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The Complete Guide to Books About Singapore, Set in Singapore & By Singaporean Authors

byRachel IRL
05 June 2025
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Just a heads up: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you book through them (at no extra cost to you). Your support helps me keep Rachel IRL going, so thank you! To read more, please see my affiliate disclosure.

You know how some people spend their free time going on walks or watching TV?

Yeah, I spent mine building the most unnecessarily comprehensive guide to Singaporean books you’ll probably ever encounter.

Over the course of many unhinged hours (days?? weeks?? time is fake), I attempted to hunt down every novel, memoir, short story collection, graphic novel, political analysis, and speculative fever dream even loosely connected to Singapore.

I realize no one asked for this, but the thing is, I wanted to create the type of comprehensive list that I am always looking for but can never find. I want no stone left unturned, or at least as few stones left as possible (cause let’s be real I definitely missed something, but I promise I tried my absolute best).

The final result: I literally have no idea how many books are on this list because I got a wee bit carried away. However, it’s meticulously genre-sorted and vibe-tagged to make the insanity easier to get through.

You’ll find a few quick vibe words under each title to help you navigate — whether you’re looking for historical fiction, thrillers, incredible lit fic, scathing political critiques, or something that’ll just absolutely wreck your emotions on the plane ride over.
Some are famous, some are overlooked, and some are so specific they feel like a secret (or a product of my neurosis).

Use this guide however you want: skim, deep dive, hoard titles for a future trip, or just sit back and marvel at the fact that someone (me) spent way too long building this gloriously chaotic archive.

Either way—welcome to my madness, and happy reading.

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!

✨ Some Tips Before You Dive In✨

Some of these books are almost impossible to find outside Singapore.

If you’re planning a trip, bring an extra tote bag and hit up indie spots like Epigram Bookshop and Littered With Books.

Not only will you score titles you can’t get abroad — you’ll also get the satisfaction of supporting local bookstores and feeling like a literary smuggler. (Win-win.)

If you’re not planning a trip just yet, you may need to check for ebooks, used copies, etc. and get a bit creative with some of these titles. But a lot of them are quite easy to find as well.

Heads up: a few books on this list are only partially set in Singapore, or if they’re set early enough they may be set in “Malaya”, which is a pre independence state.

I still included them because they hit something real — a flash of history, a cultural shift, a character grappling with home and away. Basically, if Singapore leaves fingerprints on the story, it’s in.

Not sure where to start?
Here’s a quick starter pack:

(Or if you want a full guide to my absolute must-reads, check out my Essential Singapore Books shortlist!)

