Happy March, friends! In time for the new month, let’s take a look at all the March book releases written by Asian authors. With more and more Asian authors being given a chance to tell their stories to the world, I guess we can say that they’re on the rice. 📈
This post is part of my newly introduced series unironically entitled ‘Books on the Rice‘. It’s a recurring series dedicated to spotlighting Asian-authored books that are nearing their release date. Check out last month’s post for February 2021 releases.
If I’m not mistaken, March has a whopping total of 17 exciting releases. I’m very excited to share them with you, and I hope at least one of these titles catch your attention. Let’s support Asian authors all year round!
Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
[ 02 March 2021 from Knopf Books ]
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: Klara is an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities, who, from her place in the store, watches carefully the behavior of those who come in to browse, and of those who pass on the street outside. She remains hopeful that a customer will soon choose her.
Klara and the Sun explores the fundamental question: What does it mean to love?
Red Tigress by Amélie Wen Zhao
[ 02 March 2021 from Delacorte Press ]
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: In this exciting sequel to Blood Heir, Ana Mikhailov is the only surviving member of the royal family of Cyrilia. She has no army, no title, and no allies, and now she must find a way to take back the throne or risk the brutal retribution of the empress.
A dark power has risen. Will revolution bring peace — or will it only paint the streets in more blood.
The Queen’s Secret by Melissa de la Cruz
[ 02 March 2021 from Putnam Books ]
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: In this riveting conclusion to The Queen’s Assassin, a horrific set of magical attacks threatens Queen Lilac’s sovereignty. Now she and Caledon Holt, the kingdom’s assassin and the love of her life, will have to battle dark forces separately, even though being together is the only thing that’s ever saved them.
Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi
[ 02 March 2021 from Simon & Schuster ]
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: From New York Times bestselling author Mary H.K. Choi comes a funny and emotional story about two estranged sisters switching places and committing insurance fraud to save one of their lives.
Because sisterly obligations are kind of important when one of you is dying.
Accidentally Engaged by Farah Heron
[ 09 March 2021 from Forever ]
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: Reena Manji doesn’t love her career, her single status, and most of all, her family inserting themselves into every detail of her life. But when caring for her precious sourdough starters, Reena can drown it all out. At least until her father moves his newest employee across the hall–with hopes that Reena will marry him.
American Betiya by Anuradha D. Rajurkar
[ 09 March 2021 from Knopf Books ]
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: Rani Kelkar has never lied to her parents, until she meets Oliver. The same qualities that draw her in–his tattoos, his charisma, his passion for art–make him her mother’s worst nightmare.
They begin dating in secret, but when Oliver’s troubled home life unravels, he starts to ask more of Rani than she knows how to give.
Amina’s Song by Hena Khan
[ 09 March 2021 from Salaam Reads ]
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: In this companion novel to Amina’s Voice, Amina is excited to share the wonders of Pakistan with her friends back in Greendale.
However, her friends don’t seem overly interested in her trip. And when she decides to do a presentation on Pakistani hero Malala Yousafzai, her classmates focus on the worst parts of the story. How can Amina share the beauty of Pakistan when no one wants to listen?
Anna K: Away by Jenny Lee
[ 09 March 2021 from Flatiron Books ]
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: Sequel to Anna K. How the mighty have fallen. Anna K, once the golden girl of Greenwich, CT, and New York City, has been brought low by a scandalous sex tape and the tragic death of her first love, Alexia Vronsky.
At the beginning of the summer, her father takes her to the other side of the world, to connect with his family in South Korea and hide her away. Is Anna in exile? Or could this be her chance to figure out who she really is?
Ravage the Dark by Tara Sim
[ 09 March 2021 from Little Brown Books ]
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: In the stunning conclusion to Scavenge the Stars, step into an opulent world filled with risk, romance, and revenge and find out whether two unlikely heroes can save the world and stop corruption.
Through glittering galas, dazzling trickery, and thrilling heists, Cayo and Amaya will learn that the corruption in Moray goes far deeper than they know, and in the end the only people they can trust are each other.
The Arsonists’ City by Hala Alyan
[ 09 March 2021 from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt ]
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: The Nasr family is spread across the globe. A Syrian mother, a Lebanese father, and three American children: all have lived a life of migration. Still, they’ve always had their ancestral home in Beirut — a constant touchstone — and the complicated, messy family love that binds them. But following his father’s recent death, Idris, the family’s new patriarch, has decided to sell.
The decision brings the family to Beirut, where everyone unites against Idris in a fight to save the house.
When We Were Infinite by Kelly Loy Gilbert
[ 09 March 2021 from Simon & Schuster ]
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: All Beth wants is for her tight-knit circle of friends — Grace Nakamura, Brandon Lin, Sunny Chen, and Jason Tsou — to stay together.
