May is AAPI Heritage Month here in the United States and Asian Heritage Month in Canada, so I thought it would be a good time to rec some books by Asian authors. I had a tough time narrowing down the list, and also found a ton of books on my TBR when I was combing through my shelves and Kindle that I absolutely need to read now (I need way more time to read, obviously).

​The Takeover Effect by Nisha Sharma (m/f contemporary romance): In this first book of the Singh Family series, the oldest Singh brother puts his own dreams on hold to come home and try to save the family's company. There, he meets Mina, a smart, confident lawyer sent to work with the company in assessing the potential buyout. Sparks, of course, fly between them. There's also lots of corporate espionage and family drama. I need to get back to this series!

Hold Me by Courtney Milan (cis m/trans f contemporary romance): Courtney Milan has written a ton of fantastic historical romance, and I couldn't decide which to pick, so I went in a different direction! Maria runs an apocalypse-centered blog and is very careful about preserving her online anonymity. She's been interacting with a commenter from her blog in emails and chats for over a year but neither of them knows the other's identity. When she meets Jay, a driven genius, they immediately do not at all hit it off. And they also don't know they've been talking for months. It sets up a fun enemies to lovers romance. There is a lot of casual diversity and intersectionality in this book, which is great. It's the second book in the series, but stands alone well.

Uptown series by Ruby Lang (m/f contemporary romances): This is a series of quick, fun romances set in New York City and dealing with property and neighborhoods intersecting with the characters in different way. Each stands alone well. The first books gives us an impromptu fake boyfriend as Fay (dealing with the end of a marriage) is harassed while on a house tour. Oliver (dealing with family pressure after losing his job) steps in, and the two continue the charade (and continue touring gorgeous houses together)...until, of course, the fake relationship becomes a lot less fake. I really enjoyed the house descriptions too!

Ash by Malinda Lo (YA fantasy with f/f romance): When Ash's father dies, she's left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother, a set-up very much like the original Cinderella tale that this book reimagines. Ash escapes into the stories of fairies her mother told her and dreams of fairies of stealing her away—and thinks her dreams might come true when she meets a fairy. But it's really when she meets the King's Huntress that her life begins to change and she begins to see a life past her grief. There's a lovely f/f romance and a suitably creepy fairy who has laid a claim on Ash that she must escape.

Holidays with the Wongs series by Jackie Lau (m/f contemporary romance): The Holidays with the Wongs is a series of novellas set around different holidays and centering different Wong siblings. In the first novella, the meddling parents and grandparents set up all four siblings with blind dates for Thanksgiving to disastrous results. Each novella is lots of fun—sexy romances, fun tropes, meddling lovable family. Read them any time or save them for their individual holidays.

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo (historical fantasy): The Chosen and the Beautiful is a retelling of The Great Gatsby and it's loyal to the original, only with the addition of mysterious, intriguing magic and a change of narrator to Jordan Baker, a queer, Asian American immigrant adopted and raised in high society by a rich white family. There's still a contemplation of wealth and status and the American dream, but through Jordan's eyes and with exploration of her identity as a Vietnamese American woman in that world. The reimagining is fascinating, and the writing is lush and beautiful.

A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas (historical mystery): Sherry Thomas has a bunch of historical romances I could have highlighted here, but her Lady Sherlock series is so good that I had to mention it. This is the first book in the gender-flipped Sherlock Holmes series, and it is extremely enjoyable. Interesting heroine, complex. characters, engaging writing, and lots of set up for the series to come.

Not Your Sidekick by CB Lee (YA fantasy with f/f romance): This first book in the Sidekick Squad introduces us to a world where superheroes are common and where Jess, who comes from a family of them, has no powers of her own. She manages to get a paid internship, which has the perk of letting her work with her secret crush Abby, but then finds out she's actually working for the worst supervillain in town. She keeps the job—to spite her superhero parents—and then finds out that there's an even more dangerous plot afoot. This is such a fun series starter with an interesting world, lovable protagonist, wonderful friends, and a sweet crush.

​Do you have any recs for me (though I shouldn't ask with my massive TBR!)?

