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On this episode, we check out the latest book and publishing news in Asian American literature for our March 2023 mid-month check-in, including catching up with the Harper Collins publishing announcements we missed during the strike. New books and authors mentioned in our publishing news: Shanghailanders by Juli Min Four Eids and a Funeral by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé & Adiba Jaigirdar Women of Good Fortune by Sophie Wan Love Me Tomorrow series by Emiko Jean The Gift of Eid by Shifa Saltagi Safadi; illust by Aaliya Jaleel Stay With My Heart by Tashie Bhuiyan Champion of the Rose series by Cat Aquino & Dominique Duran Kindling by Traci Chee Copy Cat by Elyse Martin & Sean Rubin Kaho'olawe by Kamalani Hurley; illust by Harinani Orme The Dark We Know by Wen-yi Lee And Then Comes July by Sarah Jung New by Niña Mata Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar by Anahita Karthik Celestial Banquet by Roselle Lim No Place Like Home by Linh S. Nguyễn I Lived Inside a Whale by Xin Lee Living Bridges by Sandhya Acharya; illust by Avani Dwivedi Do You Even Know Me? by Reem Faruqi; illust by Ani Bushry Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao *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: Facebook Twitter Goodreads Group The Books & Boba March 2023 pick is Front Desk by Kelly Yang This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective Mentioned in this episode: Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ If you're looking for a new Asian American centric podcast, check out Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ Chicago: Asians have long been ignored, fetishized or made the butt of the joke in America. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast wants to put that to rest. Each week, we celebrate badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment. Co-hosts Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Susie An hang out with trailblazers in comedy, film, music and other fields—inviting them to reflect on their identities and redefine “sexy” on their own terms. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast

On this episode, we chat with author Kathryn Ma about her latest novel, The Chinese Groove, about the adventures of a Chinese immigrant who moves to American to pursue his American dream, armed only with his optimism and his in depth knowledge of "The Chinese Groove." Follow Kathryn on twitter at @Kathryn_E_Ma and check out her novel The Chinese Groove on sale now! *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: Facebook Twitter Goodreads Group The Books & Boba March 2023 pick is Front Desk by Kelly Yang This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective Mentioned in this episode: Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ If you're looking for a new Asian American centric podcast, check out Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ Chicago: Asians have long been ignored, fetishized or made the butt of the joke in America. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast wants to put that to rest. Each week, we celebrate badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment. Co-hosts Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Susie An hang out with trailblazers in comedy, film, music and other fields—inviting them to reflect on their identities and redefine “sexy” on their own terms. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast

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) Follow us: Facebook Twitter Goodreads Group The Books & Boba March 2023 pick is Front Desk by Kelly Yang This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective Mentioned in this episode: Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ If you're looking for a new Asian American centric podcast, check out Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ Chicago: Asians have long been ignored, fetishized or made the butt of the joke in America. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast wants to put that to rest. Each week, we celebrate badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment. Co-hosts Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Susie An hang out with trailblazers in comedy, film, music and other fields—inviting them to reflect on their identities and redefine “sexy” on their own terms. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast

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) Follow us: Facebook Twitter Goodreads Group The Books & Boba February 2023 pick is The Charmed List by Julie Abe This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective Mentioned in this episode: Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ If you're looking for a new Asian American centric podcast, check out Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ Chicago: Asians have long been ignored, fetishized or made the butt of the joke in America. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast wants to put that to rest. Each week, we celebrate badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment. Co-hosts Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Susie An hang out with trailblazers in comedy, film, music and other fields—inviting them to reflect on their identities and redefine “sexy” on their own terms. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast

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) Follow us: Facebook Twitter Goodreads Group The Books & Boba February 2023 pick is The Charmed List by Julie Abe This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective Mentioned in this episode: Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ If you're looking for a new Asian American centric podcast, check out Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ Chicago: Asians have long been ignored, fetishized or made the butt of the joke in America. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast wants to put that to rest. Each week, we celebrate badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment. Co-hosts Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Susie An hang out with trailblazers in comedy, film, music and other fields—inviting them to reflect on their identities and redefine “sexy” on their own terms. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast

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) Follow us: Facebook Twitter Goodreads Group The Books & Boba February 2023 pick is The Charmed List by Julie Abe This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective Mentioned in this episode: Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ If you're looking for a new Asian American centric podcast, check out Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ Chicago: Asians have long been ignored, fetishized or made the butt of the joke in America. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast wants to put that to rest. Each week, we celebrate badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment. Co-hosts Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Susie An hang out with trailblazers in comedy, film, music and other fields—inviting them to reflect on their identities and redefine “sexy” on their own terms. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast

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) Follow us: Facebook Twitter Goodreads Group The Books & Boba February 2023 pick is The Charmed List by Julie Abe This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective Mentioned in this episode: Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ If you're looking for a new Asian American centric podcast, check out Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ Chicago: Asians have long been ignored, fetishized or made the butt of the joke in America. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast wants to put that to rest. Each week, we celebrate badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment. Co-hosts Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Susie An hang out with trailblazers in comedy, film, music and other fields—inviting them to reflect on their identities and redefine “sexy” on their own terms. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast

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) Follow us: Facebook Twitter Goodreads Group The Books & Boba January 2023 pick is Babel by R.F. Kuang ** 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. ** This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective Mentioned in this episode: Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ If you're looking for a new Asian American centric podcast, check out Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ Chicago: Asians have long been ignored, fetishized or made the butt of the joke in America. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast wants to put that to rest. Each week, we celebrate badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment. Co-hosts Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Susie An hang out with trailblazers in comedy, film, music and other fields—inviting them to reflect on their identities and redefine “sexy” on their own terms. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast

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) Follow us: Facebook Twitter Goodreads Group The Books & Boba January 2023 pick is Babel by R.F. Kuang ** 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. ** This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective Mentioned in this episode: Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ If you're looking for a new Asian American centric podcast, check out Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ Chicago: Asians have long been ignored, fetishized or made the butt of the joke in America. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast wants to put that to rest. Each week, we celebrate badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment. Co-hosts Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Susie An hang out with trailblazers in comedy, film, music and other fields—inviting them to reflect on their identities and redefine “sexy”

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) Follow us: Facebook Twitter Goodreads Group The Books & Boba January 2023 pick is Babel by R.F. Kuang ** 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. ** This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective Mentioned in this episode: Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ If you're looking for a new Asian American centric podcast, check out Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ Chicago: Asians have long been ignored, fetishized or made the butt of the joke in America. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast wants to put that to rest. Each week, we celebrate badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment. Co-hosts Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Susie An hang out with trailblazers in comedy, film, music and other fields—inviting them to reflect on their identities and redefine “sexy” on their own terms. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast

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 * --- Follow our hosts: Reera Yoo (@reeraboo) Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh) Follow us: Facebook Twitter Goodreads Group The Books & Boba January 2023 pick is Babel by R.F. Kuang ** 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. ** This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective Mentioned in this episode: Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ If you're looking for a new Asian American centric podcast, check out Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ Chicago: Asians have long been ignored, fetishized or made the butt of the joke in America. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast wants to put that to rest. Each week, we celebrate badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment. Co-hosts Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Susie An hang out with trailblazers in comedy, film, music and other fields—inviting them to reflect on their identities and redefine “sexy” on their own terms. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast

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: Shell Song by Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson Untitled picture book by Sanae Ishid Untitled YA horror novels by Judy I. Lin Terminal Hope by Michelle Wong Outside Mom, Inside Mom by Jane Park; illust by Lenny Wen To Gaze upon Wicked Gods by Molly X. Chang It's Only a Game by Kelsea Yu Little Sisters by Tomo Miura; translated by Nanette McGuinness The Girl with No Reflection by Keshe Chow Tagging Freedom by Rhonda Roumani Little Bird Laila by Kelly Yan; illust by Xindi Yan What Lolo Wants by Cristina Oxtra; Jamie Bauza Noodles on a Bicycle by Kyo Maclear; illust by Gracey Zhang *Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop * --- Follow our hosts: Reera Yoo (@reeraboo) Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh) Follow us: Facebook Twitter Goodreads Group The Books & Boba December 2022/January 2023 pick is Babel by R.F. Kuang ** 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. ** This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective Mentioned in this episode: Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ If you're looking for a new Asian American centric podcast, check out Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ Chicago: Asians have long been ignored, fetishized or made the butt of the joke in America. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast wants to put that to rest. Each week, we celebrate badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment. Co-hosts Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Susie An hang out with trailblazers in comedy, film, music and other fields—inviting them to reflect on their identities and redefine “sexy” on their own terms. Shoes Off: A Sexy

