Cold Tea Reads:  10 Queer Pan-Asian books to read this Pride Month

Queer Asian Books To Read: From sapphic love stories to poetic reflections on healing and identity, explore our list of queer Pan-Asian books that uplift Pride, culture, and community.
By ● Cold Tea Reads ●

Queer Asian books to read this Pride Month and beyond

This Pride Month, we’re spotlighting ten powerful books by queer Pan-Asian authors and storytellers that explore themes of identity, culture, resistance, and belonging. From tender memoirs to fantastical sci-fi to reflective poetry and sapphic romance, these stories speak to the fluidity of self and the beauty of embracing every part of who we are.

Whether you’re reflecting on your journey or discovering new voices, these books remind us that queerness and culture aren’t separate; they are deeply intertwined and worth celebrating.

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous (2019) By Ocean Vuong

"On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous" by Ocean Vuong Black and white photo of two arms embracing on the book cover. The title “On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous” and the author’s name, Ocean Vuong, are written in white serif font.

This poetic novel is a letter from Little Dog to his illiterate mother, an exploration of queerness, trauma, and survival rooted in the Vietnamese diaspora. Ocean Vuong weaves themes of masculinity, class, and intergenerational silence into an unforgettable story of tenderness, grief, and beauty.

The Magic Fish (2020) By Trung Le Nguyen

"The Magic Fish" by Trung Le Nguyen Green illustrated cover showing a boy reading a book while ethereal figures, including a mermaid, float in the background. The title “The Magic Fish” appears in bold yellow text, and the author’s name is in the same font below.

This gorgeous YA graphic novel follows Tiến, a Vietnamese American teen struggling to come out to his immigrant parents. Through fairy tales and library books, The Magic Fish explores queerness, language, and love across generations.

See also: 5 books by queer Asian authors to celebrate Pride Month

Iron Widow (2021) By Xiran Jay Zhao

"Iron Widow" by Xiran Jay Zhao Vivid cover featuring a stylized woman in a warrior outfit standing in front of swirling orange and red feathers, turning toward the viewer with a determined gaze. The title “Iron Widow” is in bold white letters.

A sci-fi feminist takedown of patriarchal systems, Iron Widow is a thrilling YA novel about power, gender, and rebellion. Based in a futuristic Huaxia, it’s Pacific Rim meets Chinese history, with a neurodivergent, queer-coded heroine who refuses to be sacrificed.

All This Could Be Different (2022) By Sarah Thankam Mathews

"All This Could Be Different" by Sarah Thankam Mathews Colorful and busy book cover featuring stylized figures lounging in an eclectic room. The title “All This Could Be Different” is written in large white text, with the author’s name below. A National Book Award finalist badge appears in the upper right.

Set during the American recession, this debut novel follows Sneha, a queer Indian immigrant navigating friendship, queerness, and late capitalism. It’s a tender portrait of chosen family, survival, and reclaiming joy despite uncertainty.

See also: 6 Queer Asian books we love

Ma and Me: A Memoir (2023) By Putsata Reang

"Ma and Me" by Putsata Reang Bright yellow book cover featuring a stylized black crocodile facing a red tiger, with bold black and red text. The title “Ma and Me” appears above the animals, and the author’s name, Putsata Reang, appears below.

In this powerful memoir, journalist Putsata Reang reflects on her Cambodian roots, queer identity, and the weight of cultural expectations. Told through the lens of a daughter trying to honor her refugee mother while claiming her truth, it’s a meditation on family, trauma, and selfhood.

This Way to Change (2024) By Jezz Chung

"This Way to Change" by Jezz Chung Black book cover with floating abstract pink and blue human forms. The title “This Way to Change” is in large white text, with the subtitle “A gentle guide to personal transformation and collective liberation” beneath it.

A poetic guidebook for radical self-love, Jezz Chung offers reflections on healing, neurodivergence, racial identity, and queerness. Part manifesto, part meditation, this book is ideal for anyone navigating transformation, especially through an AAPI lens.

A Bánh Mì for Two (2024) By Trinity Nguyen

"A Bánh Mì for Two" by Trinity Nguyen Playful pink illustrated cover showing two Vietnamese girls in áo dài standing beside a bánh mì cart labeled “Bánh Mì 98.” The title “A Bánh Mì for Two” is written in white, handwritten-style text at the top.

This sapphic romance set in Sài Gòn follows Vietnamese American Vivi and local food blogger Lan as they uncover family secrets and fall in love over bánh mì. A beautiful love letter to queer joy, food, and homecoming.

See also: What does the queer Asian experience mean to you? We asked 19 LGBTQ Asians for Pride Month

When Haru Was Here (2024) By Derek Thao

"When Haru Was Here" by Dustin Thao Illustrated book cover showing two young men sitting on a wooden bench surrounded by soft pastel blossoms. One figure leans on the other's shoulder under a dreamy purple and orange sky. The title “When Haru Was Here” appears in bold white text.

A tender exploration of grief, magic, and queer friendship. After his best friend dies, Eric meets Haru, an ethereal figure from his past that nobody else can see. This YA novel gently blurs reality and imagination, revealing the healing power of connection.

But I Don’t Feel Empowered (2024) By Suri Chan

"But I Don’t Feel Empowered" by Suri Chan Book cover featuring whimsical purple and pink flowers growing along a bright green vine against a dark green background. The title “But I Don’t Feel Empowered” appears in bold white text, with the author's name, Suri Chan, at the bottom.

In this illustrated poetry collection, Suri Chan confronts heartbreak, trauma, and identity through the lens of a queer Asian woman. A refreshing invitation to feel deeply and reject forced narratives of empowerment.

With Love: What We Wish We Knew About Being Queer and Filipino in America (2024) By Dustin E. Domingo

"With Love: Queer and Filipino in America" by Dustin E. Domingo Book cover featuring a cosmic watercolor background in dark purples, blues, and pinks. White handwritten-style text forms the title “With Love,” with smaller text underneath reading “What We Wish We Knew About Being Queer and Filipino in America.”

A heartfelt anthology of 68 letters from 50 queer Filipino Americans, this book explores faith, family, identity, and resilience. It’s a necessary celebration of what it means to be queer, Filipino, and thriving in diaspora.

From reclaiming cultural narratives to imagining radical futures, these queer Pan-Asian reads invite us to embrace the full complexity of our identities. These stories remind us we are not alone. Our joy, pain, and pride are valid and our stories matter.

See also: XO, Kitty leads viewership rankings and expansion of queer Asian narratives for Gen Z

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Author

Dennis Tran is a social impact storyteller, DEIA speaker, and consultant committed to fostering a neuroinclusive and accessible world. As a queer, partially blind, late-identified autistic-ADHDer (AuDHD) Vietnamese American with C-PTSD and glaucoma, Dennis channels his lived experiences to support others navigating similar challenges. Holding a degree in Public Health Policy with a Business Management minor from UC Irvine, Dennis has successfully built a multi-faceted career across sectors, including digital media, technology, healthcare, entertainment, and philanthropy.

Through storytelling, cultural and disability inclusion consultation, and accessibility advising, Dennis empowers neurodivergent and disabled individuals to live fulfilling lives. His advocacy work emphasizes the transformative power of representation and the importance of creating inclusive spaces where individuals don’t have to hide or “overcome” who they are. Dennis is passionate about uplifting the AANHPI community, addressing cultural stigma, and bridging intergenerational gaps.

Dennis has spoken at UCSF, CSUF, Autodesk, Steelcase, and Heap, sharing insights on neurodiversity, anti-ableism, and DEIA best practices. His work is driven by the belief that disability and neurodiversity are not a limitation but a source of resilience and creativity.

 

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