Popular Asian Romance Books
Find romance books written by authors from Asia for the next part of the Read Around The World Challenge. (68)
21.
IndonesiaDescription:
"A wonderful exercise in humanism . . . [by] a prodigious and impressive storyteller".—Jakarta Globe An epic saga of "families and friends entangled in the cruel snare of history" (Time magazine), Home combines political repression and exile with a spicy mixture of love, family, and food, alternating between Paris and Jakarta in the time between Suharto's 1965 rise to power and downfall in 1998, further illuminating Indonesia's tragic twentieth-century history popularized by the Oscar-nominated documentary The Act of Killing. Leila S. Chudori is Indonesia's most prominent female journalist. Ho... continue
22.
I Did Something Bad by Pyae Moe Thet War EN
MyanmarDescription:
In this smart and swoony adventure rom-com, a journalist and a movie star find themselves teaming up to cover up a murder... What could possibly go wrong? When freelance journalist Khin Haymar is assigned by Vogue to get a scoop on Tyler Tun, Hollywood's hottest movie star, it's a dream come true. Tyler has returned home to Yangon to shoot his latest film, and if Khin gets an exclusive, she'll have a chance at securing a permanent position at the magazine. Tyler is notoriously private and doesn't show any signs of letting down his walls. But then one night on set, a man follows Khin into the p... continue
Japan24.
Jamilia by Chinghiz Aitmatov EN
Country: Asia / 
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
Description:
A modern classic of Soviet literature--a love story that ranks alongside Turgenev's First Love.
25.
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo EN
ChinaDescription:
Winner of the National Book Award A New York Times Bestseller "The queer romance we’ve been waiting for.”—Ms. Magazine Seventeen-year-old Lily Hu can't remember exactly when the feeling took root—that desire to look, to move closer, to touch. Whenever it started growing, it definitely bloomed the moment she and Kathleen Miller walked under the flashing neon sign of a lesbian bar called the Telegraph Club. Suddenly everything seemed possible. But America in 1954 is not a safe place for two girls to fall in love, especially not in Chinatown. Red-Scare paranoia threatens everyone, including Chine... continue
26.
Layla and Majnun by Ganjavi Nizami, Niẓāmī Ganjavī EN
Country: Asia / 
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Description:
The text is a prose rendition of Nizami's 12th-century poetic masterpiece, in which he reshapes the legends of Majnun, the quintessential romantic fool, into a tale of the ideal lover. For the Sufis, Majnun represents the perfect devotee of the "religion of the heart," and the story is an allegory of the soul's longing for God. This is a beautiful production, and it includes a final chapter newly translated from the Persian by Omid Safi and Zia Inayat Khan.
28.
Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian EN
IranDescription:
Stonewall Honor Book * A Time Magazine Best YA Book of All Time "A book for warriors, divas, artists, queens, individuals, activists, trend setters, and anyone searching for the courage to be themselves."--Mackenzi Lee, New York Times bestselling author of The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue It's 1989 in New York City, and for three teens, the world is changing. Reza is an Iranian boy who has just moved to the city with his mother to live with his stepfather and stepbrother. He's terrified that someone will guess the truth he can barely acknowledge about himself. Reza knows he's gay, but ... continue
29.
Love from A to Z by S. K. Ali EN
IndiaDescription:
From William C. Morris Award Finalist S.K. Ali comes an unforgettable romance that is part The Sun Is Also a Star mixed with Anna and the French Kiss, following two Muslim teens who meet during a spring break trip. A marvel: something you find amazing. Even ordinary-amazing. Like potatoes—because they make French fries happen. Like the perfect fries Adam and his mom used to make together. An oddity: whatever gives you pause. Like the fact that there are hateful people in the world. Like Zayneb’s teacher, who won’t stop reminding the class how “bad” Muslims are. But Zayneb, the only Muslim in c... continue
30.
Lust, Caution by Eileen Chang EN
Description:
In 1940s Shanghai, beautiful young Jiazhi spends her days playing mahjong and drinking tea with high society ladies. But China is occupied by invading Japanese forces and things are not always what they seem in wartime. Jiazhi’s life is a front. A patriotic student radical, her mission is to seduce a powerful employee of the occupying government and lead him to the assassin’s bullet. Yet as she waits for him to arrive at their liaison, Jiazhi begins to wonder if she is cut out to be a femme fatale and coldly take Mr Yi to his death. Or is she beginning to fall in love with him? A passionate ta... continue