Disorientation by Elaine Hsieh Chou

Chou’s debut novel is a sharp and darkly comedic novel that follows Ingrid Yang, a Taiwanese American PhD student, as she unravels a shocking scandal involving her dissertation subject, a revered Chinese poet. It is an extremely thoughtful and profound read on important issues such as race, institutionalized racism, the model minority myth, and Asian fetishization.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

This book is a heartfelt exploration of friendship, creativity, and ambition, following two childhood friends, Sam and Sadie, as they build a video game empire together over the decades. It is a multilayered novel with beautiful prose that navigates love, loss, success, failures, and the complexities of collaboration.

The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

This is a harrowing novel based on the real-life horrors of a reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida. The story is a searing exploration of systemic racism and resilience, culminating in a shocking twist that reframes the narrative’s legacy.

Educated by Tara Westover

This memoir chronicles Westover’s journey from growing up in a strict, survivalist family in rural Idaho, with no formal education, to earning a PhD from Cambridge University. It is a powerful story of self-discovery and resilience, exploring the transformative power of education.

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

This epic, multi-generational sage follows a Korean family’s struggles and triumphs as they navigate the political turmoil of Japanese colonization, the hardship of wartimes, and life in Japan during the 20th century.Through richly drawn characters and historical nuance, it paints a poignant portrait of love, sacrifice, and survival in the face of adversity.