Books and Boba

On this episode, we sit down with author A.H. Kim to talk about her latest novel Relative Strangers, a contemporary adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibilities following the Korean-American Bae-Wood family as they find themselves thrown from their home as the result of an unexpected estate battle. We chat with Ann about her inspirations for the story, and what goes into adapting a timeless story with an Asian American lens.

Follow Ann on Instagram at @ahkim.writer and check out her novel, Relative Strangers, available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!

Books & Boba is a podcast dedicated to reading and featuring books by Asian and Asian American authors

Support the Books & Boba Podcast by:

• Joining our Patreon to receive exclusive perks
• Purchasing books at our bookshop
• Rocking our Books & Boba merch

Follow our hosts:

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

Follow us:

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The Books & Boba April 2024 pick is Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

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

On this episode we discuss our March 2024 book club pick, Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum & translated by Shanna Tan, a story about a woman who leaves her unfulfilling life in the city to start up an independent bookstore in a small neighborhood. We dive into the book's themes as the owner, workers, and customers of the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop all search for their purpose in life, and how the answers clash with what society tells them what success is supposed to look like.

Books & Boba is a podcast dedicated to reading and featuring books by Asian and Asian American authors

Support the Books & Boba Podcast by:

• Joining our Patreon to receive exclusive perks
• Purchasing books at our bookshop
• Rocking our Books & Boba merch

Follow our hosts:

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

Follow us:

• Instagram
• Twitter
• Goodreads
• Facebook

The Books & Boba April 2024 pick is Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

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

On this episode, we welcome author Vanessa Le to chat about her debut novel The Last Bloodcarver, a Vietnamese-American inspired YA fantasy about a girl with the power to alter human biology who wants to be a healer even if the world sees her as a monster, who is caught and sold into the service of a wealthy family to heal the last surviving witness to a suspected murder. We chat with Vanessa about her inspirations for her fantasy action meets medical murder mystery, as well as how her background as a Vietnamese-American med student helped her develop her book's world and magic system!

Follow Vanessa on Instagram at @lochnessly and check out her debut novel, The Last Bloodcarver, available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!

Books & Boba is a podcast dedicated to reading and featuring books by Asian and Asian American authors

Support the Books & Boba Podcast by:

• Joining our Patreon to receive exclusive perks
• Purchasing books at our bookshop
• Rocking our Books & Boba merch

Follow our hosts:

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

Follow us:

• Instagram
• Twitter
• Goodreads
• Facebook

The Books & Boba March 2024 pick is Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum & translated by Shanna Tan

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

On our mid-month check in for March 2024, we recap the latest Asian American book and publishing announcements, as well as go over some exciting adaptation and festival news!

Upcoming books mentioned in our publishing news:

• The Perfections by Lulee Ma
• Revolutions Are Made of
• Love by Sun
• Yung Shin and Mélina Mangal; illust by Leslie Barlow
• Nunu and the Sea by Isabella Kung
•  A Home on the Page by Kao Kalia Yang;
• illust by Seo Kim
• Deathly Fates by Tesia Tsai
• Dragon Force: Infinity's
• Secret by Katie
• Tsang and Kevin Tsang
• Falling Star by Linda Liu
• I Guess I'll Go Eat Worms by Linda Liu
• The Day the Books
• Disappeared by Joanna
• Ho and Caroline Kusin Pritchard; illust by Dan Santat
• Lou with the Band by Alexandra Leigh
• Young
• Prodigal Tiger by Samantha Chong
• The Art of How Dogs Sleep by Alison Kim

News stories covered on this episode:

• Babel optioned for screen adaptation
• YALLWEST announces lineup

*Support the podcast by supporting our Patreon*

Follow our hosts:

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

Follow us:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads Group

The Books & Boba March 2024 pick is Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum & translated by Shanna Tan

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

On this episode, we welcome author Sophie Wan to chat about her debut novel Women of Good Fortune, a story of three "leftover" women living in Shanghai each stuck in their own ruts from living under the patriarchy, who decides to do something about it, by planning a heist to steal the red envelope money a crazy rich wedding. We had a great chat with Sophie about her inspirations for the story as well as what goes into constructing a good heist!

