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I don’t know about you, but for me, half the fun of going somewhere new starts way before I even pack a bag. One of the driving factors of my travel philosophy is wanting to get a feel for a place — the rhythm, the inside jokes, the old stories people don’t tell on tours — and the best way I know how to do that before I even head to the airport is through books.
Singapore’s one of those places that people love to oversimplify. But once you start reading, you realize how much more there is going on under the surface.
These books about Singapore – fiction, memoir, history, a little bit of everything really – are the ones I’d recommend if you want to get a fuller picture. And not just the polished version, but the real Singapore, in all its messiness, beauty, weirdness, and constant change.
- The Best Singapore Books to Read Before Your Trip
- Find the Best Bookstores in Singapore to Shop Local
- Prefer Listening? The Best Podcasts About Singapore
Delve into Singapore
Don’t forget to check out the rest of my Singapore posts and guides if you’re still planning your perfect trip!
The Best Singapore Books to Read Before Your Trip
Real Talk:
Singapore – while less affected than some of its Southeast Asian neighbors – is not immune to overtourism, gentrification, and environmental damage. So please: don’t be an asshole when you travel here (or anywhere).
If you’ve made it to my blog, I’d like to think you too care about preserving the integrity of the places you visit – but I’ve seen enough disrespectful behavior from Western tourists to know it’s worth saying out loud:
If you’re going to make locals’ lives harder, just stay home.
In reality I have a Singapore books list that’s like 50+ titles long, but I realize most people aren’t as obsessive as I am, so I’ve tried to make this list just the best choices (but if you want that big list, just sign up to my email list and you’ll get it straight to your inbox).
Also, you’ll see a lot of screenshots from my Instagram because I share all the books about Singapore (and any other books) I read over there! Feel free to join me there if you’re also a total bookworm <3 Here’s just a quick sampling of all the other books about Singapore I’ve shared on Instagram and you’ll find in my master list!:
Last thing before we jump in, a lot of these are heavy, so look up the trigger warnings if you’re concerned about anything in particular! I tried to include what I could remember, but there’s always a chance something got missed.
Historical Fiction Books About Singapore That Bring The Past to Life
1. How We Disappeared – Jing-Jing Lee
Historical trauma informing today. WWII Japanese occupation. Violence against women. Dual timelines.
A powerful and dark story about the women who survived — and the many who didn’t — the brutal sexual violence of the Japanese Occupation in Singapore during WWII.
Decades later, a teenage boy uncovers a family secret that leads him to Wang Di, an elderly woman who has spent her life carrying the weight of what happened. It’s a heavy read in places, but one that shows how personal histories, even when silenced, shape the generations that come after.
This was the first book about Singapore I picked up and it immediately changed how I was conceptualizing of the country. I’ll admit (though I’m a bit ashamed to) that before reading this, before reading anything, I had assumed that Singapore had never really seen much trauma. I certainly didn’t think they were occupied during WWII. This book not only opened my eyes about WWII, but also allowed me to see all of Singapore in a new light.
Trigger Warnings: sexual violence, wartime violence, death
2. State of Emergency – Jeremy Tiang
Post WWII. Activism. Family fractures. Leftist movements. Untold histories.
State of Emergency follows one family across decades as they move through the parts of Singapore’s history that were quietly pushed aside. It’s slow and careful, but I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through.
I had already read like five books about Singapore, traveled there, and done hours of research — and I still hadn’t heard a single mention of the uprisings, crackdowns, and arrests at the heart of this story.
This is (so far) my favorite book about Singapore I’ve read. So unique, so well done, I highly recommend it.
Trigger Warnings: political violence, imprisonment, homophobia (not much), short mentions of war violence and death
3. The Great Reclamation – Rachel Heng
Historical epic. Land reclamation. Love and loss. Nation-building.
This one’s high on my TBR. Everything I’ve read about it — and everything people I trust have said — makes it sound like the kind of novel that takes you deep into the human cost of Singapore’s transformation.