Then Beth witnesses a private act of violence in Jason’s home, and the whole group is shaken. Beth and her friends make a pact to do whatever it takes to protect Jason, no matter the sacrifice.
The Descent of the Drowned by Ana Lal Din
[ 15 March 2021 from White Tigress Press ]
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: Roma is the sacred slave of a goddess, while Leviathan is the bastard son of an immortal tyrant.
But in the struggle to protect the people they love and rebuild their identities, Roma’s and Leviathan’s destinies interlock as the tyrant hunts an ancient treasure that will doom humankind should it come into his possession—a living treasure to which Roma and Leviathan are the ultimate key.
The Dating Plan by Sara Desai
[ 16 March 2021 from Berkley ]
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: Daisy Patel is a software engineer who understands lists and logic better than bosses and boyfriends. With her life all planned out, and no interest in love, the one thing she can’t give her family is the marriage they expect. Left with few options, she asks her childhood crush to be her decoy fiance.
Bruised by Tanya Boteju
[ 23 March 2021 from Simon Pulse ]
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: To Daya Wijesinghe, a bruise is a mixture of comfort and control. Since her parents died in an accident she survived, bruises have become a way to keep her pain on the surface of her skin so she doesn’t need to deal with the ache deep in her heart.
So when chance and circumstances bring her to a roller derby bout, Daya is hooked.
Renegade Flight by Andrea Tang
[ 23 March 2021 from Razorbill ]
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: In this thrilling companion to Rebelwing, Viola Park’s life is over. She’s gone from planning her future as a pilot-in-training to resigning herself to life on the ground. And it’s all because she made one tiny, not-altogether-legal maneuver on the prestigious GAN Academy’s entrance exam. It’s bad enough that she didn’t get into the Academy, but getting caught cheating? It’s probably the worst thing Vi could imagine.
The Theft of Sunlight by Intisar Khanani
[ 23 March 2021 from HarperTeen ]
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: Sequel to Thorn. Children have been disappearing from across Menaiya for longer than Amraeya ni Ansarim can remember. When her friend’s sister is snatched, Rae knows she can’t look away any longer – even if that means seeking answers from the royal court, where her country upbringing and clubfoot will only invite ridicule.
Lurkers by Sandi Tan
[ 30 March 2021 from Soho Press ]
WHAT IT’S ABOUT: The residents of Santa Claus Lane do their best to stay out of each other’s way, but desire, fury and mischief too often propel these suburban neighbors to collide.
Precocious Korean American sisters Mira and Rosemary find their world rocked by a suicide, and they must fight to keep their home; a charismatic and creepy drama teacher grooms his students; a sardonic gay horror novelist finds that aging is more terrifying than any monster; and a white hippie mom and her adopted Vietnamese daughter realize that their anger binds them rather than pushes them apart.
More 2021 Asian book releases?
I got you! I’ve compiled more than 170 upcoming Asian book releases in one color-coded, lovingly organized database. This can help you look through titles not only by release date, but also by genre, age group, publisher/imprint, and what-have-you.
This database took me several days to put together, and I’ll continue to update it throughout the year. If you find it helpful, please consider supporting me by leaving a one-time tip (via ko-fi). Thank you very much! I hope you find a book that sparks joy in your heart.
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I’d love to hear from you!
🌻 Which upcoming releases in March are you most excited about? Did any of them appear on this list?
🌻 I know that everyone and their mom make blog posts about upcoming releases, be it on a weekly or monthly basis. Do you enjoy reading them? Are they helpful to you?
🌻 And finally, the most important question: are you sick and tired of my puns yet?
I have Dating plan on my TBR. Got eARC from NetGalley. I’m going to read that soon. Great list!
Great list Shealea! I’m super excited for The Dating Plan!
Omg this is such a great list! And thank you for putting Klara and the Sun on my list, it sounds super exciting 😍
I just got my copy of Klara and the Sun – I can’t wait to read it!
March is shaping up to be a great month for books, and I’m so happy that this is an all Asian list! Yes, please keep the puns coming 🥺 I appreciate them, and mababaw naman ang kaligayahan ko hahaha
thanks for the recs shealea! i cant wait to read some of these
Thank you for sharing this list Shealea…The girls are all so nice here and Rules of wolves are my most anticipated read of March.
Great recs!!
Omg FINALLY a book with a Sri Lankan protagonist – I am so excited!!! I checked out the author on goodreads and added her books to my TBR!
What a list! Klara and the Sun and Accidentally Engaged are two of my most anticipated books.
I read an ARC of Bruised and thought it was really great.
Adding many of these TBR! Thanks for sharing.
That’s a great list! I have already started the Red Tigress and Yolk is one my shelf 😀
Fantastic post!! I love reading posts about new releases because 1)sometimes I’m a bit lost and forget about some of them and 2)I can discover so many new books! So thank you ♥