Books and Boba

On this author chat episode, we sit down with bestselling author Jean Kwok to discuss her latest novel THE LEFTOVER WOMEN, a suspenseful story about 2 women, one recent immigrant from China searching for the daughter that was taken from her at birth, and an affluent publishing executive trying to balance the needs of her career with her beloved adopted daughter. We chat with Jean about her personal journey as an author, and what inspired her to write her latest novel.Follow Jean on instagram at @jeankwokauthor and check out her novel, The Leftover Women available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!*Support the podcast by supporting our new Patreon*Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba October 2023 pick is Natural Beauty by Ling Ling HuangThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we discuss our September 2023 book club pick The Family Chao by Lan Samantha Chang, an Asian American family drama about a multi-generational restaurant family from the midwest and what happens to them and their town's Chinese American enclave when their tyrannical patriarch is found dead. *Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop or by buying Books & Boba merch at our Bonfire store*Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba October 2023 pick is Natural Beauty by Ling Ling HuangThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we sit down with bestselling author Olivie Blake to chat about the revised release of her first self-published novel, Masters of Death, a genre-bending contemporary fantasy about an aswang real estate agent and the godson of death just trying to get by in the modern world as anomalous beings. We chat with Olivie about not only her own journey as an author, but the journey of her first self-published novel as its re-emerges as a bestseller.Follow Olivie on instagram at @olivieblake and check out her novel, Masters of Death, available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!*Support the podcast by supporting our new Patreon*Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba September 2023 pick is The Family Chao by Lan Samantha ChangThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On our mid-month check in for September 2023, we review the latest Asian American book and publishing announcements, as well as catch up on some news from the ongoing literary awards season.Upcoming books mentioned in our publishing news:Toward Eternity by Anton HurEverything We Never Had by Randy RibayKareem Between by Shifa Saltagi SafadiAhimsa is Everywhere by Suma Subramaniam; illust by Aparna VarmaMy Name is Ai Lin by Maria Wen Adcock; illust by Yu TingEid Tale by Aaliya JaleelCelebrating Dong Zhi by Michelle Jing ChanThis Book Won't Burn by Samira AhmedThe Romance Rivalry by Susan LeeGamers by E.C. MeyersThe Mithai Box is Not Empty by Namrata Agarwal; illust by Parvati PillaiNews stories covered on this episode:Asian nominees for the 2023 National Book Award longlistThe Pulitzer Prize Board has expanded their eligibility to non-US Citizens*Support the podcast by supporting our new Patreon*Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba September 2023 pick is The Family Chao by Lan Samantha ChangThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we chat with author Andrew Yang (not the candidate) about his debut novel, I'm Not Here to Make Friends, a coming of age story about two girls who join the cast of a "Terrace House" like reality TV series that gathers six Asian Americans from across the country to live together for the cameras. Andrew shares with us his author's journey, as well as geek out a little with Reera about their favorite Terrace House moments.Follow Andrew on twitter at @ayang_writes and check out his novel, I'm Not Here to Make Friends, available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!*Support the podcast by supporting our new Patreon*Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba September 2023 pick is The Family Chao by Lan Samantha ChangThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode we discuss our August 2023 book club pick Bitter Medicine by Mia Tsai. A contemporary fantasy romance about Elle, a skilled healer and Chinese immortal laying low to hide from her murderous little brother, and Luc, a French half-elf with a certain set of skills who does secretive work for the king of Faeries. Together they try to figure out how to make their nascent relationship work while balancing their obligations to their magical families and careers.*Support the podcast by supporting our new Patreon*Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba September 2023 pick is The Family Chao by Lan Samantha ChangThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

While we await our book club discussion episode later this week, we wanted to share something special with you. Please enjoy the first episode of the new hit podcast, Dear Alana, from our partners at Tenderfoot TV.Dear Alana, is a show exploring the life of Alana Chen, a 24-year-old woman who disappeared from Boulder, Colorado in 2019. Alana left behind two dozen journals chronicling a deep faith, love of fashion, and dream of becoming a nun. She also harbored a secret. At 14, she confessed to her priest that she was attracted to women and was instructed not to tell her parents. Over the next seven years, Alana covertly received conversion therapy which her family believes played a role in her fate.----Part 1: MomSimon travels to Boulder to meet Alana’s mother, Joyce, and becomes determined to help her understand what happened to Alana.This episode contains references to suicide. If you or someone you know is in need of help, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. Listener discretion is advised.Go deeper at https://dearalana.com/Subscribe to Tenderfoot+ for ad-free listening and an exclusive binge at tenderfootplus.com.

On this episode, we're excited to finally get to chat with author (and one of the founding members of #WeNeedDiverseBooks) Aisha Saeed about her latest novel, Forty Words for Love, a story of childhood friends on the verge of adulthood who find themselves at a crossroads as Moonlight Bay, the small magical town they grew up in, faces an economic crisis when the magical pink waters it's known for fades away. Caught between chasing their dreams and their obligations to their families, this is a magical contemporary stories that addresses real life issues such as how economic tensions manifest in anti-immigrant sentiment.Follow Aisha on instagram at @aishacs and check out her novel, Forty Words for Love, available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!*Support the podcast by supporting our new Patreon*Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba August 2023 pick is Bitter Medicine by Mia TsaiThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

In this episode, the hosts discuss the latest Asian American book and publishing announcements. They also talk about a film adaptation, a canceled festival, and the shutdown of Prosecraft. The hosts share their worries about flu season and highlight upcoming books like 'Piper Chen Sings' and 'Mabel and the Museum'. They also encourage support for Asian and Asian American stories and media. The chapter ends with a discussion on AI replacing human artists and reminders about the book club.

On this episode, we sit down with author Kelly Loy Gilbert to talk about her latest novel, Everyone Wants to Know, a coming of age story following Honor Lo, the youngest daughter of a family who grew up under the spotlight of a popular reality TV show. We chat with Kelly about her inspirations behind the story as well as her journey as an author.Follow Kelly on instagram at @kellyloygilbert and check out her novel, Everyone Wants to Know, available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!*Support the podcast by supporting our new Patreon*Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba August 2023 pick is Bitter Medicine by Mia TsaiThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective