I should’ve done this earlier. Here’s the thing: as much as I like Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer Armentrout's books, you have to admit that their books are either lacking in diversity or have harmful representation (I won't go into depth on that right now, but a quick Google search will give you some info). I started watching a lot of book-related TikToks in the past few months, and they’ve made me realize how we should be highlighting books that are high-quality but also have actual representative diversity. I’ve been trying harder to do that and making more of an effort to acknowledge the lack of diversity in some of the books I read, so I wanted to dedicate this post to showing y’all some of my favorite books that also have really great representation. This is probably my favorite post I've ever written.
Some notes before we start:
This list is sorted by genre
Please check trigger warnings for these books online.
I tried to get a variety of diversity, but this huge list from someone on TikTok definitely covers more bases than I can in this single post.
Simply having diversity doesn’t automatically make a book good, but it’s indisputable that we all need to start diversifying our shelves.
I tried my best to highlight both the plot and the representation in each book (I wanted to explain why these books have diversity, but I don’t want to come off as depicting these books as only their diverse characters and nothing more)
Contemporary
They Both Die At the End by Adam Silvera
Two teen boys find out they only have one day left to live, find each other through an app, and spent their last day together
One main is gay and Puerto-Rican, while the other is bisexual and Cuban
Sobbing at 3 am kinda book
What If It’s Us by Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli
Two teen boys meet at a post office and try to make a relationship work (there are many, many do-overs)
Whirlwind summer romance
One main is gay, Jewish, and has ADHD, while the other is gay and Puerto Rican
Topics: privilege (feeling self-conscious about being able to pass for white as a POC), feeling out of touch with your culture, and homophobia
Warm fuzzy feelings but I’m still crying in the club
American Panda by Gloria Chao
Taiwanese college freshman at MIT tries to meet her parents’ expectations of becoming a doctor and marrying someone Taiwanese, but she finds that she hates medicine and she’s falling for a Japanese guy -- does she follow her heart or make her parents happy?
Asian American representation! (the main is Taiwanese and the love interest is Japanese)
Topics: dealing with family pressure/expectations for school, careers, and marriage
My Asian heart had its calls answered in this book
I Love You So Mochi by Sarah Kuhn
A high schooler who loves fashion (but her mother wants her to pursue classical art) takes a spring break trip to Japan to visit her estranged grandparents
Asian American representation! (the main and love interest are both Japanese)
The story takes place mainly in Japan, so I loved reading about the landmarks, the food, and the culture
Topics: dealing with parental expectations while also figuring out what you want to do with your future, pursuing what you love and living in the present, family dynamics, and uncovering the past
The fluffiest cutest freaking romance ever that also made me cry so hard
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
US First Son falls in love with the Prince of Wales for a spicy secret relationship
Enemies to lovers and forbidden romance
The main is biracial (half Mexican half white) and bisexual, while the love interest is gay (many side characters are also POC or LGBTQ+)
Topics: coming out and discovering your sexuality, reconciling what everyone expects/wants from you and what you actually want, being LGBTQ+ or a POC in a position where that is not at all customary
I swooned. That is all.
Let’s Talk About Love by Claire Kann
College student (who is asexual) meets a guy at work and tries to understand what she wants from a relationship as well as how to go about pursuing that
The main is asexual, biromantic, and black, and the love interest is Japanese
Topics: coming out, educating others about your sexuality, privilege, maintaining strong friendships while in a relationship
Very romantic and feel-good
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
Two Indian-American teens are essentially matched up by their parents due to their shared interest in web development
Both mains are Indian
Topics: balancing your own dreams with family expectations, Indian culture
I haven't read this one, but it was highly suggested by my freshman English teacher
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
A teen witnesses the fatal shooting of her (unarmed) best friend at the hands of a police officer
Black main characters (this book was inspired by the Black Lives Matter Movement)
Topics: racial bias in the justice system, privilege, systemic racism, speaking up for what you believe in
ICONIC
Love From A to Z by S.K. Ali
Muslim teen gets suspended for confronting her teacher about his Islamophobia and meets a guy who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis
One main is a Muslim Hijabi teen (half-Guyanese and half-Pakistani), while the other is half-Chinese and half-white, converted to Islam, and has multiple sclerosis
Topics: dealing with Islamophobia and racism, coping (as well as sharing) with a diagnosis, grief
I cannot wait to read this one; I've heard so many good things
Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy
Plus-sized teen enters a beauty pageant to prove the haters wrong
Topics: body positivity, gaining self-confidence, defying stereotypes
I quite liked the movie for this too (Jennifer Aniston is in it if that makes you want to watch it)
A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi
The journey of a Muslim Hijabi teen in post-9/11 America
The main is a Muslim Hijabi teen, and a minor love interest is Lebanese-American
Topics: dealing with Islamophobia, xenophobia, and racism; privilege (the main love interest is white and essentially the school's golden boy); coping with isolation
Tahereh Mafi is a Muslim Iranian-American author and said that this was the most autobiographical novel she has written
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
A girl and a boy meet hours before the girl's family is supposed to be deported to Jamaica
One main is Jamaican, while the other is Korean
Topics: immigration politics, dealing with racism and stereotypes, what your parents want vs what you want
Every Reason We Shouldn’t by Sara Fujimura
Daughter of two champion figure skaters tries to figure out her future and finds a rivalry (and relationship hehe) with a rising speed skating star
The main and love interest are both biracial and a majority of their friends are Asian
Topics: parental/peer/self-imposed pressure, comparing your present with your past
Big sports focus -- a lot of time spent on skating training, competitions, and future achievements
Relatively light and cute read
whoa
Sci-Fi
Warcross by Marie Lu
Video games but in real life (basically, girl hacks into said real-life video game tournament and is hired as a spy by the company who made the game)
The main is Chinese-American, the love interest is Japanese, one of the side characters (one of the best gamers) is in a wheelchair, and a couple of side characters are gay as well
Super action-packed
The dark side of the Internet is visited and let me tell you, it is exhilarating
I love Marie Lu with all my heart (I met her in person a few years back!) and I think she’s a fabulous role model
Fantasy
Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan
Each year, eight beautiful girls are chosen as Paper Girls to serve the king. Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most persecuted class of people in Ikhara. She is taken to become one of the Paper Girls, and while training to become a king’s consort, she falls in love. Lei must decide how far she's willing to go for justice and revenge.
f/f romance and Asian-inspired culture
Lei is a huge comfort character to me and Natasha Ngan did an amazing job incorporating Asian culture into a fantasy world
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Crew of six people from different backgrounds (some of which have magical powers) go on a very dangerous mission for some very big bank
Action-packed for sure
Multiple mains are POC, m/m romance, one main suffers from PTSD as well as a disability (walks with a cane after a leg injury but still whoops everyone), one main with dyslexia, one main who is plus-sized
I'm so excited to read the sequel I cannot contain myself
There's also a Netflix series adaptation coming out April 23 and I still cannot contain myself
The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
The Caliph takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. When Shahrzad's best friend falls victim to the Caliph, she volunteers in an attempt to exact revenge
Re-imagining of A Thousand and One Nights
Enemies to lovers
Predominately Middle Eastern/North African characters
I read this about four years ago and I seriously need to give it a reread
We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia
Dani (an originally poor girl whose high position in society is due to forged papers her parents sacrificed everything to get) is set to marry an important politician’s son but is forced to spy for a resistance group
Premise: At The Medio School for Girls, young women are prepared for one of two roles within their future husband's household: Primera or Segunda. The Primera handles the business required for a functioning household, while the Segunda takes care of the more emotional sides of day-to-day life (like caring for children). At graduation, upper-class families choose the girls who shall marry their sons. (credit: megs_bookrack on Goodreads)
f/f romance and Latinx main characters
Enemies to lovers
Topics: class divides, gender norms and stereotypes, homophobia, immigration politics
My English teacher recommended this to me in freshman year and I really enjoyed it
Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron
I haven’t read this one, but I heard good things about it so here it is!
“A Cinderella retelling that features diverse characters smashing the patriarchy”
Queer black main character and f/f romance
Topics: challenging patriarchy and heteronormativity
I’m really sorry I can’t speak more on this book but it’s on my TBR so hopefully, I get to it soon!
Other great fantasy books on my TBR:
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown
We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal
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