In this second read of book club pick no. 9, we dive into the next two stories in the anthology. As Ollie and Norah figure out how to get into Lola Naty's party in "The Deal", Eden and Nick navigate some awkward territory and hurtful history in "Illicit".

Tif Marcelo is a veteran nurse who writes about "the strength of families, the endurance of friendships, and heartfelt romances". You can learn more about her work on her website at TifMarcelo.com and on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TifMarcelo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Mia Hopkins writes lush romances with fun and sexy characters who like to "get down and dirty". You can learn more about her work through her website at ⁠MiaHopkinsAuthor.com and on Instagram @MiaHopkinsXOXO.

Find us on ⁠AsianBookClubPod.com⁠ and on Instagram @⁠AsianBookClubPod⁠. You can also support us by buying books through ⁠Asian Book Club's Bookshop⁠.

Recommendation of the Week: Angelina of Mulberry Jaan creates SWANA (Southwest Asia and North Africa) and queer art while organizing several in-person markets around the Pacific Northwest for the BI&POC community. You can learn more about their work through their website at MulberryJaan.com and on Instagram @MulberryJaan⁠ / @Tired.ArmenianJew.

Hosts: Jamae Ann Sabangan and Steven Park

Edits: Steven Park

Music: Drop It by Lunareh

In this first read of book club pick no. 9, we're introduced to the first two stories in the anthology. While Ruby and Mason in "Last Minute" could almost boil over with how much fire they have toward each other, Sophie and Travis in "Volcanic Love" cannot deny the embers left burning between them.

Sarah Smith wants to make the world a nicer place, "one kissing story at a time". You can learn more about her work on her website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠SarahSmithBooks.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AuthorSarahS⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Elle Cruz is nurse by day and a romance writer creating swoon-worthy stories by night. You can learn more about her work through her website at ElleCruz.com and on Instagram @ElleCruzAuthor.

Find us on AsianBookClubPod.com and on Instagram @AsianBookClubPod. You can also support us by buying books through Asian Book Club's Bookshop.

Recommendation of the Week: Vinta Gallery is a women-owned and operated slow fashion, modern Filipiniana brand. You can learn more about their work through their website at VintaGallery.com and on Instagram @VintaGallery.

Hosts: Jamae Ann Sabangan and Steven Park

Edits: Steven Park

Music: Drop It by Lunareh

In this last read of book club pick no. 9, things get messy before they get better. Max and Joelle's landlord finally clears up the money problems; Max finally sees his mom again; and Joelle puts the pieces back together after she and Max fight. Plus, buckle up for an epilogue surprise!

Sarah Echavarre Smith writes steamy romcom novels, making the world a nicer place "one kissing story at a time." Her love for romance started as a young girl when she found her aunt's romance collection. You can learn more about her work on her website at ⁠⁠⁠SarahSmithBooks.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AuthorSarahS⁠⁠⁠.

Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AsianBookClubPod.com⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠and on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AsianBookClubPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also support us by buying books through ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Asian Book Club's Bookshop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Recommendation of the Week: Lola Weavers is a collective of Filipino artisans who create handmade woven Filipinianas, tapis, barongs, and more. Their advocacy lead is Carissa Villacorta. Learn more about their work on Instagram @lola.weavers and place orders through the form at bit.ly/lolaweaversorderform.

Hosts: Jamae Ann Sabangan and Steven Park

Edits: Steven Park

Music: Drop It by Lunareh, Unchained by Lunareh

[Content Warning: sexy time]

During the third read of book club pick no. 8, Joelle and Max are hooking up and learning more about each other. We also discover why Max has been a moody, grumpy person.

Sarah Echavarre Smith writes steamy romcom novels, making the world a nicer place "one kissing story at a time." Her love for romance started as a young girl when she found her aunt's romance collection. You can learn more about her work on her website at ⁠⁠SarahSmithBooks.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AuthorSarahS⁠⁠.

Find us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠AsianBookClubPod.com⁠⁠⁠ ⁠and on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠AsianBookClubPod⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also support us by buying books through ⁠⁠⁠⁠Asian Book Club's Bookshop⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Recommendation of the Week: Tiffany Wong of Tiffany Wong Art is a multidisciplinary artist who explores healing and BI&POC liberation through painting and writing. She also facilitates workshops and is the founder of More Liberation shop on Etsy. Learn more about her work through her website at TiffanyWongVisualArt.com and follow along on Instagram @TiffanyWongArt⁠.

Hosts: Jamae Ann Sabangan and Steven Park

Edits: Steven Park

Music: Drop It by Lunareh

In our second read of book club pick no. 8, we rant on Max's audacity. Despite the constant whining (brooding?), romance sparks between him and Joelle.

Sarah Echavarre Smith writes steamy romcom novels, making the world a nicer place "one kissing story at a time." Her love for romance started as a young girl when she found her aunt's romance collection. You can learn more about her work on her website at ⁠SarahSmithBooks.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠⁠AuthorSarahS⁠.

Find us on ⁠⁠⁠AsianBookClubPod.com⁠⁠⁠ and on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠AsianBookClubPod⁠⁠⁠. You can also support us by buying books through ⁠⁠⁠Asian Book Club's Bookshop⁠⁠⁠.

Recommendation of the Week: Bianca Fernandez, the creative behind Bites by Bianca, creates cute and easy recipes. Learn more about her work through her food blog at BitesByBianca.com and follow along on Instagram @BitesByBianca.

Hosts: Jamae Ann Sabangan and Steven Park

Edits: Steven Park

Music: Drop It by Lunareh

We're introduced to Joelle and Max, whose dynamic shifts fairly quickly in our initial read. Look out for the splash of spiciness in chapter 3!

