May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, so here are four of my recommendations if you’re looking for some books written by Asian American authors.

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

If there’s any book that could be definitively described as a quintessential Asian American classic, it’s this one. Recounting the stories of Chinese women and their children in San Francisco, the story is captivating. That being said, it should be noted this book hasn’t aged perfectly. Many consider it to be dated and offensive in its depiction of Chinese culture.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

This book takes places in the suburbs of Cleveland in the late ‘90s, deftly navigating various complex sociocultural issues. Although you may have watched the Hulu adaptation featuring Reese Witherspoon, the book is still worth giving a read.

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

Vuong’s poetry is beautiful, but his prose holds up well too. The novel is in an epistolary format, composed in the form of a son’s letters to his illiterate mother. (Brief aside, consider reading Vuong’s “Amazon History of a Former Nail Salon Worker.” It is an incredible poem).

Know My Name by Chanel Miller

This personal memoir explores Miller’s harrowing experience in the aftermath of sexual assault. Miller reclaims the narrative with visceral writing; this book is one of the most moving things I’ve ever read. (I’d like to provide a content warning for this book in particular).