Historical Fiction Singapore Books

singapore books historical fiction
  • King Rat – James Clavell (1962)
    POW survival. Brutality. Camaraderie. WWII prison camps.
  • If We Dream Too Long – Goh Poh Seng (1972)
    Coming-of-age. Post-independence disillusionment. 1960s Singapore.
  • Scorpion Orchid – Lloyd Fernando (1976)
    Racial tension. Friendship fractures. 1950s Singapore.
  • The Singapore Grip – J.G. Farrell (1978)
    British decline. Satire. Colonial absurdity. Pre-WWII Singapore.
  • Tanamera – Noel Barber (1981)
    Forbidden love. WWII Singapore. Colonial power shifts. Family saga.
  • The Scholar and the Dragon – Stella Kon (1986)
    Revolution, identity, and tradition. 1910s Singapore.
  • The Shrimp People – Rex Shelley (1991)
    Political awakening. Minority struggles. Class divides. Coming-of-age.
  • Spider Boys – Ming Cher (1995)
    1950s Singapore. Street gangs. Fighting spiders. Raw coming-of-age.
  • The Bondmaid – Catherine Lim (1997) (Lim has a lot of books in her backlog FYI)
    Servitude. Forbidden love. Class oppression. Historical drama.
  • A River of Roses – Rex Shelley (1998)
    Colonial tensions. Eurasian identity. Wartime Singapore. Cultural roots.
  • A Different Sky – Meira Chand (2010)
    Independence movement. Multiracial society. Personal revolutions. Sweeping drama.
  • The Mighty Wave – He Jin; trans. Tan Jing Quee, Loh Miaw Gong, Hong Lysa (2011)
    Student activism and anti-colonial resistance. 1950s Singapore.
  • The Inlet – Claire Tham (2013)
    Historical echoes in contemporary setting. Scandal. Class friction. Youth culture. Tragedy.
  • Confrontation – Mohamed Latiff Mohamed (2013)
    Race riots. Social inequality. Postcolonial struggles. Raw realism.
  • Inheritance – Balli Kaur Jaswal (2013)
    Family rifts. Religion and politics. LGBTQ+ identity. Generational divide.
  • The River’s Song – Suchen Christine Lim (2013)
    Love, loss, and transformation. Singapore River’s past and present.
  • The Moonlight Palace – Liz Rosenberg (2014)
    Faded royalty. Coming-of-age. Nostalgic Singapore. Charming resilience.
  • Art Studio – Yeng Pway Ngon, trans. Goh Beng Choo & Loh Guan Liang (2014)
    1980s. Artistic obsession. Political disillusionment. Post-independence Singapore. Interwoven lives.
  • Cherry Days – David Leo (2015)
    Kampong childhood. Post-war Singapore. Coming-of-age. Social change.
  • Big Mole – Ming Cher (2015)
    1950s Singapore. Secret societies. Revenge and survival. Sequel to Spider Boys.
  • Singapore Saga Vol 1: Forbidden Hill – John D. Greenwood (2016)
    Colonial ambition. Treachery. Adventure. 19th-century intrigue.
  • State of Emergency – Jeremy Tiang (2017)
    Communist purges. Family fractures. Unseen histories. Suspenseful.
  • Unrest – Yeng Pway Ngon, trans. Jeremy Tiang (2017)
    Leftist youth & disillusionment. Singapore/China/Hong Kong. 1950s. Queer undercurrents.
  • Chasing the Dragon – John D. Greenwood (2018)
    Secret societies. Opium trade. Betrayal. Colonial corruption.
  • How We Disappeared – Jing-Jing Lee (2019)
    WWII trauma. Comfort women. Generational secrets. Quiet grief.
  • Lonely Face – Yeng Pway Ngon, trans. Natascha Bruce (2019)
    Midlife crisis. Masculinity in flux. Divorce and regret. Singapore in the 1980s.
  • Costume – Yeng Pway Ngon, trans. Jeremy Tiang (2020)
    Cantonese opera. 1910s. Intergenerational memory. Singaporean identity.
  • Blue Sky Mansion – H.Y. Yeang (2021)
    WWII. Survival and resilience. Colonial Malaya. Epidemic backdrop.
  • The Formidable Miss Cassidy – Meihan Boey (2022)
    Victorian mystery. Sharp heroine. Colonial Singapore. Witty adventures.
  • Gardens at Phoenix Park – Wong Souk Yee (2022)
    Political awakening. Resistance. 1980s Singapore. Personal vs public life.
  • Kopi, Puffs & Dreams – Pallavi Gopinath Aney (2022)
    Food culture. Friendship. Secrets. Pursuing dreams.
  • The Great Reclamation – Rachel Heng (2023)
    Land reclamation. Myth meets reality. Family legacy. Nation-building dreams.
  • The Light Between Us – Elaine Chiew (2024)
    Time-crossed lovers. Colonial Singapore. Photography. Chinese diaspora.

Contemporary Fiction Singapore Books

things books contemporary fiction
  • Ricky Star – Lim Thean Soo (1978)
    Ambition, family, and reckoning. Corporate Singapore in the 1970s.
  • The Adventures of Holden Heng – Robert Yeo (1986)
    Romantic misadventures. Social satire. 1980s Singapore.
  • The Teenage Textbook – Adrian Tan (1988)
    Teen satire. 1980s Singapore. Romantic misadventures. Coming-of-age.
  • A Candle or the Sun – Gopal Baratham (1991)
    Censorship. Rebellion. Tense atmosphere. Moral dilemmas.
  • Fistful of Colours – Suchen Christine Lim (1992)
    Artistic identity. Intergenerational trauma. Feminism. Postcolonial Singapore.
  • Glass Cathedral – Andrew Koh (1995)
    Faith, identity, and forbidden love. Gay life in 1990s Singapore.
  • Gone Case – Dave Chua (1997)
    Coming-of-age. Family struggles. Working-class Singapore. 1980s nostalgia.
  • Foreign Bodies – Hwee Hwee Tan (1997)
    Cultural clashes. Crime and punishment. East meets West. Restlessness.
  • Heartland – Daren Shiau (1999)
    Coming-of-age. Identity and belonging. 1990s Singapore heartlands.
  • Mammon Inc. – Hwee Hwee Tan (2001)
    Satirical fiction. East-West identity. Global capitalism. Cultural dislocation.
  • Bedok Reservoir – Wesley Leon Aroozoo (2012)
    Novella and stage play. Grief and psychological descent. Set in Bedok Reservoir, Singapore.
  • Penghulu – Suratman Markasan, trans. Solehah Ishak (2012)
    Postcolonial displacement. Kampong-to-HDB transition. Malay identity. Political tension.
  • The Last Lesson of Mrs de Souza – Cyril Wong (2013)
    Retirement, regret, and memory. A teacher’s final day in a Singaporean classroom.
  • The Tower – Isa Kamari, trans. Alfian Sa’at (2013)
    Architectural allegory. Spiritual disillusionment. Urban alienation. Fable-infused narrative.
  • If I Could Tell You – Jing-Jing Lee (2013)
    Displacement, memory, and resilience. Housing block faces demolition.
  • A Certain Exposure – Jolene Tan (2014)
    Elite society. Grief. Repression. LGBTQ+ themes.
  • Now That It’s Over – O Thiam Chin (2015)
    Tsunami aftermath. Relationship collapse. Emotional drift. Quiet devastation.
  • Let’s Give It Up for Gimme Lao! – Sebastian Sim (2016)
    Satire. Ambition. National identity. Dark humor.
  • Sugarbread – Balli Kaur Jaswal (2016)
    Coming-of-age. Family secrets. Cultural expectations. Identity struggles.
  • Kappa Quartet – Daryl Qilin Yam (2016)
    Mythical realism. Soul-seeking. Between Singapore & Tokyo. Fragmented longing.
  • The Punkhawala and the Prostitute – Wesley Zeon Aroozoo (2016)
    Outsider perspectives. Survival. Love and loss. Unexpected bonds.
  • The Riot Act – Sebastian Sim (2017)
    Political satire. Social unrest. Absurdity. Sharp wit.
  • The Gatekeeper – Nuraliah Norasid (2017)
    Mythical creatures. Marginalization. Fantasy realism. Identity search.
  • Death of a Perm Sec – Wong Souk Yee (2017)
    Political thriller. Institutional secrets. Moral compromises. Government intrigue.
  • Altered Straits – Kevin Martens Wong (2017)
    Alternate histories. Merlion warfare. Queer dystopia. Mythical Singapore.
  • Nimita’s Place – Akshita Nanda (2018)
    Partition trauma. Modern immigration. Parallel lives. Women’s journeys.
  • If It Were Up to Mrs Dada – Carissa Foo (2018)
    Stream-of-consciousness. Dementia and memory. Singaporean womanhood. Intergenerational longing.
  • Ponti – Sharlene Teo (2018)
    Coming-of-age. Motherhood wounds. Urban myths. Sultry atmosphere.
  • Impractical Uses of Cake – Yeoh Jo-Ann (2018)
    Found family. Healing. Hidden homelessness. Gentle humor.
  • Travails of a Trailing Spouse – Stephanie Suga Chen (2018)
    Expat life. Cultural misadventures. Humor and adjustment. Domestic drama.
  • The Gods Will Hear Us Eventually – Jinny Koh (2018)
    Family loss. Grief. Religious beliefs. Search for closure.
  • The Dogs – O Thiam Chin (2020)
    Memory and regret. Kampong childhood. Unspoken trauma. Quiet redemption.
  • And the Award Goes to Sally Bong! – Sebastian Sim (2020)
    Mediocrity satire. Family expectations. Singaporean dreams. Dry humor.
  • We Are Not Alone Here – O. Thiam Chin (2021)
    Family trauma. Emotional survival. Contemporary Singapore.
  • We Do Not Make Love Here – Nisha Mehraj (2022)
    Family saga. Love and estrangement. Generational disillusionment. Indian Singaporean identity.
  • Dearest Intimate – Suchen Christine Lim (2022)
    Intergenerational love and resilience. Set in pre-war China and contemporary Singapore.
  • Every School a Good School – Ng Ziqin (2022)
    Educational satire. Bureaucratic absurdity. Dark humor. Youth voices.
  • Fox Fire Girl – O. Thiam Chin (2022)
    Queer coming-of-age. Myth and memory. Contemporary Singapore.
  • The Campbell Gardens Ladies’ Swimming Class – Vrushali Junnarkar (2023)
    Female friendship. Postwar healing. Quiet rebellion. Community bonds.
  • After the Inquiry – Jolene Tan (2023)
    Legal drama. Political accountability. Sharp critique. Power structures.
  • Gus: Life and Opinions of the Last Raffles’ Banded Langur – Jon Gresham (2023)
    Animal perspectives. Conservation. Environmentalism. Unlikely heroes.
  • Utama – Ng Yi-Sheng (2023)
    Myth reimaginings. Urban legends. Playful storytelling. Queer futures.
  • Sister Snake – Amanda Lee Koe (2024)
    Political allegory. Urban malaise. Dark wit. Sharp observation. Sisters.
  • The Unlikely Motherhood of Shaleni May – Sunita Sue Leng (2024)
    Unexpected motherhood. Career conflicts. Humor and heart. Modern womanhood.
  • Deplorable Conversations with Cats and Other Distractions – Yeoh Jo-Ann (2024)
    Grief, absurdity, and talking cats. From Joo Chiat to Malaysia.
  • Afternoon Yuan Yang Club – Jojo Chia (2024)
    Female friendship. Coming-of-age. Singaporean girlhood.

