2025: The year of the sophomore novel
"Reading the Room" columnist Serena Puang looks back on critically acclaimed authors who released their second novels in 2025.
Latest
Finding Home: How Amielynn Abellera threads Filipino identity on screen
Amielynn Abellera, who portrays Filipino Muslim Perlah Alawi in HBO Max's "The Pitt," reflects on why authentic representation of Filipinos matters more than ever.
Liza Dizon becomes infinite with 'Reflections'
Liza Dizon's debut exhibit is an immersive journey through self-discovery.
Shadi Hamid attempts to make 'The Case for American Power'
Shadi Hamid’s latest book argues that the world needs more U.S. influence.
Kristin Villanueva at the heart of ‘The Pitt’
Kristin Villanueva shines in "The Pitt," revealing the soul of care work and bringing representation with depth and humanity.
Jacquira Díaz’s ‘This is the Only Kingdom’ is a love story after the fairy tale ends
Díaz debuts with a tender exploration of what comes after “happily ever after.”
'What a Time to be Alive' is a dive into the fragmented realities of influencer fame
Jade Chang’s newest novel mirrors internet stardom itself: messy, fast-moving and some unexpected moments of connection.
Through Vince A’s debut, love as a Filipino language finds a new voice
Vince A blends heartfelt storytelling with Filipino music traditions and his Bay Area roots.
R.F. Kuang turns academia into a descent through hell in ‘Katabasis’
Kuang’s newest release is a departure from the gossip-filled thriller that was "Yellowface" toward a hellscape, exposing the cost of academic ambition.
Bolo Music Group’s Ouida channels grief, community and self-reclamation
Ouida traces how loss and perseverance shape her artistry, bridging personal healing with music and community.
Holding the line for our stories
Rooted exists because we know our voices carry power.
An open letter to the white person who might read ‘Misbehaving at the Crossroads’
Honoreé Fanonne Jeffers’ collection is a reflection of contemporary life that belongs in any home library. Yes, even yours.
Unmasking
Reclaiming Lineage: The sacred dance of SAMMAY Peñaflor Dizon
SAMMAY Peñaflor Dizon channels ancestral memory, ritual and community to forge a path for healing.
Reading the Room
‘Julie Chan is Dead’ and the dark side of influencer fame: A Q&A with author Liann Zhang
In her gripping debut novel, Liann Zhang taps into her own past and explores twin identity, influencer culture and internet infatuation.
Unmasking
Katerina Jeng’s journey of liberation and the sacred act of self-making
In "Gospel of a Whole Sun," the poet explores healing, identity and collective care.
Unmasking
Isa Garcia's journey of home, grief and renewal
Isa Garcia finds resilience through loss, showing us that through pain, there is room for joy, connection, and growth.
Reading the Room
Love, War and Yuanfen: Karissa Chen's stunning debut
"Homeseeking" is a heartbreaking tale exploring the choices that shape two lovers bound by fate, separated by circumstance.
Film
‘Oakland Ilokana’ is a tribute to family, heritage and forgotten Filipina Americans
Elenita Makani O'Malley's debut film is an intergenerational journey that centers on a perspective often overlooked in Filipino American history.
Updates
Back to the beginning
In 2025, we're reclaiming joy.
Reading the Room
Shepherd's 'All This and More' delivers a captivating adventure
The first thing readers will want to do after finishing Peng Shepherd’s ‘All This and More’ is flip it over and start again.
Reading the Room
Yulin Kuang on romance debut, book adaptations and tropes
Kuang calls “How to End a Love Story” a “contemporary romance that felt like a historical romance novel.”
Literature
College, class and money moves in Kiley Reid’s ‘Come and Get It’
Kiley Reid’s sophomore novel “Come and Get It” brings readers to contemplate money, early adulthood and relationships.
Literature
Inside the parallel worlds of Aube Rey Lescure’s ‘River East, River West’
Set in 2007 Shanghai and 1985 Qingdao, “River East, River West” alternates between a mother’s and daughter’s perspectives, highlighting the massive cultural shifts in China both after the cultural revolution and the late aughts.
Commentary
Racial bias and AI squander dreams of highly qualified immigrant workers in the US
Algorithms favor certain educational institutions and systems, certain names, as prerequisites for consideration. And if you don’t meet them? Well, you can forget about someone looking at your resume.