I may have gotten up ridiculously early this past weekend to watch a certain coronation and started thinking about my longstanding love for royalty romances. There are obviously lots of problematic things we could discuss about royalty, but there is also something about escaping into the fantasy of a royalty romance, of dashing royalty sweeping commoners off their feet (or maybe clashing with them), of ballgowns and sparkly tiaras. By the way, there was a distressing lack of sparkly tiaras at the coronation, though there was some other beautiful jewelry. The headpiece the Princess of Wales wore was beautiful and very tiara-like and Charlotte's matching one was adorable. Also by the way, Penny Mordaunt's whole coronation outfit was fantastic, and I'm including the massive sword she held up in a very badass way for the whole thing. Anyway.

I've read a ton of royalty romance. I have no idea what I read first, but I know I grabbed the Cordina's Royal Family series by Nora Roberts off my mom's bookshelves back in middle or high school. They're category romances written in the 80s about the siblings in a royal family and I have no idea how they hold up, but I really liked them back when I read them. The second book in the series was always my favorite because of the tension between the heir to the throne and woman who used to have a schoolgirl crush on him. (I'm going to need to reread it, aren't I?) I spent a bunch of time looking through my Kindle and bookcases and Goodreads to decide what to include in this post, and mostly just realized once more that my TBR is massive and has a ton of royalty romance on it and I have to figure out how to live forever so I can get through it all.

A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole: And really the whole Reluctant Royals series (I'd include the Runaway Royals series too, but I haven't read them yet—they're on my Kindle in the aforementioned massive TBR). I love the premise of the book: Naledi is an epidemiology grad student who keeps receiving emails saying she's betrothed to an African prince and believes they're a scam. But it turns out they're real. He comes to the US to find her and when she mistakes him for someone who is not a prince, he goes along with it. The whole series is delightful.

His Royal Secret and His Royal Favorite by Lilah Pace: In this duet, the Prince of Wales is gay and keeping it a secret, but then he meets a reporter on an international trip. They have a fling, which, of course, turns into much more. I loved the characters and the relationship between James and Ben, complicated by Ben's past and James's family situation. So good. (I'm going to want to reread all these books, aren't I?)

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston: This book has been kind of everywhere (there's going to be a movie!), but if you haven't heard of it or read it, I am recommending it again. The son of the first female president of the United States has to fake a friendship with a British prince after pictures of them having a confrontation are leaked to the press and relations between the two countries are put in jeopardy. Of course, the fake friendship turns into a real (secret) romance​ just as the president starts her reelection campaign. This book was so fun—sweet, sexy, snarky, uplifting.

The Queen's Game by Carla de Guzman: The scandalous princess and heir to the throne of her small Asian island country returns home when her father dies to ascend the throne and is made to fake date her childhood friend, the quiet prince of the neighboring country. A really lovely story in which a prickly woman is fighting to be her own type of queen and is supported all the way by the cinnamon roll prince who loves her.

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang: In 19th century Paris, Prince Sebastian is supposed to be looking for a bride, but he is more worried about keeping his secret—that at night, he puts on fabulous gowns designed by his best friend and brilliant dressmaker Frances and takes Paris by storm. This graphic novel is utterly charming. The art is beautiful, the story is lovely, and the ending made me so happy.

​The High King's Golden Tongue by Megan Derr: Prince Allen has been preparing for years to be consort to the High King. But when he finally meets the man he is supposed to wed in an arranged marriage, the High King dismisses him as a pretty politician and nothing at all that he needs. I love an arranged marriage story, and this fantasy novel is a good one. A wonderful slow burn romance, great world building, and an excellent plot outside the romance.

The Queen of Ieflaria by Effie Calvin: One more fantasy romance for you, with another arranged marriage plot. A marriage was arranged between Princess Esofi and the prince of Ieflaria when they were children, and now that they're adults, it's time for them to wed. But during her months' long journey to her new home, her betrothed dies. Since Ieflaria needs Esofi and her home country's help, she is offered a betrothal to the prince's younger sister, who is now heir to the throne. Only the new heir doesn't want the throne. The romance is very sweet plus there are dragons and unicorns.

Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell: And finally (because I have to stop this list somewhere!), a SF romance that I adored. Which also has an arranged marriage. When Imperial Prince Taam suddenly dies, his widower, Jainan, is rushed into another marriage with his husband's cousin Prince Kiem for political reasons. Then, it comes to light that Taam's death might have been murder and Jainin is a suspect. Kiem and Jainin have to learn to trust each other so they can solve the murder and avert an interplanetary war, all while falling in love with each other. 