Short Stories & Plays

singapore books short stories
  • Singapore Trilogy – Robert Yeo (1995)
    Political theater. National identity. Social critique. Cultural reflection.
  • Corridor: 12 Short Stories – Alfian Sa’at (1999)
    Heartland lives. Socioeconomic struggles. Raw humanity. Sharp realism.
  • Free-Falling Man – O. Thiam Chin (2006)
    Emotional disconnection. Urban loneliness. Queer identity. Quiet devastation.
  • Never Been Better – O. Thiam Chin (2009)
    Short stories. Queer desire. Disconnection in modern Singapore.
  • Boom – Jean Tay (2009)
    Tensions and ancestral ties. The living and the dead navigate progress in Singapore.
  • The Chempaka Tree – Tan Jing Quee (2009)
    Pre-modern Singapore. Memory, place, and quiet resistance.
  • Everything but the Brain – Jean Tay (2010)
    Time, caregiving, and mortality. A daughter’s desperate bid to save her father.
  • Under the Sun – O. Thiam Chin (2010)
    Flash fiction. Hidden desires and dark secrets. Urban Singapore.
  • Those Who Can’t, Teach – Haresh Sharma (2010)
    Satirical exploration of Singapore’s education system. Teachers’ challenges and students’ antics in a secondary school setting.
  • The Beating and Other Stories – Dave Chua (2011)
    Urban alienation. Quiet desperation. Magical realism. Singapore heartlands.
  • The Rest of Your Life and Everything That Comes With It – O. Thiam Chin (2011)
    Short stories. Turning points and quiet crises. Urban Singapore.
  • The Earnest Mask – Xi Ni Er, trans. Howard Goldblatt & Sylvia Li-chun Lin (2012)
    Mini-fiction. Postcolonial memory. Urban alienation. Quiet absurdity.
  • Fish Eats Lion – ed. Jason Erik Lundberg (2012)
    Singaporean speculative fiction. Genre-bending tales. Local myths reimagined.
  • Malay Sketches – Alfian Sa’at (2012)
    Malay community. Intimate portraits. Social critique. Cultural specificity.
  • Model Citizens – Haresh Sharma (2012)
    Intersecting lives of three women. Power, privilege, and societal expectations.
  • Balik Kampung – ed. Verena Tay (2012)
    Urban nostalgia. Neighbourhood memory. Identity. Singaporean voices.
  • Rojak: Stories from the Singaporean Community – various authors (2013)
    Community snapshots. Cultural mosaic. Everyday dramas. Singapore soul.
  • The Space Between the Raindrops – Justin Ker (2013)
    Transient moments. Emotional isolation. Dreamy prose. Urban melancholy.
  • From the Belly of the Cat – Stephanie Ye (ed.) (2013)
    Speculative futures. Youth voices. Urban angst. Experimental storytelling.
  • Love, Or Something Like Love – O. Thiam Chin (2013)
    Queer identity. Emotional isolation. Contemporary Singapore.
  • From the Belly of the Cat – ed. Stephanie Ye (2013)
    Feline tales. Urban whimsy. Singapore through cat eyes. Literary charm.
  • Ministry of Moral Panic – Amanda Lee Koe (2014)
    Urban surrealism. Rebellion. Raw tenderness. Sharp observation.
  • Singapore Noir – Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan (Editor) (2014)
    Grime beneath the glamour, Displacement, Corruption, Violence in everyday life
  • We Rose Up Slowly – Jon Gresham (2015)
    Surreal longing and dislocation. Singapore, Jakarta, and Australia.
  • It Never Rains on National Day – Jeremy Tiang (2015)
    Quiet disillusionment. Migration stories. Family fractures. Emotional restraint.
  • Collected Short Stories – Gopal Baratham (2015)
    Short fiction, Socio-political critique, Urban malaise, Class tensions
  • Heaven Has Eyes –Philip Holden (2016)
    Wry. Observant. Politically sharp. Quietly surreal.
  • In Transit: An Anthology from Singapore on Airports and Air Travel – eds. Yu-Mei Balasingamchow & Zhang Ruihe (2016)
    Airports as liminal spaces. Travel, aspiration, and belonging. Diverse Singaporean voices.
  • Saint – Jean Tay (2016)
    1964 detention. Power, fear, and confinement.
  • ​Singapore Love Stories – ed. Verena Tay (2016)
    Short stories. Love in all its forms. Multicultural Singapore.
  • Regrettable Things That Happened Yesterday – Jennani Durai (2017)
    Newspapers, secrets, and quiet revelations.
  • Sisters & Senang: The Island Plays – Jean Tay (2018)
    Myth, murder, and prison riots. 1960s Singapore islands.
  • Lion City – Ng Yi-Sheng (2018)
    Speculative futures. Queer voices. Urban myths. Cultural shifts.
  • The Woman Who Turned Into a Vending Machine – Natalie Wang (2018)
    Dark whimsy. Feminist surrealism. Alienation. Magical realism.
  • Signs of Life – O. Thiam Chin (2019)
    Speculative fiction. Love and mortality. Surreal Singapore heartlands.
  • A View of Stars: Stories of Love – Anitha Devi Pillai & Felix Cheong (Eds.) (2021)
    Modern love. Cultural intersections. Reimagined myths
  • Making Kin: Ecofeminist Essays from Singapore – eds. Esther Vincent & Angelia Poon (2021)
    Intersectional ecofeminism. Singaporean women’s voices. Kinship with nature. Personal and political narratives.
  • How We Live Now: Stories of Daily Living – ed. Yu-Mei Balasingamchow (2022)
    Contemporary Singapore. Social tensions. Personal narratives.
  • Brown is Redacted: Reflecting on Race in Singapore – eds. Kristian-Marc James Paul, Mysara Aljaru & Myle Yan Tay (2022)
    Brown identity. Intersectional narratives. Essays, poems, and stories. Solidarity and vulnerability.
  • Eternal Summer of My Homeland – Agnes Chew (2023)
    Loss and longing. Nostalgia. Singaporean microcosms. Quiet power.
  • Nine Yard Sarees – Balli Kaur Jaswal (2023)
    Indian diaspora. Family pressures. Cultural identity. Female perspectives.
  • Delicious Hunger – Hai Fan, trans. Jeremy Tiang (2024)
    Guerrilla life. Rainforest survival. Revolutionary memory.