On this episode, we discuss our Books & Boba November 2022 book club pick, Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life by Alice Wong, a memoir by the founder and director of Disability Visibility Project, about her life growing up as a person living with disability as well as a Chinese American in the mid-west, her work in activism and advocacy, and all the food and geeky pop cultural things that she loves. The book is also as a great resource for those looking  for ways to be a better ally to the disabled community. Check out Alice's work and additional resources for the book at: https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/  *Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop * --- Follow our hosts: Reera Yoo (@reeraboo) Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh) Follow us: Facebook Twitter Goodreads Group The Books & Boba December 2022/January 2023 pick is Babel by R.F. Kuang ** 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. ** This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective Mentioned in this episode: Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ If you're looking for a new Asian American centric podcast, check out Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ Chicago: Asians have long been ignored, fetishized or made the butt of the joke in America. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast wants to put that to rest. Each week, we celebrate badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment. Co-hosts Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Susie An hang out with trailblazers in comedy, film, music and other fields—inviting them to reflect on their identities and redefine “sexy” on their own terms. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast

On our 200th(!) episode, we highlight the latest book and publishing news in Asian American literature for our November 2022 mid-month check-in, including checking back in on the ongoing publishers strike at Harper Collins. New books and authors mentioned in our publishing news: From Mumbai, with Love by Priyanka Taslim The Notes by Catherine Con Morse Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice by Anna Lapera Crow Girl by Charlotte Woo Inside Scouts by Mitali Banerjee Ruths; illust by Francesca Mahaney The Star in You by Katrina Moore; illust by Amber Ren Six Truths and a Lie by Ream Shukairy Team Park by Angela Ahn Wataru Misaka: Basketball's Barrier Breaker by Hayley Diep; illust by Naomi Giddings A Bright Heart by Kate Chenli Mamie Fights to Go to School by Traci Huahn; illust by Michelle Jing Chan Unbecoming by Seema Yasmin The Lucky Ones by Zara Chowdhary *Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop * --- This episode is sponsored by Audible Theater Presents: Good Enemy A father learns that closing the door to his past means shutting his daughter out in Good Enemy, Yilong Liu’s ”gripping and undeniably important world premiere” (Theatermania) now playing at the Minetta Lane Theatre. When Howard makes a surprise cross-country trip to visit his college-aged, TikTok-loving daughter, he’s forced to confront the realities of their relationship and the rift between them—a rift caused by Howard’s refusal to face memories of his life as a young man in China. In a smart, thrilling story that deftly weaves together two generations and two continents amidst sweeping social changes, Good Enemy explores the power of human connections, affirming that no one lives an “ordinary” life, no matter how hard they might try.“With a serious mind, an inventive spirit, and a goofball heart, Good Enemy is a mélange of a play about getting a second chance, and being wise enough to grab it,” cheers The New York Times. Do the wise thing and get your tickets today! Unlock tickets from $45 now using code BOBA25. Get your tickets now at: https://goodenemyplay.com/   --- Follow our hosts: Reera Yoo (@reeraboo) Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh) Follow us: Facebook Twitter Goodreads Group The Books & Boba November 2022 pick is Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life by Alice Wong This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective Mentioned in this episode: Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ If you're looking for a new Asian American centric podcast, check out Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ Chicago: Asians have long been ignored, fetishized or made the butt of the joke in America. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast wants to put that to rest. Each week, we celebrate badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment. Co-hosts Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Susie An hang out with trailblazers in comedy, film, music and other fields—inviting them to reflect on their identities and redefine “sexy” on...