And if you're looking for some more fantasy romance with royalty, I've written some. You can find them here.

Do you have any favorite royalty romances?

Since it's Black History Month, I wanted to take the opportunity to recommend some books by Black authors that I've enjoyed. There are so many amazing authors and books that I could've put on this list, and as I was looking through my bookshelves and Goodreads and TBR lists, I was reminded of a ton of books sitting there that I haven't gotten to yet but look amazing and that I am going to have to move up my mountainous to-be-read piles. It's a bit overwhelming really! For this list, I decided to limit myself to some romance and young adult books. I'm sure I'll do another post recommending more at some point because I keep thinking of more books to add here!

Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins: I've enjoyed all the Beverly Jenkins historical romances I've read so far, and the only thing keeping me from bingeing through the ones I haven't read immediately is that right now it feels nice to space them out. Forbidden is one of my favorites and begins an excellent trilogy. Eddy is traveling to San Francisco to start a restaurant, but a series of misfortunes leaves her in Nevada until she can save up some money and continue on. Rhine has been living in that Nevada town, passing for white, and building a life for himself, but meeting Eddy changes everything. (M/F historical romance)

A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole: I had a very difficult time choosing which Alyssa Cole book to list! She writes contemporary and historical romance (the first book I read of hers was actually a post-apocalyptic romance, also really good), but I went with the first book in her Reluctant Royals series, a contemporary romance series that is great fun. In this one, an epidemiology grad student keeps receiving emails saying she's betrothed to an African prince and deleting them—turns out it's true. (M/F contemporary romance)

Mangos & Mistletoe by Adriana Herrera: I adored this Christmas novella, so I had to share it, and I don't think you have read it around the holidays. In it, two Dominican bakers competing on a Bake-Off-like show filmed in Scotland have to work together and end up falling into bed and in love. There's a lot of character and relationship development packed into a short novella with an exploration of the differences of the two women, how they view their cultures, how their family and their own ambitions affect them. Plus all the baking descriptions! (F/F contemporary romance)

Mating the Huntress by Talia Hibbert: Talia Hibbert writes mostly contemporary romance, but I had to include this paranormal novella because I'm a big fan of paranormal romance and it was such a fun Halloween-themed romance. It is a sexy, funny, sweet short in which a monster hunter and a werewolf find out they are fated mates. The fated mates trope is handled so well (consent is important here), and so many lines are just laugh-out-loud funny. (M/F paranormal romance)

Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann: Let's Talk About Love is billed as Young Adult, but Alice is nineteen and in college, so it probably is somewhere on the young adult/new adult line (is New Adult still a thing?). Alice is also asexual and biromantic and her girlfriend just broke up with her because of it. There is a romance here, but the book is also (more?) about Alice coming out to more people and becoming more comfortable with who she is and what she wants and what is all means. (YA M/F contemporary romance)

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson: This book is delightful, just adorable and happy-making and delightful. Liz wants out of her small prom-obsessed town because she's never felt like she belongs, and her plan to do it is to go to her dream college and become a doctor. When her financial aid falls through, she is convinced to try for prom queen (which in this town is a whole big competition process) because prom queen comes with a scholarship. Liz's emotions and determination are fierce and wonderful, as are the friendships and romance in this book. And I've just remembered I need to read more by Leah Johnson. (YA F/F contemporary romance)

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron: In this young adult fantasy, Cinderella has been dead for two hundred years and her story is now used to oppress women and force all the girls of the kingdom to go to balls where men can choose them as brides. Sophia makes the desperate decision to flee from the ball instead, and while hiding in Cinderella's mausoleum, she meets Constance, the last known descendant of Cinderella's step-sister. They vow to bring down the evil king and bring change to the kingdom. Along the way, they discover there's more to Cinderella's story than is told and that there's more going on in the kingdom as well. An excellent fantasy with an F/F romance and a quest to bring down the patriarchy. (YA F/F fantasy) 

If you've read any of these books/authors, what did you think? And if you have favorites, please rec them to me (though my TBR pile will weep!).