Romance & Lighter Singapore Books

singapore books: beach reads and romance novels
  • A Leap of Love – Catherine Lim (1992)
    Traditional romance. Family expectations. Young love. Social commentary.
  • Crazy Rich Asians Trilogy – Kevin Kwan (2013–2017)
    Satire. Glamour. High society. Family drama.
  • Annabelle Thong – Imran Hashim (2015)
    Expat satire. Catholic guilt. Romance mishaps. Singaporean wit.
  • Sarong Party Girls – Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan (2016)
    Singlish voice. Social climbing. Materialism. Sharp satire.
  • Sofia and the Utopia Machine – Judith Huang (2017)
    Science fiction. YA. Parallel worlds. Adventure. Quiet yearning.
  • Last Tang Standing – Lauren Ho (2020)
    Bridget Jones vibes. Career ambition. Cultural pressures. Sharp humor.
  • Lucie Yi Is Not a Romantic – Lauren Ho (2022)
    Unconventional romance. Motherhood journeys. Emotional growth. Singapore meets New York
  • The Fraud Squad – Kyla Zhao (2023)
    High society. Glamour and deception. Social climbing. Singapore sparkle.
  • The Sun Sets in Singapore – Kehinde Fadipe (2023)
    Nigerian expat women. Ambition, identity, and reinvention in modern Singapore.

