Books and Boba

On this episode, we welcome author Vanessa Hua back to the podcast to chat about her newest book Forbidden City, a historical fiction novel about a young woman who becomes a confidant of Chairman Mao during the Cultural Revolution. We catch up with Vanessa about what she's been up to since we last chatted, and learn more about how and why she decided to write a story about one of the most turbulent times in modern Chinese history. Follow Vanessa on twitter at @vanessa_hua and check out her new book Forbidden City on sale May 10, 2022!*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba May 2022 pick is Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. LiThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we discuss our April 2022 pick is A Taste for Love by Jennifer Yen, a rom-com about Liza Yang, a high school senior who loves to bake but her mother would rather set her up on blind dates with acceptable Chinese boys. After she finally convinces her mother to let her participate in the family's annual baking competition as a judge, she finds that her mother has filled the competition with potential suitors, with her as a prize! Join us as we discuss this Asian American re-imagining of Pride and Prejudice, with a delicious twist.*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba May 2022 pick is Portrait of a Thief by Grace D. LiThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we highlight the latest book and publishing news in Asian American literature for our April 2022 mid-month check-in! New books mentioned in our publishing news:Sunshine Nails by Mai NguyenDim Sum Palace by X. FangBroken by X. FangWe Are Definitely Human by X. FangDear Wendy by Ann Zhaountitled novel by Anuk ArudpragasamIf You’re Not the One by Farah Naz RishiThe Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani ChokshiThe Shade Tree by Suzy LeeThe Books of Clash: Legendary Legends Legendarious Achievery by Gene Luen YangThe Cookie Crumbles by Tracy Badua and Alechia DowThe Little Green Envelope by Gillian Sze & illustrated by Claudine CrangleThe Boo Crew Needs You! by Vicky Fang & illustrated by Saoirse Louto Girls on Wheels by Srividhya Venkat & illustrated by Kate WadsworthIndigo Hands by Sita Singh & illustrated by Naveen SelvanathanA Bindi Is a Dot by Suma SubramaniamGolemcrafters by Emi Watanabe CohenThe Unders by Eugene Lee YangWriting in Color: The Lessons We've Learned edited by Nafiza Azad and Melody SimpsonNoodle and Bao by Shaina Lu*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba April 2022 pick is A Taste for Love by Jennifer YenThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we chat with author Jenny Tinghui Zhang about her debut novel Four Treasures of the Sky, a historical fiction novel about a woman's journey across the American west during the time of the Chinese Exclusion Act. We learn about Jenny's inspirations a well as how she prepared to write about such a dark chapter in Chinese American history. Follow Jenny on instagram at @sunspotletters and check out her book Four Treasures of the Sky on sale now!*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba April 2022 pick is A Taste for Love by Jennifer YenThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we discuss our March 2022 Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki, a genre-spanning novel about a music teacher seeking souls to pay back a demonic pact, a trans girl runaway who might also be a violin prodigy, a family of interstellar refugees running a donut shop, and their intertwining stories  taking place in the San Gabriel Valley (where Marvin and Reera also happen to live). Listen to our sprawling discussion about this equally sprawling story about love, healing, and the power of music (and food).*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba April 2022 pick is A Taste for Love by Jennifer YenThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we highlight the latest book and publishing news in Asian American literature for our March 2022 mid-month check-in! New books mentioned in our publishing news:A Quitter’s Paradise by Elysha ChangThe Storm We Made by Vanessa ChanThe Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy TanTrue Love and Other Impossible Odds by Christina LiAngelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le NguyenCooking with Monsters: The Beginners Guide to Culinary Combat by Jordan Alsaqa and Vivian TruongThe Story Factory by Jam DongThe House Before Falling into the Sea by Ann Suk Wang and illustrated by Hanna ChaI Will Find You Again by Sarah LyuAli the Great,by Saadia Faruqi and illustrated by Hatem AlyThe Partition Project by Saadia FaruqiShine: A Story of Colonization, the Kohinoor Diamond, and Resistance by Supriya KelkarGorgeous Gruesome Faces by Linda Chengescendants of Dragons and Heirs of Power by Katie ZhaoNo Rules Tonight by Kim Hyun Sook and Ryan Estrada*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba March 2022 pick is Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka AokiThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we welcome back Abigail Hing Wen, to chat about her latest novel Loveboat, Reunion, the sequel to her hit debut novel Loveboat, Taipei (now an upcoming Netflix feature film). We catch up with Abigail on what she's been up to since we last talked, her thoughts on the new novel, and some small tidbits from the set of the Loveboat, Taipei film.Follow Abigail on instagram at @abigailhingwen and check out her book Loveboat, Reunion on sale now!*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba March 2022 pick is Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka AokiThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we discuss our February 2022 book club pick Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations by Mira Jacob , a  graphic memoir about growing up Indian in New Mexico and raising a child in the age of Trumpism. Joining us this time is fellow Potluck host Raman Sehgal (co-host of Modern Minorities & Quarantined Comics) who is a Good Talk superfan, having read the book 5 times. You can listen to more from our guest Raman on his podcasts Modern Minorities & Quarantined Comics and check out more of his thoughts on Good Talk at:Modern Minorities - EP 70: Mira Jacob (shares a) Good TalkQuarantined Comics - GOOD TALK ...hits a little too close to home*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba March 2022 pick is Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka AokiThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we highlight the latest book and publishing news in Asian American literature for our February 2022 mid-month check-in! New books mentioned in our publishing news:My Nemisis by Charmaine CraigOur issing Hearts by Celeste NgMade in Asian America: A History for Young People by Erika Lee and Christina SoontornvatWhen I Gave Dad a Sign by Jack WongWe are Earthlings by Rachel QiuqiWalter Takes a While by Ann Kim HaWhen an Elephant Hears NO by Dazzle NgHana's Hundreds of Hijabs by Razeena Omar GuttaIf I Have to be Haunted by Miranda SunLion Dancers by Cai TseAlterations by Raymond XuAva Lin by Vicky FangFind Him Where You Left Him Dead by Kristen SimmonsThe Goblin Twins by Frances ChaYou Can Move Mountains by Richard HoMy Saree by Gita Vara-dara-janLunar New Year Love Story by Gene Luen Yang and Le Uyen PhamDeathlings by Coco MaFirst Night of Howlergarten by Benson ShumThe Space Between Here and Now by Sarah SukRamadan Kareem by M.O. YukseiHidden Tails by Van HoangTaki's Belt by Fumio Obata*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba February 2022 pick is Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations by Mira JacobThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

On this episode, we chat with June Hur (author of past book club pick The Silence of Bones) about her latest novel, The Red Palace, her latest mystery novel taking place during Korea's Joseon Dynasty. We ask June about her writing origins, her journey to publishing, and what inspired her to write her unique "Joseon Noir" style stories.Follow June on instagram at @junehwrites and check out her book The Red Palace on sale now!*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *Follow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:FacebookTwitterGoodreads GroupThe Books & Boba February 2022 pick is Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations by Mira JacobThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective