Book description
The instant New York Times bestseller • Oprah's Book Club Pick • Ocean Vuong returns with a bighearted novel about chosen family, unexpected friendship, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive
“Stunning . . . A heartfelt and powerful examination of those living on the fringes of…
- Coming soon!
Why read it?
1 author picked The Emperor of Gladness as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
Ocean Vuong's writing is poetic, which stands to reason as he was first a poet before he turned to fiction. His characters are eccentric, raw, unpretentious, often inelegant, blue collar, sometimes autistic, gender fluid, one has dementia. Life at its most fundamental. Vuong is an immigrant and writes with deep sensitivity about the experience of outsiders, like his main character Hai. But every character in the book is an outsider.
If you love The Emperor of Gladness...
The High House
The Victorian mansion, Evenmere, is the mechanism that runs the universe.
The lamps must be lit, or the stars die. The clocks must be wound, or Time ceases. The Balance between Order and Chaos must be preserved, or Existence crumbles.
Appointed the Steward of Evenmere, Carter Anderson must learn the…
Want books like The Emperor of Gladness?
Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 4 books like The Emperor of Gladness.
Share your top 3 reads of 2025!
And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.
1,210
readers submitted
so far, will you?
📚 If you like The Emperor of Gladness, you might also like...
December on 5C4
Magical realism meets the magic of Christmas in this mix of Jewish, New Testament, and Santa stories–all reenacted in an urban psychiatric hospital!
On locked ward 5C4, Josh, a patient with many similarities to Jesus, is hospitalized concurrently with Nick, a patient with many similarities to Santa. The two argue…
Living On Purpose
Many people from all walks of life, even after many accomplishments and experiences, are often plagued by dissatisfaction, pervasive longing, and deep questioning. These feelings may make them wonder if they are living the life they were meant to lead.
Living on Purpose is the guidebook these people have been…