Thrillers & Mysteries

singapore books mystery
  • Singapore Red – William Gibson (1995)
    Gritty noir. Urban corruption. Global underworlds. 1990s tension.
  • Moonrise, Sunset – Gopal Baratham (1996)
    Political thriller. Murder mystery. Satirical noir. Singapore underbelly.
  • Aunty Lee’s Delights – Ovidia Yu (2013) (first in Aunty Lee Mysteries)
    Cozy mystery. Hawker food. Meddling auntie. Lighthearted sleuthing.
  • The Frangipani Tree Mystery – Ovidia Yu (2017) (first in Su Lin Mysteries)
    Historical mystery. Colonial Singapore. Clever heroine. Atmospheric charm.
  • Singapore Sapphire – A.M. Stuart (2019) (first in Harriet Gordon Mysteries)
    Colonial crime. Spirited detective. British Singapore. Fast-paced intrigue.
  • Lost Treasure of the Lanfang Republic – Tan Lip Hong (2021)
    Treasure hunt. Historical mysteries. Adventure. Hidden histories.
  • The Disappearance of Patrick Zhou – Ally Chua (2023)
    Social media fame. Loss of self. Mystery. Identity crisis.
  • Now You See Us – Balli Kaur Jaswal (2023)
    Domestic worker rights. Mystery. Sisterhood. Social critique.
  • catskull – Myle Yan Tay (2023)
    Neo-noir thriller. Vigilantism and moral ambiguity. Contemporary Singapore.

Singapore Books: Memoir

singapore books singapore memoirs
  • Son of Singapore – Tan Kok Seng (1972)
    Memoir. Working-class coming-of-age. Postwar Singapore.
  • Beyond the Blue Gate – Teo Soh Lung (2010)
    Political detention. Legal resistance. 1980s Singapore.
  • A Tiger in the Kitchen – Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan (2011)
    Food and family. Self-discovery. Culinary adventures. Singapore roots.
  • Growing Up in a Nonya Kitchen – Sharon Wee (2012)
    Food memories. Family traditions. Cultural heritage. Personal storytelling.
  • Kampong Spirit: Gotong Royong – Josephine Chia (2013)
    Peranakan memoir. Multiracial kampong life. Postcolonial Singapore. Community resilience.
  • A Comet in the Sky – Poh Soo Kai (2016)
    Political activism. Detention without trial. Historical witness. Personal sacrifice.
  • Living in a Time of Deception – Poh Soo Kai (2016)
    Historical memoir. Anti-colonial struggle and political detention. Alternative history.
  • ‘Others’ Is Not A Race – Melissa De Silva (2017)
    Eurasian identity. Personal essays. Marginalization. Quiet resistance.
  • 17A Keong Saik Road – Charmaine Leung (2017)
    Red-light district memories. Mother-daughter relationships. Nostalgic Singapore. Personal resilience.
  • Where I Was: A Memoir About Forgetting and Remembering – Constance Singam (2022)
    Civil society activism. Feminist journey. Multicultural identity. Personal and political intersections.

