R.F. Kuang's genre pivot
R.F. Kuang is shifting from epic fantasy to realism with Taipei Story, a 288-page coming-of-age novel due Sept. 8, 2026 — Book Riot says the move could broaden her readership. Hosts also noted Kuang’s doctoral work in East Asian languages and literature is informing the book’s voice and themes. (bookriot.com)
William Morrow will publish Taipei Story in the U.S., while The Borough Press is listed as the UK/Commonwealth publisher under Kuang’s new HarperCollins arrangements. (thebookseller.com) Kuang signed a four‑book deal with HarperCollins announced October 16, 2025; the publisher says the agreement pairs two fantasy books for HarperVoyager with two literary novels (the first of which is Taipei Story) and cements the relationship through 2030. (thebookseller.com) Her author bio and the HarperCollins title page identify Kuang as a PhD candidate in East Asian Languages and Literatures at Yale, where she is studying diaspora, contemporary Sinophone literature, and Asian American literature. (harpercollins.com) Kuang completed the first draft of her seventh novel in April 2025, a milestone noted in reporting and biographical updates about the project. (en.wikipedia.org) She has described the book’s tone as “larky” and compared its style to writers like Elif Batuman and Patricia Lockwood, while retailer copy and early marketing have invoked readers of Sally Rooney as a reference point for the novel’s audience. (en.wikipedia.org) Retail listings name the protagonist as Lily Chen, place her in a summer language program in Taipei (including study at National Taiwan University), and identify a family bereavement—her grandfather’s death—as a central plot catalyst. (waterstones.com) Preorder pages already offer multiple editions and formats, including a Barnes & Noble signed exclusive and an Audible audiobook preorder, indicating a coordinated multi‑format release strategy. (barnesandnoble.com)
