Recs if you like The Astonishing Color of After...

this is for aesthetics only

I'm including books where a character's presence is minimal and every character, conflict, and theme leads back to them. Their absence feels loud. Their past decisions shape the present.

Open for recommendations that meet these parameters 💓 I haven't read all the books in this list but feel fairly confident about their inclusion here, if you believe one of these doesn't fit feel free to discuss in the comments

Here's every book so far from BOTM's monthly shortlist since February 2015 for anyone who wants to read them all like I do!

Books set in an Asian or Asian-inspired setting or incorporates elements of an Asian culture or mythology. Only the first book in a series is listed.

books that feel like the moment at the end of a movie when the protagonist has been through hell and back, gets into a cab, and gazes silently out the window as she goes home. she smiles ever so slowly before the screen fades to black.

fiction books centered around characters processing grief 🦋

YA novels with mental health representation.

it turns out LOTS of writers are thinking about birds as metaphors for grief

Fiction books set Taiwan

Open to recs!

YA and MG books where the main character is dealing with their mental health

Own any translation dictionaries? No? Well, you might want to now.

These books will make you want to keep one by your side, be it for the various Chinese dialects, Latin, Old Welsh, Arabic, and so on that appear as quotes, vocab, or key references ~

Novels that give a slice of life, a look into love, or just generally give you a raw feeling in your heart when reading.

A list of books LarryReads has been sent. A lot of small indie authors. Lots of dark romance

Books from Belletrist Book Club and some extra reccos from their IG account (I.e stacked or YA spotlight)