Lisa Ko is the author of The Leavers, a novel which won the 2016 PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction. Her writing has appeared in Best American Short Stories 2016, The New York Times, Apogee Journal, Narrative,O. Magazine, Copper Nickel, Storychord, One Teen Story, Brooklyn Review, and elsewhere. Lisa has been awarded fellowships and residencies from the New York Foundation for the Arts, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the MacDowell Colony, the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation, Writers OMI at Ledig House, the Jerome Foundation, Blue Mountain Center, the Van Lier Foundation, Hawthornden Castle, the I-Park Foundation, the Anderson Center, the Constance Saltonstall Foundation, and the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center. Born in Queens and raised in Jersey, she lives in Brooklyn.
Livonia Chow Mein (2026) Abigail Savitch-Lew "Livonia Chow Mein is a true New York story, a vivid, empathetic portrait of a Brooklyn neighborhood told through four generations of one family. Abigail Savitch-Lew is a generous and gifted storyteller."
Oxford Soju Club (2025) Jinwoo Park "Fast-moving and dexterous, Oxford Soju Club is an innovative espionage story that exposes the boundaries of assimilation, diaspora, and loyalty, and what we do to survive."
Hot Girls with Balls (2025) Benedict Nguyễn "Following its heroines as they navigate their relationship on and off the volleyball court and online, alongside a relentless comments section full of lovers and haters, I was rooting for Six and Green every step of the way. Sharp and stylish, Hot Girls with Balls is pitch-perfect satire with a generous heart."
Homeseeking (2025) Karissa Chen "Epic, assured, and beautifully drawn, HOMESEEKING is a love story that reveals the effects of war and history on the lives of individuals. Karissa Chen has created a world that's deeply absorbing, following Suchi and Haiwen across decades, borders, and lifetimes."
The Fetishist (2024) Katherine Min "Fiercely intelligent, perfectly crafted, and brimming with wit, The Fetishist is a moving exploration of art, love, grief, and desire. Katherine Min's sentences will provoke you and wind their way around your heart."
The Museum of Failures (2023) Thrity Umrigar "The Museum of Failures is a compassionate and insightful exploration of judgment, forgiveness, and understanding. A skilled chronicler of family secrets, Thrity Umrigar reveals the reverberation that decisions can have over generations and the impact of distance, both geographical and psychological, on the relationship of one mother and son."
The Apology (2023) Jimin Han "What does it mean to be the keeper of the stories? What does it mean to be left behind? The Apology shows Jimin Han's talents as a skillful storyteller, interweaving questions of sisterhood and separation, generational secrets and ancestral love, through a singular and unforgettable centenarian voice."
Which Side Are You On (2022) Ryan Lee Wong "Sharp, fast-moving, and often hilarious, Which Side Are You On is a must-read: a story of Asian American relationships--familial, intergenerational, and otherwise--through the lens of Black-Asian histories, community organizing, and radical politics."
Fiona and Jane (2022) Jean Chen Ho "Loving and fierce, sharp and emotionally resonant, Fiona and Jane is not only the story of two best friends as they grow into adulthood--it's a love letter to Asian American women's friendship, in all of its most beautiful and heartbreaking iterations."
Agatha of Little Neon (2021) Claire Luchette "There’s not a false step in this novel of sisterhood, belonging, and what it means to choose a life for yourself. Agatha of Little Neon is a brilliant testament to Claire Luchette’s skill and original voice."
Infinite Country (2021) Patricia Engel "Clear, moving, and perfectly calibrated, Infinite Country follows the members of one mixed-immigration status family as they navigate dreams, distance, and the bonds of love and memory. Patricia Engel is a stunning writer with astonishing talents."
The Son of Good Fortune (2020) Lysley Tenorio "Full of heart, wisdom, and humor, The Son of Good Fortune is an unforgettable novel of mothers and sons, secrets and truth, and what it means to belong, told through the story of one undocumented Filipino family."
These Ghosts Are Family (2020) Maisy Card "Through Maisy Card's immersive storytelling, These Ghosts Are Family explores the intersections of generational trauma, love, and long-held family secrets, showing what it means to build a life in the face of history. I was hooked from page one."
A River of Stars (2018) Vanessa Hua "A River of Stars is a page-turner, a riveting story of parenthood, migration, and the choices we make to survive. Fierce and determined, resourceful and resilient, Scarlett Chen is an unforgettable protagonist you can’t help but root for."
Pretty Girls (2015) Karin Slaughter "The author's trademark of complex plots coupled with character studies makes Pretty Girls another standout."
Woman with a Gun (2014) Phillip Margolin "In the hands of Phillip Margolin, nothing is ever simple and no one is really safe. He is the master of suspense mystery."
