The source material
ปิ่นภักดิ์
The Loyal Pin novel The two-volume period romance by MonMaw that became Thailand’s first GL period drama
Before Freen Sarocha and Becky Armstrong brought Pin and Anin to the screen, they lived on the page. Here’s the story behind the books, the author who wrote them, and where to buy them in English and Thai.
- Author
- MonMawม่อนแมว
- Volumes
- 2Published 2023
- Genre
- Period GL1950s Thailand
- Adapted
- 202416-episode series
The books
About the ปิ่นภักดิ์ novel
ปิ่นภักดิ์ is a period girl-love novel set in 1950s Thailand, following Princess Anilaphat and Lady Pilantita from childhood into an adulthood shaped by rank, duty and a love neither is permitted to name. MonMaw published it in two volumes across 2023, and by the following year it had been adapted into The Loyal Pin — a 16-episode series that went on to trend in 38 countries.
The novel carries more of the political manoeuvring around the palace than the series had room for, and readers who came to the books after watching often describe finding a fuller picture of the same story rather than a different one.
Volume one
The Loyal Pin Vol. 1
4.51from 636 Goodreads ratings
- Published
- 13 September 2023
- Length
- 361 pages
- Word count
- ~80,800
Volume two
The Loyal Pin Vol. 2
4.54from 480 Goodreads ratings
- Published
- 14 November 2023
- Length
- 391 pages
- Word count
- ~88,700
The writer
Who is MonMaw (ม่อนแมว)?
MonMaw is a Thai novelist writing in the girl-love and yuri space, publishing both independently and through the MEB platform under her own imprint. ปิ่นภักดิ์ is her best-known work — a period romance that found a readership well beyond Thailand once an official English translation appeared, and one of the few Thai GL novels to be picked up for licensed translation in a third language.
She has stayed close to the adaptation rather than handing the story over: the series is credited as adapted from her novel, and she has remained a visible presence for readers through her own channels, sharing sample chapters and release news directly.
Her writing is characterised by period detail, slow-burn restraint and dialogue that carries the weight of what characters are not allowed to say — qualities that survived the move to screen and shaped how the series was paced.
Other work by MonMaw
- ปิ่นภักดิ์ — The Loyal PinTwo volumes, 2023. Period GL, adapted for television in 2024.
- Somewhere Somehow — รัก ปาก แข็งTwo volumes. A contemporary, comic GL romance between an engineer and a company vice-president — lighter in tone than The Loyal Pin.
Sample chapters of MonMaw’s work are published free on Lunarwrite, with full e-books sold through MEB.
Where to buy
Buy The Loyal Pin novel in English and Thai
Both volumes are available as e-books worldwide and as physical copies that ship internationally. The English translation is official, by Jeep ster, P’ Lock and N’ Key.
Buying from inside Thailand? Lily House ships domestically, and both MEB and Naiin sell the Thai e-books. The Thai print run is sold out at the moment.
English
Read The Loyal Pin in English
Physical book · ships worldwide
WeBuyBangkok
The English print edition — 736 pages, A5, with a postcard included. Free economy shipping, or DHL express in 2–4 business days.
Physical book · ships worldwide
Lily House
A Thai GL specialist bookshop, and one of the few places stocking the English print edition — 736 pages, A5, with a postcard included. In stock, and they publish an international shipping guide.
E-book · Kindle
Amazon
The simplest route for most international readers, and the fastest — reading within a minute of purchase.
E-book · PDF & EPUB
MEB Market
The author’s own storefront, English edition — with a free sample to read before you buy.
ภาษาไทย · Thai
อ่าน ปิ่นภักดิ์ ฉบับภาษาไทย
Physical book · currently sold out
Lily House
The Thai print edition — 766 pages, A5, with a postcard included. Out of stock at time of writing, so watch the page or ask the shop directly if you want a physical Thai copy.
Read free · original web serial
Dek-D
ปิ่นภักดิ์ began life as a web serial on Dek-D, where MonMaw still publishes. Free to read in Thai.
E-book
MEB Market
The original Thai e-book from ม่อนแมว, with both volumes on a single series page.
E-book
Naiin · ร้านนายอินทร์
Thai e-book edition of both volumes, frequently discounted during their promotions.
Español · Português
Other translations
Spanish · ask here
¿En español?
For Spanish-language editions and availability, ask @OneLoveBooks_ on X — they handle Spanish-language enquiries for titles like this one.
Physical book · Brazilian Portuguese
Editora BLB
An official Brazilian Portuguese edition, published under contract with MonMaw.
Prices and availability are set by each retailer and change often, so check the current figure on their own page. This site earns nothing from these links — they’re here so readers can find the novel in their own language and support the author directly.
Answers
The Loyal Pin novel: common questions
Is The Loyal Pin novel available in English?
Yes. There is an official English translation of both volumes, by Jeep ster, P’ Lock and N’ Key, sold as e-books through Amazon Kindle and MEB Market, and as a single printed volume through WeBuyBangkok.
How many volumes are there?
Two. Volume 1 was published on 13 September 2023 and runs 361 pages; Volume 2 followed on 14 November 2023 at 391 pages. The English print edition collects the story in one 736-page book.
Who wrote The Loyal Pin?
MonMaw (ม่อนแมว), a Thai novelist working in girl-love fiction. She also wrote Somewhere Somehow (รัก ปาก แข็ง).
Is the novel different from the series?
The series follows the novel’s story closely, with MonMaw credited as the source author. The books carry more interior detail and more of the political manoeuvring around the palace than sixteen episodes could hold, so most readers describe the novel as a fuller version of the same story rather than a different one.
Can I read a sample before buying?
Yes. MEB Market offers a free sample on each volume’s page, and sample chapters of MonMaw’s work are published on Lunarwrite.
Where can I buy the novel in Thai?
ปิ่นภักดิ์ เล่ม ๑ and เล่ม ๒ are sold as Thai e-books through MEB Market and Naiin (ร้านนายอินทร์), with physical copies and special editions available from Lily House.
Then watch it
Read the novel, then see it on screen
All 16 episodes of The Loyal Pin stream free with English subtitles, plus 13 more languages.