The Best 9 Singaporean Books to Read Before (and after!) Going to Singapore
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Hello fellow readers! Are you looking for some Singaporean books to read before you set off on your fantastic journey to the tiny country? Or maybe you’re just looking for a change in literary scenery! Then I’ve compiled the PERFECT list for you. And to top it off, all of these books are written by SINGAPOREAN authors.
Why is it important to prioritize reading books by local authors? Well, for one, who else knows their country better than they do? I also think, as a reader, it is beneficial to read novels from authors of different nationalities, ethnicities, genders, and sexualities to better understand other perspectives. So I was PUMPED to tackle my list of Singaporean books that I had stocked up on in preparation for my trip. I will admit though, it was hard finding some in English, even though it is one of the country’s national languages haha.
Anyways, enough chit chat. Let’s dive into these Singaporean books!
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
I will start with the one EVERYONE and their auntie are talking about – Crazy Rich Asians. Arguably the most famous of all Singaporean books, and may be even up there with Memoirs of a Geisha for globally popular Asian literature. The basic story line is that Rachael and her boyfriend Nick live in New York City, USA. Nick gets invited to his best friend’s wedding in his home country of Singapore and invites Rachael to accompany him.
The only thing – Nick doesn’t tell her that his family is rich. Crazy rich, in fact. So, as an “unworthy” Asian-American, Rachael spends the novel learning to survive with Nick’s insanely dramatic, patronizing, and scheming family members. It’s the biggest novel from an Asian author to sweep across the Western world since…well…hm.
ANYWAYS – it’s a super fun book. It’s light, entertaining, and a quick read if you want something that isn’t too heavy. Plus, it has the whole HOLLYWOOD MOTION PICTURE aspect to it. If you haven’t heard, the book was made into a movie that featured the first Asian majority cast on the big screen since the Joy Luck Club in 1993! It is the first novel in a trilogy, so if you get hooked on the family drama, you have two more books to keep you going!
Ponti by Sharlene Teo
Ponti was a book chosen by my book club for Singaporean books, and it is a book that is STRONGLY character driven. If you’re not into character driven books, you probably won’t like it. So now with that disclaimer out of the way…
The story follows a young teenager, Szu, and her relationship with her single mother, Amisa, and her new best friend Circe. Szu and her mother live in a spooky run down house where her mother and her aunt pretend to be mediums and perform séances for the neighborhood. Szu is, for the most part, ignored both at school and at home, save for her mother’s occasional snide remarks.
Amisa, Szu’s mother, was once a renowned actress, feared and loved by everyone that glanced in her direction. And Szu’s new -and only- friend Circe is a snarky and privileged new kid on the block. Together, the story revolves around the three of their lives (past, present, and future) and how they deal with a great tragedy that befalls them.
Ministry of Moral Panic by Amanda Lee Koe
A collection of short stories that have won TONS of literary awards, and honestly, it’s because this book is brilliant. Each story is a roller coaster that kept me at the edge of my seat, then dropped me off a cliff with the final sentence. I wish each of the stories could be their own novel!
The writing is very raw and pure, but not in a way that tries to hard to be edgy. It’s just…real. In fact, it was one of my favorite books I read in 2018. Easily. The author subtly weaves both praise and critic of Singapore within the lines of the story, because every country has it’s light and dark.
A Leap of Love by Catherine Lim
Catherine Lim is internationally recognized as one of the leading faces of Asian fiction. I am not sure if all of her fiction works (she writes non fiction as well) are romance novels, but this particular one was. AND IT WAS SO CUTE.
Okay so get this. There is an old tradition that popularizes a woman proposing to a man, but only on February 29th. So when the main character Li-Ann, a true romantic who has been saving herself for THE ONE, spots the dreamy Jeremy on the day of the Leap Year, she knows now is the day she HAS to make her move, especially when she learns he is leaving the country at the end of the night.
This book is a dramatic whirlwind of twists and turns, but with such a light and wholesome love story that I can rarely find in romances these days. I gobbled up this story in one day it was so good.
Aunty Lee’s Delights by Ovidia Yu
Probably one of the most well known Singaporean mystery authors, and now I know why! I will admit that I have never really read mystery novels before, but I have definitely learned the error of my ways.
Aunty Lee, first of all, is a fantastic character. She is a culinary genius who owns a popular local cafe. This is just one of her mystery Singaporean books, and it starts off with a body washing up on Sentosa Island. As it turns out, it was the body of a young woman who was supposed to show up to Aunty Lee’s dinner party. Soon, everyone at the dinner party is a suspect. I’m not good at describing mystery novels without giving away too much of the plot twists, so I’ll leave it at that.