Starting in a tiny fishing village in the 1940s, the story follows Ah Boon, a young boy whose life — and land — are reshaped by war, colonialism, independence, and ambition.
It’s a slow-burn, sweeping novel about love, loyalty, and what gets lost when a country decides it needs to reinvent itself.
Trigger Warnings: political violence, displacement, death
Cover image via Riverhead Books
Planning Cheat Sheet: Every Link You Need in One Place
P.S. When you book using my links, you help support Rachel IRL at no extra cost to you. It’s a win-win!
Political & Social Nonfiction That Pulls Back the Curtain
4. The Air-Conditioned Nation – Cherian George
Media control. Political critique. Essays. Provocative. Sharp analysis.
I haven’t picked this up yet, but it found its way onto my radar after reading State of Emergency.
It feels like one of those books you can’t really skip if you want to understand Singapore beyond the surface.
Cherian George looks at how the city’s political system shapes public life — not always through outright censorship, but through a subtler kind of control.
From everything I’ve heard, it’s sharp, thoughtful, and a little unsettling in the best way.
Trigger Warnings: censorship, political oppression
Cover Image via Ethos Books
Contemporary Fiction Books About Singapore Today
5. Ponti – Sharlene Teo
Coming-of-age. Mother-daughter. Female friendship. Gritty. Surreal. Tropical gothic.
This one’s strange and sticky in a way I really loved. It follows three teenage girls growing up in early 2000s Singapore — awkward, angry, and aching for connection — and the shadow of a mother who used to be a cult horror movie star.
The book shifts between timelines and characters, but what sticks is the feeling: humid, haunted, and impossible to fully shake off once you’re done.
Trigger Warnings: emotional neglect, bullying, death from illness
6. Nimita’s Place – Akshita Nanda
Parallel lives. Migration. Generations of women. Ideas of home.
This Singapore book hit me quietly but sharply. It follows two women — one in 1940s Lahore during Partition, and one in modern-day Singapore — who are both trapped by the things their families and histories expect from them, and both trying, in their own way, to find a door out.
Nimita’s Place isn’t flashy or loud, but it stays with you: a reminder that for a lot of people, making your own life isn’t about rebellion — it’s about survival.
Trigger Warnings: violence from war, domestic violence, racism
7. It Never Rains on National Day – Jeremy Tiang
Short stories. Quiet alienation. National identity. Emotional restraint. Everyday lives.
I just finished this one (picked it up immediately after finishing State of Emergency), and it’s clear how much Jeremy Tiang notices — all the tensions, the loneliness, and the things people never say out loud.
The stories are small but sharp, peeling back the surface of life in Singapore to show how much gets pushed aside or smoothed over.
I’m not normally a stort story girlie, but I appreciated that all of these were interconnected. In my opinion, this one still wasn’t as good as State of Emergency, but I’m super glad I read it!
The stories capture the lives of ordinary Singaporeans living on the edges — emotionally, politically, and personally. From migrants to misfits, the book is clearly showcasing a country obsessed with success but blind to what it’s losing in the process.
Trigger Warnings: xenophobia
8. Inheritance – Balli Kaur Jaswal
Family saga. Generational shifts. LGBTQ themes. Cultural tension. Quiet heartbreak.
This one’s high on my TBR.
Everything I’ve read about it makes it sound like the kind of slow, heavy family story that stays with you long after you finish it — all about how silence, shame, and identity ripple across generations.
Set in a Sikh Singaporean family over decades of change, it looks at what gets lost when survival means keeping parts of yourself hidden.
Cover image via Sleepers Publishing
Trigger Warnings: suicide, LGBTQ+ marginalization, family rejection
Light & Fun Singapore Books
9. Crazy Rich Asians Trilogy – Kevin Kwan
Satire. Glamour. Family drama. Social climbing. Over-the-top.