Political / Social NonFiction Singapore Books

singapore books political and nonfiction
  • Lee Kuan Yew: The Beliefs Behind the Man – Michael D. Barr (2000)
    Political philosophy. Leadership style. Power analysis. Founding myths.
  • The Air-Conditioned Nation – Cherian George (2000)
    Political commentary. Controlled dissent. Nation-building myths. Sharp critique.
  • Parties and Politics – Hussin Mutalib (2003)
    Party evolution. Opposition struggles. Political movements. Systemic analysis.
  • Men in White: The Untold Story of Singapore’s Ruling Political Party – Sonny Yap (2009)
    Nation-building. Founding myths. Political drama. Institutional history.
  • Goh Keng Swee: A Portrait – Tan Siok Sun (2010)
    Economic architect. Nation-building. Political biography. Leadership vision.
  • The Fajar Generation: The University Socialist Club and the Politics of Postwar Malaya and Singapore – eds. Poh Soo Kai, Tan Jing Quee & Koh Kay Yew (2010)
    Student activism. Anti-colonial struggle. 1950s–60s Singapore & Malaya.
  • A Nation Awakes: Frontline Reflections – ed. Tan Jee Say (2011)
    2011 elections. Civic activism. Political awakening.
  • The May 13 Generation: The Chinese Middle Schools Student Movement and Singapore Politics in the 1950s – eds. Tan Jing Quee, Tan Kok Chiang, Hong Lysa (2011)
    Student resistance. Anti-colonial awakening. 1950s Singapore.
  • Freedom From the Press – Cherian George (2012)
    Media control. Censorship battles. Political pressures. Press freedom.
  • Escape from the Lion’s Paw: Reflections of Singapore’s Political Exiles – eds. Teo Soh Lung & Low Yit Leng (2012)
    Exile narratives. Political repression. 1970s–80s Singapore.
  • The 1963 Operation Coldstore in Singapore: Commemorating 50 Years – eds. Poh Soo Kai, Tan Kok Fang & Hong Lysa (2013)
    Political detentions. Firsthand accounts. Revisiting Coldstore’s legacy.
  • Tales of Two Cities – eds. Alice Clark-Platts & Edmund Price (2015)
    Parallel lives in Hong Kong and Singapore. Urban transformation and identity.
  • Teacher Thinker Rebel Why: Portraits of Chee Soon Juan – ed. Jaslyn Go (2015)
    Multifaceted reflections on a political figure. Resistance, integrity, and dissent in Singapore.
  • Neither Civil Nor Servant: The Philip Yeo Story – Peh Shing Huei (2016)
    Rule-breaking technocrat. Economic architect. Maverick civil servant.
  • Singapore, Incomplete – Cherian George (2017)
    Political critique. Civic society. Governance challenges. Thought-provoking essays.
  • Living with Myths in Singapore – Loh Kah Seng (ed.) (2017)
    Alternative histories. Myth-busting. Social critique. National narratives.
  • Singapore Disrupted – Chua Mui Hoong (2017)
    Future anxieties. Social change. Political reform. Cultural shifts.
  • 1987: Singapore’s Marxist Conspiracy 30 Years On – Low Yit Leng, Teo Soh Lung (2017)
    Firsthand testimonies. Political repression. Operation Spectrum.
  • Understanding Singapore Politics – Bilveer Singh (2017)
    Political systems. Governance critique. Electoral dynamics. Deep dive.
  • Singapore: Unlikely Power – John Curtis Perry (2017)
    Global rise. Economic transformation. Strategic leadership. Unexpected success story.
  • This Is What Inequality Looks Like – Teo You Yenn (2018)
    Social inequality. Everyday struggles. Compassionate analysis. Eye-opening truths.
  • Hard at Work – Gerard Sasges (ed.) (2018)
    Labor realities. Working-class lives. Hidden voices. Social fabric.
  • Homeless – Liyana Dhamirah (2019)
    Memoir. Poverty in Singapore. Motherhood. Systemic inequality.
  • PAP v PAP – Cherian George (2020)
    Internal politics. Leadership struggles. Party critique. Power dynamics.
  • The AWARE Saga – Terence Chong (2020)
    Civil activism. Gender politics. Institutional takeover. Grassroots resistance.
  • Journey in Blue – Yee Jenn Jong (2020)
    Opposition politics. Political memoir. Grassroots campaigning. Democratic dreams.
  • Governing: A Singapore Perspective – S. Jayakumar (2020)
    Policy insights. Diplomatic negotiations. Political evolution. Insider reflections.
  • Lion City: Singapore and the Invention of Modern Asia – Jeevan Vasagar (2021)
    City-state evolution. Authoritarianism with Gucci handbags. Globalization. Nuanced critique.
  • Raffles Renounced: Towards a Merdeka History – eds. Alfian Sa’at, Faris Joraimi & Sai Siew Min (2021)
    Decolonial critique. Bicentennial reflections. Anti-colonial memory. Malay world perspectives.
  • The Singapore I Recognise – Kirsten Han (2022)
    Activism. Civil liberties. Alternative narratives. Personal and political.
  • The Last Fools: The Eight Immortals of Lee Kuan Yew – ed. Peh Shing Huei (2022)
    Unsung architects of Singapore’s rise. Civil service, sacrifice, and state-building.
  • Sim Kee Boon: The Businessman Bureaucrat – Low Shi Ping & Leanne Sim (2022)
    Visionary leadership. Nation-building. Legacy of a pioneer civil servant.
  • The Price of Being Fair: The FairPrice Group Story – Sue-Ann Chia & Peh Shing Huei (2023)
    Cooperative retail. Inflation battles. Singapore’s supermarket saga.