I loved that the novel gave a lot of Singaporean food references and also touched upon Singaporean culture, especially ideas and expectations around marriage and servants. If you love food and mystery, this book is right up your alley! Or should I say…spice rack!
Foreign Bodies by Hwee Hwee Tan
Wow, this one was powerful. The story follows three friends, Singaporean natives Mei and Eugene, and Eugene’s best friend Andy from England who is now dating Mei. Their friend triangle is shaken when Andy is arrested in Singapore for allegedly being an international gambling kingpin. That can be punishable by death in Singapore. Mei is a lawyer, and takes on Andy as a client, but the evidence is pilling up against him. Eugene is confident Andy was set up, due to the fact Andy is so dumb he gets lost every time he leaves the house, and goes on a mission to find the real culprit.
While the book may seem like a silly beach read, this story has some really deep messages about Millennial cynicism and our never-ending quest to find meaning and direction in our lives. There are also mentions to religion and how it shapes our reactions to life stressors. One of my favorite Singaporean books.
A Different Sky by Meira Chand
If you are a fan of classics, then this is the book for you. For example, if you like Pride & Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, then you will gobble this right up. I, personally, am not a fan of classics, but I recognize that this is a VERY well written book. It was interesting to find see that there were Singaporean books written in this style, though I guess considering Singapore’s history, it shouldn’t have been that surprising haha.
The book takes place in 1927, and follows three main characters : Mei Lan from a famous Chinese dynasty, a young Eurasian boy, and a bright young man from India, all brand new to Singapore. The book moves through World War II and the Japanese occupation of Singapore, and the three characters are flung together through turmoil. I appreciated that the book featured many iconic sectors of Singapore and some necessary bits of history.
However, if you don’t like more information heavy writing, the last part of the book might lose you a bit as it focuses on Singapore’s politics.
Travails of a Trailing Spouse by Stephanie Suga Chen
Full disclaimer, this author isn’t Singaporean. Chen is a Taiwanese-American author who immigrated to Singapore. Although she isn’t a local born author, her book is hilarious and paints a humorous picture of what Singapore is like from an immigrant’s point of view.
The story follows a married American couple, one a lawyer and the other a
neuro-scientist, as they relocated to Singapore for a new job opportunity. The couple, Sarah and Jason, slowly learn to adjust to their new environment. Along with their two kids, the family soon falls into the drama of their neighbors in their condo building. It’s a fun easy read, but my favorite part of this book are the characters. They are very well constructed and believable. Even if you have never lived in another country, you will connect with this book!
Inheritance by Balli Kaur Jaswal
Absolutely love love loveddd this book! Unlike a lot of characters from Singaporean books on this list, the main character is not Chinese Singaporean. This story follows the lives of a Punjabi Sikh family. Singapore is a country that is rich in diversity, so I was excited to stumble upon this book!
Living in a country that is so obsessed with order, but also allows certain independent freedoms. The children, Amrit, Narain, and Gurdev (all of age), find themselves at odds trying to balance their family’s traditional views. Especially when their personal interests and lifestyles “bring shame” to their mother and father.
Tackling female sexual expression, alcoholism, bipolar disorder, homosexuality, marriage and gender roles, this novel examines how tradition and modernism come together in Singapore in the Punjabi community.
Conclusion on Singaporean Books
I thoroughly enjoyed ALL of these books! I feel as though my experience in Singapore was enriched, both during and after my trip, as I read these books. That said, I am not Singaporean, so I’m sure there might have been some inside jokes or references that went over my head. But overall, I wasn’t at any point totally lost or disconnected because of any cultural differences.
If you want to learn more about Singaporean culture from local Singaporeans, check out my Singaporean Myths and Misconceptions post! Wow. How many times can I say Singaporean in one sentence?
Although you can find all of these Singaporean books on Amazon, A MUCH more cost efficient method would be to buy them in Singapore. I know, surprising, right? So if you’re in Singapore, you can head to Kinokuniya (a book store) on Orchard Road, or even at the airport market. They both have a little Singaporean books and authors section where you can find these and many others!
Have you read any Singaporean books?
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I feel like I’m seriously missing out on the Crazy Rich Asians wagon. I should probably read ASAP!! I’m glad you included a little bit about each book, it helps to decide which should go on my list 🙂
Ashamed to say I’ve only read crazy rich Asians. Time to add those books you’ve recommended to my reading list!
Hi, K! I lived in Singapore for a decade and never read any of these books (shame on me) — will check out Aunty Lee’s Delight (I love a good mystery) and Ministry of Moral Panic, because of short stories. Kudos for reading all of these 🙂