Nancy Jooyoun Kim books

Nancy Jooyoun Kim is a Korean American novelist whose literary fiction explores immigrant family life and intergenerational secrets.
Author · Literary Fiction · Contemporary Fiction · Asian American Literature

Standalone Novels

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Last Story of Mina Lee 2020 Buy
What We Kept to Ourselves 2023 Buy

Nancy Jooyoun Kim writes literary fiction about Korean American families and the weight of things left unsaid between generations. Her debut, The Last Story of Mina Lee, was published in 2020 and received strong reviews for its portrayal of a daughter piecing together her immigrant mother’s life after her death. The novel was selected for Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club and brought attention to Kim as a new voice in Asian American literature.

What We Kept to Ourselves, her second novel from 2023, continued to explore themes of immigration, family bonds, and the secrets people keep from those closest to them. Kim writes with attention to the specific textures of Korean American life in Los Angeles, and her characters feel like people carrying real histories rather than stand-ins for broader themes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Nancy Jooyoun Kim written?

Nancy Jooyoun Kim has written two books in one series.

What was Nancy Jooyoun Kim's first book?

Nancy Jooyoun Kim’s first book is The Last Story of Mina Lee, published in 2020.

What are Nancy Jooyoun Kim's novels about?

Both of Kim’s novels deal with Korean American immigrant families and the secrets they carry. The Last Story of Mina Lee follows a daughter investigating her mother’s death, uncovering her hidden past as a Korean immigrant in Los Angeles. What We Kept to Ourselves explores similar themes of family, silence, and identity.

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