Other Non-Fiction Singapore Books (Culture, History, Food)

singapore books nonfiction
  • The History of Singapore – Ernest C.T. Chew & Edwin Lee (1991)
    Founding to modernity. Political milestones. Historical analysis. Scholarly approach.
  • Singapore: A Pictorial History 1819–2000 – Gretchen Liu (1999)
    Visual storytelling. National milestones. Archival images. Coffee-table treasure.
  • Singapore: A Biography – Mark Ravinder Frost & Yu-Mei Balasingamchow (2009)
    Comprehensive history. Personal stories. National transformation. Deep dive.
  • Man/Born/Free: Writings on the Human Spirit from Singapore – ed. Gwee Li Sui (2011)
    Freedom, resistance, and dignity. Multilingual voices across decades.
  • Living the Singapore Story – National Library Board (2015)
    Oral history. Nation-building. Everyday voices. Personal perspectives on Singapore’s transformation.
  • An Introduction to the History and Culture of the Teochews in Singapore – Tan Gia Lim (2016)
    Community roots. Cultural preservation. Teochew diaspora. Identity.
  • A History of Money in Singapore – Clement Liew & Peter Wilson (2018)
    Economic evolution. Currency stories. Financial history. National development.
  • They Told Us To Move: Dakota—Cassia – eds. Ng Kok Hoe & Cassia Resettlement (2019)
    Forced relocation. Community memory. Urban redevelopment. Social justice.
  • Eating Chilli Crab in the Anthropocene – Matthew Schneider-Mayerson (2020)
    Environmental essays. Climate crisis. Singapore lens. Sharp critique.
  • The Food of Singapore Malays – Khir Johari (2021)
    Culinary heritage. Malay traditions. Cultural storytelling. Food anthropology.

Singapore Poetry

singapore books of poetry
  • Our Thoughts Are Free: Poems and Prose on Imprisonment and Exile– Koh Kay Yew (2009)
    Prison writings. Resistance and survival. Voices from detention.
  • What Gives Us Our Names – Alvin Pang (2011)
    Existential musings. Identity reflections. Sparse beauty. Poetic minimalism.
  • Sonnets from the Singlish – Joshua Ip (2012)
    Playful language. Local flavor. Bilingual wordplay. Urban wit.
  • We Were Always Eating Expired Things – Cheryl Julia Lee (2014)
    Melancholy. Modern life. Quiet heartbreaks. Lingering tenderness.
  • A Luxury We Cannot Afford: An Anthology of Singapore Poetry – ed Christine Chia (2014)
    Poetry anthology. Political legacy and cultural identity.
  • And Other Rivers – Jing-Jing Lee (2015)
    Migration, memory, and longing. Singapore’s quiet corners.
  • The Orchid Folios – Mok Zining (2020)
    Hybrid poetry-documentary. National flower as metaphor. Decolonial reflection.

Graphic Novels / Illustrated Works

singapore books graphic novels
  • Myth of the Stone – Gwee Li Sui (1993)
    Fantasy quest. Allegory. Singaporean mythology. Playful classic.
  • Ten Sticks and One Rice – Oh Yong Hwee & Koh Hong Teng (2012)
    Hawker culture. Everyday lives. Visual storytelling. Nostalgia.
  • The Girl Under the Bed – Dave Chua & Xiao Yan (2013)
    Hungry Ghost Festival. Teenage friendship. Supernatural mystery. Coming-of-age.
  • The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye – Sonny Liew (2015)
    Satirical history. Suppressed dreams. National myths.
  • Geungsi – Sean Lam (2020)
    Supernatural thriller. Vampire lore. Urban Singapore. Action-packed.

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Are you ready to read your way through Singapore?

I hope this post about books set in Singapore has been helpful in planning your trip — or just your reading list!
As I said before, Singapore is absolutely teeming with rich, strange, thoughtful, and wildly creative literature that, in my opinion, goes far too underexplored by most readers. (And yes, I will die on this hill.)

If you’ve been around here for a while, you already know that my perfect city day involves a museum (or something equally nerdy), a little independent shopping, and a cozy coffee stop — and honestly, tracking down books in the place they’re set? That hits all three.

If you’ve read any of these or have recs of your own, drop them in the comments — I’d love to hear what you’d add to the list!

As always you can always find me on Instagram (tag me in your travel content!), Youtube, or Pinterest.

Happy traveling!

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    About Author
    Rachel IRL
    I'm Rachel! I've lived in London for five years and counting, and I've been traveling frequently for nearly ten. I'm passionate about helping people know themselves better through travel. I found that I discovered the most about myself when I got off the tourist path and started planning my itineraries around the stuff I love doing. Stick around if you want to become a more engaged, adaptable, and mindful traveler yourself!
    roti prata at maxwell food centre, one of my favorite hawker centres in singapore
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