Books and Boba

Latest Episodes:

#211 - The Charmed List by Julie Abe Mar 03, 2023

Show notes

On this episode, we discuss our February 2023 pick, The Charmed List by Julie Abe, a YA romantic comedy about a teen wallflower (who happens to be part of the magical community of Palo Alto) who wants to break out of her shell by taking an epic summer road trip with her bff, but ends up being forced to take that trip with her ex-best friend/boy next door instead. The best part is, this book includes a special cameo from Books & Boba (thanks Julie)!

*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)

The Books & Boba March 2023 pick is Front Desk by Kelly Yang

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

#210 - Author Chat w/ Gloria Chao Feb 24, 2023

Show notes

For this author chat episode, we chat with author Gloria Chao about her latest novel, When You Wish Upon a Lantern, a YA rom-com about a girl who tries to save her family's lantern business by granting her Chinese American community's wishes, and has to rely on her ex-best friend for help. We chat with Gloria about her long journey to becoming a prolific author of Asian American YA romances, as well as her inspirations for her new book.

Follow Gloria on instagram at @gloriacchao and check out her novel When You Wish Upon a Lantern on sale now!

*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *

Follow our hosts:

Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)

The Books & Boba February 2023 pick is The Charmed List by Julie Abe

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

#209 - February 2023 Book News Feb 17, 2023

Show notes

On this episode, we check out the latest book and publishing news in Asian American literature for our February 2023 mid-month check-in, including some major updates from the Harper Collins Union strike and some highlights from the ALA awards.

New books and authors mentioned in our publishing news:

Say You’ll Be Mine by Naina Kumar
Pangu's Shadow by Karen Bao
Bridge Across the Sky by Freeman Ng
Becoming Boba by Joanna Ho; illust by Amber Ren
Helga by Catherine Yu
The Fetishist by Katherine Min
The Jade Bracelet by Hà Dinh; illust by Yong Ling Kang
When the Sky Is Deepest Blue by Clare Osongco
Leif's Gift written by Michael Wang; illust by Lenny Wen
What Color Is the Baby? by Harshini Vankineni; illust by Neha Rawat Battish

Don't forget show support to the ongoing HarperCollins Union Strike by supporting their hardship fund at https://givebutter.com/HCPstrike

*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *

Follow our hosts:

Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)

The Books & Boba February 2023 pick is The Charmed List by Julie Abe

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

#208 - Author Chat w/ Cara Tanamachi Feb 10, 2023

Show notes

On this episode, we chat with author Cara Tanamachi about her new novel The Second You're SIngle, a Rom Com about a woman who turns her goal to swear off dating for the month of February into a popular feature, only to run into a hot baker who might just be the one. Cara shares her background as a writer as well as her own dating experiences with us in this fun author chat.

Follow Cara on instagram at @caratanamachi and check out her novel The Second You're Single on sale now!

*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *

Follow our hosts:

Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)

The Books & Boba February 2023 pick is The Charmed List by Julie Abe

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

#207 – Babel by R. F. Kuang (Books 3-5) Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

Buckle in for an extra large episode of Books & Boba! On this episode, we discuss the last half of our book club pick Babel by R.F. Kuang, where the action and drama ramps up and does not let up until the very end. From a shocking turn of events on the high seas to a climactic magical workers strike, Babel is a story we won't forget for years to come.

*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *

Note that Babel is published by a Harper Collins imprint which is in the middle of a strike with the HCP Union seeking fair pay for workers. Books & Boba supports the HCP Union, as does the author R.F. Kuang, and invite you to support the union by amplifying their message on social media (Twitter / Instagram) and donating to their strike fund.

Follow our hosts:

Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)

The Books & Boba February 2023 pick is The Charmed List by Julie Abe

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

#206 - Author Chat w/ Kyla Zhao Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

On this episode of Books & Boba, we sit down with author Kyla Zhao to chat about her debut novel The Fraud Squad, a story about one woman's quest to charm her way into Singaporean high society to chase her dreams of writing for Asias most glamorous fashion magazine.

Follow Kyla on instagram at @kylakzhao and check out her novel The Fraud Squad on sale now!

*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *

Follow our hosts:

Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)

The Books & Boba January 2023 pick is Babel by R.F. Kuang

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

#205 - January 2023 Book News Jan 20, 2023

Show notes

It's our first mid-month episode of 2023, just in time for the Lunar New Year! Join us as we ring in the Year of the Rabbit by going through the latest Asian American book and publishing news, including an update on the HarperCollins Union Strike and the emergence of AI audiobook narrators.

New books and authors mentioned in our publishing news:

Mind Your Manners: A Guide to Social Fluency by Sara Jane Ho
Just Another Meet Cute by Jenn P.Nguyen
Until We Meet Again by Lily Kim Qian
Untitled Memoir by Jane Chen
Swimming into Trouble by Angela Ahn; illust by Julie Kim
Bite Me, Royce Taslim by Lauren Ho
Dead Things Are Closer Than They Appear by Robin Wasley
The Last Rhee Witch by Jenna Lee-Yun
The Sugar Plum Bakers: And the 12 Holiday
Treats by Patricia Tanumihardja; illust by Bonnie Lui
Off the Cuff by Supriya Kelkar;Illust by Ani Bushry

Don't forget show support to the ongoing HarperCollins Union Strike by supporting their hardship fund at https://givebutter.com/HCPstrike

*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *

Follow our hosts:

Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)

The Books & Boba January 2023 pick is Babel by R.F. Kuang

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

#204 - Author Chat w/ Iris Yamashita Jan 13, 2023

Show notes

On our first author chat of the new year, we sit down with Iris Yamashita, the academy award nominated screenwriter of Letters From Iwo Jima, to chat about her debut novel City Under One Roof, a mystery set in a remote town in Alaska where the entire population lives in one building. We chat with Iris about the real life inspirations for her story and setting, as well as ask about her career as an Asian American screenwriter and novelist.

Follow Iris on instagram at @irisyamashita and check out her novel City Under One Roof on sale now!

*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *

Follow our hosts:

Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)

The Books & Boba January 2023 pick is Babel by R.F. Kuang

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

#203 - Babel by R. F. Kuang (Books 1 & 2) Jan 07, 2023

Show notes

Happy New Year! On this episode, we discuss the first 2 acts (or "books") of Babel by R.F. Kuang, a epic dark academia fantasy taking place in an alternate universe version of Oxford during the early Victorian era about a Chinese boy named Robin Swift who is whisked away from his home in Canton and set on a path to become a translator for the Royal Institute of Translation (aka Babel). However, as he and his cohort learn more about their chosen field, the contradictions of empire, and their roles in it, become harder and harder to ignore.

*Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop *

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Follow our hosts:

Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)
Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)

The Books & Boba January 2023 pick is Babel by R.F. Kuang

This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

#202 – December 2022 Book News Dec 17, 2022

Show notes

For the last time this year, we highlight the latest book and publishing news in Asian American literature for our December 2022 mid-month check-in, including checking in on the ongoing strike at Harper Collins

New books and authors mentioned in our publishing news: