fiction)

Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee (Korean American author, East Asian-coded character, science fiction)

The Vela by Yoon Ha Lee, Becky Chambers, Rivers Solomon, S.L. Huang (science fiction)

True Love and Other Impossible Odds by Christina Li (Chinese American character, Chinese American author, YA romance)

Tell Me How It Ends by Quinton Li (Timorese Australian author, coming-of-age fantasy/Rapunzel retelling)

The Very Inside: An Anthology of Writings by Asian & Pacific Islander Lesbian and Bisexual Women by Sharon Lim-Hing (editor) (various Asian American writers, poetry, prose & articles)

A Line in the Dark by Malinda Lo (Chinese American author, Chinese American main character, mystery thriller)

A Scatter of Light by Malinda Lo (biracial Chinese character, Chinese American author, YA fiction)

Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo (Chinese American author, Chinese American main character, YA historical fiction set in the 1950s in San Francisco)

Adaption by Malinda Lo (Chinese American author, YA apocalyptic thriller)

Ash by Malinda Lo (Chinese American author, YA fairy tale retelling)

Huntress by Malinda Lo (Chinese American author, Chinese-inspired world, YA fantasy)

I Will Find You Again by Sarah Lyu (One main character is Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Taiwanese; the other is a Korean American. YA psychological thriller)

Lifelines (Journey Series Book 1) by Shireen Magedin (Pakistani/Austrian author; Pakistani/Austrian main character, Pakistani main character; medical/medicolegal thriller/adventure)

Bloodlines (Journey Series Book 2) by Shireen Magedin (Pakistani/Austrian author; Pakistani/Austrian main character, Pakistani main character; medical/medicolegal thriller/adventure)

Heartlines (Journey Series Book 3) by Shireen Magedin (Pakistani/Austrian author; Pakistani/Austrian main character, Pakistani main character; medical/medicolegal thriller/adventure)

Maya’s Quest (Timeless Journey Series Book 1) by Shireen Magedin (Pakistani/Austrian author; from the Indus Valley/modern-day Pakistan; time travel romance)

Last Words from Montmartre by Qiu Miaojin (Taiwanese author, Taiwanese main character, epistolary fiction)

Notes of a Crocodile by Qiu Miaojin (Taiwanese author, Taiwanese main characters, coming-of-age story)

Gearbreakers by Zoe Hana Mikuta (Korean author, Korean main character, YA science fiction)

Godslayers by Zoe Hana Mikuta (Korean author, Korean main character, YA science fiction, sequel to Gearbreakers)

The Stars Change by Mary Anne Mohanraj (Sri Lankan author, South Asian characters, erotic science fiction)

The Tree of Life by S.A. Mossman (Black/Filipina author, mystery)

Falling into Place by Sheryn Munir (Indian writer, Indian main characters, romance)

Sputnik Sweetheart by Haruki Murakami (Japanese author, Japanese characters, magic realism)

Bright Lines by Tanwi Nandini Islam (American writer of Bangladeshi descent, Bangladeshi characters, coming-of-age story)

Girls of Paper and Fire (Girls of Paper and Fire Book #1) by Natasha Ngan (biracial Chinese-Malaysian & English author, Malaysian-inspired setting, young adult fantasy)

Girls of Storm and Shadow (Girls of Paper and Fire Book #2) by Natasha Ngan (biracial Chinese-Malaysian & English author, Malaysian-inspired setting, young adult fantasy)

A Bánh Mì for Two by Trinity Nguyen (Vietnamese American author, Vietnamese main character, Vietnamese American main character, sapphic young adult romance)

The Ministry of Guidance by Golnoosh Nour (Iranian author, Iranian characters, short stories)

When Tara Met Farah by Tara Pammi (Indian American main character, Indian main character, new adult romance)

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan (Asian-Australian author, Chinese main character, historical fantasy)

Kari by Amruta Patil (Indian author, Indian main character, graphic novel)

The Verifiers by Jane Pek (lesbian Chinese American main character, Singaporean American author, mystery novel)

Fantasian by Larissa Pham (erotic psychothriller)

Let’s Go Let’s Go Let’s Go by Cleo Qian (Asian main characters, asian authors, dystopian short stories)

Noteworthy by Riley Redgate (biracial writer of Chinese descent, Chinese American main character, young adult)

Final Draft by Riley Redgate (biracial writer of Chinese descent, Korean main character, YA romance)

Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion by Bushra Rehman (Pakistani American character, Pakistani American author, coming-of-age novel)

Southland by Nina Revoyr (biracial Japanese American author, Japanese American main character, historical fiction)

The Necessary Hunger by Nina Revoyr (biracial Japanese American author, Japanese American main character, young adult)

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi (biracial Arab American author, Biracial Indian/Persian American main character, YA romance)

A Place Somewhere by R J Samuel (Irish Indian author living in the US, romantic suspense)

An Outsider Inside by R J Samuel (Irish Indian author living in the US, Irish Indian main character, literary fiction)

Casting Shadows (The Vision Painter #2) by R J Samuel (Irish Indian author living in the US, Irish Indian main character, magical realism)

Falling Colours (The Vision Painter #1) by R J Samuel (Irish Indian author living in the US, Irish Indian main character, magical realism)

Heart Stopper by R J Samuel (Irish Indian author living in the US, Irish Indian main character, thriller/suspense)

I Can’t Think Straight by Shamim Sarif (author of Indian & South African descent, British Indian main character & UK-based Palestinian main character, romance)

The Athena Protocol by Shamim Sarif (author of Indian & South African descent, Chinese character, Pakistani character, YA thriller)

The World Unseen by Shamim Sarif (author of Indian & South African descent, Indian characters, set in South Africa, historical fiction)

Close to Home by Parvati Sharma (Indian author, Indian characters)

Marriage of a Thousand Lies by SJ Sindu (Sri Lankan American author, Sri Lankan American main character, literary fiction)

Tempted by the Bollywood Star by Sophia Singh Sasson (Indian author, Indian main character, romance)

Chlorine by Jade Song (Chinese American character, Chinese American writer, horror/coming-of-age story)

Nights Like This by Divya Sood (Indian American author, Indian American character, romance)

The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart (Chinese American author, Chinese-codec characters, fantasy)

The Dawnhounds by Sascha Stronach (Maori author; Māori-inspired fantasy)

The Sunforge by Sascha Stronach (Maori author; Māori-inspired fantasy)

A Greater Music by Bae Suah (Korean writer, Korean main character, contemporary women’s fiction)

It’s Not Like It’s a Secret by Misa Sugiura (Japanese American author, Japanese American main character, YA romance)

Love & Other Natural Disasters by Misa Sugiura (Japanese American author, Japanese American main character, YA romcom)

Firebird by Sunmi (Korean American character, Korean American author, graphic novel)

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri (British Indian author, Indian-inspired world, fantasy)

Anne of Greenville by Mariko Tamaki (Japanese American character, biracial Japanese Canadian author, Anne of Green Gables reimagining)

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki & Rosemary Valero-O’Connell (biracial Japanese Canadian author, biracial East Asian main character, young adult graphic novel)

Skim by Mariko Tamaki & Jillian Tamaki (biracial Japanese Canadian author, Japanese Canadian character, young adult graphic novel)

(You) Set Me on Fire by Mariko Tamaki (biracial Japanese Canadian author, Asian Canadian character, young adult)

The Wicked and the Willing by Lianyu Tan (bi Chinese main character; Malaysian Chinese Australian author, gothic horror vampire romance)

The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall (Japanese author, Japanese-coded main character, YA fantasy adventure)

Megume and the Trees by Sarah Toshiko Hasu (Japanese main character, YA)

She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran (Vietnamese American character, Vietnamese American author, YA ghost story)

Dear Twin by Addie Tsai (Chinese American main character, biracial Chinese American author, young adult novel)

The Daughters of Madurai by Rajasree Variyar (Indian Australian main character, Indian Australian author, historical/contemporary fiction)

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo (Vietnamese American author, Vietnamese American main character, historical fantasy)

The Empress of Salt and Fortune (The Singing Hills Cycle #1) by Nghi Vo (Vietnamese American author, Vietnamese-coded nonbinary main character, sapphic characters, fantasy)

Siren Queen by Nghi Vo (Chinese American main character, Vietnamese American author, fantasy set in an alternate Golden Age Hollywood)

When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain (The Singing Hills Cycle #2) by Nghi Vo (Vietnamese American author, Vietnamese-coded nonbinary main character, sapphic main characters, fantasy)

Monkeypuzzle by Rita Wong (Chinese Canadian author, poetry)

Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto (agender lesbian main character; Mauian author; lesbian space heist)

Name Me Nobody by Lois-Ann Yamanaka (Hawaiian author, Hawaiian main character, young adult)

Parachutes by Kelly Yang (Chinese American author, Chinese main character, Filipina American main character, young adult)

Waiting on a Bright Moon by J.Y. Yang (Chinese Singaporean author, Chinese-inspired world, science fantasy)

Yellow Rose by Nobuko Yoshiya (Japanese author, Japanese main character, short story)

No Two Ways by Chi Yu Rodriguez (Filipina author, Filipina main character, romance)

Dear Wendy by Ann Zhao (Chinese American aroace character, young adult fiction. The book isn’t strictly sapphic, but I kept it on the list since I know some of my readers are looking for books just like this. It features a queerplatonic relationship between a girl and a nonbinary person. Both of them identify as asexual and aromantic)

 

More sapphic books with AAPI main characters?

I’m sure there are even more sapphic books with AAPI characters, written by AAPI authors. If you know of any, please leave a comment or send me an email, and I’ll happily add it to the list. Before you email me, please check to make sure the book isn’t already on the list.

I also did my best to get all the information for every book on my list right, but of course I couldn’t read all 150+ books. If any of the information is incorrect, please let me know too and I’ll correct it right away.

Thank you!

Jae

Don’t miss the upcoming birthday book giveaway

My birthday is coming up next week, and since I enjoy giving gifts more than receiving them, I’ll send out a newsletter with a big giveaway that will include ebooks, audiobooks, and fun boxes with signed books & treats, among them German chocolate. If you aren’t signed up yet, you can subscribe to my monthly reader newsletter here.