Every year is a good year to read books by Asian authors, but especially when you’ve got the Year of the Asian Reading Challenge for extra motivation! I had a great time with YARC2019, so I’m really excited that it’s back.

Co-hosted by Vicky Who Reads, CW @ The Quiet Pond, Lily @ Sprinkles of Dreams, and Shealea @ Shut Up Shealea, the aim of this challenge is to read as many books written by Asian authors as you can! These books can be backlist titles (i.e. released in 2019 or earlier), new releases, and ARCs. We welcome books of any genre, any format, and any length. Check out the levels we have made for this challenge (drawn by CW!) and set your sights on a level you want to achieve.

We want this to be a relaxing and, above all else, fun challenge, so you can join in at any time in the year! The sign-up form will remain open until 2020 ends.

Follow us on Twitter (@YearOfTheAsian) for announcements, surprises, and more bookish fun. The official hashtag for this reading challenge is #YARC2020.

Last year I aimed for and reached the Bengali tiger badge, with 58 total books. This year I’m already signed up for a lot of reading challenges but it turns out I still have plenty of time to read, so I’m aiming for the Giant Panda badge (31-40 books) the Bengali tiger badge (51+ books).

Final Count: 57 / 51 books
COMPLETED September 2020

Final Badge: Bengali tiger

Last updated December 31, 2020

January – 6

• The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco
• Our Wayward Fate by Gloria Chao
• Night Sky with Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong
• Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
• The Epic Crush of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee
• The Iron Will of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee

🏮

February – 4

• Exit West by Mohsin Hamid [reread for class]
• The Incendiaries by R.O. Kwon
• Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen
• A Bond Undone by Jin Yong [ARC]

🏮

March – 5

• Not Your Backup by C.B. Lee
• The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi
• A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki [reread for class]
• Dear Girls by Ali Wong
• The Silvered Serpents by Roshani Chokshi [ARC]

🏮

April – 3

• The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall [ARC]
• Private Lessons by Cynthia Salaysay [ARC]
• The Suffering by Rin Chupeco

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May [Heritage Month] – 16

Books marked with * were read for Asian readathon.

• Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles [ARC]
• Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay*
• Everything Here Is Beautiful by Mira T. Lee*
• Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones*
• Shadowsong by S. Jae-Jones
• The Dragon Warrior by Katie Zhao*
• Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng* [reread]
• What’s Left of Me by Kat Zhang
• Once We Were by Kat Zhang
• Echoes of Us by Kat Zhang
• Want by Cindy Pon
• Somewhere Only We Know by Maurene Goo
• Permanent Record by Mary H.K. Choi
• Wicked As You Wish by Rin Chupeco
• Unravel the Dusk by Elizabeth Lim [ARC]
• Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal

🏮

June – 3

• We Are Totally Normal by Rahul Kanakia
• Parachutes by Kelly Yang
• The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf

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July – 6

• The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco [reread]
• The Heart Forger by Rin Chupeco [reread]
• The Shadow Glass by Rin Chupeco 
• I’ll Be the One by Lyla Lee
• Rebel Seoul by Axie Oh
• Privilege by Bharat Krishnan [ARC]

🏮

August – 3

• This Time Will Be Different by Misa Sugiura
• Seven Tears at High Tide by C.B. Lee
• 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

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September – 5

• On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
• A Spark of White Fire by Sangu Mandanna
• Darius the Great Deserves Better by Adib Khorram
• These Violent Delights by Chloe Gong [ARC]
• We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal

🏮

October – 2

• I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo
• Frankly In Love by David Yoon

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November – 2

• Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop by Roselle Lim
• The Art of War by Sun Tzu

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December – 2

• Green Island by Shawna Yang Ryan
• A House of Rage and Sorrow by Sangu Mandanna

• What are your favorite books by Asian authors?
• Are you participating in YARC 2020? If yes, what level are you aiming for?