Follow Sophie on Instagram at @thesophiewan and check out Sophie's debut novel, Women of Good Fortune, available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!

*Support the podcast by supporting our Patreon*Follow our hosts:

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

Follow us:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads Group

The Books & Boba March 2024 pick is Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum & translated by Shanna Tan

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

On this episode, we discuss our February 2024 book club pick, Untethered Sky, an action packed novella by Fonda Lee about a young woman as she becomes a Ruhker, who are warriors that hunt monsters using giant mythical birds called rocs.

*Support the podcast by supporting our Patreon*

Follow our hosts:

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

Follow us:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads Group

The Books & Boba March 2024 pick is Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum & translated by Shanna Tan

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

On this episode, we chat with Ray Xu about his debut middle grade graphic novel Alterations, a charming semi-autobiographical tale of a kid growing up in a crowded apartment with his mom, older sister, and grandmother, just trying to fit in and stand out. We chat with Ray about the real life inspirations behind his novel, as well as his own creative journey to becoming an animation story editor and published author.

Follow Ray on Instagram at @rayxuxu and check out Ray's graphic novel, Alterations, available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!

*Support the podcast by supporting our Patreon*

Follow our hosts:

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

Follow us:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads Group

The Books & Boba February 2024 pick is Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee

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

On our mid-month check in for February 2024, we recap the latest Asian American book and publishing announcements, as well as catch up on the latest book tea, including controversies from a prominent book awards.

Upcoming books mentioned in our publishing news:

• Me and My Pet Demon by Remy Lai
• Once Upon a Tail by Audrey Perrott & Charlene Chua
• A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim
• 100th Day of School with Yasmin by Saadia Faruqi; illust by Debby Rahmalia
• The Baby Who Stayed Awake Forever by Sandra Salsbury
• This Is Dance by Rekha S. Rajan; illust by Chris Park
• Folk Remedy by Jem Yoshioka
• Navigating Night by Julie Leung; illust by Angie Kang
• A Good Indian Girl by Mansi Shah

News stories covered on this episode:

• Controversy over 'inexplicable' exclusion of R F Kuang and Xiran Jay Zhao from Hugo Awards 2023
• “YA Isn’t Just for Young Adults” op-ed criticism

*Support the podcast by supporting our Patreon*

Follow our hosts:

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

Follow us:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads Group

The Books & Boba February 2024 pick is Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee

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

On this episode, we chat with author Sajni Patel to talk about her new YA fantasy novel A Drop of Venom, a retelling of the Medusa myth taking place in an Indian-inspired fantasy setting. Her novel follows the story of two people, one is a naga, deemed a monster by the powers that be, and the other is a slayer, who is sent to kill monsters by those same powers. Sajni shares with us why she was inspired to adapt Medusa's story, and why her tale is now more relevant than ever.

Follow Sajni on Instagram at @sajnipatelbooks and check out Sajni's novel, A Drop of Venom, available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!

*Support the podcast by supporting our Patreon*

Follow our hosts:

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

Follow us:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads Group

The Books & Boba February 2024 pick is Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee

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

On this episode we discuss our January 2024 book club pick, Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City, by Jane Wong. In this memoir, Jane shares about her upbringing in Atlantic City as a restaurant kid, her trials and tribulations in love, as well as her tumultuous journey to becoming a writer and academic. Jane's stories aren't all fun-times, but not all sad-times neither, and they are beautifully brought to life with her evocative prose that will stay with us for some time.

*Support the podcast by supporting our Patreon*

Follow our hosts:

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

Follow us:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Goodreads Group

The Books & Boba February 2024 pick is Untethered Sky by Fonda Lee

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