Books offer the perfect form of escapism, transporting the reader to another place entirely. I especially love reading novels set in destinations I’ve travelled to; even better if I’m reading them while I’m there. When you have a personal connection to a place, the story seems to grip that little bit tighter.
So if you’re looking for books set in Penang for an upcoming trip, or you’d like to continue your fascination with the island through literature after a visit, you’re in the right place.
All of the novels below have been read by either Jenny or Jay; more often than not, by both of us.
Given Penang’s deep-rooted and complex history, it’s perhaps no surprise that many of these books are historical fiction. Not only will they transport you to the island itself, but also to pivotal moments in its past.
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1. The Gift of Rain
by Tan Twan Eng
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This debut novel by Tan Twan Eng, set on Penang Island, follows Phillip Hutton, a Chinese-English teenager, during the build-up and subsequent invasion by Japanese forces in the Second World War.
When a mysterious Japanese martial artist arrives in Phillip’s life and begins teaching him aikido, he starts learning more about himself, the impending war, and his own place on the island. What begins as a master/pupil relationship gradually changes and it soon becomes clear to Phillip that he must make a choice between the different forces acting upon his life.
The novel is fascinating on so many levels, partly as a historical piece of work, discussing the role of English, Chinese, and Japanese communities on the evolution of Penang before WWII. The mixed heritage of the protagonist also gives the reader a perspective on the makeup of Penang’s population and how the groups interact with each other.
It’s a beautifully written book which is a pleasure to read, but it’ll also give you an understanding of the horrific experience the Penang population endured during the Second World War, when the retreating British elite left them defenceless against the brutal Japanese forces. Despite this ever-present thread of trauma and sadness, the novel is also about friendship, family, duty, and memory, all set against the backdrop of the beautiful island of Penang.
2. The House of Doors
by Tan Twan Eng
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Set in 1920s Penang, The House of Doors brings colonial George Town vividly to life. The novel imagines the time that W. Somerset Maugham spent on the island, weaving together fiction and history against the backdrop of British Malaya.
The story centres on Lesley Hamlyn and her husband Robert, a British lawyer, whose social circle includes Maugham during his visit. As secrets unfold (involving love affairs, political tensions and a sensational murder trial), Penang itself becomes more than a setting; it is integral to the atmosphere of shifting loyalties and hidden truths.
Tan Twan Eng captures the languid elegance of colonial society alongside the undercurrents of nationalism and social inequality that would eventually reshape Malaya. The descriptions of George Town’s mansions, sea breezes and tropical gardens are richly immersive, offering readers a vivid sense of place.
For anyone fascinated by Penang’s colonial past, this novel pairs beautifully with The Gift of Rain, exploring an earlier chapter in the island’s layered history.
3. The Pearl of Penang
by Clare Flynn
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On the brink of WW2, British-born Evie accepts a marriage proposal from a widower based in Penang who she met 15 years ago. This is her escape ticket from the lonely doldrums of Hampshire working as a companion. From stepping off the boat to Penang, not only does Evie have to acclimatise to the suffocating humidity, but she has to navigate the waters of expat gossip as well as the heart of a cold and distant husband.
This historical novel has excellent pace and weaves an interesting background to the rubber plantations of Penang as well as the mistakes of the British military on the run up to the Japanese invasion of, what was then called, Malaya.
The lead character takes us to Penang Hill, temples of George Town, beaches of Batu Ferringhi, as well as the Penang Club and The E&O, which are both still in operation today.
This is the first book in a four part historical novel series. So if you love this read, be sure to dive into the next one, Prisoner from Penang, which picks up towards the end of the book and follows the story of Evie’s best friend, Mary. Although Book Two is set mostly in the POW camps of Indonesia with only the last few chapters set in Penang, when the lead character returns home, and why it isn’t included in this list of books set in Penang.