We've talked to many authors on Books & Boba, we've also read a few translated works for book club, but for the first time, we're talking to a translator directly! On this episode, we welcome Anton Hur, the English language translator of Baek Sehee's hit memoir I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki: A Memoir. We chat with Anton about he became a literary translator and how he approaches his work translating the words of other authors. Follow Anton on Instagram @antonhur *Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop * --- This episode is sponsored by Audible Theater Presents: Good Enemy Played by Obie Award winner Francis Jue (Pacific Overtures, Soft Power), a father learns that closing the door to his past means shutting his daughter out in Good Enemy, a haunting and hopeful world premiere play from Yilong Liu. Performances for this smart, thrilling limited engagement begin October 25 at the Minetta Lane Theatre in New York.  Act now to save 25% on tickets using the code BOBA25 Get your tickets now at: goodenemyplay.com --- Follow our hosts: Reera Yoo (@reeraboo) Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh) Follow us: Facebook Twitter Goodreads Group The Books & Boba November 2022 pick is Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life by Alice Wong This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective Mentioned in this episode: Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ If you're looking for a new Asian American centric podcast, check out Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ Chicago: Asians have long been ignored, fetishized or made the butt of the joke in America. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast wants to put that to rest. Each week, we celebrate badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment. Co-hosts Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Susie An hang out with trailblazers in comedy, film, music and other fields—inviting them to reflect on their identities and redefine “sexy” on their own terms. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast

On this episode, we discuss our Books & Boba October 2022 book club pick, The Hole by Hye-Young Pyun, a psychological thriller about a man who wakes up from a coma after suffering debilitating injuries after surviving a car crash that kills his wife and finds himself dependent on his grieving mother-in-law who he's not sure he can trust. It's a story about the terror of not being about to control your own body, and at the same time, a story about toxic masculinity as well. *Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop * --- Played by Obie Award winner Francis Jue (Pacific Overtures, Soft Power), a father learns that closing the door to his past means shutting his daughter out in Good Enemy, a haunting and hopeful world premiere play from Yilong Liu. Performances for this smart, thrilling limited engagement begin October 25 at the Minetta Lane Theatre in New York.  Act now to save 25% on tickets using the code BOBA25 Get your tickets now at: goodenemyplay.com --- Follow our hosts: Reera Yoo (@reeraboo) Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh) Follow us: Facebook Twitter Goodreads Group The Books & Boba November 2022 pick is Year of the Tiger: An Activist's Life by Alice Wong This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective Mentioned in this episode: Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ If you're looking for a new Asian American centric podcast, check out Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ Chicago: Asians have long been ignored, fetishized or made the butt of the joke in America. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast wants to put that to rest. Each week, we celebrate badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment. Co-hosts Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Susie An hang out with trailblazers in comedy, film, music and other fields—inviting them to reflect on their identities and redefine “sexy” on their own terms. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast

On our latest author chat, we sit down with Ryan Lee Wong to chat about his debut novel Which Side Are You On? A story about a young Asian American man, struggling to live up to his ideals as an activist in today's world, who finds inspiration and frustration through conversations with his mother, who has a history in activism herself, as they drive around Los Angeles. We chat with Ryan about his real life inspirations for the story, his thoughts on activism, and why LA has the best Korean food in the country. Follow Ryan on instagram at @ryanlwong and check out her novel Which Side Are You On? on sale now! *Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop * --- Played by Obie Award winner Francis Jue (Pacific Overtures, Soft Power), a father learns that closing the door to his past means shutting his daughter out in Good Enemy, a haunting and hopeful world premiere play from Yilong Liu. Performances for this smart, thrilling limited engagement begin October 25 at the Minetta Lane Theatre in New York.  Unlock $25 tickets using code BOBA25- offer valid thru 11/5.  Get your tickets now at: goodenemyplay.com --- Follow our hosts: Reera Yoo (@reeraboo) Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh) Follow us: Facebook Twitter Goodreads Group The Books & Boba October 2022 pick is The Hole by Hye-Young Pyun This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective Mentioned in this episode: Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ If you're looking for a new Asian American centric podcast, check out Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ Chicago: Asians have long been ignored, fetishized or made the butt of the joke in America. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast wants to put that to rest. Each week, we celebrate badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment. Co-hosts Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Susie An hang out with trailblazers in comedy, film, music and other fields—inviting them to reflect on their identities and redefine “sexy” on their own terms. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast

On this episode, we highlight the latest book and publishing news in Asian American literature for our October 2022 mid-month check-in, including checking in on some bookstore drama and unionizing in the publishing world. New books and authors mentioned in our publishing news: Homeseeking by Karissa Chen Red by Cherry Zong Prodigy by Cyrena Lee; illust by Julia Kuo The Magic Lunch Box by Hanna Kim; illust by Emily Paik My Mama Is a Work of Art by Hana Acabado The Healers of Harlem: The Lost History of the Black Women Medical Pioneers in America's First Desegregated City Hospital by Nina Chhita The Red Car to Hollywood by Jennie Liu The Shadow and the Ghost by Cat Min Divining the Leaves by Shveta Thakrar Letters for My Brown Self by Sarah Mughal Rana Leo's First Vote by Christina Soontornvat; illust by Isabel Roxas Mami King by Jacqueline Chio-Lauri; illust Kristin Sorra Once Upon a Sari by Zenia Wadhwani; illust by Avani Dwivedi Chinese Menu by Grace Lin Little Night Says Goodnight by Grace Lin Born Naughty: My Childhood in China by Jin Wang, with Tony Johnston; illust by Anisi Baigude Welcome, Pink! by Laan Cham The Red Roti written by Namita Moolani Mehra; illust by Beena Mistry Scroll of Heaven by Shannon Lee & Fonda Lee The Rainbow Bangles by Thushanthi Ponweera; illust by Maithili Joshi The Rock in My Throat by Kao Kalia Yang; illust by Jiemei Lin Making a Scene by Constance Wu Everyone Hates Kelsie Miller by Meredith Ireland If You Could See the Sun by Ann Liang *Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop * Follow our hosts: Reera Yoo (@reeraboo) Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh) Follow us: Facebook Twitter Goodreads Group The Books & Boba October 2022 pick is The Hole by Hye-Young Pyun This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective Mentioned in this episode: Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ If you're looking for a new Asian American centric podcast, check out Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ Chicago: Asians have long been ignored, fetishized or made the butt of the joke in America. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast wants to put that to rest. Each week, we celebrate badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment. Co-hosts Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Susie An hang out with trailblazers in comedy, film, music and other fields—inviting them to reflect on their identities and redefine “sexy” on their own terms. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast

On this episode, we chat with author Lygia Day Peñaflor about her debut latest novel Creep: A Love Story, a story about a girl who might be too big a fan of her high school's "it" couple. We chat with Lygia about her inspirations for the story and what it was like to get into the head of an extreme stan. Follow Lygia on instagram at @lygiaday and check out her novel Creep: A Love Story on sale now! *Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop * Follow our hosts: Reera Yoo (@reeraboo) Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh) Follow us: Facebook Twitter Goodreads Group The Books & Boba October 2022 pick is The Hole by Hye-Young Pyun This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective Mentioned in this episode: Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ If you're looking for a new Asian American centric podcast, check out Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ Chicago: Asians have long been ignored, fetishized or made the butt of the joke in America. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast wants to put that to rest. Each week, we celebrate badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment. Co-hosts Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Susie An hang out with trailblazers in comedy, film, music and other fields—inviting them to reflect on their identities and redefine “sexy” on their own terms. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast

On this episode, we discuss our Books & Boba September 2022 pick, You're Invited by Amanda Jayatissa, a twisty thriller about Amaya, a woman who returns to her hometown for the first time in years to stop the wedding between her ex-best friend and her ex-boyfriend. To do so, she need to re-enter the cutthroat Sri-Lankan high society that she thought she had left behind forever. But is everything really how it seems? Or is there something dark festering underneath this perfect wedding that Amaya is willing to go as far as it takes to stop it? *Support the podcast by purchasing books at our bookshop * Follow our hosts: Reera Yoo (@reeraboo) Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh) Follow us: Facebook Twitter Goodreads Group The Books & Boba October 2022 pick is The Hole by Hye-Young Pyun This podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective Mentioned in this episode: Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ If you're looking for a new Asian American centric podcast, check out Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast from WBEZ Chicago: Asians have long been ignored, fetishized or made the butt of the joke in America. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast wants to put that to rest. Each week, we celebrate badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment. Co-hosts Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Susie An hang out with trailblazers in comedy, film, music and other fields—inviting them to reflect on their identities and redefine “sexy” on their own terms. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast