Singapore literature—often affectionately called SingLit—has grown into a vibrant movement over the past few decades. What started as a relatively small literary scene has blossomed into a diverse body of work encompassing fiction, memoir, poetry, plays, and essays. Today, SingLit reflects not just the history of the island but also its ongoing struggles with identity, belonging, inequality, and transformation.
These works provide invaluable insights into Singapore’s soul, peeling back the layers of official narratives to reveal voices that are bold, raw, and deeply human. If you’re looking to dive into SingLit, here are some of the best books to check out—each one showcasing the richness and complexity of Singapore storytelling.
1. 17A Keong Saik Road by Charmaine Leung
Charmaine Leung’s memoir is both a personal journey and a historical document. Growing up on Keong Saik Road, once a notorious red-light district, she was the daughter of a brothel owner. Her childhood was marked by secrecy, stigma, and the quiet resilience of women whose lives unfolded behind closed doors.
What makes this book so compelling is its dual perspective. Leung writes not only about her personal memories but also about the transformation of Keong Saik itself—from a place of marginalised lives to one of gentrification, now home to trendy bars and restaurants. By doing so, she invites readers to reflect on how cities evolve, how history is remembered, and how stigma can shape identities.
2. Ministry of Moral Panic by Amanda Lee Koe
Amanda Lee Koe’s Ministry of Moral Panic, which won the Singapore Literature Prize, is a daring collection of short stories that captures the contradictions of modern Singapore. Through a kaleidoscope of characters—young lovers, rebellious spirits, lonely souls—Koe presents a version of Singapore that is messy, flawed, and achingly real.
The brilliance of this book lies in its experimentation. The stories bend time, narrative, and even reality itself, yet they remain rooted in emotions that feel universal. Whether it’s longing, defiance, or disconnection, Koe captures the unsaid truths of a society often portrayed as rigid and efficient.
3. This Is What Inequality Looks Like by Teo You Yenn
If there’s one book that changed the way Singaporeans talked about social issues, it’s Teo You Yenn’s This Is What Inequality Looks Like. Published in 2018, the book is based on Teo’s years of ethnographic research into low-income households in Singapore. But unlike a dry academic study, it’s written with warmth, empathy, and clarity, making complex issues accessible to a wide readership.
Through intimate stories of families struggling with housing, education, healthcare, and work, Teo shows that inequality isn’t just about income gaps—it’s about how systems are structured. Readers meet parents who juggle multiple jobs but still cannot afford basic needs, children who fall behind in school due to structural disadvantages, and families whose dignity is often overlooked.
What makes the book so powerful is its ability to humanise statistics. Instead of reducing poverty to numbers, Teo invites readers into living rooms, kitchens, and everyday conversations. Her writing is respectful and empathetic, but it also issues a quiet challenge to the reader: to rethink assumptions about meritocracy and to see inequality as a collective problem rather than an individual failing.
The book sparked public conversations, inspired policymakers, and continues to be a touchstone in discussions about social justice in Singapore. For anyone who wants to understand the realities beneath the nation’s glittering skyscrapers, This Is What Inequality Looks Like is essential reading.
4. State of Emergency by Jeremy Tiang
Jeremy Tiang’s State of Emergency is a sweeping novel that explores Singapore’s political history through the lens of one family. Spanning decades—from the anti-colonial struggles of the 1950s to more recent times—the book sheds light on the political detentions, silences, and sacrifices that have shaped the nation.
What stands out is Tiang’s ability to weave personal lives with historical events. By focusing on ordinary people caught in extraordinary circumstances, he gives readers an intimate entry point into complex histories often left out of textbooks. The novel’s quiet power lies in its insistence that history is not monolithic; it’s layered, contested, and deeply personal.
5. Ponti by Sharlene Teo
Sharlene Teo’s debut novel Ponti is both haunting and darkly funny. The story follows three women: Amisa, a once-famous actress from a 1970s cult horror film series; her estranged daughter, Szu; and Szu’s friend, Circe, who decades later looks back on their teenage years.
Teo captures the sticky, humid atmosphere of Singapore with prose that feels almost cinematic. At its core, the book is about fractured relationships—between mothers and daughters, between friends, and between past and present. It’s a story of loneliness, obsession, and the ghosts we carry. For a debut, it’s astonishingly accomplished, showing how SingLit can resonate far beyond Singapore.
6. Fistful of Colours by Suchen Christine Lim
First published in 1992 and winner of the inaugural Singapore Literature Prize, Fistful of Colours remains one of the most important works of SingLit. Through the eyes of Suwen, a painter searching for her identity, Lim explores race, gender, and class in a nation undergoing rapid transformation.
The novel moves fluidly between personal histories and broader questions about colonialism and independence. It’s a reminder that national history isn’t just about progress—it’s about the individuals whose stories have often been sidelined. Lim’s lyrical, layered writing makes this a classic that still speaks to today’s readers.
Other Notable SingLit Titles
While the books above are excellent entry points, SingLit is far richer and more varied. Poetry lovers might explore Cyril Wong’s intimate, confessional verse or Alfian Sa’at’s sharp, politically charged collections. Fans of contemporary fiction can turn to Balli Kaur Jaswal, whose novels like Inheritance and Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows (though internationally set) bring a distinctly Singaporean sensibility to global audiences.
Playwrights have also shaped SingLit significantly, with works like Alfian Sa’at’s Cooling-Off Day capturing the anxieties and aspirations of Singaporeans in their own voices. Even children’s literature is growing in strength, with stories like Adeline Foo’s The Diary of Amos Lee proving that SingLit has something for every reader.
Why SingLit Matters More Than Ever
Singapore is often celebrated as a city of skyscrapers, efficiency, and economic success. But literature allows us to see beyond the glossy surface. SingLit tells the stories of ordinary people, marginalised voices, forgotten histories, and unspoken emotions. It offers not just entertainment but also empathy and critical reflection.
At a time when global attention is often drawn to “big name” authors from Western countries, SingLit offers a counterpoint: local stories with universal resonance. Whether you’re Singaporean looking to reconnect with homegrown voices or an international reader curious about life in this city-state, SingLit offers something meaningful and memorable.
Final Thoughts
From Charmaine Leung’s intimate memoir to Teo You Yenn’s groundbreaking social commentary, from Amanda Lee Koe’s experimental short stories to Sharlene Teo’s cinematic fiction, SingLit proves that Singapore literature is as diverse and dynamic as the nation itself.
These works challenge, comfort, and inspire. They shine a light on forgotten histories, amplify marginalised voices, and spark vital conversations about society. Most importantly, they remind us that storytelling is a powerful way of making sense of the world we live in.
So, if you’re looking for your next great read, dive into SingLit. You’ll discover that these stories don’t just belong to Singapore—they belong to all of us.