4. A Painter in Penang
by Clare Flynn
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A Painter in Penang, is Clare Flynn’s third novel from her Penang Series (the second novel is set mostly at Indonesian POW camps). We have now moved on a few years to 1948 where the focus is on Evie’s step-daughter, Jasmine. Sixteen-year-old Jasmine is desperately unhappy at her strict convent school in Kenya and longs to return to Penang Island where she was born and lived until the Japanese invasion.
An expulsion from school is the catalyst for her parents to realise that Penang is perhaps the place where she needs to be, and a long boat ride via India and Sri Lanka returns Jasmine to her island home to live under the care of her mum’s best friend, and her old school teacher, Mary.
Jasmine quickly falls back in love with the island and throws herself into her love of art, capturing the beauty of both the landscape and its people in her sketchpad, whilst simultaneously trying to ignore persuasive romantic interests.
However, the war has changed Penang and it has far from returned to the safe haven that it once was. There is growing unrest between the various nationalities that call Malaya home, which leads to the ‘Malayan Emergency’ (also known at the ‘Anti–British National Liberation War’) a guerrilla war between communist pro-independence fighters of the Malayan National Liberation Army and the military forces of the Federation of Malaya, British Empire and Commonwealth. But between the political tensions, murders, and unearthing truths about her dead father, Jasmine finds her art as the perfect release of worries.
Another captivating page-turner from Clare Flynn that I thoroughly enjoyed, again learning more about Penang’s history that is little spoken of.
The final book in The Penang Series is Jasmine in Paris. Whilst the pull of Penang is strong for the lead character, this fourth book is mostly set in Paris as we learn of Jasmine’s first year as an art student. The story weaves around expected Parisian clichés that the reader needs to embrace, but it’s the conveyed contrast with life in the tropics that’s perhaps most interesting. Penang features very little in this final book, but it’s a beautiful story and a worthwhile read to complete the series. Have the tissues at the ready.
5. Black Water Sister
by Zen Cho
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For something entirely different in tone, Black Water Sister is a contemporary fantasy set in modern-day Penang, particularly around George Town and its surrounding hills.
The novel follows Jessamyn Teoh, who returns to Malaysia with her parents after growing up in the United States. Struggling with cultural identity, family expectations and financial pressures, Jess soon begins hearing the voice of her estranged grandmother, who happens to be the spirit medium for a local deity known as the Black Water Sister.
Blending Malaysian folklore with sharp social commentary, the novel explores themes of diaspora identity, generational tension and belonging, all against the vivid backdrop of Penang’s streets, temples and hawker culture. Zen Cho captures the rhythms of contemporary island life, from traffic-clogged roads to tightly knit family networks.
6. In Another Light
by Andrew Greig
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In Another Light alternates between present-day Scotland and 1930s Penang, with the historical strand set firmly within colonial society on the island.
The Penang storyline follows Alexander Mackay, a Scottish doctor who arrives in British Malaya and becomes immersed in expatriate life. As he navigates questions of love, ambition and cultural displacement, the novel paints a portrait of Penang during the late colonial era; a world of planters, clubs and tropical intrigue.
While the dual timeline means Penang shares the stage with Orkney, the historical sections offer a thoughtful exploration of identity and empire, and evoke the atmosphere of pre-war island life with careful detail.
This is a quieter, more reflective novel than the other books listed here, but it adds another perspective on Penang under British rule.
On Penang ebook
Updated for 2026, the On Penang ebook is the only travel guide you need for exploring the island of Penang. It is jam-packed with inspiration on what to do, where to eat, where to stay, and also includes a step-by-step self-guided walking tour of George Town (with photos).
This is a PDF download for use offline and on the go (and ad-free!). Save it to read on the plane to Malaysia, download to your phone to follow the self-guided walking tour, or print it off at home before you leave on your adventures and highlight all the bits you want to remember for your visit.
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On Penang ebook£16.95
Before your go, check out these useful reads for your visit:
The best things to do in Penang
14 BEST restaurants in Penang
Top tips for visiting Penang
One day Penang itinerary
Best hotels in Penang
How to get around Penang
A brief history of Penang