Sarah Echavarre Smith writes steamy romcom novels, making the world a nicer place "one kissing story at a time." Her love for romance started as a young girl when she found her aunt's romance collection. You can learn more about her work on her website at SarahSmithBooks.com⁠⁠ and on Instagram @⁠⁠⁠AuthorSarahS.

Find us on ⁠⁠AsianBookClubPod.com⁠⁠ and on Instagram @⁠⁠AsianBookClubPod⁠⁠. You can also support us by buying books through ⁠⁠Asian Book Club's Bookshop⁠⁠.

Recommendation of the Week: Ruby Ibarra is an emcee, songwriter, and director. She's also the co-founder of the Pinay Rising scholarship program that focuses on arts and activism. Learn more about her work through her website https://orcd.co/rubyibarra-usremix and follow along on Instagram @RubyIbarra. You can also listen to her music on Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube, Soundcloud, and other platforms.

Hosts: Jamae Ann Sabangan and Steven Park

Edits: Steven Park

Music: Drop It by Lunareh

Revelations emerge, and broken relationships crumble. All the messiness gets even more messy when the story comes to a close. If you haven't been disoriented yet, you absolutely will now.

Elaine Hsieh Chou is "a Taiwanese American writer from California." She's also a writing and workshop instructor, a former Rona Jaffe Graduate Fellow at NYU, a NYFA Artist fellow, and the 2023 Fred R. Brown Literary Award recipient. You can learn more about her and her work on her website at ⁠ElaineHsiehChou.com⁠ and on Twitter / X @⁠⁠ElaineHsiehChou⁠.

Find us on ⁠AsianBookClubPod.com⁠ and on Instagram @⁠AsianBookClubPod⁠. You can also support us by buying books through ⁠Asian Book Club's Bookshop⁠.

Recommendation of the Week: Parents are Human is a bilingual card game for deeper conversations with your loved ones, and the game is available in 15 languages, including English, Tagalog, Korean, and Spanish. Learn more about their work at ParentsAreHuman.com and via Instagram @⁠ParentsAreHuman.

Hosts: Jamae Ann Sabangan and Steven Park

Edits: Steven Park

Music: Drop It by Lunareh, Unchained by Lunareh

In this fourth read, we find Vivian basking in the limelight while Ingrid tries to take down the DOFO cult in whatever undercover way she can. And in the midst of all this chaos, Ingrid and Stephen's relationship continues to crumble to pieces.

Elaine Hsieh Chou is "a Taiwanese American writer from California." She's also a writing and workshop instructor, a former Rona Jaffe Graduate Fellow at NYU, a NYFA Artist fellow, and the 2023 Fred R. Brown Literary Award recipient. You can learn more about her and her work on her website at ⁠ElaineHsiehChou.com⁠ and on Twitter / X @⁠⁠ElaineHsiehChou⁠.

Find us on ⁠AsianBookClubPod.com⁠ and on Instagram @⁠AsianBookClubPod⁠. You can also support us by buying books through ⁠Asian Book Club's Bookshop⁠.

Recommendation of the Week: Anna Akana is an actor, writer, and director of creative sketches, informative pieces, story times, and music videos. Plus, she's a cat person! Learn more about her work at AnnaAkana.com⁠, through Youtube @AnnaAkana, and via Instagram @⁠AnnaAkana⁠.

Hosts: Jamae Ann Sabangan and Steven Park

Edits: Steven Park

Music: Drop It by Lunareh

In the third read of book club pick #7, we're in for some chaos. The brand of chaos we're all too familiar with in the United States of America. Get ready for unleashed fires, so-called "good ol' American freedom", and disintegrating relationships.

Elaine Hsieh Chou is "a Taiwanese American writer from California." She's also a writing and workshop instructor, a former Rona Jaffe Graduate Fellow at NYU, a NYFA Artist fellow, and the 2023 Fred R. Brown Literary Award recipient. You can learn more about her and her work on her website at ElaineHsiehChou.com and on Twitter / X @⁠ElaineHsiehChou.

Find us on AsianBookClubPod.com and on Instagram @AsianBookClubPod. You can also support us by buying books through Asian Book Club's Bookshop.

Recommendation of the Week: Liz Sohyeon Kleinrock of Teach and Transform is an educator, author, facilitator, and speaker who presents issues with a social justice lens. Learn more about her work at LizKleinrock.com and via Instagram @TeachAndTransform.

Hosts: Jamae Ann Sabangan and Steven Park

Edits: Steven Park

Music: Drop It by Lunareh

[Content warning: brief mention of sexual encounter]

In this second read, we witness Ingrid Yang's "racial awakening" and the multiple microaggressions she's faced throughout her lifetime. This one's a doozy. Listen (and read) with care.

Elaine Hsieh Chou is "a Taiwanese American writer from California." She's also a writing and workshop instructor, a former Rona Jaffe Graduate Fellow at NYU, a NYFA Artist fellow, and the 2023 Fred R. Brown Literary Award recipient. You can learn more about her and her work on her website at ElaineHsiehChou.com and on Twitter / X @⁠ElaineHsiehChou.

Find us on AsianBookClubPod.com and on Instagram @AsianBookClubPod. You can also support us by buying books through Asian Book Club's Bookshop.

Recommendation of the Week: Kina Grannis is a singer-songwriter of easy listening who recently started live performances again! Follow Kina's journey on Patreon at Patreon.com/KinaGrannis, learn more about Kina's work at KinaGrannis.com, and stay connected on Instagram @KingGrannis.

Also, Kina is partnering with Be the Match for Mama G (Kina's mother!) and others who need bone marrow and blood stem cell donations. Learn more about how you can help at BeTheMatch.org.

Hosts: Jamae Ann Sabangan and Steven Park

Edits: Steven Park

Music: Drop It by Lunareh