I’ve read the first and third books in this trilogy (still haven’t gotten to the second), and to be honest, I didn’t love them — but it would feel ridiculous not to include them here.
Kevin Kwan’s trilogy is the big, splashy take on Singapore’s old money, new money, and no money dramas, and whether or not the tone works for you, it’s a huge part of how the city first hit the pop culture radar for a lot of people outside Asia.
If you’re in the mood for outrageous wealth, family scheming, and some very over-the-top outfits, this is where to start.
Trigger Warnings: classism, fatphobia, casual racism (in character portrayals)
BONUS: you can watch this one as a movie as well (and honestly I kind of preferred the movie, which isn’t like me.
10. Last Tang Standing – Lauren Ho
Rom-com. Singapore high society. Career angst. Bridget Jones energy. Sharp and funny.
I haven’t read this one yet, but it’s sitting high on my TBR because it sounds like the perfect messy, funny, Singapore-set rom-com.
It follows Andrea Tang, a thirtysomething lawyer who seems to have it all — except, of course, for a husband, which her family never lets her forget.
If you’re in the mood for a smart, funny, slightly chaotic story about balancing ambition, love, and expectations, this looks like a good one to reach for.
Trigger Warnings: casual fatphobia (minor character jokes), family pressure
Cover image via HarperCollins
How to Find Singapore Books Like a Local
Littered with Books
Tucked inside a charming heritage shophouse on Duxton Road, Littered with Books feels like a hidden world away from the city’s shiny malls. The store has a lovingly curated selection — from fiction and travel to history and children’s books — and plenty of cozy corners to get lost in.
If you’re craving a spot that feels more like a neighborhood secret than a big-name chain, this is it. This is where I bought several of my Singapore books! It was definitely a favorite of mine.
Epigram Books
More than just a bookstore, Epigram Books is a local publishing powerhouse championing Singaporean voices. Their shop (inside Maxwell Chambers) stocks homegrown novels, memoirs, graphic novels, and children’s books — all proudly Singaporean.
If you want to support indie authors and discover books about Singapore you won’t easily find abroad, this is absolutely worth a visit. Their hours are a bit confusing to me (they have temporary and different locations and whatnot), so just double check before going. I really regret not getting to visit Epigram when I was in Singapore because I’m obsessed with their Singapore books.
If you’re hunting for even more hidden gems in Singapore, check out my Singapore shopping post!
Prefer Listening?
Here Are the Best Podcasts About Singapore
Not everyone wants to dive into a full book before a trip — and honestly, sometimes a good podcast is the perfect way to slip a little history or culture into your day without even thinking about it. I’m lowkey a podcast addict, so adding this little bit just made sense to me.
If you’re more of a listener than a reader (or just want something to queue up while you’re packing), these podcasts are a great way to get a deeper feel for Singapore. From hidden histories to literary deep dives to real talk about life on the island, they’ll help you tune into the heartbeat of the city — no library card required.
I’m a podcast fiend, so drop me a DM if you find a favorite!
Planning Cheat Sheet: Every Link You Need in One Place
P.S. When you book using my links, you help support Rachel IRL at no extra cost to you. It’s a win-win!
Ready to Read Your Way Through These Singapore Books?
Reading stories — whether it’s fiction, memoir, or history — is one of my favorite ways to get to know a place before I ever set foot there. I hope this list gives you a head start on seeing a different side of Singapore — the one that lives beyond the tourist highlights.
So as you’re planning your trip (and maybe your next hawker center meal), make a little space for a book or two along the way. It’s the kind of reading that feels a lot more like wandering — and a lot less like homework.
If you end up picking one of these books about Singapore up — or if you have a favorite I missed — let me know! You can always find me in the comments, on Instagram (tag me in your travel content!), Youtube, or Pinterest.
🇸🇬 P.S. Don’t forget to check out the rest of my Singapore posts for more travel tips, food recs, and hidden gems!
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