It’s a jumble of observations and realizations, relatable for any 20-something who has questioned herself, her career and her place in this world. She’s living a relatively flawless life following a typical Asian upbringing, but she can’t seem to answer one question: What does she really want? The main character remains anonymous throughout, allowing readers to immerse themselves in the mind of the protagonist. This concise debut novel from Wang presents a Chinese American graduate student who is mentally confronted with two dilemmas: her fading attraction to chemistry and her fading chemistry with Eric, her boyfriend of four years. It’s dorky and humorous - just like Lara Jean! This story also incorporates aspects unique to Indian culture, such as Hindi words and Indian fashion. Dimple and Rishi are two lovable characters whose stories unravel in the age-old tale of opposite personalities growing into their relationship, both professionally and romantically. In Menon’s bestseller, two Indian Americans with differing opinions about their arranged marriage try to figure each other out during a STEM summer program. To shine a light on more creative voices in the literary world, here are 11 young adult Asian American protagonists you may like if you loved Lara Jean!

Paired with the premiere of “Crazy Rich Asians,” we’ve seen a hike in interest regarding Asian and Asian American stories. The teen rom-com, starring Lana Candor and Noah Centineo and based on Jenny Han’s bestseller, has contributed to an ongoing conversation in regard to the lack of Asian leads in front of the camera. “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” welcomed a roaringly positive reaction from audiences worldwide.

Fish Out of Water by Natalie Whipple